INSIDE...
Your guide to the new sabbatical team
SU OFFICER ELECTIONS
2020
THE UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER
ISSUE 143 | FRIDAY 13TH MARCH 2020 | FREE
“Cowardly” Uni avoiding students during strike action
Your new Students’ Union Officer team Image: Chelsea Burrell
Ben Warner Editor-in-Chief
Record turnout sees new SU Officer team elected Georgie Marple News Editor
The new Students’ Union Officer team has been declared, following the annual Results Night event in Foundry. This year’s Officer Elections saw a record turnout in the history of Students’ Union Officer elections with 9,383 votes in total, eclipsing last year’s turnout of 8,270. Two student trustees were also elected, while grime artist Stormzy took the title of Honorary President
of the SU ahead of Greta Thunberg and Vanessa Nakate. The SU will also remain affiliated to the NUS for another year, after the annual referendum. New SU President Beth Eyre described the entire process as “super emotional to put myself out there so much. It goes against everything I thought I could do, thank you so much for voting.” She added that she has “stuck it to people who wanted to make this campaign about clicks on their website or people who want to make
this something it shouldn’t be”. Eyre wants to introduce free ‘Life Lesson Lectures’ and also stressed the need for having sustainability at the forefront of the SU. Holly Ellis won Welfare Officer by over 1,000 votes ahead of any other candidate. She is the current chair of the Welfare Committee (amongst many other roles within the SU), and wants to fight for compensation for students for missed teaching hours during the strikes. Iuri Montenegro, the new International... (cont. on p5)
Leaked minutes of meetings between senior University of Sheffield management and Sheffield Students’ Union representatives appear to show Uni bosses avoiding meeting students due to unspecified ‘risks’. Forge Press has been shown minutes of two separate meetings in February between members of the University Executive Board, including Vice-Chancellor Professor Koen Lamberts, three Sheffield Students’ Union Officers and representatives of the local University and College Union branch. On both occasions, the Students’ Union proposed an ‘Ask Your University’ event where students would be able to voice concerns about the ongoing industrial action directly to University management. However, the University’s representatives in the meeting said there were “significant risks” to such an event, due to fears of how students could behave. This is despite the representatives of Sheffield UCU agreeing to attend such an event, should it happen, when it was first mentioned. In the first meeting, on Friday 14 February, the SU Officers proposed a joint event between the three organisations, where students could ask questions to each of the bodies about the ongoing UCU strike action. The Vice-Chancellor, the minutes say, said there were “potential
risks”, and asked the Students’ Union to reflect on the running of the event, and to put forward a fuller proposal as to how these would be managed, to which the SU agreed. The University then said they would consider this proposal before making a decision. Following this, and according to a timeline which has also been shown to this newspaper, a meeting between the SU Officers and the Vice-Chancellor took place in his office on Monday 17 February. He allegedly ruled out wanting to attend such an event, after which the Officers decided not to formulate a proposal. However, in a meeting between UEB, the SU and Sheffield UCU eight days later, at Halifax Hall on Tuesday 25 February, the potential joint event was discussed again, with representatives from the SU pushing for students to have the chance to talk to the Vice-Chancellor directly. According to the minutes, said event “poses significant risks which at present [the University] is uncomfortable with”. The Students’ Union once again agreed to work on a proposal for an ‘Ask Your University’ event, including mitigation for the risks outlined by the University. The proposal was eventually sent to the University on Monday 2 March, including a detailed risk assessment and the full capability of the Students’ Union to deal with the risks mentioned in the previous meeting. The following day, Sheffield UCU agreed to... (cont. on p7)
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Editorial
Editorial Team Editor-in-Chief Ben Warner Managing Editor Becky Sliwa Webb Deputy Editor Bethan Davis Deputy Editor Patrick Burke News Coordinator Tevy Kuch Sport Coordinator Michael Ekman LOF Coordinator Jack Mattless Entertainments Coordinator Ella Craig Entertainments Coordinator Ash Williams News Editor Lucas Mentken News Editor Georgie Marple News Editor Niall O’Callaghan Features Editor Anastasia Koutsounia Features Editor Bernadette Hsiao Opinion Editor Jack Mattless Opinion Editor Jack Redfern Arts Editor Kate Procter Arts Editor Rosie Davenport Lifestyle Editor Em Evans Lifestyle Editor Taylor Ogle Music Editor Ella Craig Music Editor Dana Raer Screen Editor Dan Cross Screen Editor Josh Teggert Games Editor Catherine Lewis Games Editor Ash Williams Science and Tech Editor George Tuli Science and Tech Editor Bárbara Pinho Break Editor Luke Baldwin Break Editor Alicia Hannah Sport Editor Alex Brotherton Sport Editor Harry Harrison
Welcome back to an extra special edition of Forge Press – the SU Officer Elections issue. This issue is not only jam-packed with the usual content you’ve come to know and love from your favourite student newspaper, but also a 12-page pullout, revealing the eight new sabbatical officers who will be leading your Students’ Union next year. As usual, it’s been a really hectic couple of weeks for all of us putting together Forge Media’s Elections coverage, from Forge Debates to the daily round-ups, but I believe it looks better than ever, and I’m so proud of everything we’re able to do. Flip to the middle of this paper if you want to see the culmination of it, and find out who will be representing you at the highest level from July. There has also been cause for celebration on a personal level this week, because – as you’ll read on page six – we have been shortlisted for six Student Publication Association national awards, including Best Publication, and it makes me so delighted to be able to lead this amazing newspaper. This issue is no different, with loads of varied content to fill those windy Sheffield afternoons. Start off in Features, with two pieces on airline etiquette as well as a piece about Greta Thunberg’s newfound
rival, before taking a sojourn through Opinion and Lifestyle to find out about the race to be the next leader of the Labour Party, and some northern tourist hotspots you might not have heard of before. Break deserve a special shoutout for their flow chart which decides what SU Officer position you should run for – and consequently I’m already preparing my Activities Officer campaign for next year. Arts have a couple of wonderful features and opinion pieces, as well as a number of gallery and theatre reviews, and Music are looking forward to this summer’s festivals around the country. Music’s Dana has taken a little trip to screen, to interview one of the stars of Back in Time for the Corner Shop, who is also a student at the University of Sheffield, while Games once again have features which are rich in quality and remind me how brilliant they have been all year. Science & Tech are once again impressing with a number of articles I don’t really understand, but I just take that as a sign that they’re just very good at their jobs As I write this editorial, a couple of hours before the Officer Election results are announced, I’m sat across from all the candidates in Interval, as they’ve been treated to a pizza
PIC OF THE PRESS
dinner by the Students’ Union (no such luck for me). I’m not a mindreader and I can’t predict the future. This year’s SU Officer team have gone through trials and tribulations, and been misrepresented on a national stage, and I can only sympathise with them. I ran alongside them last year, and I know how hard they work to improve the Students’ Union. It’s not for me to say whether that will happen again next year, but as I sit across from the Officers I do know one thing – the camaraderie they have built up over this election cycle is palpable, they seem to have such a great bond, and I’m sure they’ll do brilliantly next year. I want to take this opportunity to give a huge congratulations to the new elected SU Officers and trustees for their hard work, and although I won’t be here next year, I can’t wait to see what they do in the role.
My favourite spot to walk past in Weston Park, the pond behind Western Bank Library
Head of Design Claire Gelhaus Secretary and Social Secretary Tom Buckland Inclusions and Welfare Officer Chloe Dervey Head of Marketing and Publicity VACANT Head of Photography Chelsea Burrell Head of Online Aimee Cooper
Get involved Want to join the team? Get involved! This year’s committee want to have as many people writing for the paper as possible. No prior experience is necessary, just join the Facebook group Forge Press Contributors and get involved with our SU Officer Elections and Varsity coverage.
Image: Chelsea Burrell
Contact editor@forgetoday.com or message us on Facebook with any questions.
The University of Sheffield’s independent student newspaper
Forge Press
Friday 13 March 2020
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News in Brief
Got a story? press.news@forgetoday.com
News editors Niall O’Callaghan, Tevy Kuch, Lucas Mentken and Georgie Marple
UNIVERSITY ICE celebrates 48th year running
SHEFFIELD ‘No deadline’ for SWFC deductions
NATIONAL Cough or fever? Self-isolate says PM
The International Cultural Evening will celebrate its 48th year running when performers take to the stage on Saturday 14 March. Sheffield City Hall will play host to the event, where there will be 10 performances from international student groups. Tickets are £6.60 for students.
It has been confirmed that there is no deadline for the points deduction facing Sheffield Wednesday FC after the club and three former and current club officials were charged with misconduct in November. A points deduction is expected if the three lose their appeal.
Anyone with a “new, continuous” cough or high temperature is now advised to self-isolate, the government has announced. It comes as the government moved into the ‘delay’ phase of its plan to tackle coronavirus. “Many more” would die, Johnson said.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola Image: Football.ua
NATIONAL Manchester City match postponed
SHEFFIELD Sheffield Steelers win Challenge Cup
NATIONAL Weinstein given 23 years for offences
The Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal, scheduled to be played on Wednesday 11 March, was postponed due to fears over coronavirus. It came after Greek side Olympiakos’ owner confirmed he had the virus. They played Arsenal just two weeks ago.
Sheffield Steelers, the city’s ice hockey team, have won the Challenge Cup for the first time. The Steelers had been beaten finalists six times in the last 16 years, taking the cup on the seventh time of asking. They dramatically beat Cardiff Devils 4-3 in the Welsh capital.
Former movie mogul Harvey Weinstein has been sentenced to 23 years in prison for a string of sexual offences. His defence argued that even a five year sentence could see him die in prison. The prosecution argued for the maximum sentence given his “lifetime of abuse”.
