Forge Press #130

Inside...

Forge Press Elections 2019 Pullout Everything you need to know about your new 2019/20 SU Officers

THE UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER

ISSUE 130 | FRIDAY 1ST MARCH 2019 | FREE

MP Chris Williamson suspended by Labour after Sheffield event Ewan Somerville

New SU Officer Team announced!

Full story p7.

Image: Rebekah Lowri

University accused of ‘betrayal’ over their failure to divest from fossil fuels Ewan Somerville

The University has been accused of ‘betraying’ staff and students after it emerged that management has failed to deliver on its promise to divest from fossil fuels.

A heated campaign launched in 2015 by students and Sheffield Students’ Union saw the University commit to “eliminate exposure to investments linked to explicit environmental damage” by the following academic year.

But it can be revealed that in

their accounts dated July 2018, the university has more than £1.5 million in companies such as Royal Dutch Shell, Ultrapar Participa Com and Total.

The investments, existing three years after the university pledged to have... (cont. on p5)

We’ll give you 50% off coach travel.

Where you go is up to you.

Just go to nationalexpress.com/refreshers using the code Refreshers50 and book by 25 February for travel by 28 February.

An MP and Jeremy Corbyn ally at the centre of the Sheffield Labour Students row has been suspended from Labour after he declared the party “too apologetic” over antisemitism.

Footage from an event organised by the Sheffield branch of grassroots pro-Corbyn group Momentum sees Chris Williamson tell a cheering crowd of activists that Labour was being “demonised as a racist, bigoted party”.

Addressing the audience of leftist activists on Saturday, the MP for Derby North went on to say “we have backed off far too much, we have given too much ground, we have been too apologetic.”

Forge Press reported on the talk, which has since made national headlines, last week after Gabe Milne, the president of Sheffield Jewish Society (JSoc), called Williamson’s return to the city following the scandal on campus last term “a disgrace”.

The row erupted after footage of the talk was unearthed by The Yorkshire Post on Tuesday evening, and by Wednesday afternoon Williamson had made numerous

national headlines and was trending across the country on Twitter prompting him to say he “deeply regrets” the remarks.

At a meeting shortly before the weekly Prime Minister’s Questions at which Mr Corbyn and Jennie Formby, the party’s general secretary, were present, it was decided that Williamson should be suspended from the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) immediately.

The decision was met with relief, as Deputy Labour leader Tom Watson called Williamson’s comments “deliberately inflammatory”, while Labour MP Wes Streeting tweeted: “We got there eventually and I hope this sends a message”.

Lilian Greenwood, who joined several other Labour MPs in lodging complaints about Williamson’s behaviour to top party figures, told The Guardian that the MP “seems to be very deliberately sticking two fingers up at the Jewish community and his colleagues”.

Others demanded the party take further disciplinary action and called for the MP be dismissed altogether, with former leader Ed Miliband calling it “a test” for Corbyn.

Williamson has been suspended “pending investigation” but Labour MP Margaret... (cont. on p5)

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PIC OF THE PRESS

The bright lights of Sheffield Students’ Union from the concourse

Editorial Team Editor-in-Chief David Anderson Managing Editor Becky Sliwa Webb Deputy Editor David Craig Deputy Editor James Pendlington Head of News Ben Warner Head of Sport Adam May LOF Coordinator Sorcha Simons Culture Coordinator Tom Buckland Culture Coordinator Gethin Morgan News Editor Lucas Mentken News Editor Niall O’Callaghan News Editor Alex Peneva Features Editor Rebecca Lally Features Editor VACANT Opinion Editor Connie Coombs Opinion Editor Matthew Hartill Arts Editor Bethan Davis Guest Arts Editor Kate Procter Lifestyle Editor Harry Browse Lifestyle Editor Amelia Shaw Music Editor Harriet Evans Music Editor Ben Kempton Screen Editor Gethin Morgan Screen Editor Izzy Cridland Games Editor Luke Baldwin Games Editor Tom Buckland Science and Tech Editor Aidan Hughes Science and Tech Editor Jade Le Marquand Break Editor Robin Wilde Sport Editor Patrick Burke Sport Editor Joshua Taylor News Online Editor Ewan Somerville News Online Editor Ynez Wahab Features/Lifestyle Online Editor Rebekah B Lowri Opinion Online Editor Jack Redfern Culture Online Editor Brenna Cooper Culture Online Editor Ben Kempton Sport Online Editor Michael Ekman Sport Online Editor VACANT Copy Editor Coordinator Leah Fox Copy Editor (News) Charlotte Magdalene Copy Editor (LOF) Brogan Maguire Copy Editor (LOF) Laura Foster Copy Editor (Culture) Salena Rayner Copy Editor (Culture) Bethan Davis Copy Editor (Sports) Charlie Payne Design and Training Coordinator Chloe Dervey Secretary and Social Secretary Connie Coombs Inclusions and Welfare Coordinator Charlotte Magdalene Marketing and Publicity Coordinator Chloe Dervey Photography Coordinator Juliet Cookson Website Coordinator Lisa Wehrstedt In-house Artist Chloe Dervey

Image: Juliet Cookson

Editorial

Well that was an exciting couple of weeks. Since our last issue of Forge Press, candidates for this year’s SU Officer race were announced, campaigning commenced, Forge Debates were held and eight new Officers were elected on Results Night.

It’s been one hell of a ride, and I’ve been so proud of everyone in Forge Press and Forge Media as a whole for their dedication to providing top quality coverage of the whole thing.

The two nights of Forge Debates went impeccably and so did Results Night, as well as everything in between.

Alongside all this Elections coverage, our team also created a whole newspaper for you to enjoy.

Oh, and they’re all doing degrees, too. I don’t think they always realise just how incredible a job they do, so hopefully some of them actually read this and know how much I value each

and every one of their contributions.

Aside from my wonderful committee, it’s also been fantastic to see so many non-committee members get involved with our coverage over the past two weeks and do just as amazing a job. Forge Media should not be a closed shop and we always want to encourage as many people to get involved with us as possible.

At our last Forge Press Contributor Meeting we were delighted to see so many of you turn up (thanks to a fierce publicity campaign from our Marketing and Publicity Coordinator Chloe Dervey) and we hope that the numbers will only continue to grow.

Because we love to showcase as wide variety of voices as we can.

If you do come along regularly, you’ll put yourself in a good position to run for a committee role. We have an EGM coming up on Monday 4

Get involved

Want to join the team? Get involved!

No prior experience is necessary, just join the Facebook group Forge Press Contributors and come along to our regular contributor meetings every other Tuesday to meet the team and pitch your own ideas.

Plus, think about running for a role!

We have an EGM coming up on

March, with a number of free roles, and you can find out more on our Facebook page.

Plus, it’s not long until we’ll be electing an entirely new team for next year. Because, scarily enough, it’s actually not long until our time is up on Forge Press. We’ll be holding our own elections at our AGM in April and handing over the reins to a new committee.

As I sign off, I’d like to say a huge congratulations to all of our new SU Officers, as well as every candidate who put themselves forward for a role and ran great campaigns. You can read all about this year’s Officer race in our beautifully designed Elections pullout inside. I hope you enjoy the read.

Monday 4 March, and our AGM is right round the corner in April.

Contact editor@forgetoday.com with any questions.

3

News

NEWS IN BRIEF UNIVERSITY SHEFFIELD Sheffield car park is Film Unit cancel screenings best in the world The ‘Cheesegrater’ car park on Charles Street has been named the best quirky car park in the world, being dubbed a ‘multi story marvel’ by judges. It beat off competition from a ‘floating’ car park in Tokyo and a 2.5 mile long car park in Wolfsburg to be crowned winner.

The ‘Cheesegrater’

Mamma Mia! Film Unit had to cancel screenings last week after ‘serious technical issues which include[d] a broken projector’, including ‘Mamma Mia’, ‘Apostasy’ and ‘The Wicker Man’. The problem has now been rectified with screenings being resumed from Friday 1 March.

NATIONAL Watson fears more will leave Labour

Tom Watson

Deputy Leader of the Labour Party Tom Watson has told Andrew Marr that he fears more MP’s will leave Labour if Jeremy Corbyn doesn’t take a ‘personal lead’ on Brexit and antisemitism. The call follows the news eight Labour MP’s left the party citing the leadership as the reason.

SHEFFIELD Council homeless scheme scrapped

UNIVERSITY NATIONAL SU reverse previous May delays MP’S calls to boycott NSS Brexit vote

A ‘Housing First’ scheme due to be implemented in Sheffield has been shelved after Sheffield City Council said there was ‘a lack of suitable single accomodation’. Though one man told the BBC that he ‘earned up to £300 a day’ begging, so would be better off on the streets.

The Students’ Union has encouraged third years to complete the National Student Survey (NSS), reversing previous calls to boycott the survey.

It was previously boycotted due to the results being linked to the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), which allows Unis to raise fees.

Theresa May has pushed back the second ‘meaningful vote’ on Brexit that MP’s were meant to have this week. Pushing the vote back to March 12, May also offered MP’s a chance to vote to reject a no deal outcome and extend Article 50, delaying Brexit beyond March 29.

Magid Magid

Magid Magid to stand down as Councillor Ben Warner Sheffield’s popular Lord Mayor

Magid Magid has announced he

won’t be standing for re-election

to the City Council when his term is up this May.

The 29-year-old is the Green

Party Councillor for Broomhill

& Sharrow Vale, a constituency

containing many student areas

Historic referendum passes to introduce two new SU Council positions David Anderson

A Societies Councillor and Sports Councillor will be introduced as new roles to SU Council after a referendum to introduce the positions passed last night.

The referendum result was announced at SU Officer Elections Results Night with 2107 votes for and 486 votes against, with 295 abstentions.

The referendum, which asked ‘Should the SU create the positions of ‘Societies Councillor’ and ‘Sports Councillor’ on SU Council?’, came about after an historic student led petition.

It was the first entirely student led petition to reach the required 1,000 votes from full members of Sheffield SU to force a referendum, in accordance with the SU Constitution.

Matt Shadrack, Chair of Societies Committee (SocCom), helped lead the petition alongside Tori Wensley, Chair of Sports Committee He said: “We are so excited by the new chapter which now presents itself in our Union’s history. The students have spoken; Societies and Sports Clubs will play a greater role in the important decisions our Union makes.

“These groups are so crucial to student life, we are proud to have been part of this campaign. Thank you to everyone who got involved.”

SocCom initially brought a proposal to SU Council in a meeting on Thursday 15 October 2018 to review the representation of student societies on Council, and suggested the creation of a ‘Societies Councillor’.

The proposal was rejected in the meeting by SU Council, which is currently made up of 46

including Endcliffe Student Village and Crookesmoor Road, but has

said he won’t stand again in this year’s local elections.

Magid has been in office since

May 2016, but wants to focus on

new projects. He was elected Lord Mayor of the city by his fellow councillors last year, and has

proved a controversial figure role, being particularly popular with

students for his left-wing politics but dividing opinion amongst Sheffield residents.

In the announcement, Magid

Chair of Sports Committee, Tori Wensley (left) and Chair of Societies Committee, Matt Shadrack

Departmental Councillors and nine Representative Councillors.

SocCom then teamed up with Sports Committee to start a petition for a referendum in which students would be able to vote themselves for or against the roles of ‘Societies Councillor’ & ‘Sports Councillor’ being created.

Students campaigned online and in person across campus, and when

they reached 1,000 votes it was agreed that the referendum would be held alongside this year’s SU Officer elections.

The statement in favour of passing the referendum cited issues such as storage, room bookings and funding, and said the new roles would “ensure these groups [societies and sports clubs] get better representation, resources and support”.

said: “One of the reasons I wanted to be a Councillor was to play a

more active role in my community and represent those voices that I

believed weren’t being represented in the council.

“Meeting so many amazing

people and solving problems,

to then see the impact it has on people, is truly fulfilling. It has

been the most rewarding thing I have ever done.”

He also praised the selection

of Angela Argenzio to contest the

Broomhill & Sharrow Vale election for the Greens.

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Half of UK students are exposed to sexual violence Alex Peneva & Niall O’Callaghan

More than half of UK university students are being exposed to sexual violence or harassment from fellow students, a new survey has shown.

Designed by the young people’s sexual health and wellbeing charity Brook, the survey polled more than 5,500 university students from across the country, making it the largest survey of its kind.

It found that, although 53 per cent of respondents had experienced unwanted sexual behaviour, such as inappropriate touching, explicit messages, catcalling, being followed and or being forced into sex or sexual acts, only eight per cent have reported an offence.

The survey also highlighted the disparity in sexual harassment between men and women, with 49 per cent of women saying they had been touched inappropriately compared to just three per cent of men. Alarmingly, 30 per cent of all incidents took place on campus.

In addition, the survey showed that students experienced confusion around sexual consent especially when alcohol is involved - with only half understanding that it is not possible to give consent if you are drunk.

Helen Marshall, Chief Executive of Brook, said: “If ever there was a reminder of the importance of high quality, comprehensive relationships and sex education (RSE) in schools and universities – this is it.

“We are failing our young people if they don’t know that the law protects them from the unwanted behaviours they are experiencing.

Furthermore, we are failing to equip and empower young people to navigate their sexual lives and relationships.

“Brook will continue to passionately advocate for quality, sex positive relationships and sex education until we see a dramatic improvement in these sad trends.”

press.news@forgetoday.com

Platform Festival release line-up with acts ranging from Shakespeare to DJ Sets David Anderson

Musicians, comedians, DJs and more will be taking over Sheffield Students’ Union next month for Platform Festival, as the event team confirm their 2019 line-up.

The student led festival will take place from Friday 8 to Sunday 10 March this year to raise money for local charity Cavendish Cancer Care.

Acts vary from DJs and beatboxers to yoga workshops and ‘Shakespeare for Breakfast’, organised by Sheffield University Theatre Company (SUTCo).

Co-chair Hannah Lloyd, who will be performing at the festival herself, was enthusiastic about this year’s line-up.

She said: “I’m really excited, I just wrote a list of everything and we’ve got a range of stuff. Loads of live music, and not just uni bands as well. We have Music Players Society bands playing, we have local artists – I am one of them.

“Then we have some theatre workshops from SUTCo, which is really nice, and we have some external people coming in for that.

Then we have some improv, which is cool, because we don’t usually have that much comedy at Platform so that’s quite nice, and there’s

This year’s Sheffield Students’ Union Officer elections saw 38 candidates run for eight paid officers roles.

Campaigning for the candidates began online on Monday 18 February, with physical campaigning starting on Wednesday 20 February.

The SU building and its concourse has since been adorned with banners featuring catchy slogans and eyecatching designs.

And Forge Media have been covering the race throughout, with Forge Radio’s roundtables and Forge TV’s Debates taking place last week.

At Forge Press we have been keeping you in the loop with our rolling live blog and Daily Roundups each day, and will be sad to see it all end.

Image: Lucas Mentken

PlatformLloyd co-chairs Hannah (left) Hannah and Sam Lloydco-chairs (left) andofSam Lee Lee, Platform another couple of theatre pieces.

“There are some DJ sets which will be interesting I think, because it’s not a particularly late one. At the moment it’s meant to be from 9pm11pm so we were like… pre drinks?

We’ll see.”

Platform’s eight committee members, along with other student volunteers, have responsibility for organising everything for the event from creativity and content, to publicity, tech and fundraising.

Preparation for the event starts as soon as the new committee are elected every April.

Tickets are priced at £5.50 for a day or £11 for the weekend and are available at the SU Box Office or online.

“Considering how much you get for it, it’s such good value,” added Hannah. “Even one usual SUPAS show would be £7 or £8, but you’re getting a whole weekend for like a tenner.

“Honestly, it’s such a fun weekend. Everyone gets really involved and it’s for a good cause.

We go down to Cavendish Cancer Care every year to talk to Jonny, who’s in charge of the fundraising side of things, and he explains to us what they’ve been doing, and the work they do is just so important.

“So it’s for a good cause, and it’s really fun, and it’s supporting the university and the local community.”

5

News

Sheffield SU calls on university to move towards fossil fuel divestment Ben Warner & Ewan Somerville

(cont. from front page) ...divested by, total £682,708, £723,973 and £120,954 respectively.

People and Planet, which disclosed the figures to Forge Press, said the University has “no excuse” but to join the 71 universities nationwide

who have committed to divest.

“The failure of Sheffield University to fully divest is a betrayal of the many thousands of staff and students who called for the University to go Fossil Free,” the national campaign group said.

But the University claims the promise was to cut ties to companies who gain more than “10 per cent of their turnover from the extraction of

thermal coal and oil from tar sands,” rather than an absolute divestment.

Sheffield SU said the failure to honour the 2015 promise was “disappointing”, but hoped that private talks with senior managers will reach a resolution within the next month, leaving the University a get-out clause.

Mel Kee, SU Development Officer, said: “We have written to the

We have written to the university, calling upon them to promptly reexamine and update their current Ethical Investment Policy

Williamson suspended after calling Labour ‘too apologetic’ on antisemitism Ewan Somerville

(cont. from front page) ...Hodge joined JSoc in questioning why the decision took so long. Williamson’s behaviour has been under the spotlight at Sheffield University for months.

The MP was already facing

a censure by party officials on Tuesday after he helped arrange the screening of a film defending Jackie Walker, an activist suspended from the party for two years after she made comments allegedly undermining antisemitism and the Holocaust.

A Labour spokeswoman said it was “completely inappropriate” for him to have booked a room in Parliament to show the ‘Witch Hunt’ film, which casts scepticism on claims of an antisemitic culture within Labour.

Nine Labour MPs broke ranks last week to form the new ‘Independent Group’, citing an “evil” institutional culture of antisemitism festering within the opposition party.

Luciana Berger, one of the breakaway MPs, tweeted the footage of Chris Williamson, released by the Yorkshire Post, saying: “This is what I have left behind. It’s toxic. Our country deserves so much better.”

Gabe Milne, a Jewish student at the University who left Labour in anger at links between SLS and Williamson reported by Forge Press last term, said he and JSoc had received “dozens of messages

of abuse and it’s all because of the actions of these people”.

He went on to claim that the decision of Momentum to hold the event on a Saturday afternoon was deliberate attempt to stop Jewish people attending, but warned against Jewish students being put off from coming to Sheffield.

SLS, then under a different

committee, invited Williamson to speak at the University of Sheffield in November. The fallout saw two committee members resign in protest after SLS ploughed on with the panel discussion despite the uproar.

After Forge Press questioned the University for deeming Williamson ‘safe’ to come to campus and not representing a threat to staff or students, management defended the decision of University Security that there was no risk to staff or students.

Sheffield Jewish Society, a campus activism group, told SLS it had “betrayed Jewish students”, prompting Williamson to publicly abuse JSoc in a column where he called the students “haters” and “opponents of socialism”.

The event was “indefinitely postponed”, not cancelled, following a Met Police probe into hate crimes within the Labour Party.

Williamson was not implicated in the investigation, but it left open the possibility that he could return to campus in the future.

Read the latest at forgetoday.com.

Labour MP Chris Williamson

university, calling upon them to promptly re-examine and update their current Ethical Investment Policy in order to move towards full divestment as soon as possible.”

A University spokesperson said: “We are now in discussions with our Sheffield Students’ Union Development Officer and SU Sustainability Committee to look at the next stages of this work.

“The University is absolutely committed to sustainable decision making and will be launching its new sustainability strategy this year to outline its ongoing commitment to social responsibility.”

Japanese art and culture celebrated Eve Thomas

Japanese art, culture, literature and film were celebrated at the Japan Now North festival last week.

For a second consecutive year, the University of Sheffield teamed up with Modern Culture and the Japan Foundation in order to explore a variety of contemporarily relevant topics, including manga, literature and the LGBT+ community.

The event took place from Tuesday 19 until Monday 25 February 2019 and was open to all members of the public and was held at venues across the city.

Dr Mark Pendleton, main organiser and Japanese Studies lecturer at the University of Sheffield, said: “Japan has in many ways since the late nineteenthcentury been the ‘perfect other’.

“It’s seen as weird and wonderful but accessible at the same time.

Through Japan Now North, we’re aiming to deepen people’s understanding of Japan beyond those stereotypes.”

The city welcomed novelists Yu Miri and David Peace, curator Suzanne Mooney and translators Morgan Giles and Jocelyne Allen for various events.

UoS School of East Asian Studies is a leading centre of academic excellence in Europe. Its primary focus is on the business, politics, societies, cultures, economics and history of East Asia.

More information about Japan Now North is available online.

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Sheffield MP leaves Labour Party in controversy Ben Warner

A Sheffield MP has left the Labour Party, and will sit as part of a new Independent Group in the House of Commons, along with ten others.

Angela Smith, who has been the MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge since 2010 and represented Sheffield Hillsborough for half a decade before that, announced on Monday 18 February that she had left the Labour Party.

She felt the party had failed to properly deal with its problems regarding antisemitism, and called it ‘unfit for government’.

Smith joined six other Labour MPs from around the country on stage, and within two days four more MPs (including three from the Conservatives) left to sit as part of

Former Labour Sheffield MP Angela Smith

The Independent Group.

Within hours of the group’s formation, however, Smith was caught in a racism row for describing BAME people as being of a “funny tinge” on the BBC’s Politics Live programme.

She later apologised for any offence caused, and reaffirmed that she was committed to fighting racism wherever she found it.

Sheffield Labour Students said they were “not sorry” to see the initial seven MPs leave, in a statement on their Facebook page on Monday.

The post read: “[Smith’s] nonapology was not good enough, despite saying she misspoke, the idea of anybody being ‘funnily tinged’ is abhorrent and we do not support it. Smith’s comments have no place in our party and clearly

New BME club night is hailed a success Niall O’Callaghan

A new club night organised by BME students launched on Friday 15 February, selling double the amount of tickets they expected to.

The night was launched by BME Committee with the aim to “improve social inclusivity” for BME students.

In the future, we hope VYBEZ continues to be successful and show the SU that BME students need more representation

It featured music from afro-beat and dancehall to hip-hop, grime

and R&B, and was held in Studio and Fusion in Sheffield Students’ Union.

Grace Thambyrajah, campaign leader of the BME Committee, said: “In the first official group BME meeting, Tamar Stuart, the Committee secretary, mentioned wanting to improve social inclusivity by creating a new club night focusing on BME artists and music.

“I supported this idea due to lack of safe spaces for BME students within the SU nightlife. We pitched it to the ENTS [Entertainments] team, who were receptive and agreed there was a gap in SU for an urban scene to emerge.”

Grace was enthusiastic about the launch night, which sold over 400 tickets.

“After working on VYBEZ for two months, it successfully launched, selling double the amount of tickets that were predicted,” she continued.

“We wanted to showcase BME talent, so our photographer and DJs, including myself, were all BME. “In the future, we hope VYBEZ continues to be successful and show the SU that BME students need more representation.”

A carnival-themed VYBEZ:BASH! event will take place on Friday 15 March, also featuring Caribbean food.

neither does she.”

Smith is one of several in the group to face calls to resign their parliamentary seats and face a byelection, due to the voters choosing a Labour candidate in the 2017 general election.

She has a majority of 1,322 (2.6%) after the 2017 poll.

The other Labour MPs who began the group with Smith are Chuka Umunna (Streatham), Luciana Berger (Liverpool Wavertree), Chris Leslie (Nottingham East), Ann Coffey (Stockport), Mike Gapes (Ilford South) and Gavin Shuker (Luton South).

They were later joined by Joan Ryan, the Labour MP for Enfield North and three Conservative MPs, including Anna Soubry and Heidi Allen.

Plants evolve by ‘stealing’ genes, UoS study reveals George Tuli

Species of grass have been shown to ‘steal’ genes from their distant relatives to shortcut evolution.

This process of genetic modification is known as lateral gene transfer, scientists say.

Dr Luke Dunning, from the UoS Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, said: “These species are acting as a sponge, absorbing useful genetic information from their neighbours to outcompete their relatives and survive in hostile habitats, without putting in the millions of years it usually takes to evolve these adaptations.”

The scientists sequenced the genome of the grass Alloteropsis semialata and compared it with genomes from other grasses, to identify ‘stolen‘ genes.

