Forge Press #155 by Forge Press

A second years Tara Bourne gives Sheffield United guide to all Women a new identity things freshers Lifestyle 19

as new season begins

Sports 32

Forge Press ISSUE 155 | WEDNESDAY 22 SEPTEMBER 2021

THE UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER

University of Sheffield’s international students contribute £313million to local economy, report finds

Hannah Ahmed International Students in Sheffield bring £313 million worth of benefits to the local economy, a new report by Universities UK International (UUKi) and the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) has found. According to the study, Sheffield residents are better off by roughly £2520 per person directly because of the financial benefit brought by international students.

Professor Koen Lamberts, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sheffield, said: “We are very proud that Sheffield is renowned for being an inclusive and welcoming city. This report reflects the extensive contribution that our international students make, not only to our University but to the wider community.” In the 2018/19 academic year, the financial contribution from international students in Sheffield

Central was £290 million. The report was published on 9 September and provides an indepth analysis of the significant contribution of international students to the economy in the UK. In 2018/19, there were 496,000 international students studying at higher education institutions across the UK, making up 20% of the total number of students in University. Continured on page 4>>

FORGETODAY.COM

Sheffield University doctors win awards for achievements in their research Laycie Beck Two doctors at Sheffield Teaching Hospital have received awards for their research. Dr Marian Schini, who is a consultant at the Metabolic Bone Centre (MBC) at Northern General and Dr Lorenza Mattia, who is a visiting clinical fellow at Sheffield Teaching Hospital, have won awards for their research on osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a condition that weakens the bones, therefore making them more fragile and likely to break. Both doctors have been awarded the Young Investigator Award by the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research and will be presenting their work virtually at next month’s annual meeting. Besides her work in the MBC, Dr Schini is a clinical research fellow at the University of Sheffield. Her work is related to treatment with zoledronic acid, which is a medication that can help lower the risk of hip and vertebral fractures. A review by the Medicines Safety Committee shows that her work could enable more patients to have treatments with said medication which will reduce their risk of fracture.

The use of this medication would aid everyday practice both across the rest of the country and internationally. Dr Mattia’s work investigating a type of drug called bisphosphonate has also been acknowledged. Her work has demonstrated that patients who were monitored with a blood test are more likely to have better outcomes in regards to bone density or in their decision to switch treatments if the medication was ineffective. She said: “We are very proud that to have been recognised for this work, which we hope will lead to improved treatments and outcomes for patients with osteoporosis both here in Sheffield but also nationally and internationally.”

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Both doctors have been awarded the Young Investigator Award by the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research

Forge Press

Letter from the Editor FORGE PRESS EDITORIAL TEAM Editor-in-Chief

Harry Harrison

Deputy Editor

John Gilding

Deputy Editor

Kate Proctor

Managing Editor Head of Design George Tuli Head of Photography Vacant Website Manager Vacant Head of SM and Advertising Charlotte Crompton Inclusions & Welfare Officer Vacant Secretary/Social Sec Vacant Head of News Indie Labbe-Jones News Editor Laycie Beck News Editor Joey Grindrod News Editor Kane O’Regan Features Editor Gina Marie Kalsi Features Editor Wiktoria Wrzyszcz Opinion Editor Pia Cooper Opinion Editor Leticia Chen Science & Tech Editor Louise Elliott Science & Tech Editor Tevy Kuch Lifestyle Editor Claire Gelhaus Lifestyle Editor Ella Brooker Break Editor Vacant Break Editor Vacant Arts & Theatre Editor Jade Burnett Arts & Theatre Editor Maddy Burgess Music Editor Callum Martin Music Editor Rory O’Shea Screen Editor Miette D’Souza Screen Editor Chloe Aslett Games Editor Reiss Mason Games Editor Vacant Head of Sport Jemma Snowdon Sport Editor Rahul Warrier Sport Editor Vacant Deputy Head of SM and Advertising Joel Hooke Social Media Assistant Amy Mullen-Brown Social Media Assistant Ellie Storey

Get involved Do you want to get involved with Forge Press for the 2020/21 academic year? Join the ‘Forge Press Contributor 2021/22’ Facebook group!

“32 Paper pages of the good stuff”

irst of all, welcome to Sheffield, welcome to university and welcome to Freshers Week! This week, two whole years of University students will be experiencing their first Freshers. It’s unfortunate that we’ve been robbed of student experiences for the past 18 months but I am so pleased we’re able to get people on campus and out in West Street’s many bars. Hopefully, your timetables are full of inperson lectures, seminars and workshops and you’re managing to avoid a Google Meet or Blackboard Collaborate session for the most part. I’m also really pleased because Forge Press are back on campus too! A physical, printed newspaper. 32 paper pages of the good stuff. Forge Press is back in the “paper bins” and being offered around campus by our wonderful new committee. We haven’t produced a printed newspaper since I believe the 2020 SU Officer Elections, which is crazy - I am so excited to say that we are back!

ur operations changed a lot during the worst of the pandemic, it was difficult to work cohesively and produce our best content when all our interactions and relationships with each other were through video meetings and Facebook Messenger. We lost a lot of committee members at the end of the year because it just wasn’t the same Forge Press as years prior. Every story we wrote, every digital page we designed and every meeting we had was on our laptops, in our homes. It wasn’t easy for us to nail it every time, but now we’re ready and raring to go. This issue is the first of the academic year and for those of you who may not know us, we have plenty for you to read and get into. Get up-to-date with the news around you and then grab a coffee from Coffee Revs and settle into a long read in the Features section. Kanye fans

can read up on our review of his latest album, Donda , and Games Editor, Reiss Mason, reviewed Psychonauts 2 . My beloved sports section is in safe hands this year and is continuing to keep you updated with the University’s, and City’s, top sports. Keep an eye out for press passes to Sheffield United Ladies in our contributor groups soon! I hope everyone has a great week because our committee will be after the work that’s gone into this! We’ve missed you all and let’s tackle the next year together!

Harry Harrison Editor-in-Chief

Wednesday 22 September 2021

NEWS UoS ranked 8th in University Compare rankings 2021/22 Page 4 ▶

NEWS

The big picture

Sheffield’s biggest student shopping event to return to Meadowhall

Head of Design, George Tuli, went for a walk around our campus recently and took this shot of the concourse, outside the Student’s Union in the week before Freshers’ As students - new and old - return to campus the concourse and walkways around the SU have become noticeably busier. Mixed in with them are those finishing their studies, making use of the few remaining sunny days to take graduation photos with hired robes and mortarboards while holding flowers or the graduation teddy

Page 8 ▶

OPINION Men in powerful places need to stay in THEIR lane Page 13 ▶

and everyone was required to mask up and socially distance. However, I don’t know about you but I can feel a palpable excitement in the air to get started with the new academic year.

bear. It’s a strange time to be capturing photos given that this time last year the SU was closed off Bunting outside the Sheffield SU before freshers kicked off Credit: George Tuli

Credit: Claudio Schwartz Unsplash

LIFESTYLE Student meals to keep you happy and healthy on a budget Page 17 ▶

SPORT Tara Bourne gives Sheffield United Women a new identity Page 32 ▶

Forge Press

News

Report: £313million contributed to local economy by Sheffield's international student communitee Contined from front page...

...The report, which features research from London Economics, provides results for each of the Westminster constituencies, of which there are 650. The report concludes that the economical benefits of hosting international students clearly outweighs the cost of doing so. The Director of HEPI, Nick Hillman, said: “International students do not just bring financial benefits. They also bring educational benefits by making our campuses more diverse and exciting places to be. To make the most of these benefits, we need to provide a warm welcome, ensure our educational offer remains competitive and help international students secure fulfilling careers after study.” The contribution to the economy from international students in Sheffield Central places it as the top

parliamentary constituency in the UK in terms of financial benefit. Despite this, international students have been faced with uncertainty in recent years due to the impacts of Brexit and Covid-19 which affected tuition fee structures and accessibility to international institutions. The report found that in August 2021, compared to the year before, the acceptance of EU students onto undergraduate courses was 56% lower. Vivienne Stern, the director of UUKi said: “This study provides a stark reminder of their financial importance to communities across the UK, economic recovery and the levelling up agenda. We now need fresh ideas and stronger momentum to achieve the UK Government’s international education strategy target of attracting at least 600,000 international students every year by 2030 and the good this will bring to

Sheffield's biggest student shopping event to return to Meadowhall

Laycie Beck Sheffield’s biggest student shopping event is set to return this month, at the end of freshers’ week. Meadowhall shopping centre will be hosting the festivities, which will last from Monday 27 September to Sunday 3 October. The event will launch on Monday with a glitter station, treat station and virtual reality roller coaster for students to enjoy. The launch night will include a giant inflatable igloo full of multicoloured balls and

inflatables; the perfect spot for students to take a selfie or Tik Tok. As part of the student event dozens of shops will have exclusive offers, including Boots, Krispy Kreme, North Face, River Island, New Look and Urban Outfitters. It’s a great chance for students to get the products they need at a lower discounted price. There will also be a selection of freebies, live music and games for students to take part in at the shopping centre throughout the week.

everyone.” The University of Sheffield recognises the contribution of international students both economically and culturally, highlighted by the #WeAreInternational campaign that was launched in 2013. The campaign was run in partnership with Sheffield Students’ Union and aimed to cement the recognition of the positive impact of international students and staff in universities across the UK. #WeAreInternational was supported by over 160 universities, educational institutions and international organisations. President and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Koen Lamberts, said that “This report reflects the extensive contribution that our international students make, not only to our University but to the wider community.’

Walkers raise £1000 for hospice in memory of relative Laycie Beck Charity walkers have raised over £1000 for Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice in memory of a teen family member who died after a year fighting a brain tumour. On Thursday 26 August the Cranfield family hiked from the Lock Keeper in Worksop to Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice in North Anston to raise money for the hospice. The family decided to

organise the walk in memory of their family member ‘Lewis’ who would have turned 18 last month. Lewis received palliative care from Bluebell Wood before he sadly passed away in 2017, after a year of aggressive treatment. His family organised the event to raise money for the hospice to help more families with the same care and support they received during such a difficult time. In addition to the walk

Get involved Do you want to get involved with Forge Press for the 2020/21 academic year? Join the ‘Forge Press Contributor 2021/22’ Facebook group! Pitch any stories to us by contacting our section editors. Or email your pitch to editor@forgetoday.com See your work online and in the issues of Sheffield University's award-winning independent student newspaper!

there was also a litter pick to help fundraise for the hospice. So far a total of £1012 has been raised for the hospice by nearly 60 supporters. You can still donate to the fundraiser on the justgiving page below https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ carol-dixon4?f bclid=IwAR3035KQV_FhtogzTGi0CFYcV7c9ShwqnjjoAfJg0IerdHfoq_rT5EfU6tk

Wednesday 22 September 2021

News

Sheffield’s first ever African-Caribbean market set for week long festival Sophie Henderson Sheffield will welcome its firstever festival celebrating AfricanCaribbean culture in October, in honour of Black History Month. The festival, which is organised by Adira with the help of Sheffield City Council and their partners, has been described as a ‘long time coming’ and they expect its emergence to demonstrate ‘what diversity and inclusion looks like’ in Sheffield. Live performances from African dancers and poets are planned in the city centre, alongside a selection of stalls, art exhibitions, a Black history archive and a ‘human library’ located in the Moor Market. Nigel Wilkes, director of Adira, said: “Sheffield’s first Black AfricanCaribbean festival… will reflect the diverse culture of Sheffield and will bring a flavour of the Caribbean to Sheffield, with food, clothing, song and dance, bringing old and young people together. “Some of the elders will be reflecting on, and educating people, on Black history from their perspective, coming over from Jamaica and integrating into English culture.” One focus of the festival is to both honour and understand the sacrifices the Windrush generation undertook for future generations. The ‘human library’ provides an opportunity for visitors to hear these stories first-hand. Sheffield City Council funds have allowed an increase in the scale of the event. Kate Josephs, chief executive of Sheffield City Council, said: “How

fantastic that Sheffield is hosting its first Black History Month market. I’m really excited to get behind this great idea and provide this event with the platform it deserves. “Black History Month is an important opportunity for us to celebrate and educate ourselves on the history, achievements, and contributions of Black people to our society, and this market will be an excellent milestone to do that. “Led by local community groups, businesses, and organisations, it will celebrate and showcase the rich, diverse communities that make Sheffield the special place it is and reinforces our city’s commitment to being anti-racist.” For Ursula Myrie, co-founder of Adira, the festival’s approval is a significant step towards creating better relationships between communities. She states: “This is what real, true, co-production looks like - it’s what diversity and inclusion looks like. It’s made up of both Black and white people - this is what it means when you say equality and diversity.” The event is set to take place from Monday 25th - Saturday 30th October, 10am-6pm (Fargate) and 8am-5.30pm (Moor Market).

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Black History Month is an important opportunity for us to celebrate and educate ourselves.

Credit: @MyrieUrsula on twitter

Sheffield-based UK music and film festival to return in October 2021 Indie Labbe Jones The unconventional Sensoria Festival returns to Sheffield once again this October to showcase some of the best UK film and music. Founded in 2008, the annual event has previously featured the likes of Forgemasters, Jarvis Cocker, Bill Drumond and more. In a true celebration of UK’s creative arts scene, the festival will showcase a variety of events such as live performance, installations, film screenings and exhibitions whilst also inviting festival goers to learn more about the industry. All events take place at venues around Sheffield, with past shows

being held anywhere from outdoor swimming pools to 60s hotel ballrooms. Thus the festival has become famous for its interesting use of space. This year, the festival welcomes actsThe Forbidden Strings and The Afropean Express, who are performing on the 5th and the 9th of October respectively. Among the venues used to create the festival this year is the University of Sheffield’s rama tudio, where acts such as Sister Wives X Permanent Distraction and UDAGAN will be performing. These events range from £5 to £12 and can be purchased via the Sensoria website: https://www.sensoria. org.uk/current-events/.

For those who are more serious about the industry or are professionals themselves, SensoriaPro is taking place on 8th October from 10am-6pm. SensoriaPro is a formal industry day for professionals and emerging talents, and promises to provide high quality activities relating to the industry.

Sensoria Festival, 2nd-9th October. Image credit: Sensoria Fest.

Forge Press

News

Our Bodies Our Streets Sheffield celebrate a year of campaigning Joey Grindrod Feminist group Our Bodies Our Streets (OBOS) have now been campaigning against street harassment in Sheffield for over a year. Forge Press takes a look back at what the student-led organisation has achieved. Last winter, OBOS started a petition to make Sheffield safer for women by improving lighting in the city’s parks and public spaces. The petition, which now has over 5,600 signatures on change.org, was presented to Sheffield City Council in June. Representatives from Our Bodies Our Streets spoke to Sheffield City Council and outlined their proposals to make Sheffield parks safer for women by investing in “inclusive, research-led and sustainable lighting interventions” in the city and its parks. They also proposed that we need to tackle the root cause of street harassment, which lies in the culture of misogyny in wider society. The success of the petition led

to appearances for the campaign on Channel 4 News, ITV News, BBC News and BBC Radio Sheffield. Formed last July, the organisation aims to “empower women and nonbinary people to exercise freely on the streets of Sheffield without fear of sexual harassment and catcalling”. Amongst relentless social media campaigning, their next project took the form of a “creative temporary lighting installation” in the Ponderosa, a popular Sheffield student park, in July 2021. The Ponderosa is one of many parks around the student areas of Crookes and Crookesmoor that does not have sufficient lighting after dark.

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Our Bodies Our Streets Sheffield have vowed to not let the violent attack deter them from campaigning against street harassment

The wooden sculpture displayed poetry written by supporters of our Bodies our Streets which aimed to start a conversation about street harassment: “not all men but all women” “every route is ours, this is not a monopoly” “we will take flight… and start the task of reclaiming the streets” In late August, the sculpture was burned to the ground by arsonists. According to OBOS, the sculpture “was not invasive and sat far from the path” and described this act of arson as “highly reminiscent of [women’s] experiences of public sexual harassment”. Our Bodies Our Streets Sheffield have vowed to not let the violent attack deter them from campaigning against street harassment and violence against women, and are currently fundraising for future projects. Information on any future and current projects can be found on their social media: @ obossheffield on twitter and @ ourbodiesourstreets on Instagram. Credit: Our Bodies Our Streets Instagram

Suicide prevention day provides important reflection time for students Joey Grindrod Friday 10th of September marked world suicide prevention day. According to the Office of National Statistics, one UK student dies from suicide every four days, with the number of student suicides in the UK rising over the past 10 years. The crisis in students’ mental health has worsened over the course of the pandemic, with 57% of students reporting that their mental health worsened during time spent in lockdown at university. These statistics underline the importance of world suicide prevention day for students. The majority of suicides in the UK are committed by men. Men are three times more likely to commit suicide than women, making suicide

the biggest killer of males under 45. Long distance runner Matt Bagwell is attempting to raise money and awareness for male suicide by running 21 consecutive ultra-marathons, a total of 1,050 Km, over suicide prevention day. His run has taken him through cities across the country, including Sheffield. Matt started in Cornwall on the 5th of September, arrived in Sheffield on the 15th and is due to finish in London on the 5th of October. If you are worried about a friend or family member, information on how to help them can be found on the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) website. If you need help or assistance please contact: Samaritans 24/7 freephone: 116 123

Text SHOUT to 85258 (24/7 free service) Sheffield Nightline (8pm-8am): 0114 222 8787 SAMHS Student Access to Mental Health Support (University of Sheffield only) University of Sheffield student wellbeing service Sheffield IAPT

Doncaster welcomes UK's longest mural Laycie Beck The UK's longest mural has been created in Doncaster. A pair of street artists, known as Nomad Clan, have painted the mural on the perimeter wall of Frenchgate Shopping Centre in Doncaster, opposite the train station. The mural is an impressive 108metres long which makes it the longest mural in the UK to date. The completion of the mural was

celebrated on Friday 10 September with a live art event, a premiere film screening, giveaways and a Q&A with Nomad Clan. Nomad Clan have already printed murals all over the world, including in Iceland, Bali and the United States, but now get to add Doncaster to the list. In the past Nomad Clan have also done a mural on the side of a tower in Leeds which was 47 metres high.

