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The independent student newspaper of the University of Sheffield. Est. 1946.
Issue 73 Friday September 19 2014
INSIDE
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Games talk to
Features serve up
Sheffield’s local indie developers Fuse p.8-9
Sheffield’s best pubs p.14-15
Comment discuss
The Scottish referendum p.8
Trapped: our Gaza scholarship student 4Islamic University of Gaza graduate denied his right to education 4Omarali’s Sheffield scholarship hangs in the balance Estel Farell Roig Omarali Falyouna, 23, was awarded with the Gaza scholarship at the University of Sheffield this year but he has not been able to leave his home yet because the visa office is closed for “security and safety reasons”. In an interview over Skype, the civil engineering graduate from the Islamic University of Gaza said: “The British Office of Information and Service is closed and I do not know why as the situation in Gaza is now stable and quiet. I have sent them many emails but they are saying that they will not open until the situation is clear. “I tried to cross the Egyptian border and apply from Egypt but they refused to open the border for me. They didn’t accept any of the
papers I gave them. “I have no options now but to try and cross again. I need to convince them I need to go to Egypt. “It is frustrating. I have tried everything I can do and now I am waiting for something to happen”. Omarali, who is planning to study a Master’s Degree in Sanitation and Public Health (Contaminant of Hydrogeology), said: “the University has been very active. They contacted the authorities in the UK to make them open the office here in Gaza. “I hope I will be able to travel to the UK, start my programme and be able to explain to people what we have suffered from the wars”.
Continued on page 3 >>
Students react to postponed disability cuts Estel Farell Roig and Elsa Vulliamy
Universities and science minister Greg Clark announced last week that reforms to non-medical help will be postponed until 2016-2017. The changes, originally planned for this academic year, intended to make universities have more responsibility over the costs of DSA. One of the most problematic things about the reforms was lack of clarity. Jenny Poulton, chair of the Sheffield Students’ Union Disabled Students’ Committee says
“The cuts were so scary because they were so vague. We didn’t have any idea what exactly was going to be affected and so a lot of students were in limbo. “They said that only people with complex disabilities would receive money. There is no definition for a complex disability, all disabilities are complex.” Many Students’ Unions across the country have started campaigns against the reform since it was first announced in April. University of Sheffield Students’ Union launched ‘Don’t cut us out: help save DSA’ campaign. SU president Yael Shafritz said: “We’re really
happy to hear about the delay to the proposed cuts to the DSA. These cuts would negatively affect many disabled students across the university. “The backtrack shows that the government are realising just how bad an idea these cuts were. This announcement also shows that the immense pressure put on MPs by students’ unions across the country has had an effect, namely campaigning works”. Continued on page 3 >>
Inside: SU president rejects “hostile atmosphere” allegations
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Student trapped in Gaza Continued from front page Estel Farell Roig
Managing Editor Jon May fuse editors fuse@forgetoday.com Phil Bayles Kate Lovatt HEAD OF ONLINE matthew.smith@forgetoday.com matthew Smith News news@forgetoday.com Patrick O’Connell Neelam Tailor Adela Whittingham Estel Farell Roig Comment comment@forgetoday.com Lauren Archer Isaac Stovell LETTERS & COFFEE BREAK letters@forgetoday.com Lucy Copson Features features@forgetoday.com Will Ross Polly Winn Lifestyle & travel lifestyle@forgetoday.com Isabel Dobinson Nikita Kesharaju Sport sport@forgetoday.com Joseph Bamford Edward McCosh Thomas Pyman Music music@forgetoday.com Rachel Bell Rebecca Stubbs
Omarali (right) with friends
Photo: Facebook
Education officer Malaka Mohammed, who is also from Gaza and was awarded the scholarship last year, said: “We are very concerned about students like Omar, who are at risk of losing their scholarship. “We are trying to help by writing and signing petitions and by talking to the vice-chancellor of the University, Sheffield MPs, NUS and many other senior academics and non-academics. “We are calling on the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office to order the Gaza office to re-open. UK universities start in the last week of September, which is rapidly approaching, and students have October as the deadline to reach their universities”. Omarali lost a scholarship to do a Master’s Degree and a PHD in Turkey because of the border closure and, if he can’t get a visa in time, he will work as a teaching assistant in his university. Five of his friends have previously
DSA cuts delayed Continued from front page
Estel Farell Roig and Elsa Vulliamy NUS National President Toni Pearce wrote in a statement: “It is not the end of the matter. We will be challenging the proposal of implementing the reforms in 2016/2017 and the £200 charge towards computer costs for the coming year”. Shafritz added: “The campaign is going to keep working with the Disabled Students Committee to keep lobbying MPs to fully reverse all the proposed cuts. We are also going to lobby for better provision for disabled students, whether that
is in the form of a higher and more effective allowance or more support from the University”. University of Sheffield student Louise Delmege, who recieves DSA said “I’m thankful to the protestors, especially since so many of the people affected can’t protest themselves.” DSA can pay for assistance, including specialist equipment, like computer software, and non-medical helpers, such as a note-taker. The universities and science minister said that, in 2011-2012, “DSA provided support of over £144m to 61,000 students, funded from the higher
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lost a scholarship. Omarali said: “The University and staff here are very good but we have a lot of problems. For example, we do not have the facilities. After the war in 2008, the library was damaged and the laboratories were destroyed. As we don’t have any laboratories, we had to watch the experiments on YouTube”. The University’s Palestine Society has raised over £7,700 for Omar’s living expenses, including accommodation and flight tickets. 163 people have donated to the fundraising page so far.
Khalid A-Omari, Comment, pg. 8
“
What is truly needed to radically solve this problem is an end to funding occupation, war crime, and depriving Palestinians their right to education.
”
YOUR UNIVERSITY
Grad’s £2.6m gift Patrick O’Connell Millionaire philanthropist and former Sheffield student Jeremy Grantham has donated £2.6 million to the University of Sheffield. Mr Grantham, 75, graduated from the University with an Economics degree in 1961. He later studied at Harvard University and co-founded American asset management firm GMO. Mr Grantham’s donation of £2.6million is the largest gift the University has received from a former student in the last decade. The money will contribute to research into harnessing the sun’s power and the university is creating the Grantham Centre for Sustainable Futures, which will focus on how humans can live in a more eco-friendly way. Jeremy Grantham, with his wife Hanne, co-
founded the Grantham Foundation, dedicated to raising awareness of urgent environmental issues and supports individuals and organisations working to find solutions. Vice-Chancellor Prof Sir Keith Burnett said: “This investment by the Grantham Foundation will enable us to take our work on sustainability to the next level.” Mr Grantham received an Honorary Doctorate from the University in 2012. Mr Grantham said: “Project Sunshine addresses the central challenge of our time - dramatically reducing greenhouse gas emissions by making global energy and food systems sustainable.”
STUDENT LIFE
Scam leaves student £10,000 down Aidan Phillips A phone scam affecting at least a dozen universities across the country has left students at the University of Sheffield in thousands of pounds of debt. At least four students at the University and nine people living or studying in Sheffield have been hit by the scam, leaving them in debt of hundreds or even thousands of pounds. One student ended up owing £10,000, according to the police. Explaining the scam, a statement from the National Mobile Phone Crime Unit (NMPCU) said: “University students across the country have been offered cash incentives to entice them into registering for personal mobile phone contracts which are then used for the benefit of a private company. “Invariably the student would receive a high value smart phone on a lengthy network contract,
but then send on the phone and SIM card to the private company for a small cash incentive and the promise of a modest monthly income. However, the students involved are now running up significant debts. “It is believed that students may have divulged significant detail about their bank accounts, credit or debit cards and personal circumstances, making them susceptible to identity fraud.” One student from the University of Sheffield has been left with debts of nearly £1,500 pounds, and has received “passive aggressive letters” from debt collectors since, demanding payment. The student said: “These guys would take out a phone contract – or two, three, four – in your name for a financial incentive, and then say they are going to cancel these contracts before it becomes a problem. They insisted it was all legal. “The story I was given was that
they then rented out the phones to businessman coming in that needed an English phone for a couple of weeks. And there was also some loophole that all of these phone contracts came with the latest iPhone.” The student said they think the scam first started in the 2011/12 academic year, and estimated there are far more than four students at the University who have been affected. Companies who have been targeted by the scammers include 02, Vodafone, EE, T-Mobile and 3 Mobile. A spokesperson from the University of Sheffield, said: “We have excellent support at the University and within our Students’ Union to help students who may have fallen victim of scams such as this. “As part of this, we will provide any affected students with appropriate advice and guidance and help liaise with other bodies
including the police, as the scam is the subject of an on-going police investigation. “As you’d expect, the welfare of our students is paramount to us and, as such, we have already issued advice and guidance to all of our student body to alert them of the suspected mobile phone fraud targeting students across the UK.” With at least a dozen universities affected, as of last month police were investigating at least 350 cases where students have lost money. As of August 20, the National Mobile Phone Crime Unit arrested 23 people on suspicion of committing fraud-related offences in connection with their investigation. The arrests were made last month, and all were bailed to dates between November and February pending further enquiries.
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He doesn’t know Wright from wrong
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Neelam Tailor South Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Shaun Wright has resigned over the Rotherham child sex exploitation scandal. Mr Wright has come under increasing pressure to step down in the wake of the publication of the Jay Report into child exploitation. The independent inquiry revealed that 1,400 children were sexually exploited in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013. Between April 2005 and May 2010, Wright was cabinet member for the children and young peoples’ services, the council department responsible for the safety of children in Rotherham. In the November 2012 Mr Wright was elected as PCC with 51.35 per cent of voters
backing him. The turnout was 14.53 per cent. Wright said: “My role as South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner has clearly become prominent in terms of public opinion and media coverage following the publication of Professor Alexis Jay’s report. This is detracting from the important issue, which should be everybody’s focus - the 1400 victims outlined in the report - and in providing support to victims and bringing to justice the criminals responsible for the atrocious crimes committed against them. “With this in mind, I feel that it is now right, to step down from the position of Police and Crime Commissioner for South Yorkshire, for the sake of those victims, for the sake of the public of South Yorkshire and to ensure that the important issues outlined in the report about tackling child sexual
exploitation can be discussed and considered in full and without distraction.” Nick Clegg, MP for Sheffield Hallam said: “People in South Yorkshire will welcome the news that the Police and Crime Commissioner has finally done the decent thing and stood aside. The important thing now is for the South Yorkshire Police to concentrate on going after the perpetrators of these terrible crimes so that the victims can finally see justice.” The Chief Executive is working with South Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Panel and the Home Office on arrangements for a by-election. PCC treasurer Steve Pick will take up the post until a new permanent one is decided at the by-election on 30 October 2014. Shaun Wright
Photo: Office for the PCC
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Jewish Society president hits out at “hostility” in Sheffield 4 Students’
Union President Yael Shafritz rejects the allegations and stresses commitment to diversity and inclusion Patrick O’Connell The president of the University’s Jewish Society has criticised the “hostile and intimidating” atmosphere in Sheffield. In a blog post J-Soc President Noam Yossef, who has previously lived in Israel and Romania, said: “I have never experienced anti-Semitism before I came to England.” Yossef, who was elected as President of the society in November, said that she felt “all aspects of Israeli life on campus” were subject to harassment. She referenced an incident in November when four people, including former SU President Abdi Suleiman, stormed onto the stage of the Sheffield Model United Nations conference in protest against the presence of the Israeli deputy ambassador. Joining Suleiman on stage was the thenEducation Officer Sam Rae – who later faced an online petition calling him to stand down – History councillor Minesh Parekh and a Palestinian Society member. Yossef also made reference to the Union “proposing a motion that all societies should enforce the boycott of Israel.” But Minesh Parekh, who sat on council last year, said that no motion was ever proposed before union council. Council did, however, pass a motion that commended Sam Rae for his actions. Instead of a motion proposing all societies must follow the SU’s Boycott, Divestments and Sanctions Movement (BDS) against Israel, a select committee was formed to investigate if societies should follow Union policies, as SU committees already do. The select committee recommended that the issue be deferred to the 2014-2015 council and that “an opt-in approach to policy” could be considered. Parekh said: “Recently this has been taken and misinterpreted, with several fallacies being suggested from it. “This was not, as some as taken to interpret it, either a motion proposed in council; neither forcing societies to abide by BDS.” Parekh also said he believed BDS had been misunderstood: “The idea that it calls for the boycotting of individuals who happen to be Israeli is baseless, and is definitely not what was suggested [in Union Council].”
But Yossef said actions of the Students’ Union had left her feeling “demonized, disenfranchised and disgraced.” Other students on the J-Soc committee disagreed, saying that they felt the incident was misrepresented. Joanna May Sutton-Klein, Sheffield J-Soc publicity officer, said: “Even if Noam had thought ‘maybe there’s a possibility that I might have to stand down’, what UJS wrote which is that ‘Sheffield students had to fight pressure to step down from committee positions’ is still not true. “The [claim] that we had to ‘fight pressure’ - no we didn’t have to.” In August the National Union of Students (NUS) National Executive Committee (NEC) voted in favour of the implementation of BDS. Following the vote, a statement released by the Union of Jewish Students (UJS) and a separate blog post by NUS NEC member Dario Celaschi both said: “those studying in Sheffield fought against intimidation campaigns aimed at making them step down as J-Soc officers, simply because they were Israeli”. Yossef is the only Israeli member of the committee. Sutton-Klein said regarding the allegation: “As a student in Sheffield, and a J-Soc committee member, I can confirm that their claim is false. “I repeat my call for UJS’s claim to be withdrawn.” The UJS and Celaschi subsequently both removed the claim from the articles. At the NEC meeting on September 16 an amendment was submitted – and then withdrawn – which accused the incident of being a fabrication and an “attempt at mobilising anti-Semitism for political purposes”. But Yossef said: “UJS’ actions [in removing the article] were because they were concerned about my well-being, NOT because the incident was untrue. “Executive members suggesting [UJS fabricated claims of anti-Semitism] should be ashamed.” Sutton-Klein also disagreed with the withdrawn NUS NEC amendment saying: “that amendment was saying that people very maliciously used anti-Semitism knowing that it was a lie to get their political way. I don’t think that’s true.”
U J S President Ella Rose also issued a statement in which she said: “I am the only person elected to speak on behalf of all 8,500 Jewish students in the United Kingdom and Ireland. R o s e attacked the withdrawn amendment, saying: “To declare the student’s experiences as void, and UJS’ mentioning of it as politically motivated, not only undermines an individual’s ability to express themselves, but stifles the potential to expose and stop genuine hatred against Jewish people and minorities.” But Sutton-Klein criticised the UJS and said she felt it did not represent all Jewish students, citing that only 6.15 per cent of UJS members voted in the recent presidential election. Sutton-Klein also said that she felt that the UJS’ statement would not encourage non-elected students who represent a minority to voice their opinions. She said: “Out of 10 full time UJS employees, just one of them has been elected. “They claim to represent the views of 8,500 Jewish students, but only 523 students voted in the most recent election. For them to tell students to stay quiet because they have not been elected is quite ridiculous.” Forge Press approached Noam Yossef for comment. In a statement Noam said: “The incident that was referenced in my blog was about how I felt as a Jewish-Israeli student when there were suggestions that a general Sheffield SU BDS motion would
SU President Yael Shafritz be enforced upon all societies and that all societies would have to advocate for this policy. “The incident was about how I felt as a Jewish-Israeli student and leader of a society within my union. Recognising the potential consequences of this approach, the motion was squashed by Sheffield SU in line with equality policy. But speaking exclusively to Forge Press, President of Sheffield’s Students’ Union Yael Shafritz defended the SU, saying: “The Students’ Union celebrates the diversity of its membership, and seeks to create an environment in which individuals and groups of students are free from discrimination, harassment and intimidation on our premises or in events and activities organised by the Students’ Union. “We absolutely reject the allegations made by the President of the Jewish Society, Noam Yossef, that Sheffield Students’ Union is ‘hostile and intimidating’ to Israeli students. “Any student breaching our commitment to diversity, or harassing another student, will be dealt with under our Disciplinary Regulations.”