“This research may also help us to understand how genes can escape from GM crops to wild species or other non-GM crops, and provide solutions to reduce the likelihood of this happening,” Dr Dunning added.

7

News

Tony got his flypast and the nation was weeping Ewan Somerville

The spirit of Sheffield was captured and the lifelong dream of a pensioner fulfilled on Friday 22 February as thousands descended on Endcliffe Park for a historic flyby like no other - it was Tony’s flypast.

An overwhelmed Tony Foulds watched along with the nation on Saturday morning as British and American air forces roared through Sheffield’s blue skies to mark the conclusion of an extraordinary 75-year-long story that came to life after a chance encounter.

Broadcast live on BBC Breakfast from Endcliffe Park, crowded with tens of thousands of people, the special flyby paid homage to ten servicemen who never landed after taking to the skies on 22 February, 1944.

The B-17 Flying Fortress in which they were flying, known as Mi Amigo, is believed to have

come down among the trees of the popular park, minutes away from where the University of Sheffield’s main student accommodation stands today.

But for years Tony, who witnessed that fateful night aged eight, has been tending to the bright plants, poppies, stones and plaques that form a memorial that he dedicated to the soldiers, all aged between 21 and 24 when they died.

Taken aback, Tony said in front of the tearful crowd: “This was worth waiting 66 years for.”

After a member of the crowd shouted ‘three cheers for Tony’, he said: “Thank you. I can’t believe all this. This is just unbelievable.”

Steph McGovern, who presented the special BBC Breakfast from a red sofa in the middle of Endcliffe Park to a nation of hearts weeping, described it as

Tony Foulds , 82, with his memorial for the airmen.

Image: Dave Johnson

“mega” and a story with an impact far beyond the Steel City.

McGovern said: “I cover lots of different stories but there are very few which have touched me like this one because I actually cried on air and I’ve never cried on air before.

This was worth waiting 66 years for.

Thank you.

This is just unbelievable “Definitely it’s going to be something I remember because it’s such a powerful story that means so much to so many people, and even if you didn’t know the story it’s so reflective of lots of peoples stories from the world wars, it’s just touched a lot of people.”

Tony built the memorial because he felt guilty - he was only a boy in the park with some friends on that fateful night exactly 75 years ago and thought the pilot crashed into the trees to avoid him.

He was just doing his normal thing on a dull January day, brushing the leaves, tending to the flowers,

Jake Verity elected President as 2019/20 Students’ Union Officer team announced Robin Wilde

The Student’s Union announced eight new Students’ Union Officers, two new Student Trustees, and two referendum results last night, as two weeks of election campaigning closed.

Jake Verity won the Presidency with 2,261 votes to Emily Doyland’s 1,984, after preferences from thirdplaced Gabe Milne (1,204) and Ashley Routh (425) were distributed.

He called for a round of applause for his opponents, thanked his family and campaign team, and said: “I’ve run against some of the best candidates I’ve seen in my entire life. They deserve so much credit for everything they’ve done.”

The night opened with results from Welfare, where Beren Maddison prevailed by a nine-vote margin on first preferences, beating Sadie Base into second place by 1,319 votes to 1,310. Dot Hakim came third with 990 votes.

Development followed, with an overwhelming victory for candidate Harry Carling, who promised to introduce a digital Ucard and thanked both current Development Officer Mel Kee and former Officer Megan McGrath for their inspiration.

Third up was Activities Officer, the largest field in the race with ten candidates vying for supremacy.

The ten-way race saw Martha Daisy Evans rack up an impressive 1,381 first preference votes, 621 clear of Bethan Jones in second place. After

US Airforce soldiers at the flypast in Endcliffe park Image: Ewan Somerville

kissing the plaque for the men who he says are his “family”.

The day was nothing special for BBC presenter Dan Walker either, as he walked his dog among the tweets and chatter of the leafy surroundings, just minutes away from the Endcliffe Village student accommodation.

Little did he know there was such a haunting story and a lifetime of hope behind the stone and the wood.

Little did Tony know that six weeks later, after Walker campaigned for permission from the US Ambassador to Britain and top figures in two national air forces, his dreams would come true as Sheffield’s skies filled with thunder without a dry eye in sight.

On the day of the fly-past alarm clocks weren’t needed as bleary eyed students woke up to the roar of US and British air forces tearing through the bright blue skies of the

Steel City on a beautiful morning.

Walker watched the “amazing” scenes from Tanzania where he is climbing mount Kilimanjaro for Comic Relief.

“Probably best I wasn’t in the park today,” he tweeted. “It could have been messy...I don’t think I was the only one.”

preferences, Evans beat Jones 1,904 to 1,190 on the final count.

The rest of the field was made up

by Bhumi Jethnani, Abhi Kongari, Harry Hirst, Dan Tomlinson, Matt

- Charlie Porter, Sam Nash, Ben Warner, and Jaz Catlow, compete to support students’ learning experience. In the end it was Charlie Porter who took the crown, by 1,968

Akrivos, Charlotte Dale, Shannon Greaves, Muhammad Ali Rashid, and Catherine Doan, in order of votes.

Sports went to a photo finish with just 57 votes separating the three candidates. Brittany Bowles took the gold, with Mem Swanborough in second place and Annie Timmis in third.

Women’s Officer saw Rosa Tully emerge from a field of five to fend off four foes and beat Cara Mahon 1,717 to 1,387 on the final round.

Education saw four candidates

Image: Mollie Hodgkinson

to 1,606 against Jaz Catlow on the final preferences. Ben Warner came third with 938 votes and Sam Nash finished on 425.

In addition to confirming our membership of the NUS, and establishing new Societies and Sports Councillors for SU Council, Emily Jones and Lorenzo Omar were elected as Student Trustees, with 431 and 573 votes respectively.

The International Students Officer result was not announced tonight, following a statement published by the Returning Officers.

Calling all Women in Sheffield!

Always wanted to try a sport or wanted to get more active?

This is the perfect opportunity to give it a go!

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9

Features Features Editor Rebecca Lally

Hello, and welcome back to the Features section of Forge Press! This issue, we have a piece about elderly drivers and whether they should undergo re-testing in light of the recent Prince Philip controversy.

We also have an interview with Iby Knill, a Holocaust and Auschwitz survivor who spoke at the university a few weeks ago. It was a privilege for our writer to get an hour alone with her, and we’re sure you’ll find it a valuable and worthwhile piece to read.

Lastly, we have a piece about the recent serial killer fixation that seems to have gripped social media, especially because of the upcoming Ted Bundy film featuring Zac Efron. Have we taken our obsession too far?

Hope you enjoy what we’ve got on offer, and see you next issue!

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Elderly drivers: a discussion Eve Thomas

The 17th of January saw the 97 yearold Prince Philip crash his Land Rover into a Kia containing three passengers, including a 9 monthold baby. Mercifully, all involved survived, although one woman suffered a broken arm. The event has sparked public debate concerning the reliability of elderly drivers, and not for the first time.

In 2012, Desreen Brooks-Dutton was killed by an 80 year-old driver who mistook the accelerator for the brake. Three years later, her husband, Benjamin Brooks-Dutton, began campaigning for elderly drivers to be retested every three years, in order to prevent tragedies such as this. His petition received over 140,000 signatures, but his attempts to change legislation have not yet been successful. Currently, drivers over 70 must complete a self-assessment form every three years in order to continue to drive; however, this does not include either a medical or a driving test and with more than 4.3 million drivers over 70, there is significant resistance to changing the system.

The Department of Transport has previously stated that they have no plans to restrict licensing on the basis of age, and that there is no evidence to suggest that older drivers are more likely to cause an accident.

On the contrary, data shows that drivers under 20 have more fatal accidents than those over 70, often due to reckless driving. There has been some suggestion that we ought to legislate more scrupulously the conditions which affect an individual’s ability to drive, rather than enforcing potentially ageist legislation. For example, although those with heart rhythm issues must inform the DVLA, those with a history of heart attacks and strokes do not, increasing the risk of road accidents. A shift in policy regarding these conditions would take potentially dangerous drivers off the road, including those who develop medical concerns with age, such as significant sight loss or hearing difficulties.

However, some doctors feel that this may be a violation of the trust between medics and the

public: if people were afraid to report symptoms for fear that they may be prevented from driving, treatable conditions may worsen.

Additionally, under new guidelines doctors are encouraged to report elderly patients to the DVLA if they believe them to be a danger on the roads. For many, driving is not just a luxury but a necessity.

For the elderly in particular, it facilitates independence, as well as encouraging an active social life and community engagement. The RAC Foundation estimates that there are 37 million people in the UK who are entirely dependent upon their cars, meaning that without them the quality of life of these people would be drastically reduced.

However, the question is not

struggle financially to achieve this, regular and frequent bus, tram and train services would not only be beneficial for traffic control and carbon emissions, but would also encourage more motorists to travel via alternative modes of transport, particularly those already being encouraged by family, friends and perhaps even medical staff, to give up driving.

Research by Nottingham Trent University found that our ability to process visual images slows dramatically with age, with over65s taking triple the time to process multiple objects as young people.

Information such as this is sensitive and difficult to hear, yet – with no safeguards taken besides the selfassessment – it typically falls to

Image: NZ Car Freak, Flickr

about removing an individual’s independence, but ensuring that everybody on the road is fit to drive in the interests of safety. The purpose of retesting would not be to remove elderly people from the road, or even to insult their capabilities, but to minimise the threat posed by dangerous driving.

Worryingly, a recent survey by Rias Insurance found that 20% of motorists over the age of 50 believe that they would fail their driving test if they had to take it again.

If dangerous drivers are aware that they pose a threat then we need to create an environment in which it is simple and painless to remove them from the road. An obvious solution is improved public transport. Although councils might

family and friends to tell a loved one when they become a danger.

Such uncomfortable conversations unsurprisingly strain relationships, a difficulty that could be avoided if the assessment of safe driving was an issue of policy, rather than a personal consideration. Considering this, perhaps the government should consider enforcing retesting in order to normalise the process of surrendering a license, making it less personal.

A further argument for intervention through policy can be found in Direct Line car insurance’s research, which reveals that more than a million elderly motorists are failing to disclose medical conditions. In comparison, there is a huge discrepancy with the

number of licenses being voluntarily surrendered to DVLA, at only 1,000 per year. If so many of our elderly population are choosing to continue driving with undisclosed medical conditions, it is reasonable to assume that lives are being put at risk. In this case, it could be argued that the only way to ensure drivers are fit to be on the road is by retesting.

Another important consideration is that we all age at a different rate.

Whilst one individual may not be fit to drive at 65, another might still be a safe pair of hands well into triple figures, evident by the 200 or more drivers in Britain having celebrated their 100th birthday.

However, although incidences of elderly drivers causing accidents are upsetting, statistics show that older drivers are no more likely to cause accidents than younger drivers. The risk of an over 70 killing a pedestrian is significantly smaller than that of a middle-aged driver, whilst those over 70 are also only half as likely to be involved in car accidents as 18-20 year-olds, according to the Association of British Insurers.

Considering this, singling out an age bracket for retesting which is not statistically dangerous could only be seen to be discriminatory.

The debate regarding elderly drivers will always be a sensitive one, edging into conversations about the independence afforded to those who have contributed to our society for decades, but the question of general safety makes the dialogue necessary. Whilst there are people on polar sides of the argument – vehemently believing either in the necessity of regular retesting or in an individual’s right to decide when to stop driving – there is also plenty of middle ground worth considering. Perhaps the solutions lie in the ‘nudge’ technique, making public transport a simple, affordable and rewarding experience, or in legislation based on medical conditions of concern, rather than age directly. Whatever action is (or is not) taken, it seems this conversation will continue to be current for the foreseeable future, with valid and emotive arguments on both sides.

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Iby Knill, a survivor of Auschwitz: Background Olive Enokido-Lineham

1935, Bratislava, Czechoslovakia Born into a well-respected Jewish family Iby Knill grew up in the city of Bratislava, Czechoslovakia as the eldest of two children. Blissfully unaware of the political tensions rising across Europe at the time, Iby spent her childhood cycling, swimming - anything athletic. The Knills lived in an affluent pocket of the city, so Iby grew up, in her words, ‘exceedingly sheltered’, surrounded by cooks, maids and a governess.

By the age of 22, Iby had fled home and lived in four different countries and endured 40 days in AuschwitzBirkenau

As a child, she attended a local German grammar school in the city and could speak four languages: German, Polish, Czech and Hungarian. After her school friend Greta, began to ignore her and her exam results were capped for being a Jewish student, Iby began to notice a shift in attitudes. Although still adamant that nothing separated her from any of her school friends, she was soon forced to admit that life would be different for her as a young Jewish girl in Czechoslovakia.

1933 marked the year of Adolf Hitler’s accession to power, westward and across the border into Germany. In the midst of the falling Weimar Republic the Nazi Party rose, undyingly devoted to the creation of a pure Aryan race. This claim of racial superiority and the desire to genetically improve the population would be used to justify the systematic persecution of those

who did not fit the Nazi model.

Although predominantly targeting the Jewish community, the Nazis persecuted multiple other minority groups deemed incompatible with the regime. By 1945, over six million Jewish lives were claimed - the genocide that would later become known as the Holocaust.

By the age of 22, Iby had fled home, lived in four different countries, and endured 40 days in Auschwitz-Birkenau. Witness to the extremes of human cruelty and confused why she survived when so many others died, it took Iby 60 years to share her story as a survivor of the Holocaust. Compelled by the vows she made to others along her journey, Iby promised to share her story and their stories of human suffering.

Now aged 95, a university graduate and author of best-selling memoir, ‘The Woman Without a Number’, Iby lives in the U.K and dedicates her time to recounting her story to young people. In a political climate marred by intolerance, she hopes that this will act as a warning to younger generations.

under forged papers in January 1942. With only the clothes on her body, she crawled across the border into Hungary, fleeing persecution.

Having been refused help by her frightened aunt Bella, she stayed with a cousin in Budapest. Now accustomed to another rule: stay quiet and stay hidden, Iby claimed that “the secret of survival was not to be noticed”. After four months in hiding, she was caught by Hungarian police as an illegal immigrant and taken to a refugee camp in the north eastern region of Ricse.

As those who were too weak to continue lagged behind, an officer would follow, a gunshot would be fired and then only one set of footsteps could be heard

1942, Czechoslovakia By aged 19, Iby had become accustomed to the treatment of Jews in Czechoslovakia, which she described then as a ‘Nazi puppet state’. The introduction of the Nuremberg Laws, a comprehensive set of anti-Jewish legislation introduced seven years prior, was used by the Nazis to legitimise anti-semitism. Iby recalled the restrictions imposed on Jews: she couldn’t sit down on public transport due to fears of contamination, and she often queued for hours in shops in which she often was often then ejected.

The family business, set up by her maternal grandfather, sold the latest technology ranging from prams to gramophones. It soon became Aryanised as the Nazi influence increased. Knowing that life was no longer safe in Bratislava, Iby’s parents forced her to flee to Hungary

The German occupation of Hungary a month later marked a further intensification of Nazi rule.

Loaded onto a cattle wagon at the refugee camp, Iby unknowingly began her arduous five-day journey to Auschwitz-Birkenau, Poland.

As men in striped pyjamas opened the gates which read “Arbeit Macht Frei”, ‘work sets you free’, she sang the Hungarian national anthem.

Iby recalled the drill for new arrivals: stripped, shaved, showered.

“Every morning, midday and evening there was Apell – everyone was counted, this could take three or four hours. You had to strip and hold your clothes above your head. If you swayed or stumbled you were taken away and never seen again…”. It soon became clear that this was not just a labour camp.

A month passed in Auschwitz .

Enduring the horrendous

conditions, deprived of food and human dignity, Iby spent hours fantasizing about mashed potato, a dream she could almost taste.

The infamous Nazi doctor Josef Mengele had requested prisoners, particularly doctors and nurses, to volunteer at a slave labour camp in Germany. Knowing that this could be a temporary salvation from her otherwise impending demise, Iby volunteered. Alongside 530 Hungarian women, she travelled to the northern town of Lippstadt, where she would lead a hospital unit caring for patients of the slave labour camp. It was here that her perfect German saved her.

Following the evacuation of the hospital in Lippstadt at the end of March 1945, Iby, alongside the other volunteers, was forced to march to Bergen-Belsen, another concentration camp 215 kilometres away.

Easter Sunday, April 1, 1945 The journey to Bergen Belsen was tiresome - walking in the night, hiding in barns during the day. As those who were too weak to continue lagged behind, an officer would follow, a gunshot would be fired and then only one set of footsteps could be heard. On April 1st, as Iby and the fellow volunteers continued their journey through fields, one volunteer spotted American tanks in the distance. Hundreds of women ran towards the tanks. A few days

later, Iby was liberated on Easter Sunday.

Both Iby’s mother and brother had survived the Nazi regime, and the family were reunited in Bratislava before the war was over.

Her brother, through personal connections, had been in hiding in the Swedish Embassy in Budapest, whilst her mother suffered a similar fate as a prisoner in Auschwitz and was later liberated by the Russians.

The year before, Iby’s father had been one of the last victims to be gassed in Auschwitz before the Nazis began destroying the gas chambers and crematoriums.

8th May 1945 marked V-day, the end of the war in Europe, and what would have been Iby’s late father’s birthday. The Nazis unconditionally surrendered to the Allies. In an effort to suppress the trauma of her past, Iby moved to England two years later with her new husband Bert, a British Army Officer.

“For fifty years I lived the life of an Army Officer’s wife. I made his family and its history mine. It was only after his death and after my children had left home and made their own lives that I felt the need – and the duty – to recall my own past and to record my own history”.

Iby Knill with members of the University of Sheffield Jewish Society. Image: Gabe Milne

11

Features

Interview

The audience at Iby Knill’s talk in association with the Jewish Society. Image: Gabe Milne Face to Face with Iby Knill I met Iby in the University of Sheffield’s Diamond cafe before the talk she was giving to a sold-out audience of students.

I wasn’t sure quite what to expect - perhaps someone frail and softspoken, as befitting a 95-yearold woman. But her dry sense of humour and quick wit soon defied all my expectations.

She was not telling her story for sympathy, but instead as a warning of the effects of allowing hateful attitudes to breed within societies.

In a time of volatile politics where tolerance is scorned, Iby’s story is ever more pertinent. I spoke to Iby to ask her opinion on the situation today.

I brought up the statistic that a recent poll showed that there are over 2.6 million Britons today who

believe that the Holocaust is a myth, but she started laughing before I’d even finished my sentence.

Today it is particularly important that we do not let the ‘us and them’ syndrome flourish

“It’s ridiculous. It’s absolutely ridiculous and is not true. The International Tracing Service in Germany had 55 million documents about 17 million people affected by the Holocaust.”.

When I asked her about the rise in Holocaust denial and anti-semitism at U.K. universities specifically, her response was similarly strongminded.

“The funny thing is that the people who do this, do not stand up for themselves, they are cowards.

Their actions are very much hidden in such a cowardly way. How do you act against people who won’t talk to you about this? What is needed is dialogue, where you can discuss why people feel this way otherwise it is hopeless, you have to be able to listen and talk to people”. Iby has actually invited Holocaust deniers to meet with her, but there has not been much response.

“I have done so for years, nobody has come to me not one person.

I have 32 documents from the International Tracing Service who tracked all of my movements at the

camps. Why would a bureaucratic country like Germany have 55 million documents and make this up? It’s simply too big of a lie”.

On a wider scale, Iby views the current level of discrimination and prejudice in global politics today as a serious problem.

Today it is particularly important that we do not let the ‘us and them’ syndrome flourish, it is very easy to blame others on things being wrong without looking at yourself and seeing if you contributed, willingly or unknowingly, where you blame others - actions by proxy.

It’s too easy to blame somebody else for what we should be taking responsibility for and we have a great tendency for that today. There is intolerance not just against Jews, but against Muslims, against those of a different class, different gender, somebody who is seen as different”.

We are incredibly grateful to Iby Knill for coming to share her story at the university.

Gabe Milne, president of the University of Sheffield Jewish Society which hosted the event, said: “We were delighted to see such a huge response to bringing Iby onto campus. As antisemitism reaches its highest level in recent history, it is more important than ever to remember what such vicious hatred can lead to. It’s on all of us to make sure it never happens again.”

12

Features

Has our obsession with serial killers gone too far?

Noah Martin

If you asked a group of people to name a serial killer, the chances are people would eagerly suggest a name. However, if you asked them to name a victim of a serial killer, the response would probably be quite different. What does that say about us?

The presence of serial killers in popular culture isn’t new and neither is our cultural obsession with them. The prolific crime author Patricia Cornwell said in 2017 that she had spent £7 million researching the case of Jack the Ripper after releasing a book about him 15 years earlier. American serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer had a film, My Friend Dahmer, made about him a couple of years ago, and when Ian Brady died, every major newspaper released lengthy obituaries dissecting his life and character. Not to mention the countless museums, books, and

a n y other medium you can think of dedicated to serial killers around the world.

Creepy.

Recently, however, the morality of this media obsession is up for debate. The recent release of the Conversations With A Killer documentary and subsequent film Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile, both about the infamous serial killer Ted Bundy, have thrown into sharp relief the ethical conflict at the heart of these dramatisations. Murderers, rapists and stalkers receive special treatment from the internet and are given the attention of the masses at the expense of their victims who rarely get more than a cursory mention.

Arguably, the growing media attention given to serial killers could be a symptom of the continued rise of online accessibility.

With more information available than ever before, people want to use it to discover things previous generations wouldn’t have been able to access. People have always had an interest in deviancy; while Ted Bundy was in prison, swathes of love letters were sent to him and his court hearings were always full. The only difference now is that people don’t have to hang around outside courtrooms or send handwritten letters to get their kicks, they can just turn on the TV. Directors have seen an opportunity in indulging the audience’s dark curiosities, and are just providing us with the content we’ve always craved in an easily accessible form.

It just so happens that we are really really into it.

And it’s true that misery does make money, and lots of it. As a society we are fascinated by the misfortune of others, possibly because it makes us feel better about our own lives. Despite admitting that there is an element of hypocrisy in making entertainment out of other people’s tragedies in this way, the Extremely Wicked director, Joe Berlinger also said the film tries to do the exact opposite. Rather than glamorising Bundy, it portrays him in his true form and, in the end, gives him the comeuppance he deserved.

According to many reports from that time though, Bundy was viewed as an attractive man who had a certain charm. Casting Zac Efron as the sociopathic serial

killer is not an attempt to fetishize him, but to accurately convey his character. The humanisation that has developed around Bundy’s character might work in favour of portraying him as the monster he was.

The stark contrast between his macabre crimes and his charismatic persona is a warning that attractive people can do terrible things. More worryingly, these people aren’t closeted freaks living in cabins in the woods, they’re people with families and personalities. The reality is that Bundy could switch easily between his two characters and exaggerating his evil to compensate for his ‘normal’ qualities would be doing disservice to his

victims.

And you could say the same for many of the serial killer series and documentaries online - it is in their portrayal of the grim reality that we are able to fully understand the gravity of the crimes.

Yet the way Zac Efron speaks about his leading role as Bundy strikes me as quite disturbing.

According to Efron, the two men shared a lot in the way they carried themselves and in their mannerisms. It is alarming that the fictionalisation of Bundy’s story presents him as an everyman that could easily be seen as a friend, even more so given Efron is a ‘heartthrob’ for many girls and women across the world. Bundy was a twisted killer who brutally raped and murdered women, yet somehow the focus is on how physically attractive and charming he was.

And that is exactly what he would have wanted, in the same way that many murderers and

rapists want to control and manipulate people into desiring them.

Bundy himself was relatively mediocre. He failed law school, struggled to make friends, and wasn’t as ‘good-looking’ as the actor chosen to portray him.

Shining the spotlight on him and others like him, plays into their hands, even if it is posthumously.

It plays into the fantasies of killers who are still alive because they see people similar to them in positions of power on screen. Killers are fetishised, perpetually glorified in sensationalised films and their victims are forgotten, in the same way their killers took their lives and

disposed of them.

This is not to say there should be a blanket ban on creating films about crime, because there can be useful lessons in revisiting them.

