INSIDE:WOMEN IN THEATRE/ARGO/BLESSA/NADINE DORRIES/gaming girlS/BUMMIT/MURRAY
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The independent student newspaper of the University of Sheffield. Est. 1946.
Issue 53 Friday November 16 2012 @ForgePress /ForgePress
Features meet: The students trying to ‘Stop the Traffik’, p.14
Screen find:
Lifestyle talk:
Disney own everything, Fuse, p.5
How embarrassed are you to buy condoms? p.18
Uni’s ‘depressing’ pay gap for women Lauren Clarke
489 per cent of lowest paid workers are women 4Most of highest paid at Uni are men
Most of the University’s lowest paid workers are female, while most of the highest paid are men. Women are also the majority of people being paid below the living wage by the University of Sheffield. Forge Press has discovered that 88 per cent of those paid below £7.45 per hour are women, a figure women’s officer Amy Masson said was “a depressing reflection of the place of women in our society.” 337 employees working for the University are paid under the wage that is considered necessary to cover the basic cost of living in the UK. 297 of these employees are women, while only 40 are men. At the Accommodation and Commercial Services (ACS) wing of the University, there are currently 82 staff who are working below an hourly rate of £7.20 and at Sheffield Trading Services, a subsidiary firm, there are currently 41. 89 per cent of employees paid under the living wage working for ACS are female. Of the 501 members of staff on the highest clerical grade, 320 are men and only 181 are women. While women make up just over 50 per cent of the University workforce, all of the highest pay bands are mostly male. Continued on p.4
Students at risk after just 14 use taxi scheme Jonathan Robinson Just 14 students from the University of Sheffield have used a Union scheme designed to allow students to get a taxi home when they don’t have the money to pay the fare so far this year. Police said the low number meant students were putting themselves at unnecessary risk by walking home after nights out. The low take-up comes after a spate of recent attacks against lone pedestrians at night.
Inspector Darren Starkey, who leads the Sheffield Central safer neighbourhood teams, said students were often putting themselves in danger when choosing to save money by walking home from club nights. He has encouraged more students to use the later payment scheme as a risk-free way of getting home. Starkey said: “Planning for the taxi home should be built into the overall budget for a night out. “There have been cases where robbers have targeted
lone pedestrians, so if walking alone, students must keep their valuables out of sight. “Students are advised to try to book taxis home or flag taxis from busier areas and, where possible, avoid waiting for a taxi on their own.” The ‘safe taxi scheme’ was introduced in February by then University of Sheffield Students’ Union welfare officer, Mat Denton. The University joined Sheffield Hallam University in linking up with City Taxis at the start of
the year to allow students to use their union cards as a deposit. The UCard is returned to the student once the fare has been paid. Starkey said the safer neighbourhood teams were currently working with the Union in ways to better publicise the scheme. Speaking about the 14 usages of the taxi scheme so far, Students’ Union welfare officer Jon Gleek said the number was “significant”, and that the scheme was one of several options for
students to travel around at night safely. “[It] is great to see that a significant number of students have used [the taxi scheme] to get home safely, possibly in emergency situations. “With the taxi scheme, all publicity and all promotions have been produced by City Taxis, supported by the Students’ Union.” Continued on p.5
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Baby Bummit Brighton-ing up November with charity hitchhike Meera Parmar and Joseph Leigh Over 200 students from the University of Sheffield hitchhiked to Brighton using cars, vans, lorries and even fire engines, as part of Baby Bummit’s fundraising event on Wednesday November 7. Students donned an array of fancy dress outfits from Bananas in Pyjamas to Super Mario as part of Bummit’s bid to raise money for local causes including the Children’s Hospital Charity, Broomhall Breakfast, Cecily’s Fund and Haven House. In an added twist, the University’s cycling team raced against the travellers to be the first to reach Brighton. Publicity officer for Bummit, Scott Evans, said: ‘The day was a great success. We had a very smooth set-off, no major disasters en route, and everyone got there eventually whilst having loads of fun along the way, as well as in Brighton itself once we got there. “We are estimating that £12,000 has been raised for our charities through the event.” The hitchhikers made their way south via the M1 in the early morning, after prepping cardboard hitching signs. Some of the earliest teams arrived in Brighton before 2pm, beating the cycling team. Unfortunately, there were a couple of minor mishaps on the day, after police ushered a group of students off the M1. And one hitchhiking team took a detour the wrong way around the ring road, ending up in Kent. But all teams managed to make it to Brighton in the end to join in
A group of 80 students took on the role of international delegates as the University of Sheffield successfully held its first model UN conference. Organised by the University’s branch of the United Nations Youth and Student Association, the conference began on Saturday November 10 and ran for two days. Representing countries from all over the world, they discussed a wide range of topical issues in international relations, adhering to authentic UN conventions and practices. Four different committee sessions took place simultaneously in the basement chambers of Bartolomé House, each representing a real UN body such as the United Nations human rights council. A model security council debated potential solutions to the conflict in Syria as well as the tensions between North and South Sudan. Only students from the University of Sheffield were invited to take part in last weekend’s session, however Sheffield’s UNYSA are keen for the conference to expand in future.
Alisha Rouse
DEPUTY EDITOR Rowan Ramsden Managing Editor Mikey Smith WEB EDITOR Adam Harley fuse editors fuse@forgetoday.com Arnold Bennett Coral Williamson Head of Visuals Adam Harley News news@forgetoday.com Lauren Clarke Jessica Pitocchi Jonathan Robinson Comment comment@forgetoday.com Martin Bottomley Hamilton Jones LETTERS & COFFEE BREAK letters@forgetoday.com Holly Wilkinson Features features@forgetoday.com Sophie Allen Lizzy Jewell Nicola Moors
with celebrations and events laid on by the group. Founded in 2003, Bummit is the University of Sheffield’s charity hitchhiking society, which organises two events per year. Baby Bummit takes place in November and heads to a UK destination, whereas Big Bummit heads to Eastern Europe during the Easter holiday. Next year the destination will be Vilnius, Lithuania. Students can sign up online on Monday November 26.
Lifestyle & travel lifestyle@forgetoday.com Olivia Adams Laura Davies Sport sport@forgetoday.com Adam Hancock Will Aitkenhead Matthew Smith Music music@forgetoday.com Amelia Heathman Lianne Williams
First-ever model UN comes to Uni Lizzie Palmer
Editor
alisha.rouse@forgetoday.com
“We’re hoping it will become an international event,” said European and International Law student Matt Brown, undersecretary general for communications and administration. Dr Diego Acosta, a lecturer in the University of Sheffield School of Law spoke at the opening ceremony. He emphasised the importance of good negotiation skills, not just for careers in law and politics but for everyday decision-making. “Through model UN, students learn how difficult it is to achieve an agreement on something while you have such a variety of interests at play.” Delegates are given limited time in which to get their points across. They must speak the views of the country that they are representing, keeping this independent from their own personal views on any given issue. Conference secretary general Brendan De Souza, an MA International Studies student said: “Model UN gives you a very broad and interesting perspective on the world.” The model UN movement gives students the opportunity to travel and meet fellow politics enthusiasts from other countries.
Games games@forgetoday.com Kaz Scattergood Andrew Smith Screen screen@forgetoday.com Phil Bayles Dan Meier Arts arts@forgetoday.com Olivia Middleton Amy Claire Thompson COPY EDITORS Ally Christodoulou Ellen Jurczak Lizzie Palmer Matthew Smith Matt Voice Elsa Vulliamy Media Hub, Union of Students, Wes t ern Bank , Shef f ield, S10 2TG 0114 22286 46 // f or gepress@f or ge t oday.com
Resolutions and incidents: 4Security council encouraged trade with South Sudan, and urged the North and South to decide on a definitive border. 4Economic and Finance Committee suggested multinational companies in Africa donate a small share of their profits to improve education for sub-Saharan Africans. 4The Syrian delegate was kicked out of the security council three times for ‘unstatesmanlike behaviour’.
Forge Press is printed on 100% recycled paper
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DOT COM
Student delegates debated international issues such as the crisis in Syria
For ge Press is published by the Union of Students. View s expressed are not necessarily those of the Univer sity, the Union or the edit orial t eam. In the f ir s t ins t ance all complaints should be addressed t o the Managing Edit or, although a f ormal pr ocedure exis ts.
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Deposit deductions increase by £12,000 Jessica Pitocchi The University has retained £104,258.51 worth of damages from residential student accommodation deposits for 2011-12. This figure shows an increase of 13.4 per cent on the previous year’s unreturned deposits total of £91,918.57. Students pay a deposit of £150 when they sign their first-year student accommodation contract. A spokesperson from the University of Sheffield said: “Deposits cover non-payment of rent and damages to rooms or communal spaces within the accommodation. “All deductions directly reflect charges to ACS (Accomodation and Commerical Services) for repair or replacement of damaged items or areas. “The most common reason for deposit deduction is damage to mattresses, carpets, ceiling tiles, sofas, chairs and kitchen equipment. “These are reoccurring problems from year to year.” Students are instructed to fill in an inventory when they move in to their accommodation to avoid any unfair charges for damages made by previous residents. 12 of the University’s 35 accommodation buildings, which are spread across the Endcliffe Village, the Ranmoor Village and City central campuses, saw an increase of at least £333.18 being retained. Students who lived in city accommodation Opal suffered the most with the retention of £22,512.88 from deposits - a particularly shocking statistic since this is the first time Opal residents have not received a full refund since 2007. A spokesperson for the University of Sheffield said: “In order for Opal to ensure their accommodation remains as
high a standard as University owned properties, they have now introduced the same process as is in place for University owned residences, which was not in place for them last year. “This resulted in Opal charging £22,000 for damage this year, whereas damage costs were absorbed by them in previous years.” Students who lived in Derwent apartments in Endcliffe Village had £11,848.34 retained for damages, whilst Froggatt apartment residents were charged £10,511.41. The percentage of students who did receive a full refund, however, was relatively high at 61.8 per cent. City accommodation such as Clarkson Street and Mappin received no charges and Curbar apartments in Endcliffe village saw a decrease from £3,305.36 in 2010/11 to £1,289.93 in 2011/12.
What happened to your deposit?
Forge in brief Societies to donate blood as stocks lowest since June The University of Sheffield’s Organise society have been doing their bit to replenish blood stocks this winter, by encouraging societies to attend group donation sessions. Jessica Hume, president of Organise society, said: “The competitive characteristics of sports teams will encourage teams to commit to donation after seeing other teams involved.” The University’s American football team has already agreed to take part and there are around twenty other teams to follow. NHS statistics indicate that October has had the lowest records of donations since June, with only 44,021 litres of blood available in mid-October. Greg Pichorowycz
Joshua Lennard-Jones, Second-year Economics
Saskia Burton, Second-year English and History
“We got all of our deposit back. I don’t think we broke anything. But someone I know stained their carpet and lost plenty of theirs.”
“My whole flat got our deposit back, as did the boys downstairs. I was pretty surprised by that as their flat always seemed so messy.” Charlie Mayer, Second-year Geography and Planning
What’s on your mind? Comment on this article: @forgepress
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Vox-pop: Lauren Archer
“We didn’t think to take photos of the cigarette burns on our sofas when we first moved in. We got charged £550 for new sofa covers. It wasn’t really fair because we didn’t break anything but we should have recorded the existing problems.”
Equal marriage petition supported by union council A petition for equal marriage has been supported by Sheffield Students’ Union council. The petition currently has 67 signatures for and one against. It supports the idea that “everyone, regardless of sexuality should be able to marry whomever they wish.” The petition was put forward by Liberal Youth, the University’s Liberal Democrat society. Lauren Clarke
Opposition to old Jessop hospital demolition plans Jonathan Robinson University plans to demolish the Edwardian wing of the former Jessop hospital have been criticised by two conservation groups, who claim it will destroy the city’s historical legacy. English Heritage have joined forces with the Victorian Society in criticising the University’s decision to build a new £80m, state-of-the-art engineering department on the site of the Grade II listed building. A spokesperson from English Heritage told Forge Press: “There are clearly public benefits to be gained from the continued development of the engineering offer at the University, but these need to be carefully balanced against the substantial harm that would result from this demolition work. “While we’re sympathetic to the University of Sheffield’s aspirations to become a leading engineering faculty, we believe the council must be satisfied that a fully justified case has been made before granting any approval for this scheme. The University said it had tried to incorporate the Edwardian wing into its plans, but that it was inflexible. Keith Lilley, the University’s director of estates, said: “The University does recognise the emotional attachment that
many Sheffielders have for Jessop. “The demolition is required as the University simply cannot develop land adjacent to the Faculty of Engineering of substantial and necessary size without developing the whole of the Jessop East site. “Jessop East is the only site available where a building of this scale can be constructed. “Whilst the proposals do maximise the site, we do not believe them to be overbearing or out of scale and we believe that design will significantly complement Sheffield’s architecture.” James Hughes, a conservation advisor for the Victorian society, said: “Not only would it be a great loss in itself, but it would cause substantial harm to the setting of the rest of Jessop Hospital. “This is because the building’s replacement, a new engineering block, fails to relate in scale or design to the listed Victorian building beside it.” In 2007, the University demolished most of the hospital’s 1970s wing to make way for its Jessop West development. The proposed development will be discussed at next month’s Sheffield city council planning committee.
The University wants to demolish the Edwardian wing to make way for an £80m Engineering faculty complex
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Careers service COLUMN breaks Union Nestlé referendum
ECONOMICS
Herd behaviour responsible for student housing rush
What do the London riots, the run on Northern Rock, and Sheffield students have in common? All are examples of herd behaviour. With the light fading early, November winds starting to bite and summer a fading memory, we find ourselves just two months into the academic year. And yet already housing rumours are flourishing, house viewings have started and herd behaviour is gathering momentum. The economist Abhijit Banerjee wrote the best-known paper on herd behaviour, based around a simple model: “…that each decision maker looks at the decision made by previous decision makers in taking their own decision...” To illustrate this phenomenon, he used the paradigm of restaurant-goers choosing between two restaurants, A and B. Each individual has their own information about the restaurants, with all but one believing that A is slightly better than B. However, all it would take is that one individual who believes B is better to be the first customer, and all the subsequent customers could end up in B, despite it being the sub-optimal choice. The model says that people base their decision not only on their own information, but also on the decision of the customer before them, believing he or she may know something they don’t. How would you choose between two relatively unknown restaurants? For many, the busiest one is a signal of its quality. Simplistically this model is applicable to the housing choice currently facing many of Sheffield’s students. Commit to a next year’s house and housemates now, in November, or wait. For firstyear students, it would seem rational to wait. Can you really know who you want to live with and where, after only two months? Nonetheless, once whisperings of people signing for houses start and the rumours circulate of houses starting to run out, then the herd stampedes. We truly are social animals with a herding instinct, as can be seen in a number of situations we face in day-to-day life. Just take a look at a typical night at the Student Union. Sebastien Cross
Jonathan Robinson The Union officer team and 35 councillors, presidents and chairs of student societies have signed an open letter calling on the University to respect referenda passed by students, following the presence of Nestlé at last week’s Careers service event. Union policy is to have no dealings which promote Nestlé, due to its “unfair exploitation of third world countries”, meaning the University’s invitation breached a student mandate. Students voted to renew the policy in March. The referendum passed with 4,621 votes, with 965 votes against and 755 abstentions. The open letter was put forward yesterday by Miriam Dobson from Fund Education, Not War, chair of the Women’s committee Hannah Rudman, Jacob Hebditch from the Ethical and Environmental committee, and Jo Bowen from Stop the Traffik. The petition states: “It has been brought to our attention that the Careers service has persistently
ignored the wishes of students on these ethical issues.” A spokesperson from the University: “The Recruitment Fairs are an important way for students to meet with a wide variety of top graduate employers, allowing all students to meet potential future employers and make their own informed decisions about their future. “The University does have partnerships with, for example, companies such as BAE Systems. These industrial partnerships also bring major benefit to students, resulting from these companies sharing their expertise through placements, industrial lectures and case studies.” In April, a research laboratory funded by Nestlé was opened in the department of Chemical and Biological Engineering. The last issue of Forge Press revealed that the University was breaching the ‘End the Israeli Occupation’ referendum passed by students in refusing to end its contract with Veolia.
