INSIDE:LET’S PLAY/ CASUAL SEX/JAMAICA/ THE BOOK THIEF/ Cloud control/ BENEATH THE VEIL
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The independent student newspaper of the University of Sheffield. Est. 1946.
Issue 68 Friday March 7 2014 @ForgePress /ForgePress
Arts uncover:
The forgotten stories of Sheffield 1914, Fuse, p. 8-9
Sport meet:
Sheffield’s ski sensation, p. 26
Comment explain: The reluctance of male student feminists, p. 8
Who will be your next SU President?
Find out more on pages 2-3
SU student staff can now use women’s minibus p.4
Students slam university bosses
4 Academics have threatened a marking boycott from April 28 Tasmin Wade Students have slammed University management for refusing to respond to pay negotiations with academic staff, who have now threatened to boycott marking students’ work. Academic staff have been forced to consider the ‘ultimate sanction’ and threatened to boycott marking all work from April 28, including dissertations and final assessments, if university management continue to ignore the strikes that have been taking place since October 2013. The boycott would mean that students’ final grades and graduations could be seriously disrupted if university management remain unwilling to renegotiate pay deals. Third year Politics and Sociology student Sam LaneEvans said: “The thought of our graduation being at risk after we have put in so much work is very stressful. I don’t know what this would mean for anyone applying for
a job or even postgraduate courses. “The University management have caused this more than the lecturers by failing to respond to what is a highly important issue. I hope they resolve this and agree to the pay negotiations as soon as possible so that students are not negatively affected.” This warning comes after vice chancellors in UK universities received an average 5.1 per cent pay rise, while Keith Burnett pocketed a 39 per cent pay rise to £374,000. Vice chancellors are now paid an average of £235,000 a year. University staff were offered a 1 per cent pay rise by University management, which falls below interest rates and has in real terms meant a 13 per cent pay cut in the last five years, while many staff have been striking for the living wage. The proposed marking boycott would mean academic staff represented by the Universities and Colleges Union (UCU) would stop marking students’ work at a time
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before most final deadlines. It is unclear how or when final year students would be able to graduate with unmarked final assessments if the boycott, which would be the first since 2006, is sanctioned. Many students would also be left without knowing their final grades, and whether they have passed or failed modules, for an unforeseeable amount of time. Andrew Dodman, director of human resources at the University of Sheffield, said: “It is of course disappointing that UCU continue to threaten industrial action in relation to the 2013 pay negotiations, particularly where their action is targeted directly at the student experience. “We have seen a notable decline in the number of trade union members participating in industrial action as this dispute has continued. During the last UCU action only 2 per cent of our workforce took strike action.” Continued on p. 7
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Your Students’ Union
Editor
nicola.moors@forgetoday.com
Nicola Moors
DEPUTY EDITOR Jessica Pitocchi Managing Editor Mikey Smith
President
fuse editors fuse@forgetoday.com Amelia Heathman Karen Scattergood HEAD OF ONLINE matthew.smith@forgetoday.com matthew Smith News news@forgetoday.com Lauren Archer Patrick O’Connell Neelam Tailor Elicia Chester Sophie Broadbent Tasmin Wade Comment comment@forgetoday.com Tom Schneider Ben Scull
Jacob Hebditch
Yael Shafritz
Vote Jacob: Grow Your Union
Yell for Yael!
KASS FRESH FOR PRESIDENT!
Music music@forgetoday.com Nicky Crane Rachel Smith
Elen Ghassempoory - Activities glory with Ghassempoory Amy Thornton - Amyoncé for activities Clio Symington - Let Clio take the wheel
VOTING OPENS: 10AM MARCH 17
Pete Buchanan - The complete Pete
VOTING CLOSES: 5PM MARCH 20
Joe Hayward - Forward with Hayward
Development officer
Games games@forgetoday.com Joanne Butcher Reece Nunn Screen screen@forgetoday.com Kate Lovatt Will Ross Arts arts@forgetoday.com Camille Brouard Lizzie Hyland COPY EDITORS Rosanna Austin Chloe Coleman Samantha Fielding Polly Winn Elizabeth Richardson Matthew Smith Medi a Hu b, U n io n o f Studen t s, We s t e r n Bank , S hef f i e ld, S10 2T G 0114 22286 46 // f or gep r e ss@f o r g e t o day.co m
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For ge P r e ss is pu blish e d by the Un io n o f St u de n t s . 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 .
Socialist Sorrell: For a Fighting Union
Noni Bryson - The missing piece of activites
Features features@forgetoday.com Martina Danelaite Ina Fischer Elsa Vulliamy
Sport sport@forgetoday.com Joseph Bamford Thomas Pyman Jack Taylor
Natasha Sorrell
Activities officer
LETTERS & COFFEE BREAK letters@forgetoday.com Lucy Copson
Lifestyle & travel lifestyle@forgetoday.com Ellie McCaldin Hannah McCulloch
Kassandra Talbot
Francesca Rolle - Rolle with it Jack Wyse - The Wyse choice Adam Stokes - Join the Adams family
NUMBER OF CANDIDATES OVERALL 2012 - 39
2014 -46
2013 - 32
Katie Yates - No faff with Kath
Sports officer Jess Ellis - Say yes vote Jess
Andy Forsyth - FORsyth FORsport Lucy Roberts - A Sporting RevoLUCEtion Jonny Block - Building Blocks For The Future
Education officer
Matt Goddard - Go Goddard
Malaka Mohammed Shwaikh - Because education matters Lucy Bartrick - Make education juicy with Lucy Fazeela Khan - Vote Fazeela before your friend does
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officer candidates
Louise Delmege
Putting the U back in union
Max Fyldes Chaz Lockett Chris Smith
Annie Lapik PICK LAPIK
MAX POWER...to you
Vote Chaz: A Fighting Socialist President
Putting you back into the union
International students’ officer Mari-Liis Tamm - Whaam baam vote for Tamm Ghazel Etoum - Ghazel will dazzle / be-Ghazzeled
Watch the candidate videos on the SU Vote YouTube Channel
Yueh-Chang Kuo - YUEH can CHANGe things with KUO Jose Diaz de Aguilar - Your way with José
http://bit.ly/NXNYVL
Ines Cortez Miranda - I want you to be heard Bro Peter Azizan - Keep calm and vote for me Pavithra Madhanakumar - Our voice will be “HEARD”
Women’s officer Miriam Miller - Vote for women: Vote for Miriam Saskia Burton -- Be certain with Burton Jade Hearsum - Can you Hearsum-thing?
Welfare officer
FEMALE CANDIDATES FOR PRESIDENT 2012 - 3
2013 - 0
2014 - 5
Otis Gilbert - Voteis for Otis and fare well Courtny Harper - Courtny-Sharelle 4 Welfare #SHAWELFARE Marianne King - thinKing about your welfare Sparsh Pandya - Socialist Sparsh for welfare officer Sophie Clark - Smile with Sophie Jordan Creed - Jordan Creed fights greed Robert Moran - Not just a great shirt Amanda Cave - Cave cares for welfare Tom Harrison - Tom Harrison, there’s no comparison
FEMALE CANDIDATES OVERALL 2012 - 18
2014 - 27
2013 - 15
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NEWS
/forgepress news@forgetoday.com STUDENT LIVING
UniNEWS Students explore the benefits of stripping
Interesting stories from other universities around the country
First Mr University comp launched Two students from the University of Swansea have designed the first university based fitness competition, launching later this month. The competition hopes to promote personal fitness at university, providing a chance for both male and female enthusiasts to celebrate their physical achievements. The first competition is being held in Leicester on 16th March, with the top prize including entry into the Fit Factor competition at the Body Power Expo 2014 and a photo shoot with a professional fitness photographer. The entrepreneurs are already discussing future plans for Mr University, and have told the National Student: “As soon as we get the opportunity, we will trademark abroad and take it to other countries”.
Lauren Proctor
Neelam Tailor Students from middle-class backgrounds are increasingly working as strip club dancers, a new study shows. Almost a third of strip club dancers are students, many of whom are doing the job to fund their higher education, according to new research by academics at the University of Leeds. The flexibility of working hours and cash-in-hand nature of the work are very attractive to students, the study shows. A dressing room manager, also known as the house mum, from one club commented that the clubs take their studies into account when organising rotas. Teela Sanders, who co-authored the study with Kate Hardy, even said the industry depends on students as temporary workers. She said: “There appears to be an endless supply of willing students.” The research called ‘Students selling sex: marketisation, higher education and consumption’, surveyed around 200 strip club dancers who have worked in many
towns and cities across the UK. The study, published in the British Journal of Sociology of Education, highlighted the presence of students in the strip club industry prior to the tuition fee increase in 2012. Sanders said the link between students and sex work was already embedded, presenting reasons other than financial necessity for working as a strip club dancer. Many of the student strippers interviewed were very positive about the atmosphere of their workplace. One girl, identified as Lana, said: “It’s just like a party night. I prefer to go to work than go out.” Dr Sanders said: “Many of these dancers are from middleclass backgrounds – they are not coming from families where money is a big issue.” Students are also subscribing more to the sex industry because lap dancing and strip club dancing are seen as legitimate activities compared with more direct sexual services, according to the study. The northern city in the study had two large universities and 12 strip clubs. This was
compared to the “mecca of adult entertainment”, Las Vegas, which is home to 35 strip clubs. The number of these venues in the northern city are disproportionate to the size and prevalence of the city, according to Sanders and Hardy. The study sought to examine the relationship between the £9,000 tuition fee, and the number of students in the sex industry, they conclude that correlation cannot be drawn from the current research. Sanders and Hardy document what is being called the “sexual economy of higher education.”
MONEY
Campaign to fix international fees reaches government Estel Farell Roig
Photo: commons.wikimedia Sex can boost brain power Findings from the University of Maryland in the US are claiming that sex can boost your intelligence by increasing long term memory function. Researchers have found that sex increases the creation of neurons in the hippocampus, the area of the brain where long term memories are made. The University of Maryland study was carried out with mice and is supported by further research from Konkuk University in South Korea.
Jessica Williams
University is not an extention of UK border agency Lecturers have written to the Guardian to protest against “being used as an extension of the UK border police,” after being asked to check the immigration status of students. The academics, including some from the University of Sheffield, have accused UK Visas and Immigration, formerly the UK Border Agency, of “undermining the autonomy and academic freedom of UK universities and trust between academics and their students”. The letter calls for an end to the monitoring of UK, EU and non-EU students to be treated equally.
Sheffield Students’ Union will join more than 180 SUs in the UK in a campaign to abolish “astronomical” course fee increases for overseas students. They have signed a letter asking the government to fix international students’ fees during their courses, as currently there is a lack of regulation for the fees of overseas students. Every year up to 175,000 foreign students have their fees increased and research shows students who pay unexpected costs over
£1,000 are three times more likely to consider dropping out, according to the NUS. Daniel Stevens, international officer at the NUS, said: “International students already pay astronomical fees for the privilege of studying here. “They are an important part of the social, cultural and academic make-up of university life and should not be treated as cash cows.” International students’ officer Alex Kohnert said: “Increasing course costs can have numerous negative effects on students including increased financial hardship, stress
and mental health issues - and may in some cases eventually lead to students dropping out.” The University of Sheffield’s website says that, for international students, “tuition fees increase every year and an annual increase of between five per cent and eight per cent should be expected and budgeted for.” Depending on the course, overseas students at Sheffield will pay £13,390 to £31,580 per year in 2014-2015, with students on clinical years of Medicine and Dentistry paying the most.
YOUR UNIVERSITY
Music lecturer wins Minibus rules clarified Radio 2 awards Lauren Archer
Lauren Proctor Music lecturer and critically acclaimed folk singer Dr Fay Hield has won two awards at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards with her band the Full English. The popular folk band received the award for Best Group and was voted by the public to receive Best Album at the awards held at the Royal Albert Hall earlier this month. Dr Hield commented: “I’m thrilled that the Full English won two BBC Radio 2 Folk
Awards. It’s a wonderful project to be involved with.” The busy mum-of-two is a lecturer in the University of Sheffield’s Music department, and oversees the department’s outreach and enterprise activities, working with local schools and businesses across the city. The band are a group picked from the English folk music scene, including Hield, Nancy Kerr, Martin Simpson, Seth Lakemen, Sam Sweeney, Rob Harbron and Ben Nichols.