Students from across campus take part in ‘Feminist Rally’ Lucas Mentken News Editor
Students joined striking staff around campus on Monday 9 March to form a feminist rally in support of International Women’s Day. They moved around several university buildings wearing red clothes with hot drinks and music to show their support for the global feminist movement. The rally was organised alongside the UCU strike which is now in its fourth and final consecutive week.. Rosa Tully, SU Women’s Officer, said: “The issues that the UCU are currently striking on are very much feminist issues. “Given the University pride themselves on being a university that leads on social justice research, there are still big gaps within their own institution so there is a lot of work they can still do. “Lots of women find themselves on casual contracts and a lot of work that they do is more administrative
Prime Minister Boris Johnson
and doesn’t get recognised when it comes to promotions and excellence frameworks. “Also, there is still not a zero tolerance to sexual harassment that takes place on campus.” On 26 February, Rosa addressed the UCU and students supporting the strike in front of Firth Court and said that universities are “still a hostile environment for women, queer people and people of colour.” She added: “Across the sector, sexism, harassment and racism are still not being taken seriously. These exist on an individual and structural levels. Universities should be places to challenge the sexist and racist climate and not reinforce our structural vulnerability.” Martha Foulds, an applied social science student at the University and Labour candidate for Broomhill & Sharrow Vale in May’s local elections, also attended the rally. “I think it’s really important to have the feminist picket because part
Marchers outside the University’s Elmfield building Image: Lucas Mentken
of the strike action that is taken is about the quite significant gender pay gap in education. We need real action to tackle that,” she said. “I agree with the comments made by Rosa about the University being a hostile environment for women and girls. We have levels of sexual harassment against women and we
need to stop that now. “We need to enforce the zero tolerance approach to sexual harassment and make sure that people are properly dealt with. A warning or a temporary suspension from the Students’ Union isn’t enough.”
UK Health Minister comes down with coronavirus Niall O’Callaghan News Editor
Health minister Nadine Dorries has contracted coronavirus and is selfisolating at home, while the first case of the virus in Sheffield has also been confirmed. Dorries is said to have been in contact with “hundreds” of people, including the prime minister, after first showing symptoms on Thursday 5 March. The news came a day before the first case in the city was announced by Public Health Sheffield and the World Health Organisation (WHO) confirmed the virus as a pandemic. WHO chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he was “deeply concerned”. “Several countries have demonstrated that this virus can be suppressed and controlled,” he said. Greg Fell, Director of Public Health Sheffield, said: “With the arrangements we have set up here in the city, the risk is low to residents and visitors of Sheffield. We are in touch with Public Health England daily, making sure that we share relevant and timely information with the public and our partners. “Our advice remains the same, we encourage everyone to wash their hands, for twenty seconds, and to follow good hygiene practices. If you start to show symptoms and have recently travelled to an affected country or have been in contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19, please call NHS 111.”
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News
New Hallam MP steps down from City Council
Ben Warner Editor-in-Chief
Ben Warner Editor-in-Chief
The new Labour MP for Sheffield Hallam, Olivia Blake, has announced she will step down from her position as councillor for the Walkley ward. She had served as one of the representatives for the region for the past six years, before being elected as the Member of Parliament for Hallam at December’s general election. During this time, she also served as Deputy Leader of Sheffield City Council, before stepping down last August in order to back the referendum on changing the system of governance of SCC, back to a committee system. “I have been proud to serve on Sheffield City Council for nearly six years, and I look forward to continuing to represent our great city as one of its MPs over the coming years,” Blake said. “As a Councillor I’ve consistently fought to forge a fairer future for Sheffield and combat austerity, and I hope that I can continue to transform our city.” She was selected as Labour’s candidate to defend Sheffield Hallam in late 2018, and was given the chance to during the 2019 General Election, where she went up against the Liberal Democrat candidate Laura Gordon.
As a Councillor I’ve consistently fought to forge a fairer future for Sheffield and combat austerity in our city Blake was elected on a platform of tackling climate change, but since winning has also been committed to restoring trust in the party in the area. Councillor Julie Dore, Leader of the City Council, said: “I would like to thank Olivia for the contribution she has made as a Labour Councillor for nearly six years, including two and a half years as Deputy Leader. “She has worked on key policies such as getting more council contractors to pay the Living Wage and keeping more of the money the council spends in our local economy.”
Unite call for better terms for Sheffield Students’ Union casual staff workforce
Casual staff at Sheffield Students’ Union are calling on senior management to address its policy on sick pay, as well as the use of zerohours contracts. Staff are being represented by Unite the Union in their demands to introduce sick pay for casual staff, pay workers the Living Wage of £9.30, and introduce the “right to a secure contract”. There are currently 600 casual workers at the SU, working in bars, shops and beyond, many of whom earn below £118 a week which means they aren’t eligible for statutory sick pay (SSP). Despite this, in a win for the union and casual staff, the Senior Leadership Team have agreed that casual staff will be paid for shifts cancelled due to coronavirus, effective immediately. If a shift is cancelled 24 hours or less before a shift is due to start, staff will be paid for the entire shift. While if a shift is cancelled 24-48 hours before a shift, staff will be paid for half of the shift. If taken ill at work, staff will be sent home immediately and paid for the remainder of their shift. It is unclear what will happen to those shifts cancelled more than 48 hours in advance. SU President Jake Verity said that the Students’ Union has been working closely with Unite to review the terms and conditions for casual staff, and that the SU is fully committed to paying the Living Wage to all staff. Casual staff at Sheffield SU serve over 29,000 students at the
University of Sheffield, and Unite have raised concerns that due to the lack of sick pay for some casual staff, staff who are ill could come to work and put colleagues and customers at risk. “We’ve spoken to numerous workers who’ve come into work sick because they can’t afford to miss out on a day’s pay,” said Josh Berlyne, a Unite representative at the SU. “The combination of low pay, a student loan, and high rent forces casual staff into poor quality housing. Being close to maxing out your overdraft is, for many, normal.” The debate around casual staff has been ongoing for some time, and plans last year would have seen payment change from weekly to
“We’ve spoken to numerous workers who’ve come into work sick because they can’t afford to miss out on a day’s pay” monthly, plans which were heavily criticised by casual staff and Unite before eventually being dropped. The SU say they are committed to working with the trade union in order to improve working conditions, and Jake Verity told Forge Press: “Sheffield SU has been working in a strong partnership with Unite the Union on a thorough review of our terms and conditions for our ‘casual’ staff, motivated by the SU wanting to improve terms for all, and especially our lowest paid employees.”
Forge Press
Friday 13 March 2020
News
Students set to protest immigration centre Georgie Marple News Editor
The Student Action for Refugees (STAR) society have planned another protest at Morton Hall Detention Centre on Saturday 14 March. Morton Hall Detention Centre is an immigration removal centre set up by the Home Office.
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The purpose of a detention centre is to detain migrants and refugees either before a decision has been made on their status to live in the country, or before they are forcibly removed from the UK. The UK is the only country in Europe that doesn’t impose time limits on detention, with some people spending years in centres..
Questions have been raised over the system by politicians, as over half of detainees are eventually granted home status.. Detainment has also recurringly been shown to be detrimental to mental and physical health, with many detainees being denied access to proper healthcare which, in some cases, have led to people dying. STAR is protesting the hostile environment system that detains people with little valid reason, and those that are illegally detained, such as pregnant women and
minors. STAR is also protesting the conditions in which these people are held, as they wish for the UK to join the rest of Europe in outlawing indefinite detention, and eventually detention altogether. Students can join STAR ahead of the protest, but emailing refugees@ sheffield.ac.uk, or contacting them via their Facebook page, ‘Sheffield Student Action for Refugees - STAR’. Chancellor Rishi Sunak
Tampon tax abolished in first Sunak Budget Niall O’Callaghan News Editor
The new SU President, Beth Eyre Image: Iwan James
New SU sabbatical Officer team has been announced Georgie Marple News Editor
(cont. from front) ...Students’ Officer, thanked his friends “who made me understand what it means to move to another country and feel at home.” His manifesto corroborates this, stating that “our University is a small-scale example of how the world should be: somewhere where people from all backgrounds can live, learn and help one another.” Jordan Weir secured his role as the new SU Development Officer after his second year of campaigning for the job. Weir wants to open an SU ‘Swap Shop’ to reduce the consumption of new clothing amongst the student population and
reduce fast fashion.He also wants to support SU staff to give them better working conditions and to end fossil fuel usage in our university. Meanwhile, Joel Kirk was elected as the next Activities Officer. Kirk wants to introduce a ‘Societies Week’ which is dedicated to showcasing societies and their diversity. He also wants to utilise the ‘Sustainable Society Storage’ policy that he created at the SU council to lobby the University to create accessible society storage. Sports Officer Matt Graves won by a nail-biting 38 votes ahead of his opponent Jordan Frith after a tough campaign. In his speech he said “to people who are feeling low, things will get better, time will heal – if this isn’t a
huge example of it, I don’t what is.” He plans to lobby senior university staff to increase its annual £142,000 club sport contribution, as he claims that it is “not high up enough on the University’s agenda.” Rosa Tully, the current Women’s Officer, commended “a real strength of character to run as Women’s Officer” to the new Women’s Officer Lily Grimshaw, who was the lone candidate. Grimshaw wants to introduce a ‘Body Neutrality’ campaign to tackle the stigma surrounding body image issues and wants to ensure that intersectionality remains at the centre of SU policy formation.. New Education Officer Ellie Lynas wants to ensure that there is better communication between
students and the University during strike periods. She also promises to push the universities to stop using negative marking and see that humanities students get more for their money, for example by providing course books for free. She won in a close victory over secondplace Sam Calderbank. This was the first year the societies were allowed to endorse candidates. Just 27 students ran for the eight officer roles this year, and this was the first time since 2014/15 in which a role went uncontested. The new Officers will begin their jobs in June where they will be given the chance to enact their manifestos, as well as working alongside Students’ Union staff to implement their goals.
The ‘tampon tax’, VAT on women’s sanitary products, has been abolished in new Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s first Budget. Sunak has spent big in what the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has called the biggest Budget “giveaway” since 1992. “I can also confirm now that we have left the EU, that I will abolish the tampon tax. From January next year there will be no VAT whatsoever on women’s sanitary products,” said Sunak. More funding for South Yorkshire’s transport network was also announced to the tune of £166m. Sheffield City Region mayor, Dan Jarvis, said the cash would help in “reducing journey times, cutting congestion and improving punctuality and reliability.” A West Yorkshire devolution deal worth £180bn was announced after extensive negotiations, with West Yorkshire leaders saying it would give the area “greater flexibility”. Reacting to the Budget, NUS President Zamzam Ibrahim, said: “It is disappointing that despite significant increases in government expenditure, the government has ignored some of the biggest needs for our students. Increasing funding for our further education sector is very necessary and to be welcomed but this still will not undo the cuts that the sector has seen since 2010. Some of the biggest issues that students face are in regards to their living costs. Students cannot wait until autumn and the government’s response to the Augar review for the reintroduction of maintenance grants and raising of household income threshold for student support – they need them now.”