Apprenticeships ‘should match’ university numbers Lizzie Palmer There should be as many apprenticeships available for young people as there are university places, a former schools minister has said. Lord Adonis, best known as the architect of Labour’s academy schools policy, has called upon the government to invest more in apprenticeship schemes. Addressing an educational conference in London last week, he said that apprenticeships should be more widely available, not just in the private sector but also in government departments. He said: “Our basic problem for the 50 per cent that do not go to university is there’s nothing like university that acts as a magnet for them in terms of aspiration to get on or getting out of bed in the morning. “My own view is the only way we’ll crack this is if we have a revolution in apprenticeships. “We need as many apprenticeship places for 18-yearolds as there are university places.” A recent report by the Business, Innovation and Skills committee has echoed this view, calling for apprenticeships to be marketed to school-leavers as a viable alternative to university.
Apprenticeships are workbased training programmes in which participants are paid to learn on-the-job. They are often associated with manual trades, but are available in a wide range of business areas including sales, engineering and the arts. The government-backed national apprenticeship service helps employers who participate in the scheme with the costs of training their new recruits. According to the Office of National Statistics, around 47 per cent of UK students who left school in 2010 went on to university. Last year, 457,200 people entered training as an apprentice. F i g u r e s released in August by the Department for Education revealed that of all the 16-24-year-olds in Britain, 968,000 are not currently in employment, education or training. A recent study by the University of Warwick has also found that graduate job prospects are in decline. It found that 40 per cent of university graduates had not managed to secure a ‘graduatecalibre’ job two years on from graduation.
Uni pay gap for women Continued from p.1 Masson said: “It is a shame that the University, which claims to be a progressive civic institution, merely mirrors a pay gap we see in the wider economy. “I think these statistics show that the living wage is clearly a gendered issue. All staff should be paid a living wage.” The living wage was increased from £7.20 to £7.45 last week, meaning the gap between the living wage and the wage the staff are being paid has widened again. Yael Shafritz, Elva LynchBathgate and Cheyanna O’Connor set up Sheffield’s Living Wage campaign a year ago. They told Forge Press: “Our campaign for a living wage is tangible and achievable. There are people that work to keep our university clean and up and running who can’t even put their heating on. “We know it can’t happen overnight, and will have to be put into the University of Sheffield’s financial plan, but we can envision have the living wage campaign symbol next to our union logo in the next four years.”
The living wage campaign aims to help workers meet their most basic needs including housing and other essentials such as clothing and food. A spokesperson from the University of Sheffield said: “The University of Sheffield strives to be an employer of choice and we believe our employment offer and total reward package is fair and is better than many employers across the region. “The University wants to do what is right for our staff, partners and the city. We know that there can be consequences to the University adopting the Living Wage in Sheffield. For this reason, we are working with the Students’ Union, our campus trades Unions and partners from across the city to explore the implications.” Elsewhere in the city, Sheffield city council will introduce the living wage to all its employees in April. Leading London universities have adopted the London living wage, £8.55, including the London School of Economics, SOAS and Goldsmiths.
£7.45
current living wage
£6.19
current minimum wage
88
per cent of those paid below living wage are women
82 staff paid under living wage at ACS
41
staff paid under living wage at Sheffield Trading Services
£8.85
current living wage in London
Hindu society celebrate Diwali festival in style Amaal Raheem The Hindu society hosted their much anticipated event ‘Sapne’ on Friday at Ponds Forge. The event was in honour of the Hindu festival of Diwali, also known as the festival of light. President of the society Vanshika Patel said: “Hosting an evening of glamour and elegance for our members to celebrate Diwali together is something we have been trying to achieve for years. “This year thanks to donations, sponsorship and seven months of planning and dedication, we brought Sapne 2012 to life.” The event, which was joined by students from Sheffield Hallam, boasted an array of
performances, a three course meal, outdoor sparklers, a DJ, raffle and photographer. The night included electric performances by Hallam Harmonies, the Bellydance society and bollywood dancing by Fusion.
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Police urge students to get on board with UCard taxi scheme
Continued from p.1
South Yorkshire police renewed their call, following a number of reported incidents of students being targeted and mugged on their journey home. Cases have been reported in Broomhill, Broomhall, Crookes and Ecclesall Road. A recent national poll found that 51 per cent of students have walked back from a night-out at their university because they could not afford a taxi. However, police said there was evidence of criminals targeting intoxicated young people on their journeys, with students advised to think about their own safety and plan their evening travels. The taxi scheme is not the only way for students to travel around at night safety, with other
initiatives such as the women’s minibus, which costs just £1.50. Women’s officer Amy Masson said: “The women’s minibus is a popular service, not always in number of passengers per night but in the satisfaction and safety it brings to women students. “It provides women with a safe space for them to get
home, free from the threat of male violence or harassment. If it makes even one woman feel safe each night then it is a success. “In general I encourage women, and students in general, to use their judgement and travel
home in whatever way they feel comfortable. In reality, there are risks with all modes of transport for instance we know of cases of taxi rapists in Sheffield.”
Technology
Invisibility is seen at last Scientists have managed to create the illusion of invisibility. Professor Smith, of Duke University, has used a diamond shaped cloak to direct light around a cylinder of a volume of 44.2cm cubed achieving perfect invisibility, so you see the scene behind the cylinder. The set up does however only work in one direction and would be highly difficult to accomplish with optical light.
Scientists attempt to clone endangered animals
Ruth Slattery, Second-year History
Elizabeth Hague, Secondyear Chemistry
“I definitely don’t think the taxi scheme is well publicised. The only reason I’ve heard about it is through word of mouth. I’m not sure about it though.”
“I’ve never attempted the taxi scheme, I live in Broomhall so it’s not personally necessary. I can see it would be necessary for other people though.” Charlie Mayer, Second-year Geography and Planning “No, I’ve never heard of that. What is it? It seems like a good idea in theory, but I’m not sure I’d trust someone I didn’t know with my UCard. I didn’t know about it, so it doesn’t seem like it’s well publicised.” Vox-pop: Lauren Archer
Photo: Lauren Clarke
Anger after Manchester Sab’s demo threat
4Union officer tells societies to buy demo tickets or risk funding cuts 4Online petition signed by 400, amid ‘politicising’ societies claims A Union officer at the University of Manchester Students’ Union has caused outrage by threatening societies with funding cuts unless they sent at least ten people to the national demo on Wednesday. Society leaders received an email from activities and development officer, Tommy Fish, on Wednesday, telling them they could only be sure of attaining a higher level of funding by “supporting the national student movement.” Fish’s comments were met with immediate criticism, with a petition set up online claiming his decision was holding student
SCIENCE &
Alys Rudling
Have you heard about the scheme?
Jonathan Robinson
NEWS
groups to ransom and politicising neutral organisations. In the email, Fish said: “In order to be sure of silver or gold award, societies will need to send 10 members to buy tickets and thus show support for the national student movement.” Liam Burns, NUS president, told Forge Press that Manchester Students’ Union had acted quickly to distance themselves from the comment, saying that it was an idea put forward only by Fish to encourage participation. He said: “It would clearly never be NUS’ place to dictate to a students’ union how to support their student societies, but from what I have seen it appears that there was a miscommunication
and the officer has subsequently clarified that this is not the case and has indeed offered an unreserved apology.” The University of Manchester Students’ Union Union has denied it will force societies to attend the London demo. The email had explained that silver and gold society status – which provides societies with additional funding – would be contingent on sending ten society members. However, the petition slammed the move, stating: “Students should not be forced to jump through political hoops in order to
secure funding for their societies. “Travelling to London to take part in Demo 2012 is clearly a political act, and we believe it is entirely unfair that societies whose members may not agree with the message of the demonstration should be financially penalised for their opposition to it.” When Forge Press went to print, 396 people had signed the petition. Tommy Fish has been criticised for politicising neutral societies
This week conservationists in Brazil are set to begin attempts to clone eight animals currently under threat. The Convention on Biological Diversity said we are currently experiencing the greatest wave of extinction since the disappearance of the dinosaurs. Research company, Embrapa, have worked alongside the Brasilia Zoological Garden to collect over 400 tissue samples from animals currently threatened, including jaguars and bush dogs. The research groups will use these to clone the species, whose progress will be monitored in captivity. This is not the first time cloning has been trialed in the fight against extinction. In 2009, a team in Spain successfully cloned an extinct species of mountain goat from frozen DNA. Unfortunately, it died at birth, but with techniques today now more advanced, the work of Embrapa should be more of a success. Emily Berry
FACTBOX: ANIMAL DEFENCES The weird and wonderful ways animals protect themselves Malaysian ants internally combust when threatened, causing their bodies to explode over their enemies. Like something you might see in X-men, the hairy frog breaks its own bones to produce claws that puncture through its skin. Instead of sensibly using the horns on its head, the horned lizard forces the blood vessels in its eyes to explode, covering its predator in its blood.
Hairy Frog claw
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National Ennis and the Wanted dazzle at news ‘Catastrophic failings’ in schizophrenia care
Meadowhall Christmas light launch
Care standards for schizophrenia patients in the UK is declining. Dan Lowe, 36, first noticed psychotic symptoms 16 years ago and finds hospital environments worsen his paranoia. He said: “They just put you in front of the telly and calm you down.” Professor Sir Robin Murray from King’s College London said: “If you have psychosis and your mind is disturbed, you need a period of respite and calm.” Paul Jenkins, head of Rethink Mental Illness, agrees saying: “Treatment [is] still nowhere good enough.” An investigation has begun into the £12bn/year condition to try and tackle the maltreatment of patients. Will Ross
Exam regulators say no to coursework Coursework could be axed from GCSEs as it is slowing down classwork, the exams regulator has said. Ofqal chief executive Glenys Stacey said a “major review” into controlled assessments was being carried out, amid claims takes too long. She said the regulator could not wait for major exams reform, and had concerns arbout the practicalities of students completing it. Speaking at the Independent Academies Association (IAA) conference in London, Ms Stacey said: “Last year, we ensured exam boards improved the guidance they provided about controlled assessment, but now we are reviewing controlled assessment more fundamentally and on a subject-by-subject basis.”
Aidan Phillips Jessica Ennis and the Wanted were two of the star guests on stage at Meadowhall’s Christmas lights charity concert last Friday. Other artists who performed in front of the show’s 15,000 spectators were Lucy Spraggan, Misha B and Lawson. The show is estimated to have raised around £16,000 to be split between Capital FM’s Help a Capital Child and the Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity’s
Make it Better appeal. University of Sheffield graduate and Olympic gold medalist Jessica Ennis turned on the Christmas lights last year for children at the hospital. She said: “I’ve always worked with the Children’s Hospital Charity, it’s a cause I really care about. “Fortunately tonight coincided with my book launch in Sheffield so I was able to come along.” Deputy communications manager of the Children’s Hospital Charity Natalie Loftus
said: “It’s really nice performing in Sheffield where I know there are local people out there supporting me.” Also featuring in the show were Sheffield-based hip-hop theatre company Rationale, 2010 Britain’s Got Talent finalists Reconnected and girl band Vanquish . The Make it Better appeal aims to raise half of the £40m needed to transform the hospital, which will involve replacing existing wards, providing more en-suites and building a play tower.
Fleet of ‘green buses’ Students demand end to rolled out onto roads controversial crude oil
Jonathan Robinson
Aidan Phillips
MP attacked at Sussex talk ‘Violent thugs’ threw stones at MP Mike Weatherley as he was due to give a speech at the University of West Sussex, it has been claimed. The MP had been due to speak to students at the campus about the new law that has made it a criminal offence to squat in residential properties. He was escorted to safety by police. Weatherley, Conservative for Hove and Portslade, said, ‘’It’s absolutely outrageous that a peaceful event such as this should be hijacked by a group of violent thugs.’’ Nicola Moors
said: “Jessica is a fantastic patron of our charity and a real inspiration to our patients. “It’s wonderful that her and Meadowhall want to support us in this way, and we’re thrilled to be receiving £8,000 from this event.” Lawson bassist Ryan Fletcher, from Chesterfield, said: “We love playing in Sheffield, the crowds are awesome and the reaction is always good. “Sheffield is my home turf and I can’t wait to come back.” Meanwhile, Sheffielder Lucy
Dominic Johnson Councillors have unveiled a new fleet of hybrid buses which will cut fuel bills and reduce carbon emissions in the city. The fleet of seven minibuses is the largest of any local authority in England, and it is estimated that there will be a 17 per cent reduction in fuel costs and emissions. Cllr Jack Scott, cabinet member for environment, recycling and streetscene said: “These greener buses will reduce fuel costs at a time of rising prices and they will also help the environment, which is massively important to us. “The introduction of these new
vehicles is a really positive step forward to a more sustainable Sheffield and will help strengthen our reputation as England’s greenest city.” The buses will be used for home to school special needs transport, and were purchased through the government’s low carbon vehicle procurement programme, which provides a grant of over £3,000 per vehicle. The hybrid technology used in the buses reduces fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by 15 to 25 per cent. It stores energy every time the vehicle slows down and then transfers it to the wheels via an electric motor.
Students from across the country have sent a message to Nick Clegg to stop tar sand oil entering Europe at a climate change conference in Sheffield Hallam University last weekend. People and Planet are sending a picture of students asking Clegg to uphold the Fuel Quality Directive (FQD) at an EU vote in February 2013. The FQD encourages the use of low carbon transport fuels and high-emission crude oil, and could prevent high emission tar sand oil being imported from Canada into Europe. People and Planet co-ordinator Phoebe Cullingworth said: “The FQD ensures all legislation on climate change is held together,
and the government could vote to do away with it next February. “We are targeting the Liberals as they have shown a keeness to differentiate themselves from the Conservatives and should prove an easier target.” The conference involved workshops and speeches from high profile activists and political figures, including leader of the Green party for England and Wales Natalie Bennett, director of War on Want John Hillary and co-author of The Spirit Level Katie Pickett. Bennett said: “The impact events like these have on students is hugely positive. Many have come from universities where not a lot is happening, so to be around lots of like-minded people is inspiring.”
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68,000 streetlights in switchover to LED Jessica Pitocchi Work has started on replacing all of Sheffield’s 68,000 streetlights with white LED lights. The decision is part of the Highway Maintenence ‘Streets Ahead’ project in order to improve the overall quality of the street lighting across the city. The state of the art light emitting diode technology will provide a brighter w h i t e light, improving visibility and safety for all road users as well as reducing carbon
emissions. The new lights will look significantly different from the existing street lights. They will consist of several small LED lighting units rather than one lamp and will be on a curved black column. They are planned to be sited at different positions along streets and at the back of pavements. Cllr Jullian Creasey from the Green Party said: “Of course
lighting
i t ’ s a good thing to improve street and investing in
energy saving is always a good investment. “The problem is that the Sreets Ahead project is being funded and run. “It is a private finance initiative which means a huge chunk of the available money goes on paying off the up-front borrowing from private banks; and that we are tied into a long term contract with a profit-making multinational company.” The Green party said direct government grants would have been better and that the work should have been done ‘in house’.
What’s on your mind? Comment on this article online: www.forgetoday.com
The benefits: 4Improved community safety - the new lights allow a wider spectrum of colours to be seen and facial features to be distinguished more meaning many people will feel safer walking the streets late at night 4Reduced energy use and light pollution - LEDs are more energy efficient, will reduce carbon emissions and project the light downwards to reduce light pollution across the city. 4Even light distribution - the height and spacing of the columns have been designed to take into account things like the type of street, the house and building heights and the number of trees on the street and will distribute the light accordingly.
DOT COM
A network of young volunteers have begun their first campaign tackling youth homelessness across the country. National volunteering organisation, vInspired, are combatting the perceptions surrounding the homelessness affecting areas across Britain, including Sheffield. With central government planning to cut housing benefits to the most vulnerable, charities and campaigns like Team V are working together in attempt to prevent this. Team V have recently been joined by two University of Sheffield students. Second year History and Sociology student Rea Burke and MA Journalism Studies student Bilingzi Su have signed up to help
940
cases in Sheffield of families losing their homes
data that found 48 per cent of councils reported higher cases of housing requests by under-25s with half being turned away - about one out of every four cases. Roundabout, a Sheffieldbased homeless charity, have been forced
pioneer a local campaign to stomp out stigma and raise awareness about youth homelessness. Burke said: “We want to highlight the issue of hidden homelessness and help show that homelessness is not just a housing problem. “Many young people have to get by on a friend’s sofa and a sofa is certainly not a home. We want to try and get as many members of the community to take a picture on our sofa, which we will then put on forms of social media. “Hopefully we will be able to get the issue of youth homelessness trending which will help generate some pressure on our local MPs to take a stand.” A creative video documentary is also underway. In 2011, Homeless Link and the Prince’s Trust published
25%
increase since
2011
to turn away about 1,000 young people annually.
“Many young people have to get by on a friend’s sofa and a sofa i s certainly not a home.”