Forbes featured a piece last year on true crime podcasts which have drawn attention to forgotten, unsolved missing persons and murder cases. Apparently, thanks to the podcasts, police were able to catch the perpetrators years later when their crimes had all but been forgotten. What is distinctly lacking in all of these narratives, however, are the voices of the victims and their families.

Kathy Kleiner, who survived an attack by Ted Bundy, said in an interview that nobody ever approached her to ask if she would like to be a part of the Ted Bundy Tapes series. Far from being adverse to sharing her experience, she has spoken openly about what happened to her over the past year. So why was she not given the opportunity to share her voice in the series as well? Netflix is happy to make huge profit from the trauma of the survivors and their

families, yet don’t feel it necessary to give them an authentic voice in the story. The unfortunate thing is that grief doesn’t sell. It is difficult to make an attractive persona out of grief, to make it look ‘cool’ and attractive. People would be less interested in a serial documentary about a ‘charming’ rapist if they were also shown how that same person completely ripped lives apart and the actual impact of their crimes.

Ultimately, that is part of the problem, and a snapshot of the bigger

picture of how we view women who are victims of violent crime. Framing the victims as nebulous non-characters and recreating the murderers as attractive anti-heroes allows society to keep feeding the rhetoric that violence against women is normal and ‘sexy’.

If the #MeToo movement has taught us anything, particularly in Hollywood, it is that sexual violence towards women is normalised.

Directors don’t want to make series dedicated to the victims of these rapists and murderers because that would mean addressing the fact that violence towards women is an epidemic. It would mean admitting that these characters that people have obsessed and fawned over for decades were actually cruel, vicious criminals that had a real-life impact on hundreds of people.

Opinion Opinion Editors Connie Coombs Matthew Hartill Well, the weather is on the turn for the better and spring feels like it might almost have arrived. Naturally, we couldn’t bear to have the section mirror the good vibes, so we’re full of gloom this issue. We’re weighing in on Liam Neeson, whether awards ceremonies are still relevant, and (of course) Brexit. Maybe this will be the last you’ll hear of it. We kind of doubt that. Happy reading and, as ever, all our love.

Opinion x

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Liam Neeson: representative of racial terror or just misunderstood?

Asia Ahmed

The last few weeks have been dominated in the media by racist remarks, blackface and white guilt, and Liam Neeson is one of a number of white men who have been at the forefront of this ever-growing storm. Neeson’s now-infamous statement consisted of him relaying a story of his search for retribution after hearing of a friend’s rape, which spurred him to go on the hunt for a “black bastard” to “kill him”.

Many have been rightfully disgusted

by Neeson’s comments, with New York Times columnist Charles M. Blow criticising Neeson on Twitter, referring to him as “a representative of racial terror,” yet there has equally been a counter movement of support and defence of Neeson, with former footballer John Barnes praising Neeson’s courageousness and applauding his ability to learn from his mistakes.

Neeson has also come to his own defence, appearing on breakfast show Good Morning America to clarify and reiterate that he is not a racist, and that he would have

done the same if the assailant was white. Neeson also explained that in retrospect he was ashamed of his thoughts and actions and expressed remorse. “It was horrible, horrible, when I think back, that I did that.”

Neeson was aiming first for a cathartic confession, then absolution The claim from Neeson and his supporters that he should be afforded an opportunity to reform and that he should not be labelled a racist is problematic for many reasons. Firstly, it places the onus on black people to absolve Neeson of his guilt, as it appears as though Neeson was aiming first for a cathartic confession, then absolution. This expectation is unfair, as it takes no regard for the psychological damage comments such as Neeson’s have on black people. Moreover, there

appears to be more regard and sensitivity for white fragility, seen in the outrage at Neeson being labelled a racist, than there is for black people’s own far more justified outrage. In this instance, worryingly, it seems the label of ‘racist’ is more taboo than the racism itself.

Secondly, Neeson’s search for vengeance is not a stand-alone instance, but is rooted in a historical power imbalance between white and black men.

The presentation of black men as sexual predators and white men as heroic protectors of white women is a classical dichotomy, with this narrative forming the basis of the infamous film ‘The Birth of A Nation”, credited with being a major influence on the reformation of the Ku Klux Klan in 1920s America.

This parallel has not been missed

by Neeson’s critics, who have

likened his actions to a kind of modern-day lynching, which itself revolves around the assault and murder of black men on the basis of protecting white women’s virtue.

Historical victims of this process, such as, Emmett Till, who aged 14 was lynched for allegedly ‘offending’ a white woman in 1950s Mississippi, would surely have something to say about Neeson’s apparent attempts once again to make black men the victims of white men’s pursuit of heroism yet both he historical parallels drawn from Neeson’s c o m m e n t s and the contemporary response should make us all question how far we have actually come on the issue of race.

Image: BagoGames

And the award goes to... irrelevance?

Alex Bruce

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It’s awards season. The time when a collection of the greatest actors and singers (and those people who get invited to everything for doing nothing because they have famous parents or something) come together to celebrate the world’s greatest art, or at least what some secretive committee completely unrepresentative of the average consumer deems to be the best. But are they truly a worthy celebration of the best humanity has to offer, or are they a complete waste of time that need disregarding?

My first experience of award shows was the Brits. During the early 2000s, when I knew very little about what music was being released beyond my small collection of NOW THAT’S WHAT I CALL MUSIC! CDs

and whichever songs were being covered on The X Factor, witnessing all these singers who I had never heard of win all these awards and perform was very exciting. 2006 was a particularly memorable year, with some unknown rapper called Kanye West performing a catchy song called ‘Gold Digger’, and Coldplay walking away with Best Album and Best Single (as an adult I realise what an injustice this is). Over the years I learned about the existence of the BAFTAs, the Grammys and the Oscars, but none of these shows received quite the same level of excitement from my younger self.

Now that I am older, however, it is harder to ignore the flaws that some of these award shows demonstrate.

This year’s Grammys experienced the usual backlash from people

who felt that some artists had been snubbed. Kasey Musgraves’ generic country album Golden Hour beating Janelle Monae’s excellent Dirty Computer to Best Album and Cardi B winning Best Rap Album instead of…well, anyone else, caused some to call the prestige of the awards into question, something Drake did directly himself in his winner’s speech for Best Rap Song, citing the ‘opinion-based sport’ in which he works. This year’s Oscars also caused controversy by nominating Black Panther for Best Picture when some felt it undeserving, with it being labelled as little more than a PR move, and having been criticised for its weak CGI. Despite this, I do feel there is a value in awards shows. The sheer variety of artists and films up for awards, particularly in the more obscure categories, makes it

easy for viewers to discover fantastic smaller artists and pictures. One such underrated artist who fully deserved celebration was SOPHIE, the producer extraordinaire and transgender icon who was unlucky not to win Best Electronic Album at the Grammys. Another was Janelle Monae, whose stunning live performance was many people’s highlight of the night and received widespread praise across social media. While though she may be among the more controversial winners, seeing Cardi B’s joy at winning just a year after being a mere social media meme was heartwarming. Such things,for me, ultimately make them worthwhile, though collectively as a genre they have work to do before they are truly as important within their respective industries as they may like to think they are.

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Brexit means Brexit... right?

At the time of going to print, we’re so close to Brexit we can taste it. Becaue we’re sadomasochists here at Opinion, we’ve sought out your thoughts on proceedings, and where we should go from here. Jack Mattless argues in favour of May’s deal, with Bethany Thomas arguing against; Aisha Mahal and Bethany Wilson battle it out over the prospect of a new referendum; and Tom Scotson writes that a no-deal Brexit wouldn’t be the worst thing. What do you reckon? Let us know. We live for the drama.

In favour of May’s deal Jack Mattless

Perhaps the only remaining point of consensus in Brexit Britain is that we’re all sick to the back teeth of Brexit Britain.

It has obnoxiously dominated our national conversation for nearly three years, leaving little bandwidth to discuss much else.

In a country where homelessness rose by 13,000 last year and the poorest are being squeezed further into poverty by the universal credit rollout, this is a huge problem. Theresa May’s proposed Brexit deal is far from perfect, but it offers some much-needed closure. The opposite is true of the alternatives.

Let’s be crystal clear, there are

Against May’s deal Bethany Thomas

Brexit has dominated the political world since the referendum was first announced in February 2016, but three years on, one might hope to have a deal less damaging to the UK than that which Theresa May’s labours have produced.

May’s deal puts employment and economic welfare at risk by failing to guarantee that we will stay in the Customs Union. The Customs Union allows tax-free trade on goods transported within the EU and many British-based companies will now look to move to countries remaining in the EU in order to avoid these tariffs. This flaw in May’s plan means that, not only will our trade become more expensive and our economy suffer accordingly, jobs which are currently available in the UK will move abroad.

Immigration has been a central issue throughout Brexit talks.

only two alternatives: extending Article 50 or leaving without a deal. For all the inflated hype over a people’s vote, there’s simply no sign of a majority for one in either the House of Commons or the country at large, and while the leaders of both major parties remain averse to the idea, it’s a fact unlikely to change.

Sure, we could extend Article 50 and give the Prime Minister a few extra months to secure those ever-elusive legal changes to the Northern Irish backstop.

But given the EU have shown no inclination of budging on the issue in the past two a half years, I fail to see why they’d have a sudden change of heart this spring.

An extension would also mean the parliamentary timetable continues to be clogged up by

meaningless indicative votes, with scant time left to debate pressing domestic issues.

Similarly, I imagine leaving with no deal is going to trigger a perpetual cycle of special news bulletins examining the extent to which we are or aren’t now living in the infernos of Hell.

It’s also going to send an already stretched civil service into overdrive, implementing hastily made contingency plans that are unlikely to alleviate our sense of collective national misery.

To be honest, passing May’s deal probably won’t do the trick either, but it will free up some parliamentary and governmental time so we can begin to address the underlying causes of Brexit, rather than just its symptoms.

Considering this, one would be justified in assuming that May might prioritise finding a suitable solution. However, the plan leaves her stance on immigration entirely uncertain, while its surprising lack of detail leaves the future of EU workers and British citizens living in the EU undefined.

May’s deal further falls short in its provision for national security.

The existing deal means that current security arrangements regarding border control could potentially expire by December 2020, leaving our borders open to illegal immigration or potential terrorist threats until new provisions are made.

Brexit has proved divisive since day one, but May’s deal only magnifies this, failing to mention either Wales or Scotland even once in 500 pages. How can a deal really be designed for the United Kingdom if 50 per cent of the countries involved are entirely omitted from consideration? Such an England-centric deal is selfish

and disillusioning, particularly to the swathes of Scots still persistent in their quest for independence.

In short, May’s deal is disastrous and should be viewed as an apt comment on her leadership. The country is in need of an entirely different plan, and perhaps, considering the evolution the issue of Brexit has undergone, we ought to ask the people again what they want: as it stands, May’s current deal is an explicit perversion of the ideals held nearly three years ago.

15

Opinion

We’re going to miss EU... - Ed

Against referendums Aisha Mahal

Brexit needs to be seen as a lesson, a learning curve for the UK. Every step of the Brexit process has highlighted the major issues with referendums.

If we don’t view the current situation as a warning against the further use of such tools, we will simply be doomed to make the same mistakes again.

One key

issue with the Brexit referendum, and with referendums as a whole, is the possibility of protest voting.

Some voters used their ballot to try to protest against then Prime Minister David Cameron, some against Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, while for some it allowed them to rebel against what other family members were preaching.

This in turn illustrates a larger problem with placing such decisionmaking power into the hands of the people: we can often be too emotional and too attached to issues. Protest voting loses sight of the real issues, and this is likely to be a major problem

For a new referendum Bethany Wilson

Back in June 2016, the country walked into voting booths and ticked one of two boxes: to leave or remain in the European Union.

Little did they know then how much chaos the outcome of that decision would cause. Brexit. They didn’t know precisely how it would be enacted, who would be leading the decision-making process, or, crucially, that the numbers they saw straddled across the side of a big red bus, numbers that they

In favour of NO DEAL Tom Scotson

A cataclysmic, catastrophic, lamentable, national disaster.

The First World War? No. The Great Depression?

No.

Image: Arno Mikkor

if we were ever to have a second EU referendum. Rather than voting on leaving the EU, it may become a vote based on protesting against Theresa May’s leadership, and fuelled by anger and tensions from both sides.

The second warning we must take from the Brexit referendum was that the issue was too complex to be reduced to a binary decision. A ‘yes’ or a ‘no’ vote leaves huge gaps to interpret what practical form the result will actually take. Without distinct manifestos from each campaign explaining what would happen as a result of voting either way, it is very difficult to meet

the expectations of everyone. As is the case with Brexit, it is now clear that there is widespread discontent with May’s deal. Since voters did not know at the time if they were voting for a hard Brexit, soft Brexit or something in between, they voted for what they personally assumed would happen.

As it stands, it is now impossible to meet everyone’s hopes. We must learn from this. Referendums oversimplify complex issues so that satisfying everyone becomes an insurmountable task.

The problems presented by the EU referendum would have surfaced

no matter the result. The issue is not Brexit but referendums themselves.

They are detrimental to representative democracy, andwe, the people, are not equipped to vote unemotionally.

When presented with a binary choice, we would never end up voting for a suitable solution. Instead, we elect our representatives to do just this – to remove emotion and create compromises. In short, a second referendum would not remove the issues with Brexit because the true problem lies with referendums themselves.

based their vote on, were lies.

Now, over two years later, it’s fair to say everyone is a bit more aware. Although the standard definition still remains ‘Brexit means Brexit’, the crucial details of the varying deals, from a softer Brexit, that includes staying in the single market, to a hard Brexit that ‘takes back control’ over British borders and trade, or even the dreaded no deal, have become much more common knowledge.

There is a stronger sense of the reality of Brexit and the different implications of these deals, instead of merely the obsessive focus on

immigration, the loose concept of national sovereignty (and perhaps an opposition to David Cameron himself) that proved so crucial in the 2016 campaign.

So, is it time for another referendum on Brexit? I think so.

Not on whether we go ahead with leaving the EU or remain as the Liberal Democrats propose - that vote has already occurred and it would clearly be undemocratic to undermine that vote regardless of the close outcome - but on the form of the Brexit deal itself. If, as many statistics suggest, the country now leans towards remain, or at the

very least a soft Brexit, than surely the prospect of a hard Brexit or no deal is equally as undemocratic as ignoring the initial result.

It is only right that the British public - including the youth who were excluded from the 2016 vote - should get the final say on the deal that leads to the UK leaving the European Union. Brexit will be the defining political issue of its age and will have long-lasting and long-term repercussions - to do any different would simply be undemocratic.

Joanna Lumley’s performance at the Baftas? Not quite.

Instead, this is an opinion shared about Britain leaving an economic and political union without a deal on 29 March.

Undoubtedly, there will be implications if Britain decides to leave the European Union without a deal. Nevertheless, should we be captured by the naysayers’ rhetoric that economic oblivion is ‘inevitable’, if we decide to take such a course?

A comprehensive freetrade deal to any reasonable person is clearly a preferable outcome.

Nonetheless, alleged political and economic Armageddon as a result of a no-deal scenario has clearly been exaggerated.

“Food prices will sharply increase in the event of a no-deal Brexit!”

According to Oxford

Economics, a no deal scenario would lead to price increases of 2 per cent. There have been suggestions from the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) that this figure has been exaggerated. However, if this did materialise, and there were price increases of 2 per cent, it would perhaps be irritating to the average shopper, but hardly life changing.

“British Planes would not be able to land in EU countries!”

The Government declared within the past month that if it were to ‘crash-out’, ‘calamitously’ without a deal, this would not be the case. An agreement between Britain and the European Union stated that in the event of nodeal, UK planes would still be able to take off and land in EU countries. This agreement lasts for 12 months, and after this period it will be replaced with something permanent.

“A hard border in Ireland would emerge”

This is the issue which has received the biggest traction within the past two years.

Although potentially alarming, both the UK and Irish governments have committed to maintaining an ‘open border’ between Northern Ireland and the Republic after Brexit, whether there be a deal or no-deal. The Irish PM has declared that in no circumstance will Ireland “prepare for a physical Irish border”.

The possibility of Britain leaving the European Union without a deal has become increasingly likely, with support amongst the public for such a scenario steadily growing. The biggest implication Britain faces is the absence of strong leadership, and yet this is the very thing that will be necessary to avoid other consequences from exacerbating.

However, such an outcome has rarely been discussed, which ultimately may be the biggest stumbling block of all.

16

Lifestyle Lifestyle Editors Amelia Shaw Harry Browse If you need inspiration for a Spring getaway then look no further. In this issue we spend 48 hours in the beautiful city of Rome. From its stunning rooftop vistas to its luxurious food and drink culture, Italy’s historic capital has everything you need from a weekend away. A little closer to home, we have reviewed the vegan and vegetarian menu at Lucky Fox, a restaurant famed locally for it’s chicken! We are loving this trend of restaurants, in Sheffield and the rest of the UK, choosing to better accomodate for the vegan and vegetarian population. If that’s not enough to wet your appetite, have a go cooking up some authentic Chinease fried rice. Lastly, see our guide to getting a good night’s kip on page 18. Ciao!

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48 Hours in Rome Gabriela Heaton Borrageiros

While January is perhaps not the most common time to decide to visit the Italian capital, the cold and rain is certainly not a reason to dismiss it as your next city-break destination.

The vast choice of museums and art galleries in Rome are a great option for those who prefer the indoors and make the city a great option for a winter city break. A must-see is the Vatican City, an independent citystate in the heart of the city, where you can see the world-famous Sistine Chapel and appreciate corridors full of renaissance art, or you can brave the 551 steps (or get the lift!) to reach the top of St Peter’s

Basilica where you get a breathtaking view of the whole city. As the Vatican City is busy year-round,be prepared for a lot of queuing. An alternative is to buy your tickets for the Basilica and museums in advance to avoid waiting – a great idea if you are planning on going in winter.

It goes without saying that any trip to Italy will involve a lot of eating and drinking, and Rome is no exception.

Typical dishes such as Cacio e Pepe (pasta with cheese and black pepper) and Carbonara are available in almost every restaurant in Rome, but it is worth researching and finding more authentic restaurants that are often hidden and in quieter areas of the city as they are usually cheaper and have a truly Italian

atmosphere. Near Piazza Navona you can find a range of restaurants and bars, Pizzeria de Baffetto is a hugely popular pizzeria which serves classic, delicious pizzas for very reasonable prices in a lively and family-friendly atmosphere. After a meal, a caffè normale (espresso) is the perfect after-dinner drink and normally costs no more than €1; it’ll certainly warm you up during the winter months.

Getting around Rome is usually hassle free and inexpensive; a 48hour public transport card costs only €12.50 for unlimited metro, bus and train travel or you can reach almost all the main attractions by foot once you are in the centre. If you are under 25 and an EU citizen

Roman Forum The centre of Roman civilisation, these ancient ruins attract 4.5 million visitors every year. A combined ticket to visit the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Palatine is 12€ for adults, 7.50€ for EU members (for visits before the 29th of March) and children and seniors go free!

You have all of Rome to explore in 48 hours, what do you do? Rome is one of the most historically significant cities in the world, so a trip to Rome is rather a trip back in time...

Have an interest in food, travel or anything else Lifestyle related?

Want to write with us? Drop us an email, or join the Forge Press Contributors Facebook page!

Piazza Novana Build on the site of an ancient Roman statium, this historic square is host to important historic and cultural monuments, including a fountain featuring an Egyptian Obelisk. No wonder it’s been the site of many films and books including Dan Brown’s Angels and Demons and Joseph Heller’s novel Catch-22.

you can usually get reduced entry to various tourist attractions such as the Castel Sant’Angelo – another place which offers stunning views of Rome and an insight to the city’s ancient history. Before travelling make sure you take a look at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Foreign travel checklist for all the information you need about travelling to Italy and to avoid getting caught out whilst you are over there. Even not wearing a helmet on a motorbike in Italy can land you with a hefty fine so make sure you are clued up before jetting off!

17

Lifestyle Rome is home to 900 churches and of course, the Vatican City; the headquarters of the Catholic Church. Avoid the queus, plan in advance

Altare della Patria One of Rome’s more contemporary structures, which is saying something. Construction started on this landmark in 1885 and wasn’t completed until 50 years later. It is the largest monument in Rome and caused controversy at the time of its construction as it required the demolition of a medieval neighbourhood.

Trevi Fountain One of the most famous fountains in the world, the Trevi Fountain is the largest baroque fountain in the city. It is approximated that 3000

coins are thrown into the fountain every day. You are meant to throw a coin with your right hand over the left shoulder.

Best Views of Rome Head to Gianicolo Hill where every day at 12pm, a cannon is fired to mark the time. The Dome of St. Peter’s Basilica is essential viewing and well worth the long queue to get in. The Il Vittoriano monument in the Piazza Venicia costs 7€ to take the elevator to the viewing platform. Even on the cloudiest of days, the views of this romantic city will blow you away.

Images: Gabriela Heaton Borrageiros

18

Review: Lucky Fox vegan and vegetarian menu Joanna Jenkins

The Lucky Fox on Division Street is known for its Southern American inspired Chick’n Fries and Chick’n Waffles – it doesn’t exactly scream ‘vegan’. On an average day, a vegetarian would have limited options and a vegan could only have fries. However, on Monday and Tuesday evenings the restaurant is transformed; the chicken is packed away and replaced by a full veggie and vegan only service. I thought it

Lifestyle was worth a try.

I went in optimistic, and I was not disappointed. I brought my housemates with me (two vegans, one meat-eater) and between us we tried the vegan chick’n fries, vegetarian chick’n waffle, vegan fried chicken griller, vegan gravy fries, and a side of vegan doner meat. I ate my weight in seitan (a meat substitute made from wheat protein). After eating way more than I should have, and thinking it was a good idea to finish my friend’s chips, I felt suitably sick.

The ‘chicken’ is relatively realistic, mostly because of the crunchy, wellseasoned batter – it even won over my meat-eating housemate! This worked really well in the ‘griller’ wrap, but was a little drier for the chick’n waffle option, which was helped by the liberal pouring of maple syrup over the entire thing (recommended). For me, it was the ‘doner meat’ that stole the show.

They currently serve it in a wrap or

Chinese Fried Rice Steps

The

1.

Cookbook Emily Evans

Many people have the idea that fried rice is bad for you because it has ‘fried’ in the title - and rightfully so! But truth is, it’s just the pan being used. It can also be made healthily, and student-friendly when following these steps.

2.

3.

Ingredients

70g of either basmati, white or brown rice (whichever you prefer) 1/4 of a large onion, chopped into small chunks 1/3 of a red pepper, chopped into small chunks Handful of frozen peas Handful of broccoli heads 1 chicken thigh 1 egg Soy sauce (2tbs) Chinese 5 spice (2 tbs) Dried coriander (1tbs)

4.

5.

Put the rice onto cook in boiling water, and add the frozen peas once the rice is almost cooked. Drain in a colander and set aside.

Chop the chicken up into small pieces, and cook on a medium heat in a frying pan with a tablespoon of oil. Once cooked, add the onion, pepper and broccoli.

Let cook together for 3-4 minutes.

Add the Chinese 5 spice, dried coriander and the soy sauce to the vegetables and chicken.

Add in the rice and peas, and crack in the egg and give a good mix together till the egg has scrambled.

Serve & enjoy! (I enjoy an extra swig of soy sauce on top for extra saltiness, but this is optional!)

as a topping for the most generous portion of ‘sharing’ (as if) fries I have ever seen. I found that, if you didn’t eat it fast enough (which is a challenge when you are fighting your housemates for food), it didn’t taste quite as good cold, but when it was hot it was the closest thing this veggie has had to a kebab in two years.

This food definitely hits the spot for a beautifully and intentionally greasy meal. I wouldn’t eat it every day, mostly because if I did I would be the size of a bus, and upsettingly it is only served two days a week, but it’s a great treat. It is easily affordable on a student budget, with the most expensive item on the menu being £8.50, plus they offer a 10 per cent student discount! The staff are also some of the friendliest in Sheffield.

The vegan menu will be available for the foreseeable future, but only on Monday and Tuesday evenings. In the next few weeks they are hoping to get the food available on Deliveroo

with an aim of eventually expanding their usual menu to include some vegan options. I wholly recommend

giving it a try, even when your house is fully functional, just make sure you’re hungry.