Friday 5 March 2021

News

University of Sheffield ranked 8th overall in University Compare rankings 2021/22 Indie Labbe-Jones University Compare have released their University rankings for the 2021/2022 academic year. The list reveals the best universities in the UK for 2021/22 as voted for by students. The annual ranking uses reviews from both current and former University students, who rate each university against five categories: accommodation, course quality, graduate careers and student social life. The survey also asks the reviewers if they’d recommend the University to a friend. Loughborough University is top

of the rankings for 2021/22 after climbing four places from last year. Loughborough is also ranked highest for both course quality and accomodation.] Nottingham Trent University came in close second to Loughborough. The University of Sheffield came eighth overall, just falling behind Cardiff Metropolitan University although maintaining high scores for student social life and graduate careers. Sheffield also ranked fifth overall for student social life, with the University of Leeds coming first. The founder of University Compare, Owen O'Neill, said that ““It is an exciting time for students as they prepare to embark on a new

year in a new city, and these rankings act as a way to guide students in what is a difficult decision. After completing their A-levels, they will likely have several offers, with every university offering something unique; it is essential to consider all the different factors.” He also said that “ultimately, students will prioritise different things when going to university, but I would recommend taking your time and choosing the right pathway for you.”

Forge Press

Features

Feature by Gina Kalsi

Let’s talk about sexual harassment at night TW: This article discusses sexual assault and harassment assault, the police database displays only 162,936 crimes. This means that many victims chose not to report their experiences to police. 40% of individuals said that they did not report the crime because they felt embarrassed. 38% said that they did not want to report the crime because they thought that it wouldn’t make a difference. Recently, a young woman from Sheffield wrote how she ‘smacked

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ix months ago, a YouGov poll for UN Women found that 86% of young women aged 18-24 in the UK had faced sexual harassment in public spaces. This comes shortly after the death of Sarah Everard, a woman who was brutally murdered whilst walking home at night. These events have again shone a light on the harassment and violence that women face daily.. What is sexual assault and harassment? The University of Sheffield defines sexual assault as: ‘The non-consensual touching of another person, where the touching is sexual.’ They also define sexual harassment as: ‘unwelcome behaviour of a sexual nature, which violates a person’s dignity or creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment. It can include: ‘banter’, catcalling, wolf whistling uninvited or unwanted kisses, groping, touching, pinching or smacking sexting or using sexual images without someone’s consent, for example posting photos on social media’

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The figure would be really much higher - in some clubs you could be dealing with half a dozen instances a night

What is the scale of the problem? Sexual harassment is a worldwide issue. The UN Women website reports that 40 to 60% of women

in the Middle East and North Africa have experienced ‘street-based sexual harassment.’ This includes having sexual comments made to them, being stalked or followed and being stared at. A 2018 campaign and social experiment called The Dress for Respect also displayed how many times women were touched in the Brazilian night scene. Three women wore a dress, covered in sensors, and were touched a total of 157 times in only 3 hours and 47 minutes. Sexual harassment is also a common occurrence in UK night life. In 2016 the charity Drinkaware surveyed over 2,000 students across the UK, and found that ‘54% of 18-24 year old female students experienced sexual harassment’ when on a night out. In an interview with BBC Newsbeat, 18-year-old Lottie said: “Getting groped is just part of a normal night out.” She also shared her experience of being sexually harassed in the night scene: “I’ve had my boobs grabbed, my bum grabbed, I’ve had people put their hands up my skirt and down my top.” 20-year-old Anna also told BBC Newsbeat: “I’ve had one guy come up to me in a totally inappropriate situation and grab my boobs, and then he was just holding them.” Scottish newspaper, The Herald, interviewed John, a nightclub security guard with over 30 years’ experience. He said: “I worked the doors regularly for 30 years and at least once a month a woman reported that she had been sexually assaulted in the premises that I was working at. “The figure would be really much higher - in some clubs you could be dealing with half a dozen instances in one night.” Why are women being touched and harassed in nightclubs? Drinkaware states in their Drunken Nights Out report: ‘There is an association between alcohol

consumption and sexual assault. Responses from our participants suggested that molestation and groping are common experiences as part of a drunken night out.’ They also stated: ‘A lack of clear boundaries means that people may easily be caught up in interactions which go further than they wish-or in which they do not wish to participate at all. In particular, problems can arise around sexual behaviour, with molestation appearing to be a common and, to some extent, accepted part of a drunken night out.’ This normalisation of sexual harassment because of the presence of alcohol also means that young women are less likely to report it, or do not know where to go to for help. In 2015, the National Union of Students reported that 61% of first year university students were unaware of how to report sexual harassment incidents. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) 2020 sexual offences report highlighted that whilst 773,000 people had experienced sexual

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Whilst 773,000 people had experience sexual assualt, the police database displays only 162,936 crimes

It is unacceptable that women and girls are still subject to harassment, abuse, and violence, and I do not accept that violence against women and girls is inevitable - Priti Patel a lad’ who sexually assaulted her in a club. She was showered with praise in the form of likes, retweets and comments from other women who reminisced on times where they also took matters into their own hands. What is the government doing about this? Home Secretary, Priti Patel said: “The safety of women and girls across the country, wherever they are, is an absolute priority for me.” “It is unacceptable that women and girls are still subject to harassment, abuse, and violence, and I do not accept that violence against women and girls is inevitable.” In July, the government unveiled their Tackling Violence Against Women & Girls strategy, which aims to increase the support available for victims and ‘increase the number of perpetrators who get brought to justice.’ Here are some of their actions: Recruited 20,000 more police officers with the intention of making our ‘streets safer’ Toughening sentences as well as improving the protection for victims, through the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill. An extra £5 million on top of the already £25 million Safer Streets Fund. Introducing ‘StreetSafe’, a new online platform that will ‘provide women and girls with a way to anon-

ymously and quickly pinpoint areas where they have felt unsafe and say why – be it from a lack of lighting or CCTV or because of the people around them – via a simple online platform.’

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The bar staff can help get the individual out of the situation by calling them a taxi home, calling venue security and police, or simply reuniting them with a friend

What kind of support is already available? Ask for Angela Ask for Angela was originally a Metropolitan Police scheme that has since been adopted by many universities and night-time venues across England. If anyone is feeling unsafe, they can go up to the bar and ‘ask for Angela’ which is a code-phrase for assistance. The bar staff can help get the individual out of the situation by calling them a taxi home, calling venue security and police, or simply reuniting them with a friend. The Sheffield Student’s Union currently has this scheme running in Bar One. If you need to talk to someone, please contact: Samaritans 24/7 freephone: 116 123 Text SHOUT to 85258 (24/7 free service) Sheffield Nightline (8pm-8am): 0114 222 8787 University of Sheffield student wellbeing service Victim Support If you want to report anything: https://reportandsupport.sheffield. ac.uk/ (University of Sheffield only) https://su.sheffield.ac.uk/complaints (for SU related complaints) Call 101 (non-emergency police)

Forge Press

Features

The 1.25% increase in National Insurance: How will this affect graduates and final year students?

n 7 September, the Government announced that it will be raising National Insurance contributions by 1.25%. Coming into effect in April 2022, it will be used to help fund a growing NHS backlog and support social care reform. Boris Johnson claimed in the House of Commons on Tuesday that the increase will raise an “essential” 36 billion over the next 3 years, with the first £30 billion generated from the tax hike allocated solely to the NHS (until 2023) after which it will

of £50,270 is reached. Beyond £50,270 the tax will fall to 2%. This is called a regressive tax, because the proportion you pay will decrease as you earn more money. A graduate on a starting salary of £25,000 will therefore be paying £2044.74 each year in National Insurance, which is £192.90 more than would have been charged before the rollout of the levy. Here is a breakdown of how incomes will be affected: Cameron, a student going into his

also be expanding to include those above pension age who are still in employment. This means that a larger swathe of the population will have to get used to higher taxes, not just young people. The breaking of the manifesto pledge has also been argued by some as necessary, with the repercussions of COVID-19 and the pressures of social care reform taken into consideration. The National Audit Office released a damning assessment of the social care market

By Sarah Latcham be renamed as the ‘Health and Social Care Levy’ and placed as a separate category on individual payslips. The remaining £6 billion earned after 2023 will be used to address systemic issues within the social care system: a system which is responsible for helping people with physical and mental disabilities. But the new levy has been criticised as generationally unfair; it disproportionately affects younger, low wage workers while protecting older, wealthier homeowners. The more an individual earns, the less of the tax they pay. For graduates who

are about to enter into the world of work and are looking forward to earning their first paycheck, this announcement will be disheartening. Some students believe that the levy will alienate young people, whilst Britons in general are split 50/50 in support of the tax. It is also a direct contradiction of the 2019 Tory Manifesto, which “guaranteed” a tax freeze. The average 25-yearold will now be paying £12,600 more over their lifetime compared to previous generations, despite benefiting less from the economy. Disproportionately high rent and mortgages, an extension in the state pension age and increased taxation have students and graduates feeling as though they are being saddled with the bulk of the burden. But how will graduate paychecks be affected, and how exactly does national insurance work? National Insurance kicks in once an individual earns £9,568 (if you are employed by someone) and £6,515 if you are self-employed as of 2021/2022. These are called the lower thresholds. Any income earned above these points will now be taxed by 13.25%, until the upper threshold

third year at Sheffield, said: “I completely support funding the NHS and social care- my mum’s a care worker, she isn’t respected or paid properly for the work she does. But at the same time, I can’t help feeling like the odds are stacked more and more against us, even if the extra amount per year doesn’t seem too much. It feels unfair.” Amrinder, a recent graduate from Birmingham said: “With the national insurance increase, plus income tax, plus my student loan repayments, I’ll be losing nearly half of my salary. My take-home pay is only spent on me though. I know there’ll be families out there who’re gunna struggle to adjust their budgets.” The reach of the tax levy will

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in 2020, stating that it ‘lacks long term oversight’ and that ‘people shouldn’t have to be forced to sell their homes to pay for their care.’ Social care is not free at point of use, and many families struggle to pay residential care home fees. In Sheffield these average at about £41,115 per year. Staff shortages and issues with low pay, coupled with a rapidly ageing population mean that both the care sector and the NHS are set to face significant challenges in the coming years. The effects of COVID-19 on NHS waiting lists have lifted the projected number of people waiting for consultations to 13 million, which is nearly 1 in 4 people; the highest in the history of the health service. The question is whether the tax revenue generated will effectively and permanently plug the holes in the NHS and social care, and whether the government will continue to raise public taxes if these problems persist.

I’ll be losing half of my salary

The student mental health epidemic Ella Gilbert

he 2020-2021 academic year was a chaotic and turbulent one from start to finish. Students were sent back to university in September 2020 with most universities adopting a new ‘blended-learning’ approach. Although some of the usual trademarks of starting university such as club nights and activity fairs were absent, it was confirmed that

most students would be returning to university accommodation. Soon after students returned to campus, covid cases began to skyrocket. After ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ and schools returning after the summer, a rise in cases was inevitable. The student experience at the beginning of the year varied dramatically depending on where you were based. In the week beginning 5th October, the University of Sheffield reported 430 student cases of Covid-19 alone. Similar situations

were happening across the country, especially prevalent in cities such as Manchester, Birmingham and Liverpool. The drastic number of cases among students led to an isolation crisis. Thousands of students were isolating in university accommodation, many of whom were first-years and knew nobody nearby to rely upon for support. Some universities delivered carepackages, others provided contacts for supplies and others offered nothing at all. There were extreme

incidences of students being locked in their accommodation in Manchester because the university simply didn’t know how to control this situation. Transitioning to university can take a toll on mental health regardless. There are so many new faces, places and situations to discover and it can be quite draining and overwhelming at times. However, the freshers of 2020 were faced with slightly different challenges. Many students struggled as they were unable to meet ‘their’ people. Those who didn’t

get on with their flatmates were left with no options but to stay inside with them. Universities were overwhelmed in trying to navigate this situation which unfortunately had some tragic consequences. Suicide rates in the UK are at their highest since the early 2000s and sadly the pandemic has contributed to more individuals reaching crisis point. Back in October, it was reported that a young man had taken his life whilst in lockdown in Manchester University accommodation, which

Wednesday 22 September 2021

Features his family have attributed to a lack of support from the institution. Mind

conducted a survey which revealed that 34% of young people felt their mental health had got worse during the pandemic and questions have been raised over whether the government and universities are doing enough in this student mental health epidemic. This problem was only worsened by the announcement on 4 January 2021 that UK would be returning to a full lockdown. Students were told not

to return to their accommodation or return home if they were currently at university. Some students were stranded alone in their student houses, while others were left in environments that may not have been suitable for studying or were mentally-damaging to remain in for long periods of time. As accommodation was rented, students could technically move

between their university residence and home. When talking to my flatmate, we reminisced over the moral dilemma of trying to decide whether to stay at home or return to university. Heaps of responsibility and pressure were placed on students to make ‘the right decision’. This guilt was now another mental strain for students to deal with. She said: “It just felt like we were never going to get to experience this ‘normal’ Uni life. We finally settled in and then we weren’t allowed back.” This lockdown lasted for three months, and limited exercise or socialisation which many people relied upon for their mental health. All university teaching, aside from essential courses like medicine or nursing, was now online until further notice. Most students barely made it onto campus at all in the 2020-21 academic year despite the ‘blended-

What do students think of vaccine passports? Josh Thory-Rao

cotland scheduled to introduce vaccine passports for large venues, like nightclubs, at the start of October. However, Health Secretary, Sajid Javid announced on the Andrew Marr show on 12 September that the government in England will not be

implementing a similar scheme. He didn’t entirely bin the proposal, he rather wants it to be ‘kept in reserve’, as a ‘potential option’ for later. Earlier that week, the government had announced that they would be introducing the scheme at the end of September. Prime Minister Boris Johnson clarified ‘proof of a

learning’ approach, yet another contributing factor to this decline in mental health. The Office for National Statistics released survey findings in March 2021, which showed that ‘almost twothirds (63%) of students indicated that their well-being and mental health had worsened since the start of the autumn term 2020’. The situation for students has constantly changed throughout the 2020-21 academic year. Being sent away to university, feeling isolated in accommodation, transitioning between online and face-to-face teaching and all whilst dealing with all the other aspects of the pandemic. As we move forward to the next academic year, there is both anxiety and hope. The majority of restrictions in the UK have been relaxed and face-to-face teaching can resume. While many students are excited to get back to their

‘normal’ student lifestyle, others are extremely anxious about returning to campus. Unfortunately, clinicallyvulnerable and some international students will be excluded from this exciting and joyous occasion. Hopefully, the 2021-22 cohort will not be navigating a series of lockdowns, but will have their own challenges to face. Perhaps the most

delicate task of all: recovering from the student mental health epidemic.

negative test’, which had sufficed previously for certain events, would ‘not be enough’. Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi noted, by the end of September all over-18s would have been offered the chance to be double vaccinated and so now would be the right time to introduce this. Mr Zahawi argued that these nightclubs present ideal spreading locations for the virus; the government wants to avoid a situation of having to potentially shut down nightclubs or go back into lockdown, both of which would be undesirable. The Scottish government are leading with a different argument to justify their implementation of a similar policy, one focusing on incentivising the youth to get vaccinated. With lower vaccination rates among the younger cohorts, Hollyrood Health Secretary Humza Yousaf argues that any incentives are helpful. And you would certainly think that clubbing, something particularly popular for students and others in that 18-29 age range where the Scottish Government feel vaccinations are lacking, is a strong incentive. In terms of student opinion, there is no clear consensus. A key parameter in this debate is that a lot of students see going to a nightclub to be a choice. Students I have spoken to have assured me that they would support the measures if it were for essential services, but noone needs to go to a nightclub. This goes along with a lack of sympathy with those who choose not to have the vaccine. Dippy, a third-year Computer Science student at the University of Sheffield, tells me that given the scientific evidence, there’s no real reason for not getting the

vaccine in the first place. A thirdyear at KCL, Erika, says that if people who can get the vaccine chose not to, then venues should be able to refuse them entry in the name of safety. Another I spoke to said that if people who can get the vaccine chose not to, then venues should be able to refuse them entry in the name of safety. The idea of public safety and moving past the pandemic is a popular one. Students do not want to go back into lockdown if they can help it. Several students in this vein invoked broader notions of public’s health. Nikki, a third-year Sociology student at the University of Sheffield based her vaccine passport support largely on ‘keeping us safe’, while Millie, Third-year Psychology said that it is important for ‘maintaining some sense of normality’ by keeping cases low. Dippy, quoted earlier added that we should be taking ‘every precaution necessary to prevent the spread of COVID-19’. As noted though, the support for the policy is by no means unanimous. Mirroring the arguments, for example, of Scottish Labour, a number of students I have spoken to have questioned the reasoning for rejecting a negative COVID test as an alternative to proof of vaccination. Informing this argument for them is the fact that even after a vaccine one can still carry and pass on the virus – not only does accepting a negative test result avoid seemingly forcing people into vaccination (which some are uneasy about), but it may be a better way of keeping COVID out of these spaces, though this relies on the honesty of the public. In terms of the goal of incentivising those who have yet to be vaccinated

to go ahead with it, is this tactic beneficial? One student I spoke to doesn’t think so. Their opinion is that the perception that vaccine passports create may well be one of government interference and intrusions upon liberty, which plays into the narrative of the anti-vax movement. Those who haven’t had the vaccine will likely resent having it ‘forced’ upon them; there may well be more subtle ways to increase youth vaccine uptake that avoid this issue.