The European Commission have to redraft their 2013 budget plan to deal with the crisis on EU 2013 budget talks. Euro MPs refused to attend talks on November 13 because the governments - called the Council - did not support an extra nine billion euros in emergency funding for this year which commitments proclaimed to cover in the areas of infrastructure, research and education. If there is no agreement before January, the current budget will be rolled over each month meaning any increase in spending will require agreement between the Commission, Council and MEPs. The UK’s financial secretary to the treasury, Greg lark thought demanding billions euros more would like a raiding to taxpayers ,especially when everyone is making economies at home.
young people turned away anually from Roundabout
One in four
national housing requests by under-25s turned away
Cllr Dunn on uni fees and student rights Councillor Jayne Dunn was elected as Labour councilor back in May this year. She said: “It was like a tsunami when i first got elected, I didn’t really know what to expect” Cllr Dunn she wants to help young people have access to university. She said of her struggle to send her son to university, “as a single mother, I used the welfare
A leaked draft of a UN internal report said the United Nations failed in its mandate to protect civilians during the final phase of the Sri Lankan civil war in 2009. It points out the systematic failures throughout the UN system blaming not only the senior officials but also the security council and the human rights council for not effectively responding to the conflict. The brutal conflict between the Sri Lankan government and Tamil rebels lasted 26 years causing over 100,000 civilan deaths.
Huang Yanlin
1,000
system, I went from being totally dependent on benefits to where i am today and it was hard. The recent rise in university fees to £9,000 would have meant that her son not to go to university would have been unachievable. “I would have seen the fees as a little bit like trying to date George Clooney. It would have felt too much, it’s a lot of debt and i wouldn’t have encouraged him into that. I would have been too
UN admits failures in protecting Sri Lankan civilians
EU 2013 budget talks in crisis amid row over spending
MEETS CLLR JAYNE DUNN
Lauren Clarke
World news
Chloe E Lee
‘A sofa is not a home’: Homeless campaigners take to the streets Jeff Kloythanomsup
NEWS
frightened.” Dunn doesnt want university to be for a select few. “What really upsets me is the hopes and dreams and aspirations that might disappear.
What’s on your mind? Comment on this article online: www.forgetoday.com
DOT COM
BP receives record US criminal fine for deepwater disaster BP have received the biggest criminal fine in US history in relation to the Deepwater Horizon disaster in 2010. The US justice department said BP have to pay $4billion which is made up of a $1.26billion fine and payments for wildlife and science groups. During the disaster, 11 people lost their lives. The company apologied for its role and said it regretted the loss of life. Jessica Pitocchi
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Photo: Andrew Moss/Flickr
NUS DEMO 2012:
We should not remain silent Alex Chafey Two years on from the infamous London demonstration that followed the government’s proposals to treble tuition fees, students are back. And this time, it’s personal. It would be easy to deride this protest as just an attempt by the NUS leadership to flesh out their CVs ahead of careers in the Labour party, but what’s important here is the thousands of students who will be taking part, and the crucial fact that this will be the first student protest to include those directly affected by £9,000 fees. While the fiasco surrounding international students at London Metropolitan university this summer has put new issues on the table, many of the causes remain the same. The scrapping of EMA, postgraduate funding,
and the continued rise of youth unemployment are still of great concern to many students.
‘The determination of students to show they haven’t forgotten what happened may help keep their interest on the agenda’ Earlier this year, Nick Clegg’s admirable yet ultimately irrelevant apology unintentionally reminded everyone of the tuition fees nightmare of 2010, long after many people thought it had been laid to rest. The apology showed that while £9,000 fees may be here to stay, the issue is still on the minds of government ministers, particularly those on the Liberal Democrat side. The determination of students to
show they haven’t forgotten what happened may help keep their interests on the agenda. Clegg has shown that he is trying to make amends with students and rebuild bridges, looking towards the next election, and a crucial test of the sentiment behind his apology will be how seriously he takes the demonstration this month. But no matter how important the issue or well intentioned the protesters, the fact of the matter is that the demonstration is doomed to fall on deaf ears. While Clegg is still acutely aware of his failure when it came to tuition fees, his apology may have been more indicative of a desire to put the matter behind him than reignite debate, and there’s unlikely to be any significant change on the issues this protest is concerned with in the current parliament. Without the incentive of an immediate bill passing through parliament, this year’s protest will
struggle to match the sheer scale of 2010’s. It remains to be seen whether there is enough wind in the sails of the student movement to muster anything like the over 50,000 seen previously, but it seems about as likely as Nick Clegg getting in the charts.
‘The NUS should be careful to avoid a repeat of 2010’s embarrassing violence’
Two years on from the tuition fee tripling, the less well publicised aims of this protest will not provoke as strong views or vast support as its 2010 counterpart, but drawing the attention of the government and the public to these serious issues and showing that students haven’t gone away really can’t do any harm. Importantly, the NUS should
be careful to avoid a repeat of 2010’s embarrassing violence that marred the effectiveness of the protest for the thousands of peaceful demonstrators and harmed the image of students. If this demonstration passes without incident, students will show they can be strong and vocal, but also reasonable, and able to behave with maturity. As a means of changing policy, this protest is redundant, but as a means of voicing the concerns of students and keeping student issues on the agenda, it can only help. On November 21, protesters should not be fooled into thinking this will make a real difference. With fees, the NUS must admit defeat. But futility is not a reason to remain silent. Join the Conversation: @ForgeComment on Twitter facebook.com/ForgeComment
White poppies: Pacifism is not something to embrace James Donnelly British foreign policy can be incoherent, hypocritical and selfinterested. That much should be evident to anyone who has heard David Cameron denounce Syrian human rights abuses while actively facilitating similar repression in Bahrain. In the very recent past Britain has participated in deeply unpopular, and in many ways counterproductive, wars. It is not surprising then that many people might feel uncomfortable with associating themselves with the red poppy. It a symbol that has for many come to represent militarism. Nevertheless, whatever your views on British foreign policy, the decision to sell white poppies in the Sheffield Students’ Union is immensely disrespectful to both liberal democracy and those who
gave their lives in the fight against fascism. In a YouTube video, our Students’ Union President Abdi Suleiman and development officer Sara Moon explain the reasoning behind their endorsement of white poppies. Proudly wearing two white poppies, the pair recite an anti-war poem, explain the postWorld War I origins of the white poppy, its links to the Peace Pledge Union and then explicitly endorse pacifism. What our Students’ Union Officers do not explain is the role that the Peace Pledge Union played in ensuring that Britain did not intervene on the side of democracy against Franco’s fascist uprising during the Spanish Civil War, and its support of the appeasement of Nazi Germany. In the lead up to World War II, the Peace Pledge Union regularly peddled Nazi propaganda as fact through its Peace News journal. By endorsing pacifism and the
Peace Pledge Union, the Students’ Union is pushing the idea that the liberal democracy we live in is never worth fighting for, even when the consequences of pacifism are the invasion of liberal democracies by totalitarian states. By condemning all military intervention they are drawing a moral equivalence between fascists and the men and women who died to preserve liberal democracy. I would hope that, even if only in the interest of self-preservation, two left-wing student politicians and union members would be able to understand why so many gave their lives in armed conflict. Had Britain adopted the pacifism advocated by the Peace Pledge Union after World War II, an inevitable invasion of this country by a totalitarian state would mean that they would not be able to profess left-wing beliefs or organise as part of a union, and they certainly would not have the freedom to express pacifist beliefs.
Photo: david.nikonvscanon/Flickr
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COMMENT
Step aside, Lord Sugar: We need more and better apprenticeships Ben Scull The former Labour schools minister has called for as many apprenticeships as there are university places in the United Kingdom. “Our basic problem for the 50 per cent that do not go to university is there’s nothing like university that acts as a magnet for them in terms of aspiration to get on or getting out of bed in the morning,” Lord Adonis told an ARK schools conference in central London. At school or college we are all encouraged to go to university and it is seen as the pinnacle of your education career. When entering A-Level study we are informed about Ucas and applying for higher education. The mention of apprenticeships and the world of work are somewhat brushed under the carpet.
‘Offering apprenticeships on a par with university places will create a healthy competition’ This is probably because schools want to keep as high as possible in national league tables, sending as many students as possible off to top universities. As Lord Adonis aptly puts it, apprenticeships should be “marketed” in a more positive light and seen as an equal,
if not better alternative to university. With the rise in tuition fees to £9,000 less students can afford to go to university, having nothing to act as motivation to succeed. Offering apprenticeships on a par with university places will create healthy competition and a catalyst for the creation of new skilled labour and talented young people in the UK. There is an opportunity to have an array of apprenticeships in many different spheres of work. Traditional university subjects such as economics could be learnt more beneficially through an apprenticeship, giving a more hands-on and true-to-life experience of what the world of economics has to offer. University students are constantly reminded to gain as much work experience as possible, so why not get a head start, why not kick things off with an apprenticeship? Lord Adonis addressed the fact that the government itself lacks apprentices, claiming Whitehall currently had no apprentices in any of its departments, saying: “The very worst institution for providing apprenticeships is government itself ”. In contrast, a Department for Business Innovation & Skills spokeswoman said: “Provisional figures show apprenticeship starts topped the half a million mark this year, with particularly strong growth at advanced and higher levels. ” With the number of apprenticeships topping the half million mark they is still down considerably on the number of full time and part time students in the UK which
is over two and a half million, according to Higher Education Statistics. It is all well and good saying more apprenticeship places need to be made available, but with the numbers of places being given, standards of teaching should not be allowed to slip. If apprenticeships are to be compared to that of a university degree, apprentices need to be given the best teaching possible, otherwise the snobbery of a university graduate will prevail.
‘With apprenticeships topping the half million mark they are still down on full time student’ It is clear that the government need to not only create far more apprenticeships in diverse spheres, but also these need to be marketed appropriately to create a positive and motivational goal for students. The creation of a system like Ucas could do this, in turn boosting healthy competition amongst students.
Got an opinion on the topics discussed this fortnight? Contact letters@forgetoday.com
Photo: DefenceImages/Flickr
James Fyfe Nadine Dorries seems to be someone who views herself as our modern day answer to Margaret Thatcher, when truthfully she’s more papier-mache doll than Iron Lady. Indeed, Dorries has a reputation for having some rather controversial opinions on such opinion-dividing issues as abortion and the EU, and calling the prime minister and his chancellor “two arrogant posh boys” was probably not the greatest career move.
‘I doubt these so-called debates are going to occur. Westminster it’s not’
Jungle fever
The fallout to Nadine Dorries’ jungle outing could prove telling, argues James Fyfe
Then again, through not exactly enamouring herself to the leaders of this disastrous coalition, she’s rendered her prospects for a ministerial position extremely limited. It’s thus hardly surprising that she’s decided to enter ITV’s I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! to chew on various animal genitalia alongside an ex-Pussycat Doll, without consulting anyone but herself. Her excuse for doing this was to bring certain political debates to a wider prime time audience, yet with this bunch of contestants, I doubt these so-called debates are going to occur, let alone
be televised. Westminster it’s not. Now I disagree with the prospect of a serving MP spending her taxpayer-funded time with Janine off EastEnders in the Australian outback, when she should be debating government legislation at the impending autumn statement. Yet, I’m bewildered as to how Dorries’ suspension from the Tory party has been so instantaneous. I agree that her suspension was the right action to take, but I wonder why Dorries has been so quickly reprimanded for her actions whilst ex-Chief Whip Andrew Mitchell was allowed to stay in his post, only resigning after a month of intense media pressure, following his alleged calling of two police officers ‘fucking plebs’. Is it one rule for the supportive male of the cabinet, and another for the female figure of backbench rebellion? Either way, a final word must come from Ann Widdecombe. She too concurred that Dorries shouldn’t appear on the show: “Don’t touch it with a 10 foot barge pole”, Widdecombe exclaimed. If a woman who was more than happy to be dragged along the floor to ‘La Cucaracha’ like a sack of potatoes on Strictly Come Dancing is criticizing your media choices, you know you’re probably making a big mistake. Yet it’s not what happens in the jungle that interests me, it’s how Dorries emerges post-jungle lola-thon that should be most of interest. Great representative of the people, or national hate figure? We’ll just have to wait with baited breath and see.
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Lauren Archer
Binders full of change
Lauren Archer on how the election is also a victory for a more diverse America
On Tuesday November 6 Barack Obama was re-elected as president of the United States. It was a landslide victory of over 100 Electoral College votes and marked a significant turning point for liberal politics – on a national and international scale. But beneath the jubilations and chants of “four more years!” a group of newly elected senators celebrated their own victories. In an age of “all politicians are the same” attitudes, it is important that we see the 2012 US election as a proud moment for supporters of equality and true representation. The first openly gay senator, Tammy Baldwin, was elected in Wisconsin. “I didn’t run to make history,” Baldwin announced in her acceptance speech. “I ran to make a difference.” The world also witnessed America’s first Buddhist and Asian American senator in the form of Mazine Hirono and welcomed Tulsi Gabbard as the first Hindu in Congress. This election will see a historic number of women enter Congress and Senate. On Tuesday night, New Hampshire became the first state in history to have a full set of women in top elected positions, with the governorship, both Senate seats and both Congress seats won by women.
‘Voters also used the opportunity to force out three Republican rape apologists’ As Kathryn Schulz, a New York Magazine book reviewer, tweeted: “Elected to the Senate today: the first disabled woman, first openly lesbian woman, first Asian woman. Binder full of fucking awesome.” EMILY’s List is a political action committee dedicated to helping elect pro-choice Democratic women to office. “Democratic women in the senate were the first line of defense against the
University underpaying women Amelia Heathman In the last 12 months, 4.5 per cent of the female workforce experienced redundancy compared with just 3 per cemt of men. 64 per cent of the lowest paid workers are women. And suprise, suprise, our University is also joining in with the traditional ‘let’s heap all the crap’ on women. Despite the Living Wage Campaign being all the rage at the moment, it’s become apparent that within the University, 88 per cent of the staff that are being paid
under the living wage are, in fact, female. Considering the Equal Pay Act came out about a million years ago, it is ridiculous that women are still paid on average 14.9 per cent less per hour than men.
‘It’s all a bit medieval, isn’t it? And surely as a university, we’re supposed to be more liberal and forward-thinking, and therefore less likely to discriminate? Along with Cameron’s determination to turn higher education into a business venture,
it seems like universities are becoming standard businesses, with a profit-seeking priority. Weren’t we supposed to be over patriarchy? Yet, women still can be found at the bottom of the heap when it comes to equal pay. For instance, 89 per cent of Acommodation and Commercial Services (ACS) employees who are paid under the living wage of £7.20, prior to its recent change to £7.45, are women. Throughout history, women have been discriminated against in the work force, and it’s almost a teensy bit distressing that this is happening right on our doorstep. It’s all a bit medieval, isn’t it?
Republican war on women,” said EMILY’s List President Stephanie Schriock. “Voters saw the role they played, and they trust them to lead on the issues that matter to women and families. That’s why they sent every single Democratic woman up for re-election to the senate back to Washington. It’s an incredible testament to the good work these women do in Washington.” Voters also used the election as an opportunity to force out three infamous Republican rape apologists. Todd ‘legitimate rape’ Akin, Richard ‘gift from God’ Mourdock and Tom Smith – who compared rape to unwed motherhood – all lost their seats. As commentators on Twitter pointed out, it was as if Republicans had forgotten that women are now able to vote.
‘Tuesday night’s victories are also about four more years of positive social change’ These breakthroughs culminated in the House Democrats shedding their all white male majority. These men will now hold 47 per cent of the seats – compared to an unsurprising Republican 90 per cent - making room for the influx of delegates welcomed by a new attitude to gender and ethnicity in politics. There have also been changes to damaging prejudiced legislation. Maine, Washington and Maryland, for example, approved ballot initiatives welcoming same-sex marriage. Of course, American politics is far from an egalitarian ideal, but this election is a serious step in the right direction. Tuesday night’s victories are not just about four more years of Barack Obama but about four more years of positive social change.
D.A.R.T.S.
Editorial Student tabloids need to wise up This weekend, I got a massive bee in my otherwise harmonious bonnet. I stumbled upon a piece on the Newcastle Tab website that offended roughly every part of my body I consider human and educated. It was a feature about going out on Halloween dressed as the Prophet Muhammad, and the apparent hilarity which ensued. Not only did the writer ‘black up’, but he also felt it necessary to brandish fake bullets across his chest as though he was Arnie Schwarzenegger. The offence wasn’t lost on me, despite being a white, caucasian atheist: I was offended as a student journalist. Vile trolling pieces like this have no purpose whatsoever but to shock. It wasn’t even particularly witty, deciding to attack President Obama and ex-polytechnic students. As well as, you know, over 1.6 million people. Publications with little-tono editorial direction apart from “It would be well funny” give a bad name to those of us who spend all the live-long-day ensuring their work reflects the principles of their readership. The original Cambridge Tab, is a publication whose style you may not enjoy (‘Rear of the Year’ anyone?), but it at least has the decency of being clever. Unfortunately, those in charge of the editorial direction of the various Tabs across the country seem desperate to attain the same level of attention as Cambridge, by hideously seeking a shock-factor Samantha Brickstyle level of churnalism whose only possible defence is ‘freedom of speech’.