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UniNEWS Sheffield student raises £50,000 for leukaemia
Interesting stories from other universities around the world
Freshers certainly not frugal
Freshers spend £200 on alcohol in their first week at University First year students will, on average, spend more than £200 on going out and alcohol during their first week of University, new research suggests. This is an increase on the £150 spent by freshers last year. Around 69 per cent of new students rely on their parents’ money to pay for their social life. Freshers at Colchester University have the most expensive first week, spending around £2,879. Most first years will spend around £1000 on technology, clothes and beauty treatments before arriving at uni. The research by website VoucherCodes.co.uk found out that last year students spend just six per cent of their week budget on food. Estel Farell Roig Chemistry building catches fire in Nottingham
An investigation has been launched after a major fire on Friday September 12 at the chemistry building at Nottingham University. Over 60 firefighters tackled the blaze through the night on Nottingham’s Jubilee campus. The university’s website describes the lab as being carbon neutral, built with natural materials, powered by renewable energy and incorporating “state-of-theart teaching and research laboratories”. The multimillion pound chemistry laboratory had been ‘completely destroyed’ but there were no casualties. It is believed the blaze was the biggest tackled by Notts Fire and Rescue Service since 2004. Adela Whittingham Six universities get top marks for gay friendliness Six universities have scored full marks in the Gay By Degree 2015 rankings published by LGB rights charity and lobby group Stonewall this week. Gay By Degree 2015 rates 158 universities across the UK using criteria such as whether universties have societies and hold events for LGB students, and whether LGB students are consulted in university decision-making The universities scoring full marks and therefore found to be are Cardiff University, the University of Essex, the University of Glasgow, Liverpool John Moores University, Sheffield Hallam University and York St John University. Another 11 universities scored nine out of 10, including the University of Birmingham, the University of Sheffield and University College London.
Adela Whittingham
Adela Whittingham Sheffield student Daniel Redhead has helped to raise £51,884 for blood cancer charity Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research. Daniel was inspired to support the charity after losing a friend to the disease aged 14. As coordinator of the Winterton and District branch of Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research, Daniel organised events such as bungee jumps, sponsored walks and a sponsored car wash.
Daniel, who studies Business Management, said: “I am ecstatic at having helped raise so much for a cause so close to my heart. We originally set out to raise just £500 back in 2010, to have raised over 100 times that amount is astonishing. I offer huge thanks for the outstanding support and commitment that has been shown by our fundraising team, which is primarily made up of young people and appreciate the immense support from our wider community. Daniel is part of the current group of
Lloyds Scholars studying at the University of Sheffield, through which students undertake voluntary work in return for funding, mentorship and a paid internship.
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X-rated Lectures ‘coming’ to Sheffield Neelam Tailor A series of four adult-only X-rated lectures will be held at the University of Sheffield as part of the 11- day Festival of the Mind. World-leading experts will be engaging their audiences with taboo topics such as the secret life of sperm, curious mating rituals, female promiscuity in the animal kingdom, and the use of technology in communicating intimacy. The unique series of ‘X Lectures’ will take place from the 18-24 September 2014 at the Festival of the Mind’s Spiegeltant in Barker’s Pool, Sheffield (opposite John Lewis.) The first lecture will be presented by Professor Mike Siva Jothy from the University of Sheffield, and will explain why many animals engage in painful and sometimes lethal mating rituals. This extreme behaviour appears to go against the self-interest of animal; however the lecture will reveal how it can be explained by neo-Darwinian evolutionary theory. Adrian Cheok, Professor of Pervasive Computing at City University London, will introduce, in the second lecture, the concept of experiencing taste, touch, and smell through the Internet and how “telepresence” technologies
will allow us to physically and sensually interact with people anywhere in the world in the near future. For lecture number three, the University of Sheffield’s Professor Tim Birkhead will be explaining how promiscuity in female animals is actually just as common among males, meaning sexual competition is just as fierce. Birkhead will guide us through how this can result in some elaborate genital structures in both male and female animals. The world of sperm will be tackled in the final lecture by Dr Alan Pacey of the University of Sheffield: the history of it, the ethics of it, and the economics of it. Festival of the Mind (18-28 September) will see the University of Sheffield’s leading academics join forces with the UK’s most famous artists and musicians to bring academia to the streets. (From top, clockwise) Birkhead, Pacey, Cheok and Jothy
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Photo: University of Sheffield
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Student snares Money funnelled into pervert passenger Russell Group unis Adela Whittingham A student from Sheffield helped to catch a man who sexually assaulted her on a train by taking a picture on her mobile phone. 39-year-old Raja Hussain was arrested by the British Transport Police and taken to court after the photograph was released. Prosecutor Catherine Duffy said the University of Sheffield student was waiting for a train at Sheffield Midland station on October 29 last year when Hussain started ‘grinning’ at her. The victim felt intimidated after the defendant began to look at pictures of naked women on his mobile phone from the train travelling between Sheffield and Doncaster. Miss Duffy said: “The defendant was looking at pictures of naked women on his mobile phone “He moved closer to the complainant and began to take off his jacket. As he did so he touched her.” The 18-year-old student
was praised for her bravery by Judge Paul Watson QC who told Sheffield Crown Court: “She is to be commended for the fact that she stuck to her guns and brought this to the attention of the authorities. “People who randomly sexually assault members of the public must expect custodial sentences. “What makes it serious is the element of fear this causes others. “She was brave enough and alert enough to report you and give the police information which eventually led to your arrest and eventual plea of guilty.” Hussain pleaded guilty to sexual assault and was given an eight-month jail term, suspended because of his previous good character, and an ASBO, banning him from trains for three years.
Keri Trigg The University of Sheffield is paving the way to accessible postgraduate education by offering 95 scholarships for further studies at the University. It is leading a group of five other Russell Group Universities – Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, Warwick and York – who have together offered over 400 places, worth a total of £6 million. The scheme awards cash grants of £5,540 to £13,850 to students from low income and care backgrounds, people with disabilities, mature students, those with caring responsibilities, and those in under-represented groups such as women in engineering. Despite offering £6 million worth of scholarships, half of which was provided by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), 1,300 eligible applicants were left disappointed due to the unprecedented demand. Dr Tony Strike, Director of Strategy, Planning and Change at the University of Sheffield, said: “It is very telling that we were massively over-subscribed for what is the biggest Postgraduate taught scholarship offer the country has seen. “The message of this is clear. Home students are not turning away from postgraduate study because they lack the talent or the ambition. “When you remove the financial barriers, there is an overwhelming
demand to continue study to enter the professions – to be teachers, architects, chartered engineers, lawyers and doctors.” The group is now working closely with employers and the financial sector with the aim to widen accessibility to postgraduate education for disadvantaged students. This follows a significant fall in the numbers of home students taking up postgraduate studies. The University’s Deputy ViceChancellor, Professor Paul White, said: “This offer has flagged up a huge demand for postgraduate study and now we hope that the government and employers will respond with action and funding.”
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Students head over heels EyOp! No more Space in as Uni lands 69 position the Student Union Tom Schneider The University of Sheffield has risen in the QS World University Rankings to be named the 69th best university in the world. The highly regarded global ranking is compiled from 90,000 survey responses collected from 3,000 universities across the world and is the largest and most extensive ranking for higher education institutions. Sheffield is now recognised as the 12th best institution in the UK and beat local white rose rivals to become number one in the Yorkshire region. Other notable universities ranked below Sheffield include LSE, the University of St Andrews and Durham University. Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sheffield, Professor Sir Keith Burnett, said “this global table places particular emphasis on the insights of peer academics around the world and we are delighted that they recognise our growing contribution amongst the
world’s best universities”. The Rankings were established in 2005 and over the past ten years Sheffield has soared 74 places. A total of 19 Faculty subject areas were recognised within the top 100 with Geography ranked 24th, Environmental Sciences 35th and Material Sciences 39th. In addition to recognising excellent faculties, the excellent Students’ Union and the outstanding support for international students were also highlighted. This is the latest in a spate of recent accolades that has seen the University named number one in the Times Higher Student Satisfaction Survey and the Union voted the best in the National Student Survey.
Tom Schneider Sheffield Students’ Union have confirmed that they will be launching a new club night on Friday nights at Foundry, Studio and Fusion. According to the official EyUp Sheffield Facebook page the name for the night “comes from the community and pride around Sheffield and Yorkshire and how much students in Sheffield feel part of this”. The new night, which has the tag line ‘An absolute monster of a night out’, will be open to both University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam students will feature chart anthems in Foundry, indie music in Studio and RnB in Fusion. The SU will still deliver Climax once a month in these venues and on these dates will hold an ‘EyUp Goes Big’ event in the Octagon. The first of these is on October 17 which will see a performance from drum and bass duo, Matrix and Futurebound, with more guests to be announced for November and December. SPACE, the SU’s previous Friday night offering ran for many years but was not always well attended. Joshua Thomas, a third year Biomedical Sciences student told
Forge that “the only reason I can see for the name of the night is the vast swathes of space on the dance floor”. Alex O’ Brien, Entertainments Manager of the SU said “we’ve been working behind the scenes to bring Sheffield students a fantastic new Friday night event where they can celebrate the weekend. SPACE ran for many years but all good things must come to an end. We feel EyUp will bring something new to our already strong club night rosta”. The first EyUp night kicks off at 11:30pm on September 26 with the Facebook p a g e promising a “REYT good” night out for all.
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‘Lad culture’ research tackles unwelcome sexual advances on UK campuses Neelam Tailor New research reveals that one in four students have faced unwelcome sexual advances, defined as inappropriate touching and groping. NUS President Toni Pearce has called on universities to tackle lad culture on UK campuses. In a survey of over 2,000 students, more than a third of women said they had suffered unwelcome sexual advances. 37 per cent of women and 12 per cent of men said that they endure unwanted sexual comments about their body. Two thirds of respondents said that they had seen other students putting up with unwanted sexual comments, with just under one third bearing witness to verbal harassment based on gender. 75 percent of the respondents said they were aware of online communities such as ‘Unilad’ and ‘Lad Bible’ with 63 per cent of female students agreeing that these contribute to and unfair representation of women. Over 50 per cent of the students asked
believed that women are more vulnerable than men. 60 per cent of respondents said they were not aware of any codes of conduct implemented by their university or students’ unions that prohibit or tackle sexual conversations, sexual comments, unwelcomed sexual advances, group intimidation and verbal harassment. Pearce said: ‘These stats show that harassment is rife on campus, but we still we keep hearing from universities that there is no fear, no intimidation, no problem - well this new research says otherwise. ‘Today I say to universities everywhere the passing the buck approach of ‘not on my campus’ is now completely unacceptable. They must acknowledge the problems and join us in confronting them. ‘Our Lad Culture National Strategy Team that includes students, students unions, and a range of external stakeholders, is launching a pilot scheme Photo: University for five to ten UK unions that will assess Sheffield what lad culture looks oflike on their
campus, and what is currently in place to tackle lad culture. ‘We need a new deal for students. Nobody should feel diminished, disrespected or unsafe on campus, and it is vital that behaviours resulting in this are challenged. Students unions and universities must work together to create a campuses that are welcoming, safe and supportive to all.’ Lad Culture National Strategy Team Ambassador Laura Bates said: “Students, are experiencing sexism, sexual harassment and assault within the university environment. It is worth mentioning that one category of such experiences, “inappropriate touching and groping” actually constitutes sexual assault under UK law. “Though many students would not label it as such, this normalisation and lack of awareness is a major part of the problem.” Since the Lad Culture Summit in February, NUS has been working to ensure that unions take more responsibility in the tackling of lad culture. Defined by NUS research (2013)
‘That’s What She Said; women students experiences of lad culture in higher education’ lad culture is a set of behaviours and attitudes that dominate social behaviours - social norms that belittle, dismiss, joke about or even seem to condone rape and sexual assault. Women’s Officer Miriam Miller said: “At Sheffield Students’ Union we are already working hard to try and address this problem. We have a Zero Tolerance to Sexual Harassment policy which means students can report incidents of harassment to a member of staff and the perpetrator will be stopped and disciplined. “We have also boycotted newspapers with Page 3 style content in order to remove sexually objectifying images of women from our campus, as we believe this contributes to the problem of harassment by placing value on a woman’s appearance and sexual availability instead of on her personality or achievements.”
YOUR CITY
YOUR UNIVERSITY
Brightening up Sheffield’s dark side Applications on
the rise
Anthony Phillips Wildflower experts from the University of Sheffield are to help in a new multi-million pound scheme to transform the area of the city from West Bar to Castlegate. Following the closure of the Castle Market area, the ‘grey to green’ scheme aims to gentrify the district by planting wildflowers, bulbs, plants and grasses alongside a narrowing of the road from four lanes to two in an attempt to transform the Riverside business district and to assist in flood prevention. The scheme which was provided with funding last week will be the first in a phase of developments planned for the city in the upcoming months.
Huang Lanlin
Photo: Wikimedia
The University of Sheffield has always been a popular choice among students, but this year it has seen applications rise by four per cent, with the number of offers made by admissions officers being increased by the same amount. The rise means increasingly well qualified students are likely to be allowed in to the University than previously due to reforms . It is caused by changes that institutions are allowed to enroll as many students with grades of AAB or higher as they like.
Lynsey Hopkins, Sheffield’s head of admissions, said the change has encouraged more young people to think about applying higher education otherwise they might not consider it. Due to the changes, she mentioned, most students have received offers from all five of their preferred universities.
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Uni scientists spray us with renewable energy initiative Joseph Bamford Scientists at the University of Sheffield have made a breakthrough in their quest to to find more sources of renewable energy: spray-on solar panels. Scientists believe these new spray- on renewables could be the way forward. They are yet to be fully developed and are still at the fledgling stage of their growth as a reliable way of producing renewable energy, but Professor David Lidzey is excited at their promise. “There is a lot of excitement around perovskite based photovoltaics”, he said. “Perovskite cells now have efficiencies of up to 19 per cent. This isn’t far behind that of silicon, at 25 per cent – the material that dominates the worldwide solar market.
“What we have done is replace the key light absorbing layer – the organic layer – with a spray-painted perovskite.” In August Professor Lidzey and a team from the Physics and Astronomy and Chemical and Biological Engineering departments at the university announced that they’d started using the perovskite for the first time in sprayon technologies. They are cheaper and easier to produce than silicon, and are clearly catching their more common scientific counterpart up in terms of efficiency. With little waste from them too, we may well see these small sprayon cells used on homes and offices in the not so distant future.
The two spray heads and the gantry
Photo: University of Sheffield
YOUR CITY
Sheffield City Council welcomes new charity run organisers Joseph Bamford A new organiser has been found for the 2015 Sheffield Half Marathon after this year’s start line debacle. Runners and spectators alike were extremely angry when the race was cancelled moments before it was due to begin owing to a water shortage. It has now emerged that Jane Tomlinson’s Run For All will partner Sheffield City Council in organising the marathon. The nonprofit company is part of the legacy to the late Jane Tomlinson CBE, who raised £1.85m for charity despite being diagnosed with terminal cancer. It has also organised events such as the Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon, 10k events in Leeds and York as well as the Leeds Half Marathon. Run For All’s Mike Tomlinson was proud that the company would take charge of the event. He said: “We are thrilled to be given the opportunity to work in partnership with Sheffield
City Council at such a fantastic event “Sheffield is rightly known as the City of Sport. It has a fantastic heritage and we are delighted to be given the opportunity to organise the first Plusnet Yorkshire Half Marathon. Voluntary organisers came under intense scrutiny last time out, as thousands of competitors were told the race had been cancelled, as race water supplier Water Direct said it had not been paid by Sheffield Marathon Ltd. Organisers said they were never instructed to pay in advance. Councillor Isobel Bowler, Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Sport said: “We are delighted to welcome the new organisers and this new event to the city. “Sheffield is an ideal city for runners with its green routes and proximity to the Peak District with wonderful routes that are just ideal for first time runners to discover”, she said. Having a local race to train for is very motivating and I hope today’s launch will encourage people to get running.”
