Forge issue 64

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The independent student newspaper of the University of Sheffield. Est. 1946.

Issue 64 Friday November 8 2013 @ForgePress /ForgePress

Arts explore: The urban art movement, Fuse, p. 8-9

Screen talk:

TV’s most elusive doctor, Fuse, p. 4

Features find: The dangers of the drug PMA, p. 16-17

Student SU workers don’t have an ally in Buckle

4President says SU student staff shouldn’t be paid living wage but non-student staff should Aidan Phillips Students working for the Students’ Union shouldn’t be paid a living wage but nonstudent staff should, according to SU president Ally Buckle.

Buckle shares responsibility for the SU’s policy to lobby the University to pay its entire staff a living wage, which has recently been raised to £7.65 an hour as part of living wage week between November 4 and 10.

In his policy action plans for this year, Buckle said he commits to continuing to lobby the University to implement a living wage for all of its staff, as well as to “empower students to effectively campaign and be central to our efforts to lobby for a living wage.”

The SU’s living wage policy, passed in April 2012, says that “all staff at the University of Sheffield and Students’ Union should be paid a wage that allows them to live by their own means”, and that “the minimum wage is not enough for workers to provide their family with the essentials of life.”

However, Buckle – who shares responsibility for the policy with development officer Sam Neagus – told Forge Press that although he thinks non-student staff should be paid a living wage, he doesn’t think the same for staff who are currently students.

He said: “We must continue lobbying our University to increase their contribution to us so we can afford to pay the living wage to all our staff.

“However, I believe that while this is ongoing we need to start taking practical steps to ensure that the worst-off staff in the SU are paid a living wage.

“From personal experience of working in the organisation over the past few years, I know that the workers struggling most with the basic cost of living are often postgraduate or non- students, generally due to a lack of additional financial support and extra costs such as council tax.”

He said that his comments are based on “short-term needs”, and that he thinks everyone should be paid the living wage ultimately.

Education officer Sam Rae said he “absolutely agreed” with Ally’s statement.

He said: “While the ideal is obviously a living wage for all staff, the living wage campaign’s (LWC) definition of it is not formulated with recipients of student loans in mind.

“Given that a universal pay increase for SU staff isn’t really possible unless the subvention from the University is increased, I think it makes sense to work towards that goal incrementally through a living wage for staff who most closely fit the LWC’s definition.”

In response to Buckle’s comments, development officer Sam Neagus said he was not prepared to comment on whether or not student SU staff should be paid a living wage “until we’ve looked into all viable options for implementation.”

He said: “I believe we need to take proactive steps to implement a living wage at the SU and we must consider all options and ways of doing this. Myself and other officers will be lobbying the University for implementation of a living wage.”

As of November 4 the living wage rate is £7.65, over £2 an hour less than the £9.73 an hour SU officers receive for working their contracted 35 hours a week for a £17,800 annual salary.

A spokesperson for the University’s living wage campaign said: “The aim of the campaign is to make the minimum pay for staff on campus a living wage.

“The living wage is calculated on a family basis and we are sympathetic to the idea that this may not be as applicable to all students, but there will be students that it will benefit.

“In addition, a tiered pay system will create tensions and could easily lead to discriminatory recruitment. Only through solidarity of the workforce will the living wage be a success.

“The campaign will continue until the University and SU gain accreditation as living wage employers.”

Photo: Camille Brouard

Security drag student activists from Octagon Read the whole story on p. 3

continued on p. 2

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Nicola Moors

DEPUTY EDITOR Jessica Pitocchi Managing Editor Mikey Smith fuse editors fuse@forgetoday.com Amelia Heathman Karen Scattergood HEAD OF ONLINE matthew.smith@forgetoday.com matthew Smith News news@forgetoday.com Lauren Archer Camille Brouard Aidan Phillips Comment comment@forgetoday.com Tom Schneider Ben Scull LETTERS & COFFEE BREAK letters@forgetoday.com Lucy Copson Features features@forgetoday.com Eve Betts Ina Fischer Elsa Vulliamy Lifestyle & travel lifestyle@forgetoday.com Ellie McCaldin Hannah McCulloch Sport sport@forgetoday.com Peter Grieve Philip Hammond Jack Taylor Music music@forgetoday.com Nicky Crane Rachel Smith Games games@forgetoday.com Joanne Butcher Reece Nunn Screen screen@forgetoday.com Kate Lovatt Will Ross Arts arts@forgetoday.com Lizzie Hyland Rhiannon Pickin COPY EDITORS Rosanna Austin Chloe Coleman Katie Mealey Elizabeth Richardson Matthew Smith Beth Topham

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Vi ew s e x pr e sse d a r e n ot nec ess a r ily t h o se o f t he Uni ver sit y, t h e Un io n o r t he edi t oria l t e a m . I n t h e f i r s t i ns t an c e a ll c o m pla in t s shoul d be a ddr e sse d t o t he Manag in g E dit o r, a lt h o ug h a f orm al pr o c e du r e e x is t s .

Striking staff march down Hounsfield Road as Union council pass a motion urging students to miss lectures in solidarity

Photo: Josh Rock

SU president: student-staff shouldn’t be paid a living wage continued from p.1 Vice chair of Union Council Opal Mattila said many student employees in Coffee Revolutions and other SU venues get paid less than the living wage, something she feels should be changed.

She said: “Most employees of the SU value it and what it stands for. Sometimes it feels like that value doesn’t go both ways.

“Working students might not all be dependent on their salary to earn them a living, but most work to enhance their living.

No one takes time away from their degree and social life to run lattes because it sounds fun. People work because they need financial support that they can’t get in another way.

“Part-time students have to work while learning how to balance deadlines with shifts and weigh their next paycheck against how much time they need for their assessment.

If paying those workers a living wage makes their pursuit of a degree easier, we owe them that because they’re members of the Union.

“It’s a financial challenge, but we don’t turn away from challenges. We remodel and make our building reflect how incredible our organisation is. Why can’t we remodel our pay structure?”

An SU employee, who wished to remain anonymous, said the SU also has a “terrible culture of working without pay”, saying that many employees – including senior employees and sabbatical officers – work “way outside their contract hours.”

They said: “Frequently we work after our shifts end. If there’s a delivery that needs to be picked up after we’ve stopped being paid, we go get it because we need it. If a society trashes an area and it takes us over half an hour to clean, we do it, even though we’re not being paid. We love our job but it’s really hard on us.”

“I love the people I work with and for, but someone somewhere who sets the budgets isn’t aware of how hard it is at the bottom.”

On October 31 when staff members went on strike over a decrease in real terms pay, the living wage campaign secured 133 signatures from staff members urging the University to pay all of its workers a living wage, including

Students rally with staff on October 31 strike from 12 senior lecturers.

The petition was handed into the University Executive Board, who two days earlier had considered how the issues around the living wage should be built into how they deliver their revised reward and recognition strategy.

Recent figures released by the National Union of Students (NUS) also show that the number of employees paid below the living wage at the University of Sheffield has increased since October 2012.

Figures obtained under the Freedom of Information (FOI) act from October 2012 show that overall 337 employees were paid below the living wage rate at the time of £7.45 an hour, 85 per cent of which were women.

Figures released on November 4 by the NUS show that the number of employees has increased to 353, just over 16 times the number of staff paid below £7.45 at Sheffield Hallam University.

But the living wage rate has also increased

Photo: Living wage campaign in the past week to £7.65 an hour, meaning even more employees could potentially now be paid below the amount the Joseph Rowntree foundation estimates people can earn and live at what they describe as a ”socially acceptable level.”

Nearly half of all university employees paid below the living wage in Yorkshire work for the University of Sheffield. The University has the ninth highest number of staff paid below the living wage in the country, although when the figures are taken as a percentage of all staff members it doesn’t break into the top 20.

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Anti-war protesters dragged out of University careers fair by security

SCIENCE & Technology

Camille Brouard and Aidan Phillips Students protesting against arms companies were physically dragged from the Octagon centre by security staff on two occasions when staging demonstrations at the Engineering and Technology careers fair on November 5.

Some of the protestors sustained cuts and bruises as a result of the physical action taken against them.

The protestors, representing the Fund Education Not War campaign, pretended to lay dead on the floor while wearing t-shirts covered in fake blood and linking arms. Three protesters stood over them holding a banner reading ‘Professional murderers off our campus’.

Fund Education Not War released a statement saying they were protesting against the companies Augusta Westland, Airbus, BAE Systems, Rolls Royce, Thales and Ultra Electronics.

The group said in their statement: “The University prides itself on being a valuesled organisation. However, its continued liaison with arms companies responsible for the murder of innocents around the world throws this claim into serious disrepute.”

The protestors staged their demonstrations at the back of the Octagon, near stands occupied by the Royal Navy, Thales, BAE Systems, GCHQ and Rolls Royce.

Protestors read out a list of children they say were killed as a result of weapons produced by the companies, who are all involved in arms production.

BAE Systems’s stand was nearly knocked over as a protester was dragged past.

Another protestor managed to wedge himself in the doorway as security attempted to drag him outside the building.

Security initially asked the group to leave on both occasions but they continued, resulting in security dragging them out of the Octagon via the fire

Breast cancer relapses due to mutated receptor gene Mutations in the ESR1 gene, responsible for the oestrogen receptor, can lead to breast cancer relapses according to research by the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre and University of Michigan.

Treatment drugs like Tamoxifen and Fulvestrant prevent oestrogen from binding to the receptor whereas others, such as aromatase inhibitors, prevent oestrogen production.

However the receptor itself can remain permanently active, even in the absence of oestrogen.

Higher drug doses may inhibit receptors, but this reaction may not always occur.

Victoria Stanway Antibodies could “revolutionise” HIV treatment

Security drag student protesters from the Octagon exits. Approximately five to six security guards were involved in the action on both occasions.

On at least the second occasion, the University’s security operations manager asked staff to use minimum force.

Demonstrators shouted at the staff for what they said was excessive force.

In a statement Students’ Union officers said they “wholeheartedly support students’ right to protest on campus and are concerned with the way in which the protest was broken up, which appeared to use disproportionate force.”

The security operations manager later said the students’ protests went “beyond a normal protest.”

The statement read: “Protesters at the Engineering & Technology

Hannah Rudman @HannahDRudman

As a graduate of @sheffielduni it makes me sad they continue to invite companies that are complicit in war on to campus #fundeducationnotwar

careers fair on the November 5 2013 were regrettably removed with force by the University security team after staging a protest specifically against a number of exhibitors who are linked to the arms trade.

“We are looking into issues surrounding this and have expressed our concerns to University management.”

The SU’s Fund Education, Not War involves opposing the University’s dealings with arms companies and investments in companies complicit in the arms trade. The policy was passed by referendum in October 2012.

A spokesperson for the University of Sheffield said: “The University fully supports the democratic process and right of students to express their views

Everything @DanielJoeTaylor

Just wanted to apply for a job and now the entire thing is marred. Thanks #fundeducationnotwar

in public within the law.

“A small number of protesters became disruptive and intimidating to students and employees of companies visiting the University. They were also blocking fire exits.

These individuals were asked on several occasions to move by University security staff. When they refused to do so they were escorted out of the building.

“The University has several research partnerships with major household names and blue chip companies.

These industrial partnerships bring major benefits to students as a result of these companies sharing their expertise through placements, industrial lectures and case studies.”

Two of the companies targeted

by Fund Education Not War for their role in arms production were Thales and Ultra Electronics.

Thales is the world’s 11th largest arms producer. Military products, including missiles, UAVs (drones) and armoured vehicles, accounted for 52 per cent of the company’s 2011 sales.

The company supplies defence and military equipment to countries all around the world, including those with major human rights concerns, such as Saudi Arabia.

In 2010 Thales was the general integrator for all air traffic control equipment for Egypt’s newly built tower and runway, inaugurated by President Hosni Mubarak.

Thales is also a major manufacturer of Tactical

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (TUAVs), also known as drones, which provide intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance.

Thales advertises TUAVs as having a variety of uses including paramilitary, counterterrorism and the ‘monitoring of civil unrest’.

In August 2005 Thales signed a €1bn prime contract to provide the Watchkeeper TUAV System to the UK Armed Forces. It is now believed the drones will be used in homeland security.

Thales has also been accused, on numerous occasions, of bribing officials. The World Bank’s Integrity Unit has blacklisted Thales from any of its projects because of its history of large-scale bribery.

Ultra Electronics supply control systems to aircrafts, including weaponised drone

vehicles.

The company has been “the supplier of the controls that fly the Predator [drone] since its inception,” describing their product as a “gaming style controller.”

The General Atomics MQ-1 Predator is a UAV that was initially designed for surveillance but has since been modified to carry and fire munitions, typically two AGM-114 Hellfire missiles.

The aircrafthas been involved in combat over Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bosnia, Serbia, Iraq, Yemen, Libya, and Somalia.

The University of Edinburgh recently severed ties with Ultra Electronics, divesting all their shares in the company.

Offensive uses of the Predator fall under classified information, meaning U.S. military officials have declined to publicly

Connor McCarry

Phoebe Hunt @Pheeebzybbz2k12

Disgusted by anti-arms protestors being dragged from the Careers Fair #fundeducationnotwar

Background: the companies targeted at the careers fair Lauren Archer

A team of researchers at Harvard Medical school used a powerful infusion of antibodies to successfully drive HIV from monkeys’ bloodstreams.

The researchers combined human HIV and the Rhesus monkey equivalent for the study. The HIV virus is difficult to treat due to its rapidly mutating parts. The antibodies targeted parts of the virus that don’t mutate and are important for its function.

Experts say the study may “revolutionise” the search for a cure. The study. will be repeated in humans to show if this treatment is safe and has benefits.

comment on their combative use.

The Bureau of Investigative Journalism has published a list of children who died in drone strikes in Pakistan and Yemen, which are not conflict zones.

Human Rights Watch reported that six U.S. drone strikes in Yemen killed 82 people, including at least 57 civilians.

It is estimated that 286 to 890 civilians have been killed by drone strikes in Pakistan, including 168 to 197 children.

In October this year human rights charity Amnesty International said that CIA drone strikes in Pakistan were responsible for unlawful killings, some of which may constitute war crimes.

The Obama administration states that the attacks do not violate UN law and that the method is “precise and effective.”

Photo: Wikipedia Lost world discovered on Australia’s Cape York Peninsula An expedition to a remote mountain range on Australia’s northern tip by biologists from James Cook University, Queensland, has uncovered three new vertebrate species.

The scientists discovered the bizarrely shaped and coloured Leaf Tailed Gecko, the long limbed Cape Melville Shade Skink and the Blotched Boulder Frog. Given the discovery of three major new species in one expedition, more expeditions will be made to Cape Melville in future.

The Cape Melville range remains largely unexplored to this day.

Dan King

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NEWS UniNEWS

Interesting stories from other universities around the country Durham rugby club criticised for drinking game about rape Durham University’s St. Cuthbert college rugby club was recently caught out for playing a drinking game that ”encouraged rape culture.”

A member of Durham’s feminist society Flo Perry overheard club members in the college’s bar playing a game about finishing the sentence “it’s not rape if.”

Perry said in an article for the Durham Tab: “It’s not rape it’s between two consenting adults – any other ending of this sentence encourages rape culture which is, in my opinion, the nasty side of lad culture.”

Club captain Samuel Cuthbert emailed an apology to Perry.

He said: “[the game] is neither funny nor is it permissible and I wholeheartedly apologise.”

He suggested the two societies work together to promote the feminist cause.

Neelam Tailor Virgin to have sex in live art show An art student plans to lose his virginity as part of a performance piece.

Clayton Pettet’s “Art School Stole My Virginity” will include the Central Saint Martins student having sex with a male friend in front of an audience.

Pettet says his “immersive art piece” will explore and challenge traditional ideas about the value of virginity.

Many have expressed concern that the show will reinforce negative stereotypes about the LGBT community and devalue sex between loving partners.

Reverend Sharon Ferguson of the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement said: “Stunts like this cheapen our own relationships.”

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Engsoc don moustaches for charity

Bands jam to raise funds for human rights

Tasmin Wade The English society (Engsoc) are running a “Movember” campaign to raise money and awareness for men’s health, including prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and mental health.

Over 60 students are taking part alongside English lecturers Gary Wood and Richard Steadman-Jones.

Male students are growing moustaches and females are encouraged to take part as “mo sistas” by wearing fake moustaches in order to raise money for the campaign.

Various activities run by the society will also take place throughout the month, including a “mo quiz” that can be downloaded and participated in, and a moustache-themed party towards the end of November.

The society is hoping to raise £2000 by the end of the month.

EngSoc president Lawrence Walsh said: “We’re really grateful to all those who are supporting the cause, and to friends, colleagues and the public for sponsoring us.”