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We should be taking every precaution necessary to prevent the spread of COVID-19 There are conflicting views on this though. Sam, a 6th form student thinks that the policy would influence uptake through its normalisation of the vaccine among younger people, particularly if introduced for larger events like sports matches. So, whilst these changes are not going ahead in England after Javid’s announcement, they may come at a later date, and they are coming soon in Scotland. For students who want to get out of this pandemic, these passports have a degree of support. But the sentiments of the oppositionist elements among students are likely to be more widespread among the general public and particularly conservative voters, who’s support the government is keen to maintain. Perhaps it is no surprise then that they changed their tune.

Forge Press

Opinion

Online teaching methods should not be completely dismissed Josh Thory-Rao It would not be unreasonable to say that many of us are unhappy with online teaching being forced upon us by this pandemic. It has had huge effects on the student population, both in terms of learning and socialisation. But it would be a mistake to write off online teaching because of these effects; many aspects can be salvaged and incorporated into our learning process going forward. Online lectures, for starters, have certain strengths. It is impossible to miss a pre-recorded lecture, and even if they are broadcast live, they can still be recorded and uploaded to blackboard for later viewing. This is particularly useful for STEM degrees, where the lectures are the backbone of the degree. Although online lectures ‘did

the job’ and are preferable to communicating with a mask on and also risking COVID, seminars do not translate as well to the online realm as in person lectures. The tasks that have been used to replace seminars (and to supplement them), in the case of many social science/ humanities subjects, take good advantage of the capabilities we have with a system like Blackboard. Replacing our seminars with these tasks has perhaps been a slap in the face for us by cutting our already limited contact time, but the tasks themselves are fun and engaging. Being set reading and writing tasks to answer set questions and receive feedback is a great supplement to seminars to make low-contact hour degrees more engaging. Whilst online learning can create a sense of isolation, it has proven to be easier to speak up in class through a simple typed message

or turning your microphone on compared to having to raise your hand in a lecture hall so your viewpoint can be heard more easily. This past year has not been ideal, but it has still been a year of university. This gives credence to the idea that one can get an education through an online course if they choose to do so. The Open University too is a prime example of this. We are seeing universities start to consider ‘distance-learning’ courses, particularly MA’s, where it may be more affordable to study from home. This I think will help to make a university education more accessible for those who may be unable or unwilling to move away from home to get a degree. It will differ significantly in terms of experience, but it can still give the tools and knowledge that one would usually receive from a conventional degree.

There is still uncertainty surrounding university teaching that will commence in September; will it all be online? Will it be a mixture of in person and online lectures? Although everyone is desperate to get back into university and in person teaching, it may be beneficial for some lectures to remain online due to how it improves student attendance. It is simple to set up your laptop and learn from your bedroom compared to navigating your way round your university campus. So, whilst not something many wanted this past year, online teaching still has elements which can and should be utilised in the future. We may be ready for it to come to an end, but we must not merely dismiss its methods.

Students prepare for a ‘neo-normal’ university experience with lifted restrictions Emma Smith Whether it’s new students anxiously anticipating their emergence into university life, or returning students, equally as anxious but likely with less optimism, a key question resides amongst us all: what is university going to be like this year? Concerns over what lectures will be like and fears about returning to socialisation are expected to be running through students’ minds. As we undergo the long-awaited emancipation from isolation, for freshers, this could be a source of anxiety, transitioning to a new environment with the added complexity of an ongoing pandemic. The impacts of the virus have altered the student experience at university since the nationwide lockdown was announced in March of 2020. Semesters have passed, forcing students to adapt and persevere through periods of solitude, learning to navigate what was a novel realm of online learning. Although universities are declaring the intended reintroduction of faceto-face teaching, the presence of digital learning is still expected, as institutions suggest this will serve to support the teaching delivery.

Each independent university will present their own recommended guidance to their students, with the University of Sheffield specifically encouraging its students and staff to get their COVID-19 vaccinations prior to returning to campus, as well as reiterating the importance of face masks, social distancing, and regular hand sanitising. The success so far of the COVID-19 vaccine offers a hopeful prospect, an incandescent silver lining amongst what has felt like a ceaseless cloud of restrictions over the past 18 months. According to ‘Our World in Data’, as of the 9th of September 2021, 64.22% of UK residents have received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Thus, it is understandable that many students may expect at least a grain of resemblance of the ‘normal’ pre-pandemic statusquo upon returning or arriving to campus at the start of this academic year. But, by rooting hopes of a return to normality in the apparent success of the vaccine distribution amongst young people, are we falling for a fallacy? Can we realistically expect things to return to normal safely or is this simply a façade? As we are nearing the end of September, counting down the

days, any excitement elicited for the upcoming semester is shadowed by concerns of what lies ahead. Most restrictions have been lifted, with less social distancing guidelines and masks no longer being enforced, authorising more autonomy to individuals; it is now our personal responsibility to ensure we are still protecting ourselves and others around us from the virus. However, despite the alleviations of the rules, the reality of the persisting pandemic does not parallel the same liberation. According to data published by Public Health England on the 11th of September 2021 , the UK has seen 147 more coronavirus-related deaths, with 37,622 new infections across the last 24 hours. With the virus still severely impacting the lives of those around us, it is unlikely that things can return to normal at university, at least safely. Social events are one aspect of the ‘normal’ university experience for many but university professors across the UK are raising their concerns. Susan Michie, UCL Professor and Scientist at the Sage group, expressed fears in an interview with The Guardian over the potential consequences of fresher’s parties, describing them as “high risk”, holding the potential

to become “super-spreader events”. Despite such concerns, many institutions still intend for their events to take place. The mercurial nature of the past 18 months has instilled almost a collective acceptance that any preconceived definitions of normality at university are unlikely to prevail, especially in this current COVID era. The traditional university system has expired, and instead, it is more reasonable to expect a new form of

normal. Despite this disheartening reality, throughout the pandemic, as a generation, we have become accustomed to the inevitability of unpredictability. Consequently, as we approach the start of the semester, presented with conflicting guidelines, and worries for how the experience will unfold, as evidenced, it is highly likely that students will continue to adapt and persevere through the challenges and changes during a ‘neo-normal’ university experience this upcoming year.

Wednesday 22 September 2021

Opinion

Men in powerful places need to stay in THEIR lane Gina Kalsi

isogyny is born out of privilege. Male privilege. It is not something that us women can simply avoid or ignore because it affects every aspect of our lives. It restricts our freedoms when it comes to sex, sports, jobs, and even the way we dress. ‘Misogyny is born out of privilege. Male privilege. It is not something that us women can simply avoid or ignore because it affects every aspect of our lives. It restricts our freedoms when it comes to sex, sports, jobs, and even the way we dress. But we have been fighting for voices to be heard right? We have made significant changes since the 70s, haven’t we? You would think so. It seems that all our hard work to fight for equal rights and make our decisions over our bodies would move forward, when it is actually stuck in reverse. The recent controversial abortion

law saw men in suits exert their power over every single woman in Texas; controlling their choices and affecting their lives. The state has made it so women can get an abortion up until 6 weeks of the pregnancy. The Republican Texas Governor, Greg Abbott has cunningly made it look as though women still have a free choice on whether to abort an embryo with a heartbeat. But Texan women do not have a choice. Many women do not even realise that they are pregnant at six weeks, let alone ready to make a decision on whether to terminate a pregnancy. Greg Abbott also believes that he is not forcing a victim of rape or incest to carry out the pregnancy until birth. He says: [The bill] “doesn’t require that at all because, obviously, it provides at least 6 weeks for a person to be able to get an abortion.” How ignorant can one be? It is clear that violence against women is an afterthought in the eyes of the Texan Republicans, as they will award $10,000 to anyone who sues someone who assists in an abortion

after 6 weeks, or a woman seeking an abortion after 6 weeks. Not only are they punishing desperate women and the people who can help, but they are creating a frightening surveillance state where any member of the public is allowed to get involved in your personal business. I suppose everyone owns pregnant bodies now? This recent shift in attitudes in both the west and the east makes me feel very worried for the safety of women everywhere. With abortion being completely illegal in parts of North America (El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and Honduras), I worry about dangerous backstreet abortions taking place and killing women who are trying to gain their freedom back without breaking the law. In Honduras, women are not even allowed emergency contraception because the government (who is obviously a male majority) have labelled it an ‘abortion pill.’ So, Honduran women cannot have spontaneous sex now? When does this stop? I am also scared about how fast relatively forward-thinking

countries like America can change their mind on such a difficult topic. How can men make decisions on something that does not involve them at all? Whilst they can literally walk away from the birth of a child, women have to endure the physical and mental pain of childbirth whilst bringing up a child all by themselves. Some are given no choice but to give their blood, sweat and tears to bring up a child that was not made out of love; but rape or incest. And the attitude in Texas is ‘oh well you could have had the abortion in the first six weeks. You had a choice.’ This victim blaming is sickening and it is endorsed by the government. They are meant to build laws and policies to protect their people. My mistake; I guess this does not extend to female citizens. Even without incest or rape, women should have a right to decide what they do with their own bodies. They may not be in a position to bring a person into their unstable world. Some women do not have the financial means to afford to bring up a child, some may not be in the right headspace, and others may simply

not want to have children. Women should be ALLOWED a choice. Sadly, Polish women are not. Abortion is only allowed in cases of rape, incest, or if the mother’s life is at risk. Let’s move away from abortion. What about the Taliban? Since they took over Afghanistan, Afghan women have had their rights taken away. A spokesperson for the Taliban recently said to SBS that women are no longer allowed to play sports where parts of their body may be exposed. He also said: “I don’t think women will be allowed to play cricket because it is not necessary that women should play cricket” Not only are women not allowed to keep active and do the things they enjoy, but they will be required to wear hijabs when they attend university, and be separated from their male peers and teachers. Men in politics want to silence women and treat us like we are second to them. They love control. This disturbing behaviour needs to stop immediately.

Forge Press

Science & Tech

A Milkweed butterfly. Credit: Wikimedia Commons

The future of wearables or just more ‘Glassholes’?

Louise Elliott oogle tried it first and now Facebook is following in their footsteps in their latest attempt to bring wearable tech into the mainstream, something the public have historically shunned. Earlier this week, the social media company unveiled its own pair of smart glasses, designed in partnership with EssilorLuxottica (the owners of RayBan). However, these specs are also reigniting discussions over privacy concerns. The glasses come on 20 designs so far and house two cameras, two micro speakers, three microphones and a processing chip, all of which will set you back $300 for a pair. They can film video, take pictures, and play music but aside from this, and without 5G connectivity, there

Microphone

children, and on whether data collected by the glasses can remain anonymous. To quell privacy concerns, the glasses shine a small indicator light to alert others that they’re being photographed or recorded. The accompanying app connected to the glasses also produces a prompt encouraging users to assess whether it “feels appropriate” to take photos or video in the moment. In regard to the devices listening capabilities, the assistant feature of the glasses will only be prompted on hearing the wake phrase “Hey Facebook”. However, having a pair of glasses that listens to you may be enough to make some feel uneasy. Furthermore, the glasses ask its users to allow transcripts of their vocal interactions to be stored and reviewed by both human and machine-learning algorithms to

Speakers

Capture Button Speakers

Camera 2 Camera 1

is not much else these glasses can do. While Facebook argues that wearable tech can be fun and encourage people to live more in the moment without fumbling around with smartphones so much, the glasses have raised serious privacy concerns for both users and the people around them. Just this week (10/09), Italy’s data protection authority revealed that it has asked Facebook to clarify whether the smart glasses are compliant with privacy laws. In particular, the Italian authority is concerned over how Facebook intends to protect those who are filmed by the glasses, particularly

improve the Assistant feature of the glasses. So far this has not proved to be a popular option among reviewers. These glasses are one step further towards realising Zuckerberg’s goal of the “metaverse” where the virtual and real worlds collide together and where wearables can be used to augment our reality, not just take our picture. If his dream is to be realised, Facebook’s smart glasses will have to first tackle the ongoing privacy concerns that both wearables, and the company’s reputation, are synonymous with. Rayban Stories Glasses Credit: Rayban

The butterfly’s guide to proposing How Milkweed butterflies increase their love drug supply by stealing and feeding on their young for chemicals

M Tevy Kuch

ilkweed butterflies have been seen for the first time feeding on live caterpillars, the young of their own species. According to researchers, they do this to increase their supply of mating pheromones. One of the most recent discoveries that raises issues in insect evolutionary theory is a butterfly’s behavior toward members of their own subfamily (Danainae). In a study published in the Ecology’s The Scientific Naturalist, scientists claim that milkweed butterflies harass, subjugate, and feast on live, dead, and dying larvae belonging to other milkweed butterflies - essentially their own offspring. The caterpillar marks the larval stage of butterflies and moths. Caterpillars consume poisonous plants and store toxins as a form of self-defense. These poisonous chemicals act as a repellent towards predators like birds, which are later manifested in the vivid, warning colors of

Large yellow underwing caterpillar Credit: Wikimedia Commons

butterflies. Male butterflies use these molecules to cultivate mating pheromones, which serve as nuptial “gifts” to females as part of courtshipping. Male butterflies enhance their diet by searching for supplementary sources of chemicals to increase their natural toxicity. These are usually derived from plant sources, but deep within the jungles of North Sulawesi, Indonesia, it appears that they have developed a palate for caterpillars - one that aligns with their pursuit to dilate supply of this love drug. Yi-Kai (Kai) Tea from the University of Sydney School of Life and Environmental Sciences, said: “The behaviour does not fit neatly in the traditional modes of predation, parasitism, or mutualism, and so presents a new challenge to evolutionary theory. We have coined it ‘kleptopharmacophagy’ – chemical theft for consumption.” The butterflies partake in a behavior known as “leaf-scratching” to augment the chemical supplies already acquired as caterpillar adolescents. With their sharp tarsal claws, they gnaw at chemicalcontaining plants to extract plant juices, absorbing them with their long, curly tongues. Scratching at live caterpillars, on the other hand, had never been documented before. Researchers observed adult male milkweed butterflies that were seen clawing at both the leaves as well as live and dead caterpillars, ingesting their secretions. “The caterpillar larvae would contort their bodies swiftly in vain attempts to stop the scratching,” he explained.

“Caterpillars are essentially bags of macerated leaves; the same leaves that contain these potent chemicals the milkweed butterflies seek out. To adult butterflies, they may simply be an alternative source of chemicals on which to feed,” “The caterpillar larvae would contort their bodies rapidly in what appeared to be futile attempts

“

The behaviour does not fit neatly in the traditional modes of predation, parasitism, or mutualism, and so presents a new challenge to evolutionary theory to deter the scratching,” Mr Tea explained. While studies have found milkweed butterflies to be consuming on the carcasses of other chemical-containing insects, this is the first evidence of how such behaviour had been carried out by live insects of the same order, specifically their own larvae. However, It’s still unknown whether the caterpillar deaths had a casual relationship linked to the scratching. These grounds pave more questions about the ecology of these iconic butterflies. Which exact compounds are these butterflies particularly interested in? Is similar conduct common in other parts of the world?

Wednesday 22 September 2021

Science & Tech

The potential Less is more: Robots improve internet apocalypse communication by chatting less

A Tevy Kuch

big solar storm, which happens once during a century, could submerge the world into a “Internet apocalypse,” forcing large swarms of users offline for weeks or even months. The Earth is continually jettisoned by electromagnetic particles from the Sun. These particles - which form the solar wind - are usually sent to the poles that reside by the Earth’s magnetic barrier which protects it from actual damage. This solar wind manifests into a fullfledged solar storm approximately around every 100 years, according to researchers, which could bring significant repercussions for modern civilization. Current technological growth corresponded with a period of low solar activity, and the Sun is projected to become more active in the near future, according to a study by Sangeetha Abdu Jyothi of the University of California, Irvine. Researchers predict that the probability of the Earth to be

directly harmed by space weather extremities is between 1.6 and 12 percent in the next decade. According to the study, even in the event of a huge solar storm, regional internet infrastructure will be relatively unaffected by damage since optical fiber is not impacted by geomagnetically induced currents. Long undersea cables, on the other hand, pose a greater risk. If a solar storm intercepts a number of these cables, it could result in a connectivity outage spread among countries even if local infrastructure remains untouched. “Our infrastructure is not prepared for a large-scale solar event. We have very limited understanding of what the extent of the damage would be,” Abdu Jyothi told the Wired. The pandemic and the world’s lack of preparedness to deal with a global calamity prompted questions surrounding internet resilience. The Earth will have around a 13 hour window to prepare for a strong solar storm, he added. In recent history, just two such storms have been recorded: in 1859 and 1921.