Sheffield Half Marathon 2011
PART TIME JOBS
Photo: Flickr
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‘Master plan’ said to improve social science degrees
National News British couples are having less sex because of their pets
Elsa Vulliamy The University of Sheffield Estate Facilities Management have developed a ‘master plan’ to improve the University campus over the next 10 years. Changes include a £1.6 million investment into the faculty of Engineering as well as a potential new Social Sciences building.
EFM also plan to make the campus safer for pedestrians. They plan to reduce traffic along Leavygreave road by only allowing vehicles in quieter hours and diverting the bus routes that travel along this road. They are currently discussing this with Sheffield City Council. As well as making campus
safer, EFM also wish to make it more green. They are considering developing the area surrounding St George’s church by planting trees and placing benchesmaking it more like a park. Similar changes may take place in what is currently the Arts Tower car park. A new car park is being opened on the
edge of campus, and so EFM are discussing filling the area in front of the Arts Tower with trees and grass to make campus more pleasant. The University, which is rated number one for Facilities in the Times Higher Education Awards 2014, say that they want the outdoor facilities to match the
For the third year running, the University of Sheffield’s Students’ Union has been voted number one in the National Student Survey (NSS) 2014. The result follows the University being voted number one in the Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey in May. The recent successes in these surveys suggest students at the University are happier than ever, something that pleases Students’ Union President Yael Shafritz. She said: “We’re absolutely delighted that the Students’ Union is rated number one for the
third year in a row “Without doubt this is down the the fact that our Students’ Union is committed to creating a vibrant, diverse and supportive student community.” President Shafritz was full of praise for Sheffield’s students, too, saying: “I feel a sense of ownership over the ranking, not because I was elected, but because every student who has ever been involved in the union is the reason we’ve remained the best. “Our student focus means that while we regularly rank number one we’re always looking to do more to create a better and more inclusive student community that
Sheffield students love to be a part of.” The fresh success for the Students’ Union has come as welcome relief after its £20m refurbishment in recent years. The £81m Diamond will follow next. Currently under construction, it will be a new engineering building close to Jessop West, which will house lecture theatres, specialist engineering teaching facilities and library services among other things. The combination of new projects and continued success means there will be exciting times still to come for the students of the University of Sheffield.
Matthew Willmore, 21, and Adam Hawksbee, 22, became the first European debating champions from a Yorkshire institution after defeating Oxford, Cambridge and Edinburgh universities in the final. 220 teams of two people from universities from all over Europe participated in the competition which took place in Zagreb in August. Willmore, who studied Politics and Philosophy and was the Debating Society training officer last year, said: “We came up against some brilliant teams on some very difficult motions. However, the general atmosphere is great as there are around 800 students from across Europe all in one place. There were socials in the evening and, between rounds, everyone was fairly relaxed”. The motion given for the final was ‘This house believes that the feminist movement should oppose military interventions which claim to further women’s rights’ and Willmore said: “We had 15 minutes to prepare our case and were ushered into actors’ changing rooms. Adam and I were lucky as we came up with our case very
quickly and were confident in our argument. “Being seen as underdogs really helped us in the final as we didn’t have the weight of expectation to deal with. “The support we received was great. As we walked out, the crowd sang “Common People” by Pulp, which was a really nice surprise. The warm welcome and continued support really buoyed our confidence. Hawksbee, who studied History and Politics and was the President of the Working Committee last year, said: “It was an enormous amount of fun. We were really nervous beforehand so we spent the day drinking beer in a bar over the road from the hotel to calm our nerves, which meant we were a bit tipsy by the time we got into our tuxes and headed down to the venue”. Willmore said: “this was very much a communal and not personal victory. Sheffield Debating has been incredibly important in our training and development and everyone involved has forged part of this success”. Sheffield Debating meets on Monday nights in Coffee Revolution and Tuesday nights in the Gallery.
YOUR UNIVERSITY
the London Underground
A frustrated commuter this week proved that travelling by foot can be just as fast as taking the Tube when he raced and beat a London Underground train in a race. James Heptonstall filmed the 380m sprint between Mansion House and Cannon Street while his friend Noel Carroll undertook the same journey on the Circle Line. Heptonstall, 30, recorded the stunt using his GoPro camera after seeing similar stunts in other European cities. He said: said “It was just a test project. I got some quite strange looks from people in the carriage; they said they did not think I would make it. [The other passengers] were all waiting on tenterhooks but then I dived on the Tube and they were applauding”.
Photo: Neelam Tailor
Debating underdogs storm Europe in university competition Estel Farell Roig
Estel Farell Roig Commuter races (and beats)
Our SU storms to top spot (again) Joseph Bamford
A survey of Britons in longterm relationship (of two years or more) has found out couples are having less sex in 2014 than last year. The most common cause given for that is financial concerns. However, 31 per cent of the 2,733 surveyed said that pets sharing their beds was affecting their sex life. Dr Cath Mercer, from University College London, said: “We also think modern technologies are behind the trend too. People have tablets and smartphones and they are taking them into the bedroom, using Twitter and Facebook, answering emails.”
Hawkbee (left) and Wilmore
YOUR UNIVERSITY
Emily Keat Tom Schneider 19 year-old becomes first professional mermaid
Emily Keat, from Cornwall, turned herself into a mermaid after thinking becoming a fairy would be unrealistic. The teenager from Cornwall, who has even dyed her hair red, built her own six foot tail from old swimming suits. She has made a shiny blue and green outfit, like the one of Ariel in The Little Mermaid. Emily Keat said: “I absolutely love being a mermaid – I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. “I wasn’t sure the tail would work in the water. But, once I had made it, I tried it out and was amazed at how well it worked”. She makes a living from modelling and appearing at children’s parties. She has also been involved in promoting environmental causes.
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Deprived of education in Palestine Khalid A-Omari With the destruction of more than 270 schools, the bombardment of universities, and the continuation of the brutal siege which restricts and impedes the movement of university students outside Gaza, the future of a whole generation is under threat. Since the beginning of the Israeli occupation, Palestine has recognized the power of education in resisting occupation and oppression. Today, especially after the recent conflict which has claimed the lives of thousands of civilians and extensively damaged infrastructure in Gaza, students are determined to start their academic year. Even if lessons are to be taught on the rubble of demolished educational institutions. The photos reflecting such persistence have been inspired students worldwide. Last year, a twinning policy between our Students’ Union and the Islamic University of Gaza was passed by our students’ vote. The policy resulted in successful lobbying of the university to provide an annual scholarship fund for a Master’s student from Gaza. This year we were expecting Omar Falyouna to come to Sheffield to study a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering: Contaminant Hydrogeology. Such a degree would be a vital asset for Omar in contributing to solving the water contamination problem in the rebuilding of Gaza.
“The future of a whole generation is under threat” Unfortunately, Omar’s dream in pursuing his postgraduate degree is being slowly shattered by the UK visa system’s bureaucracy. Although a ceasefire agreement had been reached and enacted between the Israeli regime and the Palestinian authorities, Gaza’s UK visa office remains closed for “security and safety reasons”. This decision seems unreasonable given that other European visa offices/agencies have opened and resumed their usual work. What makes things more frustrating is the fact that the UK office acts only as secretary for the consulate in Jerusalem. This means that the office’s sole job is to package the documents and data submitted by students, mail them to the consulate in Jerusalem which will in turn send them to the embassy in Jordan where the decision is made. Such complicated processes could be easily circumvented by sending the documents to the embassy in Jordan via a trusted courier: a solution that was rejected for no specific reason. Without getting the visa, it will be impossible for Omar to continue his education in UK. He will lose his scholarship. More pressure from universities on UKBA might expedite the visa process, but what is truly needed to radically solve this problem is a collective effort by academic and civil society to lobby for an end to Israeli government support - an end to funding occupation, war crime, and depriving Palestinians from their basic right to education.
, e a n r o UK Chris Hedges In case you haven’t heard, there’s been a referendum on whether or not the Scottish people want to remain part of the UK or become independent (for a few months before Russia annexes it). It may only seem like a petty battle between the orang-utanic Alex Salmond and Alistair Darling’s eyebrows, but really it’s a wonderful democratic triumph. The population are only rarely trusted to make big decisions affecting their national futures. The only true intervals of democracy we usually get are in deciding which privileged careerists will attempt to manage our country for the next five years. It’s easy to understand why Scotland would feel so disillusioned with UK politics when you remember 2010: they voted for a Labour government and got
d n a l t o c S s ’ d n a Scotl
Cameron.
We don’t know the outcome yet (you probably do, lucky future reader) but we should feel optimistic. Whether Scotland stays or goes, it’s a great day for all because the Scottish have made that decision for themselves, and for once, Westminster listened.
“This isn’t a question of money, but identity”
Obviously each country would be marginally worse off; they’ve got all our oil and most of our left wing MPs, we’ve got Peter Capaldi. It will cost billions in fiscal jiggling before their economy eventually stabilises, but bear in mind: this isn’t a question of money, but identity. Ultimately I think I wanted Scotland to vote yes. You wouldn’t tell a friend to stay in a negligent, abusive relationship for the sake of a handful of economic benefits. Besides, in 2014 nations
don’t have to be large to survive; in the past more land and allies meant fewer invasions, but now that’s no longer an issue. Western countries can be smaller, thus fairer to their citizens. A yes vote would likely result in a swathe of calls for independence referendums (of varying prospects) from Catalonia to Cornwall. Europe’s geopolitical shape may then eventually shift to encompass many ministates who can get on with what their public wants, instead of oversized national governments ignoring them. In the end either outcome would have been more or
less the same, assuming Westminster sticks to its promises; Scotland will end up with more autonomy but will
still end up answering, for the most part, to Brussels.
The only real change a yes vote will make will be a few punctured egos in London and better-defined Scottish public policy. This referendum has ostensibly been an extremely successful ‘we exist’ protest against a not-so-democratic democracy resulting in a future in which Scotland will be afforded more responsibilities concerning its own country and people. Let’s just hope that they’re not given to Alex Salmond. Or Alistair Darling. Or Gordon Brown. Maybe Irvine Welsh?
The dangers of climate change are catastrophic, and getting closer Isaac Stovell The entire world approaches a set of deadlines: those of the UN’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), eight international betterment targets for 2015. Eradicating extreme poverty, ensuring environmental sustainability, establishing global partnerships, empowering women, combating disease, improving maternal health, reducing child mortality, achieving universal primary education: the progress was monitored by 60 measurable indicators, and news is positive. Wealth, education, gender equality and health, while still far from a global ideal have (by the UN’s indicators) quantifiably improved. Many official pats on backs are deserved. However, another deadline also encroaches; one unconstrained by targets and uncontrolled by governments: climate change triggers. Environmental scientists consider the safe maximum CO2 in our atmosphere to be 400ppm (parts per million), beyond which we’re likely to hit “trigger” effects: icecaps melting, forests losing absorption capacity, melting tundra releasing gigatonnes of trapped methane. If greenhouse gases are kept below 400ppm,
the long-term global average temperature increase is forecast as 2°C; if triggers are set off, global warming ramps up exponentially and the rise could be far higher (conservative scenarios place it at 5 or 6 degrees). How close is this deadline? Terrifyingly: August 2014 measurements for atmospheric CO2 were 397ppm, and annual trends show that it’s still increasing rapidly. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change studies indicate that we’re “more likely than not” to exceed the 2° boundary, which, unmitigated, will lead to further warming. All too often warnings of global warming are dismissed as slightly-better-weather: but extreme climate change’s effect on human wellbeing will be catastrophic. The sheer scale of the liable catastrophes has failed to permeate public understanding. Nature will bear the brunt, as entire ecosystems fall apart. But despite centuries of industrialisation separating us realising it, we rely on consistent natural processes for our material existence. Extreme weather events will increase in intensity, regularity, and spread. Lakes and glaciers will be depleted, exacerbating water shortages. Suitable habitats for tropical-diseasespreading creatures such as
mosquitoes will widen. Crop yields will fall as agricultural systems struggle with higher temperatures. Rising sea-levels will submerge coastal areas; cities like London and New York risk flooding and small island nations like the Maldives may sink entirely. Hundreds of millions of people may be displaced, similar numbers face water and food scarcity; tens of trillions of dollars in costs will be incurred in lost assets, rising prices, compensated disasters. Billions of people’s lives teeter on collapse. Roughly 60 percent of the global economy risks failure.
“Government policies, corporate activities and individual lifestyles need to change” Climate change, if untackled, will be the greatest collective failure in human history – and so one would expect the UN to face it in its MDGs. However, indicators for “success” in its focus on environmental sustainability do not include reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This isn’t a minor oversight but a tragedy: one with the capacity to undo much of the MDGs achievement. Global warming’s probable fallout will require enormous
economic investment to adapt to. Poorer countries then, those same ones targeted by international betterment schemes, will be even less able to maintain stability. The concerns that climate change will thrust upon less-developed nations will swamp their ability to independently sustain human progress. But the MDG deadline of 2015 is almost here, and the safe limit of 400ppm is also deadly close to being exceeded. Since the UN hadn’t monitored the latter as a target-oriented international concern among the former, we’re on the brink of triggering undoable catastrophes that may set socioeconomic progress back decades, and hinder it for centuries. To avoid toppling off that brink won’t be easy: government policies, corporate activities and individual lifestyles need to change on a huge scale. It will be expensive, but efforts put into making our world sustainable will be priceless in the not-sofar future.
Got an opinion on the topics discussed this fortnight? Contact us: letters@forgetoday.com
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Ain’t no party like a transatlantic trade party Michael Haywood The EU is normally fertile ground for political point-scoring over the sapping of national power or the tyranny of some federalist Brussels-based bureaucrat. It would therefore be reasonable to expect to have heard more about the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), a pending international agreement which has the potential to radically alter the European-American market. But despite much rhetoric around the EU centred upon Britain’s loss of political and economic sovereignty, public debate around TTIP is nonexistant. Defending the EU is amongst the most thankless tasks going, even the most ardent Europhile finds it hard to fight on so many fronts. TTIP, which would see the removal of many trade barriers between the EU and the US, is a prime example of policy likely to receive attack from Eurosceptic
critics. Less-regulated markets seem naturally to appeal to the Tories, and with various sources predicting considerable GDP growth as a result, it is perhaps unsurprising for the government to remain quiet on the issue. In the early stages of negotiations, plans w e r e leaked that included a mechanism by which corporations could sue the governments of member states for inhibiting their profitability with regulation, which is seen as failing to adhere to the agreement. The use of secretive offshore arbitration is just the kind of affront to parliamentary s ov e re i g nt y which has proved a vote-winner for UKIP and the right of
the Conservative Party in recent times. This is why the government’s silence on these ideas is incongruous with the mood in British politics of late. Moreover we should be worried by offshore arbitration which detracts from the sovereignty of
the European Court, a body with the experience to forge a wider trade area like the one proposed in TTIP. Instead power is being handed to corporations within the trade area. It is no surprise to hear the protests loudest from the left, which is more at home
Centuries of colonialism: the context of your ‘gap yah’ trip Lauren Archer Every year, hundreds of first-year students arrive on campus, harem pant-clad and tanned, full of the knowledge and insight gained from a gap year: twelve months spent abroad, often in developing countries, often with an element of volunteering. Volunteer tourism, or voluntourism, is now a widespread phenomenon, with a wide range of private and government-funded projects encouraging sixth formers across the country to fork out thousands of pounds to take a trip overseas and help those in need. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to help people living in developing countries, it’s a nice ambition and it’s great that so many of these firsttime travellers come away from their experience with a better understanding of poverty and global inequality. But, for those who live in immense poverty, watching a group of teenagers in red chino shorts fumble their way through the building of an orphanage doesn’t actually do much to help. For every hour that an
unskilled, slightly sunburnt private school kid spends laying brickwork or digging wells, a local labourer finds themselves unpaid and cast aside by their Western ‘benefactor’. It’s great that privileged, western teenagers want to help people worse off than them, but often, through voluntourism projects, this can mean taking labour and, in turn, wages away from those living permanently in the affected community. Bluntly put, there is nothing about entering an impoverished community for two weeks, sampling a new, more difficult way of life, before getting back on the plane and back to the comfort of a nice five-bedroom house in the Home Counties. You can’t try poverty, nor culture, on for size. Neighbourhoods and communities in developing countries are uprooted time and time again to make way for yet another set of, largely white, largely well-off, tourists, who stay for brief periods, starting projects and forging connections, before jetting off and forgetting the world they leave behind. The children looked after in orphanages and taught
English in schools, which, as a practice, has so many of its own connotations of colonialism; can become quickly attached to their Western visitors. Locals have reported these children, who have often been victims of sexual abuse or exploitation, are lavished with gifts and attention when the groups of schoolchildren arrive, and become emotionally distressed when they are eventually left behind.