Alisha Rouse - Forge Press editor alisha.rouse@forgetoday.com
Forge Press takes its satirical aim
Goveing mental Michael Gove is not a man known for his appreciation of fancypants new ways of learning. On Wednesday, he courageously fought against the corrupting forces of airy-fairy education by revealing the key to success: Rote learning. Got that? Rote learning. Again: Rote learning. Repeat ad nauseam. We’d advise Mr Gove, though, if he’s not fed up of vomiting facts like he’s some kind of vessel for lesson plans rather than a human being, to repeat this 500 times: ‘I will stop ruining education. I will stop ruining education. I will...’
Quote of the fortnight:
“Genuine comment on Facebook: ‘I’m boycotting the Police and Crime Commissioner elections in protest at low turnout’ #sigh” - @joe_oliver, ex-ex-education officer and all-round University of Sheffield celebrity
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University should be about more than just exam results Dear Forge Press, I write in response to Liane Lui’s Comment article (HEAR: Too much money wasted on glorified, damaging CVs, Oct 19) and the ill-considered opinions which it contains. The HEAR document is a fantastic modernisation of British university degree transcripts. Currently, they are unjustifiably simplistic, solely including the grade of the degree (which incidentally uses an archaic classification system that discriminates against though who achieve in the higher end of a grade boundary). The malady of HEAR being an “uneditable document of underachievement and neverending resits” has a simple
remedy: don’t fail. I am able to hold down a degree whilst undertaking many extracurricular activities, and so can anyone else. Furthermore, to include students’ extracurricular activities by default gives people an incentive to participate in their community. As a third-year student (and born-and-bred Sheffielder) who willingly contributes to the Union, University, and the wider community through various activities, it saddens me to hear that there is opposition to a scheme designed to encourage such endeavours. I am proud to be part of our student population and part of the wider Sheffield community.
apathy when there is so much to get involved with. Why would you not willingly wish to provide towards the same goal I have? I’m not sure if Liane has been in a cave for the past 5 years, but “the well-respected label of the Russell Group” simply isn’t enough anymore. I wish it was. But the University is doing students a favour by reminding them that graduate prospects aren’t at all as positive as they were merely several years ago. I don’t always agree with the University’s decisions, but this is a progressive step at a time when there has never been such fierce competition amongst graduates.
I am fed up of my fellow students’
Yours, Dale Griffin Third-year psychology
LETTERS
Your comments on www.forgetoday. com to: Uni refuses to end Veolia contract despite Israel boycott breach I wonder if the Union has realised that the Apple R&D lab, IBM and a company called CSR which make parts for projectors, microphones and sound systems are all based in Israel. No more computers, iPads (which the Exec. voted for them to have) and numerous amounts of other technology. Ridiculous.
EisenerKanzler
God, I just cry at the thought of Sheffield Students’ Union. Isn’t the Union supposed to make life better for its students? Then maybe they should focus on saving cash and lowering food and alcohol prices in the Union and investing in things like greater transport around the city centre for students of the Uni at night. Maybe from Ranmoor and Endcliffe and picking up through Broomhill etc. But, no, instead they pretend that they are important people who have the responsibility to fight Israel ‘occupation.’ Yeah, because my life is so much better in Sheffield if Israel (clearly the most evil power in the world, you know with their democracy, liberalism and economic prosperity) cannot have one of their companies providing bins for the University. Morons. Kyle H
Your comments on www.forgetoday.com to: Matchdebating: NFL demand is big enough for a London franchise Kraft owns the Patriots not the Rams.
Who gives a shit really mate?
Poor article really, distinct lack of NFL expertise if I’m being brutally honest.
Jack
John
Steve
6,000 hits “around the world” for our top tournament, so not even all of them in Britain. Sounds like it’s really popular here then. Total shit. Keith
Are you opposed to a British NFL franchise?
Alright Keith, chill out, no need for such language. Let’s have a nice & clean debate.
Shame on the students of the University of Sheffield who support the Israeli occupation on the daily basis by taking medicines. More than 20 per cent of all the medicines sold in UK are made by the Israeli company Teva, which also supplies drugs to the Zionist army. Sheffield students cannot claim ignorance, because Teva recruits on campus: “Teva UK Limited supplies 1 in every 5 tablets taken in the UK – that’s 7.2 billion a year, or 229 every second of the day and night. Teva UK Limited supplies 1 in every 6 inhalers in the UK – 9.9 million a year. That’s almost 2 billion “puffs” a year, or 63 every second 24 hours per day. We supply more packs of medicine to the NHS each year than anyone else. By value, we’re one of the UK’s top 10 pharmaceutical companies. If there were no generics industry, and branded drugs were dispensed instead at the current branded reimbursement rate, the NHS would pay nearly £2 billion more each year for the drugs Teva provides. The new site at Ridings Point will have enough floor space to cover three Premier League football pitches.” (http://www. slideshare.net/sussexcdec/local-scientific-opportunities-by-teva-ukltd) Boycott Israel. Stop taking medicines immediately.
A Pharmacist
Forge Sport
Your comments on www.forgetoday. com to:
Trevor
Anti-street harassment day comes to the Students’ Union
I believe that this is a poor take on the situation and many important factors haven’t been taken into account here. For instance, an NFL franchise would have to release their ownership of their club in order for a team to move over to London. Can you really see that happening? Colin
How ironically sexist (referring to the day, not the concept of harassment). Christopher
Want to write for us?
Your comments on www.forgetoday.com to:
Come to our next meetings:
Review: Bloo 88 “With pizzas to keep the men happy and delicious cocktails for the women”
News: Tuesday November 20, Octagon MR1, 5pm
Really? Why the unnecessary gendering of the food? Can’t men drink cocktails, too? Does pizza not also make women happy? Will this bar only serve specific things to certain genders, or, rather, does the author of this review need to keep a check on the casual sexism which pervades everyday thought?
Comment: Tuesday November 20, Octagon MR1, 5.10pm
Verity
Features: Monday November 19, Octagon MR1, 5.40pm
Lifestyle: Monday November 19, Octagon MR1, 5.20pm Sport: Monday November 19, Octagon MR1, 6pm
What’s on your mind? Got an opinion on the topics discussed this fortnight? Contact: letters@forgetoday.com
www.forgetoday.com/get-involved
Friday November 16 2012 FORGE PRESS
12
Take the stage Words: Kaz Scattergood Photos: SuTCo
A
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t the University of Sheffield you’d be hard pushed to get through your degree without noticing the strong presence of student
drama. With several theatre-based societies putting on a wide variety of productions throughout the year, everyone should be taking advantage; in a time of government cuts to arts funding, it’s never been more important to see the value of young people being creative. Plus, there’s no better way to get through a stressful week than having tickets to a wonderful play, in which you can be proud of familiar student faces breaking a leg on stage. We caught up with members of two of our drama societies, SuTCo and Usles, to chat about just how important student theatre is. Amy Claire Thompson, producer of Usles, says that our University boasts an extremely wide variety of ways to get involved in the performing arts: “Students can be involved in serious drama, or musical theatre, or comedy theatre, stand-up and improv and sketch writing, or technical work,” she says, “No matter what their interests or experience.” Doug Dunn, the radio officer for SuTCo says student theatre is valuable because it “brings together many people who can challenge themselves in any form acting, writing, directing, tech.” It is societies like these that provide varying opportunities for people with any level of experience, forming families of like-minded folk putting their hearts into something they truly enjoy. “In very few other places do you find such a varied, enthusiastic bunch of people who are prepared to go to extraordinarily complex lengths to do what they love,” says Doug. Usles, the University of Sheffield Light Entertainment Society, has been running for five years, performing comedy shows and pantomimes to raise money for local charities.
Their acronym affectionately naming them ‘useless’, Amy says that their incredibly light hearted society is “very definitely about the rehearsal process, the taking part and the socials, and not so much the productions themselves.” Useles is a family affair, encouraging the shyest of students to get involved, make some friends, have a fun time, and do a good deed while they’re at it. Jen Peake, charities and outreach officer, says that they also teach exchange students about British culture, with a heavy focus on pantomime and traditional British light entertainment. “Usles is worth getting involved in at university,” says Jen. “You don’t get to do this when you’re a proper grown-up!” Amy agrees. “No matter what your experience, or what kind of time commitment you’re willing to make, we have a part for you,” she says. “Usles is like a family, and the time spent getting to know each other and screwing up in rehearsal is almost more what we’re about than putting on shows that glitter.” Members of Usles see their participation in the society as a large part of their University experience, and build a strong friendship base that lasts beyond their time in Sheffield. “Usles is like your family away from home, in so many ways,” says Amy. “We have a lot of members who openly admit that they would probably have dropped out of university if they hadn’t had Usles there to help them out. “If you join in, we don’t wave goodbye when you finish the show or even when you leave university - we have members from years ago who always come back to see what we put on, and who are just as much members now as they were while they were studying.” In many ways, this is something to be extremely proud of. University should be more than just gaining a qualification; it should be about having fun, making friends, and doing something different. Usles is a wonderful example of the University providing an opportunity to do something beyond your degree, and seems to be a great way to make friends.
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Their contribution to charities is also admirable, having a voting system for the committee to decide which charity to support with each production. For their next pantomime, they’re donating to ‘Homeless and Rootless at Christmas’. On the more serious side of the drama front, we have SuTCo; Sheffield University Theatre Company. Just a simple glance at their mission statement captures all they’re about, and how much they value the opportunities for student theatre to flourish at our University. They aim to promote student theatre within Sheffield, produce high quality performances, and give students the chance to learn new schools. Considering that SuTCo productions are extremely professional, and are of such wide variety that most students will be able to find something for them, the low priced tickets are particularly impressive. Where an average theatre ticket at the Crucible will set you back £20, paying a fiver or less for a SuTCo production is more than worth it. Recently, there has been an impressive contrast between the stylish, disorientating and ultimately shocking script of Punk Rock and the charming but thought-provoking Humble Boy; their plays are consistently well produced, well acted and well received. SuTCo also boast their ability to give students a chance to learn new skills, training students in technical theatre, costume, makeup, and of course, performance. Ultimately though, like Usles, their aim is to simply enjoy what they do. Being known for being focused on more ‘serious drama’ at our University, putting on eight very professional plays per year, they attract many students who study theatre and intend to go into the theatre industry as a future career. However, they also attract plenty who simply do student theatre alongside their degree, as a hobby and a way to meet new people. Bethan Ratcliffe, the current chair of the SuTCo committee, says, “Within SuTCo there are a mixture
of people who want to seriously pursue a career in theatre and those who do it purely for the fun of it. “I think SuTCo provides opportunities for both.” Whilst many members take a ‘just for fun’ approach to their participation in student theatre, it’s worth mentioning that it provides excellent opportunities for those who wish to take it further. “Some members have recently gone onto work for the RSC technical and backstage teams, and we have seen recent SuTCo members go onto drama schools such as Central School of Speech and Drama and LAMDA,” says SuTCo’s technical officer, Dominic ‘Chorley’ Corfield. “We also have some impressive alumni that now work in the industry, such as Eddie Izzard, Lucy Prebble - and the butler from The Fresh Prince of Bel Air! “SuTco is intense, time consuming, and at times frustrating, but always wholly worthwhile, exceptional fun and the most rewarding part of my university experience.” Josh Finan, SuTCo’s archivist, also expressed the value of experiences at SuTCo on many students’ later careers: “Students can gain a wealth of experience in their chosen field which they can then utilise should they desire to pursue theatre as a career”. SuTco are also well known for lively socials, and are regularly accommodated by their neighbouring pub, The West End, where you’re likely to find more than a few squiffy drama-types in the beer garden on many nights of the week. Members of SuTCo speak highly of their experiences with the society, truly showing that behind the curtain and beyond the hectic night of production week, student drama produces a unique group of people whose university experiences are impacted on a personal level. Liz Johnson, the vice chair of SuTCo says “You’re part of a group of really passionate and talented people all working towards the same goal, and when you achieve that there’s no better feeling.” From an outsider’s perspective,
“We have seen recent
SuTCo members go onto drama schools such as Central School of Speech and Drama and LAMDA Dominic Corfield, SuTCo Technical officer
”
student drama is something that anyone with any interest in theatrical performance should take advantage of. Even if that means simply attending the occasional play and supporting some of our students, their hard work deserves to be appreciated. However, if your interest is beyond being a ticket-holder to their performances, it seems that even in two very different groups of student theatre in our University, the message is the same. Get involved. Don’t be scared. They aim to welcome everyone, whether you’re taking it superseriously or just want to have a good laugh; they’re open to anyone and could truly make your time at University something special. Societies aim to add something extra to your time here, and letting your time slip by without getting involved in something great could be something you’ll regret for years to come. Both SuTCo and Usles seem to provide a wonderful closeknit family whilst producing entertainment for a wide variety of people. The vice chair, Liz, also says SuTCo made her university experience: “I’ve made some great friends and learned and experienced things that I don’t think could have done otherwise.” Chair, Bethan, agrees. She says, “It’s been incredibly rewarding, and has offered me opportunities that my degree never could. I’m so happy to be a part of it.” All in all, our student theatre presence at the University of Sheffield is something to be proud of. Our various drama societies work hard to produce excellent plays, give to charity, put on unique events (such as SuTCo’s 24 hour Musical at The Crucible this year) and provide opportunities for all who wish to be involved. The value of the arts is undeniably present in Sheffield, and our passionate drama kids simply ooze the value of student theatre.
“Usles is like your
family away from home, in so many ways
Amy Claire Thompson, Usles Producer
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Words: Eliza Punshi
Friday November 16 2012 FORGE PRESS
Photographs: Sheffield University Stop the Traffik Society
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Stop the Traffik Society are campaigning on the concourse, raising awareness about the haunting reality of human trafficking, as Eliza Punshi explores
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id you recently come across images of your friends on Facebook holding a board that read ‘Real Men Don’t Buy Women’? It is the most current approach taken by the Stop the Traffik society to bring human trafficking to light. Slavery was officially abolished here a long time ago, 179 years ago to be precise. Several acts passed and treaties signed in the 19th and 20th centuries proved that slavery has no place in any nation and it would appear that, slavery no longer exists. Yet, explore the matter further and you will see how slavery, in its modern day disguises, continues to haunt our world. It is too easy to overlook the tragic lives of victims behind all the figures and statistics, too difficult to be outraged by human rights violations being committed thousands of miles away from us, but human trafficking is taking place here, in the UK as well. With over 27 million slaves around the world, human trafficking is the fastest growing criminal industry in the world. Stop the Traffik are dedicated to raising awareness of these heinous and shocking crimes. They’ve been around since last December and has carried out a number of activities to raise awareness. Beth Surgenor, co-publicity officer, says that “trafficking happens anywhere and everywhere, with Sheffield being somewhere that trafficked persons do end up in so therefore there’s immediate relevance to the city”. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), trafficking of humans generates $32 billion globally every year, making it the second largest international illegal industry, after drugs. There can be misconceptions about what constitutes human trafficking. Some think that trafficking is only present in the sex industry, and so only happens to women. Trafficking can, and does, happen to men, women and children. There are three essential characteristics of human trafficking defined by the UN. Trafficking is “the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud,
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of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation” Although the victims of trafficking are predominantly women, followed by children, men are susceptible to trafficking as well. The most recent figures reveal that the difference between male and female trafficking is a meagre 10 per cent. Human trafficking affects a broad range of industries, making it one of the hardest organized crimes to tackle. While a majority of victims are sexually exploited, there are various other reasons for which people are trafficked today. Roughly 800,000 people are trafficked annually to be used for domestic servitude, exploited by sex industries, and businesses that are labour intensive, such as agriculture and textile industries. People are also trafficked for their organs, and for child marriages, amongst other lesser known reasons. Moreover, while often people are trafficked across the borders, many are also trafficked and exploited within the country they live in. Stop The Traffik started as a temporary campaign in 2006, but went on to become an international coalition in 2008, thanks to a petition signed by over a million people to be presented at the UN. The organization is heavily involved in working with various other non-governmental organisations (NGOs), business companies, communities and individuals for the prevention of people trafficking. Lucy Pedrick, the women’s councillor and president of Stop the Traffik, says: “We want people to know what it is, how to spot it, and how they can stop it.” In June this year, the society sent a signed petition to Nick Clegg MP’s office, urging him to raise awareness of trafficking during the Olympics event. He wrote back, saying: “Your efforts to link Stop the Traffik society with the local community is a very mature approach to take. It is certainly one that I would definitely encourage.” Like the global campaign, the society at University of Sheffield focuses on bringing about awareness of the issue, above all else. Our very own Students’ Union officers helped to popularise the
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campaign, showing their own photos from the windows of the Students’ Union, for all on the concourse to see. However, it appears that the society’s popular campaigning slogan was misunderstood by many to be anti-prostitution rather than anti-trafficking. Pedrick says: “We were aware that would happen, but a slogan has to be short and catchy. The slogan referred to women who are trafficked and forced into prostitution. “Either way, the slogan was a discussion starter, which is what we wanted in the first place.”