Bedtime Routines Katy Francis

Some days university can feel very long and tiring, and all you want at the end of the day is your bed.

Well here are our top ten tips to the perfect bedtime routine. Number 10 is highly recommended and perhaps the most important in our opinion.

A cluttered room is a cluttered mind, so give your room a quick tidy.

To actually make it to your 9am lecture, pack your bag ready for the next day and pick out the clothes you’re going to wear.

Have a shower or bath (if you have that rare luxury), get your shower playlist on and have a good sing along.

Get into a good evening skincare routine, put on a facemask and try to avoid going to sleep in any makeup you might be wearing.

Put your fairy lights on and light a scented candle (safety first though) to create a nice atmosphere to relax in.

A light bit of yoga before bed can be a good stress release and it’s always good to give your body a stretch, especially if you’ve been hunched over in the library all day.

Put on your cosiest, baggiest pyjamas for ultimate bedtime comfort.

To unwind and take your mind off that looming essay deadline, Netflix and chill (the PG kind) or a good book can be just the solution.

Get off your phone! Going on your phone just before you’re going to bed can really affect your sleep pattern, it can make you sleep-deprived and exhausted, so stop scrolling through Sheffessions and put down your phone.

Or, if none these suggestions are your cup of tea (also recommended), how about a night out on West Street?

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. l e v a r t h c a o c  o % 0 5 u We’ll give yo up to you. s i o g u o y e r Whe

Just go to nationalexpress.com/refreshers using the code Refreshers50 and book by 25 February for travel by 28 February.

T&Cs apply

20

Break

Sudoku

Easy

Puzzle 1 (Easy, difficulty rating 0.44)

Break Editor Robin Wilde It’s been an unusually warm February, and it’s charming to see you all enjoying yourselves in beer gardens while our planet continues its forward march to climate wars and Armageddon.

Those of us who can’t climb a flight of stairs without oozing like Piers Morgan at a press ethics hearing don’t appreciate the weather, but that has meant I’ve had a lot of time in the air-conditioned Media Hub slaving over quality content.

By the date of publication we’ll be exactly one month from the cliff edge, unless a deal is struck between my filing this column and print day (here’s a hint: it won’t be). As a result, you may find yourself flung into the Mad Max-style dystopia without the information you need.

Don’t worry - Break is here to help. Over the page, you’ll find our handy guide to ensuring you get through a No-Deal Brexit with both your kidneys and most of a blood-spattered first-aid kit intact.

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press.break@forgetoday.com

write for us!

4 4

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ALL THE BUZZ THIS YEAR IS AROUND THIS NEW ACT, WITH UNDERGROUND HITS LIKE “DIDN’T HAPPEN” AND “CRY LAUGH EMOJI”.

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Puzzle 1 (Easy, difficulty rating 0.39)

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“The world 9 5 Breaks 8 7 6 4 everyone, and afterward, Electable Content Corner many are strong at the broken places”

Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/sudoku on Wed Feb 20 21:20:41 2019 GMT. Enjoy!

Ernest Hemingway

licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 2.5 License. See: https://xkcd.com/license.html

ALSO FEATURING STUDENT.BAND

ELECTION FINANCE

WANKERS IN ROBES

EXCESSIVE FUCKING SWEARING

THE GETHIN MORGUE

PORCELAIN HARD DRIVE

NO DEAL BREXIT

BASELINE GRIDLOCK

PAN SEARED FILLET

PAIGE MARGINS AND THE TEXT FRAMES

THE TWITTER NUMBERS

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TEDIOUS WASHED-UP DAD ROCK BAND

DARK FRUITS

Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/sudoku on Wed Feb 20 21:24:03 2019 GMT. Enjoy!

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HEADLINERS

FRESH FROM THEIR SUCCESSFUL FIRST ALBUM, THIS WILL BE THEIR UNEXPECTED SWANSONG BEFORE THE LEAD SINGER IS CAUGHT WITH FOUR KILOS OF COKE IN HIS SUITCASE. TIRESOME FRESHERS WILL PUT UP POSTERS OF THEM FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS.

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landslide victory, we’re taking a look at some of the top acts the SU could recruit to take part and raise a big pile of ticket money/bankrupt the Union and force them to privatise Coffee Revs.

INDIE DARLINGS

1 8

This SU election cycle brought the manifestly ridiculous/ unquestionably excellent (delete as appropriate) idea of an SU music festival from a Presidential candidate.

Following his inevitable crushing defeat/magnificent

DRAGGED IN LAST MINUTE TO FILL A GAP IN THE SCHEDULE, A BAND NONE OF THE AUDIENCE CARES ABOUT BUT WHICH PUSHES THE FESTIVAL INTO THE RED.

8 7

5

SUFest: The Lineup

MAINSTREAM MEDIA

PLACEHOLDER

GLOSSOP ROAD

THE MAN WITH THE PLAN FOR THE VAN

USELESS BASTARDS

STEVE

LOREM IPSUM DOLOR

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SUFest: The Lineup

21

Break

The Forge Press Guide To No Deal Stockpiling

When the UK crashes out of the EU without a deal on March 30th (thanks, Grandparents), it’s important to know what to do. 20% of people say they either have started or intend to stockpile for No Deal, which means there’s plenty of scope for

you to carve out your personal fiefdom in the anarchic wastes of post-crash Sheffield. But you’ll have to start early - stocks of emergency rations and improvised weaponry won’t last long, and Thunderdomes don’t build themselves.

#1 Medicine

#2 Avocados

#3 Travel

#4 Your Studies

#5 Dating

“Medicine Shortage” is one of those phrases that’s up there in terms of potential outcomes with “Termite Invasion” or “Aggressive Yeast Infection” - while you might be able to mitigate the potential damage, there’s no scenario in which it’s fun for anyone. About four million people in the UK take SSRIs, the main form of antidepressant - about six per cent of the population.

So border delays leading to a lack of medicines could present a serious public health risk to millions, as well as cause extensive secondary economic damage from lost productivity and sick days from side effects of SSRI withdrawal. All worth it for that sweet trade deal with Burundi, of course.

Turn a shortage to your advantage! Simply buy up remaining stocks now, and sell them back at artificially inflated prices after March 29th. I read in a book by the US medical industry that this is ethical.

If you can’t build up your stockpile, don’t worry - just buy up boxes of Tic Tacs and

With backed-up traffic at Dover and other ports, there’s no chance highly perishable foodstuffs are going to make it through unscathed. Nowhere is this more true than with the humble avocado, which lasts approximately eight seconds after purchase before degenerating into a stomachchurning black mass.

This might, however, be a good thing. As we’ve been repeatedly told, avocados are preventing Millenials from buying houses, earning enough to pay rent and generally maintaining a half-decent standard of living.

Without those foreign stone fruits coming over here, taking our jobs and our houses, we’d be doing much better.

Create your own avocado substitute by taking a banana and leaving it under a radiator for a week. Then smear it on some granary toast, pop some bacon on the side, serve it on an old hubcap and charge yourself £9.50.

If you’re in the air over Britain when we crash out with an Open Skies agreement, anti-aircraft batteries will immediately open up to remove devious foreign planes from our sovereign airspace. Make sure you book your holiday/evacuation away from March 29th, so you don’t make your broadcast debut as a vox pop on Sky News, stuck in an airport in Malaga and saying “It’s a real mess, they should sort it out”.

Fortunately, you won’t have to worry about flights for long after No Deal, since all the aviation fuel will be siphoned off and hoarded by marauding gangs of raiders. Think about investing in a push bike, as in the event of a prolonged siege of your secure water source, you will be a more difficult target for crossbowmen and the lack of need for maintenance will serve you well.

Turn the situation to your advantage by standing in a dark cloak by a rickety pier in the fog, offering safe passage to the continent for unfortunate souls needing to leave in a hurry.

A no deal economic contraction of up to 8% of GDP might make your graduate salary look more appetising by comparison, even if it is paid in buttons and bits of string.

The downside is that it will make Britain’s universities less attractive for foreign students, pushing down investment and pushing up domestic fees. That’s on top of cutting off Britain’s access to cross-border research and exchange programmes, meaning you’ll have to flee the country to get any kind of scientific or academic career.

In the absence of functioning regulatory authorities, you can make any wild claims you want and nobody will be able to challenge you. A 2:1 in English from Sheffield changes to a PhD from Oxford so easily.

Why bother learning when you could be out scavenging winter fuel, enforcing mob justice, and welding extra armour plating to your rickshaw?

In the absence of most luxuries and with deadly riots for food, you’ll have to be creative when celebrating your anniversary, Valentine’s Day or your radiation dosage all-clear.

You may find it difficult to spend time with your paramour when you’ve been assigned additional guard duty at the encampment.

Find ways to make day to day activities romantic and exciting.

Try dressing up in your fanciest clothes to queue at the Government Food Repository, or do battle as a couple with the meth-addled gang members trying to break into your abandoned factory hideout.

There are endless ways to spruce up your love life with just a little bit of invention and the hunt for functioning contraceptives will add a frisson of excitement.

22

What’s on

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1 Mar - 15 Mar

Castleton

Sunday 3 March 10am - 4pm Departs outside Bar One £16.50/£11 (Res Life)

Credit: Dan West

Before this semester gets anymore stressful, why not take a day off to visit the idyllic Peak District? This trip provided by the Give It A Go team gives you affordable travel to the peaceful town of Castleton, where you’ll have time to yourself to spend the day as you see fit.

Lovely.

The Miseducation of Cameron Post

Forge Press EGM 4 March, 6pm Meeting Room 4, The Octagon

Saturday 9 March 3:30pm/7:30pm Nelson Mandela Auditorium This critically-acclaimed drama from last year is an emotional story about a young woman sent to a gay conversion camp in the early nineties. Chloe Grace Moretz takes the lead role in this picture, which is part of Film Unit’s “F-Word” series.

£3.30

Self Hand and Face Massage As we get closer to looming deadlines, you’ll probably need every relaxation technique you can find. This session will teach you a peaceful head, neck and shoulder massage as well as some basic meditation. Very zen!

Steel City Darts Friday 15 March 7:30pm - 10:30pm Octagon Centre £7.70

The University’s darts team takes on their rivals at Hallam! Grab a ticket and turn up to cheer on the home team, but remember to keep things friendly. It’s only darts.

QUIZ NIGHT Monday 11 March

Fancy yourself a Marvel buff?

Head on down to Bar One where they’ll be hosting a quiz about the premier cinematic universe! Plus, they’ll also be screening one of the movies immediately before (vote for which one you want to see on the Facebook event page).

SoulJam 7 March, 11pm-3am Foundry £8 Platform Festival 8-10 March Sheffield Students Union £5.50-£11 PPG: Hunee, Juju & Jordash, Kiara Scuro, Yak 8 March, Midnight-7am Hope Works £20.20 (4th release) Shakespeare’s Houses and Stratford-Upon-Avon 10 March, 8am - 5pm Departs outside Bar One £38.50/£33 (Res Life)

TRY SOMETHING NEW 11 Mar 6:30pm High Tor 4 £4.13 £1.93 (Res Life)

Film Unit: Leave No Trace (PG) 3 March, 3:30pm/7:30pm Nelson Mandela Auditorium £3.30

Credit: Movie DB

For more information about Film Unit’s ‘F Word’ screenings, head to the Screen section (page 32).

Other highlights:

Starburst International Film Festival 15-16 March Media City UK, Salford £33.25

Scan the QR code to see all of the Student Union’s events.

23

Spotlight

Society Spotlight Geek Week

David Anderson

R

ight, so this issue’s Society Spotlight is more of a Society Floodlight, because we have quite a few societies to fit in. And that’s because we’re focusing on Geek Week!

Geek Week is an annual event, put on by members of Societies Committee and 11 Special Interest

societies, which aims to encourage students to try new things and discover their inner geek. The week sees societies ranging from Board Soc to Assassins Guild put on dozens of free give-it-a-go sessions including board game socials, quizzes, outdoor minigames and film screenings. This year Geek Week runs from Saturday 23 February to Saturday 3 March.

Alexa Hancocks and Joel Kirk,

Special Interest Liaisons on Societies Committee, helped organise alongside Project Nerd, a group which encourages collaboration between the committees of various geeky societies.

Alexa is also President of Sheffield Assassins Guild, a society which runs games of mock-assassination throughout the year. Players are designated a target whom they must hunt down, while avoiding being assassinated themselves. Sounds intense. But Alexa took some time out from her busy schedule to explain to us just what Geek Week is all about.

“Geek Week is a celebration of all nerdy things within the Sheffield University Students Union”, she said. “The week consists of various events from a number of Special Interest societies, including Horror and Anime screenings, Boardgames, Medieval Reenactment, Nerf guns and so much more.

“All the events are tailored to welcome those who have never tried these societies before. It’s a chance

to let loose and try things you never thought you’d love.”

Geek Week came about as replacement for ShefUniCon, a one-day convention at which geeky societies celebrated their interests and gave students a chance to try something new. The event eventually became too big to fit into a single day, however, so an alternative way of showcasing geekiness in Sheffield needed to be found.

“The idea for Geek Week was first proposed by last years special interest liaisons, as a chance to expand on the ShefUniCon format and allow for more events to be put on,” continues Alexa.

“The idea was to lengthen the day into a week long event, with societies putting on multiple giveit-a-go style events which better allows attendees to attend events from multiple societies. Joel and I really liked the idea when we became part of SocCom this year, so we are running with it, hoping to make it bigger and better than ever.

“The main reason to put on Geek Week is to celebrate all things geeky within the union, and put a Special Interest societies in the spotlight. Special Interest societies are activities that are really fun and engaging, but not hobbies that most people would know or think about picking up. Putting them together

in one week gives people a chance to try new things, and potentially find a new interest.”

In recent years, traditionally geeky activities have certainly come back to the forefront of popular culture.

But some may still scoff at the idea of reading a comic book or playing a board game, and Alexa thinks it’s time that changed.

I think the stigma around ‘geeky’ activities has got better over the last few years... however, there is definitely some way to go “I think the stigma around ‘geeky’ activities has got better over the last few years, especially with films like Marvel and DC becoming box office record breakers,” she says.

“However, there is definitely some way to go. Whilst some activities are becoming more mainstream, there are still a lot of societies which people would dismiss as geeky which they could enjoy doing.”

Participating societies:

Images (anti-clockwise from top left): Board Soc playing giant escape, Assassins Guild playing a Room Clears mini-game, Assassins President Alexa Hancocks

Anime Society Assassins Guild Boardgames Society Comic Book Society Cosplay Society Horror Society Medieval Society Pokesoc Roboteers Society SLUGsoc Wargames Society

24

Arts Art Editors Bethan Davis Kate Procter

Hello, Bethan and Kate here as your new Arts Editors. We’re both first year Journalism students who’ve been involved with Forge Press, as Culture Copy Editor and contributor respectively, since we arrived in Sheffield 5 months ago. We both love the arts and are excited to share what is happening in Sheffield and hope our spread can inspire you too!

Editors’ Picks Bethan: Not Here by Hieu Minh Nguyen A collection of poems by the queer, Vietnamese-American poet Hieu Minh Nguyen, who poignantly takes the reader through his meandering relationship with his mother and painfully, yet beautifully explores the feeling of aloneness within his culture, sexuality and the country he lives in. A great read in this month of LGBT history.

Site Gallery is celebrating its 40th birthday with a new exhibition that delves into the galleries archives. Re-collections displays the work of three former artists, honouring a tradition of supporting women. Together, with its supporting programme, the exhibition explores how histories are remembered, recorded and retold. Moving between personal narratives, institutional records and oral histories, it touches on the ways in which we collect and present our experiences. On until 19th May.

The Freeman Diary ,will now continue on forgetoday.com

The

Bookshelf

press.arts@forgetoday.com

REVIEW The Rocky Horror Show At the Lyceum Florrie Andrew

I wonder if writer Richard O’Brien expected The Rocky Horror Show to enthral audiences of hundreds more than 45 years after it debuted at the tiny Royal Court in London.

Exploring themes of gender identity and sexuality in a tribute to mid-20th century science fiction, Director Christopher Luscombe’s outrageous and energetic Rocky Horror Show is an immense amount of fun.

The show follows the eye-opening encounters of newly engaged couple

PREVIEW Standing at the Sky's Edge Kate Procter

Kate: Re-collections Site Gallery

write for us!

Park Hill – Sheffield’s iconic brutalist housing estate – has always looked out onto the Crucible.

Since the day the theatre was built the landmark has been visible from the foyer, across the valley and, for Director Robert Hastie, “it feels like it’s always been asking for its story to be told.”

In his upcoming musical, Hastie aims to do just that: “It couldn’t get any more Sheffield. It’s the story of generations of people brought up in that building, and by extension the people who’ve lived there and made it.”

“The story of Park Hill is a drama in itself,” he suggested, built in 1961 as the future of social housing, through turbulent times in the Eighties and Nineties, then being grade listed, sold off, and redeveloped as private flats.

“There’s a journey in that. It’s not just the story of this building, but of this city and this country over the last 60 years.”

Standing at the Sky’s Edge follows

Brad and Janet, who unintentionally become the guests of a deathdefying extravaganza one stormy night.

Stephen Webb marvels as scientist Frank-N-Furter, commanding the stage of the tour’s remarkable cast throughout his confident portrayal of the wild Transylvanian transvestite. Philip Franks excels as The Narrator, modernising the 1973 musical with a remark on Brexit proceedings and responding with sharp wit to engagement from the audience, Former Strictly Come Dancing professional

Joanne Clifton puts on an equally compelling performance as Janet.

Her melodramatic expressions compliment the façade of confidence conveyed in A1 star Ben Adams’ portrayal of Brad, with the pair working well together as the show’s naïve lovers.

Despite the unruly proceedings of The Rocky Horror Show, the production behind it is consistently slick. Choreography from Nathan M Wright is purposeful and polished, and the flamboyant costumes designed by Sue Blane aid to the dramatics of this outlandish show.

Set designs from Hugh Durrant

likewise serve to emphasise the absurdity of the unfolding events inside the scientist’s mansion, and immersive, colourful lighting by designer Nick Richings supports the electric atmosphere that fills the Lyceum throughout the show. Many of the team behind the show have been working on it for years and ensure that the show still captivates its audiences.

As the production concludes to 1,000 people up on their feet for a reprise of the Time Warp, it is clear that The Rocky Horror Show remains a production quite literally in a realm of its own.

three generations of residents in one flat over the estate’s history: there is a young steelworker and his family who move into the newly built flats in the Sixties, a refugee family in the Eighties, and a young woman moving in following the flats’ regeneration.

Making a show about Sheffield’s landmark building doesn’t come without risk, however. As the play’s writer, Sheffield-born Chris Bush admitted: “I do feel a huge amount of pressure.

“We are talking real people’s stories and the audience will know

from the beginning we’ve be talking to former and current residents,” said Hastie.

“Everybody from Sheffield, if they didn’t live in Park Hill, they know someone who did.”

Fortunately, another Sheffield icon supports the play: musician Richard Hawley. The show is built around Hawley’s songs, some written specially for show, others classics including the title track ‘Standing at the Sky's Edge’, taken from his 2012 album of the same name.

Care has been taken, however, not to co-opt these stories in the play. In particular, they’ve decided to avoid the infamous “I Love You Will U Marry Me” graffiti which Bush suggested, “would feel exploitative”, seemingly heeding the criticism of developers Urban Splash, who immortalised it in a neon sign.

“We haven’t been in contact with

the man who wrote it. It’s part of the fabric of Park Hill and we do refer to it. But the story itself of the graffiti didn’t feel like ours to tell. We’ve felt a real responsibility all the way along because this is a real place and these are the stories of real people who live there,” said Hastie.

Still, despite the specificity of the play’s location, the team believes there is greater story to be told as well.

“We are using Park Hill as an aperture through which we see post-war Britain,” said Hawley.

While Bush feels “it’s really about what it means to call somewhere home and to feel like somewhere is your home, and that story couldn’t feel more universal.”

It’s not just the story of this building, but of this city and this country over the last 60 years

if we’ve got this wrong and that is daunting, but also a satisfying challenge.”

Throughout the development, the show’s creative team regularly spoke with people who have a longstanding and close connection with Park Hill.

“Speaking to people has been really important. This project has been gestating for 5 years and right

Standing at the Sky’s Edge will be running at the Crucible from March 15 to April 6

25

Arts

INTERVIEW

Grease is the word!

Arts Editor, Kate Procter, met up with the students behind SUTCo's 24-hour show once they had caught up on some much-needed sleep.

Pulling an all-nighter is never easy.

But imagine producing a full-scale musical involving over 100 people in just 24-hours. Well, that’s exactly what Sheffield University Theatre Company (SUTCo) did earlier this month. A biennial tradition to fundraise for Sheffield-based charity ‘Cavendish Cancer Care’, this year’s surprise musical choice was Grease.

Back in July, when the secret musical was being decided, a couple of ideas were thrown around – Annie, Footloose, Fame – but the one show the previous team, from 2017’s Oliver, had warned against was Grease. Yet, despite the potential tangle involved in accessing the rights to the show, this year’s team, fuelled by sheer resolve and a fortunate financial windfall from the alumni foundation, embarked on the challenge.

“I was just determined to do Grease,” Producer and second year student, Helen Denning, tells me.

“It’s so well-known and so fun – I just knew it would be perfect.”

“The rights are more expensive for bigger name shows but they do bring in the extra people,” adds Tom Robbins, Production Manager and

fourth year student.

And Grease certainly did bring in the extra people. Despite their uncertainty over audience turnout, over 400 people came – with a particularly high number on-thedoor – raising hundreds of pounds.

“It was quite overwhelming when we walked in and saw the size of the audience. We thought the two bleachers at the end were going to be quite empty,” says Helen.

Drawing an audience is a typical concern for any theatre company.

But there is an added irony to actively hiding what your show is until the night before. The musical was revealed on the night before the live performance, not just to the audience, but also to the actors, musicians, technicians and crew with only a handful of people in-onit during the run up.

“I found keeping the secret alright, but it was hard not to slip up,” admits Assistant Producer and third year student, Martha Evans.

But in a twist that couldn’t be fitter for modern times, Helen reveals that it was the rights company who ended up leaking the secret – on Facebook, no less. A week before the musical’s announcement the

company posted to the site that SUTCo were performing Grease and Helen had to quickly contact them to delete the post.

Otherwise, the team managed to keep the secret under-wraps until the 24-hour countdown began.

For the set designers this introduced an interesting challenge.

For instance, they did not know the car from the infamous ‘Greased Lightnin’ scene needed to be made.

A quick dash to Wickes before closing time was in order to get all the wood they needed to knock up an automatic, systematic, hydromatic greased lightnin’.

The cast rehearsed solidly until 4am, with the majority of the company sleeping over in the Octagon.

“It depended on which team you were in as to when you slept… and if you slept,” says Martha.

Third year student, George Evans, who played Danny Zuko, adds: “I brought my entire duvet. I have a big rucksack that I use for travelling so I just whacked it in there with a pillow. And just curled up… under a table. There was no real time to rest because even when I wasn’t in rehearsal, I would have to be learning my lines and going over dances.”

In fact, the only time the cast and crew got any fresh air was when they all went for breakfast at ‘Scott’s Pantry’ near the Students’ Union, before promptly returning to rehearsals and preparing right up till the doors opened.

“We had the dress and tech run as

one – when it should really be two – and we finished 15 minutes before the doors were to open and people were already in the building!” says Helen.

Actually, the others correct, they did not even finish the run before the audience arrived.“I had no idea what was happening for the final scenes,” jokes Tom.

[There is] this unspoken contact with the audience and crew that things can go wrong and it’s actually funny when they do

Naturally, the show did contain some hiccups, George recalls: “There was a scene where Kenickie (Harry Carling) and Rizzo (Joanna Grey) were supposed to have an argument, and he [Harry] thought it was my line and said [in an American accent] ‘It’s not my line!’ and I said ‘Well, it’s not my line!’ and we got into a bit of a stalemate.

“There was also the scene when I was the only T-bird who went on stage and I thought I was in the wrong scene because it was only me and the Pink Ladies and I was like [in an American accent] ‘Am I in the right scene? Have I ended up in

Frenchie’s house?’