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News
Classic beer set to return to Sheffield decades on
Forge Press writers shortlisted for six SPA National Awards
Ben Warner Editor-in-Chief
A classic British beer is set to return to the Steel City, after a partnership was reached between two brewers. The True North Brewing Co. has reached an agreement with Molson Coors Beverage Company to brew Stones Bitter “by cask”, and to the original specifications as it was when it debuted. The beer was originally launched in Sheffield, and fast became a popular choice amongst the city’s steelworkers, eventually becoming the most popular bitter in the country during the 1960s and 70s. However, as its popularity grew, production was moved out of the city and the recipe changed as the beer was sold to another brewery. Now, True North are bringing it back
Performers at ICE 2019 Image: International Students’ Committee to the exact specifications as before, right down to the water profile. Dean Hollingworth, head brewer, said: “This is something we’ve wanted to do for a while so we were excited when Molson Coors gave us the thumbs up. “We want to do it right so we’re going all out to make sure the recipe is as close as it was back in the bitter’s glory days. We’ll be using a traditional cask recipe with Challenger and Goldings hops and the original Stones yeast strain, kindly given to us by Molson Coors.” The beer will be launched across South Yorkshire and Derbyshire in True North’s 12 venues, including popular student haunts such as The York and the Common Room. The launch will also be marked with a party at Riverside Kelham in Sheffield, on Thursday 2 April.
Ben Warner with the ‘Best Impact’ Regional Award Image: Cameron Jurevicius
Niall O’Callaghan News Editor
Writers at Forge Press have been shortlisted for six national awards by the Student Publication Association. The winners will be announced at a glitzy awards ceremony at Sheffield Students’ Union, where this year’s SPA National Conference (SPANC) is being hosted, also by Forge Press. Student newspapers and magazines
from around the UK and Ireland are set to flock to the city for a weekend of conference talks and awards, the premier weekend in student media. The shortlists in the 20 categories were announced on Twitter at 7.00pm on Tuesday 10 March, days after the nominations closed for this year’s awards. Six shortlists for Forge Press is double last year’s total, and the most received since rejoining the SPA in
summer 2018 – although they have enjoyed previous successes, winning three at SPANC six years ago. As a whole, the paper has been shortlisted for Best Publication and Best Newspaper Design, while individual sections are amongst the final few for Best Sports Coverage and Best Science Section/ Publication. Arts Editor Kate Procter and Science & Tech Editor Bárbara Pinho have been shortlisted for
Best Entertainment Piece and Best Science Piece respectively. Ben Warner, Editor-in-Chief of Forge Press, said: “I’m absolutely delighted to have seen so many of our amazing team be recognised on the shortlists for Student Publication Association awards. Our section editors and contributors work so hard all year round, and it’s great to see their hard work being rewarded. “I’m also extremely pleased to be shortlisted in such a diverse range of categories, from Best Publication to Best Science Section. Everyone should be extremely proud of what they put into the paper, and hopefully it will be rewarded at SPANC20 in April.” Ben is also the Host Officer for the conference itself, which Forge Press bid for and won the right to host in autumn of last year. This is the first time it’s been held in Sheffield, having been held in York last time round. The conference starts on Friday 3 April, with as many as 200 delegates from around the UK and Ireland set to flood to Sheffield for the weekend. “We can’t wait to see everyone in Sheffield this April, and if you haven’t got your tickets yet, you’ve got until 18 March, so make sure you get them before they go,” added Ben.
Korea Day returns for 2020, providing spectacular celebration of culture Performers at Korea Day 2020 Image: Chelsea Burrell
Chelsea Burrell Head of Photography
Korea Day made its third annual comeback to celebrate and explore Korean culture, on campus at the University of Sheffield. Organised by Korea Society in collaboration with the K-Pop Dance Society and the Korean Cultural Centre, the event involved a variety of activities and live performances which showcased Korean contemporary and traditional pop culture. The event was held on Sunday 1 March at the Octagon, with traditional games, handicrafts, clothing and food, catered by Helena’s Korean Kitchen and The View Deli. The event was open to the public, who were invited in to learn more about Korean culture. The Octagon was filled with information and activity booths,
a stage for a full afternoon of live performances, and people including families with children, exploring and discovering about Korean culture It followed with performances from the Pilsung Taekwondo club and dances from the K-Pop Dance Society to entertain the audience with Korea’s rich culture, alongside traditional musicality performed by the Shilla Ensemble, as well as Jungsook Park, the head of the PJS dance company. The night concluded with Songhyun Lee and Jeongje Lee’s fan dance and folk song, the highlight of the day. The event was praised for its overall quality, as well as accessibility to people who were previously unfamiliar with East Asian culture, providing a family day out enjoyed by all.
Forge Press
Friday 13 March 2020
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News
Special Report: UCU Strikes Silence of the Lamberts - University accused of avoiding Sheff students Ben Warner Editor-in-Chief
(cont. from front) ...attend the event, putting pressure on the University to do the same. University bosses responded to a more structured proposal on Thursday 5 March, saying that the risks they were concerned about hadn’t been mitigated to an extent they were happy to attend, yet when Students’ Union representatives asked on Friday 6 March which risks they were referring to, they received no response. The SU Officers set a deadline of 10.00am on Monday 9 March for the University to respond, and having still not heard anything, they now say they don’t expect to host an event with all three bodies about the
Students have every right to be able to ask difficult questions of the person paid handsomely to take responsibility strike action. “We are extremely disappointed that University senior managers have avoided meeting with students directly to talk about the strikes so far, despite many students requesting this,” said Charlie Porter,
Education Officer. “We were confident that any associated risks could have been effectively mitigated as the SU regularly runs much higher risk events without incident.” In response to Forge Press, a spokesperson from the University of Sheffield said: “Listening to our students is really important to us and we have held regular constructive meetings with the Students’ Union (SU) and local UCU colleagues throughout the industrial action. “We listened to proposals from the Students’ Union about an event for a small number of students but it was felt that working with the sabbatical officers as the representatives of the whole student body continues to be the most constructive forum to listen and respond to student concerns. “At our meeting earlier this week we did just that and have committed to providing written responses to those concerns for them to feed back. “We will continue to communicate directly with students centrally and on a departmental-level, which allows staff closest to the local impact of industrial action to help our students with specific queries and concerns.” The strike action by UCU members is set to end on Friday 13 March, after 14 days of industrial action over four
Third round of strike action by UCU ends Georgie Marple News Editor
Vice-Chancellor Professor Koen Lamberts Image: The University of York weeks this semester, coupled with a further eight days of action last year. The University of Sheffield is one of 48 universities where lecturers and support staff are striking in two ballots - one over changes to the USS pension scheme, and one over pay equality, casualisation in the sector, workloads and more. Members of the trade union are set to be balloted again over further potential strike action. Sam Marsh, Sheffield UCU branch President, said: “We think it is unforgivable for our ViceChancellor to be hiding away from
students at a time when they need to hear what this university is doing to find a resolution to the disputes. “The decisions taken by him, along with the University’s Council, directly impact the national negotiations, and could make the difference between the disputes ending swiftly or stretching out into the exam period and beyond. “Students have every right to be able to ask difficult questions of the person paid handsomely to take responsibility. To evade this responsibility is cowardly.”
The strikes at the University of Sheffield have come to an end after 14 days of industrial action over the past four weeks. This period of strikes was the largest ever wave on university campuses, with 74 universities taking part in one or both disputes nationwide. The industrial action is a result of disputes within the University and College Union (UCU) and the affected staff members that are part of the UCU. The disputes are centred around universities’ failure to make significant improvements on pay, equality, casualisation and workloads. On strike days, university staff have abstained from working, meaning they have not been carrying out tasks like teaching, marking and replying to emails. Staff are still taking action short of the strike and they are balloting for further strike action from Monday 16 March. Education officer Charlie Porter stressed the importance of industrial action for university staff, stressing that “their working conditions are our learning conditions.” UCU members in Sheffield are holding a strikes after party and hardship fundraiser on 13 March.
Officers take concerns to University Ben Warner Editor-in-Chief
The SU Officers on their way to Halifax Hall Image: Sheffield SU
Students have had their voices heard by University of Sheffield bosses, after three of the Students’ Union Officers took their concerns to the meeting table. Jake Verity (SU President), Beren Maddison (Welfare Officer) and Charlie Porter (Education Officer) met with representatives of the University Executive Board (UEB), including Vice-Chancellor Professor Koen Lamberts, and the local University and College Union branch, and asked a number of questions related to compensation for lost teaching, assessments and
more. This came after they took a huge posterboard of questions from students to a meeting at Halifax Hall – so as not to cross a picket line – on Tuesday 10 March. The questions were on a whole host of topics students are interested in, and Forge Press has also been shown the responses from the University Executive Board. On the question of compensation for students’ lost teaching, UEB allegedly said they aren’t considering at present a proactive compensation scheme, and according to their FAQ line, because the industrial action has arisen due to circumstances outside of the University’s control
they aren’t obliged to compensate students. The Vice-Chancellor allegedly refused to reveal his position on the dispute, as UEB believe it could jeopardise the collective bargaining position, but he has said that he will make a statement to students about this. The University of Sheffield have told Forge Press that they are committed to mitigating the impact of strike action, and will be “working closely” with university departments from next week in order to do so.
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Friday 13 March 2020
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Features
Anastasia Koutsounia Bernadette Hsiao Features Editors
Hello lovely people! Welcome back and we can’t be more excited to present another four amazing pieces! While Greta Thunberg has huge recognition all over the world, now we have her counterpart, 19-year-old Naomi Seibt, challenging her views. Make sure to read Ryan Smith’s article
to find out more. Now, are you thinking about travelling? Check out the two flight-related pieces by Rahul Warrier and Stephanie Lam to have a look at etiquette on planes, and especially drinking responsibly. We’ve all heard of Fairtrade before, but what exactly is that and how does it work? Beth Hanson interviewed Joanna Milis from the Fairtrade Foundation to give us more details. Hope you all enjoy!