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Trafficking happens anywhere and everywhere, so there’s immediate relevance to the city
Stop the Traffik Society
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She also mentioned plans for the society to hold talks at schools to educate young people about human trafficking. There are numerous obstacles that are making the trafficking of people an increasingly complicated battle to fight. One of these is the identification of victims. It is not easy to spot victims of trafficking as traffickers will try to transfer a
victim from one place to another with great secrecy. Stop the Traffik and the UN Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking (UN.GIFT) came together during the summer to create seven-foot high gift boxes which were placed in tourist hotspots around London during the Olympics. On the outside, the boxes read false promises that traffickers might make, such as ‘See the world and earn good money’. Once you step inside the box, you come face to face with some real-life stories of trafficking victims who fell for such promises. It is suspected that traffickers take advantage of large sporting events like the Olympics to easily move people across countries, making trafficking more rampant during such occasions. As such, it is vital for communities to be made aware of the likelihood of people being trafficked. Making matters worse is that in a significant number of cases, victims do not know what is taking place. Harrowingly, the realization of the situation can come after being trafficked. Furthermore, there can be situations where victims are extremely fearful for either their life or their family’s well-being, which can prevent them from entreating help. Their reluctance to seek assistance could make it difficult for people or NGOs to help them. In the UK, there is a framework called the National Referral Mechanism (NRM), which identifies victims of trafficking and provides them with support and protection. It also provides data about victims to the UK Human Trafficking Centre (UKHTC) which then uses the data to reveal the scope of trafficking in the UK. However, the Anti-Trafficking Monitoring Group published a report in 2010 which showed the NRM to be flawed. The report revealed that out of all of the victims referred to the NRM, as many as 76 per cent of the UK citizens were identified as victims, while only 11.9 per cent of those from outside the EU were identified as victims. Victims who fall through the safety nets of the NRM are left without provision of support or protection and thus face the risk of being further traumatised and may lose faith in the authorities’ ability to help. In addition, using only the data
of victims who have been positively identified results in an inaccurate scope of human trafficking in the UK, when the real situation could be far worse. Amidst all of this, how can ordinary people help stop trafficking? According to Pedrick, you can help the cause of human trafficking by simply knowing what it is and what to do when they spot it. If you are looking for a higher level of commitment to the cause, there are always anti-trafficking campaigns at the University and outside to get involved in. But human trafficking is a crime that can be greatly reduced if people and communities were simply alert. It is likely that the cocoa beans that went in to making your favourite bar of chocolate came from the Ivory Coast, the largest producer of cocoa beans in the world and also one of the worst in terms of human trafficking. The Fair Trade or Rainforest Alliance logo on a bar of chocolate or any other product goes a long way in assuring that no child or forced labour was used in its manufacturing process. It may not seem much and it is rather convenient to choose the cheaper option, but falling demand for non-Fair Trade products will eventually compel companies to make sure that their products do not involve trafficked labour. An example of this is Nestlé’s two-finger Kit Kat, which became the latest addition to the Fair Trade family. Additionally, Stop the Traffik’s recent campaign includes ‘Taxis against trafficking’. According to its blog, taxi drivers could be one of the few people who come in contact with victims of trafficking. The campaign urges people to communicate with taxi drivers about how they can help any victims they come across, and encourages them to stick anti-trafficking stickers in their taxis, which have information about trafficking and a helpline number on them. Whether it is drinking coffee responsibly, or choosing local seafood produce over imported fish, developed countries can have a direct impact on the conditions of workers in third-world countries that often cater for our demands. For more information on the topic, you can visit the Stop the Traffik website on www.stopthetraffik. org, or speak to a member of the Sheffield Stop the Traffik society.
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Friday November 16 2012 FORGE PRESS
features Sheffield
A Charitable Journey
The University of Sheffield’s Cycling Club raced Bummit’s hitchhikers to Brighton to raise money for the Jubilee Food Bank Lizzie Palmer shows why the charity is so important
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Words and photographs: Lizzie Palmer Art: Nicola Moors
Brighton
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s cuts to public services deepen and wages freeze, the cost of living in the UK grows even higher. Around one fifth of households in Sheffield now live below the poverty line, and according to research by the University of Sheffield, 34 per cent of the city’s population are living in areas which are in the top 20 per cent most deprived in England. Fuel costs are rising just in time for what is set to be a harsh winter for a lot of families - many of whom will have to make a choice between whether to heat their homes or put food on the table. After rent, council tax and other bills, there is not always enough money left over for even the most basic of necessities. In recent years, food banks have sprung up across the UK to try and provide a short-term solution to extreme poverty and plug a growing gap that the welfare state is just not filling. Most are set up and staffed by volunteers from the community, and their shelves are stocked with public donations. In fact, Bradford Food Bank in West Yorkshire made the headlines recently when locals donated a record 5.5 tonnes of food in a single collection drive. The University of Sheffield Cycling Club (UoSCC) took to the road last week to raise money and awareness for the Jubilee Food Bank in Sheffield. The club challenged the charity hitchhikers taking part in Sheffield RAG’s Baby Bummit to a race from Sheffield to Brighton, hoping that the prospect of the gruelling 230-mile journey would encourage people to dig deep. “As a group of students, many of whom don’t live in the city all year round, we really want to try and help the local community in any way we can,” said Alex Kohnert, UoSCC Fundraising Secretary.
“We decided to support Jubilee as we think the work they’re doing is really important. “They are helping some of the most vulnerable people in Sheffield.” Ultimately two wheels did not turn out to be better than four, and the charity hitchhikers made it to Brighton first, with the exception of a couple of teams. But with the cycling club’s feat being so impressive on its own they have managed to raise over £500 for the food bank so far - more than halfway to their £1,000 target. UoSCC Road captain Robert Ricketts said: “We all suffered along the way, both mentally and physically. “Life’s all about challenging yourself. It is a great thrill and very rewarding to know you’ve raised money for those less fortunate in the process.” Staffed by volunteers, the Jubilee Food Bank provides emergency food boxes to people who find themselves, for whatever reason, unable to afford to feed themselves. In order to receive a food box, individuals or families must be referred to the charity by one of Jubilee’s partners, which include social workers, doctors’ surgeries, advice centres and children’s services. Chris Marriott helped to found the Jubilee Food Bank in April 2012. He is now team leader and oversees the operations of the charity from its base at Shirecliffe community centre in north Sheffield. “A food bank is like sticking a plaster over a very short-term problem,” says Marriott. “If people haven’t got something to eat, food banks are there to provide an immediate meal. But it’s usually symbolic of an underlying problem in their life. “The majority of people have delays in benefits or tax credits coming through. Or sometimes it’s really poor budgeting skills, or longterm debt. “They’re usually getting support from other places as well. But we do
try and signpost them elsewhere if that’s what they need.” Many of the people that Jubilee helps often have a multitude of problems, which build up and leave them at crisis point. Since the food bank opened, Marriott has seen a wide range of people access the service. “There are quite a few individuals who have either got long-term health problems, or have had some exposure to drug and alcohol abuse in the past and are in semisupported accommodation. “Sometimes it’s single parents who are fleeing domestic violence, sometimes whole families and sometimes elderly people.” A typical food box contains a variety of different items - generally dry goods and non-perishables, which are long-lasting. The most commonly donated essentials include pasta, rice, tinned goods such as baked beans and soup, breakfast cereal, tea, coffee and long-life milk. “I have to admit that without being able to put fresh food in it’s never going to be the nicest meal,” says Marriott, “but it is going to be nutritious. And it’ll keep them going while things get sorted out.” The vast majority of Jubilee’s food is directly donated by the public. Marriott and his team of volunteers organise frequent collection drives in local supermarkets, during which shoppers are encouraged to buy an extra item to donate to the food bank. “People are really, really generous,” says Marriott. “It’s overwhelming sometimes. I’ve been in supermarkets where someone’s walked up at the end with their shopping and just said ‘here you are,’ and left us with the whole trolley-full. “That kind of thing doesn’t happen all the time, but when it does it really gives you a boost.” Jubilee also get a weekly delivery from an organisation called FareShare, which is a redistribution service aiming to cut down on food waste. The group
visits supermarkets and collects food which is close to its sellby-date and would otherwise be thrown away. This is then given to organisations such as food banks and homelessness charities, who use it to help vulnerable people. Unlike many food banks which have a centralised distribution centre in the community, Jubilee delivers all its boxes to people’s homes. Volunteers make the deliveries every weekday afternoon and currently visit around 25 families per week. Since April, Marriott has seen an increase in demand for Jubilee’s help and he expects even more referrals in the run-up to Christmas. “To start with we didn’t know whether demand was increasing because more people needed help, or if word was just getting around that we were there. “In theory, we can cover the whole city from our food bank. That’s one of the bonuses of being able to do the delivery model.” Jubilee is one of 10 food banks in Sheffield, all of which work together to help the community. “If we can’t help we’ll often talk to other food banks that can,” says Marriott. “Between all of us we try and ensure that no one in the city is going hungry from lack of access to emergency food.” Jubilee is affiliated with the City Church, for which Marriott works. Although it was founded on Christian principles and faith is an important driving force behind the charity’s work, Jubilee’s core motivation is helping others, regardless of their religion. “People having access to a food bank is totally nothing to do with their beliefs, lifestyle choices, disability, racial background or anything else,” says Marriot. “Anyone can have access to our help. “But sometimes you do get the opportunity to pray for people and share more. “There are times when we’ve visited a family, and often the situation that they’re in might seem
to be quite hopeless. So we can then tell them that we’re from a church, and that we believe in a God who can work miracles. “But we’re very clear with the individuals and with the organisations that refer them to us, that people responding to that has no effect on whether or not we help them. The main reason we do this is to provide food for hungry people.” For Marriott, one of the project’s greatest rewards has been the opportunity to get more people from the church and the local community involved in volunteering. “The brilliant thing about the food bank is that there are loads of different types of volunteering opportunities and different levels of commitment,” he says. “People can get involved by buying a tin of beans and that’s their gift. Other people will spend two or three days a week here visiting families, using their own car and their own petrol to go out and help.” Before taking up his post at City Church with the view to opening the food bank, Marriott was Student Services Manager at Sheffield College, where he dealt with all aspects of pastoral care, from child protection issues to financial support. “It gave me a good grounding,” he says. “But I also came to recognise that services, in terms of professional services, can only do so much in somebody’s life. And actually, sometimes what people really need is a friend. They need a family. “And thankfully, the church is not a professional service. It’s God’s family. And it puts us in places where we can help other people. “Sometimes what people need is just a friendly face. Someone who’ll just let them offload for a bit. And we’re quite happy to do that.”
Chris Marriott, the food bank’s team leader
“It’s so overwhelming how generous people can be.
On March 18 and 20, Bummiters will be hitchhiking to Lithuania’s capital Vilnius Sign up to Big Bummit online at 7pm on the 26th November at www.bummit. co.uk The participation fee is £75 and you’ll need your passport details and uCard
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Friday November 16 2012 FORGE PRESS
Fashion Food & Drink Health & Fitness Travel Giving Back Sex & Relationships Technology
Lifestyle & Travel WHAT NOT TO MISS THIS FORTNIGHT
Lifestyle’s pick of what’s on in Sheffield
By Amy Larkin
THE ANIMAL MINERAL FESTIVAL
CHRISTMAS MARKET
Thursday November 22 to 25, at the Cremore Pub on London Road.
Sunday November 18 - Sunday December 23
Described as a four day music, art and beer festival in the heart of London Road, the free ‘Animal Mineral Festival’ taking place from November 22 - 25 at the Cremore Pub is sure to be as mysterious and interesting as its name. With little being given away apart from the promise of various local bands, exhibited and live art and lots of fun, this intriguing event is surely worth a visit.
MOVEMBER: SHAVING OFF PARTY
Friday November 30 at the Vine Inn.
With Movember in full swing this month, there is plenty going on around the city celebrating this worth-while cause. The Vine Inn, Cemetery Road, are pulling out all the stops this year to encourage men out there to do their bit, and are having a ‘Mo shaving off party’ on Friday November 30. First prize is a case of Australian lager, and with plenty of bands and DJs to help bring the night in, this is a great time to get down and raise some money for a very worthy cause.
Review Olivia Adams
Although we don’t have one in the convenience of the town centre, Frankie and Benny’s is well worth the trek out to Meadowhall. I went to sample the new cocktail menu early last Wednesday evening. It was fairly busy already, but regardless of this the restaurant oozed atmosphere with warm lighting and authentic Italian décor. The separate cocktail menu was reasonably priced and had lots of interesting choice which I hadn’t seen on other cocktail menus. I started off with a pineapple Mai Tai and the boyfriend Jon a Mojito. A pineapple Mai Tai consists of orange, lime and pineapple juice, dark and light rum, triple sec and grenadine. A mojito is made of white rum, lime juice and soda water, and garnished with mint sprigs. They arrived in basic glasses but the Mai Tai had a slice of fresh pineapple which was a pleasant touch. Whilst sipping on the cocktails we had a browse of the food menu; the choice was overwhelming so we appreciated not being rushed to choose. We shared a garlic and mozzarella bread starter which was tasty and definitely needed to share between two people. For mains I tried a special: mozzarella, red pepper and salmon fish cakes with tartar sauce. It came with a side option including chips, baked potato or salad for £10.95 It was delicious and very filling due to the generous sizing of the fish cakes. Jon ordered a Boston 7 pizza, which was a BBQ sauced based pizza covered with meatballs, spicy pepperoni, ham, crispy bacon, chicken, peppers, red onion and mozzarella. Depending on your appetite, you can sample the smaller £10.75 option, or £14.75 for the larger size. For the second round of cocktails I had a Woo
Sheffield’s annual Christmas market returns to the city centre on November 18 right up until December 23. With over 70 seasonal stalls set right in the heart of the shopping district, this is one Christmas staple that cannot be missed. You can find all sorts here, from the perfect handmade gift to take back home for a family member, to traditional Christmas food and decorations. There is also the annual open-air ice rink and Santa’s grotto if you really want to get into the festive Christmas spirit.
MAGIC WORLDS
Now until January 6, 2013 at the Weston Park Museum. Monday to Saturday: 10-5pm Sunday: 11-4pm From traditional fairy tales, made famous by writers such as Hans Christian Andersen and the Brothers Grimm, to the worldwide phenomenon of Harry Potter, young and old alike have delighted in being transported to the far off realms of Narnia, Never Never Land and Middle Earth. On show will be replicas of Harry’s infamous broom, the Ring as well as vintage Cinderella dancing mechanical dolls. This is a must see for all book-worms, film-fanatics and Disney-devotees.
Frankie & Benny’s Woo and Jon a Whiskey Sour. The Woo Woo, which is made of vodka, peach schnapps, and cranberry juice was delicious. I was impressed with Jon sampling the whiskey sour – which consisted of whiskey, lemon juice, sugar, and a dash of egg white. We then scoured the dessert menu. Banana cheesecake did the trick. A generous slice of vanilla cheesecake covered in freshly sliced banana with toffee sauce and a blob of squirty cream. Fabulous. My only point of criticism is that if you are nipping in for a drink and not for a meal, the atmosphere can be quite family orientated. You need to expect lots of children and high chairs. I couldn’t fault the staff; they were professional, attentive, and friendly. I did enjoy the cocktails and as the restaurant would never be my first port of call for that type of beverage, they did an excellent job. The food and authentic Italian cuisine is definitely its selling point, but whilst you are there the cocktails are well worth your time and money.