Much to the audience’s amusement, there was also a mishap with a stubborn double bed refusing to go on stage for the scene in Rizzo’s bedroom. The Pink Ladies started coming on before the set was ready and Rizzo joked: “Oh, I love rearranging my bedroom!”

Luckily, says Tom: “There’s expectation of quality – but not of slickness. The improvised parts are still of high quality and I think doing that to a musical as well-known as Grease, you wouldn’t normally get that opportunity as compared with our normal productions.”

The lead cast members with the most lines to learn had some hilariously innovative ways for notso-subtly hiding their words, such as pasted to a back of a guitar, hidden in a magazine, or simply inscribed up an arm.

“One thing we gained was that the audience was on-side with the cast because they knew it was for charity and no-one had slept; the audience felt part of the show, which I don’t think you normally get and it creates a nice atmosphere,” says Martha.

George agrees: “There is a freedom to the performance. When on stage I know that, no matter really what I do, I’m not going to look like an idiot because it’s all within this unspoken contact with the audience and crew that things can go wrong and it’s actually funny when they do.

“You just have to go for it. You can’t hold anything back because you’re not going to get out what you want from it otherwise.”

26

Arts

Japan Now

Now finished its second year, The University of Sheffield’s School of East Asian Studies partnered with Modern Culture and the Japan Foundation to present a week full of activities celebrating Japanese art, culture, literature and film in Sheffield.

Out of Bounds: An Exhibition of Contemporary Art from Japan at bloc projects

Anya Elliman

Curated by Suzanne Mooney, Out of Bounds arrived in Bloc Projects Gallery last week.

Exhibiting artists including Yurie Nagashima, Ri Iwatake, Ria Tsunegi and Louise Rouse who push the boundaries of art in relation to form and identity.

The exhibition explores how “boundaries ‘delimit edges of communalities and norms beyond which can lie transgression”.

These four female artists show how such boundaries can be challenged through subverting social expectations and defying contemporary art practises.

Mooney’s presentation is incredible; an almost enigmatic journey is created as soon as you enter. You are presented first with Risa Tsunegi’s Free Combination

(2019), the mixed media creating a three-dimensional view, an aspect Tsunegi loved and studied.

The subversive artist defies definition by introducing issues of gender and materiality through the fluidly of art and its materials in hope that identity is then questioned.

Similar, to Tsunegi, Iwatake plays on the use of collage materials through paper collage and lithograph print within her works Room, 37.2 (2015) and Bodyscape (2015).

Iwatake’s pieces draw upon traditional Japanese printmaking and culture, manipulating this history into contemporary art.

Yet, in contrast to this take on subverting tradition, Louise Rouse’s work, especially her piece Commute (2017), is the epitome of contemporary Japanese art.

Her work incorporates themes and motifs that connect with everyday

lives of people in Japan and abroad.

Yet, the most poignant part of the exhibition was what Mooney has centered in the room. With its multitude of vibrant prints and textures, juxtaposed against the whitewashed walls and floor, you are presented with a tent.

Yurie Nagashima, with the help of her mother, created the tent from various materials found within her home. Displayed with a series of nude photographs featuring herself and her family in 1993, Nagashima expanded upon her family-oriented art in creating the tent titled Shelter for our Secrets (2016).

It is a visual metaphor, addressing the lack of visibility and value of female experiences in a male dominated society.

Mooney surrounded this 3D structure with a plethora of photographs Nagashima captured in relation to her recurring motif of home. The placement, with

On the Edge: A conversation and book launch Eve Thomas

On 19th February, award-winning author Yu Miri visited Site Gallery to launch the English translation of her novel, Tokyo Ueno Station.

Translated by Morgan Giles, the book tells the story of poverty in modern Japan and contrasts the typical rhetoric of economic growth, Olympic excitement and democratic success.

The novel’s sensitive topic was handled impressively by the panel, which consisted of Miri, her translator, Dr Nozomi Uematsu, and Giles. Miri depicted vividly the novel’s context, beginning with the homelessness and unemployment outside of Tokyo and other major

cities, and then moving to her own experiences of alienation as a Zainichi (Korean-Japanese) writer in a decidedly anti-Korean Japan.

Her contextualisation expanded into her own story, told with sincerity. Her own mother was born

in the Korean peninsula during the Korean War and arrived in Japan in a small fishing boat as a refugee.

The world she built for herself in Tanami was then desecrated by the building of a dam, which Miri visited as a girl. This memory was revived then, as an adult, in 2011 by the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, which displaced all within a 20km region. She set about understanding the now-homeless residents’ pain, broadcasting their messages on a local radio station.

However, the guilt she experienced in returning to her sheltered home in Canto weighed heavily upon her, until she eventually moved, now living only 16km from the nuclear plant. The reality of Japan’s pain encouraged her writing, and her

them concaving around the tent, gives this idea of protection to create a visually stimulating exhibition.

Out of Bounds is running until 2 March

Image: Anya Elliman

Dr Mark Pendleton, Lecturer in Japanese Studies said: “Japan has in many ways since the late nineteenth-century been the ‘perfect other’. It’s seen as weird and wonderful but accessible at the same time. Through Japan Now North, we’re aiming to deepen people’s understanding of Japan beyond those stereotypes.” residency is testimony to her life’s work immersing herself in the human suffering forgotten in the midst of Japan’s democratic and economic success.

Although the emotion in the room could be attributed only to Miri, Giles – the novel’s translator – was equally articulate, offering insight into her own understandings, which shaped the English translation. She mentioned her visit to Japan and her tour around the areas affected by 3/11, the 2011 mega-quake, tsunami and nuclear disaster. Both women spoke compassionately about Japan’s painful past and Giles commented on her desire to capture the humanity of those still affected.

The book launch drew an impressive crowd, but the success of

the event was not only a comment upon Miri’s incredible authorship, but also a reflection upon the importance of the Japan Now North festival and its exploration of an underappreciated culture.

Tokyo Ueno Station publishes on 11 April. It is available for preorder now from Sheffield-based publisher Tilted Axis.

is my curriculum ethical?

sustainable?

fit for the future?

We are working with the University to equip our graduates with the skills, knowledge and values to ensure environmental, economic and social wellbeing, now and in the future.

We’re building an

sheffieldsu.com/efof Anna Crump Raiswell Education Officer

Mayeda Tayyab Women’s Officer

Mel Kee Development Officer

28

Music Music Editors Harriet Evans Ben Kempton Receiving an Email asking if we want an interview with outspoken Happy Monday’s frontman Shaun Ryder was an offer that couldn’t be refused, and the interview doesn’t disappoint. His journey through change is remarkable.

We’ve got some other great articles this issue too, including a Welsh music article from our, believe it or not, Welsh Screen Editor Gethin Morgan.

Editors’ Picks

Harriet: Serious Time Mungo’s Hi Fi & YT I’m a big fan of Mungo’s Hi Fi and I think this track is a perfect representation of the turbulent and uncertain times that we’re in at the moment. “Were only here for a short time, when I leave I kiss my family and say I love them, because it could be the last time” are some lyrics that really stick with me and it’s something I think we can forget all too often.

Shaun Ryder: A changed man back on tour

Emily Evans talks sex, drugs and UFOs with the icon of ‘Madchester’ “Black Grape is still so fresh, we’ve Grape. only been back 18 months,” says “Happy Mondays had six Shaun Ryder, as he prepares for the members, so everyone wanted to stage this March as Black Grapes’ say their piece but Black Grape’s frontman. He’s lived it all – the nothing like that… They sold more Rock ‘n’ Roll dream, as the King of albums worldwide now than the ‘Madchester’, with even the odd Monday’s did, so yeah, it’s going UFO sighting. He’s overcome some really good.” old habits and is feeling better and Shaun’s passion for music has busier than ever. He gives us some stemmed since he was a young child, insight into what life has been like with his dad giving him LPs of the with both Happy Mondays and Beatles and The Rolling Stones Black Grape, and what is in for his third birthday. This store for him within this next later encouraged Ryder to episode of his career. form a band and see where it He immediately said would take him. Within that he’s eager to get many different Black Grape back creative industries, up on its feet to it is suggested perform to their that for success, beloved fans. it’s not what He said, in you know, comparison it’s who you to Happy know. When M o n d a y s , asked if this was organising and was true of the music managing is industry, his opinion something which was very much to the comes more point.

Image: Rob Annis naturally to Black “Well, when you get

your chance, you have to smash it,” he said. “Nobody’s gonna sign you if you’re shIt, they won’t even give you a chance, you’ll just get fUcked off.

It’s really all about how good you are, with a bit of who you know as well.”

As the topic changed to Shaun’s interests, we discussed his curiosity for extraterrestrial life, something which has enthused him for years.

However, something to note is that there is often a misconception with the topic of UFO’s and Shaun merging together, that drugs and psychedelia must have played a part in there somewhere. Yet the reality is, is Shaun was just a young lad of 15, off to do his messenger rounds when he saw what he thought was a UFO. He claims that another boy saw the phenomena alongside him.

He explained: “We saw this thing flying about over our heads doing about thirteen thousand miles an hour going across the sky, then it stayed still, and then it zig-zagged off again. And that was back in 78, so all before the sex, drugs and rock and roll!”

However, a few years later his life

included all those three things, just after he got sacked from his job as a postman. “I was f*cked off because I was sh*t, simple as that. And that was it, after that I started a band.

When we were young we did stupid sh*t, but we were just doing what all young men did when in a rock n roll band.”

The icon of ‘Madchester’ culture summarised his youth as being packed with drugs, drink and upmost fun, but insisted this was not the case now.

“I’m living a different life now, things aren’t moving at 100 miles per hour anymore… When I hit 40 I was ready to stop all that, as I was basically living the same way that I was at 16. I’ve done rehab, I was in and out all the time, because quite honestly I didn’t want it to work, really, I’d just get straight back into it again when getting out. But I’m happier now, and busier than ever.”

Black Grape will be touring the UK within March of this year. They’re performing at The Plug in Sheffield on Friday 22nd March.

ALBUM REVIEW

listening. Or it can be a musical autobiography of Ariana Grande’s journey through hardship and success.

Though there’s very little to criticise about the album, it would be an oversight not to say that some of the songs on the album are weaker than others. ‘NASA’ and ‘fake smile’ possess entertaining and lively beats, while ‘imagine’ ensures that the album showcases Ariana Grande’s vocal prowess. However, some songs like ‘in my head’ and ‘ghostin’ are at times forgettable, and fade into the background in comparison to the immaculate repertoire that the rest of the album serves as.

It’s difficult to provide an album full of memorable songs, so it’s hard to truly fault thank u, next when the songs that do fight their way to the foreground pack a hefty punch and leave you satisfied. thank u, next shows that Ariana Grande is one of the strongest contenders in mainstream music. She’s built up

momentum,is showing no signs of slowing and with thank u, next being the musical masterpiece it is, it’s hard not to blindly and naively hope that Ariana Grande will bless us with another album very soon.

Tom Buckland

I finally got the chance to see one of my favourite indie bands this week. After releasing two singles ahead of their second album, Palace have gone on tour around the UK, which gave me the chance to go and see them in Leeds. The band put on an unforgettable atmospheric gig in a venue that was perfectly intimate for their sound. Check out their single ‘Heaven Up There’ and I would highly recommend seeing them live.

press.music@forgetoday.com

INTERVIEW

Ariana Grande: thank u, next

Ben: Heaven up there Palace

write for us!

Ariana Grande should be lauded as a workhorse in what can be an exhausting industry to work in. Her previous album, Sweetener, came out only six months ago and, despite its being criticized for being too dull and slow, it’s commendable for her to release thank u, next in such quick succession. thank u, next has an endearing and infectious charm that Sweetener lacked.

Though comparisons between the two shouldn’t hold too much weight, Sweetener’s leading singles were the only pride and glory of that album. thank u, next’s

singles are strong, independent songs but they also act as delicious appetizers for the rest of the album’s tracks. .

‘Bad Idea’ and ‘Bloodline’ convey a charming, relatable authenticity which is the tone Grande is leaning towards in relation to her music style. This is clear when you pair them with the three singles from the album, ‘break up with your girlfriend, I’m bored’, ‘7 rings’, and‘“thank u, next’. It’s a tone that transgresses artificial politeness and fabricated kindness, instead conveying a harsh honesty that many fans would, though they may shy away from admitting so, wholeheartedly relate to.

It’s clear that Grande has been struggling to develop her vocal style into something she can call her own, but thank u, next is evidence of self-discovery. The album can be viewed as a compilation of upbeat or slow musical anthems that are infectiously catchy and leave you humming them hours after

29

Music

of Queens of the Stone Age. Speaking of Queens of the Stone Age, what was it like to work with Alan Moulder?

Frank: He made albums in the 90s that literally changed my life. So, for me, he is the guy. This album is called the End of Suffering, which is the Buddhist term for Enlightenment.

Q&A

Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes Charlotte Schapendonk

Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes have announced their new album, End of Suffering, which is out in May. They gave fans a preview of what to expect at Peddler in Sheffield. We were lucky enough to catch Dean Richardson (guitar) and Frank Carter (vocals) in their tour-bus for some quick questions.

Q&A George Haverson from FEET Eve Thomas

Is there any reasoning behind the name of your band?

The Libertines were playing in Coventry and this was the first time that we were all together. The old guitarist was just throwing out names. He said we shouldn’t be called FEET, because it was a stupid name, so we decided to go with that, just to piss him off.

Which of your songs is your favourite?

A lot of the music that we’ve been recording for the album hasn’t come out yet, so I think there are a lot of songs on the album that we’re really proud of. The stuff that we are doing at the moment is moving away from the old indie sound and looking for more of a challenge so to speak.

Feeling all prepared for the show tonight?

Frank:No. Dean: No? I am!

Frank: No, haha. We have a playlist to get in the mood, but we normally also have a list of things we kind of need to do. Dean always goes to the gym without fail, I try to go climbing What’s on the getting-in-themood-playlist?

Frank: All sorts of things: everything from Brockhampton to Denzel Curry, bit of the Neighbourhood.

Dean: Basically just anything we listen to at the time.

Frank: Not a lot of rock, usually.

Sometimes a bit of Black Keys, a bit

Do any of your songs have particularly interesting or unusual inspirations behind them?

There is a song from the album that is going to come out at some point called ‘Ad Blue’ and that was based on our time living in a barn to record the album and Ollie, our bass player, filled up the kettle with Adblue, thinking that it was drinkable tap water, hence the name How was your time recording with Yala Records?

The Yala Records stuff was just the ‘Petty Thieving’ single ,so that was about a year ago now, I think. We’ve got our own record label actually, called Clapped Records. So we’ll be self-releasing on that, which is exciting.

How are you feeling about your tour?

I’m really looking forward to the tour because we haven’t really played much recently, so I’m just looking forward to getting back on the road and playing some dates, see if we actually still have some fans.

Does that mean a lot to you?

Frank: It does to me, yeah. When you hear those words it sounds so final. It sounds quite brutal, but when you put it together and read back the sentence to yourself it is ultimately very hopeful and beautiful. And I think that is what we make: we make an album that is quite savage, quite brutal in places, but ultimately the undercurrent of the whole thing is one of hope. We are always looking for little sparks of magic. It just comes together really quickly and it is really beautiful or powerful. It sounds silly, but we just constantly watch until a little bit of magic happens and then we follow that.

In your previous interviews you have always been very open about your mental health. Has anyone inspired you in doing so?

Hopefully we can all have a good time in every city, you know?

What is it that makes your music different? What gets people excited about it?

I think as a band, the dynamic is a thing that we all contribute to.

Everybody plays separate parts and it’s kind of all being in it together.

It’s not like one ego-driven guy telling everyone what to do. I like to think that it adds to the sound. We don’t take it particularly seriously, I think we’re just having a good time and hopefully that reflects in the music.

Where are you hoping that the future is going to take you?

Hopefully we’ll go on to bigger and better things. Fingers crossed for Glastonbury headline at some point.

I’m looking forward to the album, looking forward to festivals, looking forward to the tour, hopefully it just never stops.

Frank: Dean inspired me massively to talk more about it. I had a therapist who I would talk to, but a lot of the time I would come out of my therapy and call him for two hours to help me process things. So, it has definitely been inspired by the closest people around me. They gave me the confidence to speak up. I think one of the biggest fears of a human being is that of embarrassment. That is why I think a lot of men do not speak up: they are afraid of embarrassing themselves in front of their strong male friends, you know, but there is a huge amount of strength in being vulnerable.

Dean:Frank has taught me pretty much everything I know about speaking about my emotions. We spend a lot of time together. When we first started we would talk about music all the time, but now we spend so much time talking about what is actually going on in our lives as well. We have a much healthier relationship.

Frank: Because of that, our music is better too. The goal now is to convince more men to join the crusade of talking..

Is that going to change within this generation?

Frank: I am going to try my hardest!

Have you hit any particular challenges or obstacles on your journey to where you are now?

There are obstacles in the way that I think you always want to put out songs of certain quality, so I guess making sure that everything we put out and everything we do going forward is the best it can possible be.

Do you, personally, have any particular inspirations?

I listen to a lot of international stuff; there are loads of great Brazilian music and African music.

There is a good quote from James Murphy [LCD Soundsystem], he was saying that things like Spotify are such a great platform for such a lot of music because there is so much out there but the population still listens to the same 5% of music. I think, in terms of inspiration, trying to broaden your musical horizons is a good start.

Dean: I think it is changing. When you look at people younger than us, it is different for them already.

That is one of the positive things the internet does – it can speed up things. Messages spread way quicker and people learn from that. So, I am hopeful. We are in an exciting point of history.

What do you think your generation will be remembered for?

Frank: Instagram, haha! And some seriously bad decisions.

Dean: Politically, we are in the most mad time. It seems to be the extreme left against the extreme right whilst all of the working together is gone.

That has to be something to look back on. I think we are at a breaking point and something needs to change.

Frank: This interview is getting deep.

These are important conversations.

Dean: Yeah, it is not all bad. It is easy to blame social media for certain problems, rather than seeing it as a platform where people actually express their problems that we can use to reach out to people. Before social media, Smash Hits would make people feel insecure instead of Instagram. There have always been issues.

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Music Y Dydd Olaf (2015)

by Gwenno

A dive into...

Welsh Music Gethin Morgan’s top six albums to come out of Wales

W

ith it being Dydd Gwyl Dewi (St David’s Day), I would like to share with you some of my favourite albums which have come out of Wales.

Welsh music is thriving right now. There are countless artists from different genres and different backgrounds doing their thing both in the Welsh language and in English. Quite frankly there are too many to name at once, so I’ve had to make the very difficult choice of choosing just six.

But don’t let me hold you back.

Delve deep into this gold mine of great music. From fathers of Welsh rock Geraint Jarman and Meic Stevens, to 80s punk-rockers Datblygu and Yr Anrhefn, right the way through the wave of 90s acts and into current musicians such as Boy Azooga and Gwenno. Thanks to Carmarthenshire native John Cale, you even have us to thank for one quarter of The Velvet Underground.

That’s a lot to take in at once though. So in the meantime, try out these six stellar albums to get a taste for what Wales can offer.

Header image: Jim Roberts

Radiator (1997)

by Super Furry Animals

While Britpop was raging in the mid-90s, Wales was having its own music movement. Heading that, alongside Stereophonics and the Manic Street Preachers, were alternative rockers SFA. Having released nine albums so far, their catalogue is extremely eclectic, but second entry Radiator is my go-to. Fusing catchy hooks with psychedelic riffs and Gruff Rhys’ unique vocals, it is a raw, electric masterpiece that has aged remarkably well. A personal highlight is ‘Hermann Loves Pauline’, inspired by Gruff Rhys flicking through the biographies of famous people while in service stations.

If you catch the Furry bug, then do check out equally impressive debut album Fuzzy Logic, pop-rock gem Hey Venus! and Welsh language classic Mwng... alongside anything else they’ve released.

You may also like: Gruff Rhys, Acid Casuals, Ffa Coffi Pawb

1, 2, Kung Fu! (2018)

by Boy Azooga Another debut album from last year, Boy Azooga have burst onto the scene as the current Welsh band most likely to break into wider British circles. Bringing together a multitude of styles and influences under the general guise of indie-rock, this album is a searingly original piece of work. From simple hooks to incredible spiralling instrumentals, frontman and founder Davey Newington (previously of Houdini Dax who, fun fact, played at my brother’s wedding) has an amazing ability to break the rules of song structure and take tracks down paths you’d never suspect. There are some stunning songs on this record; namely ‘Face Behind Her Cigarette’, ‘Waitin’ and, my goodness, it’s worth it alone for the bass guitar on the superb ‘Taxi to Your Head’.

You may also like: Houdini Dax, Mellt, Pretty Vicious

Like John Cale and Gorky’s, Cate le Bon hails from Carmarthenshire, a breeding ground for talent it seems.

After heading south and conquering Cardiff she fled to LA to record third album Mug Museum. The result was a delightfully idiosyncratic piece of folk rock. With stripped back, layered instrumentals accompanying her hauntingly beautiful voice, Mug Museum is a really charming album. Le Bon described the record as a reaction to her grandmother’s death, while the title was coined by a roommate noting the number of empty mugs in her bedroom. That in itself is a perfect reflection of her ability to be at once trivial on the surface and packing in depth below.

You may also like: Sweet Baboo, H. Hawkline, DRINKS

Barafundle (1997)

by Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci

The Gorky’s were part of the same 90s movement as SFA, but perhaps a more apt comparison would be to call them Wales’ equivalent to The Beatles. High praise indeed, but they are absolutely essential listening for any potential Welsh music fan. Barafundle is their first album, named after a beach in Pembrokeshire, and something about it carries this tranquil essence of the seaside.

It is incredibly melodic, carrying a sort of happy-sad tone which provides you with endless warmth and comfort.

Perfect listening for a hangover or a melancholic mood swing.

You may also like: Euros Childs, El Goodo, Zabrinski

Mug Museum (2013) Serol Serol (2018) Cate Le Bon

by Serol Serol Another example of Welsh artists looking beyond the stars for inspiration, Serol Serol translates to ‘Stellar Stellar’, and the two cousins from Conwy who form the band, Mali Sion and Leusa Rhys, describe their genre as space-pop. It only takes a few minutes to appreciate how perfectly that describes their sound. It has a peaceful, drifting quality to it, as if the sounds themselves are floating freely just above the atmosphere. Having only started in 2017 and releasing their debut, self-titled album last year, Serol Serol are easily one of the most exciting things in Welsh music right now. Second track on the record, ‘Cadwyni’ (Chains), is absolutely magnificent.

You may also like: HMS Morris, Gulp, Omaloma

Like John Cale and Gorky’s, Cate le Bon hails from Carmarthenshire, a breeding ground for talent it seems.

After heading south and conquering Cardiff she fled to LA to record third album Mug Museum. The result was a delightfully idiosyncratic piece of folk rock. With stripped back, layered instrumentals accompanying her hauntingly beautiful voice, Mug Museum is a really charming album. Le Bon described the record as a reaction to her grandmother’s death, while the title was coined by a roommate noting the number of empty mugs in her bedroom. That in itself is a perfect reflection of her ability to be at once trivial on the surface and packing in depth below.

You may also like: Sweet Baboo, H. Hawkline, DRINKS

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Screen Editors Gethin Morgan Izzy Cridland

Let’s talk The F-Word

Hello friends. Awards season is over and we’re now experiencing post-Oscar blues and a bit of a lull in film. Fortunately, Lisa Wehrstedt has been to the Berlin Film Festival and reviews some potential future award winners for us. However, this issue is all about women and film, as Film Unit unveil their female driven March programme. Enjoy!

How did the idea of ‘The F-Word’ programme come about?

Editors’ Picks

Shoplifters

I managed to catch Shoplifters at Film Unit recently. I was so moved by this morally complex Japanese story about the nature of family.