Louise Elliott esearchers from the University of Sheffield developed a method to improve communication between individual robots making up a swarm, thus improving their ability to adapt to new environments and work together. The study, led by Dr. Andreagiovanni Reina, finds that reduced communication among individuals in a group results in the group responding more rapidly to changes in their environment and making more sophisticated decisions.

The researchers produced these findings by studying how a swarm of small robots communicate with each other to reach a consensus on the area in which they should gather in and explore. The study is based on th e voter model - a protocol in robotics where each robot assesses the environment on an individual basis and then broadcasts its opinion to the rest of the swarm, so other robots can select these broadcasts and use them to update their own opinions on the best area. When using this protocol, researchers found that the robot swarm was slow to react and adapt when their environment changed,

and better areas emerged. However, when each robot had fewer communication links, their ability to adapt quickly to new environments improved. This occurred when the robots could only communicate with others which were within a 10cm range, rather than broadcasting to the whole group. Dr Andreagiovanni Reina of the University’s Department of Computer science and leader of the study said: “Swarms of robots have huge potential to help us access places that are either too hazardous or simply inaccessible to humans. For example, they could fly over a forest fire that is too vast or dangerous for humans to tackle alone, monitor how the fire spreads and secede where help is needed most” “This is what our research is helping to do – our findings could be used to develop swarms of robots that are more responsive and able to make the right decisions much quicker than they currently can.” Miniature robots. Credit: University of Sheffield

Breakthrough for Lab Grown Human Embryo research Researchers are now permitted to grow human embryos in the lab for longer than 14 days. Sromona Bhaumik explains what this breakthrough could mean for future research

evelopmental researchers and biologists have presumably waited a long time for this day to arrive. For a long time, scientists have cultured hundreds of embryos to understand and study the early stages of development. However, because of this 14 days rule, embryos could not be cultured and grown under laboratory conditions for more than 14 days. Day 14 is when the embryo generally starts developing structures like the differentiation between the head and the tail with developing body axes. This becomes too soon for many researchers to stop culturing the embryos and hence, acts as a barrier to understand several other details related to the development of the human embryo. With the relaxation of this 14-days rule, scientists will get

an opportunity to observe more closely as to what happens during human development, the week after fertilization. Previously, as the culturing of the human embryo had a strict shelf life of 14 days, researchers were unable to observe the gastrulation phase of the embryo, generally taking place between 4 to 22 days, restricting from having an in-depth observation of the biological changes occurring within it. With the lifting of this limit, more of a thorough understanding can be gained which can prove to be of importance in the biological and research perspective. Talking about the benefits of the increased limit from 14 days, this would prove to be somewhat of a breakthrough in its rights. It will allow researchers and scientists to get into the depth of reasons as to why 1/3rd of the pregnancy losses and miscarriages take place.

In addition to this, several infants suffer from congenital diseases, and being given the opportunity of growing human embryos for more than 14 days would now allow the detection of these birth defects and give them the possible chance of preventing them. Several of the laboratory studies of human embryos took place by utilizing model embryos to produce faster results which in most scenarios prove to be accurate. This also utilizes stem cell research and study, vital for the longevity of the human race. With the extended limit of being able to study human embryos, stem cell research would leap because regenerative medicines will now have a possibility to be developed. This is because, after the 14th day, the embryos go into the differentiation stage where the cells start developing into different organs of the body. “I’m fascinated by

the second, third and fourth week of development, which we cannot see with ultrasound, but starts the development of the progenitors for the main organs” said Zernicka Goetz, who works for her lab in the United Kingdom and at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. Adding on to this, Brivanlou and Zernicka-Goetz want to keep pushing the limit to culture human embryos because they believe that studying this further would allow proceeds within gene therapy programmes and in understanding neurodevelopmental disorders. Brivanlou goes on to say that his research group is trying to push the limit to day 21, applying to his university’s regulatory committee, because by then,

the embryo will be developed into distinct structures like the heart, spinal cord, brain, bone and so on This would indeed prove to be of benefit within the scientific arena of education. However, Naomi Moris, a developmental biologist at the Francis Crick Institute of London, suggests her ambivalence by posing a question on the ethical grounds of using human embryos as a model of research. This is because model embryos were used even after day 14 to get glimpses of later embryonic stages without anybody questioning the procedure and time limit allowed to study them. In hindsight, the lifting of limits from 14 days is going to be an area filled with researchers to try and study more and discover more within this area of expertise with increased competition between research groups in the long run.

A human embryo cultivated for 4 days at x4000 magnification. Credit: Flickr

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Science & Tech Illustration of a flurry of energy explode from a star that has cannibalized from a dead star Credit: Chuck Carter

Star Ingests Black Hole Tevy Kuch

stronomers have discovered firm evidence of a rare double cosmic cannibalism — a star consuming a compact object like a black hole or neutron star for the first time. As a result, the object devoured the star’s core, triggering an eruption and leaving behind a black hole in its wake. The Very Large Array (VLA), a radio telescope comprising of 27 enormous dishes in the New Mexican desert near Socorro, documented the first traces of the

event, as reported in Science on September 3. A flash of radio radiation as intense as the brightest exploding star - a supernova - erupted in a dwarf star–forming galaxy 500 million light-years away during the observatory’s night sky scans in 2017. Dillon Dong, an astronomer at Caltech, and his colleagues used the VLA and one of the telescopes at the W.M. Keck Observatory, to do follow-up observations of the galaxy. A bright outpouring of material flaring in multiple directions at 3.2 million kilometers per hour from

Bronze-age coffin unearthed

Louise Elliott tudents and staff at the University of Sheffield archaeology department have been part of a team that discovered a 4000-year-old coffin in Lincolnshire. The early bronze age coffin, three meters long and one meter wide, was discovered accidentally on a golf course and contained the remains of a man and axe thought to date back 4000 years ago. The coffin was made by hollowing out a single, fast growing, oak tree, and the body inside cushioned by plants. A gravel mound was built on top of the grave, indicating the high status of the individual buried beneath. Only 65 early Bronze age coffins are known from Britain as it is rare for the wood they are made out of to survive. Similarly, it is rare for the wooden shaft of the axe inside the coffin to survive, with only 12 such axes being known to survive in Britain. Initially a deep layer of silt aided the preservation of the coffin and its contents, however on

exposure to the elements it was a race against time to uncover and preserve it. Dr Hugh Willmott of the University of Sheffield said: “Luckily when the burial was found, myself and a team of staff and students from the Department of Archaeology at the University of Sheffield were working on a nearby research and training excavation. This was a brilliant learning experience for our students to see what can be achieved at short notice and I’m so pleased we were able to help.” Tim Allen, of Historic England, said: “After local authority and Portable Antiquities Scheme staff made an initial inspection, Sheffield University was able to attend. It was only thanks to them being able to assist that weekend that we were able to secure the coffin, axe and surviving human remains. The coffin is now at York archaeological trust where recording and conservation work continues. Eventually the coffin and its contents will be moved to the Collection museum when the timber is preserved.

a central position was captured by the Keck telescope indicating that an intense explosion had transpired there in the past. Researchers hypothesize that a binary pair of stars formed a long time ago was born orbiting each other. One died in a magnificent supernova and materialized into either a neutron star or a black hole. As gravity drove the two objects closer together, the dead star actually pierced the outer layers of its larger stellar sibling. For hundreds of years, the compact object swirled within the still-living star, subsequently

reaching and devouring its partner’s core. The larger star discarded massive amounts of gas and dust at this time, building a material shell around the couple. Gravitational forces and complex magnetic interactions from the dead star’s consumption caused tremendous streams of energy to be propelled into the living star’s core, as well as causing the larger star to combust, as evidenced in an X-ray burst in 2014. Debris from the explosion blasted into the surrounding shell of material at incredible speeds, generating optical and radio light.

Theorists have already postulated the event, dubbed a mergertriggered core collapse supernova, but this is the first firsthand observation of the phenomena. In cosmic time, such stages in a star’s life are relatively brief, making them difficult to detect and recreate. Most of the time, the enveloping partner dies before its core is devoured, resulting in two compact objects orbiting each other, such as white dwarfs, neutron stars, or black holes.

Nature’s shapeshifters against climate change

G Tevy Kuch

lobal warming is presenting a significant problem for the earth’s warmblooded animals, which need to retain consistent internal body temperatures, studies suggest. Animals respond to global warming in a variety of ways. Some relocate to cooler locations, such as closer to the poles or higher land. Some displace milestone events like breeding and migration to cooler periods of the year. Others have begun to evolve to modify their body size in order to cool down faster. Another way animals adapt to climate change is by changing the size of their ears, tails, beaks, and other appendages, according to the study. It featured examples of animals growing larger appendages in response to climate change and rising temperatures. Animals utilizing their appendages to regulate their internal temperature is a widely known fact, and can be seen anywhere.

Warm blood is pumped to African elephants’ huge ears, which they then flap to spread heat. Birds’ beaks have a similar function: when the bird is heated, blood flow can be diverted to the bill. All of this suggests that larger appendages have advantages in warmer climates. This pattern has since become Allen’s rule. The majority of known cases of shape-shifting in birds – more notably, increases in beak size. According to research, the beak size of gang-gang cockatoos and red-rumped parrots has increased by 4% to 10% since 1871. The size of mammalian appendages is likewise expanding. The tail and leg lengths of the masked shrew, for example, have risen substantially since 1950. Over the same time period, the wing size of the great roundleaf bat grew by 1.64 percent. Animal appendages, of course, serve a purpose other than controlling body temperature The average beak size of the Galapagos medium ground sparrow, for example, has altered

through time in response to seed size, which is regulated by rainfall. These findings show that beak size is determined by rainfall (and, by extension, seed size). The survival of small-beaked birds has decreased as summers have become drier. Researchers found evidence that birds with smaller beaks are also less likely to endure warmer climates. This suggests that temperature may be just as significant as other uses of appendages, such as feeding, in determining appendage size changes. While some species are responding to climate change, many others will not. Some birds may be restricted to a specific diet, preventing them from changing their beak shape. Other animals may not be able to evolve in the same amount of time. While it is crucial to foresee how animals will respond to climate change, the most effective method to safeguard species in the future is to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and avoid as much global warming as possible.

Wednesday 22 September 2021

Lifestyle

A funky vegan Edinburgh

Amy Mullen-Brown dinburgh is my favourite place for a UK staycation and I would recommend it to anyone. The picturesque city has so much to offer, from amazing food to lots of fun activities, and it is ideal for history lovers. Edinburgh Castle is so accessible to the public, it provides panoramic views of the city and there is a lot to do there, including seeing the crown jewels. The old town which leads from the castle is beautiful with lots of independent shops to browse. A favourite of mine was the Perre jewellery shop where they had so many stunning pieces with unique crystals and stones. There are also Harry Potter shops which include real props from the movies. World of Illusions and the Camera Obscura Museum were a personal favourite as it was packed with interactive illusive rooms. From light tricks to camera placements, your brain can get tricked by all the illusions in there. This museum was definitely worth the money as it is very different to other museums and great for photo opportunities. For another activity idea, I really enjoyed Lane 7 bowling alley. It was really funky with neon ‘graffiti’ designs all over the walls, andhere was an arcade, a bar and the bowling alley which made it a fun few hours. My favourite spot to eat at was Sora Lella Italian, a vegan restaurant. The menu was filled with so many choices and even non-vegans who came, said it was brilliant. It was really intimate inside with only a few tables so it gave it a very authentic Italian feel. Our favourite dish overall was the carbonara. Another restaurant I would recommend was Seeds for the Soul, which provides vegan fish alternatives which my boyfriend said was the best he has tried. I got a really delicious frappe and a vegan ‘chicken’ wrap which was very tasty. Some more food recommendations include Bross Bagels, Harmonium, and Holy Cow. Each of these eateries is unique from the other. We grabbed Bross Bagels for lunch one day and haven’t stopped thinking about the ‘no palm done,’ which my boyfriend and I loved, since. We stopped off at the bagel van in the middle of a busy day

and it was ideal for a quick lunch. Harmonium is a vegan pub which had amazing patatas bravas, and a really friendly atmosphere with great cocktails too! On the last day we were in Edinburgh, we went to Holy Cow for some lunch. We had an incredible vegan reuben sandwich, and Holy Cow had cute outdoor seating and a relaxed atmosphere. Next time I visit I would love to hike ‘Arthur’s seat’ as so many people have said that it is great for views. I would recommend staying where I stayed, just outside of the city centre in a town called Leith as it was peaceful in the evenings and only a short bus journey into the centre.

Credit: (Clockwise) The view from Edinburgh Castle, above the old town. The author and her boyfriend in Camera Obscura museum. Seeds for the Soul. Lane 7 bowling alley. Photos by Amy Mullen-Brown

Forge Press

Lifestyle

‘We must own the fact that no one individual can save the planet’ : Facing climate anxiety The climate crisis is becoming more apparent and severe, and with the news increasingly focusing on this, it is hard not to feel anxious about the future. Climate anxiety is common among young people, and it can often feel like a huge weight on our shoulders. Josh Thory-Rao discusses if the future is too bleak, or can we all pull together to turn it With the effects of human induced climate change starting to show themselves ever more presently, and the advice of scientific reports like the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change, or IPCC, differing so dramatically from the actions that governments are taking, it is no surprise that many fear for the future. In particular, young people are angered by the inaction of previous generations. The realisation that solving this crisis is a greater task than any one of us can achieve alone, and the apathy of large sections of the population, are adding to this drain on the mental health of many and leading to feelings of hopelessness for the future of our planet and its habitability. For those of us without power or large influence, the fear we feel because of the climate crisis easily leads to a bleak outlook of the future. According to psychologists like Dr Patrick Kennedy-Williams

(quoted in the Guardian, Feb 2020), it is the lack of means to change our dire fortunes which is leading to burnout and anxiety in, particularly young, people. The feeling of despair that many feel is impounded through influences that feel out of our control; the scale of the problem for one, but particularly the ‘business as usual’ approach from corporate and government elites, and the consumerism that is so prevalent in our societies. Polling data showcases this issue – the initiative Force of Nature (who focus on ‘mobilising mindsets for climate action’) on their website quote a recent YouGov poll which found that 70 per cent of young people feel hopeless in the face of the climate crisis, which perhaps results from the fact that only 26 per cent of young people know how to contribute to solving it – largely, it is something we feel powerless to stop.

Student meals to keep you happy and healthy, on a budget As students, it can be challenging to know how to have a balanced diet on a budget and not rely on cheap, convenient and not so nutritious meals such as frozen pizzas, writes Molly Powell

It could be argued those in power are not taking the issue nearly as seriously as they should be. The latest IPCC report has stressed the urgency and severity of our situation, telling us that the only way to avoid warming of 1.5-2.0 degrees celsius (above pre-industrial levels) is by making ‘massive and immediate’ cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. The Paris agreement, quite the success in terms of international cooperation, which aims to keep these temperatures below 1.5-2.0 degrees, is a welcome initiative; yet many experts argue that under the current provisions of the agreement, we will not keep below these targets. For that, more urgent provisions need to be made. Understandably then, people feel despair, as much from others’ failure to take the problem seriously as the seriousness of the problem itself; and many don’t take the problem seriously, unwilling to change their lifestyles to lower their carbon footprint. Should we even make personal changes, if others are not going to reciprocate them? Well, yes. We must own the fact that no one individual can ‘save the planet’, and not let it stop us – our actions should focus on setting an example to,

and discussing these issues with, others. Our lifestyles obviously strengthen our bargaining position when discussing the climate, partly because it shows changes to be possible, and partly because we are seen as more serious and genuine advocates if we live in more environmentally friendly ways. Individual changes on a collective level do make a difference, so we should be striving for these and leading by example.

Eating a more plant-based and locally sourced diet; walking, cycling and using public transport; and switching electricity provider to someone renewable like Octopus Energy are all easy, individual actions, among countless others, that we can take and encourage

others to take to push for greener societal norms. Fighting for top-down change too feels meaningless when undertaken alone. But when, as a group, we protest or vote, we stand more of a chance of influencing government. Of course, even in huge numbers, there is no guarantee of success; look at the marches against the Iraq war and against Brexit, for example. But that does not mean that we cannot collectively affect political processes; of course through voting and campaigning during electiontime, but also by forcing issues into the public debate and getting governments to pay attention to them by protesting and lobbying politicians. It is entirely possible that one could take all of these actions and yet still feel helpless – many feel they are playing their part yet influencing little. But we must accept that there are limits to what we can do; it is perhaps unsurprising that we often feel as though our impact is marginal. But we cannot lose hope, for those of us who feel this anxiety for the planet are in a way all that she has left; if those who have fear don’t act for helplessness, then who will act? Not those with no fear through apathy, that’s for sure. So, it must be us.