Lauren Archer
Dr Fay Hield and the Full English
Photo: Elly Lucas
Women students working in the Students’ Union will now be permitted to use the women’s minibus to get home. Following consultation with the Students’ Union’s human resources team, a memo has been issued to all managers clarifying that women students are entitled to use of the minibus service. This memo reads: “The Women’s Minibus is provided by the Women’s Committee to offer women students a safe way of returning home from the Students’ Union in the evenings. “It is made available exclusively to women students in recognition of the specific risks faced by women, and particularly by those walking alone. “Students’ Union staff who are also students may therefore use this service. Please share this with your student staff.” This new guidance specifically allows women student staff members to get on the bus, as they were previously unsure whether that was permitted. A 2010 copy of the staff guidebook prohibited all staff, including students, from using the minibus as transport to and from work, whereas the recent 2013 copy only specifically excludes “casual employees who are not student members of the Students’ Union” and does not address the transport
arrangements of student staff members. This lead many student staff members to be confused about how to make their transport arrangements, with many telling Forge Press they were still told that they were unable to use the women’s minibus. As recently as last Monday’s council meeting, Students’ Union officers indicated that student staff would not be able to use the women’s minibus. Welfare officer Becca Barnes said: “The basis of that is to do with legal, HR stuff, so as officers; unfortunately, we have no right to overhaul legalities. “I know we’ve already looked into it this year, because a student asked me about it. I think Kat looked into it and we got the short answer of you can’t change it, I’m afraid.” Students’ Union president Ally Buckle said: “I think something to do with equal opportunities law, you can’t provide a service for a certain section of your staff base, it has to be for all - and the women’s minibus is just for women. It’s an issue that we might not be able to resolve in any way.” Speaking to Forge Press after the new memo was circulated, Buckle said: “It’s good that Forge Press has looked into this issue and that we have been able to re-clarify our guidance.” Non-student SU staff are still prohibited from using the women’s minibus.
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POLITICS
Romanian and Bulgarian students launch legal challenge against government Adela Whittingham
Petru Luhan
Photo: Wikimedia
The government is facing a legal challenge from Romanian and Bulgarian students following a decision to suspend student loans and grants in November of last year. Thousands of Romanian and Bulgarian students have been affected, with a group of around 20 students calling for the launch of a judicial review of the policy. The suspension has seen the withdrawal of maintenance loans and grants to students until they can provide fresh proof confirming they have resided in the country for the qualifying three years. The government halted the grants and loans after a rise in the number of Romanian and Bulgarian students applying for maintenance support. But students say that they are being politically discriminated against by ministers who are trying to appear tough on immigration. This comes following the lifting of working restrictions in Britain on January 1 of this year. David Willetts, the universities minister, announced the move in a written statement in November 2013. This has been subsequently extended to
YOUR CITY
Moor Market meets million milestone Patrick O’Connell The Moor Market has been visited by more than 1,000,000 customers following its opening three months ago. The milestone was achieved ahead of schedule, following the market’s move from Castlegate on November 25 last year, with an estimated 25,000 people passing through its doors on the first day. Andy Ward, head of markets, said: “We didn’t expect to hit the millionth customer mark so soon after we opened and are grateful to all our customers for supporting us.” The Moor Market is the only purpose-built market hall to be constructed in the UK in the last decade. Prior to the new market’s opening, it was located in the city’s 1960s Castle Market building. The Castlegate area’s market history dates back to 1296, when the site was first granted a charter. Councillor Julie Dore, leader of Sheffield city council, said: “The millionth customer is such a fantastic milestone and a huge economic boost for The Moor, which we hope to see continue in future.”
cover other students from the European Union at private colleges who claim maintenance allowance. A spokesman for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills said: “We have asked each of these students to supply additional information to support their applications for maintenance, before any further public funding is made available to them or to their institutions. Earlier this month, Petru Luhan, the Romanian MEP, described the move as “xenophobic” and evidence of “antiRomanian and anti-immigrant rhetoric” from politicians and sections of the media. Luhan has said he will be writing to the Prime Minister and the universities minister asking them to reconsider the suspension.
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YOUR UNIVERSITY
Rae retracts statement Nicola Moors
Inside Moor Market
Photo:Neelam Tailor
Students’ Union education officer Sam Rae has backed down over his claims that the University of Sheffield’s vice-chancellor pay rise was part of a “tax dodge”. Rae made the claim during the last Students’ Union Council meeting where he had submitted a policy on behalf of the officer team to lobby the University for a 10-to-one pay ratio between the highest and lowest earning University staff. Rae claimed that vice-chancellor Sir Keith Burnett’s 39 per cent pay rise was part of a “tax dodge”, while arguing for the policy. He continued to say that: “As far as I’m aware, Keith Burnett sits in his office all day reading neoliberal economics and attends dinners so I’m not sure why he is seen as so important and why he’s worth so much money.” When contacted by Forge Press, Rae said: “I formally and fully retract my statement about the vice
chancellor.” Ian Wright, head of employee relations, at the University of Sheffield said: “The vice-chancellor’s remuneration is subject to statutory tax and National Insurance deductions as is the remuneration of all staff paid by the University. “In processing these payments the University is of course aware of legislation regarding the payment of tax and national insurance and strictly complies with it in respect of all staff.” Burnett now earns £374,000 a year while the lowest-earning staff of the University earn the equivalent of £13,353, meaning there is a pay ratio of 28:1. The controversial wage increase comes after the University denied to pay all staff the living wage, which is £7.65 an hour. Sir Burnett’s pay rise was the second highest in the UK, behind VC Craig Calhoun at the London School of Economics.
Trade union fair held in Students’ Union
Univeristy of Sheffield runner up in three awards
Railway works completed after landslide
Fairtrade shop opened in Sheffield
A trade union fair that encouraged students to learn more about trade unions was held in the Students’ Union earlier this week. The fair, which was attended by representatives of GMB, Unite, Unison, UCU and IWW unions as well as members of the living wage campaign and Students’ Union officers, was held on Tuesday March 4. It ran for more than two hours and aimed to encourage students to learn about trade unions and gather interest in joining them. Some unions were specifically encouraging post graduate staff to get involved. Development officer Sam Neagus said: “I think that the event was a really good opportunity for our students”.
The University of Sheffield has come runner up for three Guardian University awards. The Guardian University awards recognise best practice, achievement, and innovation across a range of categories. The campaign for clearing and adjustment came runner up for the communications campaign award. The University also came second for the international project award for the #weareinternational project. The project was mentioned widely in the media, and quoted by members of parliament. The third award was the diversity initiative, the University’s project raising the number of women in senior posts.
Sheffield to London railway services are expected to be back on track ahead of schedule following a landslide. A track on the Midland Main Line, connecting the two cities, had been closed due to over 100,000 tonnes of material moving in a hillside landslip in Unstone, Derbyshire. Train diversions started on February 18, resulting in extra journey times. The track was likely to be reopened in four to six weeks, but the work was completed ahead of initial estimates and services will resume on March 8. Phil Verster, route managing director for Network Rail, said: “It is a testament to the hard work of the team on site that we will be able to re-start the service from this Saturday.”
A new ethical shop has been launched in Broomhill on the eve of Fairtrade Fortnight. Fair Grounds, on Whitham Road, has occupied the retail space which once belonged to an off-licence. It will sell goods such as jewellery, cards, home furnishings and children’s toys. Volunteer director Ian Carter-Brown said: “Fair Grounds campaigns for a change to unfair trading practices.” The shop was originally planned to be a temporary feature for Fairtrade Fortnight, but plans grew into permanently running the shop. During Fairtrade Fortnight, which runs until March 9, the shop will be open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm. Afterwards it will be open from Tuesday to Saturday.
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NEWS ECONOMICS
COLUMN
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Local restaurants join campaign to promote independent businesses in wake of city’s recent closures
Graduate vacancies Since the financial crash, ‘economic growth’ is a phrase we have all become familiar with. Last year saw an annual growth rate of 1.8 per cent, the highest the UK has seen since 2007. For many people these numbers mean very little; it has been hard to see how these growth figures will significantly benefit your life. But many graduates will soon be seeing a brighter side to these numbers; a survey of 100 big employers has shown they plan to increase the number of graduate positions this year. The largest recruiter of graduates in 2014 will be Teach First with 1,550 vacancies, followed by PwC with 1,200, and Deloitte with 1000. Martin Birchall, managing director of High Fliers research: “This very significant increase in graduate vacancies at Britain’s top employers means the job prospects for graduates leaving university this year are the best they’ve been since the start of the recession seven years ago.”
Louis Cox
Yvette Tan Representatives from more than a dozen cafes and restaurants have started a joint campaign in an effort to promote local restaurants after several recent closures. The meeting of restaurateurs came after the closure of Fitzwilliam and West at the West One Plaza. Co-owner and chef Chris Hawkins said independent restaurants were struggling to compete against major chains that offered huge discounts to customers. Among the many to have recently been affected are Platillos in Leopold Square and Artisan at Crosspool. Stuart Hitchman, a director of The Cross Scythes at Totley said:“People see offers like ‘two meals for £8’ and we can’t compete.”
Frisbee economics How do you catch a Frisbee? In theory, a physicist might tell you to compute the forces acting on the Frisbee in your mind as it is thrown; this involves complex equations and is on the face of it impossible. Yet statistics show us that the Border Collie is remarkably good at it. The Collie must be using a simpler approach but with more success; how many border collies know Newton’s laws of gravity? Andy Haldane, executive director of financial stability at the Bank of England, believes this approach should be used in central banking. Haldane, an alumnus of Sheffield, questions complicated rulebooks like Basel III, which underpinned finance during the crash, and believes regulators should look more to simple rules of thumb in policy. In essence, Haldane suggests that complexity in monetary policy has stopped working so we should make things simpler. Simple, really.
Louis Cox
Photo: Chris Downer
Platillos in Leopold Square
YOUR UNIVERSITY
TILL students fear degree future Estel Farell Roig
Photo: Tim Finan
Most independent restaurants buy locally sourced ingredients, supporting the local economy, but these ingredients come at high prices, which are then passed down to customers. The campaign will see independent restaurants adopt a distinctive green logo of Eat Sheffield, with the slogan “genuine independent”. The logos should be appearing in local restaurants over the coming week. Sheffield councilor Neale Gibson has promised to support this campaign. He said: “For a city of our size the food offer is not good. As a council, whatever we’re doing, we’re not doing it right.” Gibson, a former restaurateur, believes Sheffield would benefit if it was a major food destination.
The Institute of Lifelong Learning (TILL) students fear they will not be able to finish their degrees as major changes are set to be implemented next year, if approved by university management. The shifts, on which university management has failed to consult with students, include having to take more modules per year and less evening options. Most TILL students are part-time and mature learners who work, have a family and can only commit to courses outside the normal working hours. TILL councillor Tracey Lee said: “This is a complete disaster. We are really upset and angry. TILL is very important to us. “I would have never come to uni if it was not for TILL and its the same for lots of our students. They come from very different backgrounds, thinking they are not clever enough. “We want what TILL currently offers: a lot
of support to students, a very friendly family type atmosphere, small groups where we feel comfortable, evening classes and flexibility.” Some students wrote in the TILL student discussion forum that they have received letters saying that, if they want to complete their degree, they will have to complete 60 credits a year from 2014-2015. They now study 40 credits per year. Students are also worried their modules will no longer be available as TILL will be delivering new part-time degrees and certificates. It appears most of those will be taught by TILL and full-time departments, with day-time courses. Paul White, pro-vice chancellor of Learning and Teaching at the University of Sheffield said: “The University has been reviewing its existing provision of part time undergraduate education, including consultation with students, in the light of falling demand nationally for such courses. “We are carefully considering ways of significantly increasing our offer of part-time
undergraduate delivery. We will honour our commitment to existing students and ensure they receive the necessary support to finish their qualifications.” Lee said: “We did not know there were going to be any changes at all. We heard from it two weeks ago and haven’t been told what is exactly happening. “We haven’t been consulted at all. We just want the university to reconsider and have some input. We need to have our say.” However, TILL students have been told their education is safe and they will be able to finish their degree. The plans are due to be approved by University management on Marh 12. Under the new scheme, TILL will provide some certificates and full-time Foundation Programmes.