Anti-Greta!? Looking into Naomi Seibt, a self-claimed ‘Climate Realist’ Ryan Smith Features Contributor
In 1962, Bertrand Russell finally responded to Sir Oswald Mosley’s letters, which were badgering him into a debate about the merits of fascism. He replied: “It is always difficult to decide on how to respond to people whose ethos is so alien and, in fact, repellent to one’s own.” Russell’s words can be reflected in a more recent political tennis match, indirectly concerning Greta Thunberg. There should be nobody who does not know this teenager’s name. She already has proven herself to be articulate, precise and powerful beyond her years, as her 2019 address to the World Economic Forum proves: “I don’t want you to be hopeful. I want you to panic. I want you to feel the fear I feel every day. And then I want you to act. I want you to act as you would in a crisis. I want you to act as if the house was on fire – because it is.” Throughout the past year, she has broken through the political fishing nets designed to keep us immobile and now excels in the fact that, to quote her own book title, No One Is Too Small To Make a Difference. Like any great thinker or shaker of established norms, there is kickback from the normally politically ambivalent. The vitriolic responses to Greta range between mildmannered questioning to vicious ableist attacks due to her autism, her being a child and, while not as explicitly, a woman speaking more than is socially acceptable (as any woman ever will confirm). Like most insults, those that are used most searingly tend to be that which the insulter fears the most; a female child who is deemed ‘lesser’ due to her medical disability, and who has embarrassed the norms of the right
Bertrand Russell in 1957 Image: WikiCommons wing establishment. Having no good argument in response, the manner adopted by those who conform to established norms becomes that of Harry Wormwood, the father in Matilda. Matilda has realised he has been mechanically lowering the mileage clock on cars he is about to sell. Matilda: Daddy, you’re a crook. […] This is illegal.Harry: Do you make money? Do you have a job? Matilda: No, but don’t people need good cars? Can’t you sell good cars, dad? Harry: Listen, you little wiseacre. I’m smart, you’re dumb. I’m big, you’re little. I’m right, you’re wrong. And there’s nothing you can do about it. Greta is doing something about it,
and well. Naturally,
there
must
be
a
response. Naomi Seibt, a 19-yearold German teenager, spoke on Climate change Friday 28 February at a smaller side alarmism at its event of the Conservative Political very core is a Action Conference, a prominent despicably antiright-wing convention in the human ideology United States. She is described as the ‘anti-Greta’ of climate change, and we are told to and describes herself as a ‘climate look down at our realist’. Her views have already had achievements with to be defended due to being allegedly guilt, with shame anti-Semitic. She has described and disgust Stefan Molyneaux, an alt-right spokesperson, as ‘an inspiration’ for his ‘views outside the mainstream’. some, engaged debate is simply as If this isn’t enough, Seibt has been useless as Mussolini’s hairbrush. hired by the Heartland Institute, and The question soon becomes one of the less said about them, the better. overwhelming political fighting. Her views on climate change are It is another battle of left-wing as follows: “Today climate change versus right-wing, progressive science really is not science at all. versus traditionalist, new versus […] The goal is to shame old. It is hard to ignore how humanity. Climate commonplace this is change alarmism nowadays. You will at its very core remember the is a despicably protests against anti-human Greggs’ vegan i d e o l o g y sausage rolls and we are last year. told to look At football down at our matches every achievements other week I with guilt, with hear fans frothing Image: World Economic Forum shame and disgust, with similar rage and not even to take when the referee gives a into account the many free kick to the opposite team. major benefits we have I realise now that it’s nothing at all achieved by using fossil about football or pasties. fuels as our main energy It is about an attack of the old source.” It is moments like this I wonder of the nerve of those who use ‘snowflakes’ as an insult. Much like the phrase ‘victim mentality’, the goal is to simply be so obtuse as not to listen or care for anyone else other than oneself, that calling the other side weak is seen as a strength. The denial of our climate crisis and the fact there is even a climate ‘belief’ system shows how, for
order by the new. The old order has rejected modern ideas that told them, directly or otherwise, that they and, by extension, their ways of thinking, were wrong. This fundamental fact must be understood if the progressives are to combat more products of Seibt’s ilk. To present a new idea that shakes grounded beliefs, one must expect a response that will reach higher levels of depravity depending on the gravity of topic. The only way to defeat this is to stick to truth harder than ever. Greta Thunberg is doing the work for those who would not, or cannot, speak for themselves, and she is holding to account those who have long hidden from their crimes by sticking to truth. Naomi Seibt, and those like her, do not provide solutions to the problems they find in thinkers like Thunberg. The negative effects of not calling out their astounding lack of sense and logic, and lending ‘debate’ to those who have no intention of changing their own ways has been proven tenfold by the two blonde haired fellows in charge across both sides of the pond. It becomes a shouting match that entirely damages the name of ‘intellectual debate’, and soon, to paraphrase a famous saying, you will not be able to argue with them, as they will beat you with experience of inarguable incompetence.
Image: Marco Vech
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Features
Is reclining your chair bad manners? Rahul Warrier writes about aeroplane etiquette and being considerate Rahul Warrier Features Contributor
Flight journeys are generally painless affairs, as peaceful as it can get when sitting upright in close proximity to strangers. An American Airlines passenger, Wendi Williams, however, had a different experience in January and she later went on to tweet about her frustration about the flight. Seated in the second-tolast row in the cabin, she reclined her chair to the chagrin of the man behind her. She let the chair fall back to its original position while he ate on the tray table, but when she reclined post-meal the man reportedly punched the seat hard nine times. While violence should never be an option, this does raise the question as to whether reclining chairs in planes follow proper airline etiquette? Everyone loves a reclining chair. On a flight, where comfort is a scarce commodity, reclining helps to smoothen the journey; it is easier on the back, you can stretch a bit more and it is more comfortable to sleep in so that you can acclimatise to the time difference better. But what about those behind you? Reclining your chair reduces the space for the person behind, encroaching on their personal space. The obvious solution is, when you recline, the person in the seat behind should recline too and so on, like dominos, until we get to the person in the final row, who can’t recline. As a 6’2’’ male, reclining chairs make cramped long-hauls all the more torturous. There’s already a lack of leg space, even if you take an aisle seat to alleviate the situation. The recline jams the knees, leaving little room to stretch the legs and keep the blood flowing. I don’t see the point of reclining myself – during the night, it helps – but during the day you want to make use of the inflight entertainment, and reclining backwards doesn’t really help. These are personal gripes, however. Reclining seats links into the wider topic of airplane
etiquette. Should you be looking out for your comfort and rights, or should you be more considerate about those around you? Travelling, whether on a cramped bus, train or flight, is a time when you can feel as if you are on your own. However, travelling with unknown people all around you reduces the room for judgement: these people won’t see you again. You can plug in to music on a flight and space out completely in an internet-devoid zone. But by spacing out, you can be blissfully ignorant (knowingly or otherwise) of the impact of your actions on others. For example, an aisle seat asks for awareness of those passing by you, while in the same way, those in the middle or window seats have to sync their bathroom breaks with their neighbouring passengers. It’s understandable if an individual prefers to avoid communication altogether. In a fast-paced world fueled by constant communication, a flight offers forced solitude that can be quite welcome. Seasoned travelers have a trustworthy routine: essentials down, bag up, belt in and earplugs out. Few communicate with their fellow passengers on a bus, so there’s no need to do the same in the air. When you’re in your flight zone, no one even gives an inkling that they want to talk. And that’s fine. That’s normal. If there’s no desire for communication,
then you can’t expect people to want to talk to others about their reclining seat. It depends on individual personalities, of course –
Reclining seats links into the wider topic of airplane etiquette. Should you be looking out for your comfort and rights, or should you be more considerate about those around you? some people find it easy to confront others, while some are happy to compromise if it avoids an awkward conversation. Largely though, confrontation is never a preferred option. You might choose to just bear with the cramped space. The question though, is whether it has to go that far to have a conversation. One argument I found was from people telling those complaining to get a seat in business or first class. A laughable claim at first glance, it remains puzzling the more you think about it. Paying more provides more comfort, which means, inversely, that paying the standard fare guarantees a basic level of comfort. Make no mistake: economy travel is communal travel. There is already plenty you are paying for: a comfortable seat, meals, drinks
and entertainment (dependent on the air carrier). The recline is part of the seat, sure, but is it a make-orbreak factor on your travel plans? It’s a standard feature, and yet it’s something extra. Alternatively, you could blame the airlines for limiting the space afforded to passengers. Reclining should be a luxury that does not come at the discomfort of another. Yet space is at a premium. Airlines might choose to reduce the level of recline possible, but if you’re going to reduce it, you might as well remove it altogether. In the end, passengers are entitled to recline as long as they follow takeoff and landing procedures. People do what they want, and you cannot fault them for it. Sometimes though, one’s actions might be different if you put yourself in the other’s shoes. I rarely recline, because I am aware of the discomfort it causes to me; if I can complain about it, then I shouldn’t be causing the same discomfort to others. There are some obnoxious passengers who will jerk backwards without warning. There are some who will stay reclined during meals. Someone told me about how they
In a fast-paced world fueled by constant communication, a flight offers forced solitude that can be quite welcome
are fine with the recline, but will try and make things uncomfortable from the back. It’s all avoidable. At the end of the day, it is a simple
I rarely recline, because I am aware of the discomfort it causes to me; if I can complain about it, then I shouldn’t be causing the same discomfort formula. People talk about reclining being their right, but it isn’t that deep, take a second to just think and look around. Economy seats are not built for all types of people. Some might have back problems and need to recline. Think about it, and then recline. If you’re spending hours on a flight, it will take such little effort to ask whether a recline will be uncomfortable for the person behind you, and once that’s out of the way, you can get set and watch your Oscar-nominated movie, or enjoy other entertainment. Some food for thought for your next flight.
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Friday 13 March 2020
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Features
Take a seat, grab a drink 88% Professional gamer
Stephanie Lam is here to tell you if flights mix well with alcohol Stephanie Lam Features Contributor
Whenever people fly on airplanes, it is quite common for them to be offered drinks and snacks. There are simple items 33% for people to Football player enjoy, such as chips, cookies and soft drinks. Then there are the more 15% luxurious ones: sandwiches, cheese Politicians platters and of course, alcohol. 3% Alcohol first appeared on Boris Johnson airlines in the 1920s. During that time period, America entered the Prohibition era, which banned the production and transportation of alcoholic beverages. It was also during this time that domestic and international commercial airlines began to emerge. Pan Am, one of the country’s most popular international airlines at that time, allowed its passengers to order alcohol on non-domestic flights.
245
Areoplane passengers were arrested on suspicion of being drunk in 2014.