Fashion & Technology Chloe Chen & Laura Thompson Science is banking on the fashion industry to make a difference on the environment. Imagine a world in which glimmering models are striding down catwalks and leaving behind them an array of fresh air. The magical clothes they are wearing actually breaking down pollutants and making the air safer for all of us to breathe. Welcome to the world of catalytic clothing (CatClo), initiated by fashion expert Helen Storey, from the London College of Fashion and chemistry professor, Tony J Ryan, from the University of Sheffield. Together, they have brought their new solution to the Fashion Conversation at Marks and Spencer, Meadowhall shopping centre, Sheffield, as part of October Fashion Month. The panel also included Grace Woodward, super stylist from the X Factor and Britain and Ireland’s Next Top Model, Mark Sumner, sustainability specialist from Marks and Spencer, and Alex McIntosh from the centre of sustainable fashion at London College of Fashion.
oxide sickens our lungs and livers, destroys the ozone layer and contributes to 29,000 deaths each year in the UK alone. Together with Ecover, a Belgium detergent manufacturer, they will develop a CatClo loaded laundry additive. If all goes well, this trendy
The science behind Catalytic Clothing
Professor Storey and Professor Ryan have coated common textiles with a catalytic substance called ultrafine titanium dioxide. This tiny particle breaks down nitrogen oxide, a major vehicle emission into less harmful substances. Studies have shown that nitrogen
Sex
Glenn Hicks
It’s not exactly a great feat of strength you might think, but condom manufacturer Trojan recently published s u r v e y results stating that 56 per cent of people still get
So, the moment has come – that culmination of teenage angst and want: some beautiful, wonderful person out there wants to touch your squishy bits, and they’re not even charging a fee. You’re going to have sex, so it’s time to forget your troubles and have some fun. But then you remember – you’ve had that awkward parental talk, you’ve sat through the sex-education class, and you might have even been watching BBC3’s embarrassed current series Unsafe about buying Sex in the City. condoms. You don’t need to be Maybe we’re Photo: andthatswhyyouresingle.com told again – you need just clinging some condoms. on to our oh so And so, we reach the British sense of first major hurdle of safe sex – prudishness, but I for one am plucking up the courage to buy shocked that over half of us still get some. embarrassed by rubber retail.
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Stylish sustainability
Beauty
The magic of catalytic clothing
Toxic makeup
Alice Burrow
solution to air quality will soon be available in stores at a price similar to fabric conditioner. The CatClo can be added in the normal laundry process. The nano-particles, which are 100 times smaller than the width of a human hair, will cling tightly to the fibre. It means the air-purifying ability could last up to 10 washes. One person in CatClo laden clothes can treat five grams of nitrogen oxide a day. “All citizens become part of the solution instead of being a part of the problem,” says Ecover. The first CatClo treated jeans unveiled in London in 2011 were followed by a series of fashion exhibitions staging a wider variety of CatClo dresses in Europe. “Within a few generations, sustainability will be a natural part of creating, or producing anything,” says Professor Storey. The underlying nano-technology
is already used in sunscreen and construction materials, “We already know how it works and we know its safe” says Professor Ryan.
The expression of fashion
The fashion industry is worth approximately £21 billion to our economy and it employs about 816,000 people. It is on par with the food and drink industry. “We all wear clothes,” said Alex McIntosh, “we all make a statement about who we are in the clothes that we buy and wear.” Grace Woodward, fashion stylist and television presenter, understands style more than most people. She believes that fashion “is a way in which we express ourselves and we have done since we started decorating ourselves with paint and mud.” The product is not pushing the
public to stop spending money and to stop taking pleasure in the things that people love for the sake of the environment, but the team identify and accept that consumerism is a way to break into the market.
The new generation of stylish sustainability
One of the key elements to the catalytic clothing concept is that it supports people’s need for fashion and consumerism with the aim of moulding this into a positive solution for pollution. Professor Storey, said “what we’ve tried to do with Catalytic Clothing is to have the conversation with the public before the technology gets there, so we can make a product that people will actually use.”
Rubber retail: a red-faced affair
Does the thought of buying condoms make you cringe? You’d think the endless school and government safe sex campaigns and all of the sex education shows that seem to feature on Channel 4 and BBC3 at least twice a year would have numbed our more
Victorian sensitivities, especially in the age of Fifty Shades of Grey. If anything I would have thought condoms had gone out of fashion in terms of embarrassment, it’s all about the latest bondage accessories these days – we’ve moved on. But apparently I’m wrong. Some people just can’t get over the fact that by buying condoms they’re advertising to the cashier, and the people around them, that they might be having sex in the near future, well, hopefully. Sure, you might not want the ins and outs (pun intended) of your sex life to be public knowledge, but the very fact that you, as a functioning human being might be going for a sideways jog is hardly a scandal. It’s completely normal to have sex, and completely
sensible to use a condom while doing so. My advice: get over it and grow up. However, there is one exception of why you might legitimately be embarrassed by the whole affair. The price. Here’s me thinking that condoms were extremely cheap to make and probably subsidised by the government to stop STDs spreading. Poor naive old me, I nearly died when I looked at that somewhat more exciting part of the chemist – it’s nearly a tenner for a pack of branded condoms. I mean everyone loves a bit of sex, but it almost doesn’t seem worth it – do Durex know we’ve just come out of a recession? Luckily, our friends at the University Health Service are always at hand with a pack of 10 condoms for free, so really, if you do buy condoms then you have every reason to be embarrassed; for wasting the cash that could be better spent on that new Rampant Rabbit you’ve been saving up for. Either way though, remember: Don’t be silly, wrap your willy!
The world of cheap, tatty designer knockoffs is no longer the preserve of coveted designer handbags. Counterfeit cosmetics are fast becoming a lucrative business, spreading like a nasty rash across the internet and claiming victims in the form of young women looking to find their favourite luxury cosmetics for bargain prices. Not only inferior in quality, these counterfeit cosmetics have been found to contain a variety of harmful substances. Luxury cosmetic brands such as MAC and Benefit are amongst those most frequently copied. With products that often retail above £20, makeup lovers turn to sites like eBay to track down these cosmetics at a bargain price. However, often they’re handing over money for cheap inferior copies. Counterfeit makeup is rife on the internet, selling for a small fraction of a price you’d typically pay for them in department stores and boutiques. Makeup isn’t the only source of counterfeit cosmetics. Rogue traders are also capitalising on the desirability of designer perfumes by offering cheap alternatives, claiming the difference to be unnoticeable. However, these cheap copies contain ingredients to match the price. Some have even been found to contain urine. Suddenly the extra £30/40 for the real thing seems attractive. Unlike their genuine counterparts, counterfeit fragrances can cause serious skin conditions like dermatitis. There is no regulation controlling counterfeit cosmetics, which means they often contain dangerous chemicals. Many buyers have, unsurprisingly, suffered severe allergic reactions to cosmetics bought unwittingly online. Some of these copy makeup products have been found to contain dangerous levels of lead and arsenic. The idea of applying these kinds of chemicals to your face and around your eyes is enough to put anybody off using makeup but sadly, most buyers simply aren’t aware they’re buying cheap copies. High-end cosmetic brands will usually only trade through their own websites, stores and official suppliers listed on their websites.
They will never stock their wares on eBay or frequently do discounted products. Should you decide to buy cosmetics off sites like eBay, always look to see if the seller has retained the original receipt and inspect their feedback thoroughly, counterfeit cosmetics are easily spotted through the quality of the actual product so you’ll probably find the angry complaints of buyers ripped off before you. Above all, be realistic about the pricing, high-end cosmetics are blisteringly expensive for a reason and something that retails for £20 is unlikely to be found for a fiver. The source of these counterfeit cosmetics is very questionable and therefore they won’t meet the same high ethical, testing and trade values of the brand they’re replicating. This also applies to fake designer clothing.
The £10 price tag probably seemed like a good idea at the time but when it drops off your shoulder a few weeks later, perhaps not. The selling of counterfeit products is a damaging business, costing some of the biggest designer houses millions every year. Take to the high street to find clothing and accessories ‘inspired’ by designers rather than shady back alley traders. Sellers of counterfeit cosmetics have no concern for the quality of the product or for your health, their only concern is money. Stay well away from this toxic makeup and save your money for the real thing or a cheaper high street alternative, both will have undergone vigorous testing and won’t leave you with nasty side effects. Above all remember that if it seems too good to be true, then unfortunately it probably is.
Competition
Sheffield’s best Movember tash
So boys, how are your moustaches coming along? To celebrate this fantastic month, we’re running a competition, with lots of fantastic prizes to give away. So we’re looking for the most entertaining snapshots of your Movember moustaches. Be it a handle bar, paint brush or a
horseshoe - we want to see. You can enter as many times as you’d like, just send your entry to the address below, with your name, age and the course you study. Entries close on December 1 at 6pm.
lifestyle@forgetoday.com
Friday November 16 2012 FORGE PRESS
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Fashion Food & Drink Health & Fitness Travel Giving Back Sex & Relationships Technology
Lifestyle & Travel Student Life
Men vs. Women: who’s the cleanest?
A recent survey has suggested university boys are cleaner than the girls, but can this really be true? Ben Cathrine The generic stereotype of men being messy slobs and making a trail of mess behind them whilst women are a group of sophisticated, clean, and neat individuals has been around for years. This has now been turned upside down according to Cosmopolitan magazine. The research carried out amongst students, by Resource Group UK, suggests that males studying at university are cleaner than the girls. As a male myself, I can’t help but think that women aren’t as tidy as the gender stereotype makes them out to be. Living in a student house is a prime example of the fact that men are possibly tidier and cleaner than women. Being one of six in a house of three males and three females, it’s safe to say that I’ve got a clear idea on this argument. The usual living room mess and piles of washing up are a mandatory part of any student house. Usually, it’s the girls that make the most fuss or palm everything off with the “I’ll do it later, it’s not that bad” excuse. But in my case it’s the complete
opposite, and safe to say I’m probably the one that moans the most about the mess they’ve created. When it’s my day to do the washing up, it’s done. I’ll also try and tidy the living room and kitchen on a whim, because, after all, a tidy house is a happy house. I believe girls literally are a whirlwind of stuff that gets dumped behind; if it’s not hair grips, its hair bands or the colossal amount of shoes that are dumped at the front door. The most amusing thing is when my male house mate dons the washing up gloves and does the chores in style, doing a better job than anyone in the house; Kim and Aggy eat your hearts out. With this in mind, Cosmopolitan state that 56 per cent of male students think that living in a clean environment leads to better academic grades. This would explain the deep clean of my room and the bathroom before any looming deadline. A new meaning to the phrase ‘a clean mind and fresh start.’ Cleanliness of a university campus and its facilities are a key factor in 87 per cent of a male students decision in where to become a university student,
where as the same applies to only 37 per cent of prospective female students. Fond memories of halls of residence spring to mind. The all male flat I lived in back in my Ranmoor first year days was always kept pretty tidy and we all mucked in when group chores needed doing. Messiness can instantly create an opinion of someone and when we all get ready for a night out we all tend to make an effort and look our best. On the whole, girls always plan what they’re wearing before you’ve even suggested going out, proving that in this department women are clean in appearance of what’s worn out, but guys, don’t be fooled; when you’ve ‘pulled,’ you never know what could be lurking behind this well dressed façade. It could be an abyss of mess and dirt. However, despite the fact I’ve attempted to prove that men are cleaner than woman, I’m sure us gents will still get nagged at for leaving the loo seat up. (Even if it is a clean one).
Food
Relationships
Cheap Eat Help! I need somebody Lifestyle’s Vietnamese-style Prawn Salad Can you turn up to a party alone?
Robyn Lewes Here is the eternal problem everyone faces at least once in their uni years. Your friend has invited you to their party, but you’ve got no one to go with. What do you do? Make some excuse and sit in all night picturing how much fun everyone else is having? Drag along a friend? Go on your own but then get so shy you wallflower it out all evening? Basically, there is no straight forward answer to this question: How easy will you find going to a party where you know the grand total of one person? It really depends on who you are. We all know those people who can walk into any party and just be the life and soul. If you are that person, kudos. Really. But for the other 99.9 per cent of people, it may take some forethought and reassurance that everyone isn’t going to take one look at you and ignore you for the rest of the evening. The key thing to keep in mind is that when you walk through that door, everyone there is the same as you, they just happen to know a few more names. Generally, uni is the best place to go to parties where you only know minimal people because there’s such a communal atmosphere. Think about it, if you held a house party,
would you sit and talk to your house mates all evening, or would you circulate and find out some interesting things from people? If you are generally a nervous person in these kinds of situations, it’s important you communicate that to the person who invited you. Get them to introduce you to friendly people who will bring you out of your shell a little and put you at ease. If you overhear a conversation about your favourite band, politely nudge your way in – things in common is always a winner because you will instantly be up in that person’s estimation without even trying. Plus, it will also be easier to get involved rather than ending up with a group of people talking about how awesome weed is when you’ve never even held a cigarette. Awkward nodding and fake laughter a few seconds after everyone else laughed is a slight giveaway that you don’t quite belong in the conversation. Then again, why would you want to be in that conversation when you might find people you could actually be friends with. You never know who you are going to meet in this kind of situation and that is one of the best things, keeping a positive attitude will instantly make you look brighter and be more approachable. Also, don’t be convinced you will have to do all the work; people will want to talk to you! Especially after a few tipples which loosens the conversation. However, keeping conversation light and not getting too drunk may be key. As long as people know you are friendly and can take a joke you’re pretty much golden. Relax.
Having a nutritious diet is the core to keeping us healthy. This simple dish is an adaption from the traditional Vietnamese prawn salad.
Ingredients:
by Chloe Chen
• Total calories: 250 • Preparing time: five minutes • Cost: less than £2
- Vegetables of your choice: I would suggest carrots, • Serving: 1 person cabbage or bean sprouts - Prawns - I used half a Thai prawn (cooked) from Tesco - Olive oil (3g) - 5-in-1 Chinese pepper (Pepper, cinnamon powder, star anise, garlic power, onion powder ) - ¼ Onion - ¼ Lime - Spring onion and chopped coriander (optional)
Method:
1. Mix together the spices and shrimps in a bowl, set a side for one minute 2. Dice your vegetables mixtures and onions 3. Heat your pan until it is hot, add the olive oil. Add in the onion and prawn-spices mixture, stir for about 10 seconds 4. Add in the vegetables when you see juice coming out of the prawn. Merge vegetables into the shrimp sauce, stir the mixture for another one to two minutes until vegetables are softened 5. Move the salad into a plate, squeeze lime juice evenly on the top. You could also sharpen the flavour by adding the spring onion and chopped coriander
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ON WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 21 FORGE MEDIA WILL BE PROVIDING LIVE COVERAGE OF THE NUS LONDON DEMO:
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COFFEE BREAK overheard
Overheard something funny this fortnight? Have your friends said something really stupid? Then tweet @FPCoffeeBreak, with the quote and location of overheard, or email letters@forgetoday.com.
in sheffield
Friday November 16 2012 FORGE PRESS
@FPCoffeeBreak /forgepress
Photograph of the fortnight: Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights
your
Immortalise your space cadet tendencies.
On Crookes Valley Road: Guy: “She keeps asking for sex and I just can’t deal with it now.” Photo: Shakil Adil/AP Photo
On This day 67 yEARS AGO:
UNESCO was founded in london
“The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is a UN Specialized Agency which contributes to peace and security by promoting collaboration among nations through education, culture, sciences, and communication.” UNESCO was founded after the end of the Second World War in 1945, although the foundations for such an organisation started in 1921 at the League of Nations resolution and. created on January 4 1922, was originally called the International Committee on Intellectual Cooperation (ICIC). Subsequent agencies were created in 1925 to support ICIC,
one being the International Institute for Intellectual Cooperation (IIIC) and the other International Bureau of Education (IBE). However, the work of these predecessor organizations was largely interrupted by the onset of World War II. UNESCO was created on November 16 1945 during the United Nations Conference for the establishment of an educational and cultural organization (ECO/CONF) and constitution was signed by 37 countries, and a Preparatory Commission was established. “In a world which urgently requires global visions of sustainable development, poverty eradication, and
Have you seen it yet?
Coffee Break’s Word of the Fortnight:
YouTube it: Ezio Auditore, alive and well?
Quaff, verb:
Pronounciation: kwoff 1. to drink a beverage, especially an intoxicating one, copiously and with hearty enjoyment. e.g. We spent the whole evening quaffing ale. noun 2. an act or instance of quaffing. 3. a beverage quaffed.
Another fortnight has passed and Coffee Break still finds itself turning to YouTube to fill the hours of boredom. In case you have lived in a broom cupboard recently, or haven’t read Forge Press’ little sister Fuse, the Assassin’s Creed franchise has recently released Assassin’s Creed 3. Ezio-less but still with Desmond, the latest installment is just as thrilling. However, a real assassin hunts the streets of Italy. Meet the real assassins and marvel. YouTube search: ‘Assassin’s Creed 3 in Real Life’
Origin: 1520 (implied in quaffer), perhaps onomatopoeic, or perhaps from Low Ger. quassen “to overindulge (in food and drink),” with -ssmisread as -ff-. The noun is from 1579.