YOUR UNIVERSITY
Union gets first female chief executive Patrick O’Connell The Students’ Union has appointed its first woman chief executive in the history of the organisation. Students’ Union president Ally Buckle announced that Jaki Booth was offered the post and will start her role from June 2. Booth had held the position of chief executive at Southampton Students’ Union since 2009. Before this, she was general manager for Birmingham City Students’ Union. “Jaki brings a wealth of experience to Sheffield Students’ Union”, SU President Ally Buckle said. The term chief executive is set to replace the current job-title of general manager at the SU. Booth is set to become the first woman to
hold the office in the history of the SU. “She is going to be a brilliant staff leader and I cannot wait to welcome her in June,” Buckle said. Booth will replace current general manager Steve Hubbard, who will leave his position on March 31. In the period between then and June 2, Lucy Pritchard will hold the position of interim chief executive. Students’ Union welfare officer Becca Barnes said: “As a female officer, I often explain to students the many benefits that I think women can bring to leadership. “We’re lucky to be taking on such an experienced candidate for chief executive and I hope the fantastic female staff currently working in leadership roles in the SU inspires any woman to run to be an officer.” Jaki Booth
Photo: Facebook
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25 per cent increase for student travel £1
Patrick O’Connell Sheffield bus operator First has announced a rise in fares, in effect from the end of March. Students are set to see fares increase by 25 per cent, with student fares increasing to £1 from 80p. The bus company has also frozen a number of other tickets, including the 70p child’s fare as well as the £1 single ‘short hop’. The most expensive single tickets are not set to increase either. However, the current single fairs at £1.30, £1.40, £1.60 and £1.90 are all rising by 10p. The £1.50 and £2 single trip tickets will increase by 20p. The managing director of First South Yorkshire, Ben Gilligan, told the Star: “We aim to provide good value for money for our customers by ensuring that our fares remain attractive. Where some fares are changing we have worked hard to keep any increases to a minimum. “In some cases fares remain below the cost of previous years, for example our Sheffield week ticket at £12 is the same price as in 2004 and both the Sheffield and Doncaster wide day tickets are cheaper than in 2009.” The ‘optio’ ticket, introduced to customers using both First and Stagecoach routes, is to be axed in the new price reshuffle. As part of the new ticketing arrangements two new child tickets will be introduced: a £2 ‘child day’ ticket and a £5 ‘child week’ ticket. First are also planning to invest £10m in new buses across South Yorkshire in 2014. Second-year English Literature student Chloe Bolton said: “It’s good that students get discount but the price keeps going up and up. “It discourages students from using the bus.”
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Giant rotting whale driven down UK motorway Motorists in Kent last week have expressed their shock after seeing a rotting sperm whale carcass being driven along the motorway. The decaying body of the giant sperm whale was being driven down the A2 in Canterbury, Kent on its way to a landfill site. Mark Stephens, 41, who saw the animal being transported down the road, told the Telegraph: “There was… this massive whale with its head and tail chopped off, blood and guts dropping off the back and everything. “The smell was unbelievable. I’ve worked near an abattoir and that smelled bad but this was something else.”
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MONEY
Sheffield graduate takes on the dragons Jessica Williams Representing Sheffield’s finest, Dr Ganesh Rao is set to appear on the hit BBC show Dragon’s Den, in an attempt to convince the panel of multi-millionaires to invest in his business. He studied Medicine at the University of Sheffield. After graduating he spent some time working as a doctor at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital, before turning to the world of business. Dr Rao and his partner Time Harwood spotted a gap in the market for an independent online portal where users could compare health and beauty clinics, book their appointments online and save money on treatments. This inspired them to set up Treatment Saver. He said: “We’ve nurtured and developed
our business for three years and we felt the time was right to take the next step. “We put in endless hours of preparation for the show – it was as if we were studying for medical finals again! “We dedicated a lot of time to watching the episodes, perfecting our pitch, testing it out in front of friends, being grilled by ‘dragons’ and preparing detailed answers to every potential question we imagined would be asked.” Dr Rao was on Dragon’s Den on Sunday 2 March, on BBC Two at 9pm. He asked for £100,000 for a 20 per cent stake of their business. The dragons did not invest and said that the business would need a lot more money to rebrand and promote itself. Dr. Ganesh Rao and Tim Harwood of Treatment Saver
Officer jobs could merge Lauren Archer The University of Sheffield Students’ Union could be set to get rid of its women’s officer and international students’ officer positions. The women’s’ officer and international students’ officer positions could be merged into a single liberation role and the sports officer and activities officer roles could be merged into one. Kelley Temple, NUS women’s officer, spoke on behalf of Kat Chapman, the women’s officer, at a recent Union Council meeting. Temple said: “You should be proud of the fact you have a full time women’s officer. “We talk about Sheffield a lot on a national level. The trend for women’s officers is increasing nationwide
because people are starting to see the value in women’s officers.” The decision to merge or remove some roles comes after the SU trustee board voted that the roles review had to stick to the current number of eight roles. Union council voted to demand that the trustee board reconsiders allowing more than eight officers and agreed to censhure, meaning officially disapprove of, the trustee board for what was branded an “undemocratic” decision. International students officer Alex Kohnert said: “We are a student-led organisation. If students are telling us that we want x many [a certain number] of officers, that is a democratic decision and we should listen.”
Photo: Flickr / Frank Douwes Vikings gave the British their sarcastic sense of humour
Photo: Ganesh Rao
YOUR UNIVERSITY
Marking boycott threat
continued from p. 1
Tasmin Wade Dodman continued: “We are hopeful that, as preparations are made to enter into the 2014 pay negotiations, UCU will not call on its members to take further action relating to last year’s pay award and to date the University has received no formal notification of UCU’s intention to do so. “We are clear that we will do everything we can to ensure that our students’ education reflects our position as a world-class university and, if the threatened marking boycott does go ahead, we will seek to minimise the impact of the action by UCU members.” Sally Hunt, secretary of the UCU, said: “Throughout the dispute we have been calling on the employers to minimise disruption to students and sit down and talk to us seriously about pay. They have refused. It is their obstinacy that has forced our
hand with the marking boycott.” Hunt also wrote to members of the union, “It was agreed that our current claims which set out the case for fair pay and equality in HE be continued in any new negotiations until its terms are met.” She went on to suggest that the boycott could still be avoided, if the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) agrees to serious negotiations. “No member I have spoken to wishes to see this dispute escalate, but in the continued absence of meaningful negotiations this is our only alternative,” she said. First-year engineering student Luke Westergreen-Thorne said: “I really hope it doesn’t come to that, but I would support them if it did.” Negotiations on the 2014/15 pay claim are due to begin in March despite there being no settlement for this year as yet.
Sarcasm was originally brought to the UK by Scandinavian Vikings, says the Danish ambassador. Ambassador Claus Grube says that sarcasm, irony and understatement are part of the “common heritage” between Denmark and the UK. “It has always struck me that in the UK we have the same sense of humour as in Denmark,” he told the Telegraph. “I think this forms part of our common heritage, stemming from the Vikings and some of the legacy they have left.” Lauren Archer Drug paraphenalia used by county cricket club Cannabis lamps previously used by drug dealers are being put to use at a county cricket club. The lamps, which were confiscated by police, were given to Warwickshire county cricket club to improve the condition of the pitch. Chiefs at the cricket ground in Edgbaston, Birmingham, are planning on using the lamps to keep weeds off the pitch and hope the extra light and heat will improve the “pace and bounce” of the grounds. Nicola Moors
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COMMENT
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Being a ‘lad’ doesn’t stop you being a feminist Salma Haidrani ‘Who here is a feminist?’ As a long term feminist, I didn’t hesitate to raise my hand along with only two others from the 30 of us in the seminar. My seminar was split equally between both sexes and not one male student raised their hand. Clearly, it’s not acceptable for men to self-identify as feminists. With the f-word relentlessly plagued by the myth of promoting female privilege and entitlement, it’s somewhat unsurprising that male students may be reluctant to identify themselves as feminists. After all, when sexism works so well in their favour, why would they willingly want to put an end to it? Similarly, the femalecentric aspect of feminism can alienate men, even those that firmly believe in equality between the sexes. For instance, the University of Sheffield’s women’s committee prides itself on providing a confidential space exclusively for its female students to discuss sexism and organise campaigns and events. But for many male students who may be interested in making real change, this opportunity simply isn’t there for them. Perhaps the most significant factor for male students’ reluctance to identify themselves
as a feminist can be attributed to the pressure to subscribe to lad culture which encourages them to adopt degrading attitudes towards female students . Such attitudes have subsequently served to legitimise sexism and gender inequality on university campuses throughout the UK whereby female students are relegated to second class citizens. We’re still subject to a prehistoric double standard that dictates that we’re not entitled to sexual pleasure and which encourages the student body to shame sexually active women as sluts. Simultaneuosly, their male c o u nt e r p a r t s are glorified for the exact same act and frequently called ‘legends’. Despite making up more than half of the student population, a female Union President has not been elected in a decade. This is perhaps because of their repeated withdrawals from elections in the last few years for fear of the spate of misogynistic abuse that traditionally
accompanies female students nominating themselves for positions of power. That’s not to say that male students are exempt from the effects of patriarchy. For one, the widespread reluctance to seek medical help for those suffering from depression or other mental health problems can be somewhat attributed to the pressure to conform to the tough macho ‘lad’ stereotype. Subsequently, it’s unsurprising that such oppressive cultural n o r m s which have encouraged men not to express t h e i r feelings for fear of appearing feminine has had far reaching implications for male students. Mental health charity, the Samaritans found that male suicide rates are at their highest since 2002. Fu r t h e r m o r e , male students s u f f e r considerably in the bedroom. As one male feminist frankly noted:
‘I need feminism because I’m tired of feeling unmanly for enjoying my girlfriend’s strap on’. Equality is a united battle, regardless of whether you have a Y chromosome or not. If you hope to see the 15.7 per cent pay gap abolished in
our generation, a society where women’s choice of drink and attire is not taken into account after they’re raped and which celebrates women’s right to stand for election without the fear of being belittled and undermined, then you’re a feminist. So if you’re faced with the question - “are you a feminist?” maybe you might just raise your arm proudly. Even if you are the only male in the room doing so.
Uganda no longer respects basic human rights Matthew Joslin During the 2014 Winter Olympics, Russia became the focal point for criticisms concerning the persecution of the LGBT community. Influential Western figures from Lady Gaga to Barack Obama, piled in to cry out against endemic homophobia. The profile of the LGBT plight has never been higher. However, while the vehemence with which Russia has been attacked has shone a very necessary light on an obvious ugliness in Russian society, this is a selective spotlight by which the plight of many other LGBT people around the world has been inadvertently obscured. Indeed, looking at the case
of the recent Ugandan antihomosexuality bill, it would seem that, just as ‘female solidarity is for white women’, LGBT solidarity is similarly constricted. While we now know the extent of the damage in the Slavic arena, a look at the horrific state of affairs in Uganda makes for some sobering reading. Those who had the chance to watch Stephen Fry’s BBC documentary ‘Out There’ might be familiar with the story of Ugandan lesbian Stosh Mugisha who was violated by a friend at the age of 14 in what has come to be termed a ‘corrective rape’, conducted to “teach her how to enjoy heterosexuality”. Stosh was consequently diagnosed with HIV and has had to live a life of struggle and isolation in silence. In Uganda, sexual education is low and homosexuality simply
isn’t part of that limited discussion. The state’s decidedly hostile stance on non-heterosexual relations makes Stosh’s story of loneliness, confusion and lack of treatment a mainstay amongst gay HIVsufferers.
“Notions of cultural relativism are trumped by the fight for rights” Where the existence of albeit low-key organisations, such as IceBreakers and Spectrum Uganda used to be one of the only comforts to the marginalised LGBTs, the introduction of the new antihomosexuality bill has already spelt the closure of those same places where Ugandan LGBTs could find support and sanctuary. But why are we so ignorant of the obvious gravity of the
situation? This relative lack of recognition could be because, in Uganda itself, the bill has been met with near universal approval with an astounding 96 per cent of the population in favour. Questions must surely be asked regarding how justified the shining white stallion of western liberalism is as it gallops on in to intervene. But then why clamour over Russia? Why denounce the KKK? Why commit to world memory the atrocities of the Holocaust? The fact is that, by the same logic that has lauded international charities for their fight for immutable human rights, notions of cultural relativism are trumped. The question is not ‘do we get involved?’, the question is ‘how?’. The reaction so far, paralleling Sochi, seems to have been one of cutting ties and smoking them out. This will only serve to further the demonisation of the west and a
disassociation with human rights values. Instead, we must make sure we promote an asylum policy that does not humiliate individuals with lurid questioning, as has been one major criticism, but that readily offers an escape for those who want it. Moreover, we must acknowledge that true progress must come from a grass-roots level and from a place of co-operation. Far from the sneering admonishment of Norway and Denmark, what Uganda needs is to maintain its financial aid, focussing our contributions at the Ugandan LGBT support organisations that will hold the key to real social change. @ForgeComment on Twitter facebook.com/ForgeComment
FO R GE PRESS Fr i d ay March 7 2014
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Ukraine’s amicable divorce?