Of course, frozen pizzas are perfect for days when we fancy a treat or cannot be bothered to cook as they serve as a cheaper alternative to takeaways. However, when we want to have a healthier, brain fuelling option, the easiest way is to ‘meal plan’. More specifically, planning around three to four large meals a week, which can be frozen and quickly reheated. It is such an easy way to incorporate budget-friendly, balanced meals into your diet. One of my favourite meals to bulk cook and freeze is a lentil dhal, which can be made even cheaper by using frozen rather than fresh vegetables. Another recommendation is a Thai red curry- which is very similar to a raisukaree for any Wagamama lovers, and I often double the vegetable measurements for even more nutrition. Again, frozen vegetables and using frozen chicken breasts instead of fresh make this

recipe more affordable. All in all, I would recommend stocking up on frozen vegetables at the beginning of the year to save money, and they can quickly make a meal much healthier. Canned beans are also a personal cupboard staple. As someone trying to cut down their meat consumption, they act as a great protein alternative and make any meal more filling. Some recipes that use beans that I love in the autumn months are a bean chilli, bean fajitas and a vegetarian sausage and bean stew. If you live with housemates, you can also share meals with them or even split a food shop between you. I did this in my second year, which meant that I did not have to cook every night, and I saved a few pennies for weekends in the pub! It also helped me stick to a shopping list rather than buying unnecessary things when food shopping.

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Individual changes on a collective level do make a difference, so we should be striving for these and leading by example.

Wednesday 22 September 2021

Lifestyle

A second year’s guide to all things ‘fresher’ in a pandemic

Tia Xiourouppas oing to university is one of the biggest steps that we may take in our lives. As exciting as it is, it can also be daunting trying to navigate a new city alone, whilst also making friendships and keeping on top of workload. Being a fresher during the pandemic only heightened the difficulty of the above tasks. So, I have compiled a list of tricks and tips I wish I had known when starting University last year, in the hopes that this guide will help new freshers not make the same mistakes that I made. GUIDE TO: ACADEMICS Prepare for change: The style of learning is likely to be difficult and very overwhelming for new students; university is very different to sixth form education, so this can throw many people off. However, it is important to know that everyone is in the same boat, and that you won’t be the only one feeling like you don’t understand. You will also have to prepare yourself to be more independent with your learning, as lecturers and tutors have no obligation to check up on you and keep pushing you. Don’t fall behind: Missing lectures can be very tempting, especially during the

To save more in the long run, we would purchase items in bulk, such as larger pasta and rice bags. When doing this, try to check the pounds per weight price to find the best overall price. Another idea is to do a big house meal once a week, such as a Mexican night or cheese and wine night, so you only have to buy and cook a small contribution to the meal. I did this a lot with previous housemates, and we made a night of it – whether that be listening to a different culture’s music or finding a new bottle of cheap Aldi wine (or two) to enjoy. It is also important to remember that we should not restrict or pressure ourselves to have a perfectly healthy diet. This is where balance comes in – if we are eating relatively healthy for most of the week, there is nothing wrong with having some beers or a post-night out takeaway on the weekend.

pandemic where all lectures were remote. It is very easy to just roll out of bed and switch your lecture on and fall straight back to sleep, or to say you will just catch up on the recording of the lectures. However, missing even a day of lectures can put you so far behind, when having to add it to the workload of another day. Do yourself a favour and go to as many lectures as possible to save future you from having regrets. Reference as you go along: This is probably one of the most important tips to follow throughout your journey at University. When writing essays, articles and coursework, it is VITAL to do your referencing as soon as you mention it in the body of work. Leaving it until the end makes for a very difficult and infuriating day of trying to gather all your old references, links etc. It is not uncommon to have 20+ references in coursework, and no one wants to be left with that task. A few other tips I have in terms of academics: Don’t be scared to reach out to lecturers: they are there for a reason. No question is a stupid question. Discuss work with friends in the course, and learn to reference correctly, and how to use critical thinking and analysis skills. GUIDE TO: SOCIAL LIFE Despite what parents would like

to believe, it is no secret that social life is a massive part of University life. It can be very daunting however, especially for students who recently turned 18 and haven’t had much experience.

Be friendly with as many people as you can. Not many people will tell you this, but University can be very, very lonely. Thankfully, making friends is so easy because everyone is in the same position as you. However it is still important to put effort into being friendly with people, as having lots of familiar faces will ease the difficulty of being in new surroundings. A good way to do this is through joining societies, and meeting people who have similar interests as you. Dont worry too much about freshers tickets. There will be plenty of people without tickets to specific freshers events. This doesn’t mean other

clubs won’t be available to you, and also doesn’t mean flat parties won’t exist. There are plenty of other options available to have a good time during fresher week, if you do miss out on freshers tickets.

Drinking culture is big, but not necessary. If you choose not to drink alcohol for whatever reason, there is no need to worry. It can seem that all students care about is drinking, however there will be many others in the same position as you, and students who do drink should be understanding. There is no need to feel pressured into drinking or doing anything else you don’t feel comfortable with, as there will always be people who understand. The best clubs for students: It is no surprise that Sheffield ranks highly for student nightlife, however if you don’t know where to go for a good night out, below is a list of

some of the best places. CODE: a Student club with two floors CORPORATION: With different music genres playing in all 4 of their rooms, there’s something for everyone. LEADMILL: themed club nights THE FOUNDRY: Arguably the best night out for Sheffield students. For bars, West Street is the ideal place to go. Some highlights include: Tigerworks, Molly Malones, West Street live, Tropicana and Firepit. A few other tips: If you are in Endcliffe/Ranmoor, the 120 bus is your life saver. Download the ‘first bus’ app to help with travelling. Budget well and don’t blow your student finance at once. Stay as clean as possible in the flat. Take photos of your accommodation before moving in to ensure nothing can be claimed against you when trying to get your deposit back. It’s never too late to start over if you are unhappy with your course/ accomodation/friend group etc. Lastly, it can be very annoying having to experience what should be the best years of your life, during a pandemic. However do not let this ruin your experience; instead make the most of what you can do, and remember everyone is in the same boat as you are, so don’t be afraid to reach out.

Also, if there happens to be a week where you’re really busy and end up eating more fast food, that’s okay and don’t be hard on yourself. Having backup frozen meals in the freezer from your meal prep, though, can really help you stay on track. At the end of the day, more nutritious meals when stressed often help our brain function. So, when you do your next weekly shop, try to make a list based off of nutritious, enjoyable and satisfying meals that can be frozen as an easy way to eat healthily on a budget, and do not be afraid to indulge in a treat or two.

Credit: Cheese and wine uni night. Healthy meal. Photos by Molly Powell

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Arts & Theatre

Features

How BookTok is shaking up the publishing industry

With over 20 billion views, #BookTok is dictating new bestsellers and shaping the publishing world - one TikTok recommendation at a time, writes Maddison Burgess

here are many sides to the social media app TikTok, with one of the most unexpected being BookTok. BookTok is a community of people who share opinions, reviews, and recommendations on a variety of books through short clips. Whether it’s a raving five-star review or the latest scandal in cancel culture, Booktok will have something to say about it. This has presented a largely positive, innovative way to get younger people into reading and to encourage them to have conversations about literature. These days, the power of social media sites like TikTok is enough to make someone famous and even make a first-time author bestselling. The influence of the growth of this online community has been so great that most bookshops, including Waterstones, now have a BookTok dedicated section. The first book you will find in

almost any BookTok section is The Song of Achilles by Madeleine Miller. This emotional re-telling of the Iliad focuses on the relationship between Achilles,the demigod, and his best friend and love interest Patroclus. It’s both a romance and tragedy, re-telling Greek mythology in a way I have never seen before. I definitely would not have picked this book up if it weren’t for the hype surrounding it on TikTok. Another book that’s popular among the community is the YA

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Whether it’s a raving five-star review or the latest scandal in cancel culture, Booktok will have something to say about it.

psychological thrillers We Were Liars by E. Lockhart. It tells the story of a group of teenagers who vacation with their family on a private island during summer. The main character, Candace, suffers a head injury and cannot remember anything from the trip. The novel is critically acclaimed, with users from TikTok even sharing clips of themselves crying over the book. While BookTok is doing amazing things for some authors, it’s also ‘calling out’ others. This year saw a huge controversy surrounding The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ

Screengrabs from, left to right, bookishizz, lacislibrary, jenna.loves. books. Composite: TikTok Clune. The novel follows a caseworker in the Department in Charge of Magical Youth who has to decide whether a group of children are capable of causing the end of the world. Whilst the majority of people enjoyed this novel, BookTok member and YouTuber Jack Edwards, among others, mentioned in a video that there are problematic elements of the book to be considered. He explains that Clune was inspired by events that occurred in the 50’s and 60’s in Canada where 20,000 Indigenous children were forcibly taken from their homes and forced to live in foster care. The question to be asked is, is it within the rights of the author to package up someone else’s trauma for a book? Some people think it is acceptable, a lot think it is not. However, this question may never have arisen

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The influence of the growth of this online community has been so great that most bookshops, including Waterstones, now have a BookTok dedicated section.

if it were not for opinion-sharing platforms such as TikTok, which clearly has a stronger impact than we may first think. If you’re searching through #BookTok, you won’t be able to escape clips about The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid or They Both Die At The End by Adam Silvera. Both of these novels have been at the top of the hashtag for quite some time. Jenkins Reid’s book is historical fiction about an Old Hollywood star’s life whilst Silvera’s is a YA novel about two boys who find out they only have a day to live. While they are extremely different, they both gained popularity through BookTok; there really is something for everyone. Whether it’s fantasy, horror or a cheesy romance, if you’re in a reading rut and looking for that book to get you out of it, you might just find it on #BookTok!

Monday 20 September

Arts & Theatre

Fresh books

The Man Who Died Twice Richard Osman

Bewilderment Richard Powers

Harlem Shuffle Colson Whitehead

The second cosy mystery novel from the best-

An arresting tale about a widowed

Set in a richly evoked 1960s Harlem,

selling Pointless presenter - a perfect read to

astrobiologist faced with the task of bringing

Whitehead spins a meticulously plotted and

escape into this Autumn.

up his son with a obscure health condition.

paced tale of petty criminals and failed heists.

Opinion

When will the government recognise the value of arts degrees? Jade Burnett In an attempt to divert costs towards STEM degrees, the government has recently confirmed its plans to cut funding to arts and design courses by 50% for universities in England. These cuts, which will affect degrees linked to the creative industry such as art, design, media studies, music and performing arts, by dramatically reducing the subsidies received by universities and students to assist in the funding of these courses which have been categorised as ‘high cost’ by the government. This category of ‘high cost’ degrees also includes a range of STEM degrees, which these cuts are intended to divert funding towards. Gavin Williamson MP, the Minister for Education, has justified these cuts as a way of reprioritising other high-cost courses such as science, engineering, medicine, and mathematics, which have been deemed to be more economically valuable. These cuts present a huge issue for universities, and for the UK’s creative industries more broadly, stifling economic recovery and serving to make the arts less accessible. Covid has meant that public access to the arts, whether in the form of theatre, live music or galleries, has been cut off. This has dramatically reduced the income of such industries, which have previously accounted for 11 billion pounds for the UK economy annually. Estimates from a report made by the House of Commons looking into the impact of Covid suggests that the economic output from the arts and culture sector dropped to 46% below its value in 2019 in the final quarter of 2020. Representatives of the industry, such as the Public Campaign for the Arts, have warned that such cuts put the health of arts departments in a precarious position, damaging the quality of education that can be offered, whilst at the same time

harming the growth and recovery of local arts and culture outlets which are seeking to recover from Covid losses. Cutting back on funding for arts degrees will have a long term impact on engagement in the arts, stifling the ability of universities to prepare students for a career in the arts, and putting the future of departments at risk. Further to this it will worsen accessibility to working class people who are underrepresented in the arts. Under current legislation, full-time students are rewarded £243 of funding from the Office for Students, which helps them to be able to fully engage with courses that can often be very costly. These new plans for cutting back on arts degree spending will mean that this funding is halved for each student. At this difficult point in time, the arts need encouragement and revitalisation, which must come through economic support. The arts enrich our society, providing entertainment and leisure, but also serving as a bedrock for our collective cultural understanding and education. Art is the medium through which we learn about ourselves and each other, explore our history and our future, and are given the voice to challenge power. The representation of a diverse range of backgrounds and perspectives in these industries betters our society through enriching our cultural output. Whilst it is undeniable that STEM degrees are important both economically and socially, to cut funding to the arts so dramatically in order to fund STEM undervalues the importance of culture. Arts and culture degrees and the local artistic communities that they create are crucial in ensuring that the sector is constantly revitalised, providing a pipeline for new talent, which is now being threatened by harmful cuts. It is vital that the arts are defended and made more, not less, accessible if we want to ensure that they are accessible and enjoyable for all.

Feature

The magic of Sally Rooney Lauren E. White Sally Rooney’s infallible writing prowess was cemented in the history of literature with the publication of her third novel, Beautiful World, Where Are You, last week. This new exploration of four characters in their thirties, set on the West Coast of Ireland, has received rave reviews and won the hearts of readers. But what is it about Rooney’s writing that manages to strike a chord with audiences around the globe? First and foremost, it’s got to be Rooney’s style. Certainly, with Normal People - the million-copy bestseller adapted into a BBC TV series that also took the world by storm - Rooney commanded a completely different style of writing to virtually all other well-known authors. Punctuation? Out the window. Plot? Not huge. Characters? You know their psyche. Rooney’s style demands your attention; she has her fingers to the pulse of each character she writes, knowing their minds, opinions, and behaviours. There are intricacies to Rooney’s characters that just make them seem so real. Often they include character flaws and annoying traits, such as Alice’s pretentious nature in Beautiful World and Connell’s inability to communicate in Normal People. Aside from characters and writing style, though, Rooney incorporates a range of themes in her novels

which really add to the magic of her writing. Many young people discuss the impact of pornography on sex, for example, which dominates many conversations in all of Rooney’s novels. It becomes something special to us because we live these conversations with our own friends and experience the repercussions of it in our own lives. Even Rooney’s musings on loneliness strike a chord with readers, despite the fact that her characters are surrounded by other people. As the old cliché goes, you can be alone in a room full of your friends. It doesn’t matter how many people are around you, if you’re not fulfilled in a certain way, you will feel alone. No character perhaps embodies this as much as Marianne, who is rather happy to be alone, even though she naturally longs for human communication. We all do. Though the heavy philosophical side to most of Rooney’s novels can alienate a certain audience - i.e., anyone looking for light reading - there’s something about the intertwining of politics, love, and sex that is appealing to a wider audience. She doesn’t shoehorn an opinion in, but presents it in the dialogue, allowing the characters to prophesise and debate among themselves. And we, the reader, are invited to listen in. For me, the real magic of Sally Rooney’s writing is the ordinary nature of them. Yes, characters can be pretentious and many people don’t love them. But we don’t love

everyone in real life, and I think this is part of Rooney’s point. She is musing on so much more than likeability in her novels, the best part of which is her presentation of social class and its impact on relationships - romantic or not. The first time class really strikes obviously in Rooney’s writing is in Normal People where Connell explains how it feels to be workingclass and a first-gen scholar at Trinity College. It feels lonely, fake, and uncomfortable. Struggling to make friends and to feel confident enough in seminars is often unique to those of us from these backgrounds, and Rooney presents this so perfectly in the novel. Class privilege discussions are even continued in Beautiful World where the rich and famous Alice receives plenty of criticism for her new, easier life. Felix, Alice’s partner, struggles subtly with the class difference. We see him head to work packing boxes in a warehouse while his girlfriend lives rent free in a huge house, not really doing much work at all. Ultimately then, the magic of Sally Rooney is in her normality. Sure, normality is wrapped up in arguments about the meaning of life, morality, and contrived complex relationship plots, but that’s why it works. The job of a good author is to breathe a spark of life into the ordinary, and that’s exactly what Rooney does in every one of her novels.