It explores the complexities around an ambiguous family dynamic through themes ranging from crime, poverty and pornography. The characters are sharp and self aware and the film’s wit and charm balances what is a rather tragic tale. - Izzy

King of Comedy

I’ve been making a concerted effort to watch more Scorsese, and this 80s gem completely blew me away. With the Scorsese-De Niro partnership in its prime, having already made Mean Streets, Taxi Driver and Raging Bull, it’s clear that by this point their working relationship was as strong as any director-actor dynamic ever has been. De Niro is sensational as Rupert Pupkin, an aspiring comedian and obsessive admirer of late night talk-show host Jerry Langford (Jerry Lewis). The less I say about the plot the better, but it’s a unique tale which unfolds brilliantly. - Gethin

Film Unit are dedicating their entire March schedule to female-led cinema, with an incredible programme of exclusively female directed films, plus a whole host of other events in celebration of Women’s History Month. We spoke to their Events Coordinator, Meg Hartman, to find out more.

It was always our plan to create an event around International Women’s Day, but I was not content with just a week of female-driven programming. Why not programme an entire month of events and film directed by women in order to address the lack of meaningful representation of women both in front of and behind the camera?

83.7%

of female directors never get to make a second movie

Earlier this year, art activist group Guerrilla Girls revisited a campaign they established twenty years ago.

Flyering at film festivals and putting up protest billboards back in 1999, the group stated that while women only comprised 9% of American senators, even fewer – only 4% were working as directors on the top 100 films of that year.

Today, Hollywood is just as bad!

As senate fills up with more women

(25%), we still see only 4% of the top films directed by women. In twenty years, it seems that very little has changed. The F-Word is part of the ongoing project throughout the film industry for better representation of women.

How did you go about selecting the finest female-directed works to include?

Lots of impassioned discussion and debate! We compiled a list of over sixty new releases and a list of our favourite female-directed classics and then subjected them to our usual selections process, through which films are voted for democratically and fairly.

We’ve ended up with a good variety of films; varying in genre, theme, story, and places of origin.

We could have filled an entire semester with our list of femaledirected films – but there’s always next year.

Why is it so important for Film Unit to do something like this?

We pride ourselves in being a cinema for everyone. If we are a cinema for everyone, it follows that we must be

representative of everyone.

It is important that representations are not tokenistic, but rather meaningful representations of all roles from a diverse background – and this is what we hope we have done with our F-Word programme. This is only the start of it all!

What do you hope to achieve come the end of March?

By the end of March, I’m going to need about three well-earned days in bed! But in all seriousness, we will have screened over twenty films, all directed by women, and will have hosted several incredible events.

Hopefully, we will have encouraged more women and girls to try out skateboarding, roller skating, roller derby, and road cycling through our launch event Women on Wheels (2 March).

We will have had a lovely community dinner and film evening at TV Dinners – our monthly collaboration with Foodhall (4 March) – as well

We pride ourselves as being a cinema for everyone as having a good old boogie with Small Decks at our Marie Antoinette afterparty (6 March).

We will have had some fascinating discussion about the issues raised

by The Rape of Recy Taylor (8 March) as well as issues of representation after our screening of Born in Flames (13 March). We’ll have chatted to Deborah Haywood about her directorial debut (15 March) and spent a day learning about how to break into the industry as a woman, from the girls who are on the top of their game right now (Women in Film Conference, 30 March). It’s going to be an incredible month.

And finally, who is your personal favourite female filmmaker?

It’s a difficult choice but I have to give it to my girl, Agnes Varda. The real don of the French New Wave, Varda has been making films for decades and at the age of ninety

Meg Hartman

shows no signs of stopping.

She is completely devoted to her artform, consistently experimenting with new techniques and media to capture the world - for all its beauty and ugliness - through her own unique vision. She has made some of the most moving, funny, feisty, feminist films in the world of cinema. I cannot recommend her highly enough.

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Screen

Meg’s Top Picks for Film Unit in March

Skate Kitchen

Pin Cushion

Dir: Crystal Moselle (Sat 2 March) A film about finding your place and your chosen family. Friendships forged through skateboarding teach Camille how to be loved, what it means to be heartbroken, and how female friendship is ultimately healing.

Aside from the story, Skate Kitchen is visually beautiful. With New York City as its backdrop, the film showcases skateboarding footage under the golden light of magic

hour, or the neon lights of the NYC party scene.

Born in Flames

Dir: Andrea Arnold (Wed 27 March)

could.

Through its sci-fi approach, the film cleverly confronts political ideologies prevalent at the time of its production and in our lives today.

The Rape of Recy Taylor Dir: Nancy Buirski (Fri 8 March)

The Rape of Recy Taylor is a carefully-told story of a young black woman who had been savagely gang raped by a group of white men. The attack was so brutal and damaging that she would never be able to have another child.

The story delves into the political climate of Alabama and racial problems in the South; exploring how her case is part of a larger issue of systemic oppression and how this intersects with Amwerican

Pin Cushion is the directorial debut f Deborah Haywood, following the story of a slightly unorthodox mother/daughter relationship as they try to adjust to their new lives in a new town.

Starting at a new school, Iona runs into trouble when she befriends the popular girls, whilst her mother, Lynn, struggles to connect within their new community.

Tackling topics such as bullying and complex family relationships

Fish Tank

Dir: Lizzie Borden (Wed 13 March)

After a socialist revolution in a fictional version of America, a new government is introduced which supposedly addresses the issues of marginalised citizens. However, it would seem that this is not quite the case. There are still issues with jobs, gender equality, governmental conflicts and violence. The only way to combat this imbalance is for the women to organise, mobilise, and unite – together taking the revolution further than any man

Other events

Dir: Deborah Haywood (Fri 15 March)

A vivid portrayal of life at society’s margins, Fish Tank is an emotional and utterly engrossing film that explores the pain of teenage isolation. It is not the usual teenage drama that we might expect.

Through a gritty lens of social realism, it tells the largely untold and complicated reality of troubled teenage life.

Sat 2 March Women on Wheels

through a beautiful fantasy-like lens, the story offers a delicate yet powerful look at the lives of those considered to be outside of convention.

Wed 6 March Marie Antoinette Afterparty Fri 8 March The Rape of Recy Taylor Panel Discussion Mon 11 March TV Dinners: Girls on Film @Foodhall Wed 13 March Born in Flames + Representation of Women in Cinema panel discussion Fri 15 March Pin Cushion + Q&A with director Deborah Haywood Wed 20 March Clueless 90s Afterparty

history, without overlooking Taylor as a human being in her own right.

It is by no means an easy or pleasant watch (nor will it be everyone’s cup of tea) but it is an incredibly powerful film that will stay with you.

Sat 23 March Frozen Immersive Family Screening For the full schedule, pick up a Film Unit programme or check their Facebook page.

Images: Movie DB & Wiki Commons

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Screen

Best of Berlinale

The 69th Berlinale International Film Festival took place last month. Forge’s very own Lisa Wehrstedt got the chance to spend four days at the festival. Here are her reviews of the best, the worst and the most disturbing film she saw at this year’s Berlinale.

The Worst Mid90s

Dir: Jonah Hill

The Best

Systemsprenger (System Crasher) Dir: Nora Fingscheidt

Systemsprenger is a German film that tells the story of little 9-yearold Benni, a girl with psychotic episodes caused by infant trauma.

The system that is supposed to protect and nurture her has been continually failing her; but so has Benni’s own estranged mother, whom she longs for ardently.

Benni has experienced all the children’s homes in the area, knows all the carers and has made enemies of all the other kids. She has done well in some situations, but she slips through the cracks of overworked social workers as there is noone who can dedicate to her the attention she so desperately needs.

This astounding first feature by

director Nora Fingscheidt is the most heart-wrenching film I have seen in a long time. The film had me glued to the screen for its entirety and returned me to reality at the end of it completely wrecked. I was in pieces and bawling my eyes out, and so was everyone else at the premiere.

The performances were raw and passionate, especially that of protagonist Helena Zengel, whose desperate screams awoke a primal instinct of protection in the whole audience. This film affected me deeply. Despite knowing it is fiction, you realise this has happened to someone somewhere and I will forever carry Benni in my heart.

The fact that a film is playing at a film festival does not necessarily mean that it will be good. This is the case with Mid90s by Jonah Hill.

I don’t think I ever met a character more obnoxious than 13-year-old Stevie.

Growing up we all had that one kid in our class who smoked, did drugs, drunk alcohol and had sex at an age which was uncomfortably young, even being their peer. And of course, they must have felt extremely cool

Der Goldene Handschuh (The Golden Glove) Dir: Fatih Akin

district of Hamburg in the early 1970s.

To give you a taste of how revolting this story is: Honka chopped the bodies of his victims into pieces which he hid for years under the roof

Winners in Berlin The Golden Bear is the most prestigious award given at Berlinale. This year’s winner was French-Israeli drama Synonyms by Nadav Lapid.

The Jury Grand Prix award goes to the runner up, which this year was By the Grace of God.

The Most Disturbing

A special mention needs to be given to the one film that nauseated all festival attendees, Der Goldene Handschuh (The Golden Glove) by Fatih Akin. This is the story of serial murderer Fritz Honka, who selected his victims from the regulars of the most squalid bar in the St. Pauli

doing so and acted all smug about it. They’re the kind of kids that you reflect on and wonder where exactly they ended up.

Stevie’s story in this film does not evolve much beyond joining a gang of older teenage skaters and becoming the obnoxious type. I did not sympathise with any of the characters or their backgrounds.

The vintage nostalgia elements were both overplayed and, at the same time, were there only to accentuate that “this would hardly ever happen today”... fortunately. I spent the whole 85 minutes of this barely-afeature waiting for it to be over.

of his attic apartment, until they were discovered by the fire service when the apartment below went up in flames. The foulest of murderers, he masked the smell with Little Trees car fresheners.

Although I cannot say I enjoyed this film, it did make me feel things.

The film held the power to evoke feelings so vivid that I think they even managed to make me smell the stench that must have been in that apartment.

I felt sick throughout the film, but I was also genuinely fearing for one of the characters: a young girl that Honka obsessed over. It might have been because I know all too well the feeling of being followed home at night by a creepy looking guy, or it might have been the film’s own merit. Either way, watching this film was a powerful experience that I will hardly forget.

German native Angela Schanelec took home the Silver Bear for Best Director for her film I Was at Home, But.

The Silver Bear awards for both Best Actor and Best Actress both went to cast members of the Chinese film So Long, My Son.

35

Games Games Editors Tom Buckland Luke Baldwin There’s nothing better to settle your anxieties and nerves post-student politics than video games. Trust me, Forge Games are qualified enough to come to this conclusion. Peruse through our repertoire of content and let us transport you to a world where no one has invaded your lectures to ask you to vote and no one has frantically waved flyers in your face, all of that is over now. So celebrate the ending of a wild two weeks by reading about games, you won’t regret it.

Editors’ Picks

Tom - Octopath Traveler

2D Turn-based RPGs are a thing of

the past, and considering we have a piece honouring gaming nostalgia I thought I’d give attention to a game I’ve been playing religiously lately: Octopath Traveler. A game paying homage to 2D RPGs of the past but ensuring that it has a refreshing, modern touch; Octopath Traveler details the adventures of eight different precious protagonists and their adventures, all fuelled by different motives, across the world.

Pick it up if you have a switch.

Luke - Resident Evil 2

Yes, I reviewed this last week. No, I haven’t been playing anything else.

Second semester is hard okay!? You know what else is tough? Trying to run through a zombie infested police station with nothing but a green herb and three bullets for a gun you don’t have, all the while pursued by a seven foot grey thumb in a trench coat whose sole aim is to smush you into a fine paste. But still I play. Why? Because I hate myself.

write for us!

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REVIEW Josh Taylor

The Metro franchise has always thrived from its cult status. A brutish, hardcore single player shooter that, like the occupants of its post-apocalyptic world, has operated more in the dark and the shadows of the FPS genre than some of its main-stream relatives. Metro Exodus is developer 4A Games’ attempt at bringing the franchise into the limelight. With a heavy focus on narrative, the title aims to occupy a dormant space within its genre. Whilst Exodus does deliver a solid and merciless FPS experience, technical issues and narrative shortcomings mean that Metro is still destined for the underground.

Exodus continues the story of franchise protagonist Artyom as he grows tired of battling for survival in Moscow and longs for a life free of death and mutated monsters.

As he and his wife Anna stumble into possession of a train called the Aurora, they embark on a journey that takes them and their comrades cascading around post-apocalyptic Russia.

Surprisingly, their odyssey is filled with beautifully bleak landscapes that are filled with detail. These environments give the player an open world to explore at their own pace, whilst the 4A engine presents them in extremely high visual fidelity. The switch to an open world format is a refreshing one for the Metro franchise, where the linear corridors of previous titles echoed an era long gone for shooters. Whether it be the winterstricken marshes of the Volga river or the derelict and barren Caspian desert, Exodus delivers some of the most impressive visuals of this generation.

Furthermore, the intimate detail on character models and facial animation, coupled with dynamic lighting and shadowing help push the boundaries of graphical quality. It’s even more impressive that it runs at native 4k resolution without any faults on an Xbox One X, regardless that the game is capped at

30 frames per second.

4A have also placed intense focus on the weapon customisation in Exodus, another overwhelming positive for the title. The mechanic harnesses the ingenuity of postapocalyptic science and puts it in the hands of the player. Every weapon can be sculpted into something different in the matter of a few button presses. This allows for dynamic scenarios where the player can adapt on the fly in firefights depending on the situation.

Still, the indelicate and clunky feel to the weapons that has been a staple of the series hasn’t been eradicated, even with the changes.

The ruthlessness of enemies replicates the hardcore FPS experience long term fans have lauded over since Metro 2033. But the gameplay still has its glaring faults; despite their s av a g e n e s s , enemy AI is utterly devoid of intelligence and seem to be oblivious to the concept of protecting themselves. It also doesn’t help that enemy hit boxes aren’t well defined, creating a deeply frustrating experience at times.

The sound design is considerably underwhelming as well. It appears as though some actions don’t have any sound to accompany them and it’s jarring to be thrown into a completely silent quick time event.

On top of this characters constantly talk over each other at the same pitch making each cutscene and dishing out of context an unwelcomed shouting match.

Narratively Metro Exodus disappoints as well. In an era of well-crafted story focussed games the title comes off as shallow and confusing. Characters are one note and their dialogue is so very deeply annoying, it feels at times you are watching a cheap action film directed

by Tommy Wiseau. This is even more disappointing considering the

Whilst Exodus does deliver a solid and merciless FPS experience, technical issues and narrative shortcoming mean that Metro is still destined for the underground

author of the original Metro book, Dmitry Glukhosvky, had a hand in crafting the story. This was a real chance for a deep dive into the wider lore of the Metro world and, whilst there are a few moments of interest, it feels like only the surface was scratched. This is partly because there are no side quests available in the multiple open world environments. Everything separate to the main quest line are just points of interest.

Metro Exodus is a prime example of unrealised potential. A game that offers so much versatility and graphical quality hinders itself in one of the most important aspects of a story focussed shooter, the narrative. Pair this with a handful of technical issues and it feels like the game could have used another coat of polish. It’s a guaranteed hit with existing fans but only time will tell as to whether Metro will hit the mainstream.

Image: 4A Games

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The 1990s

a decade of adventure Robin Wilde

Video games, like literature, is an art form obsessed with its own past. It’s a rare gamer who, when asked for their favourite title, says anything made in the last five years. A retro art style has been pulling double duty, as both a cost-saving measure and nostalgia injection, since the mid-noughties.

There’s no other genre that indulges this collective nostalgia quite like the adventure game Its revived existence in the last decade is itself a form of nostalgia for a genre which, for all intents and purposes, had ceased to exist after the turn of the millennium.

The resurgence has been impressive, with a wide range of games both mainstream and indie recapturing the magic of the old Lucasarts (and to a lesser extent, Sierra) point-and-click empires - even when they update the gameplay to better reflect the times.

But when you’re a fan of the genre you do start to notice trends, and a curious and oft-overlooked pattern is the volume of games which are, for reasons apparently unrelated to the plot, set in the 1990s. Gone Home, an engaging narrative adventure and one of the earlier entries in the often-derided walking simulator genre, is set in 1995. Additionally Kathy Rain, a point-and-click

investigative game from Wadjet Eye Games, is set in the same year.

Other examples include: horroradventure Among the Sleep, starring a toddler assailed by parental-themed night terrors, and The Stanley Parable, which was very well regarded as a branching path adventure, with lots of 90s computers kicking around.

The nostalgia for the 1990s is, if anything, a draw for the current generation of Nineties Kids that makes up a massive cohort of adult gamers

There is a sub-subgenre of these games which are not set in the 1990s but still exude the aesthetic and technological feel of that decade. Life is Strange makes great use of audio tapes in its aesthetic, despite that medium being woefully outdated by the time the game is set in the mid2010s . And Night in the Woods, a game all about the difficulties of letting go of the past, is steeped in love for a 1990s childhood with its video games, bad garage bands, and

retro pizza restaurants.

Love for the 1990s in adventure games in particular is a curious confluence of gameplay practicalities, genre nostalgia and audience-pleasing that works remarkably well. It’s a lot easier to design puzzles around communication, location or lore, when your protagonist isn’t carrying around an internet-connected smartphone at all times, and when it’s possible for a location to be brand-new and unresearchable in advance. Gone Home wouldn’t work as a gradually-unfolding series of revelations about your family if you could just call them on your mobile the moment you got into the house, and Kathy Rain’s titular protagonist couldn’t provide much entertainment out of simply Googling historical records of her relatives.

There’s also an optimistic charm to 1990s fashion, decor and humour that appeals to an audience used to futuristic vistas, gravel-voiced protagonists and unflinching violence - it’s a subtle nod to this era’s gaming heritage, and to the developmental environment which spawned so many great adventure game hits. It can be more or less subtle - Thimbleweed Park is an obvious X Files parody with direct expies of Mulder and Scully as protagonists, so a 1990s setting is the natural choice - but it’s present

in so many that it’s hard to keep count.

The decade-long gap in the development of dedicated adventure games is almost unique to that genre (possibly shared only with the 3D space exploration game) and as such, leaves its development timelocked in the 1990s. The wait was long enough to inculcate a longing among fans for more of what they fondly remember.

Lastly, the nostalgia for the 1990s is, if anything, a draw for the current generation of Nineties Kids that make up a massive cohort of adult gamers. It’s worth remembering that for many Western millenials born between 1980 and 2000, the 1990s is the only decade of their lives during which they’ve known a combination of relative political stability, economic prosperity and social progress. That, coupled with the common tendency to idealise those things we remember positively from childhood, absolutely explains why the setting is so popular, even when it doesn’t quite match up to how we remember it.

Yearning for past stability and known boundaries drives a millennial love for adventure games on both a plot level and a meta-level.

We feel the hurt of the characters in Night in the Woods because we lived similar lives in so many ways, despite their dramatic turns.

We back Thimbleweed Park on

Kickstarter because of our love of its style and developer’s heritage, yes, but also because the setting that was contemporary during the golden age of adventure games is inextricable from the new wave.

There’s also an optimistic charm to 1990s fashion, decor, and humour that appeals to an audience Nostalgia can be a blight on gaming as on all things, but in the case of adventure games, it’s an integral part of a certain warm, fuzzy appeal that the genre still holds for many players. Executed well, it’s an emotional pull that can add to a well-written plot and relatable characters. A love of the 1990s, out of convenience or aesthetics, is driving the new wave of adventure games - and that’s why we love them in return.

Did you know?

In 1996 the first ever analog stick was created and introduced to Nintendo’s N64 controllers. It was followed by Sony Dual Analog Controllers (two analog sticks) and their well-known Sony Dualshock.

37

Games

Representation in gaming: Tom Buckland’s favourite LGBT characters in video games Tiny Tina

“That’s Mushy Snugglebites’ badonkadonk. She’s my main squeeze.

Lady’s got a gut fulla’ dynamite and a booty like POOOW!” Image: Gearbox Software

An unorthodox character, Tiny Tina can be found amongst Pandora’s world of chaos in Borderlands 2.

Players will probably remember this eccentric young lady, who specialises in blowing up anything and everything. She was so adored by fans of the series that she even headlined one of the game’s DLCs: Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon

Soldier 76 Poster girl Tracer springs to mind when we consider LGBTQ representation within Overwatch’s diverse range of characters.

However, Blizzard haven’t stopped there and as of this year they released a new comic, titled “Bastet” which gave an indication of Soldier 76’s

“Young punks... Get off my lawn!”

Image: Blizzard Entertainment

(real name: Jack Morrison) sexual orientation.

Rachel Amber The enigmatic Rachel Amber was nothing but a mystery to be solved

“Who cares if the stars are dead. As long as we can still see them, that means they’re real to us.”

Image: Dontnod Entertainment

in the original Life Is Strange, and it wasn’t until Life Is Strange: Before the Storm that we got to get to know the girl behind the missing posters.

The relationship between Chloe Price and Rachel forms alarmingly fast throughout Before the Storm,

Clementine

“No one who died is anyone’s fault!

We...we all wanted to be together, and it just went bad. But we owe it to them to try to make the best of this!”

Image: Telltale Games

As Telltale’s lasting legacy, Clementine is a character that’s very hard to forget. Four games have followed Clementine’s journey to adulthood in a post-apocalyptic world. It has been a rollercoaster ride that is almost certainly leading everyone on board to devastation.

In The Walking Dead: The Final Season the game begins to probe

Monster Prom

“We were young and unafraid, and ready to start!”

Image: Beautiful Glitch

A small game all about monsters falling in love with other monsters just in time to have a date for the titular Monster Prom, this game is already unique in premise.

When choosing which of the fabulous four of Monster Prom’s glamorous roster of dateable ghoulies to pair off with, the game allows you not only to customise

Keep. Voice acted by Ashly Burch, who plays Aloy in award-winning Horizon Zero Dawn, it’s no surprise that Tiny Tina is an incredible individual.

Players may or may not have noticed Tiny Tina’s immense appreciation for the female characters she’s surrounded by, making fairly raunchy comments towards them (namely Maya). She even boldly asks Maya if the feeling

is mutual. Anthony Burch, one of the writers for Borderlands 2 (and Ashly Burch’s brother) has confirmed several times that Tina is canonically homosexual.

Fan appreciation speaks for itself. It’s refreshing that a likeable character can be homosexual, without there being an unnecessarily self-satisfying level of representation. Tina’s gay, but it’s not her only character trait.

Another of Overwatch’s roster, Ana, speaks to Soldier 76 about their dark and miserable histories and inquires about a man she finds in a picture alongside Soldier 76, called Vincent. The conversation leads to Soldier 76 admitting that Vincent has moved on and married, as “Vincent deserved a happier life than the one I (Soldier 76) could give

as a relationship.

Soldier 76 is such a dynamic character that it’s immensely warming to be able to welcome him into the LGBTQ community.

Subverting the stereotypes of what makes a typical homosexual male, Soldier 76 stands as proof that the LGBTQ community is formed of all shapes and sizes and that

and is scarily raw. The duo dive off a metaphorical cliff with little regard for what’s waiting at the bottom.

Rachel, through the course of

she considers her family and loved ones. Rachel Amber is a lovely representative for the LGBTQ community, but it should be clarified

ideas about Clementine’s romantic emotions. Two characters, Louis or Violet, could be of interest to Clementine: and the best part is that this choice is up to the player.

Even in The Walking Dead: The New Frontier, Clementine can have feelings for another member of the dysfunctional group that you’re leading, meaning that the player has a lot of freedom in exploring Clementine’s sexual orientation.

The romantic scenes that ensue with the player’s choice of Clementine’s potential love interest (who she could also choose not to be romantically involved with) are endearing and natural to watch. Enabling us to customise our Clementine to fit our narrative, Telltale have ensured that people definitely won’t forget about her anytime soon.

your character’s name, but also specify your character’s preferred pronouns. Throughout the game, characters make an unfaltering effort to recognise this preference.

There’s no hesitation or apprehension attached to said pronouns, nor any contention.

Acceptance is unashamedly extant and the game throws even more in the player’s way of choice, by allowing every dateable monster

to be dated regardless of what character you choose to play as.

Miranda, the murder-loving mermaid princess? She’s game.

Damien, the pyromaniacal demon?

He’s down for whatever. Scott the harmless football-loving werewolf doesn’t even need to be asked. The world is the player’s oyster! Or, if we want to stay in theme: the world is the player’s world-devouring kraken.

him.” Ana even describes whatever was between Vincent and Soldier 76

Before the Storm, is plagued with a multitude of problems which make everything that burdens Chloe Price seem insignificant.