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COMMENT
Questioning the integrity of
the NUS
Chris Hedges It’s been a catastrophic few months for Ukraine. In 15 weeks of protests around 100 people have died at the hands of the police, the President has been ousted, and all the while the Russian government have been sharpening their carving knives to cut off as much of Ukraine as they can for themselves. Now opposing forces of the west and the east are at odds to benefit from the fallout. The political prospects of Ukraine have been covered extensively in the news but is this power play among superpowers clouding the real issue: the people of Ukraine? The protests started in November last year when then-President, Viktor Yanukovych, pulled out of plans for closer trade ties with the EU in favour of ties with Russia. This sparked great anger as a closer relationship with the EU would have brought about a strict crackdown on corruption and money laundering. While Ukraine’s economy fell apart, Yanukovych acquired for his family a $12 billion fortune. Vladimir Putin has agreed to spend $15bn on government bonds and recently the US has promised to offer $1 billion in loans to help stabilise its economy.
“Ukraine is intensely polarised, whichever way the next government leans the country will still be restless” Ukraine needs financial aid but the implications of these deals are unsettling; Ukraine is becoming a token for more powerful countries and its people are at risk of being overshadowed by the political statement of Ukraine’s allegiance. The Ukrainian Hryvnia this month fell to a decade long low. It is going to be a grizzly struggle but this is Ukraine’s best chance in years to heal. All it is seeing for the moment is its people falling deeper into poverty as the world fights to carve it up for a personal victory. With Yanukovych in power, Putin had the whole of Ukraine in his hand, but now that he realises it can’t stay that way he is invading as much as he thinks he can get, starting with Crimea. Russia has threatened to strip Ukraine of the electricity it sells them, and all the while the EU and the States try to sweeten the deal for their loyalty. The trouble is that they aren’t offering solutions to the problems of the people. Ukraine is intensely polarised so whichever way the next government leans the country will still be restless. It seems that the only way to relieve tensions is for the country to split down the middle. Crimea is an autonomous part of Ukraine, however it still needs Kiev to vote for its independence. Hopefully this can be done diplomatically rather than through civil war, which would only serve to further ravish the citizens of Ukraine. The darkest days could still be to come.
Natasha Sorrell Polling turn out is continually dire for the election of delegates to the NUS National Conference. This year less than two and a half per cent of students voted and there were only 16 candidates for the seven positions. Such low interest in the NUS reflects the disinterest in an unrepresentative organisation. The turnout for the sabbatical officer elections was 30 per cent last year. This is still poor but infinitely better than what we saw at the conference. This figure is probably higher because, unlike the NUS, we can see the effects of the decisions and actions of our sabbatical officers while, for most students, the NUS remain a distanced, meaningless body. What is it that the NUS actually does for our students? And what impact can I have by attending as a delegate for the student body of the University of Sheffield? The problem is that the NUS’ leadership are nothing more than spineless careerists, disinterested in fighting against the austerity attacks on students and instead focus on their future political careers. They have failed to put forward a bold programme of opposition to the
government’s cuts, fee hikes and the selling off of the student loan book. Not only has this turned off any would-be activist students, willing to join the fight against higher fees, but it has also alienated the wider student body by showing itself to be little more than meaningless in advancing the interests of students. The fight against fees is a political fight which can only be won by challenging the government and the capitalist system nationally and internationally. That means that the NUS is key in the battle. However, the organisation is not unsalvageable and seeking an alternative organisation to fight for the student movement is not the answer. Despite its rotten leadership, the NUS organised demonstration in November 2012 rallied 50,000 students to central London to oppose rising fees. This was only possible because the organisation has the power to coordinate thousands of students. Organising on the sidelines is a poor consolation for failing in the real task of winning the political battle of ideas within the NUS. If we want to meaningfully mobilise against government cuts to education, we must propose bold motions to reclaim the NUS. As such, I submitted three proposals to Council, of which two of which passed, in
order for the proposals to be put forward at the national conference. Amid the bureaucratic nightmare that is the NUS, this is surprisingly one of the few ways to speak at the conference, despite being a delegate. The amendments demand the NUS links up with the labour movement, uniting the struggle of the students with the struggle of the working class. They also highlight that the cuts that are being imposed on us now are a direct result of the 2008 crisis of capitalism, something that the NUS shy away from acknowledging. In taking these proposed amendments to the conference we now have the opportunity to raise our demand that the NUS actively fights against the cuts that are so heavily affecting students and young people nationwide.
Got an opinion on the topics discussed this fortnight? contact us letters@forgetoday.com
Photo: SUARTS
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COMMENT
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Smoking kills? That’s nothing new Mark Wood Recently, Stanford University in California introduced a campuswide smoking ban, which includes a prohibition of the sale of tobacco products in any of its shops. Is this a good idea? Should we stop selling tobacco products in the Students’ Union here in Sheffield? Luckily, this writer is an expert in the field; a dedicated and professional smoker of several years standing. I will take on the role of Britain’s entire population of smokers. Consider me an emissary from a fog-smothered land. The first and most important thing to say is: we get it. Every possible version of the ‘give-it-up’ slogan has been exhausted. Every quantum of medical evidence has been advanced, by doctors and nurses, by ex-smokers who are now unbearably smug about their new-found capacity to wake up in the morning without regurgitating a selection of vital internal organs.
It took a lot of time and effort but the medical establishment has won the war on smoking with the result a precipitous decline in figures. For the 19 per cent of British adults who continue to wheeze away in spite of the facts, it’s a mystery even to us why we still bother.
“The medical establishment has won the war on smoking”
The most that would be achieved is an occasional and minor inconvenience to smokers. There are plenty of other places to go within a few minutes walking distance. Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve ever bought my smokes at The Union shop anyway. A ban wouldn’t make me give it up, but then I don’t think it’s intended to. If I have an axe to grind, it’s not about legislation. I harbour no affection for big tobacco. They deserve to be screwed. I don’t expect waiters or bar staff to breathe my smoke all day either. What I can do without though
Editorial Hello and welcome to another issue of Forge Press. I usually moan about the dry, democratic buzzword-filled meeting that is Students’ Union Council, but this week was actually interesting. Despite it being a tedious three and a half hours long, it was filled with jazz hands and amusing comments, but I won’t spoil the surprise for you. Pop along to forgetoday.com/ union-council-live-blog/ to read our fortnightly Union Council liveblog and you can even stream it online courtesty of Forge TV, and you thought democracy was boring. As I type this, the Students’ Union officer candidate names have been released to us so we can print an extra-special double-page spread. Remember to keep up-todate with Forge Media for all the latest election coverage - we’ll be sarcasticly liveblogging Hustings as well as doing our very own Question Time with the candidates. I’m really sad to say that my time as editor is nearly up as AGM
fortnight is rolling around pretty quickly. The Forge Online and Forge Press AGM will be on Tuesday March 25 at 6pm in Arts Tower lecture theatre 6 - either come along and vote for the next editorial teams or even run for a position. To apply for a position, simply email me (see below for my email) your name and I’ll add you to the list. Also prepare three improvements for the section you’re applying for in time for the AGM. Nominations close at 6pm on Friday March 21. It sounds scary, but you’ll be fine and there’s an opportunity for celebratory (or commiseratory) drinks afterwards. I promise that working on Forge Media is extremely good fun as I’m sure, this issue’s Quote of the Fortnight will tell you (Forge Press always asks the hard-hitting questions). PS Correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m pretty sure strap-on is hypenated.
Nicola Moors - Forge Press editor nicola.moors@forgetoday.com
is a certain kind of moralising attitude that often accompanies these debates. The sanctimonious, finger-wagging, self-satisfied tedium that reminds me of my least favourite primary school teachers. Smokers may be idiots, but we’re not stupid. It’s always galling to be bombarded with advice by somebody with a misguided sense of their own enlightenment and, of course, it’s not really wellmeaning at all; its brimming with schadenfreude. These people are relatively few but thrive on the taboo that now surrounds smoking, a taboo that means lighting up in a public building would be considered about as acceptable as a Sieg Heil. I don’t think the pervasive and virulent antagonism to smoking can be put down merely to a pragmatic concern for health. It has acquired the status of heresy in a secular world, anathema to some kind of clean-living dogmatism. It taps into a peculiarly English obsession with vice, an almost prurient interest in disgrace, played out in the pages of Heat, or Hello or even Private Eye.
We kid ourselves that we believe in liberalism and privacy, but we’ll discard both for a zoom-lens view of dishonour.
“Smoking has acquired the status of heresy in a secular world” Ban tobacco sales if you insist, but it’s time to leave us alone. I won’t blow smoke in your face; I won’t burn down your house with a smouldering match. I’ll even refrain from smoking in a car full of children, whether the law tells me to or not. In exchange, I meekly request that you resist the urge to remind me of a reality of which I am already acutely and painfully aware: that of my relentless mortality. Of my rapidly impending demise. Yes, smoking kills. I know.
D.A.R.T.S.
Forge Press takes its satirical aim
Warmongerer of the fortnight:
Must buys of the fortnight:
Darts normally concerns itself with weird and wonderful bits of the news (and cats). But the last two weeks of news have been totally dominated by a bear-wrestling, warmongering dictator extraordinaire who also happens to be a Darts regular. This week, Vladimir Putin has moved from being the joke to us wishing he was joking. Therefore, in the absence of the possibility of tasteful satire, we thought the best way to annoy him was by publishing this…
1) The chocolate welly: For a mere £19.99 you can become the proud owner of this superb confectionary-based footwear. This beautiful brown wellington also couples up as a delicious snack or perfect gift for family members and loved ones. 2) Tea cup cum candle: Ever looked at a tea cup and thought to yourself: ‘hmm I wish this had a candle inside?’ If your answer to that question was an almighty affirmative then you’re in luck. As if a latinate sperm reference wasn’t enough to get the pulse racing. 3) Varsity merchandise: It’s back. Everyone’s favourite sporting competition of university sport: Varsity 2k14. To commemorate such a wonderful sporting occasion, why not purchase a gorgeous black and yellow bomber jacket which is bound to cement your place in Concourse Couture. Make sure you read comment’s upcoming Varsity commentary on the korfball 2s.
Quote of the fortnight: “Is strap-on hyphenated?” Ben Scull, comment editor
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Friday March 7 2014 F ORGE PR E S S
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Sheffield SU Highlights Friday 7 March - Thursday 20 March /sheffieldstudentsunion
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FRIDAY 7 & SATURDAY 8 MARCH
Juliet & Romeo 19:00, Foundry, £4
Film: Nebraska 19:30, SU Auditorium, £2.50
Varsity Boxing 19:00, Octagon, £6
Japan Day 11:30 - 17:00, Octagon, £5
TUESDAY 18 MARCH
THURSDAY 13 MARCH
The Tuesday Club:
Up Market 11:00 - 16:00, Foundry, Studio, Fusion
Clean Bandit (DJ Set), Andy H 23:00, Foundry, Fusion & Studio, £7
THURSDAY 20 MARCH
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24 Hour Film Making Challenge
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Student Officer Elections Results Night From 17:00, Bar One
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Fri day March 7 2014 F O RG E P RESS
Beneath t
As the debate surrounding the most contentious piece of clothing in modern British society rage “It’s strange,” says History and Politics student Hafsah, stirring her cappuccino in a bustling café on Ecclesall Road before she heads off for afternoon lectures. “If a woman decides to one day take her clothes off for a living, we applaud her for taking control of her sexuality, but the moment a woman freely decides to don a veil, it’s suddenly perceived as a symbol of oppression”. Hasfah, who wears a black niqab covering her entire body and leaving only her heavily kholed eyes visible through a slit, has already received hostile stares from passers-by. “The idea that I’ve freely chosen to wear this free from coercion for some is unthinkable.” She says “The idea that’s it’s empowering? Impossible”. Women in the UK were once faced with strict rules dictating what was appropriate to wear, usually relating to what parts of their body they should or shouldn’t be allowed to show. Nowadays, however, the idea of women showing skin is a lot less controversial than it once was. As a result, we like to think that we live in a society where women have the freedom to dress how they wish. Women who choose to wear a veil are constantly the topic of debate. A recent YouGov poll revealed that an overwhelming 61per cent of the British public believe that the veil should be banned in the UK. But while the traditional Islamic dress has firmly been thrust into the spotlight, the very women who wear it are unfortunately all too often silenced.