School of English lecturer Gary Wood joined the event in support of his students, saying: “It’s a sad reality that some of those taking part will one day have to face the illnesses Movember tackles.

“In our department we’re proud of the commitment of our students to supporting charity, and I’m delighted to be able to get involved and help to change the face of men’s health.”

The campaign aim is to erase the stigma related to issues such as mental health after figures revealed men have a four times higher suicide rate than women.

Movember was initiated by a group of 30 people in Australia in 2003.

Last year, 1.1 million people took part worldwise, raising a total of £92 million.

Performers in the Green Room Adela Whittingham Amnesty International society held a live music event jAmnesty in the Green Room on Division Street to raise money as part of the University of Sheffield’s first human rights week.

The charity society, in collaboration with other societies, ran human rights week from November 4 to 8 to raise awareness about human rights issues.

The event saw a wide variety of acts performing, kicked off by jazz group the Friday Night Jazz Ensemble (FriNJE).

The political messages of “Drink and Drive” and “Standing Dead” performed

by Arash Shafiei Sabet in Persian was a reminder of the purpose of Amnesty’s event.

Other performances included sets from “rock-funk-punk-jazz” Sheffield group

Photo: Adela Whittingham Young Peculiar, 20-year-old folk musician and secretary of Amnestysoc Dru Blues and Indie-folk six-piece Brave New Storm.

The event raised around £300, with the winners of the raffle tickets sold at the event to be announced on Friday 8th November.

Amnesty also held an ‘AmnesTea’ session in the activities and sports zone in the SU on November 7.

The society is encouraging students to take part in the annual Spiderwalk with RAG to raise money for Amnesty International.

Sheffield Students’ Union political journal Canvas is also publishing a mini-issue on ‘Human Nature’ with a special human rights section.

Student vote on bottled water ban SU may trial free pregnancy tests Camille Brouard

Beth Cunningham

Photo: XXXXXXXX Warwick rescue robot to compete in Germany Academics in Warwick are looking to build a search and rescue robot to compete in a Robocup rescue open in Germany next year.

The WALL-E from Coventry will face-off against other machines in a range of tasks, including operating in a collapsed building and finding disaster victims.

With features including an infrared camera and a gripper for delivering water bottles, the academics are hoping success in Germany will secure them more funding ahead of the next world championships in Brazil.

Aidan Phillips

Bottled water in the View cafe Aidan Phillips Students are to be given a say on whether or not the Students’ Union continues its ban on bottled water at a referendum early next year.

Since being passed by Union Council in December 2010, the SU has not sold any still bottled water in its outlets, yet does sell sparkling and flavoured water.

University-owned venues in the SU, such as Uni Central and the View Deli, have not stopped selling the product despite SU lobbying for three years.

The SU’s website says 40 per cent of bottled water comes from taps but costs about 500 times more, and that producing a bottle uses up to seven times the amount of water it will eventually contain.

Development officer Sam Neagus said students should make the decision on whether

Photo: Aidan Phillips to renew this policy.

He said: “This SU takes our commitment to the environment and to be sustainable seriously, and I believe we should uphold a ban on bottled water.

“That said, we are a members-led and democratic organisation, so students have the opportunity to influence all aspects of our operations. As such, it should be their decision as to whether the policy should be renewed.”

In his policies for this year, Sam said he will aim to ensure reusable bottles are easily available throughout the building, to lobby the University and its subsidiaries to adopt the policy and to install three new water fountains in the newly refurbished areas of the SU building.

The SU’s links with the Islamic University of Gaza (IUG) will also be put to referendum early next year.

Free pregnancy tests could be made available in the student advice centre under plans announced by activities officer Alice Lord.

Alice said she hopes to initially launch a trial to “explore if the tests are cost viable and if people feel comfortable picking them up from the advice centre.”

She said: “The idea is to provide good information for women who find they are pregnant so they can make an informed choice.

“I will be working with the advice centre to put a sticker on the back with a few key phone numbers and website links to provide advice if you do fall pregnant at university and are unsure of what to do.”

The pro-choice policy regarding contraception and abortion was approved

by Union council in 2012.

It focuses on access to contraception and sexual health services, supporting pregnant women financially and campaigning for free contraception and abortions.

The student advice centre currently supplies free condoms, chlamydia test kits and information pamphlets.

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Students join picket lines in support of staff strikes

Photo: Lauren Archer

Students join the picket line outside the IC Camille Brouard and Edith Hancock Students and staff turned out in their hundreds to take part in nationwide strikes against staff pay cuts on October 31.

Trade unions Unite, Unison and the University and College Union (UCU) voted for strike action across the country, with many staff and students from the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University joining picket lines.

Unions say that the real terms salaries staff receive have decreased by 13 per cent

over the last five years.

According to figures provided by a spokesperson for the University of Sheffield, the starting pay for lecturers, allowing for CPI inflation, has declined by 8.1 per cent, and for Grade 1 staff by 7.4 per cent.

The pay decrease has come at the same time as a significant rise in many university leaders’ wages, with the average increase standing at more than £5,000 in 2011/12 alone.

The University of Sheffield’s vice chancellor Keith Burnett’s salary rose by

£17,000 in 2011 to £311,000. He has since taken a £15,000 pay cut.

A rally gathered at 11am with a group of at least 200 staff and students marching into the city centre, while a separate group also marched from Sheffield Hallam University.

Police stopped trams and other traffic to let the rally through. One officer estimated that 300 to 400 strikers overall were active.

Members of the groups Sheffield Autonomous Students, the Living Wage Campaign and the Revolutionary Socialists also occupied the Richard Roberts building

on the evening of October 30 after a rally outside the IC at 6pm.

The occupation ended at 1:30pm the following day. South Yorkshire Police said no complaints had been made against the occupying demonstrators during that time.

In a statement last week, Sheffield Students’ Union officers urged students to support the strikers and not attend lectures on the day.

Strike action has been mandated until March 2014. The unions will announce beforehand if members are to go on strike again.

Professor’s snarky takedown of comedian Russell Brand Anthony Phillips

Photo: Esten Hurtle Students climbing Snowdon for Syrian refugees Sheffield students plan to climb Mount Snowdon on November 9 to raise funds for Syrian refugees.

The sponsored trek up Wales’ highest mountain was organised by the University’s Islamic Circle (USIC). 53 students have signed up so far.

USIC’s events manager, Aseel Khattab, said: “Even if I benefit one orphan or one widow by climbing this mountain, it will be worth the effort.

“To think that this could be the reason someone gets medication or even just a warm night’s sleep is mind blowing”.

Each trekker aims to raise £150 at least through sponsorship with all proceeds going to Human Appeal International, a charity which assists Syrian refugees.

So far, a total of £3500 has been raised.

USIC hopes to raise £6000 through this event.

A University of Sheffielld professor recently criticised comedian and actor Russell Brand following his controversial interview with broadcaster Jeremy Paxman.

During the interview, Brand said he hoped for a political revolution by “not voting” and stated his dismay towards the current political system.

Politics professor Matthew Flinders said in an open letter he was left “strangely impressed” by the depth and intensity of Brand’s opening argument, but addressed what he called the dangerous slope of televised political satire since the 1950s.

Flinders argued that in recent months “there has been a groundswell of negative public opinion on the role of political satire as the impact of its damaging view to politicians.”

He said: “How can political comedy and satire help us engage with that widespread feeling of disconnection and then channel it into a new beginning? I ask these

Kids control SU cinema The kids were in control on Saturday November 2 as a group of ten year-olds were given free rein to run the Students’ Union auditorium.

Working with Film Unit to screen a film of their own choice, the children had to organise, advertise and manage the screening themselves.

They made their own posters, created a web page and even worked in the projection room.

PhD student Gemma Bird, who helped lead the project with Union Council chair Aleks Loesch, said: “Film Unit may be a student cinema, but they also try and get members of the public to watch the films.

“This project is an example of the organisation getting involved with the Sheffield community.”

questions because – like you – I am angry because for me politics is real.”

Flinders is currently working on a new project for BBC Radio 4 called Joking Apart which examines the changing nature and impact of political comedy and satire.

PhD student James Yeoman also expressed his views on Brand’s interview in a blog post on the History department’s website.

Yeoman used his knowledge of historical Spanish anarchism to support a possible anarchist response similar to Brand’s views. He said: “Whatever Brand’s apocalyptic message, history shows that models for alternative collective action are possible.”

Comedian Robert Webb recently published an open letter criticising Brand, saying that “actively telling a lot of people that engagement with our democracy is a bad idea gives politicians the green light to neglect the concerns of young people because they’ve been relieved of the responsibility of courting their vote.”

Silent protest fot Kieron Students and graduates of the University of Sheffield travelled to the Russian embassy in London on November 2 to protest against the arrest of journalist and Sheffield alumnus Kieron Bryan.

Bryan, alongside 29 other activists and journalists, was arrested and originally charged with piracy in September 2013 by Russian authorities while documenting a Greenpeace protest in the Arctic.

Russia have said they will drop the piracy charges and charge all detainees with criminal hooliganism instead.

However, a Channel Four report said they are currently facing both charges.

Around 16 University of Sheffield graduates and four current students attended a silent protest of between 80 to 90 people outside the embassy.

Uni vs Hallam showdown The University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University are extending their rivalry into the field of the arts at a “Cultural Varsity” showdown.

Cultural Varsity involves students from both universities going head-tohead in battles of poetry and comedy for the first time.

A collaboration between the Students’ Union and its societies, Flash!, Opus, and Sheffield’s Now Then magazine, the event also features a guest performance from poet and battle rapper Mark Grist, whose rap battle video ‘Don’t Flop’ has reached over four million views on YouTube.

Cultural Varsity is at 7:30pm on November 24 in Fusion.

Tickets are £5 with an NUS/Ucard or £7 without.

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Bonfire of austerity protest blocks off busy road Jo Gallacher and Estel Farell Roig Around 150 protesters blocked off a road in the city centre last night following a rally against the government’s austerity measures.

The roadblock on Pinstone Street lasted between 10 and 20 minutes, at which point protestors returned to the town hall.

Protester Sam Marner said the demonstration blocked a couple of buses and a taxi. He said the taxi took a different route but the buses were forced to wait, with some passengers getting off.

Another protester David Wilson said there “wasn’t any real aggravation, minus a few guys that disagreed with the road block as it was preventing normal folk from getting home after work.”

Various protesters gave different accounts as to whether the roadblock ended because the police asked them to move or as a collective decision among themselves.

All protesters agreed that the demonstration was only intended to be short-lived, with University of Sheffield politics student Apryl Lucy Walcott-Chow saying: “It ended because it was never supposed to be a long road block.

“It was simply to draw attention to our cause and to cause a fraction of the disruption that the government is doing to people’s lives daily.”

The town hall rally attracted around 150 protesters as part of a nationwide ‘bonfire of austerity’ event called by the Peoples’

Assembly, which saw 75 demonstrations across the country including a roadblock on Westminster Bridge in London.

Demonstrations in Sheffield also occurred throughout the day at the Sheffield assessment centre in Hartshead Square and on Fargate.

The protesters aimed to “fight back against austerity cuts affecting citizens and services within Sheffield”, with union members, campaigners and politicians speaking to the crowd, referring to their fellow speakers as “brothers and sisters.”

Member of the Benefit Justice campaign Jennifer Bush drummed up support by encouraging the protesters to chant “axe the tax, do what it takes, we won’t pay for your mistakes” to the beat of reggae music.

Speaking on behalf of the People’s Assembly in South Yorkshire, Sheffield Hallam student Henry Parkyn-Smith said: “The idea was to do a day of civil disobedience, something a little bit different that would bring together the different groups who campaign against the cuts to do one day of action together. That way we have a bigger impact.”

Green party member Linda Duckenfield said: “It is very important for all the groups that are being hard hit by the government get together.

“I hope today’s action will give us all hope and allow us realise we are all in the same side. We stand for bread and roses.”

Protestors blocking Pinstone Street

Photo: David Wilson

Swing for disabled adults stolen Sheffield hospitals are some of the safest in the country, says watchdog Camille Brouard The risk of receiving poor health care at Sheffield teaching hospitals and Children’s Hospital is very low, according to a recent inspection by a health watchdog.

The Care Quality Commission placed NHS trusts into six bands ranked according to performance in 150 areas of care. The Sheffield hospitals all ranked within the band deemed to be of the least concern to inspectors.

Sheffield teaching hospitals include the Northern General and Royal Hallamshire hospitals.

The Care Quality Commission commended these Sheffield hospitals on criteria such as “caring for people safely & protecting them from harm”, “providing care, treatment

The playground without a swing Nicola Moors A popular Sheffield attraction has been vandalised “almost every week for the past few months” with the most recent being the theft of a swing used by adults with learning difficulties and children.

The bird’s nest swing, which is 1.2m in diameter, was stolen from Heeley city farm at the start of the month and is worth £2,500.

Sam Bennett, who works at the farm, said that the theft had a huge impact on the people who visit the farm.

“We run an adults with learning disabilities group from the farm which has a lot of people with autism.

“They use the swing every day when they need somewhere to go to relax when they are stressed.”

Two weeks before the theft of the swing, the farm’s cafe had two of its windows smashed.

Photo: Nicola Moors The playground at the farm has been open for a year and has experienced acts of vandalism often.

Damage to the farm has also included felt from the playground being ripped off on a “weekly basis”, fences being broken and thrown into the pond, CCTV cameras being vandalised and plants being pulled out of the ground.

Bennett said that the vandalism was due to “bored” teenagers.

“The vandalism is mostly due to boredom from the kids as the youth funding has been slashed by the council.

“The council has to make cuts but the fact that they have cut the youth budget means that we are the ones suffering in the end.”

The swing has since been found up a tree nearby to the Sheaf View pub, which is half a kilometre away.

Heeley city farm is an environmental visitor centre which is free to visit and is open every day.

and support that meets people’s needs” and “treating people with respect and involving them in their care.”

The commission plans to run checks on all English hospitals by 2015. Hospitals will be given ratings from ‘outstanding’ to ‘inadequate’ in a system similar to that of school inspector Ofsted.

The criteria NHS trusts are rated on are grouped into five areas: safety, caring, effectiveness, responsiveness and leadership.

United Lincolnshire Hospitals were placed in the band of most concern and are entering a ‘buddying-up’ system with Sheffield Teaching Hospitals to improve their performance.

44 of the 161 trusts inspected so far have been placed in the two highest risk bands.

Gloves and sleeping bags for homeless

Four police staff convicted of child sexual abuse in 13 years

Neelam Tailor

Aidan Phillips

A charity for homeless people has launched an appeal for gloves and sleeping bags.

Ben’s Centre, a charity giving street drinkers a safe and accessible environment, has launched an appeal for men’s winter gloves and sleeping bags to keep the homeless warm as winter hits Sheffield.

Sue Smith, project manager, said: “Ben’s offers practical help; we’ll feed you, we’ll do your washing, we’ll give you clothes if you have none.”

Sheffield is estimated to have an average of 11 rough sleepers on the streets at any one time.

Ben’s Centre has been helping the most vulnerable people in Sheffield and other cities for 17 years. They emphasise the issue of the marginalisation of street drinkers and aim to give them a haven from this exclusion.

Ben’s Centre is based on Orange Street and is open Monday to Friday, 10am until 4pm.

Four staff members for South Yorkshire Police have been convicted of child sexual abuse offences in the past 13 years.

The staff involved include three police officers and one police community support officer.

Three of the staff members were dismissed following the incident, whereas the fourth resigned.

The information was provided in a Freedom of Information request on the website Whatdotheyknow, where users can send off FOIs which are then published on the website in public view.

A South Yorkshire Police spokesperson said every incident must be dealt with within its context and that they cannot comment on individual disciplinary procedures.

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Clean up or go to court, say council National News

Chalk giant wears moustaches for Movember

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Photo: Jonathon Tattersall

Rubbish in front of the ski village Jessica Pitocchi Vandalism and arson have left Sheffield ski village in such a derelict state that the owners are being threatened with legal action if it isn’t cleaned up.

The once-hailed ‘vision of the future’ has been in a wasteful state since it was subject to an arson attack back in April, the fourth time it had been set on fire

in just twelve months.

Since then the abandoned site has attracted vandalism and piles of mounting rubbish have gathered, making an eyesore of what used to be a popular tourist attraction.

Council officials have raised the issue of the mess to owner Kevin Pullan, ordering him to ensure the site is cleared up and secured voluntarily and warning

Stay safe from thieves Camille Brouard Sheffield is the safest large city in England. In the 2011-2012 academic year, 298 incidents were reported but only 169 crimes were reported in 2012-2013.

The University of Sheffield and South Yorkshire Police ran crime prevention week this week because, as head of University security Richard Yates said: “although the reductions in crime at the University are welcome, there is no room for complacency.”