Forge Press

Music

From the wolf’s mouth: Wolf Alice give us a vision on their lives during and post-pandemic Music Editor Callum Martin talks to the group at the top of British rock

olf Alice have had an extraordinary year. From headlining at Latitude to releasing their third album Blue Weekend to widespread acclaim, the London-based fourpiece have staked their claim at the forefront of British rock. With all this success, you might think that the band would be flung into stardom, heads in the clouds and detached from reality. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. As I spoke to Joff and Theo, Wolf Alice’s guitarist and bassist respectively, I learnt about two of the most grounded people in music and the challenges that the last 18 months have presented them with. So how do you go about forging a masterpiece of an album in the midst of a global pandemic? “I think the process of the album was, in a good way, quite difficult and then coronavirus happened, and I don’t know if any of us knew what was going to happen for quite a lot of the last year,” starts Theo, speaking from a white kitchen, matching perfectly with his white jumper and bleached hair. “But I think that’s been universal, hasn’t it? I think everyone was a bit anxious about what was to come but we’ve been so lucky.” This alludes to the lockdowns that marred the recording process of Blue Weekend, although as Theo continued, they may have been a blessing in disguise. “It affords you more time, and I think the album needed more time when that was going on around it. So, I think the details [were] totally a massive thing that was brought on by coronavirus in a good way for us, because all you can do is just beat that out. In a bad and good way, because it can drive you a bit crazy. Feels like you’re in ‘The Shining’ because you’re just in one place all the time” All work and no play haven’t seemed to have any effect on the dynamics of the band though, with Theo and Joff regularly making jokes to each other throughout the interview and it’s something I think they’re particularly proud of: “The thing I’ve observed in the past and said I am very, very grateful for, eternally grateful for, is as a group of people I think nothing

return of certain festivals, Wolf Alice were able to make their headliner debut at Latitude Festival in Suffolk and return to what they love most: gigging. “[It was] amazing!” Grins Theo. “The night before we did a warm-up show in Bournemouth. That was so special. I think it’s kind of magnified how much we miss things like that. I was like ‘Wow, this feels so unique’ which it was cos it was like two days after fucking Freedom Day. And then Latitude was obviously momentous, not only because it was our biggest headline to date, it was everyone together in a field, and it was just so many different things that compounded into a very emotional experience.”

brings Wolf Alice closer together than when either things are going badly, or something has happened,” chuckles Joff. “We’re really, really good at banding around each other and going ‘Oh well this is weird, or this is bad’ or whatever there may be. We were so grateful of everyone supporting me through that process, and I hope the others could feel like I’ve supported them through it as well.” And that seems to be a running theme throughout our chat: thankfulness for their success, but also a defiant refusal to get caught up in it all. They both seem to have a complete sense of self; they know

that we would be happy to listen to ourselves.” And these 11 are the most diverse set of songs that Wolf Alice have ever put out. The singles released range from the mellow piano ballad ‘The Last Man On Earth’ to the pure rock of ‘Smile’, something which both Theo and Joff wanted to highlight in their single choices. “When ‘The Last Man On Earth’ was sent around as a demo, we all had a very special connection to it instantly,” Theo tells me. “We thought this felt like a step in a new direction for us … and if we were to have put ‘Smile’ in ahead of that, it would be maybe the obvious thing to

who they are and what Wolf Alice is, as well as a stoicism and confidence to stay true to that.

do. But because everyone was behind us to go with ‘The Last Man On Earth’ as the lead single, and I think, and it does sound very romantic to say, it was really important to have that as the first thing that people heard from the album.” Joff then continues: “I think we were keen to say to people ‘Look the rock thing is just one aspect of Wolf Alice’, for those people who may not have had an introduction to the other stuff. It’s about saying ‘Look come in, come join the party! There’s more here than just heavy rock tunes’ and then obviously following that with just a heavy rock tune”. The release of a new album comes hand in hand with the prospect of touring. With trial status guaranteeing the

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We thought this felt like a step in a new direction for us When quizzed about the pressures of trying to top their first two albums, this self-confidence is evident in Joff’s answer: “I think the most important pressure really just comes from yourself wanting to make something that’s good. So, you really need to just focus on ‘Okay, let’s make the best set of songs that we can,’ and make 11 songs

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I think people know how to party a little bit better any night of the week the further north you get Wolf Alice have also taken time during lockdown to add more elements to their live performances: adding synth player Ryan Malcom to their touring ensemble, as Joff spoke about his impact on their performances. “For a long time, me and Theo were taking up a lot of slack trying to do keyboard parts at the same time as playing our instruments and triggering things with our feet and stuff, and we could play completely live, we always have done. We don’t play to backing tracks or clicks or whatever, so it’s been great to get somebody in to take some of the slack off us, to allow us to perform and to add just layers of stuff that we wouldn’t be able to anyway. Because the recordings of all of our records are pretty dense so to add layers, to

go back to the old songs and to do that was amazing. And he’s a really talented keys player, very talented vocalist and he’s just a really nice bloke and it’s so nice to have [him] on board.” And it looks as though Ryan will be heading with Joff, Theo and the rest of the band on their UK tour early in 2022, which passes through Sheffield. I asked if he had good memories playing in the Steel City and Joff, fittingly sitting in front of his bookcase, displayed an encyclopaedic knowledge of every show Wolf Alice has ever played here. “We’ve had some great ones haven’t we? Like Tramlines was a really, really early out-of-London gig, we did the Gatsby and that one was just feedback that whole time. The Leadmill we’ve played a bunch of times haven’t we? And I think we did a really fun show. I remember one of the funnest things: we had Drenge support us in the big room and Drenge are a Sheffield band, and the lead singer came out with us and played ‘Moaning Lisa Smile’ so that was quite fun. Yeah, supporting The ’75 [The 1975] in the Academy when we were really little. Yeah we’ve had some really great times there but I really do love Sheffield, such a wicked city” Theo then got in on the chat with how the northern crowds differ. “I think people know how to party a little bit better any night of the week the further north you get. I think Yorkshire generally is quite good but these places are unique to different experiences in different cities. But on UK tours, generally like there’s a base level of a good time, so it’s like a treat for us cos even before coronavirus, we didn’t do too many of them. Being from the UK, it feels more momentous just because it’s places that you’ve seen in videos or things that you’ve consumed as you’ve grown up and everywhere is different but up north can be an absolute riot sometimes and I hope it will be in January as well.” Wolf Alice will be playing the O2 Academy in Sheffield on the 14th of January 2022. Credit clockwise from top left: Wolf Alice images credited to Jordan Hemingway; Pres playlist images collected via Pixabay

Wednesday 22 September 2021

Music

Album Reviews

Kanye West Donda

He really made us wait for this one. 402 days after it was originally supposed to, Donda finally dropped. Named after his late mother, Kanye West’s 10th studio album may be his most ambitious yet. With 23 tracks, plus four bonus remixes, and a run-time of nearly two hours, Donda is reminiscent of The Life of Pablo in its chaotic brilliance. While Kanye doesn’t quite reach the heights of his 2016 masterpiece, the consistency in quality for such a lengthy record is extremely impressive. Kanye’s discography essentially tells the story of his life and Donda is no different. The album focuses on his recent divorce with Kim Kardashian, his devotion to God and the significance of his mother’s memory in helping him become a better father. The production is somewhat minimalistic, with a lack of layered instrumentals placing more emphasis on lyricism. Regardless, there is still a grandiose feeling to the project which is almost operatic. Kanye brings his entourage along for the ride with a total of 30 different artists featuring. Unfortunately, these include DaBaby, who recently caused controversy with homophobic comments, and Marilyn Manson, who is facing numerous sexual assault allegations. The pair appear on bonus track ‘Jail pt 2’, 2’, showing that Kanye still has a desire to be provocative and problematic. The styles and sound of the project vary throughout, with the next track ‘God Breathed’ bringing back the dark, synthesized tone associated with 2013’s Yeezus Yeezus.. This quickly switches to a trap beat on ‘Off the Grid’ Grid’ which includes an excellent verse from Fivio Foreign and some of Kanye’s best rapping on the album. For those who miss the old Kanye, ‘Believe What I Say’ is certainly a highlight. A sample of Ms. Lauryn

Hill’s ‘Doo Wop (That Thing)’ is used perfectly over an up-tempo beat as Kanye touches on the reasons for his divorce. “Don’t let the lifestyle drag you down” is repeated on the chorus as Kanye appears happy to have escaped the celebrity lifestyle in L.A., which he feels contributed to the breakdown of his marriage. The centrepiece of the project, ‘Jesus Lord’ is one of Kanye’s most emotional and powerful songs of all time. A simple beat remains constant throughout the song, allowing the listener to absorb Kanye’s words as he pours his heart out. He begins his verse talking about his struggles with mental health issues: “You been down so much you don’t even know what’s upstairs / Suicidal thoughts got you wonderin’ what’s up there”. there”. The topic then switches to tell the story of a child being murdered and the knock-on impacts this has on their family and community.

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Donda is reminiscent of The Life of Pablo in its chaotic brilliance On this record, Kanye repeatedly talks about wanting to use his influence and religion to help people, hence the repeated line in the chorus: “Tell me if you know someone that needs (Jesus, Lord)”. Lord)”. After an impressive verse from Jay Electronica, the track concludes with a monologue from Larry Hoover Jr., who thanks Kanye for his work to try to free his father from prison. The nine-minute song is not only a raw declaration of Kanye’s deteriorating mental state, but also a pledge to help others who need “salvation”.. “salvation” Donda is not only a touching tribute to Donda West, whose passing sent her son into a downward spiral that he has never fully recovered from, it is also an outstanding work of art. A couple of tracks certainly could have been cut for a more refined end-product, but the vast majority of the project works exceptionally well. Kanye West is a polarising figure, to say the least, and his erratic nature is once again reflected perfectly, but somewhat tragically, in his music. Konrad Ostrowski

Lorde

Solar Power

As we were kicked into the summer feels with Lorde’s invigorating first single and title track ‘Solar Power’ in early June, we already grasp a sense of her new musical direction. As the cherry black lipstick is “gathering dust in a drawer”, drawer”, she ventures for an ethereal “prettier Jesus” summer glow. Her electronic heavy beats met with heartfelt narratives that fuelled her past two albums with such intensity, traded for softer acoustic guitars that sometimes fail to deliver that musical contrast that make Lorde songs so iconic. However, one thing she’s proved once again, she is still “Queen B” when it comes to her poetic pop lyricism. The song ‘Solar Power’ remains a highlight of the record, tactfully introducing the naturistic theme that Lorde utilises to connect a record exploring multiple subject matters. In the song she preaches the values of connecting with nature and how it helped her drown out the sometimes-overwhelming influence of a celebrity lifestyle - “and I throw my cellular device in the water”. water”. This converse is complementrily carried by a refrained acoustic guitar loop; however, the song starts to build with the backing harmonies propelling you higher and higher on your one-way ticket on the Sunshine Express, eventually reaching a sunsoaked brass infused last chorus, that closely resembles a slightly less inspiring version of the joyous 90’s tune ‘Freedom! ‘Freedom!’’ by George Michael. Her following two tracks ‘California’ and ‘Stoned at the Nail Salon’ explore similar topics but provide a very different listening experience. ‘California’ is one of the few tracks that really lets the music do the talking. The production on the vocals and eerie synth provide a nostalgic, psychedelic narrative to the song over an intricate yet unforced wistful dream-pop style melody. While in ‘Stoned at the Nail Salon’,, we’re reminded of Lorde’s Salon’ unmistakable talent to lay out a story, as she reminiscently delivers

some of her strongest lyrics over a stripped back acoustic guitar, seemingly a breakup ballad to her celebrity lifestyle. ‘Fallen Fruit’ is another highlight of the album, serving as an effective climate change song- a difficult topic to pull off musically. Replicating the intensity of her last album Melodrama Melodrama,, it creates a haunting atmosphere as she directly addresses the generations before us whose actions will continue to haunt our life on earth - “to the ones that came before us”. The acoustic guitar is utilised well to carry the song‘s momentum while the layered synth and piano instrumentation create the eerie atmosphere of a deserted planet. As we move into the second half of the album, the Sunshine Express seems to have hit a crash landing at Mediocre City. ‘Secrets from a Girl (Who’s Seen it All)’ and ‘Mood Ring’ are pleasingly rhythmic but ‘The Man with the Axe’ and ‘Big Star’ lack replay value as the lyrics get lost in a very monotonous, all too familiar acoustic guitar support. Solar Power embraces a more didactic and reflective tone than Lorde’s previous albums. She has moved on from supplying the soundtrack to our teenage years and instead delivered a more holistic and self-conscious overview of her current state of mind. This in turn has produced her least emotionally engaging work to date as she explores unrelatable themes of fame and fortune, however this doesn’t come as much of a loss to the album as it remains authentic with disregard for commercial success. Although in places the album lacks excitement in its musicality, it invites great introspection while bringing a strong sense of simplicity as Lorde advises us all to “breathe out and tune in”. in”. Natasha Curtis

Orla Gartland

Woman on the Internet

our hands, we are forced to deal with learning how to take care of ourselves and others. It's a struggle, full of hardships and heartbreaks alike. At the same time, it can be infinitely rewarding, when you play your cards right. Orla Gartland’s debut album, Woman on the Internet,, is a celebration of just that. Internet The Dublin-born, London based musician found inspiration for the album in her own journey to adulthood, with a little lyrical and musical help from her friends Greta Isaac, Martin Luke Brown, and Nathan Cox. Recorded at Middle Farm Studios, Woman on the Internet is a raw, real, and honest look at the world, and how it can influence how you see yourself. The album’s name pays homage to the figurative female figure Gartland turns to for comfort and advice. References to her are peppered throughout the album. She shows up in ‘Pretending’ as a social media makeup artist, from whom Gartland learns how to do “smoky brown eyeshadow” to hide her social anxiety at a party. We see her again in ‘More Like You’ as a wellbeing guru preaching self-love to help combat envy. Released under her own independent label, New Friends Music Ltd, Woman on the Internet is an 11-track album full of surprises. Gartland’s unique style and vocal prowess shines through in tracks such as ‘You’re Not Special, Babe’, Babe’, where she earnestly tells listeners to lighten up; everyone struggles, so one may as well have a good time. Each song reflects the different facets of growing up: from dealing with relationships ending in ‘Left Behind’,, setting boundaries in ‘Do Behind’ You Mind?’ Mind?’, and growing out of the family you once knew in ‘Bloodline/ Difficult Things’. Every track has its own distinct sound and production; in listening to the album, you are taken on an emotional rollercoaster much like the one you face while learning how to navigate the intricacies of the real world. Overall, this album is a perfect ‘welcome to your twenties’ gift. Gartland never claims to have all the answers; she merely wants to share her experience. In fact, she asserts, “There’s no manual, and if there is, I haven’t read it” in the opening track, ‘Things That I’ve Learned’. Learned’. It is a welcome reminder to take things one step at a time, and ride into the sunset. Or crawl. Either way, you’ll get there. And she’s right there alongside us. Uditi Singh

Navigating your twenties is hard. Even without a pandemic on

Forge Press

Music 24/5 Mimi Webb TikTok's pop sweetheart continues the build-up to her debut EP with a heartfelt piano-accompanied single.

Fresh tracks

Get You Down Sam Fender The Tyneside artist goes personal, backed by the same gutsy guitar that took him to the top of the indie scene.

Obsessed With You Central Cee A short-but-sweet offering from the drill rapper, who pays tribute to the woman in his life, sampling PinkPantheress.

Guide to the perfect pres playlist Callum Martin's tips on building the perfect soundtrack to your freshers' week

o, you’ve arrived at uni, met your flatmates, doubtless know what course they do and you’re probably gearing up to go out for whatever freshers’ event that you’ve all forked out for. But there’s a problem. You just met these people. There’s no escaping that fact. And you’re not about to go out stone cold sober, which means you’re about to be subject to pre-drinks. An age-old ritual that has been passed down through generations of uni students, and usually accompanied by some of the weirdest drinking games known to man. But in these early days, you need something to ease this gettingto-know period. Something to get out over the awkward silences and pass over the wan smiles. Something to build some common ground upon. This bitch needs some music. But what to play when you’ve known the room for a combined day? Well Forge has some tips to get the ball rolling and although there’s no one-size-fits-all playlist for every pre’s occasion, these should help make sure these first few pre-drink sessions go down a treat.

1. Keep it simple

3. Make it collaborative

First things first (and this seems a bit counter-intuitive given I’m writing a list on it) but don’t overthink this. Keep it simple. And that doesn’t just mean don’t stress it. It means just keep it basic, at least these first times over. You’re only going to need an hour or two max, so you really don’t need to dig too deep into any weird alcoves of music to build a solid playlist. And honestly you probably shouldn’t. I don’t care how much you like this acid fusion jazz Tarquin, it’s not going to be everyone’s cup of tea, no? So, rule one: keep it simple.

Now, the worst thing to have at the start of the year (until you establish a resident DJ at least) is having someone gatekeep the music. Harking back to not everyone wanting to listen to what only you might like, it’s even worse when people don’t have a say in it. So, make your playlist collaborative, get a spotify session going, or ask people if they want to queue anything. Now not everyone is going to want to get involved, but as long as the options open, everyone’s happy and you can get a grasp of everyone’s music taste. It’s a win-win.

4. Don’t skip the track

2. Throwbacks rule I love a throwback tune, you love a throwback tune, we all bloody love a throwback tune. So pile them into your playlist! There’s something special about certain songs that cross every border possible to join a room in mass hysteria. Case and point for me is ‘American Boy’ by Estelle. I hadn’t heard it in years before coming to uni and now it’s a pres staple. Finding those few tracks that can change a mood of a room from slightly sombre to full-on party is tricky, but once found they’re as precious as gold and chances are, they’ll be throwback tunes.

This kind of comes under gate keeping but I feel like it needs its own separate point. There’s nothing worse when you’ve queued a song than hearing the first few seconds before having that little moment of music ripped away from you by someone deciding that their music opinion trumps all, and that your song doesn’t live up to their standards. Of course, this does come with a catch, as sometimes a song just doesn’t hit as it should or kills the current mood, but if you’re new around these people it’s always safest to get some group consensus before skipping. You got to put yourself in whoever’s queued the song’s shoes. If you wouldn’t want your song brushed aside, don’t be a dick and do it to someone else.