“Short bursts of affection create a damaging culture ofWestern idolatry”
These short bursts of affection and attention can create a damaging culture of Western idolatry amongst groups of, often female, children who, rather than idolising their mothers, sisters or schoolteachers, become infatuated with the ideal of Western womanhood, with all its underlying white supremacy and misogyny. For the students who go on these trips, I don’t doubt
most do so with the best intentions. It is not always possible, when in many schools across the UK a period of voluntourism is a rite of passage, to consider the trip in the contexts of colonialism and imperialism. But it is worth considering that a gap year does not exist in a historical vacuum, and that going abroad to ‘help those less fortunate’, carries so many connotations of what Kipling sickeningly called the ‘white man’s burden’ – a perceived obligation for the white, western world to rescue, develop and educate those living in developing nations. Obviously, this notion is a blatant example of racism and white supremacy, and not one of which I’d accuse any gap year enthusiast, but it’s a historical context worth bearing in mind.
railing against the power of large corporations, especially when combined with a perceived threat to the NHS, as TTIP has been argued by some to be. However, in the last few weeks the EU negotiator has gained concessions to safeguard the NHS, surely we can’t ask for more than that? There are undoubtedly good reasons to be suspicious of negotiations for significant policies which have been conducted behind closed doors. Nonetheless, trade is so integral to the EU that rejection of TTIP raises questions as to the nature of British membership. Free trade is not exactly an alien concept to the British and to reject it because it stems from Brussels is surely churlish.
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The plight of the sober fresher
Dario Panada & Anthony Phillips So welcome to university, and welcome to Sheffield! If you are reading this edition, you survived the frenetic and chaotic challenge commonly referred to as moving-in weekend and have begun the adventure known as university life. You may feel slightly overwhelmed by the hundreds of e-mails flooding your inbox and the speed at which Facebook notifications push in, but don’t worry, at least they’re not from an angry seminar leader yet! One inevitable trait of Intro Week is the incredible amount of alcohol consumed by students in the space of just seven nights. If you live in halls, chances are that among the first topics you discuss with your flatmates, together with the inevitable ‘What’s your name?’, ‘Where are you from?’ and ‘What do you study?’ (prepare to answer these at least fifteen times a day for the next couple of weeks!) will be the question of pre-drinks. Even if you don’t live in
halls, all you need in a short stroll down West Street after dark to find yourself in a dystopic haze of £1 jagerbombs and half-hearted fancy dress. But fear not! Freshers’ week doesn’t have to be the boozefilled week that is often typecast in the media. Here are four quick tips for freshers who don’t drink:
1. Be honest with your flatmates
Don’t wait for the first night when drinking games commence, nor wait for the panic that will ensue when you are the target of “down it fresher”. Be honest with your flatmates from the get go and let them know that you don’t drink. That way everyone can move past the awkwardness and enjoy your first week together. I was hesitant to tell my flatmates at first, but if you’re honest about it your choice will be met casually and with respect.
2. Don’t worry, you aren’t alone
A number of freshers moving to university don’t drink for personal or religious reasons, so don’t be scared thinking you are the only sober one when your flatmates are sat singing Oasis in the kitchen at 4am. You’ll bump into numerous people on the first night in exactly the same position as you.
3. Get involved in as many events as possible
If you are a non-drinker who doesn’t enjoy the club nights, there are a huge variety of other day and evening events that societies and the Student Union have to offer. Events such as Give It A Go can be tonnes of fun, as can board game or film sessions. These can be a great way to socialise and make friends, so try as many as you like!
4. Enjoy it!
Freshers week is a once in a lifetime experience! Don’t hide in your bedroom skyping family, get out there and make
Editorial Welcome to your first issue Welcome to Sheffield! If you’re a new student, I have good news for you – the worst part is over. Gone are the days of agonising over A-Level grades and Ucas statements. You’ve finally arrived, and you’re free to enjoy one of the UK’s most beautiful cities. Forge Press is a fortnightly student publication, the purpose of which is primarily to give students a voice and keep them informed. We are committed to representing as many students as possible, and so we’d love you to dive straight in and get involved with us. If you’d like to learn more, please come and see us at the Activities Fair which is taking place on Thursday September 25 in the Octagon Centre. We’re looking for tons of new writers and a few new editors to join the Forge Press family, and we’d love to meet you. If you’re also interested in radio and TV, the whole of Forge Media will be having a welcome meeting
the most of it. Making friends and having fun is just as easy (arguably better) sober, all it takes is you to get involved. When looking back on your freshers’ year in later life, you’ll certainly be glad to have happy anecdotes that don’t end with passing out or “chundering everywhere”.
Monday September 29 in Arts Tower lecture theatre 6. If you’re intimidated by big meetings, you can come and speak to the team by yourself in the Media Hub on level 4 of the SU (just follow the signs). Freshers’ Week can be hard, and it’s easy to let anxiety get the better of you and prevent you from enjoying yourself, but try not to panic. You’ve managed to secure yourself a place at an amazing Uni (we’re number one in, like, everything important). The city of Sheffield is full of fantastic pubs (see Features), scrumptious cuisine (see Lifestyle) and an astounding range of arts and culture (see Fuse). If you’re a returning student, thanks for picking up the first issue of the year, and remember we’d love to see you too. If you feel too old to brave the Activities Fair, come along to the ol’ Media Hub for a chin-wag. See you in a fortnight, Happy reading!
Elsa Vulliamy - Forge Press editor elsa.vulliamy@forgetoday.com
D.A.R.T.S.
Forge Press takes its satirical aim
Irrelevant referendum opinions of the fortnight
Groundskeeper Willie aside, whose opinion we all took pretty seriously here at Forge Comment, there were a number of bizarre, obselete figures rearing their heads to voice their opinions on the question of Scottish independence. We can honestly say we’ve never sat down and thought about what David Beckham’s opinion is on the formation of the UK.
Quote of the fortnight
“I am quickly coming to detest Forge Press, and, in fact, the entirety of Forge Media” Patrick O’Connell, News Editor/all-round positive individual
Twitter account of the fortnight In the days following the death of well-known (and widely-feared) Irish unionist Ian Paisley, many Irish political figures took to social media to bid farewell to the controversial figure. Amongst them was Gerry Adams, who presides over the republican Sinn Fein party. Adams’ Twitter account is littered with videos of his conference speeches, political musings and… some stuff that is literally nonsense. Here, for your perusal, are some of the best from one of Ireland’s leading political figures.
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The Sheffield Bucket List Whether you’re a squeaky clean Fresher or fearful third year, you’re sure to have missed out on some of the great things to do in Sheffield with its abundance of opportunities. There’s so much available to immerse yourself in, with the University and all of its societies, but try not to neglect elements of Sheffield’s culture. Use Chloe Bolton’s Bucket List to make sure you have no regrets when you graduate! Local cuisine One of the many things that Sheffield is famous for is Henderson’s Relish; a spicy and tangy sauce that non-Yorkshire born students may opt to slather on cheese on toast. But here in Sheffield, it is a ritual to cover pies in the brown sauce - not just gravy. It’s almost inevitable that you will or already have sampled one of the heavenly pies from Broomhill’s local, the Nottingham House, so when you next pay the Notty a visit make sure you grab a bottle of Hendo’s from the bar. On top of this, check out PJ Taste on Glossop Road for their famous Sheffield Egg, a mutated Scotch egg, locally sourced and filled with secret ingredients. PJ Taste is totally worth a try.
Enjoy the independent cinema scene It’s inevitable that as a student, you’re going to invest a lot of time in stimulating your mind through the medium of cinematic texts (AKA skipping lectures and spending days at a time hungover in your dressing gown, with only enough energy to turn on Netflix). However, if you fancy exercising this, er, hobby further, Sheffield’s Showroom & Workstation is one of the finest – not biased - independent arthouse cinemas in the country, so this is the perfect place to enjoy a film. They show a great range of the newest releases mixed with some lesser known indie films, as well as often showing classics and having themed movie showings. Search for the Showroom on Google for listings.
Live music It’s no secret that Sheffield is bursting with musical talent; from the Arctic Monkeys to Pulp, many have graced the pubs, clubs and bars that you’ll become acquainted with throughout your time here. The O2 Academy and Leadmill will host more familiar names, whilst venues such as West Street Live offer fresher and more up and coming acts. The Harley hosts an array of musical talent, from alternative bands to DJs like Maribou State. If you’re into your warehouse nights with underground house DJs playing, check out little known venues such as Hope Works, the Night Kitchen and Fez Club. Clichés aside, there really is something for everyone in Sheffield.
Students’ Union nights out There’s a lot of stigma attached to the idea of descending on the Students’ Union for nights out, but this isn’t entirely applicable here in Sheffield. Sheffield born DJ Toddla T hailed Tuesdays as “the new Friday” after attending the Tuesday Club; the unofficial best student night across the country. Foundry & Fusion in the SU has headlined with some of the best DJs around, with Jamie XX, Bonobo, Disclosure and Skream to name a few. If house and techno aren’t really your scene, other nights at the Union include ROAR, Space and last but not least Pop Tarts, where all your 90s favourites and guilty pleasures blare into the early hours. They even hosted Wheatus at one point!
FO R GE PRESS Fr i day S eptembe r 19 2014 Forge P ress
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Paternoster lift Pater-what? You’ll face no shame in admitting that you’re absolutely clueless as to what a paternoster is, after all, there are hardly any around these days. The paternoster, situated in the Arts Tower, is a mildly terrifying continuous open lift that you hop in and out of. There’s no stopping the paternoster. You have a few seconds to judge when you can exit; and if not executed well it looks like you’re going to end up at the top of the tower. Pressure aside, it’s worth giving this unusual lift a whirl considering that it’s only one of a handful of remaining paternosters across Europe.
Visit John’s Van Picture the scene: it’s 9am on Thursday morning and after spending last night at Corp’s Skool Disco, you’re feeling painfully fragile as you crawl to the Hicks Building for your first lecture. Your stomach growls in need of something to soak up what’s left of the blue pints, but one of your housemates had used the last of your out-of-date Warburton’s toastie loaf. Then you spot it, the metal hub of greatness that is John’s Van. There’s something about this breakfast van that students of Sheffield simply adore. In September of last year, the van was stolen and sparked frenzy amongst the student community. News of the crime spread like wildfire as Facebook pages were created, posters were printed and petitions were signed, our sister Forge Radio even dedicated a music video in remembrance. The van was found weeks later and has long been back up and running. John didn’t get all of that support for nothing, so make sure you sample a bacon buttie when you’re next in need of a hangover cure.
Try real ale People in Sheffield are crazy about their ale. They’re not big on a bottle of Desperados with the lime stuck in the top, they want the proper stuff and luckily it comes in abundance here. From Kelham Island to Abbeydale Brewery, the Steel City has an immensely diverse selection of ales on offer, so it might take you a few pub lunches to determine your favourite tipple. If you’re feeling uncertain about straying from your usual Carlsberg, try starting with a pale ale such as Moonshine. Check out our local pub guide on pages 14-15.
Meadowhall Sheffield city centre, while gorgeous, is considered quite small in comparison to hometowns such as Manchester and Birmingham. We’re lucky, though, to have Meadowhall, the 8th largest shopping centre in the UK, right on our doorstep. When student loans grace our bank accounts, student lock-ins are held in Meadowhall, where shops offer exclusive discounts to pauper students. It’s fair to say that if you exhaust the independent vintage shops dotted around Division Street, there is a larger selection of high street stores available just a fifteen minute tram ride away. Try to avoid the shopping centre in peak times or Christmas, otherwise you’re at risk of seeing why it has been awarded the nickname ‘Meadowhell’.
Eat out on London Road We all know that students are strapped for cash. However, while we don’t mind reinforcing the Brit stereotype that we’re binge drinking the taxpayer’s money away (heaven forbid!), something we aren’t really known for is developing our palettes. For once, we don’t have to settle for mum’s leftover Shepherd’s Pie and we have the freedom to cook for ourselves! Well, if we weren’t so lazy we would, that is. Students actually spend a lot of time eating out. There’s a ton of mouth-watering eateries in the city centre, but make sure you venture out to London Road, where diverse and authentic cuisines are often forgotten about due to being slightly further out of the way. From sushi specialists WusabiSabi to Urban Choola’s delicious Indian options to Dim Sum taking the title of “the best Chinese in Sheffield”, there’s something for anyone, providing you’re not too picky. It’s what the overdrafts are there for, folks!
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Friday September 19 2014 Forge Press
Sheffield: the ultimate pub guide The Steel City is renowned for its alehouses and breweries, it was recently a top international beer destination by The New York Times. So if you fancy a break from the same old clubs, but don’t fancy splashing the cash on The Great Gatsby’s extortionate (but very pretty) cocktails, then why not sample some of Sheffield’s finest beer in the vast array of pubs the city has to offer. Mollie Carberry’s new guide will take you through five of the city’s best pubs; from some of the most popular choices that are often packed to the rafters with students, to those little known gems that might just become your new local.
Crosspool Tavern
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here is one significant reason that the Crosspool Tav is featured on this list - the carvery. One of the home comforts most students crave is a lovely home-made Sunday roast, and it is a lot of effort to attempt to make a half-decent roast dinner using the terrible ovens in halls. Here is where the Crosspool Tav comes into play. Only a 15-minute walk (or a 10-minute speed-walk if you’re starving) from Broomhill, you really won’t find anywhere offering a cheaper plateful that’s not only towering, but genuinely delicious. Choose from one of five meats, then pile on as many different vegetables, potatoes and sauces as is physically possible for £7.29. And then go back 15 more times until you’re so stuffed you can’t actually move. If you’re feeling a little bit childish, then help yourself to a bottomless ice cream with limitless toppings for just £1.99, and then walk it all off on your way back home. Must Do: Don’t go on a Sunday. If you want to have the carvery all to yourself, make an impromptu trip on a weekday afternoon, when the carvery price drops to just £4.39. If roast dinners aren’t your thing, don’t worry: with two meals and unlimited veg for £7, and all-you-can-eat breakfast for just £3.99, the Crosspool Tav may become your second home.
Nottingham House
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ocated just stone’s throw from Endcliffe Village, the Nottingham House is perfectly positioned to become your new local. The Notty has an endearing quality that is rarely found in local pubs: an overwhelmingly student-friendly environment, despite the high percentage of Sheffield locals who frequent it. It also has everything you could ever ask of a pub: live DJs and bands playing regularly, live sports shown on three screens, board games and a pool table. The Monday night pub quiz is also a must - with free entry and free cheesy nachos (repeat, free cheesy nachos), it really is no wonder that it’s so popular with students. Must Do: At some point during your time at university, you have to try a famous Notty pie. Nottingham House prides itself on its range of mouth-watering pies, even modestly referring to them as ‘Sheffield’s finest homemade pies’. That’s a big statement to make, so pop in and judge for yourself.
The Hallamshire Ho
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f you live in the Crookesmoor traditional pub with a contempo Located on Commonside (nea world, New Cod On The Block), track, which is the only conceiva constantly queuing to get in. Serving Thornbridge Brewery a extensive range of local ciders, b is definitely the place to visit if y connoisseur. Not only this, but w obligatory stuffed animal head w area in existence, the decor is simp The atmosphere is bustling and w you’ll begin to recognise the same hosts a huge crowd of very friend
Must Do: If you do pay the Ha a Monday night. This is when the le pub quiz takes place. But be warne With the same pub quiz teams vying for the title, make sure you on the news of the week and your chance of nabbing the title.