Following on from crime prevention week, Forge Press gives 10 top tips for keeping your belongings a n d accommodation safe from opportunist thieves.

1. Don’t leave valuables on display 2. Keep your front door locked at all times 3. Don’t all leave the house in one group 4. Avoid telling a stranger (e.g. a taxi driver) your whole flat is out for the night 5. Register valuables with websites like immobilise.com 6. Avoid walking home alone and try to use ‘green routes’ which are well-lit 7. Keep keys in a pocket so if your bag does get stolen you can get home safely 8. When out keep your phone in a pocket or bag, not on a table 9. Mark your name and postcode onto property with a UV pen 10. Yale type locks reduce sneak-in burglaries because they lock automatically when the door is closed

they could take legal action if its condition remains.

Ben Corbey, a former instructor at the village, said: “The fact the site and access road have not been better secured has allowed the use of one of the most visible city locations to become an open air dumping ground. It’s a disgrace.”

A fire to the main chalet in April 2012 sparked off a series

of subsequent arson attacks steadily ruining what was left of the venue. In January, Pullan announced the village would not reopen.

Plans for the site have not yet been revealed, although mountain biking champion Steve Peat has held discussions with the council about using part of it as a mountain bike riding base.

Sheffield cracks down on LGBT hate crime Lauren Archer One in six lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) people has experienced hate crime in the last three years, recent studies reveal.

Studies by LGBT charity Stonewall and Sheffield Hallam University show that one in 10 LGBT people suffered physical assault in the process, and three quarters did not report the crime to the police, believing they would not or could not do anything.

When applied to Sheffield, this works out at over 6,000 of the city’s estimated 50,000 LGBT residents having recently experienced homophobic or transphobic hate crime.

Neale Gibson, Sheffield city councillor and LGBT Sheffield secretary, has put forward a motion to council calling on the Home Secretary to act on the reports and prioritise the fight against homophobic and transphobic attacks.

Gibson said: “I’m 54 and I’ve been subject to homophobic hate crime all my life. I’ve learnt to ride through it and ignore it, yet it happens to me every single week.

“People make comments that they think are amusing but to me, could be regarded as homophobic.

It goes from comments like that to physical attacks. It covers the whole range.”

Gibson and the rest of the

LGBT Sheffield team are working closely with the council to promote inclusion and equality in the city.

Masters students from the University of Sheffield are working with LGBT Sheffield to design a new centre for the city’s 50,000 LGBT residents.

Architecture students are helping to design a building tailored to the needs of the people of Sheffield, across the whole LGBT range.

The group are launching a competition to find the first couple in the country to be married and are planning a wedding ceremony in Sheffield moments after the act becomes law at midnight.

They are also planning a mass ‘changing-up’ ceremony, converting hundreds of civil partnerships to marriages, culminating in a mass party.

On the note of equal marriage, Gibson said: “The government is saying it’s making the country more inclusive by bringing in equal marriage.

“That’s just a rubber stamping, that’s not real equality. Real equality means applying the human rights act in all areas of life an understanding that homophobic hate crime is a crime and should be prosecuted.

“We as gay people are not going to carry on being insulted in the streets, shouted at or discriminated against because of our lifestyle.”

Britain’s largest chalk hill figure has donned a grass moustache in support of Movember.

The famous Cerne Abbas Giant, which is owned by the National Trust, received the one-day makeover by British Seed Houses, who are supporting the initiative.

West Dorset Countryside manager, Rob Rhodes, said: “It is all a bit of fun to highlight an important subject so we were happy to give our support and join in the fun of Movember.

I am sure the Giant would approve.”

The giant, whose origins and age are unknown, has become an important part of local heritage and folklore and a major tourist attraction.

The Movember charity encourages men to preserve their facial hair throughout the month of November in order to raise awareness of prostate and testicular cancer.

Alex Grove LEGO men sent 17 miles into space Two friends sent a pair of LEGO men to the edge of space last Wednesday .

The LEGO characters were attached to a camera and helium-filled latex weather balloon.

Teacher John Chippindall, 31 and entrepreneur Ian Cunningham, 29, met on an aerospace engineering course at Manchester University.

They build the space probe, called The Meteor, in their spare time for £250.

The craft was launched from Mold, North Wales and landed near Chesterfield, Derbyshire almost 75 miles away.

Chippindall plans to create a guide on making and launching a space camera, which could be used in schools.

Camille Brouard Ghost pig” found on island possibly swam from France A wild boar spotted roaming the island of Alderney, Channel Islands, may have arrived by swimming from France.

Islanders call the boar “ghost pig” because it has only been seen at dusk.

Farm owner Tess Woodnutt’s attention was brought to the boar on September 27 when she received a call saying one of her 40 pigs had gone missing, though none of them had.

Woodnutt spoke to the BBC and said a UK expert told her wild boars can swim extremely long distances.

The “ghost pig” was spotted last Friday on Woodnutt’s farm.

It managed to escape the locals, when startled, by jumping over a fence.

Camille Brouard

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In defence of the occupation

Josh Berlyne writes why he believes the occupation was justifiable

Photo: Lauren Archer

Josh Berlyne The occupation of the Richard Roberts building last Wednesday caused a lot of animosity.

Many students felt angry that their lecturers had failed them – it seemed, on the face of it, that university staff were putting their own interests ahead of their feepaying students.

The occupation itself went peacefully. The security were cooperative, the building was made a ‘safe zone’ and no mess was made.

Our primary goal was not to disrupt lectures. Rather, we wanted to draw attention to the aims of the strikers and make it clear that they did not stand alone in their dispute with university

management. By occupying a building, hanging banners and inspiring debate, we hoped to get people thinking about the plight of university staff.

“We wanted to draw attention to the aims of the strikers and make it clear that they did not stand alone” We also went some way to helping explain the importance of not breaking the picket – something that both our group and the strikers felt strongly about.

It was not the strikers ruining our education - they are the ones who work to provide it on a day-to-day basis. Rather, it is the management who have been selfishly dissembling our education. We

are paying increasing amounts for our education because of a longstanding agenda pushing for high profits and marketisation – this is the same agenda forcing pay cuts upon university staff.

The more battles the strikers lose, the easier it becomes for university management to place their interests over those of students.

This is why we saw touring the pickets as essential – we sought to link the hardships of students with those of the staff. We’re in the same fight, and we’re in it for the long run.

Having spoken to many of the staff on strike, it was clear that some of the cleaners, many of whom have been outsourced to private companies, were furious at the University’s disregard.

Having largely been given temporary contracts, it was

difficult for them to join a union and so impossible for them to strike.

“We’re in the same fight, and we’re in it for the long run”

The result? Many are paid well below the living wage and face an uncertain future. This makes a mockery of our university’s supposedly high ethical standards.

But how will pay cuts and privatisation affect us, the students? Already UK universities pay their lecturers less than their US counterparts, so a 13 per cent real-terms pay cut over the past five years will certainly put off academics from teaching in Britain, and could even lead to top lecturers moving to Ivy League universities.

Added to this, the general trend towards university privatisation could lead to hidden costs, a compromise in the quality of services and a loss of confidentiality.

It certainly is not hyperbolic to suggest that the current privatisation of the loanbook constitutes a retrospective fee hike.

Should the quality of our education be compromised?

Should the youth be lumped with sky-high debts? Should the poor be saddled with the debts of the rich?

Our answer is an unequivocal no, and this is why we stand in solidarity with striking staff.

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There’s no need for a war on Rememberance Day Beth Richardson There is no glory in war. How an individual could possibly claim that Remembrance Day is being transformed into some kind of political tool used to celebrate and glorify war, quite frankly, disgusts me.

I can’t see how any neutral onlooker could possibly observe the tributes paid to the fallen over Remembrance Day and say that the intention is to glorify war. It is a peaceful and sombre occasion to honour those who died during conflict.

The state holds a silent,

respectful parade. Call this a celebration of war if you wish, tell everyone you think the poppy appeal is highly politicised, but put aside your opinions for a minute and take a step back.

Picture every single gravestone, every memorial and every name carved into them. It is for these people that the day takes place.

Refusing to take part achieves nothing but increases the potential political influence.

The white poppy, which some opt to wear, stands for peace. It seems like a wonderful idea, but by wearing one, the unnecessary negative views surrounding a simple sign of respect are only heightened.

Those who support the white

poppy campaign are themselves creating and spreading the very issue they have now set out to fight.

They are the ones who encourage doubt and suspicion in something that has only honest intentions. It does not need to be considered in this way unless we choose make it so.

Blogger Lindsey German says: “lots of people think the red poppy is about peace, but we cannot allow the politicians to use it to support militarism and war”, but the only evidence she seems to have for this is that the BBC and other companies fly poppies around the world for their presenters to wear.

How this translates as the government and politicians supporting militarism and war, I

cannot think. Can it not just mean that as a nationwide corporation they want to be seen showing compassion and respect for those who have died for our country? I know most politicians are stonehearted scum, but come on now.

Even if the government is trying to use Remembrance Day as a political tool, we can all rest assured that it isn’t working.

I fully support the assertion that it is an individual’s own right to choose whether or not to wear a poppy, but consider how much

our soldiers gave, and how much we have benefitted from it. Is it really too much to ask that on one day in the year we sport a little crimson flower to honour those who fought for our freedom?

Remembrance Day does not attempt to justify war. Wearing a poppy is merely an individual and personal way to demonstrate support for those who gave and give their lives in conflict.

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North and south: crossing the divide?

Ben Scull and Tasmin Wade debate the credentials of the north-south divide in modern day society Ben Scull In modern society the north-south divide is hardly clear-cut. Britain has become a hotbed for diversity and culture, with fewer restraints on both geographic and social mobility.

By continuing to ponder the myth of a dividing line through the middle of our country, we are creating a barrier against a more equal and unified nation.

We are all aware of the cavernous gap between the rich and the poor.

The social stratification of Britain is complex - it is unfounded to make generalisations about particular geographic regions.

“Pigeonholing the north as ‘grim’ and the south as ‘posh’ is ridiculous” The north-south divide gives the impression that we live between an arbitrary line.

Not only does this rigid line seem to disregard a pretty substantial area of our country (the midlands), but it also categorically stereotypes individuals as either ‘northern’ or ‘southern’.

You can find examples of less desirable places to live in both the north and the south. Taking London as a prime example, we see our capital often viewed as the epitome of ‘high class’, yet, in reality, the city itself is built upon huge disparities in wealth.

This social divide in London is growing evermore, with the super-rich elite pushing up already sky-high property prices with London’s less fortunate suffering as a consequence.

Perhaps then, the north-south divide is purely linguistic? The cacophony of accents that can be heard in Britain is staggering.

There is, however, evidence

that our famously distinct British accents are becoming more alike due to accentual diffusion.

Northern varieties are apparently sounding less ‘northern’ with younger speakers using typically southern forms.

The idea of a divide that goes beyond established socio-economic or political statistics is creating unfair stereotypes. This is purely classist and narrow minded.

This so-called ambiguous divide is wholly sociopolitical in its nature. It acts as wider sociey’s ideological baggage which reinforces the belief in class-based prejudices.

Continuing to pigeonhole the north as ‘grim’ and the south as ‘posh’ is ridiculous and purely speculative. The stereotyping which the divide creates has caused an unnecessary social dilemma.

There is no place for such a dividing line in modern British society, it needs to be erased for good.

Tasmin Wade This month, Waitrose has opened its 300th store welcoming a barrage of speculation on its effects.

‘The Waitrose effect’ is a phenomenon which shows house prices go up in value by 25 per cent when situated near a Waitrose branch.

With that in mind, it is worth looking at the exact distribution of Waitrose supermarkets.

While we may be lucky enough in Sheffield to be graced by its presence, Waitrose is still a very rare supermarket to find in the north of the country. The number of branches situated north of Sheffield is at a grand total of nine.

Sorry northerners, no middle class shopping and increasing house prices for us.

This leads us on to the whole point of this article; the north-south divide is still in existence today.

However, with more young people going to university than ever before, the existence of motorways, a n d trains that travel from Edinburgh to London in just over four hours, surely the northsouth divide has become a thing of the past?

But there are lots of ways in which the

divide is still in full effect. There still remains a pay gap between north and south, political views are divided, government expenditure is less in northern towns, health conditions are worse and life expectancy is shorter.

There is still huge linguistic diversity that divides the country too. Northern ‘bath’ versus southern ‘bahth’ is always a bone of contention.

“With the centre of power remaining in London, northerners are always going to be at a disadvantage” These linguistic differences may not sound like an important issue, but they still reinforce the fact that we’re different from each other.

With the centre of power remaining in London, northerners are always going to be at a disadvantage .

As a result, northerners are less likely to get the top jobs, increase their salaries and will definitely not start speaking ‘southern’ anytime soon. It’s a vicious northsouth cycle.

So with all these factors dividing the nation, how can we say there isn’t a line between the north and south? Or maybe that’s just me being a backward thinking northerner.

Got an opinion on the topics discussed this fortnight? contact us letters@forgetoday.com

Artwork: Philippa Spottiswoode

Lies, damn lies and employability statistics Josef Edwards The myth that social science graduates can only look forward to careers as teachers, social workers or burger flippers was debunked this week, following recent research from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

I am none of these things despite my Political Science degree. I am however, a penniless barman undertaking a Master’s which may or may not rescue my

undergraduate degree’s previously bleak employment prospects.

You can therefore imagine my delight when I discovered that social science graduates are now officially the most employable, with over 84 per cent in full time work within three years of graduation.

It is important and amusing to note that HESA, the organisation which made these bold claims, is a possible career destination for social scientists.

I’m sure their penchant for surveys and opinion polls bears no reflection on the validity of their research. Social science degrees do

teach important transferable skills.

Perhaps Montesquieu’s separation of powers or the intricacies of ontology and epistemology really are the kind of things employers are looking for.

Employers are aware that social scientists are usually interesting eccentric types, the kind of people who can still smile when they are asked ‘do you want to be a politician?’, or continuously mocked for hanging onto the tenuous belief that they are real scientists.

Did you know that a recent survey showed that 97 per cent of physicists have never been kissed?

Arts students are even worse.

Did you know that only four per cent of Arts students are as edgy as they think?

Not only do these figures make excellent and wildly inaccurate insults, they also demonstrate the power of a social scientist to churn out statistics to support absolutely anything.

This is a skill which I intend to manipulate and deceive others with for years to come.

In spite of this article’s facetiousness, it makes the important point that social sciences should not be considered the weak link within academia.

Whilst social scientists are probably not as clever as science students, or as creative as arts students, social sciences do not prepare students for a career in McDonalds.

Social sciences give a hugely diverse and important range of skills and it is welcome news that employers are acknowledging the importance of the discipline.

They prepare students for interaction with people and power more than any other discipline.

Businesses need people who think like social scientists do, as does society.

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Editorial

D.A.R.T.S.

SU officers should support students and their welfare Welcome to another issue of Forge Press.

The fact that the Students’ Union president Ally Buckle has said that he thinks student staff in the Union should not be paid the living wage has, quite frankly, disgusted me. The fact that development officer Sae Rae has agreed with Buckle has annoyed me further.

To think that non-student staff should be paid living wage and student staff not is discriminatory and against what the officers are supposed to stand for.

As the president, Buckle is supposed to represent the welfare of all students and lobby the Union to ensure that they are considering the student body in their policies. How is saying that students should be paid less than the living wage doing this?

The living wage policy says: “all staff at the University of Sheffield and Students’ Union should be paid a wage that allows them to live by their own means.”

Not only are the two officers against a Students’ Union policy, but what is the point of Union Council voting through policies that some of the officers themselves don’t even agree with.

Implementing this policy will probably be more difficult than thought due to other factors involved, but it is

Baby dipping of the fortnight

the policy of the Students’ Union and the student officers should support or don’t vote it through in the first place.

To quote Buckle himself from his own objectives, he wants to: “improve the experiences of individual students in areas such as housing, finances and social interaction.” Erm, really?

Improving the finances of students surely includes helping them to get paid more. Yes, some students get bursaries and they also have student finance to fall back on, but this often isn’t enough.

My student finance this year didn’t even cover my rent, let alone the rest of the stuff I need to buy, like food and bills.

You know, the things that we need to survive.

I think that it’s easy for Buckle and Rae to say that they think student staff of the Union shouldn’t be paid a living wage because they get a £17,000 salary oh, wouldn’t that be nice.

I’m not disputing that they may work long hours, but due to demanding degrees and extra-curricular activities that, nowadays, have to be done in order to at least secure some hopes of getting a job after university, it’s difficult for students to work more hours without compromising their studies.