5. Indulge in the guilty pleasures Guilty pleasure songs are beautiful and honestly sometimes I don’t even know why they’re guilty. Certain songs at a certain level of tipsy just slap. I like to think I take my own music taste and opinion reasonably seriously, but if the Vengaboys come on, I’m all over that jam and I’ll say that proudly. Now there is a fine line to skirt between the right amount of these kind of songs and a cheesier mess than trying to make nachos while drunk, so it’s one you’re going to have to gauge but a general rule of thumb: the later into the night it is, the guiltier the pleasures can be. All of this being said, this is purely guidance. Each and every person has unique musical taste so to make the perfect pres playlist for you and your new live-in friends, it’s going to take some time and some feeling out. There’s going to be some songs on it you adore, some you don’t mind and some you really would rather hear but that’s just the way the cookie crumbles sometimes. On the whole though, follow this advice and you’re going to be grand. So go forth and stick on some bangers. Oh and if you’re ever not too sure, stick ‘American Boy’ on.

Wednesday 22 September 2021

Fresh movies

Screen Malignant

Copshop

Respect

Film Review

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings Yaroslav Matveev

arvel has finally presented us with the second film of the fourth phase of its cinematic universe. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings follows

the footsteps of Black Widow, which was released earlier in the summer. In Shang-Chi, Destin Cretton tells a story of a seemingly typical millennial who involuntarily needs to face the past he wanted to forget as the mysterious Ten Rings organisation enters his life. Similar to Black Widow, ShangChi is not exactly a classic superhero movie. It talks more about the

Credit: TheMovieDB

TV Review Miriam Kuepper

Credit: TheMovieDB

heroes as people, sharing their stories and emotions. While it is an understandable step, this is not the main reason why superhero movies are so incredibly popular. Of course, there are still a few action scenes in Shang-Chi but not many of them are of Marvel’s usual standard. They feel more like combat scenes from a stereotypical action blockbuster. There is nothing impressive about the big dragons or trolls featured in Shang-Chi which we have seen countless times in other films. The plot in itself is not the most sophisticated or dramatic and works especially well in the beginning but the effect wears off as it progresses. However, the main characters do enough to keep the viewers hooked. They are charismatic enough to be fun but at the same time do not make the movie too comical. Speaking of the characters, ShangChi (Simu Liu) is the first Asian superhero to get a film in the Marvel Universe. Overall, the whole Asian theme in Shang-Chi looked vibrant

Credit: TheMovieDB and JoeSSS

Credit: TheMovieDB and refreshing. Even though it felt generalised, the new surroundings, culture and languages are always great to see, especially in something Hollywood produced. Another great thing about Shang-Chi is the graphics. The ancient village, army costumes, and weaponry all looked absolutely stunning, making the viewer look closely at and appreciate every small detail appearing on the screen. As with other Marvel films, Shang-

Chi has two post-credit scenes after titles with each of them shedding some light on Shang Chi’s future and his place in the universe. Shang-Chi is a film which is needed to move the Universe forward, and it does so better than Black Widow. However, Cretton’s film would mostly be appreciated by hardcore Marvel fans, while for general audiences it may be a pass as it is uneventful, long and pretty average.

Outer Banks Season 2 Review

Spoilers ahead!

fter John B (Chase Stokes) and Sarah (Madelyn Cline) fled on their little boat right into a hurricane, their fate at the end of season one is uncertain. The second season picks up right where we left off, with one of the biggest cliff-hangers of the first season: John B and Sarah are alive and well. They disembark in the Bahamas where Sarah’s father stashed the $400 million in gold while escaping a greedy fisherman and the police on the way. Meanwhile, their friends at home known as “Pogue”– what the less privileged kids call themselves – are worried sick and grieve, until John B gets hold of a mobile phone to let them know he’s alive. Nevertheless, he is still wanted by the police for the murder of

Sheriff Peterkin, which Sarah’s father Ward (Charles Esten) and her brother Rafe (Drew Starkey) framed him for. John B’s friends Kiara (Madison Bailey), JJ (Rudy Pankow) and Pope (Jonathan Daviss)take it on themselves to clear his name so he can return to coastal North Carolina. While their efforts are admirable, their results are poor, as they accidentally lose important evidence or fail to convince the new Sheriff of the truth about Peterkin’s murder.

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There’s a treasure, a love triangle, murder, and a few crazy people willing to walk over dead bodies without inhibition.

Friendship over family-ties Tensions are high throughout the season, as the Pogues face off against their parents, especially Sarah against criminal mastermind Ward, who increasingly seems to drift into madness on the hunt for gold and a new treasure. Similarly, Sarah’s brother Rafe turns from confused, weird and drug-addicted to a full-on psychopath, trying to kill a handful of people –

among them his sister. Due to his unpredictable nature, Rafe serves as an intriguing villain, trying to get into the good graces of his dad who always preferred golden child Sarah. Kiara, who originally comes from a rich family but considers herself as part of the “poor” Pogues, chooses her friends over her family several times, going as far as stealing her father’s car.

Picking up pace There is a rush of events in the second half of season two, however, it is nowhere near the end, as there’s a lot more fatal events and yet another cliff-hanger awaiting in season two. As to not spoil the fun, let me just say this much: there’s a treasure, a love triangle, murder and a few crazy people willing to walk over dead bodies without inhibition. Overall, this binge-worthy second instalment of the Outer Banks universe provides a few hours of adventurous entertainment providing iconic lines like the opening “Here’s a fun fact: Everyone you know will die” or gags by the show’s very own jokester, JJ.

Screen

How students have found comfort on the big (and small) screen Thinking ahead to the arrival of new freshers this year had us looking back on our own entrances to university life. For many students, whether having freshers week affected by lockdown restictions or not, the perfect distraction is film and TV. Whether to be totally distracted from anything related to university or homesickness, or to dwell for a while on your feelings with characters that relate to you, there’s something on screen to help everyone.

Film My favourite comfort film has undoubtedly got to be Pride. When I’m feeling homesick, it is perfect as both a reminder of where I’ve come from, and also to offer some hope of what’s yet to come. It’s partly set in Wales, so I take comfort in hearing the Welsh accents and seeing the familiar backdrops that remind me of home. Most importantly however, I like the film as the main character, Joe, is very relatable. Pride follows the true story of the 1980s activist group ‘Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners’, and with the support of this group Joe discovers that he can move away from his family in order to do something life changing, and is all the better for having made that choice. The cast are all absolutely phenomenal, and Bill Nighy deserves a special mention for his heartwarming performance. This film will have you laughing and then crying - lots - and makes me take a step back and realise that the fears and worries I have, about university or otherwise, are so normal. There’s so many people around you at university who are both in the same situation, and there to support you if you falter. Nia Hunt

When I think of something to watch for comfort, I mainly recall things from when I was younger. It’s familiar, straight forward, and makes me feel more at ease. It might sound silly, and please don’t judge me, but my recommendation is Shrek.

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Who says animation is only for kids?

If you’ve never watched the ‘fairytale’ films about the green ogre that lives in a swamp and meets a princess, then I don’t know what to tell you. I’ve watched all four films more times than I can remember, and for good reason. The characters, parody, comedy, and basically everything about the film series is too good to just be for kids, especially now noticing some of the non-PG jokes as an adult. Honestly, any kind of animated film brings me comfort, including the Disney classics, Pixar collections, Dreamworks films- all of them. Who says animation is only for kids? Jasmine MK Alakija

When it comes to a comfort film, I look no further than Patch Adams. It is easily one of my favourite movies of all time, with one of my favourite actors, Robin Williams. This is why it always helps me no matter what mood I am in. The film is primarily a comedy but it does take you on an emotional rollercoaster along the way. This means that even if you are in a sad mood and need to cry as we all do sometimes, Patch Adams will still make you laugh and feel better than you did at the beginning. This film never fails to make me feel better which is why I would recommend it to others. The best part is, most of you reading this would have never heard of the movie. For me, Patch Adams is a perfect film to dive into if you need a guaranteed smile, laugh, or cry. It will make you feel inspired along the way, which altogether makes it the ideal comfort movie for anyone. Connor Bragger

All image credit: TheMovieDB

Bruce Almighty is one of the most versatile films which has ever been made. It is a comedy, starring Jim Carrey at his finest - body movements, overall charisma and light jokes, he can brighten even the grimmest day. The film has a very positive and uplifting message; Morgan Freeman teaches us that everyone is capable of mighty things, we just need to look inside and present who we truly are to the world. The plot follows a television reporter struggling to find fulfillment in his work, and while this may sound generic initially, it is very interesting to observe how both Bruce’s character and his attitude towards his divine power change over time. Another notable aspect is that the comedic elements in this film are often delivered via a visual medium, so the film can be enjoyed most when focused on fully, rather than being on as background noise. Bruce Almighty is light, old-school, and meaningful. There can’t be anything better if you are feeling down. Yaroslav Matveev

Wednesday 22 September 2021

Screen

TV Orientation week can be quite an unnerving time, imagining yourself doing nothing but going into the SU, making a friend, getting their Instagram handles, and never actually chatting with them again. This endless cycle coupled with the unsettling realization that the time for you and your parents to part ways is nearing, makes you feel like you’re free-falling. Being in the same situation just two years ago, I luckily found a safety net to catch me. The beloved TV show Friends had come to my rescue. Sitting in my room as I clicked on the first episode to rewatch the series, I realized I felt out of place just like Rachel. I didn’t have a job or family around and I had no idea what to do with myself. But as the show progressed, it gave me hope that exciting adventures with good company awaited me in the future. While I started off watching the episode as a bundle of anxiousness, towards the end of it I understood, just like how Phoebe, Monica, Rachel, Joey, Chandler, and Ross found each other, I would find friends at university too. And they would be the family I choose. So, my advice to you as incoming freshers would be, as Monica said: ‘Welcome to the real world. It sucks. You’re going to love it.’ Miette Dsouza

In terms of finding comfort and distraction in my first few weeks of university, which were especially strange given the covid restrictions at the time, my go-to watch was the 2003 sitcom Arrested Development. Along with brilliant casting and hilarious writing, what made the show a comfort watch is how it is completely unrelatable, which makes for great escapism. It follows the wealthy Bluth family, who often find themselves on the wrong side of the law through the family business. The show is made up of nine central characters including Maeby (Alia Shawkat), the teenager who accidentally scams her way into a movie directing job, and Gob (pronounced Jobe and standing for George Oscar Bluth) (Will Arnett), a disgraced magician. After the recent loss of Jessica Walter who plays Lucille (the matriarch of the family), I watched it again and found myself focused on her. I realised that by using the show as background noise so often until then, that I had totally missed out on some of the funniest moments. The plotlines and concept of the show itself are so removed from most people’s reality, that the viewer can remain free of emotional investment, and find even the characters’ deepest struggles to seem lighthearted, funny, and totally ridiculous. Chloe Aslett

I hadn’t even heard of Schitt’s Creek until one of my lecturers started using the TV show’s GIFs in her online lectures. When I finally gave in and watched the first episode, I instantly understood the hype surrounding it. The humor was simply unmatched and the level of domestic chaos was oddly similar to that of my own family back in Hong Kong. Last year was my first time being away from home for 10 months straight. It was daunting and lonely at times, especially when I had no one to throw my sarcastic remarks to. Schitt’s Creek allowed me to vicariously experience the tough love of a hilariously witty family as they worked together to overcome the obstacles in their lives. Not only was the show heartwarming at times, but it was also very genuine at showing the relatable struggles of each character in their family dynamic. Personally, I love the characters David and Alexis the most. As someone without siblings, their dysfunctional backand-forth yet underlying love for one another is everything I would wish to have for myself. If you haven’t watched the show yet I would highly recommend it at a rating of 10/10. Monique Wong

My favourite series, for comfort watching or otherwise, will always be Jane the Virgin. The plot follows Jane who becomes pregnant through being accidentally artificially inseminated. The writing in this show is witty and clever, intertwining all of the plot lines which include a murder mystery. As a show inspired by Latin American telenovelas, it uses dramatic plot lines such as people coming back from the dead, evil twins, and identity swaps, all somehow fitting in alongside Jane’s pregnancy. I love this series because it centres mainly around three Latina women in the US, with an emphasis on Latin American culture and discussion of topics like immigration and the experience of being a woman of colour. The narrator of the show makes you feel as though you’re watching the show with a friend, which is what makes it so comforting. I love the relationships between all of the characters and the way I feel so invested in their lives. It is a show that, despite having 100 episodes, I love to go back to again and again. Imogen Bowlt

When I moved to university back in 2018, I experienced a mixture of emotions. I felt excited, nervous, and also homesick, which was something I naively did not expect. There was self-doubt too. I remember thinking, ‘can I do this?’ and ‘do these people actually like me?’ On these particularly down days, or if I fancied the occasional night to myself, I would watch How I Met Your Mother. I cannot even recall how many times I have watched the show, but still laugh at the jokes. This sense of familiarity brought a level of comfort to me. The university flashbacks and reminders that it is possible to stay in touch with university friends even when life gets in the way also helped me. Of course it is entirely fictional, but it made me think that the late-night antics and rocking up to 9ams after clubbing until 6=am will give me stories to reminisce on with my university friends in years to come. Molly Powell

Forge Press

Games

Light city never sleeps: a deep-dive into crunch culture in the games industry The video game industry is a cut-throat beast that often treats its workers with deep contempt. Fred Baker dives into one facet of this dogged machine, “crunch culture”, looking for a solution. The games industry is booming like never before. It’s a multi-billion dollar market, which, according to the American Gaming Association, employed as many as 1.7 million individuals in 2019, and grows by an average of 62,000 jobs per year. It’s also an industry which has touched many of our lives, including my own. Almost every young person has played a video game of some form. Books and movies are now written based on video game franchises and, come on, we all developed an Animal Crossing obsession during lockdown. If it wasn’t already obvious: video gaming is a cultural phenomenon.

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Those who work within the games industry are passionate - and in the face of extensive exploitation, the industry won’t let them forget it. That said, it’s often surprising for such a huge, impactful industry - how little attention we really pay to it. Or, more specifically, how little attention we pay to the people behind our favourite worlds. A closer look shows an industry plagued by discrimination, controversy, and a dangerous culture of mandatory overtime, known as “crunch”. So-called “crunch culture” is endemic in the games industry. In 2018, Rockstar Games’ co-founder Dan Houser boasted that the studio was “working 100-hour weeks” in the run-up to the release of Red Dead Redemption 2 - an eyewatering work week which should alarm even the most occasional gamers. But make no mistake crunch culture is certainly not a new problem. As long ago as 2004, a letter authored by Erin Hoffman, game developer and infuriated partner of an EA employee (at the time, calling herself “EA Spouse”)

brought to light alleged mandatory working hours of “9am to 10pm - seven days a week - with the occasional Saturday evening off for good behaviour”. From Silent Ops to Cyberpunk 2077, similar horror stories are ten a penny within the games industry. To add insult to injury, it’s not uncommon for crunch to go unpaid. Every two years, the International Game Developers’ Association (IGDA) - the industry body for game developers - conducts its Developer Satisfaction Survey. According to the survey’s 2019 run, only 10% of game developers weren’t compensated during periods of crunch - however, compensation didn’t always come in the form of direct payment. Likewise, stories of unpaid crunch time aren’t uncommon in the games industry. Considering that, in the same survey, 41% of workers reported that their job involved crunch time, it’s no wonder only 24% of game developers, in 2018, would wholeheartedly recommend their career path. Those who work within the games industry are passionate - and in the face of extensive exploitation, the industry won’t let them forget it. Ian Williams, writing for Jacobin, notes how industry bosses can weaponise developers’ passion against them, using it to excuse poor working conditions. This was laid bare in 2018, when studio NeoCoreGames offered to work “90+ hours per week” to complete their upcoming game, Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor - Martyr. The offer was swiftly declined by their fanbase, upon which it was claimed by workers that it was all a joke about how “passionate” the team behind the game was. Joke or otherwise, the incident speaks to the way ‘passion’ is sometimes viewed within the games industry.