Photo: EmilyA Raw
The veil affords women empowerment in a culture which all too often reduces women’s worth solely to their physical appearance
With the abundance of sensationalist headlines like “Islamic schools forcing girls of 11 to wear the veil” and “I was forced to wear the veil and I wish no other woman had to suffer” cropping up in UK news, it’s unsurprising that the veil has courted much controversy. The press relentlessly represents it as a tool used to oppress women. Sadly, this fails to consider the 7,300 plus women in the UK who freely choose and enjoy wearing the veil. It isn’t entirely surprising that feminists struggle to accept the veil as a ‘free choice’. To some extent, the veiling of a female’s body, even if it is a voluntary choice, suggests that women’s bodies are something they should be ashamed of and should thus be
concealed to prevent tempting the opposite sex. It is also often suggested that not to wear a veil is to ‘tempt’ rape which leads to victim blaming. Prominent Pakistani feminist Bina Shah concurs: “Many people use blackmail to convince women to wear the veil.” They play on women’s vulnerability by bringing up the imagery of women being sexually violated while walking around unveiled, she says. Imam Shahid Mehdi claimed last March that “women are not entitled to respect when they walk around without a hijab. They are to blame for it when they are attacked. All the crimes that occur against women are because they are not covered”. For some, however, the veil affords women empowerment in a culture which all too often reduces women’s worth solely to their physical appearance rather than their academic or professional accomplishments. From the relentless onslaught of celebrities’ Photoshopped faces and bodies in women’s glossies to Tumblr and Instagram accounts dedicated exclusively to supermodels’ ‘thigh gaps’ (when a woman’s upper thighs don’t touch when standing with their legs together), the pressure on women to conform to often unrealistic ideals of beauty, even at the risk of mutilating their bodies, is seemingly never-ending. Hafsah says: “Women in the Western World destroy their bodies in their pursuit for perfection. How can they say the veil is more oppressive?” Second year Psychology student Ayesha Iqbal says: “My veil is liberation from constantly worrying what people think…the kind of contentment that means you’re truly at peace with yourself. By wearing the veil, you hope others see you for more than just what you appear and in doing so, you look for the good in others.” The veil can liberate women from the burden of routinely being reduced to sex objects. With increasing numbers of young women opting to don the veil in recent years, perhaps this can somewhat be attributed to such women seeking to assert ultimate control over their bodies. Graduate Amber Rehman agrees. Reaching early adulthood and no longer desiring to be sexually objectified by the opposite sex, Amber found that the veil provided her with an opportunity to reclaim control over her body and sexuality: “Being raised around a lot of boys and having mostly male friends, I recognised that I didn’t want to be objectified as a sexual object. So at 16, I began covering my body because I believed that a man should respect me for my mind’. Amber soon found that it encouraged them to view and ultimately respect her beyond her sexual worth: “Men no longer viewed me in a sexual way…I felt more at ease with them”. For some, the decision to adopt the veil goes beyond rejecting the emphasis placed on physical beauty or asserting control over their bodies – it’s also a political issue. Anti-Muslim sentiment has soared in the UK, with Metropolitan Police recording 500 hate crimes in the past year, a dramatic increase from 336 in 2012 and 318 in 2011. The veil can serve as an opportunity for women to reclaim their Muslim identity which they perceive to be under fire. It’s unsurprising that such women, who freely choose and enjoy wearing the veil, express a sense of frustration that their choice is routinely distorted in the press. Amber says: “Contrary to what most people think, I had to fight my family to wear a hijab. They were completely against it. I still get asked if
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I really need to wear it. Do I waver and question my commitment sometimes? Yes I do. Just as a person may question their commitment to marriage. Sometimes it’s hard…but the majority of the time I am extremely comfortable with my decision to wear the hijab”. The University of Sheffield Islamic Circle (USIC) have actively and successfully sought to dispel the stereotype of the veil as a symbol of oppression and violence, most notably running a campaign during October 2013 which invited the student body to hold placards emblazoned with the words ‘Hijab is Choice, Not Force’ in an attempt to illustrate that women choose to wear it free from coercion.
Sometimes it’s hard... but the majority of the time I am extremely comfortable with my decision to wear a hijab
Thankfully, the government, is at present reluctant to ban the wearing of the veil in public like France and Belgium have recently done, citing it as “un-British to start telling people what clothing they should wear”. Priding itself on its long standing tradition of freedom of expression and the freedom of its citizens to practice their religious beliefs, outlawing the traditional Islamic dress would somewhat refute the UK’s international reputation for religious tolerance. USIC President 2013/14 Hasan Siddiqui says: “One of the aspects I like about Britain is that we are tolerant to different views and different ways of life. We need to be accommodating rather than alienating our citizens and follow a path that respects the freedom of choice and celebrates diversity. That’s why I’m glad Britain has shown integrity and not followed a path of discrimination as have some European countries”. Just like Hasan, Hafsah too remains optimistic: “Perhaps people might one day accept that women freely choose the veil and that they can be empowered from it too”. Late for lectures, Hafsah decides to head off. But before stepping away, she adds: “I don’t think that’s going to happen anytime soon though”, a hint of resignation echoing minutes after she leaves, her head held high, sashaying through the bustling Sheffield streets. Shrouded in black amongst the groups of students heading home and harassed mothers off to collect their children from school. Perhaps only time will tell.
FO R GE PRESS Fr i d ay March 7 2014
the veil
es on, Salma Haidrani investigates the invisible voices of the women wearing it
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COFFEE BREAK TWEETS OF THE FORTNIGHT
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This colourful photo was taken in Cyprus last year by Stephanie Nicola-Miller, who was visiting Larnaca for a family wedding. Looking back on the moment she snapped the photo, Stephanie said: “This whole arcade was beautiful and its beauty was difficult to capture in a single shot: this was only one of many.”
Photograph of the fortnight: Umbrellas above a Cypriot cafe
Photo: Stephanie Nicola-Miller
The Wreck of the Titan-ic In this fortnight’s Coffee Break we look at one of the strangest coincidences of the past. Futility, or the Wreck of the Titan is an 1898 novella written by Morgan Robertson. It is about an 800 ft long, triplescrew propellor British passenger liner named the Titan, thought by everyone to be unsinkable. In this fictional account the ship struck an iceberg on the starboard side around midnight in April, in the North Atlantic 400 miles south of Newfoundland, travelling at the speed of 25 knots. She didn’t have enough lifeboats, carrying just 20 for a capacity of 3,000 - “as few lifeboats as the law allowed”. More than half of the 2,500 passengers on board were drowned. 14 years later, the Titanic disaster occurred in real life. The 882.75 ft long, triple-screw
propellor British passenger liner had been qualified as “unsinkable” before she sank. She struck an iceberg on the starboard side around midnight in April, in the North Atlantic 400 miles south of Newfoundland, travelling at the speed of 22.5 knots. She didn’t have enough lifeboats, carrying only 16 normal and four folding lifeboats for a passenger and crew capacity of 3,000. Over half of the 2,220 passengers and crew on board died. Both boats, fictional and real, were attempting to break a speed record. These eerie similarities clearly indicate that Morgan Robertson was a time traveller attempting to warn everyone of the fate of the Titanic. Or that there was a crack in reality in 1898. Or maybe just that truth really can be stranger than fiction.
Word of the fortnight Selcouth, adj.: 1. Unfamiliar, rarely known, strange and yet marvellous.
...
now k u o y id
D
Mosquito repellent doesn’t technically repel mosquitos. It actually makes you undetectable to mosquitos, by blocking the chemical receptors in their antennae so that they cannot perceive you.
Humans have 5 million olfactory cells, while a sheepdog has 220 million. Sense of smell is a vital survival tool in the animal kingdom, alerting the animal to any incoming danger.
Dancing the night away We continue to look back on one of the most weird and wonderful events of the past. The year 1518 was an unremarkable time for most of the world. But for the city of Strasbourg, Germany, it was one of the strangest years they’d ever seen, with the Dancing Plague of 1518. It began innocently when one woman started to dance in the street. Her dancing lasted for an hour, then a day, then two. Historical records report it as lasting between four to six days in total. Within a week, 34 other townspeople had joined in the frenzied dancing, and within just a month there were 400 people dancing uncontrollably in the streets of Strasbourg. Many people danced for days without rest. Over the period of about a month, dozens of the people affected eventually died from heart attack, stroke or sheer exhaustion from their nonstop dancing. As the dancing plague spread through the city, local
physicians ruled out astrological or supernatural causes and declared it instead to be a ‘natural disease’ caused by ‘hot blood’. Rather than attempting to bleed them, they believed that the dancers would recover only if
they danced uninterrupted night and day. To this end the authorities opened two guildhalls and a grain market, constructed a wooden stage and even paid local musicians to encourage the victims to keep dancing. Some of those afflicted with dancing mania were even taken to a shrine to seek a cure for their unusual ailment (shown in the engraving by Hendrik Hondius, left). After about a month or so, the dancing began to die down. Although nobody will know exactly what happened to the dancers, some historians have theorised that it was a phenomenon known as ‘mass psychogenic illness’. This describes mass hysteria usually preceded by intolerable levels of psychological distress; prior to the dancing epidemic, there had been a series of famines, and many people had died from malnutrition and disease.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
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COFFEE BREAK
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Puzzle Page: sudoku Medium
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Quotes of the fortnight
“
Wherever there is a human in need, there is an opportunity for kindness and to make a difference.
”
William J.H. Boetcker
“
We cannot tell the precise moment when friendship is formed. As in filling a vessel drop by drop, there is at last a drop which makes it run over; so in a series of kindness there is at last one which makes the heart run over.
Samuel Johnson
”
dingbats
Dingbats are visual word puzzles from which you must identify a well-known phrase or saying. 1. Across:
Down:
1. Roman god of agriculture (6) 4. Second planet from the Sun (5) 7. Military trainees (6) 8. Badly done (6) 9. Between pavement and road (4) 10. Disparage (informal) (8) 12. Determined by fate (11) 17. Ugly stone creature (8) 19. Number of circles in Dante’s Hell (4) 20. Decorative charm to ward off evil (6) 21. Take into the body (6) 22. Not a child but not a teenager? (informal) (5) 23. Capacity to make choices (6)
1. Improve (5-2) 2. Quiver (7) 3. Loud, rude noise produced with the tongue (9) 4. Also known as the soft palate (5) 5. Planet 17 times the mass of Earth (7) 6. Outdated agricultural hand-tool (6) 11. Earsplitting (9) 13. Change course or direction (7) 14. A shape with this many sides? (see 19 across) (7) 15. Era in which a family reigned (7) 16. Horrified (6) 18. Ancient Greek and Roman buildings built for musical shows and performances (5)
2.
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Fri day March 7 2014 F O RG E P RESS
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WHAT NOT TO MISS THIS FORTNIGHT
Food
by Laura Norton
Life Drawing
musical ‘Grease’: The
classes
March 11- 15, 7.15 pm, Lyceum Theatre. Tickets: £10£20 depending on seat location
Friday March 14, 10.30 am, Millennium Gallery. Tickets: £8
Feeling like a night out of the student world? Head to the Lyceum Theatre to see ‘Grease’ the musical by the Croft House Theatre Company. Tickets are selling like hot cakes so don’t hesitate if you want one. It has been voted the best musical of all time by a poll of 2,431 adults, so go see for yourself. There’ll probably be a few songs you’ll recognise from school discos of your youth, and I’m sure any regular Poptarts goer would love them, whether they’ve seen the film or not.
Ever wanted to try your hand (literally) at life drawing? The Millennium Gallery, by the Winter Gardens, is giving you the chance to realise your artist prowess. The class is suitable for adults of any ability. Basic materials are available but nothing is stopping you taking your own. The class is run regularly, so it’s a great opportunity to develop a new skill. With a different nude model posing each week, the drawing class will give you the chance to sketch a range of subjects.
SPeciality m eals at Fanci e
by Hannah McCulloch
This fortnight we are loving one of Sheffield’s newer independent food sellers. Walking down Divison Street toward the city centre you may have passed local butcher and fishmonger, Simmonite. Castle market traders Carl and Mark Simmonite opened the fresh food emporium in 2013, after deciding they didn’t like the restricted opening hours of the Moor Market. Simmonite is open seven days a week, from 7am- 7pm. For those of us who, albeit reluctantly, have had to become vegetarians due to the strains of a student budget, Simmonite‘s incredible prices put meat back on the menu. They have a mix and match option where you can choose three meats for £4, ranging from marinated chicken or pork to speciality sausages. Comment editor Tom recently got two whole chickens for a fiver. Bargain.
field steelers ice Hockey: Shef
Dates throughout March, at Fancie, Eccellsall Road. Prices for curry and tapas nights: £20
Sunday March 16, 5 pm, Motorpoint Arena, Tickets: £12.10 for a student, standard tickets may cost more
If food is your thing, head to Fancie on Eccy Road. The food there is absolutely delectable and every couple of weeks they run specialist nights, including a veggie world curry night on March 8 and a Spanish tapas night on March 15. Though it seems more expensive than a normal student meal, for a special occasion these are really worth it. Just make sure you reserve places early because these nights always get booked up. Fancie are also known for their cupcakes, so you could potenitally grab one on the way out.
As far as sport goes in Sheffield, we’re lucky to have access to some great ice hockey. If the winter Olympics inspired you, head down to the Motorpoint Arena on March 16 for what promises to be a great match between the Sheffield Steelers and the Hull Stingrays. You can always count on a great atmosphere when the Steelers are playing. For anyone who hasn’t been, Motorpoint Arena is really easy to get to- just hop on a tram from the University and it’ll take you straight there.