Forge Press Friday September 19 2014
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area, the Hallamshire House, a orary twist, is an ideal local ar one of the best chippies in the it’s perhaps a little off the beaten vable reason why people aren’t
ales as well as an interesting and beers and wines, the Hallamshire you fancy yourself as an alcohol with huge leather armchairs, the wall art and the cosiest smoking ply unbeatable. welcoming; after a couple of visits e faces, as the Hallamshire House dly locals.
allamshire a visit, make sure it’s on egendary (and very entertaining) ed: it gets ridiculously competitive. showing up week after week and u’ve done your research! Brush up general knowledge if you want a
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The Harley
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he Harley is definitely not just another run-of-the-mill pub. Also functioning as a club, gig venue and hotel, it can be found on the corner next to Sainsbury’s Local on Upper Hanover Street; a place you will no doubt become very familiar with on your daily walks to Uni. In the daytime, The Harley makes the perfect lunch stop if you fancy treating yourself for doing particularly well on an essay (or maybe for just actually turning up to a lecture). The Twisted Burger Company provides the food, which consists of delicious burgers and arguably better fries than McDonalds, all for very reasonable prices that won’t make too much of a dent in your student loan. In the evenings, The Harley really comes into its own. With famous club nights including motown, hip-hop, reggae, garage, ska, indie, funk, jungle, techno and drum and bass, there is bound to be a night made for you. The Harley is also the home of local music, with regular gigs showcasing a vast range of talented DJs, bands and solo artists. What’s not to love? Must Do: If you’re passing The Harley and you’re feeling a bit peckish, try a burger. Seriously. Any combination of meat, cheese and sauce is available, and some burgers come stacked so high they are almost as tall as a (very small) person. Ever wanted to try a patty made entirely out of bacon, or have mac ‘n’ cheese in a burger? All of your wildest burger dreams become reality at the Harley.
The Fat Cat
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heffield’s first real ale pub, the Fat Cat, features a constantly evolving range of guest beers, so there will be a new beer for you to try every time you visit. The Fat Cat can be found on Kelham Island, right next to Kelham Island Brewery where most of its beer is brewed. It looks like the kind of pub your grandparents would love, with its traditional decor and no music/no television/no fruit machines policy. Although on the surface that might not sound entirely appealing, it actually makes room for real-life conversation, and is a refreshing change from having to shout over Sky Sports blaring out of a wallhung flatscreen. With a diverse range of home-cooked food on offer, including vegetarian and vegan options, The Fat Cat is perfect for spending a long Friday evening playing cards and catching up with friends in front of an open fire. The obligatory traditional bar snacks are of course on offer too, including McCoy’s, salted peanuts and pork pies. Must Do: Don’t just pop in for a quick pint; spend the entire afternoon/evening there. Start by sitting in the lovely sheltered beer garden with a blackberry and elderflower Pimms and a pork pie, then as the night progresses move to the cosy indoors. Have a hearty dinner and sample a variety of the locally brewed beer (very local- next door in fact!). If you’re cheeky, the staff even offer free tasters of any ale you wish to try.
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Forge Press Friday September 19 2014
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How to survive first year... after Freshers Week
by Polly Winn
Y
ou’ve been waiting all summer to find out whether or not you got into university, and towards the end, it becomes a bit of a drag. But as soon as that third Thursday in August arrives, you’re caught up in a whirlwind. You and your parents start panic buying the ‘essentials,’ you’re taking trips to the bank to sort out that all important overdraft. You’re desperately awaiting the email that allocates your accommodation, and then begins the hunt for your flatmates. Freshers’ Week arrives; you’ve got all your pots and pans, your bed sheets, you’re all moved in and ready for a week of crazy nights out, joining ridiculous societies and making memories that will last a lifetime. You feel completely prepared - you’ve joined all the Facebook groups and event pages, made sure you have tickets to all the best events and this moving out malarky seems to be no trouble at all. But then the whirlwind starts to slow down. You’re crawling into bed after Sunday night carnage, absolutely exhausted after an incredible week. Then it suddenly dawns on you; the real reason you’re here, the reason you spent two years working your butt off to get the right grades hasn’t actually started yet, and you have no idea what to expect.
Workload
First and foremost, first year doesn’t count. Everybody knows that, and if you end up spending time with anybody in their second or third year, they’ll make sure that you never forget it. However, you do still have to pass, and it’s a pretty good idea to try and get yourself used to the heavy workload before it gets serious. It can be a bit of a shock to the system, not necessarily because it’s significantly harder, but because of the level of independence. You’ll find that when it comes to university assignments, there are no guidelines whatsoever. Although the independence andf freedom is exciting, it can also be quite overwhelming. Don’t panic though, you will get used to it, and although it seems like you’re completely alone, remember that you’re not. Lecturers, seminar tutors and personal tutors are all there to help you. They’re not going to think you’re dumb if you email them for help; it’s good that you’ve taken the initiative to get in contact (not to mention the fact that you’ve started the assignment enough in advance to contact them).
Food
Everybody knows the stereotype that student diets only consist of beans on toast and ready meals. Yes, when you do get that new-found freedom it is exciting to be able to eat whatever you want, but believe it or not there will come a point where you get bored of eating rubbish. In fact, often your poor diet will be what makes you miss home the most. But remember that you don’t have to be Jamie Oliver to cook a decent meal, pick a recipe (BBC good food is always a good starting point) and try it a few times until it’s just right. Invest in some spices and enjoy having a decent meal every now and again. But don’t feel guilty if you end up eating out every now and again.
Nowadays there’re so many ways to ensure that you’re prepared for university. So many websites provide checklists, guides to student living, Freshers’ Week survival tips, what to do about that one dodgy flatmate. Nevertheless, when it comes to the first Monday after Freshers’, it’s easy to feel utterly unprepared, despite the fact that what follows Freshers’ Week is what you’ll spend the majority of the next three years doing. So here’s yet another little guide, to the things that you probably need to know, Finances but nobody has told you. Everybody knows that Freshers’ Week gives your bank account a bit of a battering and sometimes looking at your latest stateRegistration ment when the week ends can cause an unNobody really explains to you how com- necessary amount of stress. No student plicated this can be, particularly if you’re a wants to face daily worries about money, but dual honours student. There are so many it’s a good idea to get some things sorted out introductory events to attend and amid all early on to save the stress when you haven’t the seminar and tutorial sign ups and alloca- got so much of your loan left. Firstly, make tion of personal tutors; it can be a little con- sure you’re with a decent student account. fusing. The timetable you’re initially given Santander offers a free 16-25 Railcard, and changes so much in the first week or so and there’s one in the Students’ Union, but there it’s easy to make mistakes and forget where are loads of guides online regarding bankyou’re supposed to be. Most people have ing. Speaking of railcards, one of these will walked into completely the wrong lecture save you a lot of money. Whether you’re at some point in first year, so don’t worry if travelling home or going to visit friends in that’s you, you and your new flatmates can other universities, trains can be extortionhave a good laugh about it later. ate, particularly when booking last minute and you will not regret buying one. Chances
are, money won’t be as much of a stress as you expect, but remember to utilize your student card and to budget.
Friendships
The great thing about Freshers’ Week is that you meet so many people from all different walks of life, and no doubt you’ll share some memorable experiences with them. But the tricky part of maintaining these relationships comes afterwards. After the week’s drunken antics, there’ll be a lot of people you never ever want to see again, out of sheer embarrassment, but there will also be plenty that you do. However, without the lowered inhibitions, people become a bit more reserved. You’ll find that in lectures, people will be huddled into pre-established groups, and it becomes more difficult to mingle in with different types of people. It’s important not to be disheartened, throughout your time at University you will constantly make new friends. Don’t panic if the people you meet in Freshers’ aren’t your BFFs, your drunken alter ego probably isn’t the best judge of character either.
Getting around
A vital way to survive in uni is to know your way around. It’s easy to feel like a little fish in a big pond, so it’s a good idea to pay attention and get to know your surroundings. It’s also a nice idea to explore outside of the student bubble, by getting to know the city a bit more. A key element of this would be getting to know the public transport. It’s quite pleasant walking everywhere when the weather’s nice, but when it’s windy and tipping down with rain nobody wants to tackle Sheffield’s multitude of hills. Knowing your bus routes can save so much time, effort and keep you dry, and why would you not take advantage of the discounted student prices? Plus, Google Maps will soon become your greatest ally. And just remember that if you’re feeling down in the dumps, haven’t quite landed on your feet, or need someone to discuss finances with, pop along to the Students’ Union and say hello. None of us bite, and we’re all here to give you a helping hand. Good luck, and have fun at the University of Sheffield!
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@forgelifestyle
LIFESTYLE&TRAVEL Lifestyle loves by Niki Kesharaju
Sour Cherry
Fash
ion For all you fashionistas out there, new kid on the block Sour Cherry is the latest addition to Sheffield’s vast number of vintage shops and boutiques. It’s the perfect place to find quirky jewellery to satiate those fashion taste buds. The items draw inspiration from pop culture, vintage-inspired designs and geometric styles. Their shop is tucked away at Forum on Devonshire Street along with a few other shops. Despite being new to Forum, this h o m e g r o w n fashion brand is no stranger to the Sheffield fashion scene. With a Image: Niki Kesharaju workshop in the Nichols Building in Shalesmoor, Sour Cherry have been around for a while now, and have nearly 12,000 likes on Facebook. It started off with Kayleigh and Jess Walker, who started making jewellery as a hobby before going full time. If you love those rare statement jewellery pieces for resonable prices, this is the place for you.
Food
Spice Rack
Cooking for yourself will never be arduous if you invest in a good spice rack as soon as you get to university. Spend between £10-20 on a range of spices and herbs and you will find a little goes a really long way. Towards the end of term, the bank account will start to run dry and nights out will take a priority over food. No matter how short on food you are, a good spice rack will make any meal taste good. Salt and pepper are a given, but try paprika or Cajun spice to add a quick dash of flavour. You will find yourImage: Niki Kesharaju self eating a lot of pasta, so garlic granules, oregano and mixed herbs will come in handy. If Moroccan or Indian food strikes your fancy, ground cumin, ground cinnamon, chilli powder, garam masala and ground coriander are all good additions. Provided you store them in a cool, dry place, spices and herbs keep for ages, so you don’t have to worry about constantly replenishing your stock.
Ecclesall Road
Travel
We are insanely jealous if you are lucky enough to live on Ecclesall Road already, but if you’re in Endcliffe or Ranmoor, then Ecclesall Road is a 20 minute walk away. If you love food, drink and fashion, then it’s definitely worth a visit. You can get to Ecclesall Road through the Botanical Gardens, which makes for an amazingly scenic route. The road is full of charity shops with amazing fashion finds and other little boutiques selling clothes as well as decorative pieces. It’s also home to restaurants like Yankees, an American diner style eatery and Fancie, who do a delightful range of cupcakes and cocktails. There is also a Tesco Metro which is great for a weekly food shop or to get some supplies from the bank of mum and dad, if Image: Niki Kesharaju your parents are visiting you for the weekend.
/forgelifestyle lifestyle@forgetoday.com
Student life
Easy budgeting by Abbie-Joelle Skliarsky
FOOD
It won’t quite be your mum’s cooking, but come October, when you’re nursing a hangover, anything will become edible. Food will soon been seen as a chore every time you’re a bit peckish. Before you move to Sheffield, stock up on tins, dried packets, tea bags, anything non-perishable. This means you will have something to survive on if you forget to go shopping during an action packed Freshers’ Week. Or if rum has left you bedridden. Baked beans, pasta packets, jarred sauces, spaghetti and a box of good old PG tips will see you not reaching for the takeaway menu when you can’t be bothered to go shopping and cook. Bulk buying supermarkets own brand will also save you money in the long run.
ALCOHOL
Unfortunately beggars can’t be choosers. The standard of vodka you consume will drastically change when you are paying for your own food, accommodation and lifestyle. ‘Everyday value’ and ‘Basics’ will become your new best friend, but be careful that you are buying legitimate products from supermarkets and not just any corner-shop. Pre-drinking is the most sociable way to meet people and it is also a lot cheaper than heading to West Street’s bars for some questionable drinks. Buy your own alcohol & mixer from the supermarket. Sharing with friends could also be an option if you trust them. Splitting costs between friends is a dream. If you feel a bit more creative, you could share alcohol and mixers between your friends to create your own home-made cocktails.
BOOKS
Image: Polly Winn
Image: Polly Winn
Any books or resources for your course can usually be bought off somebody in the year above you. Hold off from buying new things as soon as your loan comes in. There will be lots of groups and Facebook pages with books and study items to buy so keep an eye out on them. Your course leader may recommend buying their own book but remember you can use the Information Commons to your heart’s content. Renting books from the Information Commons is effortless and they have up to 10 copies of the same book. You can renew them if you need more time, so save that £40 for the Victorian anthology and use it on something more desirable such as chocolate.
CLOTHES
Freshers week entails a lot of partying, a lot of eye candy and definitely a lot of photos. The only thing you’re missing is your dream high street wardrobe. Hold off from raiding Topshop for the new ‘it’ dress or Office for the latest kicks. One instalment from Student Finance and you rapidly forget that you’re not Kanye West. Try to resist going crazy, it could result in you eating Mug Shots and reduced apples for the rest of first semester. Make a budget so that if you do have an extra fiver at the end of a week, you can reward yourself by putting it towards something glam at the end of the month. Reuse clothes, mix and match and use your flat mates wardrobe to mutually benefit each other. Don’t neglect the amazing array of charity shops on Ecclesall Road and all over Broomhill, you can definitely snap up a bargain there.
Shopping for students: Now Then app
Technology by Samantha Fielding
As a student, it’s sometimes hard to justify buying the boutique handbag over the bargain from a Primark down the road. Most of us would love to pay that little bit extra to support independent business, but unfortunately student loan-ville can get in the way. With this in mind, we should think ourselves lucky that the Now Then Discount App has arrived, with the aim of making shopping from real Sheffield a bit kinder to the bank account.
Since day one, Now Then Magazine has consciously chosen only to advertise local and self-reliant companies; it’s a credit to them that they help upcoming groups over corporate monsters. Beautifully streamlined like the mag we know and love, the Discount App contains a list of Sheffield favourites, and special offers for their wares. Because it’s exclusive to Sheffield, the app is fast to run and easy to use (unlike some Gourmet Society and Groupon apps). You can also highlight your favourite places, view them on a map, or find out more information about what you’re supporting. It all seems rather cosy. Whether you’re a fan of new bar Anchorage, or the timeless Rare And Racy, the app brings so many independent businesses together. Even our beloved Corp is involved. Some of the best offers thus far include 10% off at Moonko, 20% off at The Wick at Both Ends and £5 tickets for the Showroom. Some discounts are definitely better than others, and you still can’t expect sweatshop prices, but you can guarantee satisfaction in supporting the hardworking, passionate members of the local economy. And with the app being consistently updated, there’s always something new to check out. For me, the best thing about the app is that it’s not invasive. Everything is in the same place and instantly available, without signing up for individual newsletters or fishing out coupons from fresher’s week. It’s a simple solution for making the most of what Sheffield has to offer. Sara Hill from the Now Then team had this to say: “The Now Then Discount App is for everyone, but we think it's particularly perfect for students, and especially freshers. Students are really aware of the ethical dilemmas around their spending but have limited budgets. This app will help them spend locally and independently without breaking the bank and the map function will help freshers navigate around the best parts of their new home. Now Then magazine has worked exclusively with local, independent traders for over 6 years and we want this app to be another way to support the unique character of Sheffield - for every £1 you spend with local traders, up to 70p goes back into the local economy." If you think about it, there’s no longer an excuse for not buying independent.
The app is free to download on iPhones and Android phones and has received an average rating of five stars by its users.
The next time you go shopping or head out for the night, consider looking on the Now Then app for any discounts. As freshers, socialising and spending money come hand in hand so any pennies you can save will be worth it.