It wasn’t until the 1940s, when prohibition ended, that alcoholic beverages suddenly became a staple in flight cabins. Passengers could choose from a limited selection of whiskies, scotch and martinis to ease their flying experience, and around the world air travel became synonymous with class and glamour. Alcohol, along with fine dining on airlines, helped to boost
passenger experience. Now the option to drink alcohol on planes has become a right for all passengers, whether they are flying in economy or first class. Airlines worldwide even allow people to bring their own alcohol on board. Within the European Union, passengers can
Passengers who consume alcohol on flights shoul realise they play an integral role in making sure everyone has a safe jouney bring a total of 10 litres of spirits, or 110 litres of beer, or 90 litres of wine in their hand and checked baggage. Alcohol has also become a convenient way for airlines to increase their revenue. In 2014 GuestLogix, an airplane retail company, tracked five U.S airlines transactions over a four month period from November 2013 to March 2014. They found that 57 per cent of all sales came from selling liquor, beer and wine to passengers. The airlines acquired more than US$43 million from alcohol, US$13 million more than sales made from airline food and comfort. However, the abundance of alcohol available on airlines raises an issue of drunk passengers. In 2019, the Press Association submitted a Freedom of Information request to multiple UK police forces. They wanted to obtain the number of arrests made in the busiest airports
total number of sober ones at these airports, their disturbance can still be felt. For instance, in January, a man flying from Manchester drank alcohol he bought along in his luggage. He became intoxicated and engaged in an altercation with the flight attendants and passengers. In February, a drunk British woman on a Jet2 flight tried to open a plane door mid-flight. Such behaviour resulted in both flights having to make
in the UK, such as Heathrow and Manchester, between April 2017 and March 2019, and it was revealed that 245 people were arrested on suspicion of being drunk. Although the number of drunk passengers is miniscule when compared with the
emergency landings. Authorities had to board the plane to remove them, and the cabin crew had to rerun flight safety procedures. In the process, hundreds of people’s flight plans were inconvenienced. As of now, passengers can be fined up to £5,000 for delaying a takeoff or jailed for up to two years for disrupting a flight. Repeated offenders can even be put on a travel ban. These incidents have occurred often enough that conversations
about banning alcoholic drinks have been raised among the flying community. Although there is no universal restriction on alcohol in airplanes, some airlines already made efforts. In order to reduce the likelihood of having drunk passengers, Jet2 became the first European carrier to refuse alcohol requests on all its early-morning flights. H o l l i a Barker, a firstyear biometric science student at the University of Sheffield, doesn’t think large quantities of alcohol should be offered on airlines. “I understand why people want one glass, but I don’t think they should be served a lot more.” While Hollia said it isn’t necessary to ban the substance, she doesn’t think airplanes are an appropriate place for people to drink. “Airplanes are small environments, and if people have too much to drink and can’t control themselves it makes others feel uncomfortable,” she said. She also thinks alcohol should be regulated due to the number of families and children that fly on airplanes. However, Helen Sok, a
postgraduate marketing practice student at the University doesn’t see an issue with alcoholic drinks being served to customers. Miss Sok said: “Even if people drink, they’re just passengers, they don’t drive the plane.” She thinks that people should be responsible for monitoring their own alcohol consumption, just like they would in any other social setting. Miss Sok added that she flies often but has never experienced an issue with drunk passengers or alcoholrelated incidents. She only sees those on social media or news
110
Litres of beer can be taken onboard by passenges within the EU.
broadcasts. The best way to ensure passengers are sober and non-disruptive during flights would be to support the existing efforts made. During
In 2014 GuestLogix tracked five U.S. airlines transactions over a four month period from November 2013 to March 2014. They found that 57 percent of all sales came from selling liquor, beer, and wine to passengers holiday
seasons,
the
One
Too
Many campaign is advertised in UK airports. The campaign raises awareness about the consequences passengers face if they become intoxicated during flights or in the airport. Flight attendants are given updated instructions each year on how to safely confront drunk passengers, and intervene during alcohol-induced alterations. To eliminate or restrict alcohol consumption during all flights is understandable, yet unrealistic. Alcohol brings in a large revenue for airlines, and drinking in public has become more socially acceptable. As airlines are already doing their part to help resolve the issue, passengers who consume alcoholic beverages on flight should realise that they also play an integral role in making sure everyone on board has a safe and comfortable journey.
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How does Fairtrade work?
Beth Hanson interviews Joanna Milis from the Fairtrade Foundation to give us more Beth Hanson Features Contributor
The Fairtrade icon is a familiar symbol of assurance that challenges the exploitative status quo of global trade. It is an independent certification system that allows producers and farmers to make a decent profit on their products and lifts them out of poverty. Often farmers are unable to control the purchasing process and are paid a very low price for their goods. This then reflects in all aspects of their lives and the decisions they are forced to make as to whether they can afford to feed their families or educate their children. The Fairtrade system is made up of two components. The first is the Fairtrade Minimum Price, which is calculated as the minimum cost of sustainable production of a product. While the minimum price varies by product and country of origin, it will always be enough to cover costs and entitle the farmers to a reasonable standard of living. The minimum price is slightly higher for organic items to cover the differing production costs and the increased value of the product. The second component of the system is the Fairtrade Premium. This is a bit of extra money on top of the price of the minimum that is paid by companies to producer groups for community developments. This premium ultimately works for the betterment of the society and the investment project is chosen by the producers based on what they believe will help them. For example, tea farms in Tamil Nadu in India have been included in the Fairtrade system for around 25 years and are seeing the longterm benefits of this investment. They have a school which is funded with the Fairtrade premium money and the region benefits from improved education, bursary funds and scholarships. Women working on the tea farms have little to no education but now have children that are graduating from university. This social and economic sustainability triggers environmental stability as well.
Women working on the tea farms have little to no education but now have children that are graduating from university Fairtrade standards can help farmers think long-term about the health of their soils and can help reduce the acute desperation to produce as much as possible, as quickly as possible. Many Fairtrade farmers choose to move away from chemical pesticides and access training through the foundation to move towards organic structures. A lot of the solutions to sustainable food production are well known, but the best practise is only feasible to those who have a safety net. Poverty can fill every corner of your mind and make it
specific, and we would find it very difficult to cultivate tea in our British climate. Fairtrade farms are often rain-fed and aren’t irrigated, and it is becoming difficult to know when to expect the rains in these countries. Extreme events may batter the plants and rain that should have fallen over four months comes overnight and creates flash floods which destroy infrastructure and wash away roads. Additionally, hot and d a m p
Another upcoming challenge is Brexit. At the moment, trade deals with other countries do not exist and it is unknown what the impact will be on producers and their trade sell their product for. This means if they cannot sell the product, they will not receive the benefit of the Fairtrade certification. Campaigning is the only way to remind those in government that new trade deals need to consider that people’s livelihoods in the global south depend on access to the UK market. If tariffs and quotas are imposed, it will dramatically harm the quality of life for farmers who rely o n
Image: Stephanie McKinnon
impossible to consider other things like protecting the planet or sustainability of practise. Fairtrade can lift that burden and enable producers to take a structured approach to improving their production methods and overall product. Fairtrade farmers are also experiencing specific challenges related to climate change. The seasons are becoming less predictable which leads to sporadic rainfall and failed crop yields. Many products are limited to within a certain range that they can grow. For example, tea is very
conditions create the perfect breeding ground for a fungal disease called black pod which is a blight on cocoa farms which spreads rapidly and destroys crops. This combination of factors can devastate farmers who are already suffering. Another upcoming challenge is Brexit. At the moment, trade deals with other countries do not exist and it is unknown what the impact will be on producers and their trade. It is worrying as the biggest problem producers can face is lack of market access. These farmers and workers are unwaged and only earn from what they can
selling t h e i r products in the UK. Brexit policy makers must realise that it is not just about what is best for the UK. While 80 per cent of people surveyed support Fairtrade and think it is important that farmers aren’t exploited, there is a tangible divide between what they advocate for and what they purchase. Some people are passionate about helping keep farmers out of poverty and will make concerted efforts to buy products that best align with their values. When confronted with the option, many people would genuinely like to buy Fairtrade, but are limited by
what is available and visible to them when they go shopping. The Fairtrade Foundation’s work not only aids the start of the process and the certification of the farms, it also drives growth of the market for Fairtrade products in the UK and connects companies with Fairtrade producers that they can strike meaningful, long-term contracts with. It is important to note that Fairtrade does not necessarily end up as a premium on prices the consumer pays. Retail pricing is very detached from the production process and bears very little relationship with what goes to farmers. Chocolate, for example, is a £4 billion industry in the UK, though a lot of cocoa farmers in West Africa live well below the poverty line. Fairtrade products range from budgetfriendly chocolate and coffee in supermarkets, to artisanal and luxury items. There is enough variety to fit any student budget. It is crucial to remember that nonFairtrade items are “dirt cheap” because the famers pay the price in human misery. Awareness is crucial to the Fairtrade foundation’s mission; while Fairtrade standards are numerous and extensive, there is a simplicity to the concept. We have access to a trusted mark that promises to improve lives of producers that have faced exploitation, starvation, instability and more. As a movement and a system, Fairtrade is having an undeniable impact and changing lives. The UK based foundation certifies products from the gold in a wedding ring, to tomatoes on a weekly shop and the vodka for your night out. We as consumers can be a part of this and buy Fairtrade when possible. We just need to remind ourselves that we possess the power to lobby governments and brands for sustainably ethically sourced produce. If you would like to know more about the Fairtrade Foundation go to www.fairtrade.org.uk
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Friday 13 March 2020
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Opinion
Jack Mattless and Jack Redfern Opinion Editors
Hi folks, Staying true to the spirit of SU Officer Election results being announced, we’ve gone a bit crazy here at Opinion with an election bonanza special! On this page we’ve got some pertinent thoughts on what’s gone wrong with this year’s Officer Elections from the Chair of Societies
Committee, while Alice Greenwood Bliss gives her thoughts on this year’s International Women’s Day theme. Over the page, three contributors stake their claim for who they think should take victory in Labour’s forthcoming leadership contest, whilst Ben Liddle goes for the chaotic neutral option and suggests that whoever wins, the party remains on course for another defeat in 2024. Enjoy!