The player discovers who Rachel Amber is as she finds out herself, as she comes to terms with who

expectations are ignorant. Don’t judge a book by its cover, folks.

that, despite players’ presumptions, Rachel Amber is not homosexual and has relationships with men that are talked about (but never seen) throughout the two Life is Strange games. Rachel Amber is a bisexual enigma, and that’s awesome.

38 write for us!

Science & Tech Science & Tech Editors Jade Le Marquand Aidan Hughes Tired of being handed a million flyers every time you cross the concourse? Getting sick of ‘elections’ popping up on your predictive text because you’re complaining about it so much? Not to worry, here at Science and Tech we firmly exist as a dictatorship, so we do not acknowledge the concept of elections. Please read on to learn about how social media is potentially putting us in danger and the easy ways to lead a healthy lifestyle. We also present to you Science and Tech’s first ever review!

Oh, and apparently we need to tell you to vote for something.

Aidan’s Pick Hello Internet

YouTube educators Brady Haran (Numberphile, Sixty Symbols, Periodic Videos and more) and CGP Grey shoot the breeze about a variety of tech-related topics including, autonomous vehicles, Black Mirror and Spike Jonze’s Her . There are hundreds of hours of this podcast to keep you busy.

Jade’s Pick The Selfish Gene Richard Dawkins An oldie but most definitely a goldie: The Selfish Gene when read in this revolutionary time of genomic knowledge takes you back to a time before all this; back to a time where people were simply trying to understand what genes were and how they work. The contreversial ideas put forth by Dawkins in this work still hold some credence in today’s biological world. It’s the ideal gateway into his work and and definitely an interesting viewpoint to consider.

press.science@forgetoday.com

How safe are you online?

Amy Forman

Most of us have social media. We all get that little thrill when we get a ‘like’ on our status about the most mundane of events in our lives.

However, for those of us who have watched the new Netflix series You, it has made us look at social media in a completely different way. We are made to question whether we need to tweet about going to McDonald’s, or whether we should be uploading those ‘obligatory’ photos from Fresher’s week showing exactly which halls we live in, or leaving our location viewable on Snapchat allowing the exact building we are in to be identified.

You explores how vulnerable we are to stalking and manipulation online. Guinevere Beck uses social media in much the same way as the rest of us, but this opens the door to Joe Goldberg: a violent, obsessive stalker. He is not an overtly terrifying bookstore manager he is the sort of unremarkable person you might walk past in the street. After she visits his store, he manages to track her down on Instagram, using a photo of her moving into her new apartment. A quick ‘Google Maps’ search allows him to find her exact address. He is then outside her apartment, watching her get dressed, watching her have sex; he is even able to break into her apartment. Her pictures on Instagram consist of her with wealthy, well-connected friends - the sort of posts you would want to appear when applying for jobs and your potential employer does that dreaded Google Search of your name.

Rom-coms and novels teach us that persistence is a romantic virtue – the man pursues the woman and they fall in love and ride off into the sunset. However, this is not ‘normal’; these fantasies normalise obsessive behaviours as a part of courting or a break-up.

A super-sleuth dressed all in black and sneaking around corners is the image conjured to most people’s minds when you think of a “stalker”, however social media is changing what it means to be a stalker. Criminals can now stalk from behind a computer screen – they do not need to be physically presence to gain the required information. Most people are fine with friends and family knowing their whereabouts and personal details, but what about strangers?

As social media has evolved, permission is no longer needed for anyone to access stranger’s profiles - particularly so with Instagram and Twitter, apart from the minority of profiles that are set to private .

Facebook is arguably the safest, in that users generally only interact with people they know; but even with some privacy settings enabled, your hometown, workplace, school and age can be visible. Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter are more dangerous as people tend to use them on the move and this gives instant verification of your location, not only increasing the threat to you out in public, but also alerting potential burglars and stalkers as to when your home might be vacant.

Twitter encourages users to express themselves freely. People tweet about when they are going to work or on the way home, not

realising that they are giving away information about where they are. Twitter added the geofunction in 2009 and it was then that privacy issues started to emerge. All smartphones have geo-tagging functionality built in but the user must specifically give permission for it to access their current GPS location. With over three quarters of users using their mobile devices to access Twitter and other applications, the geolocation settings on smartphones are easily turned on then forgotten about, which gives rise to a lot of information leakage and it is this automated service that gives the

Criminals can now stalk from behind a computer screen

most cause for concern regarding the disclosure of private information.

It has even been suggested that you can be located within a 10 kilometre radius, even when your location services are turned off, solely via the content of your posts. When setting up their profiles, users are encouraged to enter information such as where they were born, went to school, work and so forth, enabling stalkers to gather enough information to steal your identity: statistically it has been identified that teenagers are more likely than adults to include their real age (50%),

their photo (62%), their hometown (41%), the name of their school (45%), videos of themselves (14%), their phone number (14%) and their exact location (9%). Ironically, Jeong and Coyle (2014) found that young people were more concerned about their parents and teachers finding out personal information about them online than about strangers.

Social media can also be utilised to gain access to credit card and bank details. A Twitter search for ‘credit card’ brought up 151 million credit card details in a 2014 study, and the majority gave away the 16 digit number across the front, expiry date and CVC number on the back.

Anecdotal observations suggest that many who use multiple social media sites actually use the same avatar and same username, making them much easier to identify and thus gather more information from their other social media profiles.

There is a proliferation of wellknown celebrity stalking cases reported in the papers. Many celebrities lack professional security, but even those who do have it often fall victim to stalking.

In 2015, Twitter accounts using the names Alex Mercer and Ralph Alexander were used by an individual to send direct threats to Rihanna.

The stalker posted photos outside her home with the caption “Should of [sic] killed @rihanna a minute back I would be good right now”.

Just typing “Rihanna’s House” in on Instagram brings up numerous photos of her home, including its location.

However, it is not only celebrities that are exposed. There is a wealth of literature emerging which

Thanks to social media, stalking has become much easier. Image: Patrik Nygren

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Science & Tech

shows an ever-increasing trend in stalking. In the UK, harassment became a criminal offence in 1997 and stalking was added in 2012. In 2017, a study of 350 homicides by the University of Gloucestershire showed that the majority of killers stalk their victims on social media before murdering them. Stalking was present in 94% of the cases and surveillance behaviours in 63%.

Lorna Smith was 45 when she was murdered by Clifford Mills, who had set up a Facebook profile and stalked her, finding out her phone number and bombarding her with texts and calls prior to the murder. The Suzy Lamplugh Trust reports 1.1 million people in the UK are stalked each year.

Welter (2013) found that 81% of internet crimes originate from social media sites and 39% of social media users have been victims of hacking.

Welter also found that 78% of burglars had used Facebook, Twitter or Google Street View to select

Science and you: the easy way to be healthy

W

e all know the basics: eat healthily and exercise.

However, knowing the science behind these ideas and having a better understanding of the complex nature of healthy living is the only means by which to achieve peak health. As a general rule, working with science is more effective than trying to bypass it with fad trends or celebrity recommendations. Understanding our body (and its needs) allows us to cater for it fully.

Food has perhaps the most obvious impact on health. With the average individual following 55 diets within their lifetime, the modern ideal of healthiness is indubitably eclipsed by the food habits. Over half of us skip breakfast every day,

victims. 54% of burglars were alerted to empty homes because people posted their whereabouts and their statuses on these sites. 50% of child sex offenders admitted obtaining information about the victim from their social networking profile.

Author Jennifer Perry says that social networks need to do much more to protect potential victims and it is going to have to be up to the public to be aware of the dangers, but all the while social networks are not taking action. She says their commercial success depends on encouraging users to exchange information which compromises their privacy and security - they make more money the more data they expose. In 2011, a number of high-profile Twitter accounts were hacked and false information was spread.

Twitter announced in response that it is the user’s responsibility to secure their passwords and select

HTTPS settings. Since then, they have enabled a setting to alert when someone tries to access your account from the other side of the world. But there is still much more to be done.

Twitter does have an extensive privacy policy which new users must agree to, that says the default profiles are public. It also details how information is used through the website and third parties to identify the user and the amount accessible; it also details that how it is used can be determined, to an

extent, by the user in the privacy settings. Twitter says that having location services on allows users to see more relevant content like local trends and stories. In the location support page, there are detailed instructions on how to use this more effectively to get the best results.

However, it is highly probable that people do not read this. In fact it is reported that 66% of Facebook users do not know anything about their privacy settings. Despite this, Twitter still markets location services as “a useful way to stay connected to others.”

Perry says it is safer for us to assume that everything you do or say online - all your emails, contacts, photos and instant messages, as well as passwords can be seen. Social media enables unprecedented access to photos, whereabouts and personal history. It is important not to victim-blame; anyone

should be able to upload whatever information they want without the threat of stalking and harassment.

The aforementioned studies highlight the importance of online privacy and security, and the need for users to be more cautious about what they share. Abstaining from social media is not an option for many people. But the risks involved can be reduced by promoting the safety recommendations, especially to young people. There are, however, issues of crime prevention and public safety which need to be considered at the level of public policy and social network providers should take a more active role to improve safety for their users. Whether online ‘stalking’ behaviour is prompted by curiosity or suspicion, the bottom line is that it is a want, not a need for information.

Social Media Image: howtostartablogonline.net Zuckerberg Image: pngimg.com

Eve Thomas discusses some of science’s simplest ways to keep yourself healthy demonstrating that we are going about things all wrong. A healthy diet begins with the biggest meal of the day, and progressively works itself down to a small dinner via a moderate lunch. According to this logic, those of us congratulating ourselves on remembering to grab a cereal bar to start the day ought instead to be shifting our morning priorities to incorporate a mega-breakfast. The reason why?

A large breakfast minimises the desire to snack and kickstarts our metabolism for the day.

The danger behind snacking comes from the effects of consuming fewer calories often: Dr Hana Kahleova’s research suggested that maintaining a healthy diet consists of sticking to three meals, without unhealthy snacks, starting with the largest to keep us away from the snack cupboard.

The second subject most often associated with health is physical activity. It is a well-established fact

that physical movement improves health. A minimum of 30 active minutes a day can reduce the risk of a heart attack, lower blood cholesterol and blood pressure, reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes as well as some cancers, all whilst energising the body. Additionally, activity builds muscle, which leads to increased metabolism and, ultimately, the justification to eat more food (always a plus!).

As well as having obvious physical benefits, exercise has also been shown to have a positive impact on mental health.

The release of endorphins and serotonin during and after exercise gives an immediate feeling of happiness and achievement, coupled with reductions of stress hormones. Additionally, a number of studies have even shown that exercise helps combat depression, feelings of isolation and loneliness either through group exercise, or by encouraging us to get out of the house.

A perhaps undervalued contributor to health is sleep.

The average individual gets approximately six hours of sleep per night, well below the recommended amount. Interestingly, we sleep in 90 minute cycles, meaning that the ideal of eight hours of sleep a night is actually misinformed. Waking up after eight hours interrupts a natural cycle and therefore results in lethargy, whereas sleeping for seven and a half or nine hours leaves us feeling energised and sets up a healthy mentality for approaching the day ahead.

Most people have experienced the lassitude of sleep deprivation, which leaves us feeling exhausted by simple activities and incapable of concentration. However, it actually has more serious health implications. Some of these are physical, such as an increased risk of diabetes, high blood pressure and a tendency to gain weight, whilst others relate to damaged mental health, such as increased risk of

depression.

Maintaining a regular sleeping pattern is crucial for long term health. Irregular sleep routines can damage your ability to sleep healthily later in life, sometimes causing insomnia or other sleeping conditions.

This is because disturbance conflicts with the circadian rhythm (the body clock). At night, we experience a heightening in melatonin production, making us feel sleepy, but if we deny this for long enough the circadian rhythm becomes confused, potentially leading to long-term, chronic sleep difficulties.

So, according to science, we need to adjust our diet to start big and work down, stay active for at least thirty minutes a day, and develop a regular sleep schedule which conforms to our circadian rhythm.

Ultimately it’s about listening to our bodies and developing a lifestyle which keeps us physically and mentally healthy.

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Samsung showcase a new fleet of smart devices Luke Baldwin

Samsung’s Unpacked event in San Francisco offered much more than just announcements of a new flagship phone. The Korean tech giant showcased several new devices, the most notable being the world’s first foldable smartphone.

Despite an incredibly uninspiring name, the Samsung Fold will hopefully be a leap forward for a market that has become flooded and stagnated in recent years.

Samsung Galaxy S10+ in Prism Green

Featuring a tablet-esque 7.3 inch “Infinity Flex” AMOLED display, the Fold can be - you guessed it - folded in half to operate as an ordinary smartphone.

“Today, Samsung is writing the next chapter in mobile innovation by changing what’s possible in a smartphone” said head of Samsung’s IT and mobile communication DJ Koh. But innovation doesn’t come cheap, with the Fold due to retail at around £1,500 when it hits shelves in April of this year. It’ll be interesting to see how rival Huawei respond, as they are expected to debut their own foldable phone at their conference in Barcelona next weekend.

Sharing the spotlight was, of course, the latest in Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S range: the S10. The phone comes in the standard variant as well as the anticipated souped-up + versions. Perhaps more exciting is the announcement of a third model, the S10e. Missing out on some of the new features, the S10e hopes to bridge the gap between Samsung’s A and S range, providing an entry level device for those wanting the best on a budget.

One of the features the S10e will miss out on is the ground-breaking triple rear camera, which includes an ultra-wide and telephoto lens,

meaning photos can range from super detailed close-ups to huge landscapes and group selfies.

Another new addition is the ultrasonic fingerprint which is built into the actual screen. This handy bit of kit is able to model a 3D image of the user’s fingerprint, making it not only more secure than conventional smartphone fingerprint scanners, but also quicker and more flexible to use.

One feature that many Samsung users will be happy to hear about is the inclusion of wireless power sharing, which effectively turns your S10 into a wireless charger. Better still, unlike Huawei’s equivalent, power sharing is not restricted to products by the same manufacturer, meaning almost all devices capable of wireless charging can be charged by the S10.

The Galaxy Buds can be charged on the new line of phones.

The all-new Samsung Fold. Images: Samsung Probably the most striking design aspect of the S10 and S10+ has to be how they responded to the iPhone X’s notorious notch controversy.

Rather than bringing the camera down and impeding precious screen size, the camera sits in the corner of the screen like a pinhole, resulting in a massive 93.4% screen to body ratio.

Retail prices range from £699 for the S10e all the way up to a whopping £1,399 for the 1TB S10+.

Other than having specs that would give a military fighter jet a run for its money, this top model also features a chic ceramic body rather than the classic Galaxy Gorilla glass. Efficient and stylish.

Other devices on show were the ultra-thin S5e tablet (like its “e” phone equivalent, boasting premium quality without the matching price tag), as well as several new additions to their wearable range. This consists

REVIEW

Brian Cox Live Robin Wilde

Regular listeners to the Infinite Monkey Cage will be familiar with the antics of physicist Brian Cox and comedian Robin Ince, whose Radio 4 show has been filling our ears with mildly diverting science discussion for the past decade.

Universal took them to the stage in Sheffield for a live show with a slightly different format - leaning slightly harder into the science for a discussion including: relativity, the nature of spacetime, a brief history of the earth’s formation and life on earth, through to an explanation

of black holes, entropy and the eventual heat death of the universe.

It’s not always cheery stuff, but Cox still has a knack for explaining complex concepts in an accessible way and without excess maths. It’s a little more in depth than the TV documentaries (possibly owing to the price of admission which at £45, filters out the casuals) and makes great use of impressive graphics and elaborate staging.

Ince brings the show to life in between the science sections with engaging comedy bits, as well as handling the audience interaction; he acts as a perfect cipher for the kind of middle-class dad audience to

which the show appeals.

On consulting an actual physicist, it seems the show won’t help you get a job at CERN (if it used the level of maths necessary to really understand the concepts, the audience would fall asleep) but for those concerned with the majesty of science more than its less sparkling application, you could certainly do a lot worse.

Whether Universal is quite worth the money for those who aren’t loyal fans is debatable - it’s a short show, barely over two hours. Anyone with more than a passing familiarity with physics won’t find it too challenging, but it’s fun nevertheless.

Image: Bob Lee

mainly of the sporty smart watch Galaxy Watch Active, the fancy fakeFitbit, Galaxy Fit and the bluetooth headphones Apple Airp…I mean Galaxy Buds.

Can Samsung honestly “DoWhatYouCant”? With Apple in a rare slump, and fierce competitors from China hoping to capitalise, it’s crucial that Samsung hits the ground running with their new products.

Although Unpacked showed a lot of promise, only time will tell if this potential will be truly fulfilled.

41 write for us!

Sport Thoughts

press.sport@forgetoday.com

@ForgeSport

Forge_Sport

Spain’s La Liga is Europe’s most fascinating and competitive top flight Alex Brotherton

With Manchester City, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur some way ahead at the top of the table, an almost foregone conclusion of a relegation fight and a lot of mediocrity in between, is the Premier League really the best in Europe?

Spain is the setting of technical football, shock results and a seven-team relegation scrap

This title should belong to Spain’s Primera Division, the setting of technical football, shock results and a seven-team relegation scrap.

While Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid are realistically the only teams capable of winning the

title, unlike in England, competition is fierce throughout the Primera.

The battle for European football is set to go to the wire: Sevilla currently sit in fourth (the final Champions League spot) with 37 points after 24 games. Getafe and Alavés are hot on their heels with 36 points, as are Sociedad with 34, Betis on 33 and Valencia on 32.

At the bottom a mere six points separates 19th placed Rayo Vallecano (23) and 12th placed Leganés (29), with the clubs inbetween switching positions every week. Amongst them are European

regulars Villarreal, Athletic Bilbao and Celta Vigo, who have paid the price for complacency.

One fascinating narrative is that of league debutants Huesca, who after one win in 21 found themselves 11 points from safety. But with three wins in 2019 and now a six-point deficit, the historically lower league club has a shot at the great escape.

The wealth gap between clubs, magnified by uneven TV money distribution, makes Alavés and Getafe’s rise to the Europa League places refreshing. Only four teams in the division have smaller wages.

Neither has fluked their way there either; only Atletico and Valencia have conceded fewer goals than Getafe this term, who have 36-year-old journeyman Jorge Molina banging in the goals. Alavés’ explosive start to the campaign saw them win six of their opening ten games, including a 1-0 toppling of Real Madrid.

Tactical innovation has been a theme this year, with Pablo Machin introducing three at the back at Sevilla and Quique Setién attempting to emulate tiki-taka at Betis.

While an inconsistent Real Madrid

have suffered shock defeats, their 18-year-old winger Vinicius Junior is an emerging talent destined for Galácticos stardom.

Of course, in Catalonia, Messi continues to prove he isn’t human; he surpassed the 400-goal mark to become La Liga’s all-time record goal scorer, and this campaign has netted 22 times.

So, if you don’t fancy Cardiff vs Watford on a Friday, or if you’re bored during the Saturday 3pm blackout, pay for Eleven Sports and stick La Liga on. You might just enjoy it.

Barcelona’s Camp Nou. Image: Johannes Falke, Wikicommons

Bruce is the man to get the Owls flying again Ben Warner

Image: Adam May

To say it’s been a tough couple of years for Sheffield Wednesday would be an understatement, with transfer embargos, poor signings and having to watch t’other lot from across the city chase promotion. But with Steve Bruce now at the helm, it feels like things are finally turning round for the Owls.

Although a popular owner, Dejphon Chansiri’s previous managerial appointments – Carlos Carvalhal, who worked for a while, and Jos Luhukay, who never really got going – left a lot of Wednesday fans scratching their heads, but by giving the job to Bruce, it seems like he is listening to the support again.

Sure, the situation is still far from perfect, and the start of his time in charge has not been barnstorming – a last-minute win at rock-bottom

Ipswich followed by three draws –

but it’s much better than the first half of the season, and it’s a solidity that Wednesday have been missing.

Three clean sheets in Bruce’s first three games is also a mightily impressive achievement for a team which had kept five all season before he came in.

At this point, it’s hard to get excited about the rest of the season as it’s very unlikely Wednesday will accomplish anything in the closing months, but that’s not what matters. Fans are looking forward to what the future might bring, and Bruce – an experienced and competent manager – is the man to do it. Carvalhal might’ve given Wednesday fans their best season in recent memory with that run to the play-off final in 2015/16, but Bruce is the man who could take them one step further, and get them back into the Premier League. It’s been a long

time coming.

Wednesday have been hamstrung somewhat by their financial woes – frivolous spending on players who weren’t needed, or are on huge contracts, left them facing a transfer embargo last summer, which was only lifted in the days before the window closed. They could face another one this year, but regardless, a large number of big contracts are up this summer, and there should be a big overhaul of players, allowing Bruce to rebuild the squad in his image.

The new boss has won more promotions to the Premier League than any other manager, and if he’s given time to rebuild, and the financial support that Luhukay wasn’t afforded, it’s easy to dream that Wednesday could be back where they belong, amongst the giants of English football in the top-flight.

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press.sport@forgetoday.com

Sheffield United look to continue play-off aspirations with trip to Hillsborough on derby day Adam May

Sheffield United will be hoping to strengthen their case for an automatic promotion spot when they travel to Hillsborough in Monday’s Sheffield Derby (4 March, 7:45pm KO).

The Blades secured a remarkable 4-2 win at Sheffield Wednesday last season, but they will face a much more formidable side this time around following the appointment of Steve Bruce.

The ex-Blades boss has steadied the ship at S6 after taking over at the start of the month, resulting in a seven match unbeaten run in the Championship.

A Steven Fletcher double saw Wednesday edge past Brentford on Tuesday night, with Bruce claiming it was the best performance he’s seen since he’s been at the club.

“Some of the stuff we played and the way we worked was terrific,” he said.

“I can’t fault them for their effort and endeavour. They’re working extremely hard and I can’t ask for more.

‘They’re working hard and I can’t ask for anything more.’

Steve Bruce

“We could have a really good end to the season. We’ve got a huge game (the Sheffield derby) to look forward to next Monday.”

United, on the other hand, have maintained their impressive form despite injury threatening to unravel their tight-knit squad.

Injuries to Jack O’Connell - who was forced to end a monumental

run of 106 consecutive starts and George Baldock twisted Chris Wilder’s arm into ditching his tried and tested system of three at the back.

His men have appeared to step-up, though, and recorded an impressive victory over West Brom thanks to Kieran Dowell’s headed effort in the first-half.

Both sides have strengthened since the 0-0 stalemate at Bramall Lane in November, too.

David McGoldrick - who saw his spot-kick saved in the contest has Gary Madine and Scott Hogan vying for his place, with Billy Sharp smashing records across the board and meriting United’s armband.

and Achraf Lazaar have added an extra dimension to the Owls’ attack, giving them a much needed zip to their play that was arguably lacking under their old boss.

They’ll be sweating on the fitness of striker Lucas Joao, however, with the joint top-scorer missing training at the start of the week.

Bruce told the Star: “Lucas could not train on Monday. He has not been comfortable with it (his knee).

He is sore. He is touch and go for Monday. We are hoping for the best.

“If you are not right, it doesn’t matter how good a player you are.

“It is always difficult if you are not 100 percent.”

Bruce is starting to stamp his own authority on a Wednesday side that were hovering precariously above the drop-zone following Jos Luhukay’s dismissal before the turn of the year.

Wolves defender Dominic Iorfa and Newcastle’s Rolando Aarons

Image: Adam May

Roll up your sleeves because This Girl Can Adam May

Image: Dan West

While there have been improvements made in women’s sport over recent years, there is still a long way to go.

In 2018, a study by Women in Sport found that around 1.5 million more men play sport than women each week, and just eight per cent of girls are meeting recommended exercise guidelines.

Couple this with 40% of women in the sports industry facing gender discrimination and it is evident that the disparity still exists and cannot be brushed over.

This Girl Can week, which runs from 2-10 March, hopes to tackle gender inequality while championing female sport.

Through putting on a host of events and inclusive sport sessions

with This Girl Can t-shirt giveaways, the week aims to raise the profile and engagement of female participation in sport as well as highlighting the inequalities that still exist in the industry.