But why should we, the consumers, care? The obvious reason stems from the ethical implications of crunch culture - which make it really hard to defend. Its impact on developers

is immense, with research having shown crunch to strain personal relationships, cause stress, and lead workers to burn out. As Erik Kain writes for Forbes: sure, “nobody likes a delay”, but is avoiding a delay really an excuse to sacrifice the health and wellbeing of your workers? I’m sure there are a tiny minority of readers who would say that there is one thing that should

take pride of place: getting a good game out to the audience within a reasonable timeframe. Through this perspective, we might instinctively concede that crunch can occasionally be a necessary evil. But

I’m not buying it. In fact, it has been shown that crunch actually leads to worse games. Strange though it may seem, sleep-deprived, stressed, emotionally exhausted people are going to struggle, and tend not to work in the games industry for long, opting to take their talents elsewhere. So, crunch is bad for workers, bad for games, and bad for anyone who plays them. However, another world, where game developers are not sacrificed for their craft, is possible. And while the route to this world will be long, the path appears to be paved by a surfacing trade unionism within the games industry. The IGDA is the industry body for game developers - but does not claim itself to be a trade union. In fact, the IGDA has a history of being somewhat sceptical towards trade unions. This lack of unionisation, combined with poor working conditions, has cultivated a desire to organise the games industry - a prominent example of this being the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain Game Workers (IWGB-GW). The IWGB-GW was originally the UK branch of Game Workers Unite International (known as GWU-UK). Game Workers Unite, while not a union itself, is an international organisation with the aim of unionising the games industry. After its UK branch became a part of the IWGB, GWU-UK stood as one of the first trade unions for video game workers. However, after allegations of “exclusionary behaviour and bullying” were brought against the former chair of Games Workers Unite International’s communications committee, Marijam Didžgalvyte, and claims made that they said “they did not want to alienate game developers by condemning racism”, GWU-UK voted to separate entirely from Game Workers Unite International, adopting the name IWGB-GW to “clarify” this decision. The IWGB-GW has campaigned extensively against crunch culture, providing an example of how labour organisation can be an

agent of change within the games industry. This is bolstered by an apparently high level of support for unionisation amongst game developers, with 47% saying in an IGDA survey that they “would support a union at their company”, and 26% answering “maybe”. That being said, Sisi Jiang, writing for Kotaku, claims that just as racism was an issue in Game Workers Unite International, it was also an issue in branches, like GWU-UK. Reporting on a former member allegedly quitting GWU-UK after “expressing dissatisfaction with how the union addressed concerns about racism”, they unveil a key barrier to unionising the games industry. From recent sexual harassment allegations at controller manufacturer SCUF, right through to a well-documented lack of opportunities for women and people of colour, the games industry has a serious problem with discrimination. Therefore, Jiang notes, attempts to organise the industry could easily adopt the “toxic studio culture that [labour organisers] had sought to eliminate”. Lessons must be learned, and steps must be taken to ensure all unionisation efforts are truly progressive, and poised perfectly to tackle discrimination head-on, and without compromise. This isn’t the only potential barrier to unionising the games industry, either. It’s possible that there could be some fear that unionisation might garner a negative reaction from within the games industry. In 2019, these concerns came close to home when Austin Kelmore, former chair of GWUUK was “let go for performance reasons”, after internal emails showed executives complaining of him “spending too much time on diversity programmes”, and “always putting leadership figures on the spot”. Unionising the games industry was never going to be a simple task. However, there is clearly a will to do it. And, if the time is taken to learn from previous failures, and put the correct steps in place, it strikes me as entirely possible that we can bring about significant improvements to the lives of games industry workers. But, for the time being, it might be worth bearing the people who make our games Adobe Stock; Tim Gouw, Unsplash

Games

Fresh games

Deathloop PS5, PC Groundhog Day meets 50s pulp spy fiction meets the intricate assassination gameplay of Dishonoured.

Review

Psychonauts 2

Reiss Mason sually when I finish a game that I loved, I sit back and ask myself whether I’ll still be playing that game in a year; this dictates my next trip to CeX’s WeBuy desk. Well, after my first hour with Psychonauts 2, I knew I wouldn’t be trading it in, and not only because it’s a digital exclusive. Even though Psychonauts 2 is a relatively short experience, weighing in at only 10-15 hours depending on how much time you give to the exploration sections, I expect myself to be diving straight back in before next year. The length of the game gives it the same qualities as a cosy tv series: I can relax over a week and knock out a few hours every night, each time getting a completely new adventure that reminds me of the presence of my heart. So, what is this game actually about? Luckily, we needn’t work hard to figure this out, as we’re told from the offset in a pregame mental health advisory: “Psychonauts 2 is a game about empathy and healing.” We follow Raz who, after the events of the previous games (which I haven’t played), has joined the Psychonauts, a group of psychically-abled secret

agents who enter the minds of those in need, to tinker with their psyche. Psychonauts experience the deepest subconscious of a person’s mind through abstract constructs, and it is in these crazy worlds that most of the game’s levels are set. Raz bounces between minds like an indecisive frog, and his exploits take him to such subconscious locales as a toothy labyrinth inside the head of a reformed sadistic dentist, a hospital turned casino where the brain’s owner struggles with the deadly costs of risk-taking, and a living novel where Raz must regroup different chapters of an author’s personality. Every level is jam-packed with unique collectibles that I had endless fun discovering. Whether those are ‘Figments’, which are essentially level-specific coins represented by abstract neon art; ‘Emotional Baggage’, portrayed by a tearful cast of actual bags; ‘Vaults’, which hide a character’s most repressed memories, often providing a touching moment of backstory; ‘Half a Minds’, collect two for a much-needed permanent health boost; or ‘Nuggets of Wisdom’, gratifying level-up rewards for exploration. These collectibles are not only delightful to uncover and force you

Life is Strange: True Colors PC, Switch, PS4, PS5, XBO, XBS X/S A young hipster, Alex Chen, uses her empathic abilities to solve the mystery of her brother’s murder.

to truly delve into every nook and cranny with a keen eye, but they also reinforce the core aesthetic and theme of the game, further juxtaposing the physical world with the realities we create in our head. Speaking of the physical world, the base of the Psychonauts, the Motherlobe, acts as a hub between levels though it is itself the main stage as Raz unearths more of the original Psychonauts’ secrets hidden in the surrounding forests and mines. In the hub world, every rail you can grind, treehouse you can summit, and swing you can… swing on has been meticulously placed so that it tightly interlinks to the rest of the map, hiding level-up collectibles and charming treasures. Herein Double Fine presents modern 3D platforming at its greatest PS2-eraesque potential. It’s all just so nice; Double Fine have perfected their level design to such a tee that the world feels lived in and characters feel real even if their archetypes initially come across as one dimensional. Psychonauts 2 presents the thesis statement that everything and everyone is deeper than you initially know through its blend of linear story and deep open world, and while you may not see every single character’s story play out to its conclusion (there are a LOT of characters, mind), you get the sense that at least Tim Schafer knows

what’s going on, even if we may never know. If anything is undercooked it’s the equippable upgrade system, which I almost entirely ignored in my playthrough. Early on you are given the ability to add modifications to your psychic powers with purchasable pins, though they were so expensive I figured my money was better spent on PSI-pops (health lollipops) since combat proved a decent enough challenge.

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Collectibles are not only delightful to uncover [...] but they also reinforce the core aesthetic and theme of the game, further juxtaposing the physical world with the realities we create in our heads. In combat you have three classic 3D platformer attacks - punch, combo punch, and jumping punch – and different enemies require different psychic powers to be defeated. Panic Attacks are fast and dominate space so you need to slow time to defeat them, Bad Moods limit your field of view so Raz must use clairvoyance

Cookie Clicker PC (Steam/Browser) The cult classic browser game has come to Steam! What do you do? You click the cookie. Click... Click... click... click... click.

to understand the cause of their misery, and Judgement manifests as a gavel-wielding magistrate who must be telekinetically blasted to be rid of. Combat typically arises in a thematically appropriate moment, making it less of a gamified gimmick and more a tool for storytelling – in one level a character gets more overwhelmed the further into the level Raz pushes, periodically creating combat encounters with Panic Attack creatures. After a few rounds, however, Raz has dealt with enough of that monster type that he is able to help the character deal with a panic attack on their own, making my actions in combat feel more meaningful than typical uses of combat in games such as God of War or Ratchet and Clank. My favourite level was ‘Feast for the Senses’, taking place in the mind of a long dead brain as it slowly recovers consciousness and remembers things about its past. This sensual revelation is portrayed as a 60s LSD trip (without explicitly saying so) through an abstract Yellow Submarine cell-shaded concert as you regroup the brain’s band, slowly adding instruments to the funky background music and vibrant colour to the brain’s memories. Overall, Psychonauts 2 presents a wonderful world filled with heart, warmth that uses its tight level design and classic 3D platforming roots to demonstrate why a game doesn’t have to be the length of 20 Avenger’s Endgames to be worth your money. Sometimes it only needs to be the length of five.

Double Fine - Psychonauts 2 Top (in order): Deathloop - Arkane Studios; Life is Strange: True Colors - Square Enix; Cookie Clicker Dashnet, Julien Thiennot

Forge Press

Sport

Report

Owls lose 3-0 in a disappointing trip to Plymouth’s Home Park

Sports Thoughts Are women only gyms the way forward? Jemma Snowdon Many of us have seen the extensive amount of TikTok videos of women feeling uncomfortable at their gym because of the stares they receive from men. It is evident from these videos that there is a problem. Working out is great for our mental health and wellbeing, therefore it is disappointing to see women being discouraged from exercising because of this issue. As a society, we need to find an answer to this problem so that women can complete their workouts in peace without having to feel anxious about who is looking in their direction. Although the most logical solution would be to discourage people from staring in the first place, one idea which has risen to prominence is the women-only gym. These gyms take men out of the equation completely. Not only do these gyms aim to take away the unwanted feeling of intimidation, but the womenonly focus also allows for tailored equipment and fitness programmes that better suit the physiology of the female body. This means that women-only gyms can also provide more effective workouts for their clients and so these gyms are beneficial for women in more ways than it first appears.

Although this idea seems like a fairly modern one, it originated in the 1930s and became increasingly popular in the 1970s. However, as the definition of fitness has changed, so has the look of these spaces, with a gradual rise in women weightlifting. Out of 19 women asked in a poll, 69% stated that they would prefer to work out in the female-only gym than in a co-ed one. Moreover, a tweet from September 2020 saying “Ladies hear me out. Imagine if we had a GIRLS ONLY gym!!! Ugh a dream,” received 319,000 likes and 42,000 retweets. The demand for a safe and comfortable space for women to work out, away from men is definitely there. However, there are some negatives to these gyms. Women can be just as judgemental

as men. Therefore taking away male attention doesn’t put a complete end to feeling intimidated while exercising. There have also been some arguments that these gyms are discriminatory. In the 21st century, we have become a lot more accepting of people’s gender identities than those living in the 1970s and so there is an argument that these gyms exclude people who would also like to be free from judgement when going through their fitness journey. It appears that the main problem that these female-only gyms have set out to solve is the feeling of being intimidated when trying to exercise. But do they actually solve the problem? There are still many other people who enter gyms, for example, complete beginners, regardless of gender, who would like to complete their training programme without anxiety. This women-only focus seems to only avoid the issue of intimidation at the gym rather than solve it.

Credit: Terry Robinson

Jemma Snowdon Sheffield Wednesday visited Home Park to take on Plymouth Argyle on Saturday 11th September. The owls had hoped to continue their promising start to the season, but the match ended in disappointment after the squad conceded 3 goals. Joe Edwards scored in the 7th minute to give Plymouth an early lead and Dan Scarr seemed to confirm the team’s victory with another goal just before the second half ended. Their two one lead at half-time could have easily been three as Jordan Houghton just misses out on a goal. Darren Moore tried to bring Wednesday back into the competition by subbing Olamide Shodipo, Sadio Berahino, and Theo Corbeanu in the second half. Unfortunately, these changes were not enough for the Owls to pull back on the damage that had

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already been done in the first half. While throughout the match Sheffield Wednesday enjoyed 62% of the possession, a third goal from Ryan Law meant that the Owls had lost any chance of taking a point from this game. Despite the disappointment, Bailey Peacock-Farrell deserves a lot of credit for his saves. He managed to keep out some promising shots from both Ryan Hardie and Panutche Camara in the second half. Sheffield Wednesday now find themselves at 12th in the EFL League One table. The Owls will need to work on their attacking methods in future if they want to learn from the mistakes made at Home Park. The squad will face Shrewsbury Town at Hillsborough Stadium on Saturday 18th September for their next league match. Fans will be hoping that the home advantage will bring better luck to Darren Moore’s team.

These changes were not enough for the Owls to pull back on the damage that had already been done in the first half

Wednesday 22 September

Sport

Sharks bring in Euro talent with aim to return to coveted BBL Finals

Credit: Adam Bates

A new British Baketball season is upon us. The Steel City’s B.Braun Sheffield Sharks are back in action at Ponds Forge. After last years disappointing season, the Sharks will be looking to turn it around with all the new personal, but Harry Harrison thinks they’ll struggle to beat the league’s best. The B. Braun Sheffield Sharks have made some considerable roster changes ahead of the 2021/22 BBL tip-off in the hopes of getting back towards competing for titles. The squad struggled during the 2020/21 season, finishing the season at .500 (W15, L15), before exiting the BBL playoffs after a first-round defeat to the always solid Newcastle Eagles. The Sharks have a long history of winning and the staff behind the scenes were evidently keen to make changes to bring them back to the BBL Finals. Point Guard Aaron Anderson arrives in the Steel City from France, where he averaged 15 points per

game and 5.4 assists. The Sharks brought in three players from European leagues, where basketball is often of higher quality. As well as Anderson; Joe Mvuezolo Jnr and Jonathan Williams signed with Sheffield from European clubs. Mvuezolo (8.6ppg, 1stl) played for CD Idea Algeciras in Spain and adds a solid, two-way player to the Sharks roster, as well as BBL experience, after previous stints with the Surrey Scorchers and Leicester Riders. Williams arrives from Poland and joins what is now quite a guardheavy roster. It’ll be interesting how Head Coach Atiba Lyons allocates the minutes for his talented backcourt options. Former Bristol Flyer Marcus Delpeche brings grit and toughness to Coach Lyons’s big man rotation. The six-foot-seven power forward averaged 9.1ppg and 5rpg over his

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The Sharks have a long history of winning and the staff behind the scenes were evidently keen to make changes

career with the Flyers. The Sharks openness to change this off-season bodes well for their improvement during 2021/22. The Sharks do have some returning players, which means it’s not a completely new squad with no chemistry. Team captain, Mike Tuck, is returning to the Sharks for his 13th season with the team. He’ll remain the leader of the team, despite concerns he may be on his way out at some points last season. Fellow big, Bennett Koch, also returns. Guards Johde Campbell, Jordan Ratinho and Jeremy Hemsley all return for another year, along with 2020 BBL Import, Kipper Nichols, who will be going into his Sophomore year as a professional. The Sharks will be very optimistic about their chances this season. It’s part of the team and city’s culture to be aiming for the top. Though it will be tough. The London Lions and 2020/21 table-topping Riders continue improving astronomically Getting past these two giants will be tough, so the Sharks will be aiming for a top-four finish in the league, with a winning record. Realistically, should they make the playoffs as expected, it’ll be tough for the Sharks to break into the finals, likely falling in the first or second round again.

Fight Preview - IBF European Heavyweight Champion Kash Ali vs Roman Gorst Jemma Snowdon Having won the title in May this year, Kash Ali looks to defend his IBF European Heavyweight Champion belt for the first time, against Roman Gorst this month. The 29 year old, originally from Birmingham but now residing in Rotherham, made his debut on 26 November 2011. He defeated Czech Tomas Salek to win his first match after three rounds and has had

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Kash’s road to winning the best has not been plain sailing. He was disquaified in 2019 for biting his opponent

an impressive career since then. His boxing record of 19-1 with 10 knockouts is enough to intimidate many potential rivals and Kash will be looking to prove his talent in this fight. However, Kash’s road to winning the belt has not been plain sailing. He was disqualified in 2019 for biting his opponent, David Price during their fight at Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena. For this match, the heavyweight boxer will need to keep calm under the undoubtedly mounting pressure on him to keep his title. His opponent, Roman Gorst, first went pro in 2018. Currently at 32 years old, the German boxer from Passau, Bayern, also holds an admirable boxing record of 7-1 with 6 knockouts. The German shouldn’t be underestimated in this fight. The fight will take place at Ponds Forge in Sheffield on 18 September and should be an exciting watch for boxing fans who can also watch it on the boxing channel, Fightzone.

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Sport

Tara Bourne gives Sheffield United Women a new identity as promotion push begins Henry Clark This summer has heralded a new era for Sheffield United women, despite a fourth-place finish in the FA Women’s Championship last season. In his first season in charge of the Blades following the departure of former boss Carla Ward at the end of the 2019/20 season, Neil Redfearn will have been pleased with such a strong showing. Prior to his first full season in women’s football, Redfearn, widely experienced in the men’s game both on and off the pitch, has also seen short spells with Doncaster Rovers Belles and Liverpool. The move was seen as a statement of intent from the club as part of their plan to achieve promotion,

which would put them in the topflight of the women’s game. Now, in his first summer of full control, Redfearn has clearly laid down his mark on the squad with seven new additions joining the club. The new faces appear to have hit the ground running after the Blades enjoyed a successful pre-season which included six victories. An opening day defeat at the hands of fellow promotion rivals Blackburn did spoil the feel-good factor. However, Redfearn’s team have responded in style, recording two consecutive victories to propel the team to second in the table behind undefeated Sunderland. Given the media spotlight following Sky Sports’ £24 million television rights deal, a spot in the Women’s Super League is now more

lucrative than ever. This deal is a massive step forward for women’s football. Not only has it helped to improve standards in the game, but it has also made the incentive for clubs like United to strive for promotion even greater. Manchester United loanee Tara Bourne was one of the new recruits this summer and is set to be an exciting watch for Blades fans. A defender who can also shift into midfield, Bourne is highly rated by her parent club, for whom she featured on several occasions last season. Bourne, who has been a regular in the Lionesses youth teams, told the club’s website that she is relishing the opportunity to play senior football. She said: “It’s such an important

phase of my development. I can’t wait to push on. Getting game time is the most important thing and to get it at a club like Sheffield United, I’m just excited to push on, improve as a player and help push the team to where we want to be.” 17-year-old Lucy Watson, who

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At a club like Sheffield United, I’m just excited to push on, improve as a player and help push the team to where we want to be

is part of an exciting front three alongside Jess Clarke and Courtney Sweetman-kirk, is another name to watch out for. The youngster has already netted twice this season for the Blades. She has also recently received a call-up to the Lionesses Under-19 squad. Fans will hope that she will maintain her success and win some trophies for her club. This season looks set to be an exciting one for a Sheffield United women’s side full of ambition and determined to achieve promotion.