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@forgelifestyle /forgelifestyle lifestyle@forgetoday.com
LIFESTYLE&TRAVEL Society showcase
Spotlight Lifestyle collaborates with three other societies to showcase the sheer range of clubs and societies you can join this year at the Activities Fair. There is something for everyone.
Coeliac and gluten free society
By Fayona Cowperthwaite Here at Coeliac (and gluten-free) Society, we’re all about finding new places to meet and eat tasty gluten-free food. Last year we had a fish and chips evening, ate at Ask Italian and Woodland Holistics as well as regular meet ups in Coffee Revolution.
Upcoming events include a freshers’ welcome meal, a Dr Schar event and monthly meals out. We have more socials to be planned including a society collaboration. Membership is free and you don’t need to be a coeliac. If you Image: Coeliac Society follow a gluten free diet or are just interested in the lifestyle, come join us. Search “UoS Coeliac Society” on Facebook, find us on the SU website or come say hi to us at the Activities Fair.
Korfball
By Amy Jones
Korfball: a cross between netball and basketball, but with a twist.
The game originated in the Netherlands and is a fun, fast-paced ball game played in mixed teams of eight players. All players have the chance to both attack and defend with the aim of scoring the highest amount of balls through the Korf at the end of the game.
Few people have heard of this sport before university which means that everyone is a beginner, giving you the perfect opportunity to try something new and exciting. Not only is Korfball an exhilarating game, but we also have regular socials, nights out and tours enabling you to bond with the rest of the team (with the help of a few cocktails!)
Fashion society
By Fay McDermott
Fashion Society members have more to look forward to this year than ever before. We will be continuing with our very popular DIY sessions such as tie dye and t-shirt printing. There will be opportunities for people who are interested in fashion photography, journalism, styling and modelling at events that we host, including fashion shows and photo shoots. Our regular socials are a great chance for you to meet likeminded people in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. This year we plan on organising trips to various fashion events and all of our members are rewarded with exclusive discounts at some of Sheffield’s finest vintage stores. Something that we would like to push, with your help, is a focus on ethical fashion. If any of that sounds like your cup of tea, come see us at the Activities Fair. For updates on what the society is up to, follow our Instagram, Twitter or Facebook.
Don’t miss out on Image: Korfball Society your chance to try this unique, satisfying and enjoyable sport and visit the Shef Korf stand at the sports fair during Introduction Week, you will not regret it!
Images: Fashion Society
Concourse couture
Fashion
by Niki Kesharaju
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Isabel Dobinson Third year, History Wearing: Denim jacket from Cow, leggings from Brighton, trainers from Asics, rucksack from Paperchase
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Niki Kesharaju Third year, Materials Engineering Wearing: Dress from New Look, shoes and scarf from TK Maxx
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Tom Schneider Third year, History and Politics Wearing: T-shirt from Urban Outfitters, jeans and hoodie from Topman, shoes from Next
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Elsa Vulliamy Third year, Philosophy Wearing: Dress from eBay, boots from Forever 21
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LIFESTYLE&TRAVEL UT EATING O and fes, pubs ndent ca for a cheap e p e d in f g full o lookin is packed students Sheffieldnts catering for restaura Bears. lows and ranging a g n meal out. u B t to nu, rger me illed ion Stree wn Divisnconventional buto Chorizo and Gr very o d d a e H e u r l e a s tt e it u d r tB -1 Famed fod Egg and Peanun £5 in their 2-4 s a variety of from Friei. All for less tha arley also offer qually chilled Halloum Similarly, The H urgers with an e o Tuesday. e and delicious b those wh must for om Sunday well-madsphere. a o ls a is fr out atmo k at Both Ends s delicious food 20 per cent The Wic t out. This serveurgers. With its a nice meal. like to eato salads and b t place to enjoy and cocktails Dinners iscount, is a grea2-4-1 on pizzas h up with a student d rget Bloo 88’s fect place to catciscount your Do not foaking it the per ilarly, do not dsay no to half deal, m atmosphere. Sim card, who can sociable evolution society drinks? Vodka R d and discounted price foo
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CHARIT
SHOPS
desperate t you are ops are a u b t h g ti a little arity sh If money’s retail therapy, ch as like Broomhill re e a m t n so e d rities to tu for great cha rnative. S great altekes have plenty of Oxfam and PDSA and Croo your wardrobe. nique clothing and spruce uphill are great for u items, furniture, in Broom other decorative ’s Hospice on the they sell CDs too. St Luke t usually sell their books and Crookes high streeyou are wandering far end of rowaway prices. If arch UK shop on items at th, the Cancer Reseut makes a good into town Street is small b igh street. Pinstone shopping on the h addition to
HOPS S E G A T VIN a whole which hasries. They t, e e tr S st We esso is Cow on s find vintage acc First stop stom clothing and , so you will alway s. On d cu ck n f e o o tr st e g w ir n e e ra ope out n update th thing constantlyopping in there to scman’s Vintage Clo tage in h p v s lf e ’s re ve F men yours und good for eet, you ha Carver Strich is particularly range of scarves arol find g h Store w d holds an amazin Street and you wilas the fashion an ead on to Division enormous and h the autumn. Hop, which is simplyers as you approacht and A New Shzing range of jumpg up Division Streef little most ama nths. Keep walkin home to a range o shops colder mond Forum, which istiques. One of the uirky you will fi nt shops and bou rand that makes q ired independeherry, a Sheffield b and vintage insp down is Sour C with pop culture prices. Further ory’s le ll b a ry a e M n ll e so & a w je find Syd r very re g are designs fotreet you will alsod motifs on clothin S e u n q io ppli Divis , whose a Emporium le. y st re tu a their sign
@forgelifestyle /forgelifestyle lifestyle@forgetoday.com
CORP OUTFIT
PUBS
As a fresher, it’s a rite of passage to grace Corp with your presence almost every Wednesday for its ‘Skool Disco’ night. Known for its rainbow pints, quadvods, leaky ceiling and cheesy tunes, Corp makes a fabulous night out. Invest in a white shirt and buy a cheap tie. An old school tie will also do. The white shirt and tie combination gets you £1 entry into Corp before midnight. Once in Corp, there’s nothing worse than sporting your favourite kicks and finding them home to Corp’s grime by the end of the night. Invest in a pair of cheap plimsolls or a Primark pair of shoes that you exclusively use for Corp. Now with your outfit sorted, just make sure you don’t lose it at Corp and you will have at least a year’s worth of cheap and memorable nights out at Corp.
Freshers’ guide to food, fashion and fun by Isabel Dobinson and Niki Kesharaju
The N go for ottingham is the the traditi House is t and R classic Ste onal pie an he perfect p Notty ed Pepper ak and Ale d pint. Wh lace to typica House hasfor the vege or the Aspether it Fox a l Yorkshire all the ch tarians ou aragus and lend Duck w pub. Also i aracteristi t there, cockta ts you bri hich is a gn Broomhi cs of a might ils are mo ng your o reat studell is the Furthe be more upre your thinwn food. If nt pub Shop r afield in your stree g then The cheap Place traditi and Halla Commons t. select onal Sund mshire H ide is The venue ion of draf ay Roasts ouse, both Closed smells , the Red t beers. Fo and offer serve wine a divine du Deer just r a more ina wide o ring C nd cid t er. hristmff Mappin Simate t as wi th mu reet lled
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CLUBS TRAMLINES At the end of July, Sheffield hosts Tramlines Festival, a three-day event that provides the perfect opportunity to soak up the Northern sun, drink pints in beer gardens and catch up with your flat mates. A £28 ticket covers daytime music at the Devonshire Green, Western Park and the Peace Gardens as well as entry to all of Sheffield’s best clubs, including Leadmill, Plug, O2 Academy and The Night Kitchen. Every street, pub, club and café is packed and the atmosphere is electric. There is no other time you will see Sheffield in its full glory and with this year’s headliners including The Cribs, Sister Sledge, Boddika and Annie Mac, you’d be mad to miss out.
Monday - The night that play an DQ Plus1 night or Leadmill’s Shag hing from indie Tuesday - The yt Tuesday Club at music to club classics usually hosts som the Students’ Un Fusion. Otherwise e great DJs playing at Foundry ion and Sp an ke d at Plug is perfect music. for chart Wednesday - Corp . There is no alter Corp. Ever. native other than Thursday - Jum p Ar ou nd at Plug is favourite. If you a fresh and heels, then fancy dressing up in a nice new drers’ a ess Ca rver Street wrist entry to around band gets you fo ur clu bs , in clu ding Paris and Vi Rooms. Also look disco inspired nigh out for Soul Jam, which is a sp per ecial t at DQ on some Thursday Friday - Propag s. otherwise Gaga atanda at Plug is mainly an indie ni music. Or maybe Leadmill is home to indie and ght, Students’ Union’s sample all things Yorkshire withchart the Saturday - Pop new night, Ey Up? any other plans Tarts. Just like Corp, you cannot m on a Saturday ni ake Tarts. ght apart from Po p Sunday - You need amazing nights ou to rest, because with all of th recuperate and m t, you will need at least one da ese important lecture aybe thing about attending thos y to e all s.
Images: Isabel Dobinson, Niki Kesharaju and Polly Winn
FO R GE PRESS Fr i d ay S ep te mbe r 19 2014
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@forgelifestyle /forgelifestyle lifestyle@forgetoday.com
LIFESTYLE&TRAVEL
Escape in an hour Are you new to the Steel City and struggling to balance budgeting with having fun? Lifestyle lets you in on our five top places, which provide the perfect fun, cheap and accessible escape from the hectic student life of halls and essays.
The Peak District This may be an obvious one but not every student in Britain is lucky enough to have a National Park on their doorstep. With a number of regular buses and trains, taking a trip to the peaceful countryside cannot be easier. Whether it is an authentic pub lunch, a long walk into the hills or a bike ride and picnic, the Peak District offers it all. Try visiting the cute villages of Bakewell, home to the famous Bakewell tarts, and Castleton, with its underground for a n caverns, o s in b o abel D perfect time out Image: Is from university life. Bus to Bakewell: Number 215, 218, 240, 275 (43 minutes)
Bus to Castleton: Number 272, 273, 274 (1 hour, 5 minutes)
Hathersage Pool
Travel Outdoor
Swimming
Fancy a swim with a fabulous view? Then why not make the most of those fading summer days and visit this Peak District’s hidden gem? Whether it is to swim lengths, take part in the swimming boot camps or just chill in the heated pool and enjoy the surrounding hills, this is the perfect and surprisingly cheap escape from the busy student life of halls and essays.
this farm is far from ordinary. Once you have finished feeding the alpacas, why not go for a pub lunch or a relaxing walk in the Peaks? Don’t forget to take plenty of funny alpaca selfies.
Bus: Number 84 (half an hour) followed by a short walk Cost: £3.50 entry and 50p for a bag of alpaca feed
Chatsworth
House Image: Isabel Do Bus: Number binson 272 (45 minutes) For the history followed by a short and culture walk vultures among you, Cost: £6 entry the stunning Make sure to check sixteenth public swimming andler Image: Josh Ch c e n t u r y times before you Chatsworth House is certainly worth a go. visit. Located just outside of Bakewell and across the River Derwent, this stately Mayfields home and surrounding scenery has been Alpaca Farm voted the UK’s favourite country house Who says farm visits are just for children? several times. As well as being home to Located on the edge of the Peak District, neoclassical sculptures, priceless paintings Mayfields Alpaca farm is only a short bus and countless other artefacts, its extensive ride away and provides a fun, cheap and gardens attract over 300,000 visitors a accessible day out. Currently sheltering year. Although higher on the price range, over 60 alpacas, llamas, goats, birds, sheep, if you are looking to explore outside of horses and even wallabies and meerkats, Sheffield then Chatsworth should be at the
Freshers’ safety guide Student Life By Mollie Carberry
Freshers’ Week is a time that simultaneously excites and terrifies new students. There will be plenty of awkward small talk, own-brand vodka and questionable Ring of Fire rules. It is without a doubt a week that will fill you with fond memories in years to come and probably some memories you wish you could erase. But more than anything, it should be a fun and stress-free time that eases you in before all of the hard work starts. It should never be worrying, scary or upsetting. At the risk of sounding like your parents, any potentially bad scenario is easily avoided if you simply use your common sense.
Get to know your flatmates
You’re stuck with each other for the next year, so look out for one another. Swap numbers before your first night out, so on the off chance that you find yourself separated from the group and lost in an alien city, you don’t need to panic. There is sense in saying ‘safety in numbers’, at least during Freshers’ Week. As long as you are in a group with people you know and trust, the worst that will happen is consuming far too much greasy chicken after halfprice shots, and throwing it up later. Don’t worry, we have all been there. Just make sure you watch what and how much you’re drinking. Don’t drink anything that someone unknown gives to you and definitely no minesweeping in clubs.
Taxis, travel and town
Another boring but necessary thing to do on your first day is to get the numbers of taxi companies in your mobile phone. We recommend City and Mercury taxis and they are readily available at numerous taxi ranks spread throughout town and just outside clubs. However, it’s always wise to have a couple of numbers saved in your phone, just in case. Also, if you are a girl Image: Wikipedia on a night out at the Students’ Union, the Women’s Minibus runs seven nights a week during term time, which takes you straight from the Students’ Union to your front door for a very reasonable cost. Get taxis to and from town all together in the first few weeks, just in case someone gets so drunk that they forget the address and attempt to walk home alone. City taxis telephone number : 0114 239 3939 Mercury taxis telephone number : 0114 266 2662
top of your list!
Bus: Number 218 (1-hour 2 minutes) Cost: £19 (student)
Neighbouring Northern Cities Once you have finished exploring the Steel City, why not investigate our nearby neighbouring cities? How about a shopping trip and a night out in Leeds, which is only 40 minutes away on the train? Or when it hits winter, take the 55-minute journey to visit Manchester’s Christmas Markets? York also makes a great day trip out with the York Minster (as in the image) and cobblestone streets. It also takes just under an hour to travel to Nottingham and if you book in advance and have a student RailCard, you can visit all three cities at a reasonable price.
At three weeks in advance, a return to both Leeds and Image: Niki Ke sharaju Manchester is less than £10 and a return to Nottingham or York is under £15. That is a bargain you simply can’t miss. By Isabel Dobinson
Lifestyle’s recipe corner Chicken and Chorizo Paella by Isabel Dobinson Who says students cannot dine in style? Whether you want to save it for yourself or treat your new flat mates, this tasty and simple paella recipe is packed full of flavour and with a little sangria, will make the perfect ice breaker. Ingredients: . Half a packet of paella rice . 1 onion . 1 chorizo sausage . Two chicken breasts . Peas . Half a red pepper . Paprika . 2 garlic cloves . Chicken stock Method 1. Chop up the onion, red pepper, garlic, chorizo and chicken and add to a large pan. Cook for around 10 minutes. 2. Add a couple of handfuls of peas and paella rice to the pan, followed by enough boiling water and stock for the rice to be nearly covered 3. Leave to simmer, stirring regularly until the rice is completely absorbed 4. Add plenty of paprika for flavour
Sexual health
While part of your Freshers’ Week antics might involve getting to know lots of attractive boys and girls, sexual health is a matter that can be dealt with appropriately. Sex happens. So make sure that you are carrying condoms with you on a night out, regardless of whether you are male or female. You can get condoms free of charge from the Student Advice Centre or the University Health Service. The University Health Service also offers free sexual health services like STI tests so make full use of it if you suspect anything. Try and not leave your friends without letting them know and make sure your friends know who you’re leaving with and where to.
Peer pressure
Lastly, the best piece of advice anyone can give you is to simply have fun. Don’t bow to peer pressure; if you don’t want to go out tonight, don’t. If you don’t want to down the rest of your vodka lemonade, don’t. If you don’t want to join in a game of ‘Never Have I Ever’, don’t. Remember you have to live with this group of people for a long time, so be straight with them from the start. They’ll respect your decisions, and you’ll enjoy Freshers’ Week so much more.