1.5 million more men play sport than women each week, says Women in Sport study

The Students’ Union hopes to challenge stereotypes and celebrate women who represent Sheffield University through all types of

sporting participation, regardless of what level you are or if you have never played sport before.

The This Girl Can programme has a whole range of different opportunities to engage in, ranging from Social Sport and Club Sport sessions, a Women on Wheels Day, Women in Sport panel discussions, films and debating events as well as a special #ThisGirlCan ROAR, all with a focus on encouraging and empowering women in sport.

Earlier this year, Sheffield Students’ Union Sports Officer Sarah Morse and Welfare Officer Katharine Swindells collaborated with Sport Sheffield to create weekly womenonly gym sessions at Goodwin Sports Centre every Sunday between the hours of 6-7pm.

A full list of the timetable can be found over on Twitter @ForgeSport and on forgetoday.com/sport.

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Captain’s corner

Head of Sport Adam May

This week on Captain’s Corner Dan Pitchforth takes us through the Sub Aqua club here at the University of Sheffield Josh Taylor

JT: Describe what sub-aqua is for us.

DP: Sub-aqua, or scuba diving, is an underwater sport involving the use of an air cylinder, regulator, mask and fins. It’s a relaxing noncompetitive sport with a focus on enjoying your time underwater, spotting wildlife and exploring wrecks.

JT: Are there a wide range of skill levels?

DP: There’s a big focus on training and development both for beginners taking up the sport for the first time and getting comfortable in the water and experienced divers progressing their skills.

JT: How did you get into it?

DP: Before uni I was a keen swimmer and enjoyed a lot of water sports including fin swimming and underwater hockey. I had always wanted to have a go at diving but had struggled to find opportunities.

I had no equipment and had no qualifications to try go diving on my own. The uni sub-aqua club let me join as a beginner and borrow equipment to get started.

JT: Is there any element of competition? If so do you compete in BUCS? DP: No, there’s no competitive side to sub-aqua. The sport is done at a steady relaxing pace with a focus on taking in the sights. There’re no goals to be scored, no points to be won or any finish lines to be crossed.

JT: What is the society like?

DP: The society has a big mix of diving levels from beginners having taken up the sport for the first time to advanced divers with 20+ years’ experience. The club is very welcoming and friendly, our members come from a wide range of nationalities and backgrounds.

JT: What type of equipment do you use?

DP: Scuba diving has a lot of equipment that may be daunting to use at first and would be very expensive to buy for yourself.

Fortunately, the club has a supply of high quality kit to borrow including

regulators, buoyancy wings and tanks. The main kit cost for a student would be buying your own dry suit, which is around £400-£500.

JT: How can people get involved?

DP: The intake for the year is in September, with the ‘Give it a Go’ try dives being a great chance to see if the sport is for you. The September intake is the only chance for the year unfortunately, but this is to allow all beginner divers to progress together. We make sure that nobody gets left behind in training and wouldn’t want someone to join part way through term and feel excluded.

Sheffield’s sporting credentials given further boost thanks to BUCS’ trust in city Patrick Burke

[Continued from back page] ...represents a major boost to the prestige of the city to be trusted to host this event for what will be the 13th consecutive year by 2022.

Peaty was one of more than 6,000 participants in this year’s edition, and it makes Sheffield a real central hub for bringing together students from across the country in the interests of competitive university sport.

Speaking to the BUCS website, BUCS Chief Executive Officer Vince Mayne said: “For us we’re coming home to a really safe pair of hands that helps us to deliver an incredible event for 6,000 students year on year – we’re really happy that we’ll be coming to Sheffield for the next three years.

“Sheffield has a range of facilities and existing partnerships for us, which means we can offer what we want in terms of the sport

programme, but we know that the quality of venue is something that really excites the students as well.”

‘The quality of the venues really exictes the students’ Vince Maybem BUCS CEO

Also speaking to the BUCS website, Councillor Mary Lea, Sheffield City Council’s cabinet member for culture, parks and sport, commented: “This announcement is further evidence of Sheffield’s enviable sporting credentials.

This event is always a highlight in our sporting calendar and we are delighted to support it once more.”

Image:Dan West

Hello!

Welcome to another issue of Forge Press.

You can just about feel the buzz of Varsity starting to hum around the university now that elections are over and done with congratulations to everyone who ran for roles.

Before our full attention turns to what should prove to be an epic week or so of sport, we celebrate the fact Sheffield has been confirmed as BUCS Nationals hosts until 2022.

It puts our city at the pinnacle of the university sporting scene and our friends over at Forge Radio did a great job covering a busy weekend at both EIS and Ponds Forge.

Elsewhere in this issue, we preview the Sheffield derby with Sheffield United vying for the automatic promotion places while ex-Blades boss Steve Bruce has appeared to steady Sheffield Wednesday’s sinking ship.

This Girl Can week gets underway this weekend and I highly encourage you to take a look at the timetable on our Twitter and get involved. Championing women’s sport is something our university is proud of, and it’s important we recognise the disparity between male and female sports by encouraging greater accessibility and participation.

Enjoy the issue and take care of yourselves.

Cheers!

44

Sport

write for us!

press.sport@forgetoday.com

@ForgeSport

Forge_Sport

Image: Dan West

Sheffield to host BUCS Nationals until 2022 Patrick Burke

Sheffield received a major boost in the world of university sport as it was recently announced that it is to host the annual BUCS Nationals for a further three years. The Steel City has been home to this prestigious event since 2010, which features

eight different sports ranging from judo to rifle, and climbing to badminton.

It takes place across the whole weekend at a variety of high-quality sporting venues throughout the region, including Ponds Forge International Sports Centre for the long course swimming and karate events, and the English Institute of

Sport (EIS) for indoor athletics.

The most recent edition took place on the weekend of 15 February, with the University of Sheffield enjoying notable success in the indoor athletics as Dominic Brown claimed gold in the men’s 1500m, as well as scooping two golds and a bronze in climbing. Judo yielded a gold and a silver, fencing

produced a silver and swimming saw the Black and Golds take a silver and a bronze, both courtesy of Amber Keegan.

With the sporting bonanza featuring competitors such as Olympic five-time world champion and 12-time European champion swimmer Adam Peaty, it ...

CONTINUED ON p43

su officer elections 2019

38 candidates 8 winners

how

alternative vote works Su Officers are voted into position by the students via an alternative vote system.

Voters will select candidates in order of preference.

Candidates with the fewest first preference votes are eliminated, whereupon second preference votes are redistributed.

This continues until there is a final majority for one candidate in a position.

This stops candidates with the largest percentage of first preference votes from winning, despite a majority of voters having not initially voted for them!

r!

winne

50%

The top 4 candidates per polling for officer position will be displayed to illustrate the later elimination stages and performance of the top candidates.

president

Ashley Routh Gabe Milne Emily Doyland Jake Verity

Jake verity TOTAL VOTES CAST 5,071

role summary The President is the figurehead of our SU. They...

Lead and oversee the work of the SU Officer Team Ensures the SU is valued by its members as an effective, responsive and accountable organisation Chair the Trustee Board, Student Executive Committee and Staffing Committee.

Sit on University Council and Senate as well as a number of other University committees.

NUMBER OF CANDIDATES 4

I will fight for you and do everything I possibly can to make sure your Students’ Union the best in the world

Y

our new Students’ Union President is Jake Verity, who finished with 2,261 votes, 277 votes more than runner-up Emily Doyland.

The position received the highest voter turnout with over 5000 votes, and an increase on last year.

Reacting to his win, Jake said: “I ran for this position because I believe in change and a Students’ Union that represents your interests, and I will fight for you and do everything I possibly can to make sure your Students’ Union the best in the world.

“I think the SU President role is absolutely critical. Leadership is so important and all the other officers are absolutely fantastic and everybody elected tonight will do an absolutely unbelievable job – I can’t wait to get working with them.”

He said of his three competitors: “This year’s presidential race has been unbelievable. I must say

I’ve run against some of the best candidates I have ever met in my entire life.”

Jake’s campaign faced an initial setback when his original campaign video had to be taken down and re-edited because it appeared to be endorsed by a society. However, supported by a strong team, Jake led a vocal campaign including a music video parodying Ariana Grande’s ‘thank u, next’.

A key target of Jake’s presidency is to create a SU-fronted musical festival that promotes unestablished artists. He said: “I believe the student-led music festival is one of the reasons many people voted for me and I can’t wait to deliver it to everybody.”

Another key policy was his pledge to improve student access to transport. He places to fight for £1 bus fares and introduce student tram fares.

By Kate Procter

campaign summary - Released a music campaign video parodying Ariana Grande’s ‘thank u, next’ - Decided not to flyer as argued they are not sustainable and said they shouldn’t be used in future campaigning - Plans to create a SU-fronted musical festival that promotes unestablished artists - Will fight for £1 bus fares and introduce student tram fares - Build an internship networking site to enable students to forge career connections - Establish a mental health committee - Create an SU app with features including Pop Tarts rewards, Q&A forums with SU officers, mobile U-cards

activities

TOTAL VOTES CAST 4,874 NUMBER OF CANDIDATES 11

Abhi Kongari Bhumi Jethnani Bethan Jones Martha Daisy Evans

campaign summary - Released a music campaign video parodying Spice Girls’ ‘Stop’ - Emblazoned her daisy logo around most of the Students’ Union - Plans to improve society showcasing through a dedicated showcase week; improve iSheffield app promotions and calendar; and create a societies’ SU night - Ensure Wednesday afternoons are kept free for society-based activities - Improve society storage, create shared equipment register and room booking timetable

I want to improve things in a feasible but ambitious way rather than going about changing everything

role summary Oversees the provision of student activities and the Students’ Union’s societies.

Works to increase the number of students engaged in societies, activities and volunteering projects.

Works with the University to ensure recognition of the contribution students make through activities and the importance of societies and volunteering as part of the student experience at Sheffield.

M

artha Daisy Evans is your new Activities Officer, finishing with healthy majority over the other candidates and 700 more votes than the second runner-up, Bethan Jones, in the final stage.

Reacting to her victory, Martha said: “I feel completely astonished. I’m so grateful to my wonderful team.”

She won the most contested role of the night, with 11 candidates running for the position despite an email having been sent out the day before nominations closed urging people to run as no candidate had put themselves forward for the role.

Martha capitalised on her middle name, Daisy, to make a memorable and professional campaign under the slogan ‘Don’t be crazy, vote Martha Daisy’ and emblazoned her daisy logo around most of the Student’s Union.

Well known in the university’s performing arts community, she notably enlisted the support of friends to create a music campaign video

MARTHA DAISY EVANS

parodying Spice Girls’ ‘Stop’.

She said: “My manifesto really centred around increasing opportunities, but also increasing efficiency and organisation “I want to improve things in a feasible but ambitious way rather than going about changing everything.”

Martha’s campaign placed a strong focus on inclusions, including mandatory committee mental health, LGBT+ and disability awareness training. She also aims to ensure Wednesday afternoons are kept free for society-based activities.

She plans to improve society showcasing, such as by creating a dedicated showcase week. In an interview with Forge after her win, she said: “We have the Freshers’ and Refreshers’ week which I think are great, but they are for recruitment, whereas the showcase week would give our societies the chance to show off what they do.”

By Kate Procter

TOTAL VOTES CAST 4,418 NUMBER OF CANDIDATES 2

RON Jordan Weir Harry Carling

development

role summary Represents students’ commercial interests and oversees budgets and expenditure.

Ensures Students’ Union services are relevant and responsive to Student needs.

Has key oversight over the Students’ Union’s commercial activity and communications.

Chairs the Students’ Union’s Finance Committee.

Sits on University Finance Committee, Senate Budget Committee and University Council.

H

arry Carling is your new SU Development Officer, comfortably beating his rival Jordan Weir with nearly double the number of votes.

Running with the excellent slogan ‘Be a Darling Vote for Carling’, Harry’s campaign was based around sustainability and focused on making our University and Students’ Union more environmentally friendly.

His policies include reducing

the amount of plastic sold in the Students’ Union, and expanding the Zero Waste shop. His manifesto was in fact fairly similar to his opponent Jordan’s, which resulted in an unusually amicable debate in which their main disagreement was about the best salad dressing at New Leaf.

However, Harry was safely ahead of Jordan in the final results, achieving a fantastic 2908 votes to Jordan’s 1303. On stage, he seemed in disbelief at having

won, thanking all members of his campaign team and his predecessors Megan McGrath and Mel Kee. He expressed his desire to follow in their footsteps while also leaving a legacy of his own. Along these lines, he hopes to continue Mel’s #ReusableRevolution campaign, encouraging the use of reusable coffee cups on campus.

Heartwarmingly, Harry also repeatedly praised his rival Jordan, describing him as ‘just such a lovely guy, with great policies’, and

mentioned his intention to look into the other candidate’s plan to install more water fountains on campus. He added that he feels ‘very tired and overwhelmed’.

Harry said ‘I’ve been interested in this role since first year, so this is a bit of a dream come true, really,’ and we hope to see him bring this enthusiasm into the role next year.

By Rebecca Lally

harry carling campaign summary - Spoke about working with the University to reduce the amount of plastic sold in the SU, specifically replacing the plastic containers in New Leaf with cardboard ones - Wanted to distribute a helpful pamphlet on how to achieve a healthy, sustainable diet on a student budget - Suggested enlarging the Zero Waste shop in the Students’ Union - Suggested developing and expanding the volunteering schemes available to students to strengthen relations between students and the local community - Spoke about creating sustainability loyalty schemes for Union outlets in order to promote responsible purchasing among customers - Wanted to introduce Digital UCards to be accessed through the iSheffield app

I’ve been interested in this role since first year, so this is a bit of a dream come true, really

International The Returning Officers for the 2019 Officer Elections have not been able to return the International Student Officer election.

This is due to an ongoing issue concerning the conduct of this election.

The announcement of this election is therefore regrettably deferred pending the resolution of this issue.

-Returning Officer statement

RON Annie Timmis Mem Swanborough Brittany Bowles

role summary

sports

TOTAL VOTES CAST 4,258 NUMBER OF CANDIDATES 3

Ensures the provision of sports opportunities and clubs for students.

Acts as the advocate of students engaged in sport at all levels.

Works to increase the number of students taking part in sport.

Sits on the Sport Sheffield Board and has key relationships with University staff responsible for the provision of sports facilities and opportunities.

B

rittany Bowles came through victorious in a very hotly contested three-way Sports Officer race.

Taking to stage, Britt, the fifth consecutive female Sports Officer, was quite frank about how she felt: “Not to be dramatic but I actually think I’m gonna be sick.”

All three candidates were separated by less than 60 votes, with Brittany Bowles leading the pack, Mem Swanborough coming second and Annie Timmis coming in third by a mere 3 votes. With Annie’s votes redistributed, Britt extended her lead to 76 votes, but it was still the closest result of the evening, confirming that students did want to “Get Lit with Britt”, just about.

Commenting on the tight nature of the result, she said: “They were both absolutely amazing candidates and the whole way through you couldn’t have called it. Maybe it was my inclusions policies, I did just want

BRITTANY BOWLES

to get more people involved in sport, maybe people listened to that but that is a very, very tight margin.”

There was over 1,000 fewer votes for Sports Officer compared to last year, with a 13.39% turnout.

Having had a moment to take it all in, she told Forge TV: “Genuinely, being on sports committee and seeing all the work Sarah [Morse, current Sports Officer] did. I’ve worked quite closely with her. It’s just amazing what she’s done and I wanna be a part of that.”

She took a hard stance on the University’s valuation of sport, saying: “Sport is more than just sport.

It’s everything attached to it. The friends, the personal benefits, I’m sure anyone who has been on a sport can relate when I say it was absolutely the defining feature of university for me. Why is that not recognised by the university?”

By Gethin Morgan

campaign summary - Greater focus on inclusions, with inclusions-specific training for club sports - Flexible, cheaper gym memberships and a discount for all club sport members - Greater accessibility for disabled students - Funding for a new Goodwin Sports Building - More recognition from the University about the importance of sport - Collaborating with mental health service

Sport is more than just sport.

It’s everything attached to it.

The friends, the personal benefits.

RON

welfare

Dot Hakim Sadie Base

TOTAL VOTES CAST 3,783

Beren (Bez) Maddison

NUMBER OF CANDIDATES 3

I want to set up stuff for the future Welfare Officers to continue.

A year is such a short amount of time

campaign summary - The improvement of exam support, particularly with regards to extenuating circumstances procedure and exam-time support services - Greater support of all liberation groups, emphasising his intent to listen to the needs of all groups to better their university experience - Fighting for working students by making the university realise the reality that some students need to work many hours a week to simply pay the bills.

- Promoting healthy sexual practice and taking the stigma away from being tested - Providing more resources and opportunities for all students tackle welfare issues - Shared a passionate, knowledgeable discussion with Sadie Base on Forge Debates

BEREN (BEZ) MADDISON role summary Provides support, representation and raises awareness of student health, finance, housing & safety issues.

Works closely with the Student Advice Centre to ensure relevant and effective advice is available to students.

Works with the University to ensure adequate welfare provision and support for students.

Y

our new Welfare Officer is the current Chair of Welfare Committee, Beren Maddison.

Beren came out on top in a very tight race with Sadie Base, while Dot Hakim came in at third. Initial votes had Beren just 9 points ahead of Sadie, but the redistribution of votes for Dot and ‘Reopen Nominations’ meant that the he ended 91 votes ahead.

He was nearly rendered speechless when he arrived on stage, but speaking to Forge TV afterwards, he spoke about his initial reaction to

the news: “I went and hugged Sadie.

She’s been such a great competitor, and I was at peace with whatever result came out tonight, but my first instinct was to go to her and say ‘you were amazing’.

“I always felt that it was going to be close because we were both such good candidates. It was such a nice experience running with Sadie.

We’re so similar and it was very difficult to call who was going to win.”

This position had the lowest turnout of all Officer roles, with only 3783 valid votes, although that may

be partially down to the fact there were only three candidates.

Speaking about implementing his policies, he said: “There will definitely be points that I can get across really quickly. But at the same time I’m really concerned about the behind the scenes stuff that takes longer.

“I want to set up stuff for the future Welfare Officers to continue.

A year is such a short amount of time and the only way to have tangible change is have officers following on and building on each other’s work.”

By Gethin Morgan

womens The least the university can do is make sure that no student is prevented from entering higher education because of access to sanitary products

TOTAL VOTES CAST 4,004 NUMBER OF CANDIDATES 5

Sara French Grace Thambyrajah Cara Mahon Rosa Tully

role summary

Represents the views and interests of all women students within the Students’ Union and University as well as at a national level.

Creates a student environment free from sexism and discrimination.

Works with the Women’s Committee to lead campaigns on the issues of women’s rights and equality.

rosa tully campaign summary - End the normalisation of sexual violence on campus, increase the number of female security guards and improve their training to recognise and prevent sexual assault on nights out - Ensure that all activism on campus is intersectional - Provide compulsory training and consent workshops at the beginning of every year - Implement a key card which would provide free sanitary products for students who need them - Hold bimonthly focus groups with representatives of minority groups

R

osa Tully was elected as our new Women’s Officer.

The second-year sociology student received 1365 first choices of the total 4004 votes cast for this position, beating the runner-up Cara Mahon by 330 votes.

Announcing the winner on stage, current women’s officer Mayeda Tayyab confused everyone, proclaiming that she was taking up the role for another year.

Following her actual victory, Rosa’s nerves got the better of her, only being able to thank her friends and the other candidates. During her interview with Forge TV she mentioned how meaningful this role is for her personally as her mother had been women’s officer as well.

She also focused on ending period poverty for all students of this university, with a plan to implement what she called a P-card scheme, by which students in need would be able to go to the SU shop and the Endcliffe village store and be given sanitary products with no questions asked.

“The university makes so much

money that the least that it can do is make sure that no student is being prevented from entering higher education because of something that is so simple as not having access to sanitary products,” she said.

Rosa has had a lot of experience campaigning on human rights and feminist issues, setting up the largest UK secondary school feminist group at the time and collaborating with the Institute of Education, to help incorporate feminism and marginalised women in both secondary schools’ and universities’ curriculums.

While in the job, she also strives to provide support to all liberation groups by holding bimonthly focus groups with representatives of minorities on campus.

She also brought the focus on mature students, who are often ignored in SU officers elections, highlighting the university’s lack in childcare provision. She said that “so often students are represented as being from 18 to 25, when really that is not the case.”

By Lisa Wehrstedt

EDUCATION

Sam Nash Ben Warner Jaz Catlow Charlie Porter

TOTAL VOTES CAST 4,355 NUMBER OF CANDIDATES 4

I’m passionate about education, I think it should be free, fully-funded and accessible for everyone

Y

our new Education Officer is Charlie Porter, who took 1,614 of the first-preference votes, beating runner-up Jaz Catlow who got 1,234.

Charlie ran on a political platform, strongly pushing for access to education and academic issues.

Despite deciding to run only two days before the deadline, his #ChooseCharlie comprehensive policies included campaigns for lower rent, stopping cuts to courses and services, and more funding for mental health and academic support services.

The voter turnout for this role was

higher than last year, with voters obviously appreciating Charlie’s promise to work for issues that matter to them.

Describing himself as a ‘socialist activist’, Charlie also plans to campaign nationally for free and fully-funded education, and promises to support university staff and campus trade unions on the important issues.

When asked why he had run for the role, he said “I’m passionate about education, I think it should be free, fully-funded and accessible for everyone, and that’s not currently the case, and I want to help work

Charlie Porter role summary Provides support, representation and raises awareness of student health, finance, housing & safety issues.

Works closely with the Student Advice Centre to ensure relevant and effective advice is available to students.

Works with the University to ensure adequate welfare provision and support for students.

towards a vision in which it’s all of those things.”

During his victory speech, Charlie thanked his partner and campaign team, and also revealed that it was his birthday, resulting in an audience-wide drunken chorus of ‘Happy Birthday’ and certainly adding to the festive atmosphere in the room.

Charlie described the result as ‘a great birthday gift’ and we look forward to seeing what he can bring to the role in the coming year.

By Rebecca Lally

campaign summary - Accessing more funding for mental health and academic support services - Campaigning for lower rent in halls and better quality private accommodation - Stopping cuts to courses and services - Campaigning nationally for free and fully-funded education - Supporting university staff and campus trade unions

elected student trustees

The Board of Trustees is the group of people with ultimate responsibility for everything that the Students’ Union does.

Lorenzo Omar Emily Jones role summary

Student Trustees will sit on a 17 member board committed to the successful future of the Students Union. There are 2 elected Student Trustees and 3 appointed Student Trustees that sit on the board alongside the 8 SU Officers and 4 External Trustees. As a trustee you will work closely with the Students’ Union Officers, Senior Leadership Team and the rest of the Trustee Board to deliver our strategic aims, ensuring that we continue to be recognised for the innovation and quality of services and support that we provide.

referenda Remaining part of NUS Total votes cast: 2930 Outcome: Yes

INTRODUCING Societies and sports councillorS Total votes cast: 2888 Outcome: Yes

r e c i f f O SU ions t c Ele rage e v co 9 1 0 2 with thanks to Abbie White Adam Bailey Adam Richmond Aditi Rane Alex Peneva Alfie Robinson Amy Thornton Anastasia Koutsounia Becky Sliwa Webb Callum Booth Cameron Jurevicius Chelsea Burrell Chloe Dervey Connie Coombs Connor Young Dan Cross Dana Raer David Anderson David Marriot Ewan Somerville George Bratley

George Tuli Georgia Livingstone Gethin Morgan Harry Browse Helena Gibbon Isabelle Dean Jack Mattless Jack Redfern James Pendlington Jamie Blakeman Isabelle Dean Kate Procter Kerry Miller Lisa Wehrstedt Lucas Mentken Luke Baldwin Matthew Hartill Niall O’Callaghan Nicole Oshisanwo Rachel Ellis Rebecca Lally

Rebekah Lowri Robin Wilde Rosie Boon Sarah Pugh Stephanie Barker Stephen Gamage Tim Adams Tim Woodliffe Tom Buckland Tom Ephgrave William Kirkpatrick Ximena Burns-Hunt Yash Raveendra Yuliyan Stoyanov Zena Ahmed Technical Services Committee

Design by Chloe Dervey and Alex Peneva