Random Fact of the Week: The three wealthiest families in the world have more assets than the combined wealth of the fortyeight poorest nations.
Photo: svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a002600/ a002680/
intercultural dialogue, UNESCO works to create the conditions for cooperation among civilizations, cultures and peoples.”
Irina Bokova, current Director-General of UNESCO
This week marked the beginning of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights. For Jains, Diwali marks the attainment of nirvana by Mahavira in 527 BCE. Arya Samajists, celebrate this day as Death Anniversary of Swami Dayanand Saraswati. Diwali involves the lighting of small clay lamps filled with oil to signify the triumph of good over evil. Firecrackers are burst because it is believed that it drives away evil spirits. However, one of the most important elements of Diwali is the spiritual meaning of “the awareness of the inner light”. This picture shows a Pakistani Hindu girl holding a lit earthen lamp, while decorating an area of her house with candles, to celebrate Diwali.
Edible deodorant? The newst fad hitting the US by storm Sheffield has hills. A lot of hills, in fact, and if you are one of those unlucky people blessed with an overactive cooling system then hills mean sweat. Nobody likes smelling of BO, and when you’re cosy-ing up in the Mappin lecture theatres, your friends don’t like you smelling either. However, the Belgium-based manufacturer Beneo has solved the problem of on-themove deodorant. Sweets. It sounds mad but Beneo have managed to create Deo Perfume
Candy, which contains geraniol and aromatises as it evaporates through the skin – genius. “The fragrant packets of Deo Perfume Candy bring you the sweet taste of the roses as a delicious treat of your senses. They take the pleasure of enjoying a delicious candy to a whole new level,” Deo Perfume Candy says on its website. However, experts are a little less enthusiastic and with the fragrant sweets sold out in the US, and currently unavailable in the UK, it may be a while before we can run to uni smelling of roses.
The human hamster imitation, business man style
We’ve all had a few after work drinks in an effort to wind down, to relax after a long, hard day. You know the feeling. The day has dragged, you’re tired but you have compeleted an essay, and so you feel awesome. Epic even. Off you toddle to the pub (or snazzy bar if you’re a business man) and enjoy a cool refreshing pint/cocktail. However, one Japanese business man might have had a few too many before trying to make his way home via London’s infamous tube system. The poor man was filmed trying to desperately walk down the up escalotor at Tottenham Court Road tube station, and despite attempts to rescure him the man continued to trudge along on his interpretation of a treadmill. Several passers-by tried to pull the man off his hamster wheel, but to no avail as he determindedly contiuned to try and go down. His laptop bag is seen to be
flailing widly at his side, whilst his feet are moving in that odd duck-like, floppy ankled fashion that only drunk people seem to be able to pull off and remain standing.
Luckily for us, in this modern world of smart phones and
YouTube, Sam Napper, 27, managed to capture the entire incident on his phone (which is surprisingly good quality). “I was making my way home after dinner when we quite literally bumped into this chap on the escalators between the Northern and Central lines at Tottenham Court Road station,” he explained. “At first I thought he was playing silly buggers with a few of his FX Trader mates but when we saw his dogged stagger and realised he was alone, I knew we were about to witness something truly brilliant. “I had no idea where he came from but I had to hand it to him, the man knew where he was going. One by one, concerned commuters tried to steer him in the right direction, to no avail. Our bespectacled hero just kept walking.” Eventually, the beleagured man was rescued by a helpful commuter who pressed the emergency stop button and gently steered him the right direction. And he was never seen again.
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FORGE PRESS Friday Novem b e r 1 6 2 0 1 2
COFFEE BREAK
@FPCoffeeBreak /forgepress
Puzzle Page: sudokus E
with Holly Wilkinson
H
M E
A
A
D I
S
R
U Y
D
M Quote of the fortnight
“
If we could sniff or swallow something that would, for five or six hours each day, abolish our solitude as individuals, atone us with our fellows in a glowing exaltation of affection and make life in all its aspects seem not only worth living, but divinely beautiful and significant, and if this heavenly, worldtransfiguring drug were of such a kind that we could wake up next morning with a clear head and an undamaged constitution-then, it seems to me, all our problems (and not merely the one small problem of discovering a novel pleasure) would be wholly solved and earth would become paradise.
”
Aldous Huxley
lecture puzzle Across 2. A Trojan hero, protagonist of Virgil’s Aeneid (6) 4. Asian country (5) 7. Plant often used for flavour when cooking (4) 8. Knot, front part of a vessel (3) 10. Home of the American football team the Buccaneers (the Bucs) (5) 12. West African country (5) 14. Theatrical performer (5) 15. Temporary respite, a suspension of hostilities (5) 17. Mice-like wild rodent (4) 18. Granter of wishes (5) 19. Very swift, quick (5) 22. Venomous snake (5) 24. A miniature representation, a poser (5) 26. Composition for two performers (4) 27. Continuation of the collar on a suit (5) 29. Japanese mercenary agent (5) 30. Asian country (5) 32. Breed of a dog championed by Queen Elizabeth II (5) 33. Tavern, public house (3) 35. Tight, stretched (4)
36. West African country (5) 37. Disorderly crowd (6) Down 1. A pirate (9) 2. Orange fruit (7) 3. Cry, weep convulsively (3) 4. Seize suddenly (3) 5. Morbidly drowsy, dull or heavy (9) 6. A treeless, grassy plain (7) 7. Old woman, a witch (3) 9. River feature, a cascade (9) 11. Le ____, French for morning (5) 13. Ben ___, highest peak in Great Britain (5) 16. Listen without the speaker’s knowledge (9) 20. Breed of dog (9) 21. Loft (5) 23. White stone (9) 24. A shackle, handcuffs (7) 25. One who gives or bestows (5) 28. Framework pattern, pastry top (7) 31. Antonym or for, towards the stern (3) 34. Seed vessel with hooks (3) 35. A high rocky outcrop (3)
Imagine this is a top view over the garden with hemispherical stones arranged in it in a sun-like pattern and the white paths around them. Can you walk through every inch of this path’s pattern following the rule of always crossing to a new circle at every point of contact, and thus keeping on, not turning back? Find the answer online at: www.forgetoday.com/category/coffee-break
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Friday November 16 2012 FORGE PRESS
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FORGE PRESS Friday Novem b e r 1 6 2 0 1 2
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Matchdebating
SPORT
Debate: After his best year ever, does Andy Murray have a real claim to be the world’s best player?
Murray’s magic puts Andy still has a long him at the pinnacle way to go to the top
Matthew Smith It’s not been a bad year for Muzza. The first Briton to make a Wimbledon final since 427 BC, an Olympic gold medal (plus a silver in the doubles), and then the crowning glory of a thoroughly deserved victory at the US Open, before cementing his place amongst the very best with a last four appearance at the ATP Tour Finals at the O2 last week. Andy Murray has come further than any player on the planet this year in terms of temperament, skill and the ability to get results, in addition to his pre-existing world class ability to return with power and placement, to deliver a first serve with extreme bite, and his brutal, no-compromise nature.
“No other player in the world can win in so many different ways” In fact, I genuinely think that it could now be argued that Andy Murray is the world’s best player. So I will. Much of the reasoning behind this extends to Murray’s support staff. On New Year’s Eve last year, the Scot appointed Ivan Lendl as his new coach; a man whose only genuine personality difference from
Select BUCS results
All results from November 14 BASKETBALL Northumbria University Men’s 3rds 81-98 University of Sheffield Men’s 1stsIS BADMINTON University of Sheffield Women’s 1sts 1-7 University of Leeds Women’s 1stsI
Murray is that he’s Czech. Both had lost their first four Grand Slam finals. Lendl understood Murray’s psyche better than pretty much anyone, and has engineered his change into a great player. Anyone who watched Murray’s two big victories this year will have seen two very different types of victory. At the Olympics, Murray demolished Roger Federer, who admittedly had beaten the home favourite so convincingly at Wimbledon weeks earlier. In this game, he showed his untopped ability to dictate the pace of a game, made so few unforced errors they could be counted on one hand, and demonstrated the skills that have led Paul Annacone to call him “the best counterpuncher on tour today”. Murray won in straight sets against the man who throughout the late 2 0 0 0 s was the
when the Serb looked to be gaining the upper hand, simply refusing to be rolled over, before at 2am British time, he finally put to rest the ghosts of Fred Perry and Virginia Wade (Wade isn’t dead but you know what I mean). No other player in the world of tennis can win competitions in so many different ways as Andy Murray. Whatever the odds, he will always come up w i t h
best grass court player. Not anymore. Then, at Flushing Meadows, Murray beat Novak Djokovic, who is apparently world number one, in five sets, where his defensive skills came more to the fore; waiting for unforced errors, doggedly refusing to be aced, and
something. And that is the mark of a true great. Murray undoubtedly still has a lot of work to do in 2013, especially in his clay court game. But with Nadal’s injury meaning the Spaniard is no longer the player he was, Murray is now amongst the favourites for the French Open. For me, he is the favourite for virtually every tournament that he plays in, and to end 2013 as world number one. 2012 was such a good year for the Scot, there simply seems to be no way he can do anything but get better.
FOOTBALL
NETBALL
University of Sheffield Men’s 1sts 5-1 Leeds Met 4thsI
Northumbria University Women’s 4ths 24-50 University of Sheffield Women’s 1stsI
world’s
GOLF University of Central Lancaster Mixed 3rds 2-4 University of Sheffield Mixed 1stsI HOCKEY University of Nottingham Men’s 2nds 1-5 University of Sheffield Men’s 1stsI LACROSSE University of Sheffield Men’s 1sts 9-8 University of Manchester Men’s 1stsI Nottingham Trent Women’s 1sts 3-23 University of Sheffield Women’s 1stsI
RUGBY LEAGUE University of Bradford Men’s 1sts 16-46 University of Sheffield Men’s 1stsI
Ben Catherine “I would have liked to have finished the year with a win but unfortunately it wasn’t to happen. It’s been the best year of my career so far. I’ll look back and take all the negatives and turn them to positives,” explained
Murray a f t e r gracefully losing against Roger Federer at the ATP World Tour Series Final in London. It certainly has been the best year of Murray’s career so far but I wouldn’t go as far and say he’s the best in the world. This year he finally won a first Grand Slam with that epic five set victory over Djokovic
Select BUCS fixtures November 21
and he claimed that wonderful gold medal for great Britain in the men’s Olympics singles against Federer and follwowed it up with a silver in the Mixed Doubles with Laura Robson. All that in the same year as reaching the Wimbledon Final and emotionally breaking down in front of millions of people, finally endearing him to the British people, making Andy Murray a British hero in
personality. But watching the all time greats of Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic, Murray just doesn’t have a consistently powerful serve and the magic on the court when he needs it. Being privileged enough to work at the Olympic tennis, the home support for Murray was pretty intense, after all Henman Hill has now been renamed Murray Mound. But the Scot does have stiff competition from the hardcore Federer and Nadal fans that engulf any tennis championship. Watching Djokovic in the final of the ATP Finals, being 0-3 down in the first set to Federer and then
going on to win 7-6 7-5, no one else could pull this off apart from Djokovic. If it was Murray 0-3 down in the first set, he just doesn’t have the determination to turn his game around. With that in mind, the recent US Open final was pretty epic with Murray coming out on top. As the end of the tennis
“He just doesn’t have the determination to turn his game around” season approaches, Murray finishes the year ranked third which is impressive for someone who hasn’t yet reached the peak of his career. But we can’t forget that Rafa Nadal finished the season fourth despite being injured for most of it. Had he been fit for more of the year then Murray would unquestionably have had a far tougher time of it. With Nadal being injured for the season, we’ve seen more of Murray than usual (potentially being a ticket to at least the semi final of a tournament) so with the return of Nadal to the court next season, the fight will recommence for the race to number one seed and all at the expense of awesome tennis for us fans. Better luck next year Murray.
HOCKEY
FOOTBALL
University of Sheffield Men’s 1sts v. Newcastle University Men’s 1sts, Goodwin, 17:00
University of Sheffield Men’s 1sts v. Leeds Trinity University College Men’s 1sts, TBC, TBC
RUGBY UNION University of Liverpool Men’s 1sts v. University of Sheffield Men’s 1sts, 14:00
RUGBY UNION
BASKETBALL
University of Sheffield Women’s 1sts 37-7 University of Manchester Women’s 1stsI
University of Sheffield Women’s 1sts v. University of Hull Women’s 1sts, Goodwin, 18:00
TENNIS
FOOTBALL
University of Sheffield Women’s 1sts v. University of Leeds Women’s 1sts, Goodwin, 13:45
University of Sheffield Men’s 1sts 12-0 Teeside University Men’s 1stsI
University of Sheffield Women’s 1sts v. York St. John University Women’s 1sts, Norton, 14:00
University of Sheffield Men’s 1sts v. University of Central Lancashire Men’s 1sts, Goodwin, 13:45I
November 28 FENCING
GOLF University of Sheffield Mixed 1sts v. Durham University Mixed 1sts, Hillsborough Golf Club, 10:00 HOCKEY University of Sheffield Men’s 1sts v. Liverpool John Moores Men’s 1sts, TBC, TBC RUGBY UNION University of Sheffield Men’s 1sts v. Nottingham Trent University Men’s 1sts, TBC, TBC
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SPORT
Friday November 16 2012 FORGE PRESS
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Triathlon club basking in Olympic glow Wednesday wobbling Adam Hancock
On a freezing Tuesday night in the Firth Park area of Sheffield, the warm summer glow of London 2012 seems a long time ago. If you ignore the temperatures, however, you’ll find that the legacy of the games is on display. A large group of fitness fanatics are pacing a local athletics track during a weekly Sheffield Triathlon Club training session. Triathlon is a sport which has caught the imagination of the public after the medal winning performances of Alastair and Jonathan Brownlee in London. Sheffield Triathlon Club has seen an influx of new members in recent months, as the club’s vice-chairwoman Victoria Lawhead explains: “I’ve had to reply to over 150 emails since August, all asking about joining the club. I think the Olympics have raised the profile of the sport. “It has always been seen as quite a tough sport and people have been put off it, but this
Photo: br1dotcome/Flickr
Photo: Sheffield Triathlon Club
come to a training session from time to time. “It just makes training easier when you are with other people, especially when the weather is bad,” explains Lawhead. Tonight’s training session is based on the track. The club also have weekly swimming sessions at Ponds Forge. Many members have completed several triathlons; however it seems the majority are novices who have been inspired to take up the sport after the Olympics. As membership increases, the club is looking to expand. They aim to train as many new coaches as possible in order to compete with their wave of new members. After one evening observing training, and with members wearily walking past me after a tough session, it’s clear to see that triathlon really is a tough sport. Yet the welcoming mood at Sheffield Triathlon Club ensures you’ll have a smile on your face despite the pain.
perception has changed since the games”. The sport consists of three disciplines; swimming, cycling and running. An Olympic distance triathlon sees competitors face a 1.5 km swim, a 40 km bike ride and a 10 km run. These disciplines follow directly after each other, with each transition carefully managed to save time. Sheffield Triathlon club was formed 26 years ago and is one of the oldest clubs in the country. They have an impressive membership list, including 2011 male Paratriathlete of the year; Steve Judge. As well as local members, the club encourages University students to get involved. Students aren’t required to pay a membership fee and only have to pay four pounds each time they attend a training session. The clubs is very welcoming and friendly, encouraging people to attend training as little or often as they like. “It’s very relaxed and low key. We have serious members and those who just want to
Sheffield Hallam 2nds 14 University of Sheffield 2nds 30 Peter Grieve In clear conditions, Hallam started the match as the stronger side. After a short period of Hallam dominance, the University pack won a series of penalties which they kept kicking deeper into opposition territory. This platform gave captain Moss Goodwin the opportunity to charge down Hallam’s clearance attempt which enabled fullback Richard Suddens to draw first blood by scoring in the corner after some simple hands down
the line. Soon after, scrum half Danny Rapallo latched on to his opposite man’s mistake from a scrum to turn the ball over. One phase later he made a half-break to feed Eoghan Barry to crash over the line for Sheffield’s second try of the match. Fly half Will Lamb made no mistake with the boot to start what would continue to be a formidable kicking display. Hallam were not going to roll over easily, and after kicking a penalty deep into University’s 22, the home team found themselves battling to not concede. For 10 minutes the Hallam attack crashed into Uni’s defensive line like waves onto a cliff. After a try saving tackle from Richard Knowles, Sheffield won a penalty to clear their lines. This defensive
confidence soon won another penalty for Will Lamb to kick at goal, making the score 15-0. Hallam responded strongly, having a won a scrum close to Sheffield’s try line, their number eight bulldozed over to bring the scores to 15-7. However, on the stroke of half time, Lamb booted another penalty giving University of Sheffield an 18-7 edge over their local rivals going back to the changing rooms. University started the second half with continued intensity, and straight away their pack drove over in the corner for another try. Hallam had come back hungrier, and a period of midfield play with neither side asserting dominance, they broke the line to score a try under the posts – bringing the score to 23-14.