Images: Isabel Dobinson
Fri day S eptember 19 2014 F O RG E P RESS
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COFFEE BREAK TWEETS OF THE FORTNIGHT
Best of the Silly Season The summer is normally a quiet time for news. The politicians head off on “recess” and thus deprive us of the opportunity to report on the more newsworthy aspects of their lives and everyone else heads out to beer gardens and basically do nothing interesting or controversial at all. However, newspapers still need to fill their pages and websites need to try and give bored holidaymakers something to procrastinate with. We thought it was only right to celebrate this period when the “news” loses any resemblance to the regular definition of that word. Here’s our all-time favourite stories of the Silly Season: 1) Crop circles are messages from aliens This superb genuine Daily Mail headline relates to a staple silly-season standby: that of the pseudo-magical. In this article from 2000, the Mail’s science correspondent (really) wondered whether the hoaxers were having a field day or not. The paper turned to a feline source for evidence as “the animal seemed to know it was something extraordinary”.
2) Cameron’s ghostly presence If the mountain will not come to Mohamed... Politicians are on holiday but that doesn’t stop hacks following them around. (another staple task for the silly season). In 2008, the Mirror reported that David Cameron was staying in a house haunted by a white witch. Local man Derek Bray said “he is a brave man because everyone knows that house is cursed”
@FPCoffeeBreak /forgepresscoffeebreak
Coffee Break’s Guide to Sheffield coffee breaks Before and since coming to University, Coffee Break is sure you have been inundated with advice regarding where best to worry about your inevitable morning hangover or buy worryingly cheap spirits. Now, while no one could possibly question the utility of this advice, it is likely that any more of it is tantamount to trying to pour more beer into an already overflowing flagon. Instead, here is a slightly alternative guide. During Freshers’ Week, you will in all likelihood need to take a break from the friend-making hamster wheel. There is a lot to be said for taking Forge somewhere quiet in Sheffield for recharging purposes during this, the most energysapping of weeks. Thus, Coffee Break presents the best place to read Coffee Break as a coffee break in Sheffield.
mirning double espresso from this fantastic cafe. 2) Coffee Revolution - surely this is the Union’s most loved institution? Their £1 filter coffee during exam season last year might well have saved numerous students from academic oblivion. Also, you’re almost bound to recognise someone in this hub for students of all varieties and although the coffee ain’t nothin’ on Tamper, it’s certainly a
Rathskeller, noun: 1. A usually basement tavern, bar or restaurant
3) Anywhere - not an avant garde Sheffield cafe but just a reminder that although Freshers’ Week can be stressful with the pressure to socialise everpresent, just relax. Whisper it quietly but you’re not alone in thinking that an Americano with a Su Doku is more fun than the tenth Busted song in a row in Pop Tarts.
1) Tamper Coffee - if you are looking for the best coffee in Sheffield, look no further. Tamper aims to “bring the very best of New Zealand coffee culture to Sheffield” and does not let you down. Not even a hangover gale force nine would survive a midPhoto: eBay
Your Fortnight according to... Mystic Mug Libra - as the spring of expectance moved seamlessly into a summer of reluctant acceptance, now must come the autumn of testing the journalistic waters and strenghening your CV.
3) A place in the sun Proving that the silly season is far more than a purely British phenomen, the German tabloid, Bild, reported that Germany was planning to buy Majorca as the country’s 16th federal state. Despite being blatant codswollop, the British tabloids began foaming at the mouth while Bild simply moved on to the next target when the following year they claimed the Spanish authorities were trying to ban beer on the same island. One “horrified” reader told the paper that “there won’t be any more Spanish holidays for me!”
Word of the fortnight
darnsight cheaper. And, let’s face it, can we really taste that extra £1 difference?
Scorpio in attempting to elevate a somewhat liminal method of existence to a hitherto unforseen plane, wariness must be your lieutenant in this chapter of your Odyssey. Or, you could get the gossip before anyone else by writing for our News section.
Aires - while the organ-player of your soul is playing such a tuneless melody, there is no hope of creating the harmony you so crave. Try writing for Forge Press. Taurus - the past and the future are on a collision course, removing deadwood is never free. Luckily, writing a Comment article on Nick Clegg should ease the pain. Gemini in pandering to the primitive desire for acceptance, a trusted ally has taken the helm. However, if you have confidence in your wardrobe, Lifestyle’s ‘Concourse Couture’ will circumnavigate any conflict.
Cancer - as false prophets conspire against you, be wary of what advice you choose to live your life by. The truth and light remains can be found in writing for Features. Leo - ordinarily, you must battle any unnecessarily gusty winds of change with the umbrella of heightened awareness however, this week review an album for Music. Virgo - it seems unlikely that the banshee will be sleeping soundly tonight. If you want to avoid a similar fate, then our dedicated Sports section are now looking for new contributors.
Sagittarius you must embody the calmness of the shamen with the urgency of a forlorn gazebo. A soggy bottom will not suffice. What will suffice is getting free tickets to the latest releases when you write for our Screen section. Capricorn - if omnisience is both undersiable yet, currently, uniquely probable, you only need to ask one question: what type of Arts correspondent should I be? Acquarius - the stars are aligned in a most favourable manner this fortnight. While this benevolent sun shines, make sure you get yourself to our EGM, details to follow. Pisces feel that horoscopes are a plethora of flabbergasted rejectamenta? Like weird words? Write for us!
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FO R GE PRESS Fr i d ay S ep tem be r 19 2014
@FPCoffeeBreak
COFFEE BREAK
/forgepresscoffeebreak
Puzzle Page: sudoku Medium
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Quotes of the fortnight
“Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius
and it’s better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring
”
Marilyn Monroe
“Life... is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury Signifying nothing
William Shakespeare
”
dingbats
Dingbats are visual word puzzles from which you must identify a well-known phrase or saying. 1. Across:
Down:
1. Kindness (8) 5. Chase (4) 9. Stadium (5) 10. Controversial (7) 11. Old Greek currency (7) 12. Demand (4) 14. Temptation (6) 15. Energetic (6) 18. Distantly (4) 20. Fastest land animal (7) 22. Very hard gemstone (7) 23. Hurl (5) 24. Flat (4) 25. Cold treat (3,5)
1.Protector (8) 2. In General (7) 3. Resistance to the elements - wrap foot here (anag.) (12) 4. Space (for making errors) (6) 6. Join (5) 7. Hike (4) 8. Lucky - chance (14) 13. Incidentally (2,3,3) 16. Captivate (7) 17. Sour to taste (6) 19. Peeling (of snow?) (5) 21. Lazy (4)
2.
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Fri day S eptember 19 2014 F O RG E P RESS
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FO R GE PRESS Fr i d ay S ep tem be r 19 2014
@forgesport
SPORT
/forgepress sport@forgetoday.com
Matchdebating Should darts become a Varsity sport?
Darts atmosphere is perfect for Varsity Thomas Wright Even before I became society president, it had always been an ambition of mine personally, as well as one of the society as a whole, to see darts join the more ‘prestigious’ sports in the University Varsity. Immediately, many people will think of those negative stereotypes that plague darts and think ‘not a chance.’ For example, the idea that arts is for unhealthy people who like drinking excessively or that darts is merely an ‘activity’ that requires very little skill or ability. I would argue the complete opposite. The University darts society is welcoming and sociable, yet it is clear that there is a range of skill sets amongst players, who put in serious effort to improve. Darts requires a great deal of physical conditioning. It demands a competitive mentality and concentration as well as arm-release synchronisation that cannot be matched in many other sports. One movement of the body or one shift in your arm’s fluency will often see your dart veering off to unwanted areas of the board. Darts has been compared to ‘indoor archery’; a sport that requires incredible precision and levels of concentration, and darts is very much the same. Moreover,the way that darts as a University sport is played fits perfectly with the requirements of the Varsity. Darts is played as a team game,
involving matches played individually, in pairs and in threes, that culminate in a total score out of eleven legs. In this instance, the University darts team has been highly successful. Only last semester the University sealed the runner-up position in the North-East Darts League finals, and participated in the University Darts UK championship.
“It is clear that there is a range of skill sets amongst players” Like current Varsity sports, like football, hockey and rugby, University darts features a friendly but highly competitive rivalry with Sheffield Hallam. Often the ‘derby’ is the fixture that we as a Society look out for and have an extra desire to win. The possibility of a Varsity game is highly anticipated, not only in our society but in the Hallam camp. They, like us, see Varsity as the next step forward for darts, and a Varsity darts match would be fought as hard as in any other participating sport. Darts has the capability of creating an atmosphere like none other; the tension of a pivotal match winning double can prompt ecstatic roars or groans of disarray. The University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University have participated in previous Varsity matches, with great success. Attended
Darts culture too unhealthy to be a sport
by more than 500 people, the atmosphere was electric, but it also simmered with the friendly competitiveness that makes the Varsity so special for any sports team. The BDO (British Darts Organisation) is encouraging the participation of darts as nothing less than an Olympic sport. Sir Clive Woodward tweeted previously: “Darts definitely an Olympic sport - look at fans, TV coverage, audience and real skill under pressure.” It is becoming more and more recognised and played by people of all backgrounds, whether they play darts as a social sport or compete to the standard that would live up to the Varsity’s fine reputation. Varsity is about bringing the University together to compete against Hallam. Darts is very much a sport. It deserves both to be recognised as such.
Tom Pyman Having witnessed the University of Sheffield’s Varsity success first hand last year, I can wholeheartedly say what made it most enjoyable was the explosive thrill of the range of sports on offer, I enjoy watching darts, but one could make a strong case for it not providing the same buzz as a football match, or as much intrigue as, say, canoe polo, which demonstrated a range of skills, with competitors pushed to their physical limit. Plenty argue the point that darts simply cannot be a sport because there is very little – if any – physical exertion involved. Stereotypical images of players over 20 stone and sweating profusely when doing nothing but throwing 25g of metal at a target from less than two-and-ahalf metres appear to be the antithesis of the modern
athlete. The game has long been synonymous with booze and fags, which would almost certainly be unacceptable in any other sporting field. Arsenal and England footballer Jack Wilshere, for example, has twice been caught smoking, leading to a number of questions over his professionalism, such is the taboo that comes with consuming alcohol and cigarettes.
“The game has long been synonymous with booze and fags, which would almost certainly be unacceptable in any other sporting field” If anything, in a time where obesity, alcoholism and lack of exercise appear to be rife, is it not encouraging such an unhealthy lifestyle? Darts is still not recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as an Olympic sport, and if it does not feature on the biggest stage of all, can it be considered a real sporting event?
Forge Sport awards
These are the type of questions that ensure d a r t s r e m a i n s somewhat controversial
as an activity. The counter argument is of course that the hugely popular likes of cricket and golf also haven’t feature in the Olympics, and they are undoubtedly two of the highest grossing, best-attended and most discussed pastimes in the world, and there are in fact plans to introduce darts in the Olympic curriculum in 2024. Such matters are of course open to interpretation, but the Oxford dictionary definition provided, for me, is the best indicator of whether or not we can firmly put darts under the umbrella of ‘sport’ and therefore, whether or not it should be a Varsity event. I’m not for one second denying the huge demand for the game, and supporters are continuing to stand because - as the tedious, droning, repetitive chant goes - they love the darts. That for me is what it is: a game. Entertaining? Certainly. Physically exerting? Certainly not, and thus, in my opinion at least, cannot be considered a sport and should not feature on the Varsity bill come next year.
More articles online Read more reports, fixtures and features online all fortnight
DOT COM
Forge Sport editor Tom Pyman chooses his heroes and villains of the week Marin Cilic The Croat defied the odds to win his first Grand Slam title at Flushing Meadows, beating Kei Nishikori in the final.
üü
Diego Costa
ü
Chelsea’s summer signing has started the season in scintillating form with seven goals in his first four Premier League appearances.
Felix Magath The German was sacked by Fulham after a terrible start to the season with left the club bottom of the Championship table with just a single point after seven games.
û
Oscar Pistorius
ûû
The Paralympian was found guilty of culpable homicide following the shooting of Reeva Steenkamp back in 2013.
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Fri day S eptember 19 2014 F O RG E P RESS
@forgesport
SPORT
/forgepress sport@forgetoday.com
Sports personality of the week Forge Sport’s Tom Pyman met women’s hockey captain Charlotte Nickels for an interview
How long have you been playing hockey? I first started when I was seven, but didn’t play at secondary school, and then joined my local club when I was 16, so for a while I guess! What aspects of the sport do you enjoy most? I love playing team sports, but also how exciting hockey is! The GB ladies winning Bronze at the Olympics and then the England ladies - including one of our alumni, Hollie Webb - winning silver at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow just shows how much hockey is growing nationwide and becoming successful! It’s a really exciting time to be involved in hockey at any level.
“I do not for a second believe we are not able to repeat or beat the success of last year”
What do you enjoy most about being part of a uni sports club? I guess its the aspect of having an additional family, not only your team, or your club but also with all the Black & Gold family! Especially on a Thursday in a 9am lecture. But more seriously, it was so useful as a first year having friends who had already gone through finding houses, travelled to Hillsborough for a morning exam and so on to give you advice on all the things you are bound to do wrong anyway! What responsibilities do you feel you hold as club captain? My personal aim is to get as many people involved in
The women’s hockey team
hockey as possible, enjoying it at whatever level they are playing, and making sure everyone gets the most out of the hundreds of benefits of playing a sport at university. I feel highly responsible for the welfare of all our members and potential members. Although I am spoilt with the help I receive from my wonderful team of 17 committee members to share this burden. Providing a singular ‘face’ to a club with 100ish members is a hard feat, but as a club we are very open and I think the most important thing I can do this year is make myself available to make sure everyone has a chance to have their say.
Photo: Charlotte Nickels
How much interaction do you have with the men’s team? We share a lot of resources with the men’s club - on and off the pitch! The men’s club provide our 2s, 3s, 4s and 5s with coaches (with the 1s having a professional coach). We also have all our socials joint with the men’s club.
“It’s a really exciting time to be involved in hockey at any level” How difficult will it be to emulate the club’s success last year? This season will be a challenge, but its about being realistic and setting targets. I do not for a second believe we are not able to repeat or beat the success of last year - although getting some decent freshers in would be a big help! We lost out on Club of the Year last year, so we are ready to get back on it, and fight for it again this year. Our charity work is getting bigger and I have no doubt our new charities secretary (Chelsea Caton) will be looking to win another award at the Volunteering Awards this year.
Plus with a new BUCS team - the 5s - we have even more to fight for! What are the club’s aims for the season? As I said before it’s about being realistic, and that is something we have to be. We would love for each of the teams that got promoted last season (1s, 3s & 4s) to remain in their new leagues, finishing mid table and maybe a few promotions. Leaving the 2nd XI who finished second in the table last season - after being promoted the pervious year! Really deserve promotion this season. We also want to build on our varsity success last year winning 2/3 points up for grabs and we are looking for a clean sweep this year! Charlotte, the rest of the hockey team and all the other university sports clubs will be at the Sports Fair on Friday September 26, so make sure you pop along and get involved!
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Sharp start for Blades Owls fly out the blocks Joe Bamford Sheffield United fans will look back on the past 12 months with renewed optimism; a dramatic turnaround in the club’s fortunes has led to many fans believing they can finally get promoted out of League One. The Blades have been down in England’s third tier for three seasons now, and haven’t come closer to getting promoted back to the Championship than in 2011/12, when they were pipped by local rivals Wednesday. Nigel Clough took the reigns on October 23, 2013, and took over a club in crisis. In the relegation zone and with just one win to their name, Sheffield United were in dire need of some inspiration. That inspiration did not come instantly. Despite a win over Crewe in Clough’s first game, momentum only started to build around United’s astonishing cup run, after they beat Aston
Tom Pyman Villa, Fulham, Nottingham Forest and Charlton on the way to an FA Cup semi-final meeting at Wembley with Hull City. The Blades lost 5-3 on that occasion, having twice taken the lead against the Premier League side, but without question belief has started to flow since the middle of last season that Sheffield United can get promoted this time around. They’ve made a promising start to this campaign, Tuesday’s dramatic comeback at Colchester United further enhancing their promotion credentials. An opening day defeat to current league leaders Bristol City seems but a distant memory and Nigel Clough’s side are now unbeaten since the defeat against Coventry City on August 16. That run involved an impressive 2-1 win away at Peterborough and narrow 1-0 wins at home to Crawley Town and
Rochdale respectively. The Blades were involved in plenty of transfer activity over the summer, with the sale of highly-rated defender Harry Maguire to Hull City coming as a big blow. In terms of incoming deals, striker Marc McNulty and midfielder Jamal Campbell-Ryce were signed from Livingston and Notts County, respectively, followed by midfielder Chris Basham from Blackpool. In that sense, the way United have started the season after significant changes to the squad is admirable. The latest string of positive results give the sense that momentum is building at Bramall Lane, and much earlier than last season – which is a welcome sign given last season’s disastrous first few months.