Society endorsments are problematic for SU democracy Sameh Kamel ElBadry Chair of Societies Comittee
Endorsements were introduced this year to “politicise our societies, and encourage them to get involved in Officer elections.” I can safely say none of this has worked. It was a complete shambles. Societies Committee lobbied hard to prevent this from happening and had little confidence in its implementation. Neither candidates or student groups were informed properly and the guidelines proposed failed to provide basic assurances. One of our main concerns was that most endorsements would arise because a candidate knew someone from that society - and I can safely say that was true in 90 per cent of the cases I saw as a campaign manager. We saw cultural societies endorsing for Sports Officer, departmental societies endorsing for International Students Officer - all endorsements which don’t really make sense on paper, but do if you know the
candidates are friendly with the society. The guidelines on society endorsements were poorly written by the SU, allowing campaigns to approach societies before candidate names were announced, leading to some candidates securing nominations early on. Societies were never asked if they wanted endorsements to happen. We saw several societies flat out refuse to endorse candidates due to its poor inactment. This was highlighted by English Society, who said “they were given short notice to make a decision and not enough time to consult their members.” Rather than “politicising our societies”, this rule change has only led to a spam of posts from all candidates whenever they had a new endorsement. The election became more about who you knew, rather than each candidate’s manifesto and experience. Despite many societies refusing to endorse this year, I can easily foresee a future situation
where the winner of each election will be decided by who knows the most societies - that should never be the case. I suggest the SU focuses on fixing every other element of this year’s Officer elections, such as the very low number of candidates across most of the positions. Perhaps publicising the election to students throughout the year would be better than focusing on society endorsements. Or even trying to engage with students outside of the SU bubble, which make up the majority of the voting population, rather than trying to increase engagement through societies, who are already highly engaged with the SU. A lack of society engagement with Officer elections was never the issue. There is a systemic problem with elections and democracy within the SU which may be addressed via the upcoming democracy review. However, society endorsements were never the answer to these
electoral problems and have served to convey the importance of listening to relevant committees and societies before making a decision, rather than trying to fix a problem that never existed to begin with.
The introduction of endorsements saw the highest voter turnout we’ve ever seen in the Officer Elections at the SU. We believe this speaks for itself in how positively student groups, who are at the heart of our SU, engaged with this election - Beren Maddison and Alex Adams, ROs
Alice Greenwood Bliss on what this year’s IWD theme gets wrong Alice Greenwood Bliss Opinion Contributor
International Women’s Day (IWD) took place last week and the focus this year was on ‘collective
individualism’, a phrase which seems to bite its own tongue on explanation. As collectivism purports the priority of the group over the self, whereas individualism prioritises the importance of the
Image: Molly Adams
individuals, the combination seems to negate itself. Or, on further inspection to foreground both the individual and the collective, recognising the ways the thoughts and actions of the individual can influence progression within a system. This implies an emphasis on the importance of accountability and self-reflection. These are both vital to the feminist movement, in terms of issues such as consent and negative stereotyping, essentially with issues within the feminist movement which involve deconstructing the self and evaluating what motivates you and what of that to let go. Aside from IWD, this is an important learning process for all areas of life. However, based on the official IWD website, the movement lacks real direction. Where accountability and self-reflection are necessary in the move towards equality, without
explicitly targeting any real areas of concern, #eachforequal is nothing but empty neoliberal token politics. While the website does briefly state its aims to ‘“challenge stereotypes, fight bias, broaden perceptions, improve situations and celebrate women’s achievements”, without naming any specific stereotypes or biases to dismantle, without reinforcing any real movement, these claims are meaningless. Additionally, the website asserts that ‘equality is not a women’s issue, it’s a business and community issue’, relocating the fight for gender equality within the workplace. While gender equality within the workplace is important, to relocate feminism to the workplace is to relocate feminism within an uncompromisingly capitalist system. This not only ignores feminism at the intersection of sex, class, race, orientation; it directly
undermines this second realisation of feminism. It’s a strategy that ignores the most vulnerable women in society: those without a job, women who are victims of sexual assault and harassment, women who were not born women, or those who no longer comfortably identify as women. The feminism of collective individualism is aimed at specifically middle class women, and without real direction it ultimately comes to nothing. Accountability and self-reflection are necessary and must be exercised continually, but they must be focussed, plus they must look for realistic and palpable ways to affect the wider community.
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Opinion
Who should be the next leader of the Labour Party? Lisa Nandy is the ‘only candidate offering a real alternative’ Grace Mainwaring Opinion Contributor
Lisa Nandy MP Image: Chris McAndrew
Socialism, Corbynism, whichever term you use, failed to win over the electorate. If there is one rule for winning an election, it is that a party must appeal to a broad range of individuals, including those who usually vote Conservative. Rebecca Long-Bailey’s recent ‘ten out of ten’ review of Corbyn’s leadership does little to show an understanding of this. The December election was the most humiliating and devastating loss to the Labour Party since 1935, it seems unlikely the puritanical left can face reality and simultaneously win over this country. Those voting for Rebecca Long-Bailey would be happy with a socialist Labour Party out of power than a more compromising version in it. For those who still get mistyeyed at the sight of Tony Blair giving an interview on The Andrew Marr Show, Keir Starmer may appear the obvious answer to the party’s current woes. Yet, this country needs
a leader who is going to address the issues of today. The 2008 crash, ten years of austerity and the rise of the far right have all shown that people are crying out for change. My concern with a move in Starmer’s proposed direction is that Labour risks once again neglecting the same issues it did in the 00s. The climate crisis, the disillusioned north, London centrism and ignoring the problems that led to Brexit in the first place. Climate change above all is an issue in paramount need of innovative and radical policies. Capitalism has gone too far; we can no longer sustain the extremely unrestricted consumerism that damages people and the planet while profiting those at the top. Centrism, or business as usual, be that the centrism of the BlairBrown era or a continuation of the Corbyn project, is not going to solve anything. My priorities go beyond my personal ideology, if we have a fully functioning NHS and a country tackling climate change head-on, I do not care whether the government
are ardent followers of Karl Marx or not. The only candidate offering a real alternative is Lisa Nandy. Her words that ‘Labour must change or die’ exemplify how she most astutely recognises the scale of the task ahead. She represents Wigan, a constituency that voted to leave, which having elected Nandy, a Remainer, demonstrates she is an MP willing to listen, rather than chastise and castigate. 52 per cent of this country voted Leave and Labour will not win their votes by writing them off as gullible racists. She is outside the London-centric bubble Starmer hails from, she in touch with the country as a whole while acknowledging Corbyn’s leadership was key in Labour’s catastrophic loss. Her performances on political broadcasts like The Andrew Neil Show have shown she is quick and articulate, witty and sharp. She is not a preened politician, she is relatable. The electorate have shown they have an appetite for difference, and she can satisfy it.
Benjamin Nealon makes the case for Keir Starmer Benjamin Nealon Opinion Contributor
Keir Starmer, named after Labour’s first parliamentary leader, Keir Hardie, has an astonishing past. The son of a toolmaker and a nurse, he studied law, graduating from the University of Leeds in 1985 with a first class Bachelor of Laws. As a barrister specialising in human rights, he always defended the vulnerable in society. Most notably, he worked for Helen Steel and David Morris in the McLibel case, in which the fast food conglomerate, McDonald’s, filed a libel case against the two environmental activists. The case was described by the media as a ‘David and Goliath battle’. This sums up Keir Starmer; he has always stood up for the powerless against the powerful. In 2008, Starmer became Director of Public Prosecutions and the Head of the Crown Prosecution Service. He ran the 6,000-person department for five years, giving
him valuable leadership experience that will help if he’s to run the largest political party in Western Europe. As a practiced lawyer, he has the precise mind needed to catch lies, always remaining calm, factual and thoughtful.
Keir vows to bring together different wings of the party I went to see Starmer speak at Sheffield Hallam University in early February. The lecture theatre was full to bursting, the audience hanging off every word. ‘We cannot fight the Tories if we are fighting each other,” he said, a statement which was met with thunderous applause. This is what’s at the core of his leadership bid, unity. Something that has been scarce within Labour over the last few years. His main opposition, Rebecca Long-Bailey is seen as the
‘continuity Corbyn’ candidate, being closely surrounded by familiar Corbyn allies such as Len McCluskey. Alternatively, Keir vows to bring together the Blairite and Corbynite wings of the party rather than quashing one in favour of the other. Keir has spoken highly of the radicalism that has developed within the party since 2015 and that it’s needed to win; he won’t abandon Labour’s true values if he becomes leader. He intends to use the 2017 manifesto as a ‘foundational document’ to base Labour’s future on. Labour undoubtedly have a rough few years ahead. But enduring four-and-a-half years of an 80seat Conservative majority does not mean all is lost. Keir started at the bottom and worked his entire life to get to where he is. He is capable of deconstructing Johnson’s lies at the dispatch box effectively. He is the most qualified candidate and he can win in 2024.
Keir Starmer MP Image: Chris McAndrew
Forge Press
Friday 13 March 2020
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Opinion
Forge Press Election Special Rebecca Long-Bailey will build on Corbynism and take on Boris Johnson, argues Joshua Thory-Rao Joshua Thory-Rao Opinion Contributor
Rebecca Long-Bailey MP Image: Chris McAndrew
With election defeat comes the inevitable leadership contest for the Labour Party, and the emergence of the two front runners can essentially be boiled down to a ‘pragmatic’ candidate who will take the party back to the ‘glory days’ of Blair, and a continuity Corbyn candidate who will build on the change Corbyn has made in the party. What we have is the culmination of the factional battle which has been raging within the party since 2015; whoever wins will have control over the direction of the party in the near future. Many view the Corbyn era, particularly 2019, as a loss for the left and a rejection of left-wing politics. I see it as more of a wakeup call. In 2017, Theresa May’s plan to increase her majority was thwarted, and although Labour did not win the election, it geared them up to build on the gains. This unfortunately wasn’t
possible in 2019, for many reasons. Regardless, it’s disingenuous to claim that Corbynism didn’t rejuvenate the Labour Party, a party
Labour needs to reinforce its position as a party that can represnt the working class and continue to build a mass movement leaking votes consistently before 2017 for two decades after Blair’s first victory. Membership surged, and policies which should have allowed Labour to reconnect with millions of working-class voters were brought to the forefront. I find Rebecca Long-Bailey, like Corbyn, to be very relatable. There’s a sort of normality about them; they could be your colleague, you could meet them down the pub – this is important for connecting with
voters. With Labour now out of power for a decade, there’s an eagerness by some to field a candidate who will be an ‘acceptable face’ of the party – someone who the right-wing papers will not vilify because they are essentially in agreement with them. Blair did this in 1997 to an extent. But this isn’t John Major we’re up against, it’s Boris Johnson. Fielding a ‘moderate’ candidate against a populist is not a good idea, as the 2016 US presidential election showed us. Labour needs to reenforce its position as a party that can represent the working class and continue to build a mass movement to win back seats across the country in 2024. Overall, Rebecca Long-Bailey is the only leadership candidate who will build on Corbynism in order to maintain a strong anti-austerity, anti-imperialist opposition to the Tory government, challenge media smears, and inspire working class people who lent their vote to Johnson last year to return to Labour.