Nicola Moors - Forge Press editor

Forge Press takes its satirical aim

So a baby has been christened by some bloke in a big hat in a big church. The Daily Telegraph presented four pages of puzzlingly similarlooking photos of the ‘gorgeous Prince’ while the Daily Mail made the Torygraph look positively restrained by its ‘15 pages of glorious pictures’.

Forge’s kudos however, go to itself (no mention of the royal christening anywhere except here) and the Independent who reserved a full 20 words with no photo on page 27 for the story.

Jolly good show.

Website of the fortnight

www.facebook.com/catswearingtights This website runs a caption competition that promises the winner ‘gets to be a cat for 24 hours. Sometimes even a hack must admit that they are totally and utterly lost for words.

Hairy situation of the fortnight

Movember is upon us. The less manly among us begin our annual quest to confuse people as to whether we are doing it or not. We thought the time might come to compare the progress of our (left to right) screen, comment and features editors.

Simpsons news of the fortnight

We couldn’t finish DARTS for this week without mentioning the sad news that Marcia Wallace, the voice of Edna Krabappel in The Simpsons has died at the age of 70. We thought now might be the place to reflect on two of her finest pearls of wisdom: On realities of life as an educator: “Bart are those liquor bottles? Take them to the teacher’s lounge. You can have whatever’s left after school.”

On consequences: “Now I don’t want you to worry class. These tests have no effect on your grades. They merely determine your future social status and financial success, if any.”

Ali G news of the fortnight

But as one brilliant character moves on, another one returns. That’s right, Staines’ favourite (well actually they hate him) son, Ali G init, returns for the first time in six years on American TV as part of a season dubbed ‘Ali G: Rezurection’. Booyakasha.

Quote of the fortnight: ‘Security broke my only belt!’

Anonymous arms protestor keeping the big picture in mind

nicola.moors@forgetoday.com

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

These students were extremely selfish. It ruined a careers fair for me which until they arrived had a bubbling atmosphere. It happened last year as well. It makes the University of Sheffield look like a hive for anarchists. These people never suggest a better solution to what they’re protesting against either. This was a destructive protest, not a constructive one.

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Archie

Study abroad: just a year-long holiday?

I really couldn’t disagree more with this article. Having studied abroad myself at the University of Queensland, Australia, I am a passionate advocate of the study abroad programme. In a similar way to which leaving one’s hometown for university enables awareness of social, environmental and economic issues alien to home life, studying abroad globalises this awareness. It facilitates connections with people from your host nation which may form the backbone of a career or provide opportunities for trade links. I speak from a science background; but the global academic community spans all disciplines: when societies worldwide are facing problems which cannot be solved by the actions of their own governments, a unified international academic viewpoint can be the solution. How could staying at one’s home institution promote this badly-needed international communication in the same way?

Cynicism is an obvious response when the benefits are so multiple. Studying abroad builds connections between citizens of different countries. It teaches you to study your subject in a different way, to appreciate where societies and governments differ in their priorities, to manage your time such that contact with your real home is not forgotten, to share your way of life with others and to never stop exploring. From an entirely selfish point of view, I had a bloody good time.

In a time when funding for our universities is restricted by government policy, we should be doing all we can to extol the virtues of schemes such as study abroad which only universities can offer. This is not about job prospects, or CVs, or personal development: this is about encouraging a generation of students to contribute to global social capital.

James

“These people never suggest a better solution to what they’re protesting against either”.

Sorry, but this is patently false, if not absurd; they are protesting against the University of Sheffield’s support for arms companies. The immediate ‘solution’ is to stop supporting these companies, the long-term macro-’solution’ is for the UK to stop granting export licenses to prospective sales to human rights abusers.

Also, it is surely the absolute antithesis of selfish to campaign against abject human suffering which is not local, is under-reported, if reported at all, and from which you don’t derive any tangible benefit: hardly befits them being derided as selfish’ Conversely, complaining about such activities because they interrupted a careers fair, where you have the ability to consume advice about a career complicit in systematic violence, is manifestly selfish.

Bob These protestors are right to assume that most people make no connection between careers on offer at the Octagon and the destruction that some companies represented facilitate across the globe. Awareness is always good, enabling people to make an informed decision on whether it is important to them. Perhaps the protest should have been more narrowly focused with a specific line of argument against one company. People will start to ask crucial questions regarding others on the back of this, and not be turned off by the ridicule these protesters attract by making seemingly wild accusations against a host of well known British engineering and technology firms.

John

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Sheffield SU Highlights Friday 8 November Friday 22 November /sheffieldstudentsunion @sheffieldsu www.sheffieldsu.com

SATURDAY 9 NOVEMBER

FRIDAY 15 NOVEMBER

GIAG Customise your clothes

FILM: Repo Man

12:00 - 15:00, Gallery Room 4, £3.50

19:30, SU Auditorium, £3.50

Catch the quintessential cult classic

Join in this fashion workshop

MONDAY 11 NOVEMBER

University Challenge Auditions

WED 20 & THURS 21 NOVEMBER Law Fair (Wed) & Science Fair (Thurs) Get ahead with these Careers Service Fairs

Could you pit yourself against Paxman?

Wed: 12:30 - 15:30, The Octagon Centre, free Thurs: 11:30 - 15:30, The Octagon Centre, free

18:00 - 20:00, SU Auditorium, free

FRIDAY 22 - SATURDAY 23 NOVEMBER

WEDNESDAY 13 NOVEMBER Skills for Change - Creative Campaigning

24hr Volunteering

Get involved in 24 hours of amazing opportunities Email: volunteering@sheffield.ac.uk for info

Session on how to effectively campaign for change

14:00 - 16:00, Hicks Seminar Room F41, free

THURSDAY 14 NOVEMBER

FRIDAY 22 NOVEMBER

Up Market Sheffield

Disability Access Day

Vintage clothing, vinyl, retro homeware, t-shirts, jewellery and more 11.00 - 16.00, Foundry, Studio & Fusion, free

Help us wheelchair test your campus All day around the SU, free

OUR STRATEGY 2016 INTRODUCING THE GREEN FUND PROJECTS

ALL WELCOME

FREE

Find out more about our Green Projects, give us your ideas, and join us for free tea and vegan cake.

MONDAY 11TH NOVEMBER, 13.00- 14.00, GALLERY ROOM 2

IF THE SU HAD A NEW WEBSITE WHAT WOULD IT BE LIKE?

INTRODUCING STUDENT VOICE

THURSDAY 14TH NOVEMBER 17.00- 18.00, VIEW ROOM 6

FRIDAY 15TH NOVEMBER 13.00- 14.00, GALLERY ROOM 4

Find out more about our plans for an improved website, give us your ideas, and join us for free tea and biscuits.

Find out more about Student Voice, how they can help you, and join us for free tea and biscuits.

More info www.sheffieldsu.com/strategy

FRIDAY 15 NOVEMBER

12

Fri day November 8 2013 F O RG E P RESS

_________

It’s all about the money The University of Sheffield’s Students’ Union has started the campaign ‘Student Finance, Sort It Out!’ following hundreds of student complaints. Patrick O’Connell explores what’s been going wrong.

@forgefeatures

Artwork by Philippa Spottiswoode

/forgepress features@forgetoday.com

13

FO R GE PRESS Fr i d ay Novembe r 8 2013

T

here’s a lot to worry about when you’re at university. For some it’s wondering if the newly acquired hole in your wardrobe is going to affect your accommodation deposit, or if downing that third quad vod in Corp really will leave lasting damage to your liver. But most students would say that money is their number one worry.

A poll taken by the University of Sheffield found four out of five students constantly worry about money, while a third say money worries have a negative impact on their well-being.

This year, Student Finance England and its parent company, the Student Loan Company, has come under heavy criticism from students around the country for increasing student’s money stress and worries. An unfortunate criticism for a company that’s supposed to be reducing students’ anxieties, not increasing them.

“

Four out of five students constantly worry about money

”

So far this academic year, many students are still without their loan payments, forcing them to chase up the matter with Student Finance England weeks after the academic year began. This is not the first time the service has come under criticism; in 2009 over 100,000 students had to begin their term without funding in place. By November of that year, three quarters of universities were using their own emergency funds to aid students.

Whilst 2013 has not been quite as catastrophic as four years ago, many students across England have voiced their complaints over the internet. The University of Sheffield Students’ Union is running a campaign, named ‘Student Finance, Sort It Out!’, stating that “we believe that our students have the right to a financial system in plain English with accurate assessments and reasonable turnaround times.

“It is not acceptable that students are left with no money, impacting on their academic, personal and social lives at university, thanks to poor administrative procedures.”

Students’ Welfare Officer Rebecca Barnes, who is leading the campaign

alongside the Student Voice department, says the project is so far going well.

“We have already had some response from the Students’ Loans Company complaints department,“ says Rebecca.

“This year they have had a number of applicants above from what they expected.

“There has been some attempts to use our campaign to say that is why the compliants department is struggling.“ Various University of Sheffield students have taken to the webpage to lambast the company for its failure in providing a punctual and accurate service. Main areas of criticism aimed at the company were due to its repeated failings, with exasperated students ringing multiple times to be told the same erroneous information over again.

For students who not only rely on the service to provide them with living allowances, but who use the loan to pay their bills, Student Finance England’s failure to provide punctuality is a cause of major worry, as students often cannot be sure when their loan will be submitted.

Student Finance England has also been heavily criticised for its use of a premium rate telephone number – and no other way of contacting the service. In 2011 it was reported that the company gained £325,000 in revenue from phone calls made by students to the finance company.

Second year University of Sheffield economics student Katie Kelsall, 20, has had negative experiences with Student Finance England for the past two years.

This year, her payment came through over a month late.

Katie’s problems stemmed from her finance application over summer: “I accidentally applied in June for parttime student finance instead of full-time.

Knowing my mistake straight away I rang them up and asked them to cancel. They said they’d cancel it in eight days.”

Her account, however, was not cancelled: “Two weeks later I rang them up again because they still hadn’t cancelled it and they said it would take another eight days.

This continued to happen until about September,” said Katie.

However, this year’s botched payment is the second time she has encountered trouble with the service. Being a student who took a gap year, Kelsall applied to commence university in 2012, the first year that the £9000 tuition fees took effect: “It was my first year at university and they thought it was my second year and so refused to give me the full £9000 and only gave me £3450. After about two or three months of communication with them they finally agreed to change the amount to £9000, after saying they needed evidence that it was my first year.

“They then paid the £9000 tuition fees to Newcastle University because they said they didn’t have any evidence that I went to the University of Sheffield. It wasn’t until about January that I got my tuition fees.”

Although Kelsall’s aid by the University of Sheffield helped her greatly, the issues should have been

resolved within the first few weeks of the term, not after months of communication with Student Finance England.

Forge Press features editor Eve Betts has also had numerous complications affect her student finance application.

After sending all her forms and details to Student Finance in the summer, a month later she received a letter asking for her household income.

“

Student Finance England has come under heavy criticism from students around the country

”

“Although I had already forwarded this to them, I sent another copy by special delivery. When I rang to confirm they had received this, I was told they had not. After sending off yet another form, I was told, after a month’s wait, that they also needed a summary of my parent’s tax year, which we sent them.”

Yet Eve continued to receive chaser emails and letters from the service, demanding information she had already submitted. After speaking to the service she was told they had received the forms and then at the end of August, an advisor sent off a resolve form to speed up the process: “I was told my details would be processed within 20 working days. This did not happen.”

Despite her parents’ change in financial situation meaning that her student loan and grant were even more imperative in allowing her to continue studying in Sheffield, she was still receiving letters from the service informing her that she would be receiving the minimum amount of student loan and no grant.

“At the start of October, I rang the finance offices again where I was told they had all my details and they would be processed in due

course. I have not been able to receive my grant from Student Finance England, nor my bursary from the University.”

As of November, her situation has still not been resolved with Student Finance England. As a result, she is unable to access the full amount of money she is due.

The same complications seemingly reappear each year and yet Student Finance seems as if it has never been beleaguered with these problems ever before. If attempts are being made to improve service, outward appearances indicate that Student Finance has little to show in terms of improvement.

Many students from various universities have taken to social media websites across the internet to voice their complaints.

One user described the Student Loans Company as “okay, unless you want to do anything even slightly different”, adding that “I’m going from a traditional university to Open University, so of course that completely blew their mind.”

Another university student voiced her criticism online, stating that “they spent five months refusing to pay one of my friends until her dad submitted his finance details for the means testing – her dead father whom they had a death certificate on file for.”

The university student, from Hampshire, also vocally criticised the company for failing to deal with her issue, adding that after her first year she had changed course and as a result, “they sent me 17 different letters confirming my ‘new course details’ not once getting it correct.

It was so bad on a couple of days three of these letters arrived together; otherwise it was generally once a week. Of course, that then meant the following year the course code they had settled on was invalid so suddenly I was studying a fake degree.”

Across the internet countless criticisms of the company have been made, whether it is due to their lack of punctuality, their inaccuracy, their bombardment of chaser letters to students or their ineffective and costly helpline, where students find themselves explaining their complications to a new employee over and over again.

The system is ineffective and outdated; thousands of students across the country, from countless universities, have expressed their criticisms of the service. It is ineffective and unhelpful. A new system is badly needed, whereby the old problems that have been continuously plaguing Student Finance England for the past few years can be effectively eliminated.

Until this overhaul happens students will be forced to use a second-rate service, which has caused undue stress and anxiety to countless people, concerned over when and if their correct loan will come through.

14

Fri day November 8 2013 F O RG E P RESS

Playing for the other team.

In the sporting world, being gay or transgender still seems to be a taboo. Laura Fensterheim investigates why.

C

an you name more than a couple of openly gay athletes?

In all likelihood, your answer will probably be ‘no’. While issues like racism within sport are often given high profile coverage, met with disgust and repudiation by the public, homophobia is less often discussed, treated as its unsavoury younger brother.

Nevertheless, given the recent regressive laws that Russia has implemented restricting information about homosexuality among juveniles, there is increasing pressure on the west to defend LGBT rights. One way of doing this is through building a culture of acceptance towards the LGBT community, whilst ensuring that they are represented in all spheres of public life.

Despite increasing legislative rights and societal acceptance for the LGBT community in the UK, there is still vast under representation in traditionally masculine domains. Indeed, there is currently a notable dearth in the number of openly gay athletes playing high profile sports, particularly football and rugby.

This isn’t just a problem confined to the UK. Of the 10,000 plus athletes who competed in the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, only 21 openly admitted to being gay.

These figures demonstrate a telling disparity in the projected numbers of LGBT people living in the UK (rough estimates cite around six per cent of the population), with athletes who will publicly admit to being gay.

Significantly, out of the 21 openly gay athletes who competed in the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the overwhelming majority were women. The select number of gay male athletes who did take part were involved in relatively low profile sports such as handball and equestrianism.

The national picture of sport is hardly much better. While there have been a couple of rugby players to have come out of the closet – a notable one being Gareth Thomas, former captain of Wales’ rugby

team and star of Celebrity Big Brother - there are currently no openly gay footballers in the Premier League.

If we see footballers by and large as a microcosm of the general population, it seems ludicrous that no gay people exist among them. One particularly pertinent Paddy Power billboard encapsulates the incredulity of the situation: “Over 5,000 professional footballers and none of them are gay. What are the odds on that?”

The problem is unlikely to lie in there not actually being any gay people involved in professional sport, but is far more likely to be due to the fear of ‘coming out’, given the stereotypically masculine culture that a sport like football espouses.

Although physical ability is essential to becoming a professional footballer, being able to conform to its surrounding culture is also needed. One prime reason for the lack of high profile gay athletes seems to be that sports like professional football carry values that fiercely uphold a heterosexual masculine ideal – praising the physically strong and emotionally resilient player.

Given the highly competitive culture surrounding football, players are used to dealing with a number of pejorative chants and songs aimed at them. These are not always based upon performance but centred around a playground mentality of insulting anything that marks them out as ‘different’; from their attractiveness and hairstyle to, at its extreme end, their race or sexuality. Given the heightened public criticism that football entails, the need to conform to a certain identity is very strong.

Keeping in mind the discrimination that LGBT people experience in day to day life, it seems understandable that gay players are hesitant to submit themselves to potential abuse.

Premier League PR advisor Max Clifford told the BBC that he had been approached by two major football clubs who asked for his advice about how to help players “portray a ‘straight’ image”. Indeed, in 2009, he represented several gay footballers whom he advised to stay in the closet as football “remains in the dark ages, steeped in homophobia”, claiming that if a footballer came out it “would effectively be his career over”.

“

Football is steeped in homophobia

”

@forgefeatures /forgepress features@forgetoday.com

The case of Justin Fashanu, the first openly gay professional football player, certainly seems to support this thesis – after he came out in 1990 he was often subject to crowd abuse and frenzied tabloid speculation over his sexual conquests.