Technology
Lifestyle loves
Top five: appalling apps by Isabel Dobinson
Whether you admit to it or not, the majority of us are app addicts. But where do we draw the line between the entertaining and the utterly appalling? Here’s a countdown of five of the worst.
5. Wobble iBoobs I am not joking. Seriously sexist, distasteful and derogatory, this app is clearly marketed for a questionable audience and the immature few that are in desperate need of a life and, most likely, a girlfriend. The basic idea of the app is that you select an image, say of a topless girl, mark the boobs and shake your phone. Hey presto, watch the “wobbly bits magically jiggle and wobble realistically”. Need I carry on? 4. iAmAMan Designed for the so-called ‘players’ out there, iAmAMan declares it “will help you with your private life planning” by tracking not one but several ‘girlfriends’. Apparently, this app is made for the next Hugh Heffner. Features include tracing your girlfriend’s periods (yes, seriously), setting a master password for the whole program plus personal passwords for each girl, in case one of your ‘girlfriends’ hacks into your phone.
4. Lulu With the questionable claim of being “the first ever app for girls”, Lulu is a Facebook based app which lets girls anonymously rate and comment on guys. Last year the app was debated in court when a Brazilian businessman attempted to sue after finding out he received a 7.7 rating out of 10. With a different kind of sexism to iAmAMan, Lulu shows whether you’re female or male, money making is the clear motivation in the sale of these truly appalling apps. 2. Plastic surgery for Barbie This January the Plastic Surgery for Barbie app sparked a public backlash against both Apple and Google. The app’s blurb describes an “unfortunate girl” who will undergo “a surgery called liposuction that will make her slim and beautiful [which will] make small cuts on problem areas and suck out the extra fat.” Of course, social media sites were flooded with angry voices of outrage and campaigns to remove the app, which was inappropriately marketed at an age group of nine plus. Within a few days, Apple was accused of targeting the young and vulnerable by critiquing “the body of a cartoon character who does not conform to an unrealistic beauty standards.” The app was deemed “sexist and disturbing” and was forced to be taken down.
1. Baby Shake First place undoubtedly goes to the Baby Shaker and yes, it’s basically all in the name. Apple took a step too far in 2009 when they approved this violent and unmistakably disturbing app, which involves shaking your iPhone until two red crosses appear over the baby’s eyes. It’s shocking to even comprehend that such an app was approved. Inevitably it caused a stir, particularly among child protection groups, and was banned.
Images: Jhaymesisviphotography and City Skyline Souvenir
Lifestyle’s cheap eat Grilled aubergine stacks with tomatoes and goat’s cheese
by Sophie Jackson
Serves 4
Prep time: 10 mins Cook time: 25 mins Ingredients
1 large aubergine 3 large tomatoes 100g goats cheese (or feta) 1 fresh lemon 2 cloves of garlic Handful of fresh basil leaves Olive oil Method
1) Cut the aubergine into 1cm thick slices. Lightly season them with salt on both sides and leave them to sit for the water to come out.
2) Drizzle olive oil on top of each slice and grill them for two to three mins.
3) Blend the basil leaves with 4 tablespoons of olive oil, 2 garlic cloves, lemon juice and a pinch of salt. 4) Cut the tomatoes crosswise into 1/2 cm slices
5) On an oiled baking pan arrange the aubergine side by side. Spread half a tablespoon of the basil/garlic mixture on top of each one, then crumble the goats cheese and sprinkle generously on top. Top each of these with a tomato ring and then add another layer of aubergine, basil spread and cheese. You can make as many layers as you want. 6) Bake for about 20-25 mins at 200 C or until the tomatoes are wilted and the cheese is soft and melted. For a slightly different flavour add pesto into your layers as well.
Image: Ellie McCaldin
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Fashion
LIFESTYLE&TRAVEL
Sheffield does vintage: Cutler’s Hall by Niki Kesharaju
While my perception of vintage in Sheffield has only been extended to fashion shops like Cow and Freshman’s Vintage Clothing, the opportunity to attend the ‘Sheffield Does Vintage’ fair in Cutlers’ Hall was one I wasn’t going to miss.
I was expecting lots of edgy 20-somethings and haphazard rails full of tartan, old-school denim and fur but upon entering Cutlers’ Hall, I quickly realised I couldn’t have been more wrong. The entire hall had been transformed into a vintage paradise, with about 20 different stalls selling all sorts, from retro furniture to the best fashion picks.
Fashion
I took a quick walk around, testing the terrain before launching myself into the fashion rails. As a fashion lover, I was keen to find those one-off pieces. I was expecting something preowned from a brand that I had never heard of, but instead, I was greeted with labels and more labels. I found labels like Mulberry, Moschino, Jaeger and many more at bargain prices. I spotted a tiny Moschino bag in one of the stalls for just £10. I also found a mini version of the iconic Mulberry Bayswater bag and a gorgeous pink tartan coat by Jaeger. One of the stalls owned by the lovely Fee Thompson had an entire rail full of Burberry for £12 and I snapped up a crisp shirt with the detailing of the iconic Burberry pattern. The ladies and gents at the fair were really amazing to chat to and had lots of stories on how they got into vintage. I imagined that most of the fair would be geared towards the student market, but I was really surprised at how much of it was targeted at all age groups. Fee, who has been selling at vintage fairs for only the past year, owned one of the few stalls aimed at the student market. Other sellers such as Jo Love, from lovevintagefurniture.com, who had a vast collection of bags, hats and clothing for ladies of all ages including a gorgeous vintage Mulberry bag, an investment piece for
around £400. Another lovely lady was Loll Watterson who was quite happy to show off her star pieces, a 70s J Leonard dress and a gorgeous black lace gown complete with a fox fur piece. While fashion and jewellery were the main focus of the event, a lot of other stalls sold lots of interesting items like vintage crockery, dress pattern making kits and even vintage mirrors. There was also old-school 60s music featuring the dulcet tones of singer Harmony Handsworth. Other features included a pin-up hair dresser who very happily demonstrated her skills on Harmony and, of course, there was the tea room with a selection of delicious cakes, tea and coffee.
This event was a part of the Britain Does Vintage fair who have been making stops all over the UK this month. For my first vintage fair in Sheffield, I was so impressed with the range of fashion, prices and finds- think cameo necklaces, 70s prints and fascinators. Whatever your vintage style, there was a timeless gem for everyone.
Concourse Couture by Niki Kesharaju
Jade McBride Second year, Geography Wearing: bag from TK Maxx, coat from a vintage shop, scarf from ASOS, boots from Ark
Chris Mayall Third year, Music Wearing: boots from Rocky Horror Shop, Shirt from a charity shop, coat from Freshman’s Vintage Clothing
Ming Hui Li First year, ITMB Wearing: cardigan and shoes from China, dress and belt from River Island, bag from Kate Spade
Timi Adenekan Second year, Business Management Wearing: jacket from Carhartt, jumper from Fruit of the Loom, jeans from Topman, shoes from Dr Martens
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@forgelifestyle /forgelifestyle lifestyle@forgetoday.com
The Long Well Walk This week Lifestyle spoke to The Long Well Walk’s Liam Garcia, a.k.a. Sheffield’s answer to Forrest Gump. He is planning to walk for 18 months solid in order to raise awareness and money for those affected by the deficient water and sanitation aid available in certain parts of Africa. Yep, you read that right, an 18-month walk. And you thought Conduit Road was a trek...
First of all, what is the Long Well Walk? And who does it help? The Long Well Walk is a volunteering charity in Sheffield and we work towards helping small communities in subSaharan Africa develop water and sanitation projects. The beneficiaries are mainly small communities who have not had access to water and sanitation or ‘wash’ (water, sanitation and hygiene) support previously. What are you actually going to be doing on your walk?
I’m going to be walking from Sheffield to Cape Town, through 16 countries, covering 11,000 miles, and stopping off at 10 or 11 projects. I’ll visit them to raise awareness, film, talk to the beneficiaries and get the story of what’s going on in each community. Through this, I hope to show donors back in the UK not only what’s going on, but also the ways in which organisations in similar circumstances solve the same problems. Why such an arduous journey and what made you think of it?
Arduous because we want to get people to donate – the more pain I go through hopefully the bigger the story and hopefully the more money we’ll raise through it. I’m walking from Sheffield because it’s my home town, it’s my community, it’s where I grew up and it’s linking it with places with much fewer resources. How much physical preparation have you had to undergo for the walk? Do you think you’re prepared seeing as you’re leaving in less than two months?
How have you organised such a large-scale project like this?
It’s taken about two and a half years to organise, mainly because I needed to learn the different areas, some of the different languages, build up relationships with the people who will support us in each country, get sponsors, get security details for different areas and get support vehicles. There’s a huge amount of work that needs to be done, the logistics of it are pretty crazy but it’s also important not to over-plan and be comfortable with plans changing every day. Regardless of the route I’ve got mapped out at the moment, I know it’s going to change every day – for example, the south of England is flooded right now so I know I’m not going to be doing the same route I was planning through there. What sort of things are you doing to get donations?
There are a lot of local events going on in Sheffield and we’re trying to get celebrity endorsements as well. The aim is to use the walk itself to help build press attention and support as I walk through London. Most likely we’ll raise the majority of our money towards the end of the walk when we come back, hopefully helped along by the fact that the documentary we’re filming will be shown around that time.
I’ll be taking my bank card and will have a small amount of cash on me, but I’ll be carrying food on my back and carrying three different types of stoves with me. I can go into intense detail about the stoves if you want? *Laughs* That’s okay. So, how are you going to actually navigate your way there?
I’ve got a compass, a map on my Kindle and a small GPS device as well, so I should be alright.
How do your friends and family feel about you doing this? My friends are happy to see the back of me and my family are hopefully going to be sad. Are you at all scared of getting yourself into trouble or a dangerous situation?
Yeah something will definitely happen - something’s happened on every trip I’ve done so far. I got robbed at knifepoint in Romania when I was 22 as well as in America and Spain. I’m bricking it about the lions but the important thing is not letting that fear get in the way of the cause. What do you think you’ll miss most about home? Whiskey? No, not whiskey. I’ll really miss Richmond sausages; they’re so bad, they’re good.
What would you say to people who would like to do something like this for charity but have no idea where to start? Come along and join us on the walk! It depends on what you want to do, the most important thing is finding something you actually want to do, because if you find out halfway through you haven’t got the motivation then you’ve already made the commitment and you’ll find out you’re absolutely screwed. What are you going to do when you get back?
Eat, sleep, lie in an ice bath, eat a lot of cake, have my 30th birthday. Hopefully not be in hospital, though I’m sure I will be. Do you think you’ll actually make it?
Yeah, I don’t know what state I’ll be in but I’m sure I’ll make it.
Donate and track exactly where your money is going by visiting the website at http://thelongwellwalk. org/ or check out volunteering positions still available by clicking on ‘Get Involved’. All donations go to creating sustainable community projects as the Long Well Walk is exclusively run by volunteers and vows never to use donations to cover salary costs.
Words: Katherine Hockley Image: Tom Wilkinson
I had a pint for lunch *laughs* but I’ve been doing a lot of walking, a lot of extreme physical training, like martial arts but then that had the risk of injury so I didn’t want to keep doing that. At the moment it’s just walking and carrying a big pack on my back with lots of weight in it. We walked from Manchester to Sheffield a week and a half ago then went out for another walk the next day, so I did about 50 something miles that weekend. I’d like to think I’m prepared.
How are you going to survive? Are you taking money and supplies that will last you or are you just going to improvise?
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FO R GE PRESS Fr i d ay March 7 2014
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Travel
LIFESTYLE&TRAVEL
Jamaica: one love
So you want to go travelling and you’re wondering where to go? I wanted to go somewhere different so last year I travelled Jamaica. While there, I learnt of the paradise the country had to offer with its lifestyle and culture. I learnt a bit of ‘patois’ before I went and once there I immersed myself in the fifth largest Caribbean Island.
I, like many young people travelling for the first time, was on a budget so I had to be sensible. I knew I couldn’t do everything due to time and money so I prioritised the places I absolutely had to see and made a list. I was travelling alone so I could be quite flexible, but I made friends at hostels so I stayed open minded; sometimes you’ll get shown things you hadn’t even thought of. When I was deciding where to stay I chose hostels near to things I wanted to do to avoid extra travel costs. The Reggae hostel in Kingston was a particular favourite due to its laid back
nature; it was a hot spot for travellers. Roots Bamboo in Negril was right on the beach and had its own café meaning you could be as lazy as you wished.