Sheffield Wednesday will be looking to build on a strong end to last season by pushing for the playoffs and, ultimately, a return to the Premier League this time around. They’ve been busy in the transfer market to give themselves the best possible chance of achieving that goal, and after a 1-0 win away to a muchfancied Brighton side on the opening day, they got off to a great start. Having relied on a lot of loan players last campaign – Connor Wickham, Gary Gardner and Leon Best to name but three – it’s no surprise that there was something of a squad overhaul at Hillsborough. Sam Hutchinson has joined the club permanently after impressing on loan at the back end of last season. The marquee signing has undoubtedly been
Scottish striker Stevie May, who scored 27 goals for St Johnstone last term, joining for an undisclosed fee, whilst controversial striker Gary Madine is back in the fold having been jailed for 18 months. In terms of outgoings, the loss of Michail Antonio to Nottingham Forest is a serious blow, as he followed Jermaine and Reda Johnson out the exit door. The likes of Miguel Llera and Oguchi Onyewu have also departed. Antonio in particular will be a big miss, but, on paper at least, the Owls seem to have a more potent attack this year, with May and Madine in particular looking a good source of goals. Wednesday have started the season strongly and currently sit just outside the play-offs in 8th after three wins and three draws in their first seven games. Stuart Gray’s side followed up the win at Brighton with respectable
draws against Derby and Millwall. Their unbeaten start continued with a 3-2 win away at Middlesbrough, before high-flying Nottingham Forest claimed three points at Hillsborough at the end of August. Clean sheets followed in their next two games with a 0-0 draw at Bolton and a 2-0 win over Birmingham. They also saw off Notts County and Burnley in the Capital One Cup to set up a tasty tie with Premier League champions Manchester City in the next round. Wednesday’s start to the campaign has been a far cry from 12 months ago, when they were rooted to the bottom of the table and failed to win a game until November. The improvement of the team under Gray has been noticeable, and with a bit of luck, there’s no reason why they can’t finish in the top six.
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2014’s Summer of Sport will live long in the memory Ed McCosh June 12, Bar One. Even at the tail end of exam season and with the Summer Social yet to begin, the Union was packed to the rafters. Students found every available seat and stood on benches for a vantage point, some competing just to peer at small screens. It wasn’t the average Bar One atmosphere; the excitement was white-hot. It was for good reason; Brazil and Mexico were kicking off the 2014 World Cup, and with that the summer of sport was underway.
“A maelstrom of emotion”
Unsurprisingly, the summer’s sporting headlines were dominated by football. Brazil 2014 turned out to be a festival of flair, yielding a tally of 171 goals only matched by France 1998, and threw up a number of memorable stories. From the collapse of Spain, England’s dismal showing and Luis Suarez giving the press even more to sink their teeth into, to the triumphant tales of Costa Rica, Colombia and Algeria and the personal glories of James Rodriguez, Thomas Müller and Arjen Robben, the competition was a maelstrom of emotion bringing together the world’s greatest talents. Apologies to Zlatan Ibrahimović. Hosts Brazil stumbled to the semi-finals, yet in the shadow of Christ the Redeemer Luis Felipe Scolari’s side found no redemption, trounced 7-1 by a rampant Germany. A nation mourned, but Joachim Löw’s ‘golden generation’ delivered on their promise, returning to the Maracana to defeat Argentina 1-0 thanks to Mario Götze’s extra time strike and collect die Mannschaft’s fourth World Cup. It was not perfect – unrest amongst the Brazilian public and wider claims of corruption poked yet more holes in FIFA and Sepp
Blatter’s reputation, while the decision to make Lionel Messi the Player of the Tournament was widely questioned, but for a month the world was riveted by the Beautiful Game. For those who stayed up to watch Japan vs Ivory Coast at 2am, we salute you. For eleven days the world was treated to the Commonwealth Games, a meeting of athletics’ greatest talents. Federation Chief Executive Mike Hopper labelled Glasgow 2014 the best edition of the competition in its 84 year history, and this sentiment was echoed by those who witnessed a peak of athletics only surpassed by the Olympic Games. Hosts Scotland recorded a record medal haul of 53, and they weren’t alone; England topped the medal table for the first time since 1986, while Northern Ireland reaped a record tally since the same year. Wales, too, surpassed their medal target with 36 podium places secured, and the successes of the likes of Kiribati in the weightlifting and the Isle of Man in the cycling were the stuff of fairytales. The world was treated to Usain Bolt on the track, Chad le Clos in the pool and Nicola Adams in the ring. As far as athletics summers go 2014 will not be forgotten any time soon.
“Successes were the stuff of fairytales”
The advent of a global competition always provides much-needed publicity, and this summer it was the turn of women’s rugby. England had tasted so much pain in previous tournaments, but this year was at last to be the breakthrough for Gary Street’s side. Emily Scarratt starred, scoring a try, a conversion and three penalties as England overcame Canada 21-9 to secure their first World Cup in 20 years. For Women’s Rugby in England this could have positive ramifications at grassroots level that could sustain the sport for
Mats Hummels and Sergio Aguero in the World Cup Final in Brazil
The 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow decades to come. In other sports it was business at usual. The eyes of tennis fans were drawn to London and New York in the summer months, as Wimbledon and the US Open captured the imagination once more. Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray have enjoyed total dominance of the tennis scene, with at least one appearing in each of the last 38 Grand Slam finals - 36 were won by one of the quartet. Wimbledon was a serious warning to the status quo; Australian teenager Nick Kyrgios dumped Nadal out, while Murray was outmuscled by Grigor Dimitrov. Both fell soon after, and Djokovic overcame Federer to secure the title at SW19, but the warning shots had been fired. In Flushing Meadows, with Nadal absent through injury, the tennis proletariat overthrew those at the top of the hierarchy in stunning style. In the quarter final Djokovic defeated Murray, but the Serb did not deal with the stunning run of Japan’s Kei Nishikori, who in a run of longfought and spectacular victories battled through to the final. In a development that shocked the world of tennis big-serving Marin Cilic brushed aside Federer to set up a final that defied all odds. It
Photo: Wikipedia Commons
was Cilic who took the title, yet Nishikori, Dimitrov, Kyrgios and the rest of the sport’s chasing pack will go into January’s Australian Open plotting the demise of the four titans at its very peak. This summer’s golf was
“Sport was able to dominate both the front and back pages”
dominated by just one man; Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy. First came the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, and even with golf’s perennial nearly man Sergio Garcia breathing down his neck throughout McIlroy held his nerve to win the Claret Jug for the first time. Germany’s Martin Kaymer had secured the US Open title in June, and two months later the USA hosted the final major of the year, the PGA Championship in Valhalla, Kentucky. Austria’s Brend Wiesberger, Sweden’s Henrik Stenson, and Americans Phil Mickleson and Rickie Fowler laid serious claims to the crown. Yet McIlroy led and, as he did two years ago, the 2012 champion came back stronger in the final round to keep his rivals at arm’s length and collect his second major in consecutive months. For McIlroy, the trophy hauls of greats of the game, like Nicklaus, Palmer and Woods, are not only attainable but surpassable. Looking to the much nearer future, the captain’s picks confirmed the line-up for this month’s Ryder Cup at Gleneagles. Stephen Gallacher, pipped agonisingly to the final automatic place by Graeme McDowell, was saved by captain Paul McGinley’s selection. Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter, the architect of 2012’s “Miracle of
Photo: Wikipedia Commons Medinah,” were also added to the European team. Tom Watson and his American side, this year without the legendary yet waning Tiger Woods, will seek to take the Samuel Ryder trophy back to the States from Europe for the first time this century. Cycling’s premier fixture, the Tour de France, brought mixed fortunes for Britain. The Tour started in England for the first time since 2007, and for only the second time ever, with the second stage’s terminus right here in Sheffield. Yet, by that point, the nation’s top racing talent had fallen by the wayside. First Sir Bradley Wiggins, then Mark Cavendish, and excruciatingly defending champion Chris Froome were forced out. The yellow jersey was taken by the Italian Vincenzo Nibali, as the Astana rider won the general classification by a full seven minutes and 37 seconds. The 2015 edition should see the British out for retribution in the sport’s most prestigious competition. The cricketing summer brought great success for Yorkshire; the White Rose cantered to the County Championship Division One title in a campaign that included an innings and 18 run thrashing of rivals Lancashire. It was a tumultuous summer for England captain Alastair Cook; Sri Lanka were victorious over the hosts in both the one day and Test series, and when India went 1-0 up in Tests with three to play it seemed the writing was on the wall for the Essex skipper. .Yet a resurgent England, lead by Yorkshire batting duo Joe Root and Gary Ballance, roared back. If a 266 run win in the Third Test seemed convincing, the innings and 54 runs and innings and 244 run victories that followed were utterly rampant. Defeat followed in the one day series against the Indians but a full English summer of cricket brought positivity and negativity in equal measures. The summer of 2014 was one in which sport was able to dominate both the front and back pages. From Glasgow to Rio de Janeiro, the world was enraptured by all manner of competitions.Every one of them, not least those in Bar One on that balmy June night, witnessed a summer of sport that will live long in the memory.
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Presenter aims to inspire Sheffield youth
Dramatic Blades comeback Football League One Colchester United Sheffield United
Sky Sports presenter Charlie Webster and the Blade Runners team
Running Joe Bamford TV presenter Charlie Webster has given her backing to the Great Yorkshire Run, which is set to hit Sheffield streets on September 28. She’ll be running in the race as part of a team of ‘Blade Runners’ – made up of around 15 members of staff and coaches from Sheffield United. At a photo shoot and interview session on the pitch at Bramall Lane, in preparation for the event, the Sheffield-born Sky Sports presenter spoke of her enthusiasm to inspire the next generation to get involved in sport – no matter the nature of the competition. “To come and do the Great Yorkshire Run is really special to me. Everybody knows that I run, but coming to my home town… I’ve never actually done a run in Sheffield so I’m really excited to come up.” “It’s where I’m from. I’ve got so many incredible memories – I was born here, I was bred here – and I want to support the local community and give something back.
“I might live in London but I’m hugely proud to be from Sheffield and still want to engage as much as I can in the community.” The Great Yorkshire Run is just one of many events to come Sheffield’s way in recent weeks as it closely follows the opening stages of the Tour de France, where thousands of people turned out to watch the historic cycling event as it rolled through Yorkshire. “The Tour de France was just incredible. Never mind the cyclists – the actual supporters that came out were inspiring because they came out, they stood and they cheered,” said the University of Newcastle graduate. “You could see the smiles on everybody’s faces, and it shows how empowering sport is and how empowering physical activity is as well. As well as the obvious emphasis on fundraising and charity work involved in the run, Ms Webster speaks a lot of the importance of inspiring youth. With the Tour de France and the extremely successful Commonwealth Games in Glasgow recently, sport in the UK has rarely been this inspiring. “I think it’s really important that we get people doing it, so
Photo: Bupa Great Run it’s not just about coming and supporting the pros. It’s really important that at grassroots level, competition doesn’t matter so much. “You don’t have to ride 200km through the Yorkshire dales, you can just go on a 10km bike ride, which is fantastic. It gets the heart moving, and it makes you feel good as well.” Feeling good is certainly something anyone would encourage – and in Ms Webster’s view, physical activity is the best way of getting that feel-good factor. “It makes you feel mentally great when you run or when you ride a bike. “It’s fantastic that we’ve got the Great Yorkshire Run now. It seems we’ve got one thing after another which is great but we need to make sure that we filter it down to the young people of Sheffield to be active too.” Ms Webster herself completed three stages of the British leg of Le Tour this year, which followed her incredible 250-mile seven-day run between 40 football grounds for the charity Women’s Aid, for which she is an ambassador. After running the London marathon twice, Ms Webster is no stranger to long-distance races, despite initially being
more of a sprinter in her youth. She remains confident of Sheffield’s ability to both produce elite sportspeople and to encourage sports participation from a young age. “I always miss Sheffield. The other day it dawned on me that for training, for health and for fitness – we (Sheffield) are incredible,” said the former Tapton School pupil. “We have an amazing space, we can go out into the Yorkshire dales and into the hills and I really miss that.” As well as the city, of course, she also misses seeing the Blades – the club she’s supported since she was four. “I’m a very positive Sheffield United fan – we’ve got the group that are very positive and the group that are a bit negative. I love what Nigel Clough is doing with the team.” “The back end of last season we should be so inspired by – as was seeing them perform at Wembley – it was actually a good game! “I think this season we should aim for no less than automatic promotion. I don’t want to watch Sheffield United in the play-offs – this should be our last season in League One!”
Want to write for Forge Sport? Keen on your sport? Interested in writing and reporting? If you’re one or both (or even neither) of those things then Forge Sport is perfect for you. We provide excellent coverage in both print and online form to the students of the University of Sheffield and beyond. Reporting on University BUCS fixtures as well as local sports teams such as Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday is a brilliant experience and always looks good on a CV. We cover a wide range of sports – from football to table tennis to water polo, Forge Sport deliver the coverage that our University sports teams deserve. You’ll also have the chance to get involved in Varsity, reporting on over 50 extremely competitive
events between The University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam. Varsity is an unmissable few weeks made all the more enjoyable by the University of Sheffield’s fantastic victory last time out. It’s a great privilege to cover the home games of Sheffield’s local teams too, a reward for all contributors who devote time to improving and increasing our University sports coverage. Whether you’re into sport, have an article idea or simply fancy devouring a free pie from the Bramall Lane press box then get in touch. Our email address is sport@ forgetoday.com so email us soon to be added to our ever-expanding mailing list!
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Chris Redfearn Sheffield United came from 2-0 down to win 3-2 in the last seven minutes of play in Colchester on Tuesday night. A late Ben Davies penalty gave the Blades an undeserved but welcome three points to take back to Bramall Lane. The Sheffield United boss Nigel Clough admitted that his team had “got away with it,” after the dramatic win that leaves them in the top six and ready for a sustained push for promotion from League One. Colchester came into the game off the back of a surprising away win at Leyton Orient after a change of manager, and started the game as they left off against Orient. Long distance balls over the top of Sheffield United’s defence to the wingers Sanchez Watt and Gavin Massey caught the Blades defence flat footed on several occasions. George Moncur the Colchester United central midfielder, on loan from West Ham United, opened the scoring; heading home the rebound after his first attempt was saved by Mark Howard. Colchester’s second came when Howard spilled the ball to striker Freddie Sears while trying to prevent conceding a corner. The former Hammers man nipped in and stole the loose ball before finishing into an empty net. The travelling Sheffield United fans would not have been looking forward to the second leg of their 378 mile round trip. Clough bought on Stefan Scougall and Ryan Flynn to add some pace to the attack and the move proved to be something of a masterstroke. Scougall spread the ball to Ben Davies who finished nicely into the bottom corner. Suddenly the Blades were back in the game and a ball from the captain Michael Doyle picked out Flynn who had made a run in behind to score the equaliser, which was followed two minutes later with a Davies penalty to round up a seemingly impossible comeback. The coach journey home will have felt much shorter with three points in the bag.
This week’s contributors Ed McCosh Joe Bamford Tom Pyman Chris Redfearn Thomas Wright
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