Whoever wins, we all lose says Ben Liddle Ben Liddle Opinion Contributor
The Labour leadership contest is currently going on, being fought between Sir Keir Starmer, Rebecca Long-Bailey and Lisa Nandy, not that most people have noticed. You’d assume that the chance to select a new leader for the first time in almost half a decade would cause an upsurge of interest in the Labour Party, as happened when Jeremy Corbyn unexpectedly won in 2015. Yet the prevailing feeling around the contest isn’t one of excitement or intrigue but rather one of apathy with the majority of the public likely unable to identify the candidates let alone be bothered with their proposed policies. Despite the results being declared in just under a month even the media aren’t paying much attention to the contest, instead rightly focusing on coronavirus. But even before the outbreak, the media was far more focused on the soap opera politics
around Boris Johnson and Dominic Cumming’s conflict with the Civil Service and the gossip surrounding it. But who could blame the media or the public? The three candidates are all as mediocre, vacuous and uninspiring as each other.
The three candidates are all as mundane, vacuous and uninspiring as each other All three virtually sound the same with all regurgitating meaningless clichés and platitudes created by some faceless spin doctor such as offering ‘change’ and all claiming to be the one able to regain the formerly Labour safe seats lost in the last election, whilst having no sensible ideas. The worst for this is Keir Starmer, the current frontrunner. He is the
worst kind of politician; smooth, good at public relations but ultimately the same as what we have had for the last 20 years. He for some reason is seen as the one to set a clear policy on Brexit even though he was the one of the architects behind Labour’s unclear policy for the last three years. Lisa Nandy is much the same, saying a lot whilst being light on the specifics and Rebecca Long-Bailey is just a continuation of Corbyn who the electorate have just resoundingly rejected. This is bad for the country. Our system relies on a strong opposition who prevent the government becoming arrogant and sloppy. It is as a result of the weak Labour opposition that has kept an incompetent Conservative Party in office for the last decade and who will ultimately probably allow them to remain so for the foreseeable future.
Image: Simplelcon
forgetoday.com
16
Lifestyle
Em Evans and Taylor Ogle Lifestyle Editors
Friday 20 March marks the first day of spring, so make sure you check out Taylor’s piece on spring lambing at Whirlow Hall Farm, a perfect place to visit with family and friends as the warmer days start creeping in. With that, planning trips for when university timetables come to a halt is one of the most satisfying activities to do - check out Em’s piece on the best festivals set to
happen this summer that you might not have heard of before. Alternatively, if you’re looking for something a little unconventional, we have a piece on dark tourism destinations in Northern England. They’re all wonderfully weird with some quite creepy backstories. London’s spring Fashion Week came to a close a few weeks ago and it was one that ought to be remembered. Have a read of Aimee and Weronika’s highlights from the week.
London Fashion Week 2020 highlights London’s Spring Fashion Week took place from the 14th - 18th February, hosting an array of global designers to present their new collections. Here are Weronika and Aimee’s take on the week and what their personal highlights were. Weronika Wawrzuta Lifestyle Contributor
It’s fair to say that London’s Spring Fashion Week was great. One thing’s for sure, London, as the first of four global fashion weeks, gave the industry a solid kickstart showcasing authenticity, the power of youthfulness and raised questions about fashion’s state of sustainability. From crème de la crème of mainstays like Burberry, Victoria Beckham, Erdem or Christopher Kane, the audience could also admire the freshness of newcomers such as Petar Petrov, Molly Goddard as well as talents from the Central Saint Martins MA show. London Fashion Week takes place twice a year, in February and September, bringing
Aimee Cooper Lifestyle Contributor
Adam Jones Never have up-cycled tea towels, blankets, ribbons and beer mats ever looked so good! Adam Jones is a British designer whose label creates unisex clothing which is easy to wear, bold and inventive. Adam’s work has even been photographed by Marrio Sorrenti, known for his work in Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. Anita Berisha A self-taught designer whose brand offers stunning jewellery
together the most prestigious fashion designers, international influencers, and retailers. The British Fashion Council spread awareness about ethics by launching The Positive Fashion Exhibition, “to discover new brands and immersive experiences that explore the most compelling stories around sustainability, craftsmanship and ethics, as we invite designers, innovators and progressive businesses to tell their story and demonstrate how things are made, educating and inspiring audiences on the positive changes within the industry.” It is hard to grasp the fluctuating levels of creativity that London represents, yet British designers know how to stick in the audience’s mind by establishing new trends. Two designers looked
for inspiration entirely from the past: Erdem, who celebrated the beauty of the early 20th century and Simone Rocha, who paid tribute to Ireland’s coastal communities. For Erdem, an arbiter of merging the glamour of the past with the pulse of our present, the beginning of a new decade seemed an appropriate moment to modernise references to the past: Inspired by Cecil Beaton’s Bright Young Things exhibition from the 1920’s, the show displayed silver dresses shimmering over silken patterns, feathered headgear proudly adorning models’ heads and timeless narrow trousers leaving a sense of elegance. Amid the abundance of embellished headpieces, one humble detail stood out the most - a bobby pin,
securing almost every hairstyle on the runway, complimenting silver-foil lids of models. Simone Rocha’s show glowed sheer poetry with her saying “sea salt eyes, ribbons and ties, fishermen’s nets catching pearls” painted a feminine, nostalgic portrait of childhood, entangled in white lace veils and tulle, black coats with stitching and dramatic layers. Burberry made a fierce appearance during the week as modernist designer Riccardo Tisci presented his third Burberry collection, which paid tribute to the Victorian era. Standouts included a new twist on the classic trench coats and checkered patterns, with a lot of sparkle towards the finale. A point worth mentioning is that the collection
used only faux fur which is a huge step towards sustainability following the 2018 scandal whereby Burberry was shown to burn all unsold merchandise, from clothes, perfume and accessories. The show hosted plenty of celebrity models including Bella and Gigi Hadid, Kendall Jenner, Irina Shayk and Joan Smalls. For Christopher Kane, the use of geometric shapes resembled a scene from the Garden of Eden. The designer discovered that the “triangle is the most powerful, strong shape in nature” on which he built a strong collection of patchwork dresses, coats, with triangled-shaped lacy lingerie.
inspired by nature. Anita’s jewellery is made from recycled materials and has already been recognised by Vogue, Elle, Vanity Fair and Forbes to name but a few. Her delicate yet striking jewellery is ready to wear and stocked by Net-A-Porter.
Stay Wild Swim has been stocked in Selfridges in the ‘Bright New things 2019/20’ curated edit.
attention to detail and waste consideration at the core of its designs. Maraschin supports handmade production techniques such as crochet and as a result, creates high-quality pieces which have the environment in mind.
light to fulfil the ultimate bag-onthe-go necessities. Among other materials, these bags are made from recycled coffee cups.
Stay Wild Swim The ultimate sustainable swimwear brand; their products are created from regenerated ocean plastic, proving that fashion can be kind to the environment whilst looking incredible. This brand should also be noted for its message of body positivity.
Ssōne Championing the movement towards a zero-waste fashion industry, Ssōne uses offcuts and vintage fabrics to bring stunning designs to life. This elegant womenswear brand, only twoyears-old, is already causing a stir in the fashion scene and is a brand to watch Joao Maraschin This season, Joao Maraschin launched his brand which has
Faldan Focused on smart design, and founded by former UN climate negotiator Laura Hanning, Faldan creates luxury foldable bags. Faldan’s aim is to reduce the use of plastic bags and designs bags which can be used in any situation. Their bags are created with sustainable materials that are durable and
Forge Press
Friday 13 March 2020
17
Lifestyle
Spring in Sheffield: lambing at Whirlow Taylor Ogle Lifestyle Editor
With February in the rear-view mirror and March roaring in with winds and rain, spring is well on its way. As university students, it’s easy to be sucked into the depths of Western Bank library or the IC for days without emerging, but it’s undeniably valuable to acknowledge the increasing sunlight and the changes in the natural world around us. One lively, lovely, almost-spring activity is going to see lambing. Whirlow Hall Farm is a charity and working farm that is open to visitors from Wednesday to Sunday every week. At this time of year, their sheep have loads of new arrivals as lambing is well underway. So far, 150 lambs have been born from 78 ewes at the farm, and with a short bus journey and a small walk, you can visit them! On Sunday, the farm held ‘Sheepy Sunday’, a free event that allowed visitors to venture into their lambing barns to ‘ooh’ and ‘aww’ at the fluffy, bleating new arrivals. Upon entering
the lambing barn, you’re greeted with a cacophony of bleats and rustling hay, as well as the palpable admiration of visitors as they squealed over the lambs and their proud mothers. There was an abundance of farm volunteers scattered around the space to answer visitors’ questions and queries, but some simply couldn’t hide their own entrancement with the babes. This isn’t all the farm has to offer, though it may be hard to tear yourself away from the picturesque creatures. Back in the main square, there lies the lovely Cruck Barn Cafe. The old stone building offers a warming refuge from the cold gusts outside with heaters lining the traditional stone walls. Its large timber beams overhead transport you away from essay deadlines and academic stress that plague students around midterms. The large wooden tables encourage community and conversation nestled in the rustic embrace of the cafe. Gratefully, the prices for hot drinks and snacks are reasonable, at
approximately £2.50 for a latte, but the generous proportions more than make up for any financial hesitation. The farm has a small shop that offers a range of ice creams and free range eggs, a petting barn to where you can admire other animals like rabbits and goats, and a number of small archaeological exhibitions to peak the interest of anyone historically minded. The location of the farm is also ideal if you want to make an entire Outdoor Day out of the outing; there are a series of public footpaths either through or near the farm as well as a close proximity to both the Peak District and Ecclesall Woods. All in all, this is a wonderful and low-budget event to get back to nature and bust out of a tedious study routing as well as a great excuse to drag a friend along (if not for sociability, but for pictures). Transport: You can rely on the 272 to take you almost the entire way to the farm (it’s about a six minute walk from the stop)
Contact: As the farm is a charity, there are loads of volunteer opportunities if you’re interested in working with animals, the outdoors, or adding to your CV. You can contact Whirlow Hall Farm Trust via their website at https://www. whirlowhallfarm.org/food-drink/.
Top UK festivals for summer break
When the word ‘festival’ comes up in conversation, more often than not there is an implication of music and dancing at the likes of Glastonbury, Leeds/Reading or Tramlines. Yet there are so many other types of festivals happening this summer, and this piece will hopefully give you some ideas of places to visit that you might have never heard of before. Em Evans Lifestyle Editor
Soul Circus Situated in the Cotswolds hills, Soul Circus is a wellbeing festival where yoga, glitter and DJs merge into one incredible weekend. The day welcomes those with a passion for mindfulness to an array of workshops and calming activities, from easy-going fitness sessions to hip-hop yoga. The night offers burlesque dance lessons where you can shortly head off to the after-parties that play anything from Jungle to Drum and Bass, all with the intention of making you sizzle on the dancefloor.