He committed suicide in 1998.

Although there have been several campaigns to ‘Kick Out’ homophobia in the sport, football teams have largely remained unresponsive and unhelpful – plans for players to wear rainbow coloured laces in a bid to increase awareness fell flat as almost half of all Premier League clubs refused to sanction them.

As well as on a national level, gay and transgender students are often deterred from participating in sport from a young age. In an NUS report following the Olympic and Paralympic Games, it was found that 14.3 per cent of LGBT students would be put off participating in team sports because of the potential homophobia and discrimination they might experience.

Furthermore, out of the one third of LGBT students who participated in team sports at uiversity, it was found that 37.8 per cent of them would not be open about their sexuality with their fellow players.

The report also highlighted that many LGBT students were put off participating in team sports at school, where they may have had a negative experience.

Interviewing some members of the LGBT committee at the University of Sheffield, they echoed similar sentiments saying they were “put off in school”. Although there was a general consensus that University teams are more inclusive than at school, male sport is still seen as overtly “macho” and “cliquey”.

Indeed, in searching for interviewees at the University of Sheffield, I was unable to find anyone who was gay, male and currently played in a sports team – perhaps telling evidence of the real lack of gay

male participation. Among the male students I did interview, many concurred with the NUS report, saying that they were “put off sport in school” but could easily identify the university sports teams that were notorious for “not having gay people in”.

Although the LGBT Committee launched the ‘We Are All Black and Gold’ – a campaign for teams to pledge their commitment to making sport inclusive for LGBT students – certainly signs of a progressive university body, it hasn’t currently been passed round all sports teams and has received scant publicity.

When talking of issues of sexuality, male sports are often rebuked for failing to provide an accessible and inclusive enough environment for LGBT players.

From looking at the openly gay players there are out there, and from talking to the LGBT community, I found quite a disparity between male and females: gay women often find it easier to take part in sport on both a local and national level.

This may be for a number of reasons; female football is often cited as less competitive and there is generally thought to be more of a culture of

“

There are currently no openly gay footballers in the Premier League

”

FO R GE PRESS Fr i d ay Novembe r 8 2013

equality.

As Fran, LGBT inclusions officer at the University of Sheffield says: “Teams like Medics football and women’s rugby are very inclusive, partly because they’re not as competitive”. Sadly, because women’s sport is often relegated to the back of public consciousness, their example of inclusiveness has little impact on the prevailing sports culture of the UK. What, then, can be done to encourage more LGBT people to participate in sport? Unfortunately, there just isn’t a hard and fast answer – but undoubtedly, more high profile gay athletes coming out would have a huge impact. Indeed, some of the LGBT committee’s answers include “more visibility”, “not making assumptions about people” and “tackling homophobia…even using words like ‘gay’ in everyday language contribute to the notion that homosexuality is bad”.

With the 2014 Winter Olympics to be held in the increasingly backwardlooking Russia, it’s imperative that the UK take an active role in affirming the equal value of all athletes, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

15

FORGE’S DESERT ISLAND Every fortnight, we ask a couple of our editors to pick their Fuse-esque desert island necessities. This issue we ask our arts editors which items they couldn’t survive without.

hine

Mac e h t d n a rence

Flo s g n u L : MUSIC hock S o i B : S E ite h W GAM e h t d n Petal a n o s m i r C ARTS: The el Faber Mich erlock h S : N E E R SC or

: Ar ts edit

Pickin Rhiannon

MUSIC

GAMES

yland:

Ar ts ed

itor

: LOTR

like Hom

: Return

e - Nor

ah Jon

es of the K ing Little W omen SCREEN Louisa May A : A Si lcott ngle Ma n ARTS:

Lizzie H

: Feels

16

P MA anchester’s the Warehouse Project is one of the nation’s leading clubbing institutions for electronic music. The opening night of this year’s Warehouse Project season on September 27 was anticipated to entertain both religious attendees of the prestigious dance event and newcomers alike.

Unfortunately, the same night saw the hospitalisation of 16 attendees and the death of one: Nick Bonnie, 30, from Gloucestershire. Medical examinations have since revealed that these casualties were caused by the consumption of PMA, a drug which has been described as ‘fake ecstasy’.

Despite the club’s increasingly celebrated reputation as “the best nightclub in the United Kingdom”, as decreed by dance scripture Mixmag, Warehouse Project has since faced scrutiny regarding its no-tolerance policy towards drugs. The events of the opening night have provoked a comparison to 1980s Manchester, where drug controversy led to the demise of The Haçienda, a landmark in the British rave scene.

Every weekend from September to January, dance and house music lovers from all over the country travel to Manchester for a night out at Warehouse Project, and there is no denying that many choose to snort, dab or swallow ground-down crystals that rarely vary in aesthetics.

Information supplied by the Office of National Statistics states that ecstasy and MDMA, between the years 2008-2012, have been responsible for the deaths of 123 people, averaging 24.6 per year.

From this we can conclude that ecstasy, in its purest form, has a surprisingly low fatality rate compared to other class A drugs. However, none of the substances sold in night clubs or by local dealers will be even remotely close to purity.

At every step down the distribution path, drugs can and often will be cut with other substances to increase the profit margin. When you’re buying a small plastic bag filled with white powder from a stranger in a dark nightclub, there is no way of making sure you’re getting what you asked for.

It wasn’t until 2011 that PMA emerged on the scene as a serious problem. The number of casualties PMA has caused in this short time is unsettling.

According to the Office of National

Statistics, of the 2,928 deaths resulting of drug poisoning in 2008, none were caused

by PMA. This continued until 2011, where PMA became responsible for one drug related death out of 2,652. By 2012, this figure dramatically increased to 20 deaths in that year. Meanwhile, overall drug poisoning deaths reduced to 2,597, suggesting an increased usage in PMA. But why is this formerly low-profile drug suddenly causing extremely high death rates?

Scientifically acknowledged as paraMethoxyamphetamine, PMA has also been nicknamed ‘pink ecstasy’ and ‘Dr. Death’: a title which in itself begs the question why someone would actively purchase such a substance. But here’s the catch: most consumers probably haven’t.

According to drugs advice service ‘Frank’, PMA causes high death rates because it is often incorrectly described as MDMA: “It appears that those affected thought they were taking ecstasy pills containing MDMA and did not know that the pills contained PMA and/or PMMA. As with any drug you can never be sure what it is your buying and how it might affect you.”

It is assumed that most drug users purchase PMA in the form of pills which they have been told contain MDMA, a form of ecstasy.

Similar to ecstasy, PMA can saturate its users in euphoria by providing them with a ‘buzz’ that enables them to feel both alert and elated, intensifying the sounds and colours of their surroundings and encouraging demonstrations of affection towards those around them.

PMA takes significantly longer to kick in than MDMA. Users often make the mistake of taking more, or ‘double dropping’ before their buzz materialises, thus resulting in overdose. The sideeffects are more severe than gurning your jaw into oblivion and a nasty comedown: users may experience hallucinations, seizures, a soar in blood pressure and loss of eyesight, a combination which has no specifically assigned medical treatment.

Professor David Nutt, former chairman of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), in the United Kingdom, has had a turbulent career in delivering his research concerning drugs that affect the brain.

In 2009 he sparked controversy through likening taking ecstasy to horse riding,

features@forgetoday.com

M

/forgepress

Drug consumption and rave culture have gone hand-in-hand since the 80s, when acid house spread from Chicago to the rest of the world.

While any form of drug consumption presents certain dangers, the type of problems connected to drug culture have changed over time.

Ambiguity of substances is currently an issue of heightened importance in the UK as PMA is taking its toll on the lives of many.

@forgefeatures

Words: Chloe Bolton Artwork: Ina Fischer

Fri day November 8 2013 F O RG E P RESS

17

FO R GE PRESS Fr i d ay Novembe r 8 2013

decreeing that “there is not much difference” between the two.

He questioned: “why does society tolerate – indeed encourage – certain forms of potentially harmful behaviour but not others such as drug use?”

Nutt expressed his doubt of the way in which drug use is controlled in Britain by comparing death rates of ecstasy to the statistic of 10 deaths as a result of horse riding combined with the additional 100 road accidents associated with horse riding.

His candid approach to discussing illegal substances lost him the position as the UK’s chief drugs advisor in 2009. Following his criticism of various policies regarding substance abuse enforced by the government, the Home Secretary asked him to step down as he had “lost confidence” in Nutt’s advice.

Whilst Nutt’s argument ruffled government feathers, his dismissal seemed to indicate that the government was interested in only one angle of the debate on drug use. Anyone resisting this system concerning the portrayal of drugs could fear getting sacked.

Following the death of Nick Bonnie at the Warehouse Project, results of an inquest from the death of another 30-year-old man have also been exposed.

In April of this year, Chris Goodwin collapsed at a friend’s house in Bolton, having consumed alcohol, mephedrone, cocaine and five times the lethal dose of PMA. Friends were reluctant to call for medical assistance despite the fact that Goodwin allegedly cried “get out of my body” in reference to the substance that has now been identified as PMA. Goodwin and his 21-year-old friend Emma Johnson died within half an hour of each other after the excessive night out that came to an abrupt end at half past one the following afternoon.

The northern pair’s deaths were initially thought to be caused by the mephedrone, informally known as ‘mcat’, in their systems. However, the inquest later identified PMA as the substance that killed them.

Again, it has been assumed that neither Goodwin nor Johnson were aware that they had bought PMA. It’s undeniable that the lack of legitimacy in purchasing illegal substances endangers drug users further, due to the fact that there is no ‘over the counter’ equivalent of obtaining party drugs.

With clubbers having no authentication in what they are going to ingest, they risk taking the word of their suppliers, who are also often unsure of what they are selling.

This is not a problem that can be easily rectified. Taboos and laws surrounding drug consumption mean that drug users have no way of confirming what they’re buying. Society propagates its public away from drugs and harsh punishments

await those who are caught with illegal substances.

Arguably, events like the Warehouse Project would suffer massively if drug users were dragged out by their hair.

The Haçienda wove party drugs into the foundations of dance culture, and such a legacy has extended itself into contemporary British culture. Thriving in the ‘Madchester’ era, what was described as “the most famous nightclub in the world” saw the first death associated with ecstasy in Britain. Clare Leighton, an underage clubber aged 16, died after consuming an ecstasy pill provided by her boyfriend. Her death sparked such controversy that the club was forced to temporarily close during 1991.

Warehouse Project has recently announced that it will be taking a break from “the current format” in 2014 and will only hold a “handful of special events”. It is the first time in its eight year history that the club will not run as normal. Is this a hasty decision that its organisers have reached in an attempt to sidestep further controversy?

Recent events inspired the Manchester Evening News to refer to Warehouse Project as the ‘Drug Death Club’. Perhaps those pointing the finger at the organisation are jumping the gun slightly. The Warehouse Project regularly has doctors on sight, accompanied by a ‘mini hospital’ with beds and oxygen.

Following the tragic events of the opening night, regular emails and news bulletins were sent out to stress the nightclub’s rigid anti-drug policy. It has been made clear that the Warehouse Project prioritises the wellbeing of its attendees and denies any encouragement of drug use.

Whether its attendees are there solely to tipsily throw shapes to the choicest dance music around or to consume class A substances is out of Warehouse Project’s hands.

Drug searches upon entry have been increased and made more thorough in an effort to appease British law. However the fact that drug use is embedded in dance and youth culture taunts the club with the ominous possibility of it being shut down permanently.

Most clubbers will quickly grasp which substances to steer clear from and PMA should be at the top of that list. However, assuming drug dealers are unaware of what they are selling at events such as Warehouse Project, it makes avoiding the consumption of PMA extremely difficult.

It has acquired the nickname Dr. Death for a reason, as it does not share ecstasy’s famously low fatality rate. Should Warehouse Project bear the blame for the casualties suffered?

PMA’s next tragedy may be the loss of yet another milestone in music history.

For more information, visit talktofrank.com/drug/pma. If you are worried about yourself or a friend who might have taken PMA, do not hesitate to contact emergency services. The University of Sheffield’s Counseling Service and Health Service are open to students seeking confidential advice: sheffield.ac.uk/health.

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Fri day November 8 2013 F O RG E P RESS

@forgelifestyle

LIFESTYLE&TRAVEL

/forgelifestyle lifestyle@forgetoday.com

WHAT NOT TO MISS THIS FORTNIGHT

By Martina Dainlaite

monday night jazz

fair Peace and craft

Fashion

By Hannah McCulloch

Saturday November 9 from 11:00 to 16:30 at Sheffield Monday November 11 at Heeley Institute. Tickets £8 at http://www.wegottickets.com Town Hall. Tickets £1 for adults Sheffield veterans will be delighted to know that the great annual Peace and Craft fair of Sheffield is happening again. It brings local craftsmen and women, campaigning and voluntary groups, live music, food and drinks and the public together.

During this friendly event you can spend the entire afternoon browsing for ethical and affordable Christmas presents and purchase them directly from their makers. Good news for the environmentally conscious and the lovers of unique arts and crafts.

improving relationshi ps cours e

Saturday November 16 at the Gyaltsabje Kadampa Buddhist Centre. Tickets £12 online at http://www. meditateinsheffield.org.uk Is it very easy for you to go from “I love you” to “I hate you”? Then discovering the Buddhism based methods on how to improve your feelings of love and kindness might be a Saturday well spent. Resident teacher Kadam Julie Bramble will show you how to base your relationships on peace and harmony and how to mend those relationships that are not working out. The course is suitable for people just discovering the teaching of Buddha and for those with previous experience.

Winter is coming. The clocks have gone back, the temperatures have dropped and the storm warnings have been rolling in. When rain is beating the pavements and gale forces rattling the window sills, leaving home to go to lectures is less than appealing. Wet feet and soggy socks are the mallady of the moment.

Cue the cure, Dr. Martens.

The original lace-up boots will set you back £90 and come in a range of colours, patterns and finishes.

Dr Martens have also catered for those of us who are too lazy for laces. This Cadence shoe is the Dr Martens take on the classic Chelsea boot. Granted, a pair will set you back a hefty £110. However when considering purchasing said boots it is helpful to note that Dr Martens, like a car, are an investment.

Both Schuh and Office stock Dr Martens and give student discount.

Monday nights are for jazz. And possibly violin music.

The Heeley Institute is bringing you exactly that with performances by Old Dance School and Sieben. The Old Dance School, a jazz slash contemporary folk band who formed at a ballet school basement jam session in Birmingham, will be performing as part of their six month European tour. Sieben, a curious violin-based project known for his contributions to experimental documentary cinema, will be giving support.

christmas lights

celebration

Sunday November 17 from 13:00 to 17:00 at the Moor Sheffield. Free entry Whether you like it or not, it is that time of year again.

Christmas has already been slowly creeping into card shops and supermarkets, but the Christmas Lights Celebration at the Moor makes it official. Each year Sheffield welcomes the festive season with a huge city centre party, at the end of which the Christmas lights are switched on. If you aren’t into the whole Father Christmas, reindeer, snow machines and carols thing, then go for the funfair rides, food stalls and mince pie giveaways. Ho, ho ho!

Housemate selector tool

Review

by Nikita Kesharaju

It’s time to make the dreaded decision of who deserves the privilege of your company for a whole academic year. This self-help guide should help you separate the wheat from the chaff.

The one that’s always disgusting There’s untidy. And then there’s downright disgusting. You know that one who piles pizza boxes on top of an already overflowing bin? The one who leaves all sorts of hair on the toilet lid? And the one whose boundaries of the external world and the black bin have faded a long time ago? Avoid this potential housemate like the plague. With their disgusting habits, chances are before you move out, you will actually get the plague.

The one with OCD Disgusting is bad. But so is the over-protective neat freak. Every house needs to be a tiny bit messy, how else will the rats survive over the colder winter months? The signs to look out for are separate towels in the bathroom for housemates, guests, hands and faces. Or if they have separate chopping boards for each type of meat. Or if they explode at the cushions on the couch being displaced by two millimetres. If they’re scrubbing away at the kitchen counters when you’re back from a night out, you don’t want to be living with them. It might be good for your health, but it’s bad for house harmony.

The phantom housemate They are either off gallivanting to the many clubs and societies that they are part of, with the many people that they’re friends with. Or they just lock themselves in their room, tapping away at their laptops. Either way, the only sign of their existence is their dirty dishes which are left for you to do. Communication has broken down and the only way you speak to them now is through Facebook. Save yourself the hassle of having to chase up the invisible housemate for bills, just get rid of them.

The one that always “borrows” Food, clothes and even printer ink, this nightmare housemate’s favourite word is “borrow” and by that they mean “take and never pay back.” You might even find that it’s got to the stage where they don’t even ask you before helping themselves to your Nutella, lathering it onto a slice of your toast. If you find that you’re owed more than a tenner on taxi money from nights out, or if you find that your favourite scarf is now indigenous to your housemate’s wardrobe, it might be time to make the cut.