Jamaica’s a great place to go out. Negril is full of young spring breakers looking for a good time. Margaritaville located on the beach was a personal favourite and Jungle, a club right by the strip, was free entry for ladies and free drinks all night, I felt like I had won the lottery. If that isn’t really your thing, Montego Bay offers a more elegant night life. I spent endless nights salsa dancing on the beach and listening to live bands.
After a night out there’s nothing more relaxing than lying on the beach and cooling down in the sea. Jamaica has some of the prettiest beaches in the world and one of my favourites was a private beach located off Port Royal. It is fairly easy to find a fisherman willing to provide transport for the 30-minute journey at a cheap price.
Health Brain viagra: worth the risk?
You will then able to explore and relax on a tiny island which you’ll more than likely have to yourself.
By week five, I had learnt a lot about Jamaican history which inspired me to spend the day at a Rastafarian camp in the Blue Mountains. We got a taxi as far up as we could, and then walked the rest. Eventually we made it to a hidden village and temple. The Rastafarians were welcoming and taught us all about their lifestyle before allowing us into their temple to hear them chant and dance, we were even able to join in.
Adderall seems to be a study drug of choice for many students; usually used to calm those suffering from ADHD. This drug has quite the opposite effect for a person without this condition.
Taking Adderall results in hyperactivity and alertness, as well as increasing your heart rate, making it extremely risky for sufferers of high blood pressure or any kind of heart condition. Although Adderall does result in increased concentration, it does not improve memory or intelligence. Adderall is also addictive and can result in anxiety, agitation and insomnia.
Review
With over 79 per cent of students admitting to considering taking the drug, the big question is: why are study drugs becoming so popular amongst students? University of Sheffield English Literature student Jen* told me, “I feel like I am losing out because I don’t take study drugs to aid my exams and coursework.
“I am not going to be able to do as well naturally as someone who has the help of drugs, so it is tempting for me to take them. It is cheating in a way.” *All names have been changed.
There’s no time to get bored in Jamaica and I’m so glad I chose to travel in a country treasured by so many.
Smoke BBQ By Amelia Heathman
Tucked away amongst the high glass buildings of St Paul’s square is one of Sheffield’s hottest new restaurants, Smoke BBQ. Though Sheffield is famous for its
I spoke to University of Sheffield economics student, James* about his experience with study drugs: “I took one 200 milligram tablet of modafinal a day for the two weeks prior to January exams. I would set my alarm for five in the morning, take a tablet and then wake up at half five buzzing with energy.” However, James did suffer from side effects: “I had an extremely short temper as well as a lack of appetite and trouble sleeping. Also nothing worked downstairs if you get what I mean.” At some universities such as York, modafinal is so popular that there are stickers in the library put up by students selling it. However, James could not find it so easily, “I found it quite hard to get hold of as a lot of websites that claim to sell modafinal are scams. In the end I found a guy on an internet student forum who was selling them online. I paid £20 for two weeks’ worth”.
to leave with a bang and ,luckily for me, my last weekend fell on the same date as Sumfest; the biggest reggae festival in the world. As well as hearing a variety of new and old music, I spent my last night in Jamaica waving a flag along to Damien Marley performing live.
I was able to spend a weekend in Accompong, a marooning town, helping the locals pick pineapples, sugar cane, mangos and coconuts. I learnt how they made a living by selling the fruit, but I was able to sit with some children who gave me a coconut to drink whilst they played games and annoyed their parents. Once it came to going home, I wanted
By Jessica Williams A study at the University of York has shown that one in five students have taken unprescribed, prescription drugs such as ritalin, adderall and modafinal in order to aid studying and concentration.
By Hana Mather
excellent independent food offerings, Smoke brings more to the table than your average burger eatery. Think Deep Southern food, with a touch of steel soul. First things first, the Smoke menu is incredible. From burgers to chilli to barbecue plates, you’ll wish you had a bovine stomach in order to consume all the deliciousness Smoke has to offer. We chose the pit plates, one with pulled pork and a mac ‘n’ cheese side, and the other with BBQ chicken and the house slaw. We also decided to try some of the house hot link sausages on the side, something Smoke has just won an award for.
The food was incredible. The slaw was tangy enough that it accompanied the bbq chicken perfectly and the pulled pork was like nothing you’ve ever tasted before. Both plates came with an incredible gravy that worked well with the different tastes and textures. Also, the sausage most certainly deserved that gold award. To drink, we sampled two cocktails, the Hard Lemonade (which was very heavy on the gin) and the Rum Punch. The drinks were served in jam jars and the food on rustic plates which added to the urban, unrefined feel of the place. Smoke had excellent service and funky music that added an upbeat feel to the busy restaurant on a Thursday night. It boasted the coolest toilets I’ve ever seen. I won’t tell you what, but I will recommend you
bring a sharpie if you decide to visit. Though Smoke BBQ may be slightly pricey for most student budgets, it is worth it in terms of portion sizes, taste and service. If you’re feeling extravagant or if its a special occasion, you will not be disappointed in trying somewhere beyond Division Street or Nando’s. Just make sure you don’t eat anything 12 hours prior.
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SPORT
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Matchdebating Is the magic of the FA cup still alive?
The FA Cup provides special memories
Money means more than trophy success
Joe Bamford
Tom Pyman
“We spoke before the game about how special the FA Cup is. And we all had a night to remember. The fans were incredible too.” That’s the thenKidderminster Harriers manager Andy Thorn. His non-league side beat League One Peterborough United 3-2 in the FA Cup third round this season. We’re only at the quarter final stage of this season’s FA Cup and there have already been some incredible results. Along with Kidderminster, Sheffield United have been up to no good, beating two Premier League sides away from home. They followed those up by beating Championship high-flyers Nottingham Forest. People love a ‘cupset’. A giant killing. There’s nothing better than to see David beat Goliath, and the FA Cup always provides that magic. The fact is that the ‘giant killings’ are still coming thick and fast. Premier League teams may well at times field weakened teams, but that’s not due to the FA Cup’s lack of importance. The reason behind the FA Cup’s supposed ‘demise’ is money. Plain and simple. Talk to the most traditional, old-fashioned football fan, and they’ll tell you about the magic of the FA Cup. But the financial implications of falling out of the Premier League are too great for some – they put Premier League survival before cup glory, and who can blame them? However, that doesn’t signal the end for the great old competition. The latter stages in particular
still hold a particular magic, and the incentive of playing the semi-finals at Wembley is huge for the ‘smaller’ clubs. Take Sheffield United, for example. Beat Charlton on March 9 and they’re going to Wembley. The Blades’ wonderful cup run has inspired their league form and they’re now on a seven match winning streak. That’s the impact the Cup can still have on a club. Dates at Wembley, the final in particular, are like a breath of fresh air for a club that has had a troubled season. Wigan Athletic were
form. It gives the players, the fans, the whole club a lift. There are exceptions, but even then I doubt fans would swap cup glory for the world. There is still nothing that beats the euphoria of lifting the FA Cup. No matter how big or small your club, the FA Cup is still cherished. Watching Ben Watson’s 90th minute winner for Wigan last season still sends shivers down the spine. Winning the FA Cup is still what dreams are made of.
“People love a ‘cupset’. There’s nothing better than to see David beat Goliath” relegated from the Premier League last season, but also won the FA Cup, beating Manchester City in the final. It’s been long since argued that they were punching above their weight in the Premier League, having survived by the skin of their teeth for years. It was merely coincidence that they were relegated weeks after winning the cup. It’s often stated that clubs in danger could ‘do without’ the FA Cup. Nonsense. Most of the time, a run in the FA Cup has a positive impact on teams’ league
The world famous FA cup trophy
The FA Cup is the oldest and perhaps most famous football competition in the world; one steeped in history and golden memories. But as time goes by, we’re slowly seeing the prestige of the FA Cup decline, with many wondering what the future holds, as other competitions seem to grow in influence and importance. Arsenal were criticised last season when players were pictured celebrating finishing in 4th place in the Premier League and therefore securing a Champions League place. Finishing 4th surely shouldn’t be considered success, but the nature of the footballing world nowadays is that
Photo: Wikipedia Commons
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qualifying for Europe’s premier competition is fundamental. It is used as an allure to attract the very best players in the transfer market, as competing in Europe is universally recognised as a symbol of a club’s stature. In addition to this, just like in every other walk of life, cash is king, and there is simply far more of it for clubs in the Champions League than in the FA Cup. The four English teams that competed in Europe last year earned more than £100million in prize money and bonuses between them, despite all being knocked out relatively early. By contrast, the winner of the FA Cup can expect to pocket less than £2million. The so-called ‘top teams’ have long employed a policy of playing weakened sides in the FA Cup, deciding to rest their best players in order to focus their attention on the league campaign. But this trend is becoming more widespread. West Ham made wholesale changes to essentially forfeit their game with Nottingham Forest in January, which they lost 5-0. Manager Sam Allardyce clearly saw the FA Cup as a more of a hindrance than a help, admitting his priority was ensuring the club weren’t relegated from the Premier League. Back in 2008, Portsmouth spent well beyond their means to buy quality players and as a result managed to win the competition against the odds. However, that joy was short-lived as their debts caught up with them and they now find themselves
struggling to make ends meet in League Two. Being in such a crisis now, can they look back on the last five or six years as a success simply because they won the FA Cup?
“We’re slowly seeing the prestige of the FA Cup decline, with many wondering what the future holds” Another welldocumented flaw in the competition is that semifinals are now being played at Wembley. This undoubtedly has taken some of the gloss off the final as a showpiece event, which used to be the most important date on the sporting calendar. The last two finals have kicked off at 5.15pm rather than the traditional time of 3pm, which many feel has also detracted from the occasion. Tragic as it may be, the magic of the FA Cup is waning and it’s surely only a matter of time before it becomes obsolete.
This week’s contributors Jack Taylor Joe Bamford Tom Pyman Philip Carpenter Robert Milne Paul Martin Josh Rock David Conway Kam Sangha Simon Watters
Forge Sport editor Jack Taylor chooses his heroes and villains of the week Ronnie O’Sullivan The Rocket became the 2014 Welsh Open champion with an 9-3 victory over Ding Junhui, finishing the match in style with a fabulous 147 to take the title.
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The Ivorian scored the finest goal to grace the new Wembley Stadium, with a 30 yard strike helping Manchester City to League Cup glory.
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British Men’s Cycling
Alan Pardew
Britain have been the dominant force in indoor cycling for the last 5 years but the British men failed to win a single medal at the World Championships in Columbia.
The Newcastle manager was sent to the stands for headbutting Hull City’s David Meyler during the Magpies 4-1 victory at the KC stadium.
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Sports personality of the week Forge Sport’s Jack Taylor spoke to ski halfpipe sensation James Machon for an interview
How did you feel when you finally knew you were going to Sochi after over a year of injury troubles? In the build up to Sochi, I was seriously injured for 12 months, I had only been back in the Halfpipe for 2 months but managed to pull it out the bag in the last 2 Olympic qualifiers in December. When I found out I had qualified for Sochi that was like winning a medal for me. What was it like to compete at Sochi 2014? Did you feel nervous or was this your chance to prove to the world how good you were? It was exactly how I imagined it too be. I was at the top of the Olympic Halfpipe, I saw myself on the huge TV screen behind me, it was at night except it was snowy and raining but the Halfpipe looked perfect with all the flood lights. I had my music on, and the crowd was ready. It was amazing and at that moment it felt like my dream was now a reality.
the most successful team in Winter Olympic History, so i’m just really proud to be part of TeamGB. Was it helpful to have people you know well, like James Woods and Katie Summerhayes, there in Sochi to offer support? I’ve known Woodsy & Katie for nearly 10 years, it was all of our first Olympics. It’s just good that they were there because having friends around makes it feel like any other competition and It takes off the pressure of the Olympics. What was the response like from the wider public and did you get good support both out there and from back home? Yes, the support was
incredible. I would like to thank everyone for the tweets, I think we showcased Halfpipe & Slopestyle very well to the public and the reaction has been unbelievable. When I got home, thats when I realised the impact of what we have achieved in Sochi, everyone is excited to go Skiing & Snowboarding now. What are your hopes for the next 4 years leading up to Korea in 2018? And where do you see yourself in 4 years time?