Matthew Smith Two successive wins at the end of October proved to be a false dawn for Sheffield Wednesday as they continue to struggle at the wrong end of the Championship. On-loan midfielder Ross Barkley has proven a key figure for the Owls, scoring twice in a 3-0 win at Ipswich, however his contract means he could be recalled by Everton at any time. Their season could perhaps be summed up by Dave Jones’ quote after the 2-1 win against Peterborough: “The day was dull, everything about it was dull”. This second consecutive win lifted Wednesday up the league, however the run was ended by a comprehensive 0-2 home loss against Blackpool, before they were unable to stop Middlesbrough going top of the Championship, beaten 3-1 at the Riverside, despite Gary Madine’s first league goal this season. Going into the international break, Wednesday are 20th in the league, three points above the relegation zone.
Blades blunted but still second Photo: Sheffield Triathlon Club
Men’s rugby seconds earn impressive win over local rivals at Abbeydale Men’s Rugby Union BUCS Northern 2B League
Football nPower Championship
As expected in a local derby the game became scrappy, with both sides regularly turning each other over. Elijah Kitooke made the tackle of the match by smashing Hallam’s biggest ball carrier and ripping the ball in one swift movement. Not long after, half backs Rapallo and Lamb made individual breaks to put Hallam on the back foot. Lamb scored the final points of the day with a conversion: When the ball popped out of the back of a Hallam scrum, Joe Stevens demolished the other scrum half, dislodging the ball and enabling captain Goodwin to ground the ball to cap off an impressive display by the 2nd XV.
Football nPower League One Matthew Smith Danny Wilson was left fuming after his Sheffield United side lost their unbeaten start to the league season with a 1-0 defeat at MK Dons, Shaun Williams scoring a late penalty. “I’m livid with the penalty, it’s an absolutely disgraceful decision”, said Wilson. However, the Blades continue to chase automatic promotion, with Williams’ penalty the only goal conceded in their last five games. Three successive 1-0 were picked up at the end of October, against Preston, Walsall and Portsmouth. They also fought out a 0-0 draw away to Paolo di Canio’s Swindon, the Italian fanning the flames by saying he never respected Wilson when he played under the Blades boss at Sheffield Wednesday. Currently United are second in League One, five points behind league leaders Tranmere Rovers. The Blades are also into the second round of the FA Cup, after a 1-2 win at Bristol Rovers.
Forge Sport’s Heroes and Villains of the fortnight STEVEN GERRARD
NOVAK DJOKOVIC
ADAM THOMSON
DAVID HAYE
The Liverpool and England captain took to the field against Sweden on Wednesday to win his 100th cap for his country.
The Serb took on and beat the other seven best players in the world at the ATP Tour Finals and proved his status as world number one.
The New Zealand flanker has been cited for stamping on Scotland’s Alasdair Strokosch in their opening Autumn International.
Not content with ruining his reputation in a press conference brawl earlier this year, Haye this week appeared in I’m a Celebrity. The shame.
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Headingley upset as cricketers hammer Leeds Met BUCS Indoor Cricket Will Aitkenhead Univeristy of Sheffield Cricket Club continued their sensational indoor form this season with comprehensive victories over Teeside, and hot favourites Leeds Metropolitan, at Headingley last Saturday. Sheffield now sit top of the North Eastern division, remaining unbeaten with five wins from five games. Having already won their first three games last month Sheffield were confident heading into the day, despite missing all rounder Mark Williams due to personal reasons. Captain Chris Murrall gave a debut to first year Henry Eldred for the tie against Teeside as they were put into bat. Sam Hickinbottom and Orban Holdgate took 11 off the first over before a direct hit saw Holdgate run out for eight. Will Aitkenhead joined Hickinbottom and they struggled to score to start with as the Teeside bowlers were excellent with the new ball. The introduction of spin meant the runs began to flow, however, and some excellent gap management from the two left handers saw them take the score
to 49/1 at the half way stage. Aitkenhead reached his 25 in a classy innings from the ‘keeperbatsman and Hickinbottom struck a huge six down the ground to retire on 30*. Skipper Murrall (19*) and debutant Eldred (13*) continued the momentum and Sheffield reached a daunting score of 111/1 from their 10 overs. In reply, Teeside never got going as Sheffield were superb with the ball and in the field. Holdgate struck with a direct hit run out before Hickinbottom claimed a wicket to make it 9/2. That soon became 26/5 as Murrall took a world class one handed reaction catch at square leg off the bowling of Chris Hooper. Two more suicidal run outs effectively handed the game to Sheffield. Aitkenhead completed the rout with a final run out as Teeside were dismissed for just 30 inside five overs. It was the perfect warm up for Sheffield ahead of the biggest game in the division against the MCCU side Leeds Metropolitan. The Leeds side was packed with players who have first class experience, including Lancashire contracted Luis Reece, the odds were stacked against Sheffield. Murrall won the toss, for the first time this season, and elected to change the winning formula
and bowl first. It proved to be an inspired decision as Sheffield dominated proceedings from the first over. Just 13 came from the first two overs and the pressure told as star man Reece was run out thanks to a direct hit from Murrall at square leg. Hickinbottom then ran the other opener out before Eldred took a stunning onehanded diving catch at mid on off Hooper to make it 27/3. Remarkably another run out in the same over made it 28/4 from five overs. With Eldred off the field bandaging up the cut from his diving effort, Murrall introduced himself to the attack and bowled a miserly over that went for just seven. Eldred returned and Holdgate struck with another run out to make it 51/5. Leeds Met’s final man struck a couple of boundaries but Eldred soon got revenge as Murrall snaffled the catch at square leg. Incredibly Leeds Met had been dismissed for just 59 inside nine overs. It wasn’t over yet though and Sheffield knew that they would have to bat well to ensure victory. They did just that and took 17 off the first two overs, although Holdgate was run out in the process. Aitkenhead and Hickinbottom continued their fine partnership
though and took the score to 48/1 from five overs. By the time Hickinbottom retired on 26, Sheffield needed just two to win and captain Murrall had no trouble in knocking them off. It was a terrific all round effort from the Sheffield side who are now firm favourites to quailfy for the regional finals stage. Their remaining fixtures are against Lancaster and Central Lancashire on December 2 where two more wins will see them qualify. Murrall said afterwards, “The guys were brilliant once again. We came up against two good cricket teams and beat them both
Orban Holdgate bats for Sheffield
convincingly. We’re all looking forward to the last round now and we’ve got a good chance to qualify for the finals for the second year running.” They followed this up with a win over Sheffield Friends on Monday night. They have now won 11 out of the 12 games they have played this season in all competitions and also sit top of the Monday night South Yorkshire league. They will hope they can continue this form in the remaining BUCS games, and into Varsity games beginning on March 12.
Photo: Josh Rodgers
Agony for hockey in penalty loss Uni ease past Hallam Women’s Hockey Northern Conference Cup University of Sheffield 2nds 3 Sheffield Hallam 2nds 2 William Stuttard
The men’s cyclists climb towards victory
Women’s Hockey BUCS Northern 1A League University of Sheffield 1sts 1 University of Durham 2nds 1 (Durham won 7-6 on penalties) David Street Sheffield Women’s Hockey first team pushed Durham all the way, but tragically lost out on penalties. From the outset, Durham passed the ball, kept possession well and created several good chances. Sheffield’s passing was falling short and when combined with Durham’s decisive interceptions, they struggled to get beyond the centre line. Sure enough, the first goal fell to Durham. Sheffield were unable to get in any meaningful tackles
and the Durham forward’s superb shot flew into the net to put Durham ahead. From the restart, you would have been forgiven for writing Sheffield off; to their credit, they managed to retain the ball better and put together some decent passes. Towards the end of the half Sheffield mustered some more attacks but Durham were always a threat and Sheffield will have been relieved to get to the break only one goal down. Sheffield started the second half brightly. Rachel Drohan won a short corner, which was well struck by Jessica Kennedy. The keeper was well beaten and Sheffield drew level. The tempo of the game increased and Durham created several good passages of play. However their attacks came to nothing and as the half came to a close Durham had several
Photo: David Street great chances to win the game. However, Sheffield’s defence stood firm and Alice Mellar in goal was in fine form. Just before full-time Durham were inches away from scoring. The ball looped towards goal leaving the keeper powerless, however it drifted wide of the post. The game entered goldengoal extra time. Both teams had chances, Durham with more possession. Alice Williams almost put Isabel Millar through, but in the end it came to nothing. In the second period, Durham upped the tempo further but Sheffield defended well. With neither team able to break the deadlock, the game went to penalties. In the end Durham won the shootout, and on balance it was no less than they deserved, though Sheffield will be satisfied with their display.
Uni pulled off an upset to beat local rivals Hallam by a scoreline that did not accurately reflect their dominance. Hallam were limited to counterattack hockey, and Uni impressed with some fluid passing hockey which led to a couple of short corners. It was well into the first half when Uni’s fifth short corner broke the deadlock and put them into a deserved lead. Amy Izzard finished after a well worked short corner that had the Hallam defence in knots. It was only the Hallam keeper that kept the score 1-0 at the break. Uni came out after half time and sustained pressure on the
Hallam goal. The second goal didn’t take long to come. A great fast paced passing move was finished off by Anna Stonham after a goalkeeping mistake. The modest crowd showed their appreciation with a rendition of some Varsity chanting. Hallam attempted to reply to being two down and had a couple of corners themselves but some resolute defending from Claire Pearce and Emily Lawton prevented them breaking through. Uni extended their lead to 3-0 after a Hallam deflection from a Sarah Lambert cross hit the net. A simple short corner routine from Hallam got them one back with 10 minutes to go. The Cup always creates drama and a second short corner routine put Hallam one behind. The tension was unbearable as Uni looked to control possession and run down the clock. There were shouts of relief mixed with the celebration at the final whistle.
Froch feeling fit for fight
Continued from back page “He’s a tough fighter but he’s been beaten by someone I’ve already beaten easily (Glengoffe Johnson). This is my ninth world title fight on the spin and I’m feeling really fit and that’s down mainly to the training I’ve been doing in Sheffield and the team behind me.” Froch said. Established in 2002, the English Institute of Sport looks to develop elite athletes. The facility is reknowned for its high quality equipment and technology. Many Britsh athletes were based at EIS ahead of the London 2012 Olympics, with several foreign squads using the facilities ahead of the games. Oylmpic gold medalist Nicola Adams also uses the facilites
at EIS. She won the first ever women’s boxing gold medal as the sport made its Olympic debut in London. Froch is hoping that the EIS winning streak will continue when he takes on Mach. Born in Pennsylvania, 32-yearold Mach is hoping to upset the odds by stripping Froch of his world title in his first fight outside the US. Froch, however, remains confident after a carefully managed preparation programme at EIS. Despite his strong Nottingham roots, it seems Sheffield’s already bustling boxing scene can lay claim to nurturing the exploits of yet another world-class operator.
Friday November 16 2012 FORGE PRESS
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Narrow win keeps rugby union on early course for promotion
Photo: Andrey Vasilyev
Uni continue their push at the top of the league, although errors made things harder against determined opposition
Men’s Rugby Union BUCS Northern 1A University of Sheffield 1sts 24 University of Hull 1sts 22 Matthew Smith This performance could be their poorest of the season so far, with especially poor mistakes in defence, but what is important is that the University of Sheffield’s men’s rugby team remains unbeaten in the league and top of the table after a narrow win over Hull at Norton. Things started badly for the home side, as Hull made all the early running, and breached the black and gold defence with a try with the first major play of the game; however, the conversion was badly missed – the kicking would prove a crucial factor throughout the contest. Sheffield’s response was immediate and effective, as they scored three tries in the next 15
minutes. A penalty was kicked for touch; from the resulting line-out, the ball broke to Stuart Rogers who got the ball down through a mass of bodies. The conversion was good from captain Andrew Magowan, who was virtually perfect with his feet all day, to put Sheffield into a narrow lead. A symmetrical move minutes later turned Sheffield’s two point lead into a nine point gap. On the opposite side of the pitch to the previous score – Magowan kicked a penalty to the left corner this time; and from the line-out and forward drive, prop Jake Titherington landed the try. Magowan’s kick hit the post as it went over, but these narrow margins were going in Sheffield’s favour, as they led 14-5. On 15 minutes, Magowan used his hands to score this time, intercepting a loose Hull pass and streaking the length of the pitch to score under the posts, giving himself an easy opportunity to add another two points. Sheffield were flowing now, a
good cross-field move found fullback Matt Cooper on the right wing, however he was forced out of play near the corner. Hull were by no means out the game however, and numerous missed tackles by the Sheffield backs allowed Hull to grab a second try, which was also unconverted. Sheffield continued to dominate the midfield until the break, Will Maundrel and Tom Maynard both making impressive interceptions and turnovers, whilst Andy Hodgson and Matt Jamieson fed Jonathon Mattey who almost scored, but was forced into touch at the last moment. The closest Sheffield came to extending the score however came on the half hour, when Magowan’s grubber kick found Hodgson; but he fumbled the ball and dropped it on the try line. Nevertheless, Sheffield looked comfortable with a 21-10 lead at half-time. Things became an awful lot less comfortable in the second half as the visitors stormed into the lead with two tries in two minutes.
Hull applied heavy pressure right from the restart, their lack of tactics and skill more than made up for by their gargantuan brawn. They also started to win line-outs, after Sheffield had won virtually every single one in the first 40 minutes. On 54 minutes, the breakthrough came, the Hull scrum half escaping to score in the corner. The conversion, like Magowan’s kick in the first period, hit the post; unlike Magowan’s kick, however, it rebounded out, not over. Hull were now six points behind. A minute later they were back in front, breaking away immediately from the Sheffield restart. At long last, a Hull conversion was good, and the visitors were threatening an upset, leading 22-21. Magowan came riding to the rescue, and scored the final three points of the encounter. A penalty was conceded by Hull for an offside to the centre right of the posts, and the Northern Irishman made no mistake.
Sheffield continued to be quick on the press, but defensive errors continued to come, and a high tackle by Hodgson put his side under the cosh. Hull looked good to score, but a wayward pass found the grateful arms of Patrick Hardy and Sheffield had gotten away with another one. In the final quarter of an hour, Sheffield managed to negate Hull’s threat, the best tackle coming from a last ditch Thibault effort. Sheffield had a good late chance to extend their advantage, but Magowan’s magic boots vanished, and he screwed a relatively simple central penalty kick badly to the right of the posts.
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Fierce Froch steeled for Mack attack
DOT COM
Ahead of his world title fight this Saturday, Forge Press speaks to Carl Froch at his Sheffield training base
Danny Wayne Armstrong Boxer Carl Froch has been making preparations for his latest world title fight at Sheffield’s English Institute of Sport in Attercliffe and rates their state-of-the-art facilities as some of the world’s best. “They’re brilliant,” announced Froch, who has been beaten only twice in 31 fights. “Fortunately EIS gets lottery funding and it is amongst the best I’ve trained at in the world.” Three-time world champion Froch has been based in Sheffield for his training camp ahead of his fight with Yusaf Mack at
Capital FM arena on Saturday November 17. The Nottingham man makes the hour long trip up the M1 to EIS around four times a week where he links up with trainer and Great Britain boxing performance director Rob McCracken, who also coaches Olympic gold medallist Nicola Adams at the venue amongst others. “I do a 12 week training camp before a fight and I’m here around 90 per cent of the time,” Carl continued. “It makes a big difference having everything like the medical staff right here. Just the other day I took an elbow in sparring and had a little cut on
the nose but I was seen straight away. “The nutritional staff also make a huge difference. They tell you when to eat as well as what to eat, such as carbs after a workout, which is important because I used to struggle with the timing of my meals.” The fight with Mack will be Froch’s first defence of the IBF super-middleweight title he won in scintillating fashion by stopping Lucian Bute last May, and ‘The Cobra’ admitted he is preparing for as hard a night as any from the man known on the other side of the Atlantic as ‘The Mack Attack’. Continued on pg. 27
Our reporter caught up with Froch at the English Institute of Sport