The one who’s other half has moved in There is nothing worse than having another housemate who lives with you rent-free, who you didn’t even pick to live with in the first place. Not only is their existence in your house costing you money for bills, but they’ve also stolen your best friend away from you. For as long as their partner is living in your house, you will never see your friend again. If the sound of this couple getting frisky is starting to drown out the death metal music on your headphones, ditch your friend and you’ll ditch them both.

Lifestyle loves

Image: Dr. Martens

Wick at Both Ends

by Mil Hare

Having never been into the Wick at Both Ends, my boyfriend and I were excited at the prospect of seeing all it had to offer. And it appears that we were right to be.

Upon entering, the intimate atmosphere is set with c a n d l e s and fairy lights, which although a nightmare when trying to photograph your food, is all part of the Wick’s charm.

When we got our hands on the menu we were spoilt for choice. The Wick at Both Ends specialises in contemporary British cuisine, varied and locally sourced, while being reasonably priced.

The cocktail menu was also a delight, and as we were deciding I enjoyed a Dolce Mojito and Harry sipped a Hondarriba. Both were twists on classic cocktails (mine on a classic mojito and Harry’s on a smoky martini) as suggested by members of staff, who were on hand to recommend drinks according to our preferences.

When we had finally made up our minds I chose the pork and black pudding scotch egg (£4.75) followed by beef cheek wellington (£8.50), whilst Harry went for the oak smoked venison carpaccio (£4.95) followed by the beef burger (£7.95). The staff were attentive, and made sure that we had everything we needed throughout the meal.

When the starters arrived I was immediately impressed by the presentation of the oak smoked venison carpaccio, neatly arranged with brie on toast on a piece of black slate. The scotch egg was lovely. The coating was surprisingly crisp which added texture, whilst the richness of the black pudding was the star of the dish. The hard-boiled quails egg that lay at the centre was lost slightly as it was just a little too small compared to the pork and black pudding.

My beef cheek main was rich and moist, with the pastry being deliciously light. If I had to choose one niggle I would have preferred more kale and less mash, but that would just be my preference - both were gorgeous accompaniments.

Harry, a self-proclaimed burger connoisseur, thoroughly enjoyed his meal too, commenting particularly on the quality of the beef.

To finish we had a little room, so opted to share the cheeseboard (£5.95), choosing the fountain gold cheddar, oak smoked Wendsleydale and Cornish Brie.

I’m not a huge fan of oatcakes, but the cheese itself was lovely, with the Brie being a particular delight. It was gorgeously soft and ripe.

After the meal we tried a few (more) of the cocktails on offer. My favourite was the ‘Handsome Boy Modelling School’, a combination of dark rum, Cointreau, spice, honey and Mozart dark chocolate liqueur: essentially a very grown up hot chocolate. The spice came from a couple of drops of Tabasco which was unexpected but helped balance the cocktail.

We were also lucky enough to try the Rama Hui, a recent Tiki addition. Expensive at £30, but plenty for several friends to share with three different types of rum, as well as fruit juices, liqueurs, a brandy float and a Prosecco float. It also gets set on fire, which was very exciting.

The Wick at Both Ends definitely deserves its reputation for good quality food, drink and service and I would return. I suggest you try it out too.

Photos: Mil Hare

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@forgelifestyle /forgelifestyle lifestyle@forgetoday.com

LIFESTYLE&TRAVEL

Travel

On a shoestring: Argentina

By Georgina Charlton

South America is still one of the most untouched continents on the planet, and it’s not suprising considering flights can cost a small fortune. Through some savvy scrimping after shelling out on the flights I managed to travel for six weeks around Argentina, Bolivia, Peru and Chile on little more than $1,000.

We started with three days in Buenos Aires, staying in a hostel in the residential area of Belgrano. Slightly off the beaten track, the hostel was a gobsmacking £6 a night with £1 pints on tap. For breakfast we were served toast with dulce de leche- think caramel on toast. Divine. Hostels in the centre of the city can set you back a cool £40 a night simply due to the popularity and the party reputations.

I don’t think I missed out on anything by avoiding a hostel overrun by rowdy gap yearers; we made the most of every day fitting in all the sights in just three days.

Buenos Aires has a great tube system to get from barrio (Spanish for neighbourhood) to barrio, however rush hour is ghastly. Have you ever been on the jubilee line at half past eight on a Monday morning? Well the Buenos Aires tube system is 10 times more packed than that and it’s sweltering. This becomes especially

Fashion

problematic when you are carrying your life on your back.

simply for the extra inches the seat reclines and the complementary red wine with your dinner. Most coaches, especially One of the best hidden gems I in Argentina, serve at least was tipped off about was one meal on the journeyan all-you-can-eat buffet. depending on the time Before you turn your of the trip it is usually nose up hear me out; dinner or breakfast. for roughly £15 a The Iguaçu falls head, Siga La Vaca are stunning. As lets you gorge a foreigner you yourself on a cold have to pay more salad bar, a hot to get into the salad bar, as much national park steak as you can but it is worth point at cooked every penny. This on an open BBQ in picture doesn’t do front of you (plus Iguaçu justice; the pork, lamb, chicken breathtaking views and sausages) and a and scenery really pudding. All washed have to be seen to down with a litre of be believed. There are drink of your choice. plenty of trails to keep Photo: Georgina Charlton you occupied throughout A short 24-hour coach ride north the day. on one of Argentina’s many coach companies gets you to Puerto Iguaçu, home The next stop on our journey was Salta. The of the Iguaçu falls. It is well worth upgrading Museo de Arqueología de Alta Montaña houses to the first class seats for such a long journey three perfectly preserved Inca children. This

may sounds creepy at first but the exhibition is very informative and interesting. The three children are rotated to maintain the perfect preservation so only one is on display at any time, however there are descriptions of each throughout the museum. Salta also has a cable car up to the top of the mountain. Once at the top there is a gnarly walk down the hillside that will make even the hardiest calves feel the burn.

After Salta we ventured north towards Bolivia.

It is a good idea to invest in a blanket for bus journeys, especially as it gets into the winter months. I woke up leaning on the window to find that frost had developed on the inside of the windows and frozen my face to the glass.

Not ideal. Once in Villazón we walked across the border into Bolivia. Villazón is one of the highest points to cross the border at so be wary of the signs of altitude sickness and take tablets if you are prone to it.

There is so much to see and do in Argentina and we barely scratched the surface in our 10 days there. The people are welcoming and friendly, and you definitely don’t need to speak much Spanish. As the home of the best steak, for me that alone makes it worth the trip.

Concourse Couture

By Nikita Kesharaju

Bernice Likulunga Third year, Landscape Architecture Wearing: beanie from eBay, coat from River Island, shirt from H&M, jeans, bag and shoes from Asos

Munya Chawawa Third year, Psychology Wearing: jumper from Foot Asylum, trousers and gloves from Primark, shoes from an independent online outlet

Zak Lomas Second year, Materials Engineering Wearing: jacket from a vintage shop, jumper from Asos marketplace, jeans from Topman, shoes from eBay

Georgia Nicholls Third year, Philosophy Wearing: shirt, jeans and shoes from Topshop, coat and bag from River Island

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Fri day November 8 2013 F O RG E P RESS

LIFESTYLE&TRAVEL

@forgelifestyle /forgelifestyle lifestyle@forgetoday.com

Make your mark: volunteering in Sheffield Ahead of this year’s 24-hour volunteering event, Lifestyle looked into three volunteering opportunities that are easy to get involved in no matter how busy your schedule is.

In the classroom

by Yasmin Pennock As a third-year English student, with a part-time job and many other weekly commitments I worried that getting involved in volunteering was going to be something I simply didn’t have the time to do. However, for the past year I have volunteered in a primary school just one afternoon a week and since I first started, it has become something I consider to be one of my proudest achievements to date.

Having the ability to inspire children and young adults to achieve in school is an incredibly rewarding feeling, and the skills you will acquire whilst doing so are equally worthwhile.

Each week I support a year two class, working with the class teacher to help children learn important life skills such as to read and write, apply basic maths skills or learn how to use different computing functions. I’ve also helped with lots of arty projects such as making model castles or putting on a play for the rest of the school, so whatever your interests there will always be a subject you’ll enjoy teaching.

It’s really important to know that even if you have absolutely no interest in pursuing a career in teaching, the skills you can build upon whilst working in a school are transferable to pretty much any profession you’re interested in, and being able to illustrate you are willing enough to give your time to help other people is enormously attractive to any employer.

With Sheffield Volunteering, you’re able to give as much or as little time as you can spare, so whether it’s two full days each week or an hour every two, please don’t hesitate to ask any questions about how you can get involved and build children’s aspirations whilst progressing your own.

You’ll gain skills such as eadership experience, communication skills, confidence and the ability to organise your time effectively - four things that a huge percentage of job applications are likely to ask you for examples of before you even get close to an interview. With graduate work becoming increasingly competitive, it’s more important than ever to make sure you have something that’s going to help you stand out from the crowd.

You can now sign up for tutoring placements beginning next semester. Visit the Volunteering Office for more information.

Image: Ink & Water

In the city

By Verity Smith

In the garden

By Hannah McCulloch

Student Action for Refugees (Star) is a national charity which aims to welcome refugees to the UK. It is composed of over 30 student union groups spread throughout the country.

The University of Sheffield Star group is a small committee which is dedicated to campaigning and fundraising in aid of refugees local to Sheffield. Star helps to fund the Sheffield Conversation Club, a space in which refugees can chat to committee members, and Assist, which is an organisation that offers housing and other support to destitute asylum seekers in Sheffield.

There’s a host of ways to volunteer at the Botanical Gardens in Sheffield, with most of the opportunities organised by Friends of the Botanical Gardens. Anyone can come along and help out with Garden Work and Plant Propagation on Wednesday mornings 10am-noon. You don’t need to make a big commitment here; you can simply turn up as and when you feel. The morning attracts a wide range of ages so it’s a good way to get out of the student bubble and meet some locals.

For volunteers it provides an opportunity to get to know people from around the world, to develop understanding and empathy with refugee issues, and to make a positive contribution. Star raises money for Conversation Club through a variety of activities on campus, and the opportunity for Star volunteers to meet and get to know members who directly benefit from Star donations is incredibly rewarding.

For those wanting to make a bigger commitment there are some permanent roles available within the volunteering team, such as tour guides, assistants and a publicity officer vacancy.

Star is active in a voluntary capacity mainly through the Conversation Club which takes place twice a week, as well as a women only meeting once a week. For refugees and asylum seekers the club offers English practice and some basic English teaching together with quite a lot of orientation and cultural input, plus fun, a welcoming atmosphere and friendship.

Ruth Hindmarsh, current president of Star says: “I really love being involved with Star. I particularly enjoy going to Conversation Club, meeting people from all over the world and participating in a very positive cross cultural exchange.

However, going to Conversation Club also makes the asylum and refugee issues that we campaign against very real - we can have first hand accounts of what its like to be a destitute asylum seeker here in Sheffield. In February we had a big Refugee Week where we organised lots of events and raised money for Conversation Club and other Sheffield refugee charities. It was a great week, a great success and lots of fun with a very serious and meaningful message.”

If you are a more experienced gardener you can take on other roles, either leading groups of volunteers in the various areas of the gardens, or help out looking after the National Collections by identifying and labelling different plant species. Tools are provided and it is suggested that volunteers bring a snack for a break around 11am. Meet at the ‘behind the scenes’ gate near the toilets on the Ecclesall Road side of the gardens.

C o n t a c t fobssheffield@ yahoo.co.uk for more information.

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FO R GE PRESS Fr i d ay Novembe r 8 2013

@forgelifestyle /forgelifestyle lifestyle@forgetoday.com

Exploring Sheffield

LIFESTYLE&TRAVEL

Parent-proof your reading week

By Neelam Tailor

You have the whole day with them, maybe two. After gritting your teeth as they criticise your cleanliness (or perhaps complimenting last night’s hard work with the hoover), and then the many hugs, comes the trip to big Tesco where they lavish you with food you never usually buy but always want.

But then, what to do for the rest of your day with your beloved parents?

Division Street or Sharrow Vale Why not thrash them at a game of pool in the Common Room, or treat your mum to a piece of vintage jewellery in the numerous trinket shops. Filibuster and Booth is overflowing with antique necklaces and rings and Sharrow Vale is a hidden treasure of boutiques and local cafés. Don’t miss the Sharrow Vale Market Days, the next one is December 1. On the day you’ll be greeted with stalls of local goods, and live music to accompany the inviting atmosphere.

Showroom cinema This independent cinema gives a slightly different cinema experience. From the wallpaper to its choice of films, the

Science

individual touch is distinguishable. As well as the latest shows, they put old classics on the big screen to enjoy again. If that’s not enough, they are extremely relevant to Sheffield culture, often screening historical documentaries. They are currently showing a documentary inspired by miners in Sheffield.

Additionally they screen live cinema broadcasts from the likes of the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Weston Park After giving your parents a little tour of your wonderful Students’ Union, march them up to this beautiful park. Teach them (and yourself) a bit about the culture and logistics of your steel city. Weston Park museum is home to a wealth of information about important figures, places and events in the history of Sheffield. It also stages numerous exhibitions; the up and coming Sheffield and the First World War is definitely worth a visit. After all that cultured learning, grab a cup of tea and a piece of cake from the museum café, and take a stroll around Western Park whilst telling them all about your plans to get extremely organised and go for SU President.

Ecclesall Road The best place to find a huge range of restaurants is Ecclesall Road. It has a few hidden gems. If you are looking for a high quality Indian restaurant, Ashoka is the spot to go to. There is at least one restaurant for every cuisine, so choosing will be the hard part. If you don’t fancy some local food, Ecclesall Road also houses all the well-known favourites (Nandos is always a good back up). With so many places, the best thing to do is have dinner in one, and get dessert in another. No one goes hungry on Ecclesall Road.

Botanical Gardens/ Winter Gardens If it’s lush greenery you are looking for, the Botanical Gardens are perfect. Stick to the paths and allow yourself to be introduced to a diverse variety of plants and trees, or stroll through the grass and take in all the fresh oxygen. If, as unlikely as it is, it happens to rain in Sheffield, why not take them to the Winter Gardens; the largest urban glasshouse in the whole of Europe. Right in the middle of the town centre, you can find an excellent, indoor display of more than 2,500 plants from around the globe- you won’t find a palm tree anywhere else in Sheffield. While you’re there, you can make a visit to the Millennium gallery or the Peace gardens, as they are right next door.

Is your pet allergic to you?

By Katy Conlon

All allergies function in the exact same way. Foreign particles, such as pollen, come into contact with the body and are incorrectly identified as harmful, resulting in a military scale attack. In an allergic response, cells known as lymphocytes are severely misinformed and attack harmless substances, rather than the bacteria and viruses they should be focussing their efforts on.

Lifestyle’s cheap eat

Sausage and chickpea casserole

This delicious dish is surprisingly simple, perfect for a cold winter night and can be made for under 80p a portion. If you’re not a big fan of spice, you can leave out the green chilli or add in a little sour cream. Serves four.

Ingredients 8 sausages (pork or vegetarian) 1 medium onion, chopped 2 cloves of garlic, chopped 1 small green chilli, chopped 400g tin of chopped tomatoes 400g tin of chick peas, drained and washed 300ml vegetable or chicken stock 2 tbsp cayenne pepper 1 tbsp mixed herbs Splash of Worcester sauce or Henderson’s Relish 1 tsp cornflour

A lack of exposure to actual harmful pathogens, in a newly clean and modern world, is thought to increase our sensitivity to harmless substances. It appears that the lymphocytes get ‘bored’ without a real job and start to clean up the body when it is not necessary. But here’s the really weird thing: by tidying your kitchen so fervently, you could not only be heightening your sensitivity to Fluffy’s cat hair, but heightening your pet’s sensitivity to you. Dog and cat allergies work in the same way as in humans and some can be just as sensitive to our skin and hair as we are to theirs.

Histamine, the chemical released in an allergic response, causes blood vessels to dilate, blood pressure to drop and a build-up of fluid in cells. This causes the irritating symptoms often associated with milder allergies. Pet allergies tend to cause an attractive runny nose, watery eyes and constant sneezing in humans. Dogs skip the nasal issues and simply get an uncontrollably itchy bum, armpits, face and feet, while your cat will go naturally go for the classier option of a whole body itch.