What was it like to be part of Team GB and what was the atmosphere like in the camp? Did you feed off other successes, like that of Jenny Jones? As soon as Jenny Jones won the bronze medal, everyone was buzzing. It was a great environment, we all went to support each other and it felt like we were a team. There was only 56 athletes and we all lived together and made friends. It was
I qualified for Sochi without UK sport funding so I’m hoping my performance and the success of this Winter Olympics will attract new sponsors so I can train full time and reach my potential. I’ve got 4 years now to develop new tricks so I can challenge for a medal in 2018. Which other athletes have inspired you to get to where you are today? Simon Dumont, he was at the top when I first began skiing, and he is still at the top. He has experienced the same injuries as me and is one of the best athletes in the world. Sheffield has clearly been an important place for you over the years. What was it like to come from such a sporting city and do you think the area had an effect on you achieving y o u r dreams? I’m proud to come from Sheffield, it is a great city. The Sheffield Ski Village was the hub for Freestyle skiing in the UK, it was the main reason I started
Freestyle Skiing, it had the only artificial Halfpipe. Without this facility, I probably wouldn’t be where I am today. Woodsy, Katie and I are the legacy of the Ski Village and I hope our success will help develop a new facility for the next generation. How do you think the closing of the Sheffield Ski Village has affected snow sports in the city? And will we see the likes of you again? If there was a new dry slope to open, there would be future Olympians produced. It is an Olympic sport now, and the snow sports industry in the UK has just had a massive boost, so I hope something will be built. There is the indoor snow slopes, but they can’t build a Halfpipe in there. And finally if you had one piece of advice for people wanting to get into ski half pipe, what would it be? Become a good skier before you go in a Halfpipe. It helps to be able to do the tricks on a trampoline first so you are confident in the air. Make the most of what you have. Learn from the pros, watch ski videos. Hard work pays off but most importantly, have fun!
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Hallam avenge early-season defeat Women’s Hockey BUCS Northern 2B
University of Sheffield 1s Sheffield Hallam 1s
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Joe Bamford University of Sheffield women’s 1s suffered a frustrating defeat at home to Hallam on Wednesday at Goodwin. Having beaten their opponents 3-0 earlier in the season, Sheffield would have been forgiven for feeling confident going into the game. However, clearly looking to avenge the hammering earlier in the season, Hallam dominated the early stages, forcing goalkeeper Nikki Hilton into a couple of decent saves. It was Sheffield that had the first opportunity though, Rachel Drohan’s ball in blocked away by the Hallam defence. Rachel Clarke then followed that up by receiving a pass and running at the Hallam defence
at pace. Sprinting into the D, the Hallam defence were struggling to keep up but the shot at the end was saved at the near post by the Hallam keeper. Hallam were passing the ball around nicely in defence and midfield and it seemed inevitable that they would score. Right on cue the goal duly came inside 10 minutes as a Hallam forward found a gap in the Sheffield defence and fired a low past home goalkeeper Nikki Hilton. Sheffield began to crawl their way back into the game though, knocking the ball around nicely in midfield. After they forced a short corner, Sarah BazleyHarrison sent a shot whistling wide of the post, sending Hallam a warning of the threat Sheffield continued to pose. Clarke then broke away for Sheffield, showing a couple of Hallam players a clean pair of heels before venturing into the D. However the ball struck a Sheffield foot and the free hit allowed Hallam to clear. Despite Sheffield’s dominance
it was Hallam who struck next, breaking away at pace and firing past Hilton’s despairing dive. Buoyed by the excitable crowd on the touchline, Sheffield didn’t give up and continued to work hard; it didn’t seem to be Sheffield’s day as two short corners in quick succession were sent wide. With Sheffield pushing players upfield Hallam were exploiting the gaps. A third breakaway goal inevitably arrived, shattering Sheffield hearts. 0-3 down with minutes left, Sheffield still refused to give in. They had a chance for a consolation goal from the penalty spot, but Drohan sent her effort agonisingly wide, the flick perfectly summing up Sheffield’s evening. They did eventually get their goal, Anna Stonham finishing from close range after neat build up play. It came too little too late though, but despite defeat Sheffield remain on course for the division title.
Hillsborough, the home of Sheffield Wednesday
Photo: Wikipedia Photo: Adam Harley
Varsity: 17 days to go...
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Red-hot Sheffield hunt down Hull Netball BUCS Northern 2B
University of Sheffield 1s 45 University of Hull 1s 18 Rob Milne University of Hull were no match for the University of Sheffield as they cruised to a 45-18 home victory. It was a mid-table clash at Goodwin with fifth place Hull visiting fourth place Sheffield. A win for the home side would end a bad run of form and see them level on points with city rivals Hallam. Hull started the game but right from the off Naomi Parton broke up the Hull offense, a theme which would continue throughout the match. Both teams were struggling to score with shots going awry and the defence prevailing, but Sheffield looked particularly impressive as they forced their opponents into mistakes. Lee Witkowski had a particularly impressive performance at goal keeper, blocking and disrupting a lot of dangerous attacks in what was a very tight first quarter. The Sheffield lead slowly grew during the second quarter, both sides were careless with the ball but Sheffield dominated rebounds and loose balls. The shooting percentages still struggled while the Hull attack couldn’t break
down the Sheffield defence. Hull trailed 19-10 going into the second half. Ultimately, the game was won in the third quarter and Hull had no way back. Parton opened the half with the same intensity and desire shown in the first and a sloppy Hull quickly fell off the pace. Any penetrating pass fell short and the hosts built a 15-point lead. Sheffield put victory out of sight for Hull with some outstanding netball. The lead continued to grow in the final quarter with Hull’s inability to complete dangerous passes being their Achilles heel all game, especially in the final quarter. Witkowski continued to dominate around the net. Any bright spark Hull had in the first quarter had died out. With offense coming into its own, baiting the defending opposition and leaving shooters open, the lead was unassailable. Sheffield gave Hull no time on the ball, no space and simply suffocated the visitors. Sheffield had lost their last four games, losing to unbeaten York last time out. The team would surely have been hoping to pick up some momentum with Varsity under a month away and the players showed real determination in the Hull clash. Black and Gold eventually won the game by a 27 point margin, with Hull seeming to have nothing left in the tank as the clock ran down.
Sheffield assured in possession
Photo: Josh Rock
League title a bridge too far Women’s Football BUCS Northern 2B
University of Sheffield 1s Leeds Metropolitan 2s
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Simon Watters Sheffield Women’s 1s fell agonisingly short of sealing a league title following a 3-2 defeat to Leeds Met 2s. They began brightly with striker Sophie Williams nearly in on goal after two minutes, only for it be brought back for offside. In the early stages, the Met defence was very hard to break down and Sheffield’s midfield struggled to keep possession. The home team did start to find their feet after 10 minutes but Leeds were a constant threat on the counter attack, pegged back somewhat by full back Rhena Eames’ dominance in the air.
Leeds continued to threaten and after 15 minutes they had a chance well saved by Joey McPhail. Then, on 20 minutes, midfielder Kate McGreavy had a close range effort saved by the keeper as Sheffield began to press. Controversy followed soon after as Tina Pafiti was brought down inside the area. She dusted herself down, though, and calmly converted to put Sheffield in front after half an hour. Tensions rose following the penalty as Leeds Met voiced their frustrations and after 35 minutes they equalised, waves of pressure finally telling. A second followed two minutes later, with a well hit strike looping over McPhail’s head. A third was added shortly before the interval as the unmarked Leeds striker headed home. Sheffield began the second half brightly but the Met
defence remained resolute. Just 10 minutes into the half, Katy Bridge saw her shot flash just over the bar and Holli Evans had a well worked chance saved soon after as the home team tried to claw their way back. Leeds barely got out of their own half in the second period but the Sheffield breakthrough proved elusive: that was until Williams chipped the keeper with three minutes to play. Williams then won a free kick on the edge of the area but Sheffield couldn’t find the all-important equaliser, the Leeds Met defence shutting Sheffield out and seeing out the 3-2 victory. Special mention must go to captain Ella Wales-Bonner who led by example and ran relentlessly for 90 minutes. Despite the result the Women’s 1s remain in a strong position to take the league title with three BUCS fixtures still to play.
through two Sheffield players and wrong footing the goalkeeper to give his team the lead against the run of play. Burton were looking increasingly threatening on the counter and a flowing move brought about a corner. Sheffield then gifted Burton a 2nd goal after poor marking in the box. Bruce lost his man and grabbed his second goal of the game to leave the home side with a mountain to climb. Sheffield started the second half brightly, quickly getting a foothold in the game. They piled on the pressure and were soon rewarded with a goal when Bradley Johnston saw his left foot strike from the edge of the area nestle in to the bottom corner. Sheffield’s spirits were high following the goal and they almost grabbed an equaliser but unfortunately Joe Ford could only direct his header wide. As the game went on, it became more open which suited Sheffield’s play.
Substitute Daniel Kandola was immediately involved in a Sheffield attack setting up Tom Richardson, the latter firing high and wide. The home side came close again after Dale Evans beat two men and crossed the ball to find Kandola whose shot failed to work the keeper. Burton soon punished Sheffield’s profligacy in front of goal as they scored a third on the counter attack. A long ball was flicked to put a Burton striker through on goal and he calmly slotted in to the bottom corner to give the away side breathing space. Burton could have made it 4-1 but Bruce’s lobbed effort dropping just wide. The game ended 3-1 though, and next up for Sheffield is Newcastle 2s where they will hope to get back to winning ways.
Bishop’s Bruce bullies Sheffield Men’s Football BUCS Northern 4B University of Sheffield 2s Bishop Burton College 1s
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David Conway & Kam Sangha
University of Sheffield women’s basketball 1s destroyed Teeside University 1s 52-30 to maintain their 100% record in BUCS Northen 3B. Photo: Philip Carpenter
Sheffield suffered defeat in a tough match against league leaders Bishop Burton in the BUCS Northern 4B League. Buoyed by victory in their previous game, the home side dominated early on but were poor in the final third and could not break down a stubborn Burton defence. Burton almost took the lead with their first real chance but Sheffield’s Jack Gallagher managed to scramble the ball off the line. Sheffield immediately responded with neat build up play around the Burton box but Joe Ford sent his shot just wide. The away side then punished Sheffield’s failure to work the goalkeeper, Lewis Bruce running
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Interview with Winter Olympian James Machon inside
Hull hammered by brilliant Bowker brace Women’s Hockey BUCS Northern 3B
University of Sheffield 2s University of Hull 1s
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Philip Carpenter The season is rapidly drawing to a close but Sheffield Women’s 2s boosted their hopes of finishing near the top of the Northern 3B league this week, with a 3–1 victory over struggling Hull 1s. Hull always looked at risk when they fielded a kicking back in place of a dedicated goalkeeper, though they worked hard to reduce the impact this had by throwing bodies in the way of an ever advancing Sheffield. Despite these efforts, it didn’t take too long for Anna Bowker to open the scoring for Sheffield. Towards the end of the first half, some misplaced passes in Sheffield’s midfield allowed Hull back in the game for a time, the
away side finding an equaliser. Susie Hill quickly restored Sheffield’s lead though with an assured finish. Hull did manage to come close once more, seconds before the half time whistle, which signalled all but the end of their attacking threat. Sheffield saw out the second half with another goal for Anna Bowker, while Georgia Smailes hit a seemingly unstoppable shot off the post, to the disappointment of all on the side line. The victory left Sheffield three points off league leaders Durham, however promotion looks an impossible task with only one game to play. The 2s will be wanting to keep the tempo high in the tail end of the season to aid hopes of overcoming their Hallam rivals at varsity this year. Hallam currently lie top of of Northern 4B and the varsity contest promises to be hotly contested.
Photo: Philip Carpenter
Photo: Nick Atkins
Six of the best for Sheffield Men’s Hockey BUCS Northern 1A
University of Sheffield 1s University of Liverpool 1s
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Paul Martin
Photo: Philip Carpenter
Photo: Philip Carpenter
Sheffield 1s ended their season on a high with a crushing 6-0 win over a disappointing Liverpool side at Goodwin. The tone was set in the first two minutes as Sheffield scored before the visitors had even had a touch. A slick passing move ended with a tap-in for Matthew Kettley as he turned in a cross from the right hand side. Liverpool threatened briefly after the goal and saw a shot cleared off the line after a short corner, but Sheffield soon doubled their lead when Will Galloway was on hand to convert a rebound after a good initial save by the Liverpool goalkeeper. James Cozens was next to get in on the goalscoring act when he was played in unmarked and fired hard and low into the corner as Sheffield went three goals clear in the first 20 minutes. The result was then put beyond doubt before half time when Robert Bloss diverted in a shot from close range after a slick short corner routine. The second half started as the first had ended with the home side on the attack from the off. It took just six minutes in the second half for Sheffield to find the net again, Cozens adding a second to his personal tally with a low strike. Galloway then completed a brace of his own as Sheffield went into a 6-0 lead. With 15 minutes still to play double figures looked possible, but Sheffield took their foot off the gas and despite coming close on several occasions, most notably hitting the post, the game petered out and the scoreline remained unchanged. The result avenged a defeat against the same opposition earlier in the season and ensured that Sheffield finished the season in mid-table.