The best way to work out if your pet has allergies is to carefully observe them and reduce their exposure to any suspected allergens. If the problem seems to reside in your home, air filters can remove any airborne substances and bath time will always help scrub away anything lodged in their fur. If preventative measures don’t work, a skin test may be necessary to identify the exact cause of irritation. Medication, such as antihistamines, can also be administered by vets and may help stop Fluffy scratching to the point of sores.

Fortunately, scientists have been working towards the creation of a specially designed molecule that when administered will beat allergens to the antibodies and stop the release of histamine. Although only in the early stages, this future treatment could prove invaluable to humans and animals alike.

For all their faults and annoyances, allergic reactions are here to stay for the foreseeable future. There is one lesson we may be able to take from this however, the next time you get up to clean the kitchen – leave it. Sit down, put your feet up and let your lymphocytes get to work on tackling the real harm. Your pets and housemates will thank you for it one day.

Method 1. Heat oil in a large pan, then fry the sausages for around five minutes, turning every so often. When browned all over, remove from the pan, chop into bite-sized pieces and set aside.

2. In the same pan, fry the onion and garlic for a few minutes until the onion is soft and golden, before adding the green chilli. Fry for around three more minutes.

3. Pour in the chopped tomatoes, stock, mixed herbs, cayenne pepper and a generous splash of Worcester sauce or Henderson’s Relish. Tip the sausages back into the pan, then simmer on a low to medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

4. Add the chick peas and continue to simmer for another 10 minutes.

Image: Catsmeowblog.com

By Beth Cunningham

5. Mix cornflour with a little water to form a paste. Pour into the casserole and stir to thicken the sauce.

6. Enjoy served with savoury rice or mashed potatoes.

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Fri day November 8 2013 F O RG E P RESS

COFFEE BREAK TWEETS OF THE FORTNIGHT

@FPCoffeeBreak /forgepresscoffeebreak

Although we like to complain about the sudden glum grey weather and frequent downpours of rain that accompany autumn in Sheffield, we often forget about the beauty that comes alongside it. This picture taken by Niki Kesharaju in Crookes Valley Park is a perfect snapshot of the transition from summer to autumn.

Find more from Niki at: http://bit.ly/1gqUxvR

Photograph of the fortnight: Autumnal colours in Crookes Valley Park

Photo: Niki Kesharaju

We all scream for ice cream An old culinary favourite has hit the market again: beer ice cream.

You heard right. In what might be the most exciting news of the year, an American man has redeveloped alcoholic ice cream and brought it back into the public eye.

Gone are the days when you had to make the agonising choice between cracking open a cold beer or digging into a whole pint of Ben and Jerry’s: now you can do both at the same time. This is a serious contender for the best invention since sliced bread.

Ari Fleischer, founder of the imaginatively named Frozen Pints, recalled how it was created: “We were having a party and a friend brought over an ice cream maker to make homemade ice cream. Another friend spilled a beer nearby, and I watched it happen and thought - ‘this is a

great idea.’

After this moment of drunken genius, he began to experiment with different flavour combinations of ice cream and craft beer (beer that has been made by a small and independent company). After many months and much inebriation, a beautiful creation emerged.

Although Frozen Pints comes in innocently named flavours such as Pumpkin Ale, Peach Lambic or Cinnamon Espresso, the alcohol content can reach up to 3.2 per cent. Unsurprisingly, you have to be of legal age to buy this delicious comfort food.

One pint of ice cream is equivalent in alcohol content to one pint of beer. Feel free to try and get drunk, but beware: side effects include cripplingly painful brain freeze, an extreme sugar overdose and a gradual slide into obesity.

Word of the fortnight Flibbertigibbet, noun: 1. A flighty, silly or excessively talkative person.

...

now k u o y id

D

Iceland has been so culturally isolated since the time of the Vikings that the Icelandic language has changed very little. This means that Icelandic speakers are able to read sagas written a thousand years ago with little difficulty.

Marie Curie’s research papers are still highly radioactive and are kept in leadlined boxes. To access her manuscripts you must sign a waiver and wear protective clothing: the most common isotope of radium has a half-life of 1,601 years.

Panda-monium and cat-astrophe looms They’re coming for us.

There have been warning signs. There have been news stories. But no-one has listened.

Human society is slowly and stealthily being invaded by the animal world and we won’t realise it until it’s too late.

This year: a black bear wandered into the bar of a hotel in Alaska to be faced with a very freaked out bartender. Rather than running away or curling up into the foetal position like most of us probably would have done, the bartender yelled and screamed at the bear until it backed out of the door and left.

That takes some courage.

This month: a kangaroo hopped all the way into a pharmacy inside Melbourne airport and caused the terminal to be locked down while wildlife volunteers tranquillised and caught it safely.

The airport is apparently built in an area populated by many kangaroos - they were definitely planning something.

Also in Australia this month, a koala walked into a bar.

Although this sounds like the opening line to a terrible joke, it’s actually true. An adorable fluffy cuddly little koala bear ambled into a hotel bar and caused the

complete evacuation of the bar while slightly panicked staff tried to herd him out with screens.

He was eventually rescued and returned to the bush by a wildlife crew. Seriously, Australia: what is going on over there?

This week: a flock of 50 ducks invaded a supermarket in New York, dodging their way through two sets of double doors to waddle around the aisles and intimidate law-abiding shoppers. Employees tried to herd them out with a mop to no avail until one bright spark had the idea of luring them out with a bag of popcorn. Note: ducks can’t really be fooled that

easily. They just wanted to lull us into a false sense of security.

Next year: animals across the world rise up and take over the planet in an alarming display of intelligence and strategic planning. We should have seen it coming.

Watch your pets carefully. If your dog suddenly learns how to open doors or your cat seems to be acting suspiciously friendly when you aren’t feeding it, be careful. The revolution may be happening already.

Photo: newsalalamtv/Youtube

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FO R GE PRESS Fr i d ay Novembe r 8 2013

@FPCoffeeBreak

COFFEE BREAK

/forgepresscoffeebreak

Puzzle Page: sudokus Medium

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Quotes of the fortnight

“

“A learning experience is one of those things that says, ‘You know that thing you just did? Don’t do that.”

“

”

Douglas Adams

“It isn’t what you have or who you are or where you are or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about it.”

Dale Carnegie

”

dingbats

Across:

Down:

1. Obedience (10) 7. Cypriot cheese made from sheep or goats’ milk (8) 8. Christmas en Français (4) 9. A stretch of swampy ground; a complicated situation (4) 10. Surname of Pinocchio’s cheerful companion (7) 12. Done in secret (11) 14. Overcome (7) 16. Surrounded by (4) 19. Yield (to somebody) (4) 20. Uneducated, lacking knowledge (8) 21. Area of the brain responsible for motor movement and balance (10)

1. Deep fissure in the ground (5) 2. Mosquito-borne disease (7) 3. Praise highly (4) 4. One who keeps bees (8) 5. Sceptic and pessimist (5) 6. Tranquil (6) 11. Sticky substance (8) 12. If you find a four-leaved one of these it might be your lucky day (6) 13. Intentionally going against accepted ideas of what is right (7) 15. Stand in line (5) 17. Doubling this material up is a fashion faux pas (5) 18. Arthroplasty is the medical name for replacement surgery of this joint (4)

Dingbats are visual word puzzles from which you must identify a well-known phrase or saying.

1.

2.

Find the answers to this fortnight’s puzzles online at: www.forgetoday.com/category/coffee-break

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Fri day November 8 2013 F O RG E P RESS

@forgesport

SPORT

/forgepress sport@forgetoday.com

Matchdebating

Has Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull’s dominance led to Formula one becoming dull?

Money is causing the Formula One continues to thrive in modern age fast cars to stall Philip Carpenter As an avid Formula One fan, it pains me to admit, but in this age of Red Bull/Sebastian Vettel dominance, it has become dull. As a measure of the dullness, I don’t even flinch when my non F1 loving housemate asks me “who came second?” after every race.

Having said that, I lay no blame at the door of Red Bull or Sebastian Vettel, instead I would argue that the fault belongs to Bernie Ecclestone and his appetite for money.

He and The Formula One Group, who control the sport, have taken the championship to a number of new

destinations over the past decade, with the primary criteria being whether the venue owners have the money to pay for the developments and the ability to pay the fees for holding the grand prix each year. The Indian grand prix is only three years old, but the organisers are already struggling financially, in part due to the US$40 million annual fee they must pay to Bernie.

“The sport now has teams with budgets stretched to breaking point” Two major negatives have resulted from this push for extra races in the calendar. The first is the

tedious line of new circuits designed by Hermann Tilke and the second is that the sport now has teams with budgets stretched to breaking point.

Teams with stretched budgets have always existed within the sport, but it was typically restricted very much to the lower end of the grid.

Now however, all but the top few teams are having to work almost as hard on raising funds as they do on building fast cars.

Teams that are struggling to compete even have the dilemma of affording to employ the best possible racing drivers. Instead, mid and lower end teams have to consider signing drivers that come with significant financial backing or so called “pay drivers”. This backing usually comes from exceedingly rich families or from companies based in the driver’s home

country that wish to promote their brand. As you might expect, these companies are primarily, though not exclusively, oil companies.

Even the mighty McLaren signed Sergio Perez at the end of the 2012 season and it would be hard to deny that part of the decision came down to lucrative Mexican sponsorship deals.

When lower end teams have budgets in the region of £50 million and the top teams have budgets approximately five time this, you can see the appeal of a driver like Pastor Maldonado to a team like Williams. Maldonado came with an annual £30 million sponsorship deal, from the Venezuelan state owned oil company PDVSA, but delivers distinctly average performances on the track.

Formula one is supposed to be the pinnacle of motor sport, much like the Premier League is the pinnacle of (UK) football, and as such, teams should

have the very best drivers available. To compound the issue, the teams’ position in the constructors’ world championship at the end of the season dramatically affects their share of the final prize fund.

“The fault belongs to Bernie Ecclestone and his appetite for money” So to Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull. Red Bull are one of the best funded teams and, for the foreseeable future, will have no concerns over budget due to a never ending pot of money

available if needed from the parent company. And Vettel really is just that good, and as a result has unfortunately earned as many enemies as fans. When Vettel secured his fourth consecutive title last week to a mix of cheers and jeers, I heard David Coulthard explaining how Vettel visited Hermann Tilke when he was designing the new tracks and Pirelli while they developed new tyre designs – traits he shares with a certain Michael Schumacher.

Vettel and Red Bull are truly dedicated to the cause, but then they hold all the aces; huge budget, best car designer, top drivers and supreme confidence mixed with a healthy dose of fear of being beaten. It’s not their fault, but their dominance does make F1 disappointingly dull.

Jack Taylor This season we have seen Sebastian Vettel booed on at least six occasions when he has been on the top step of the podium. And yet this is a man who last week joined an illustrious list of four men, including Michael Schumacher and Alain Prost to become Formula One World Champion four times.

His critics would call him dull and boring because he always wins but this isn’t a sport on a downward spiral in fact if anything it continues to grow in popularity as a sport where thrills and spills are possible on every corner.

Formula One is a sport which has long been built on great rivalries. Who can forget the 80’s rivalry of Bruno Senna and Prost or the rivalry between Schumacher and our very own Damon Hill? These great rivalries are not something which goes away in a flash.

Although Vettel dominates you can easily argue there are a greater number

of rivals now than there were in any earlier period.

The F1 grid this year was composed of five former world champions all representing different teams. Gone are the days of Ferrari and McLaren dominance there are now five teams who can conceivably win races and titles.

“Some circuits continue to be iconic of the F1 season”

You only need to look back to the 2012 season to see that Formula One has in no way lost its edge.

The first seven races saw different winners on each occasion including a win for Pastor Maldonado in the mid table Williams team. The season also went down to the wire, in the end Vettel secured the title by three points from Fernando Alonso but it just goes to show that only a year has passed since such a thrilling climax and people are already questioning the excitement of F1.

Of course it is true that it is normally 60 laps of the same circuit and once you have seen a corner three times it doesn’t really change too much but some circuits continue to be iconic of the F1 season and without them the sporting calendar wouldn’t be the same.

Take Monaco for example, the most famous of all the 20 circuits which are driven on over the course of the eight month season. This continues to pull in huge crowds from all over the world exciting both racing fans and celebrities alike.

The iconic street circuit never fails to marvel as drivers get up to

speeds in excess of 150 miles per hour as they roam the port area of Monte Carlo.

But it is no longer only the classic circuits of Monaco and Spa in Belgium which bring excitement to the masses. The Singapore night race which takes place under floodlights has become a racing staple and the innovation of modern tracks set at different times of the day over five continents helps the sport continue to gain momentum.

Motor racing unlike other sports is a 50/50 sport, by this I mean both man and machine are crucial when striving for victory. I remember during

the 2010 football world cup people were commenting on the ball and how it was affecting the goalkeepers but in reality football is a game purely of skill.

F1 on the other hand is a balancing act and the best drivers will only become world champions if their cars are good enough to compete. 2014 sees a change in the rules over cars and V8 engines will be replaced by V6 ones, this will almost certainly change the performance of the cars and gives the rest of the teams the opportunity to once again reach the pinnacle of sporting performance.

“Formula One is a sport which has long been built on great rivalries” It is therefore clear that this is a sport which continues to grow both in size and popularity across the globe. There continues to be crashes on the first corner and pit stops are still a frenzy of activity.

Just because one man wins it doesn’t mean it isn’t interesting, if anything it is making other teams strive to get better

Image: Wikimedia

and the results of this may not yet be felt but come the end of the 2014 season we could once again see F1 catch fire.

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Sports personality of the week Forge Sport editor Peter Grieve meets Sports Committee Chairman Jonny Block

President of the fencing club, captain of mixed lacrosse and chairman of the Sports Committee, Jonny Block is black and gold through and through.

As a captain for mixed lacrosse and fencing, as well as being head of the sports committee, do you find that your life is taken over by sport?

Quite often it does feel that sport takes over but I don’t necessarily think that this is a bad thing.

Through Sport Sheffield I have developed my whole social identity at University and therefore the majority of my friends are involved in sport.

Hence being taken over by sport means for me spending more time with mates.

“It was all on me and I brought it back”

What exactly does the Sports Committee do?

Currently the Sports Committee is there to support the sports officer, organise the sports awards as well as to provide advice and help to all 51 sports clubs. Our mandate is to engage the whole student body in sport, be that as a spectator or a participator.

What is your best sporting memory?

The one that sticks out in my mind is last week’s league match against Liverpool.

We were 44-40 down in the final weapon and we needed to get to 43 to win the match before they got to 45. It was all on me and I brought it back to 43 to win the match. I came out of the fight absolutely buzzing.

Is there ever an occasion when there is a clash of commitments, and you have to choose one club over another?

Quite often there are events on at the union where attendance by the What is the best club captain and sports social you’ve been committee are required on? and at these events I try to The best social balance my time between of the year is the two roles whilst relying always TANGER on my committees to be TANGER, which is there to support me. the first lacrosse Jonny holding the Varsity trophy social of the Photo: Jonny Block

season, with a large group the new intake of fresher’s coupled with all the old people returning.

This makes for one of the best nights of the year.

Club initiations are banned by the University, do you agree with that decision?

I understand why initiations have been banned and agree that there isn’t a place for the old school initiations in university sport. However, I do understand the importance of welcoming new members into a team.

“I have developed my whole social identity at university”

What facilities do the university provide you with?

As a club we train and play our matches all at Goodwin sports centre. We also have some support with our coaching costs.

What does Varsity mean to you?

Varsity is the culmination of a year’s work. For many it is the highlight of the sporting season. It’s an event that brings the whole sporting community together and acts as a link to the wider student body. For me it’s the most exiting few weeks of the year.

Do you think someone deserves to be our sports personality of the week?

Let us know at sport@forgetoday.com

Five star Fryatt gives Owls first win Football Sky Bet Championship Sheffield Wednesday Reading

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Dominic Smith and Paul Martin A sensational five-star performance from Sheffield Wednesday saw them run out emphatic 5-2 winners against a highly-fancied Reading side on Saturday, giving them their first victory of the season at the 13th attempt.

Two strikes from the impressive Matty Fryatt, as well as goals for debutant Connor Wickham, Michail Antonio and a Sean Morrison own goal lifted Wednesday off the foot of the Championship table after a game in which they dominated.

Just 24 hours after his loan move from Sunderland, Wickham impressed throughout, combining well with Fryatt who constantly looked threatening in behind Reading’s back four. But

it was Antonio who really stood out, terrorising Reading fullback Stephen Kelly all afternoon with his pace and direct running.

His three assists and standing ovation from the Hillsborough crowd when substituted five minutes from time were just reward.

After a quiet opening, the hosts broke the deadlock on 18 minutes. Antonio got clear down the right hand side and pulled the ball back for Fryatt to tuck home his third goal since joining on loan from Hull.

The Hillsborough crowd were on their feet again just seven minutes later when Antonio added a goal to his earlier assist, curling home a beauty into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

Any thoughts that Wednesday were home and dry were cast aside on 36 minutes when Reading halved the deficit through Pavel Pogrebnyak, as the Russian frontman headed home Chris Gunter’s cross.

But the Owls were able to

restore their two-goal advantage in fortunate circumstances on the stroke of half-time. Wickham was played in and when his shot was saved by McCarthy, the ball struck the back-tracking Sean Morrison and agonisingly trickled over the line.

Despite a good spell of pressure from the visitors just after the interval, the game was put out of Reading’s reach just 10 minutes into the second half when Wickham found the net.

Antonio was again the provider, as he fizzed a cross in hard and low from the right which broke kindly for the young loanee, who promptly slammed the ball home.

As Reading desperately pushed forward to try and find a way back into the game, huge gaps opened in their defence for Wednesday to exploit. Just five minutes later, Fryatt raced through and cleverly lifted it over the onrushing McCarthy to the delight of the home support.

Wickham and the substitute Nuhiu could have grabbed a sixth, but it was the visitors who

added the last goal of the game when substitute Adam Le Fondre slotted in a last-minute penalty after Pogrebnyak was brought down.

In the end it mattered little, and Wednesday fans came away from Hillsborough with that rare winning feeling.

Hillsborough the venue of Saturday’s triumph

Photo: wikimedia

Forge Sport awards Forge Sport editor Jack Taylor chooses his heroes and villains of the week AP McCoy

üü

The 18 time champion jockey claimed the 4,000th victory of his career after winning on the second of two rides at Towcester on Thursday. Over 1000 more wins than any other jockey.

Jay Rodriquez

ü

Following a string of fine performances for high flying Southampton, the striker has been called up to the full England squad for the first time for the November friendlies.

Ashley Young

û

The United winger was once again back to his acting best when yet another Tom Daley impression earned his side a penalty in their Champions League tie against Real Sociedad.

Zak Hardaker

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The Leeds Rhinos full back became the second man to leave the England rugby league squad this week and was later fined by his club side because of his unprofessional behaviour during the World Cup.

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Work starts for Formula student team Formula student Jodie Gadd

The University of Sheffield’s Formula Student team, Sheffield Formula Racing, have started work designing their car for this year’s competition.

SFR (Sheffield Formula Racing) are a team of around 30 mechanical engineering students who get together outside of their course hours to design and build a single-seat race car.

They then race this car once a year at Silverstone, a week after the British Grand Prix, in a competition between universities from up and down the country.

Formula Student is a worldwide event, and is also Europe’s most established educational motorsport competition, with finalists racing at events all over Europe. It is run by the Institute of Mechanical Engineers and is supported by many industry professionals. Ross Brawn OBE is a Patron.

The team are in their early stages - this year will be the fifth year they have entered the

competition. In their best year, the University of Sheffield’s team came 12th out of 37 UK universities. They are striving to be one of the best teams in the UK and hope that over the years they will become a wellestablished team and reach the more advanced stages of the competition abroad.

The team are supported by the University, and given a lab to work in. Many local businesses sponsor the team, as well as one of the UK’s leading suppliers of hydraulic components, Stauff.

This year, the team hope to raise their awareness within the University as well as locally and hopefully gain more sponsorship, so that they can build a car that has the potential to win.

The team is split into five subteams, who then work on their own sections of the car. Design work has already started on SFR005, this year’s race car.

The chassis and bodywork, ergonomics, vehicle dynamics, drivetrain and engine and electronics teams are currently finalising the designs and work will begin in the next few weeks.

Alan Middup, third year

Photo: Tom Slatter

The University of Sheffield’s Formula Student team at Silverstone

mechanical engineering student and SFR Team Principal, said: “We’ve got some big design changes this year that will make the build process much more

challenging. Everyone on the team is really enthusiastic and it’s looking good for this year’s competition.”

Support the University of

Tennis triumph Women’s tennis BUCS Northern 1A Sheffield Hallam 1s University of Sheffield 1s

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Jack Taylor

Men’s hockey 1s claimed a 5-2 victory against Leeds Metropolitan in the Northern 1A league.

Photo: Philip Carpenter

Sheffield’s Formula Student team by liking them on Facebook, just search ‘Sheffield Formula Racing’. SFR are also on Twitter, @TeamSFR.

In the first doubles match of this University of Sheffield pairing Dannielle Smith and Helen Morse started brightly with some clinical net play not allowing Hallam even a sniff of an opportunity as they took it 6-1.

However, at the start of the second set Hallam’s Emily Hay and Shanice Dunk came out of the blocks strongly, racing into a 2-1 lead, but this wasn’t to last long as Smith and Morse once again gained the upper hand.

They reeled off five straight games to seal the match by two sets to love, as Hallam began to make costly unforced errors.

The second doubles rubber was a tighter affair as Hallam began to put up a fight in the fierce derby encounter. Hannah Parker and Olivia Parkin took the fight to University of Sheffield pair Lorna Tansley and Lydia Huxtable and the first set went down to wire but eventually University of Sheffield managed to get the crucial break of serve to take it 6-4.

The second set was more comfortable for the girls as Lorna Tansley in particular showed her class with some fine net play as she picked off the wayward Hallam shots with University of Sheffield cruising to a 6-4, 6-2 victory.

With University of Sheffield now four points to nil up, they were firmly in the driving seat heading into the set of four singles matches.

In the first singles match University of Sheffield’s Dannielle Smith crushed Hallam’s top player Shanice Dunk with a

display of power and precision.

The pair exchanged numerous long rallies as they went toe to toe from the back of the court but it was Smith who soaked up the pressure and struck back twice as hard losing only one game in the whole encounter.

The second singles match, just like it had been in the doubles ,was another closer affair. The first set saw Hallam’s captain Hannah Parker play some of the best tennis of the afternoon as the crowd support saw her produce some inspiring tennis to take it 6-4.

However, the second set saw the roles reversed as Huxtable began to find her top form, cutting out the errors which had besieged her first set performance to take it 6-1 and take the match into a championship tie break. The race to 10 points saw both players hit their stride simultaneously but it was Huxtable who proved the stronger taking it 10-7.

Becky Davidson replaced Lorna Tansley for the third singles rubber and Tansley’s inspiring play from the doubles clearly rubbed off on her teammate who continued the battering with a 6-0 6-2 victory over Olivia Parkin.

One shot in particular will live long in the memory as she fired back a forehand return with such timing as to give Parkin no chance.

In the final rubber, University of Sheffield’s Helen Morse finished off the resounding victory in style over Emily Hay. In the first set Morse played some strong tennis as Hay was forced to chase at the back of the court to no avail. Despite a slight comeback from Hay in the second set, she never managed to get to grips with her tricky opponent and Morse continued to bully the rallies sealing the second set 6-3 and gaining an overall 12-0 victory.

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Hatem ends Lancaster’s hopes Women’s netball Northern Conference Cup University of Sheffield 2s Lancaster University 3s

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Dominic Smith Sheffield 2nds progressed smoothly through to Round 2 of the Northern Conference Cup after a comfortable 46-19 victory against Lancaster 3rds on Wednesday.

The tie was effectively over as a contest right from the first quarter, which Sheffield emerged from 16-3 up, and although they took their foot off the gas later in the game, they were in control throughout.

The home side will now be hoping to go further in the

competition after bowing out in the second round last year.

Sheffield started the game aggressively and with real purpose, with goal shooter Courtney Hill finding her range and the defence breaking up Lancaster’s play to launch incisive counter attacks. Centre Gaby Hayward was the key to this with her speedy transitions, and it was her clever passing which allowed Sheffield to score so freely.

But the confidence Sheffield gained from the 68-14 destruction of Teesside 1sts in their last home game flowed throughout the entire side in the early stages.

The break allowed Lancaster to regroup, and they improved in the second quarter, winning fouls and converting their chances.

However, a late flurry of goals

from Hill and substitute goal attack Emer Hatem saw Sheffield lead 27-9 at half-time.

Any hope that Lancaster would be able to find a way back into the game was quashed in the opening minutes of the third quarter. Hatem, who constantly looked threatening in the scoring circle, converted four times at the end of quick moves. Despite some good finishing from Lancaster’s Turner at the end of the third quarter, the 39-14 deficit was too great for Lancaster to claw back.

Sheffield’s excellent defence, led by star performer Mollie Madden, saw out the game in the closing quarter as Lancaster noticeably tired. But by then, it was just a matter of seeing out time.

Photo: Philip Carpenter

Shooting for glory

Cup triumph for women’s first team Women’s netball Northern Conference Cup

University of Sheffield 1s Keele University 2s

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Tom Pyman Photo: Philip Carpenter

Women’s 2s battle for points

Spartans batter Leeds Met Men’s basketball Northern Conference Cup Sheffield Spartans Leeds Metropolitan

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Robert Milne The University of Sheffield Spartans firsts soared past an undersized Leeds Metropolitan University side 111-16 in a blowout.

Signs were not good for Leeds Met from the outset, they turned up late to the fixture and they failed to bring enough shorts for their team, leading to many of the Leeds Met players borrowing Spartans kit. It is safe to say the visitors looked unprepared.

This carried over into the 1st quarter as the height difference between the teams took hold.

Sheffield owned the backboard, collecting in almost every rebound available and tipping the ball in for points. Before long the Spartans had raced to a 15-0

lead, with the long ball strategy of Leeds Met failing to have any impact on the defence.

It took an easy breakaway for the visitors to score their first two points, having failed to find any open looks at the basket. Sheffield had taken a commanding lead, enhanced by an impressive spin move and finish from George Reddington giving the home side a 30-7 lead.

Sheffield’s domination continued into the 2nd quarter.

The press on the ball gave their opponents no time on the ball, Leeds Met looked disorientated due to the Sheffield hustle.

Following two 3-point plays from the free-throw line by Ben Thomas the game was out of reach for the unorganized visiting side.

Leeds Met’s frustration shone through, with the fouls racking up giving more opportunities from the free throw line for Sheffield. Joseph Bossley was the true star of the first half putting up 20 points in the duration

of the game, his height was unmanageable and jump shot dominant. The half came and Sheffield was all but victorious at 57-8.

Sheffield was ruthless in the 3rd and 4th quarters where the first two were repeated. Simple mistakes continued for Leeds Met and Sheffield continued to put up points. Thomas and Ratcliffe both displayed athletic ability with dunks, with Sheffield pulling out all the stops.

Ben Thomas was the standout talent of the second half, dominant under the basket in post. He posted a buzzer beater in the 3rd, contributing to a 16 point second half tally for him. Bossley eventually made the magic 100 with the lay-up, with the game finishing 111-16.

Sheffield benefited from height advantage for the contest; they were by far the superior side and were able to shut down Leeds Metropolitan all game.

The University of Sheffield’s Netball 1st team kicked off their quest for cup glory with an emphatic victory over Keele University’s 2nd team. It was a real statement of intent from the girls, who showed the significant gulf in class between the teams; putting their opponents to the sword in a 59-11 thrashing.

Sheffield came flying out of the traps and scored twice in the opening 60 seconds; first through the impressive goal attack Francesca Wilkinson, and then goal shooter Lee Witkowski. It seemed to settle any nerves that may have been present before the first whistle, and, frankly, it set the tone for the remainder of the match which consisted of relentless pressure from the home side.

Wilkinson and Witkowski were efficient with their shooting and put Sheffield into a commanding 14-3 lead after the first 15 minutes. The second quarter offered up more of the same – the hosts’ momentum was not disrupted despite a couple of changes as they scored another 13 goals to extend their already healthy advantage.

Keele threatened briefly on occasions but were often

overpowered by Sheffield, who dominated the mid-court battle.

Captain and centre Naomi Parton, controlled the match in a fine display, and was well aided by her wing attack, Stephanie Rice, who was tireless throughout and linked up well with her offensive teammates.

Not for the first time, however, Wilkinson was the standout performer. She made a few crucial interceptions at times when Keele looked dangerous, always seemed available for a pass, and was lethal with her finishing.

Half time saw the introduction of Katie Beardsmore for Witkowski, and the substitute made an instant impact, scoring three times in the space of a minute shortly after the restart, and helping the girls to a 44-11 lead.

Sheffield provided some mercy in the final quarter, bringing off Wilkinson, who had found the net 20 times herself in 45 minutes, and replacing her with Witkowski, this time in a goal attack role, but Keele still struggled to cope with their opponents’ attacking onslaught and failed to register a single goal in the final quarter.

The result was an important one for Sheffield as they progressed into the round of 32 of the BUCS Netball Northern Conference Cup, and it will surely provide plenty of confidence for the remainder of the campaign.

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SPORT Women claim cup win

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Women’s football Northern Conference Cup University of Sheffield 1s Leeds Trinity University 1s

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Simon Watters

Orban Holgate bats at Headingley

Image: Alex Griffiths

Indoor champions begin title defence Will Aitkenhead Sheffield University Cricket Club began their defence of the National Indoor Championship with two wins in the opening round of this year’s competition last Saturday at Headingley.

Wins over Manchester University 2s and Manchester Met University ensured they kicked off their campaign in the best possible way.

The results extent their winning streak at Headingley to a remarkable 17 matches across a three-year period.

With only three of the national winning side from last year returning, the way in which the new players settled into the side will have pleased new captain Ed Pearce.

Pearce won the toss against Manchester 2s and invited them to bat.

Incredibly, Henry Eldred struck with the very first ball, Orban Holdgate taking a sharp catch at point.

The batting side never recovered and some excellent fielding and bowling from Harry Popplewell and Gareth James ensured they only reached 58 from their 10 overs.

Sheffield’s reply began in a suspect manner as Holdgate was run out, but Will Aitkenhead and Pearce kept the scoreboard ticking and the target was never going to any trouble.

The run outs of Aitkenhead and Eldred slowed progress but after Pearce retired for a well made 25, James and Popplewell saw Sheffield home with plenty of

time to spare.

Pearce once again won the toss and against Manchester Met and asked them to bat first.

A strong start for the Mancunians saw them reach 40 inside the first five overs.

Aitkenhead and Eldred combined for a run out, however, and from then on it was all Sheffield as they bowled Manchester out for 90 with an over still to go.

With the travelling fans in good voice, Sheffield began their chase in superb style, with Aitkenhead and Holdgate picking up threes at will.

They both retired on 25 in quick succession and although Pearce was run out, James and Eldred saw them home by five wickets in comfortable fashion.

Pearce was understandably

delighted to get off to a winning start.

“It was a very encouraging start at what we like to call ‘Fortress Headingley’ against two decent teams,” he said.

Adding: “It’s very pleasing start to the BUCS defence with two wins but we’ve still got plenty to work on for the next round where we expect to be tested a bit more.”

Next up Sheffield will face fierce rivals Sheffield Hallam and Salford University on November 30 at the same venue.

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The University of Sheffield womens 1st XI began their cup campaign with a comprehensive 7-3 win over Leeds Trinity.

The Sheffield team had most of the possession early on as Trinity struggled to get out of their own half. Captain Ella Wales-Bonner opened the scoring after 10 minutes with a superb individual effort. Bonner linked with striker Sophie Williams, who netted the second over the helpless Leeds keeper for the second.

Tina Pafiti added the third five minutes later, seeing the keeper off the line, she slotted home from 30 yards out. Leeds got a goal back almost immediately with a long ball taking a bad bounce and catching out keeper Chloe Edwards. This was very much against the run of play as Sheffield’s height advantage meant Trinity struggled when it came to converting crosses into real chances. Two minutes before half-time, Williams grabbed her second and Sheffield’s fourth; following a superbly weighted ball from centre back Rhena Eames.

Three minutes after the restart, Leeds was awarded a penalty for what seemed a fair challenge from Eames. The penalty was saved but the rebound was successful, 4-2 to Sheffield. The home side were awarded a penalty of their own soon after Williams being brought down; unfortunately the effort shaved the post.

On the 55th minute mark, Trinity scored their third, a fantastic effort from their defender within her own half.

This made for a tense 15 minute period but the Sheffield defence held strong. Williams and Bonner continued to link up well and after 60 minutes, Williams had her hat trick. She added a fourth on 75 minutes after a sumptuous through ball from midfielder Rachel Burden.

The performance on Wednesday was superb all round and lays down a great marker for what will hopefully be a long and successful cup run. The Leeds Trinity side were abrasive and upfront side, so the display by the 1st XI should fill them with a great deal of confidence. The standout players included Sophie Williams and Ella Wales-Bonner who linked up well throughout, as well as April Taylor and Rhena Eames who were solid at the back.

This week’s contributors Jack Taylor Will Aitkenhead Tom Pyman Philip Carpenter Robert Milne Simon Watters Jodie Gadd Dominic Smith

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