Beer Festivals The option to try out various types of beers has never been easier whether you prefer ales, stouts or a classic lager, beer festivals are the perfect place to get adventurous with drinks. For those up north, Kendal’s summer beer festival entices those from all over the country, for the Lake District’s views is not one to miss whilst sipping local brews. For those down south, Ealing Beer Festival is happening this July with over 500 different ales, wines and ciders on offer at just £5 a ticket. Located in the stunning Walpole Park, this is absolutely a date to remember.
The Great British Food Festival If you haven’t heard of The Great British Food Festival, this is absolutely one to put into your diary. With ten events taking place across the UK this summer, there is no excuse to give this one a miss. All events take place in and around the UK’s most beautiful castles and abbeys, where you can get a taste of the most spectacular street food vendors and BBQs. Their legendary ‘Bake Off’ will surely be happening this summer, with the addition of cooking school for the youngsters. But, if that doesn’t take your fancy, with ticket prices starting at just £7.50, why not just go along and soak up the summer sun with a fruity cocktail?
Laugh in the Park In the heart of Norwich’s city centre, the annual comedy festival is taking place to host a “stellar line-up of acts” that will be sure to give you a right good laugh. Taking place from 23-26 July, artists such as Matt Richardson, Allyson June Smith and four-piece comedy collective The Noise Next Door are all performing in the beautiful Chapelfield Gardens this summer. Laugh in the Park Festival is one that is typically enjoyed over the course of a day and ticket prices start at a mere £23 including booking fee.
London Dessert Festival Taking place in mid-August, London’s annual Dessert Festival is back to celebrate all things sweet “as creativity, innovation and originality collide” into one candied weekend. From donuts to ice cream, cookies and cocktails, this food festival isn’t one to miss if you have a sweet tooth! The venue hasn’t yet been announced so if this weekend sounds up your street, keep your eyes peeled for further information on their website - londondessertfestival. com.
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forgetoday.com
Lifestyle
Off-beat tourism in Northern England Claire Gelhaus Head of Design
Northern England is home to many weird and wonderful travel destinations that not many people know about. Here are twelve places in Northern England that are a must-see for those who enjoy something a little more uncoventional in their travel plans. Gaping Gill Gaping Gill is an underground waterfall and cavern, large enough to fit a cathedral is truly an underground tourist attraction. Visitors take a long walk from nearby Clapham through the Yorkshire Dales National Park to reach the winch that lowers you through the hole for an amazing view. Wear waterproof clothing and bring a torch, and be prepared to arrive at the entrance before opening at 9, because even then visitors have queued up. Crackpot Hall At the top of a hill in Swaledale, Crackpot Hall is an abandoned farmhouse linked to the story of a feral young girl. It has since been accepted that the girl, Alice, lived in the house with her family and was allowed to roam freely barefoot, however, the ruins remain as an eerie and beautiful lookout over
the valley. Crackpot Hall is only accessible by foot from either Keld or Muker. It is situated approximately 1 mile east of Keld, at grid reference NY906008, in the middle of the Yorkshire Dales.
nuclear activities and hold up to 60 people for two weeks. It was even put on top alert during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Now, it has been restored by English Heritage and is available for tours on weekends.
Swaledale Corpse Way Nearby Crackpot Hall winds an old 16-mile long footpath created over years of commoners carrying their dead to the nearest church. Without a horse and cart, the medieval path even has a flat stone placed alongside it by the bridge over the River Swale to hold the coffin for a rest. A headless black dog is even said to roam nearby this bridge, an omen of death. Bring your boots and start at the village of Keld.
Red Telephone Box Graveyard For an adventure and photo opportunity, try to find the Red Telephone Box Graveyard in the village of Carlton Miniott. Hundreds of old telephone boxes wait patiently to be refurbished and sold for many uses behind a service station on Carlton Road.
objects to discover, by checklist as there isn’t a map.
The Gordale Scar The Gordale Scar is a deep ravine in the Yorkshire Dales, with a waterfall and steep cliff that inspired poetry by Wordsworth, art hanging in the Tate, and was even included in movies. Nearby to Gordale Scar is a place called Malham Cove which is famous for a scene in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 that was filmed on its limestone pavement. The cliff is about 260 feet tall, and is accessible by car park and then a short walk to the cliff face, followed by steps to an amazing view of the Dales and the famous filming location.
York Cold War Bunker The York Cold War Bunker opened in 1961 by the Royal Observer Corps in the case of nuclear war to monitor
Eyam Plague Village The village of Eyam in the Peak District made the decision in 1666 to quarantine themselves from
Forbidden Corner The combination maze and sculpture garden makes this place full of weird
The Forbidden Corner markets itself as the “strangest place in the world”
Annesley Hall, Nottinghamshire Image: Neil Theasby
neighboring villages and reduce the spread of the Bubonic Plague. 260 villagers died, almost double the mortality rate in London, but the spread was reduced. Today Edam’s past is still kept alive and they market themselves as “The Plague Village.” You can see the boundary line stone money was left on in exchange for food left a day later, graves, and the church. Buxton Blue Lagoon Horribly dangerous, the ‘lagoon’ caused by chemicals in limestone from an old quarry has a toxic PH the same as bleach and included dead animals, abandoned vehicles, and other rubbish. Recently dyed black to deter visitors, it’s definitely a ‘look, don’t touch’ situation. Annesley Hall An old estate since abandoned, Annesley Hall in Nottingham is most known for the ghost stories surrounding it. Beautiful and set at the edge of the Sherwood forest, it fits the description of a ‘haunted house.’ Not open for visits and on private land, it can be viewed from the Old Church and Churchyard. Bell Inn Caves The man-made cave system below the reputedly haunted Bell Inn Pub in Nottingham is from the 12th century and has once been used as a kitchen and dormitory. There are
The Forbidden Corner, Middleham Image: Forbidden Corner, Wikimedia Commons
even two wells in the caves from which spring water was used to brew beer.
The pub has been open since 1437, and the caves which have been expanded over centuries now act as a cellar. They are accessible through a door next to the men’s room, but not open. Tours are available at certain times of the year, and there’s even a clear window in the floor that looks down into one of the wells. Rhubarb Triangle The Rhubarb Triangle are a series of farms that grow rhubarb off season, in the cover of dark sheds and candle light. The Rhubarb supposedly grows so fast that you can hear it ‘sing,’ as it pops and squeaks. By this method the vegetable is supposed to taste better and is valued by chefs. Visits in Wakefield with E.Oldroyd & Sons Ltd., a Rick Stein Food Hero Producer, can be arranged from January to March.
Gaping Gill, Clapham Image: Mjobling, Wikimedia Commons
forgetoday.com
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Luke Baldwin and Alicia Hannah Break Editors
Break
Hello you lovely lot, it’s another issue of Forge Press which meaning another dollop of your favourite section...Screen. Seriously go read their review of The Invisible Man. It’s very written, probably by someone incredibly witty and handsome. I imagine. In other news Graduation dates have been announced! For many the
What SU Officer role are you? Science What are your thoughts on democracy and free speech? People? Speaking freely!? To the gulag!
Our Shop
Silly idea, it will never happen!
An offensive Something racial with a stereotype. message or Arriba! political
Definitely, for the environmental reasons alone
Pepsi
Coke
President
Education
Is it okay to haze new society members ?
It’s something to work towards, but maybe over time
How many Varsity events have you attended?
Absolutely Neither, both are capitalist poison
Ill pop in now and then
Ofcourse, it’s just a joke bro
No, chicken is life Should Uni be free?
Nay
Grapefruit Would you ever consider a plant based diet?
Coke or Pepsi?
Yay
Second home
Pop Tarts
No
Amazing idea!
ISO
ROAR
Pineapple on pizza, yay or nay?
How often are you in the SU?
Where?
New Leaf
Your ideal fancy dress costume?
Microwaves in the SU, discuss?
Social Science
Go-to SU night out?
Grill n Go
Are you an international student?
Yes
Arts and Humanities
Engineering
Go-to SU food outlet? Love it!
Watching our new officers land their dream jobs has probably got you feeling a little bit envious. Maybe next year you should run? But for which role, they’re all so vague! Well fear not, Break has you covered, as always. Take our simple quiz and find out which role is perfect for you!
Easy start, what faculty are you in?
Medicine, Dentistry and Health
IC No
Less than five
Development
SPort
Activities
Are you a woman?
Yes
Mac or PC?
Best library?
Do you play a sport?
More than five
No
Obviously not, why would a grown adult think that’s okay?
Yes Probably not
end is in sight, the looming threat of adulthood creeping over the horizon. Still at least you get to wear one of those silly hats and robes (and pay 80 quid for the privilege). And of course we have our new set of SU Officers, all mildly different from the previous lot. I’m sure they’ll do all sorts of great work like...ummm...hmmm...look puzzles!
PC
Mac
Diamond Western Bank
Welfare
WOmen’s
Forge Press
Friday 13 March 2020
21
Sheffessions Dating
GOING OUT-OUT
mates
...EVERYTHING ELSE
http://_Sheffessions
PUZZLES sudoku
#Sheffession8825 I just found out women don’t pee out of their vagina My girlfriend is now giving me a sex ed lesson and I’m learning a lot #Sheffession8803 Thought I’d heard it all until someone explained how to go down on a girl with The actions from Bop It! #Sheffession8746 Day 108 of not having sex: a boy smiled at me at the self checkouts and I was ready to be his unexpected item in the bagging area right then and there #Sheffession8737 Nothing I hate more than pulling too early in Pop Tarts and they’re like “shall we go”? Umm no babes, Breaking Free is still two hours away and Tay Tay is coming right up. Shagging you is important but not that important #Sheffession8735 I want to shag Roary, does it make me a furry?
#Sheffession8785 So this week is a bit of a weird one for me, as it marks 1 year since my first suicide attempt. This week I think a couple of things. 1.) The idea that a year ago I was in a place where I couldn’t see the good life has to offer. 2.) How it would have left my family and friends broken. 3.) How many other people are or have been in the same position. In the end I was ‘saved’ by friends when they didn’t know what was going on and I’m grateful for what they’ve all done for me. Do me a favour: talk to and check on your pals. #Sheffession8751 Im a final year international student. Im pretty average looking so im secretly happy that a local brit boi finally said i “look piff” and am a “peng ting”. I’ve experienced the full british culture now. Im ready to graduate and go home.
1
#Sheffession8822 Broke my shoes so having to wear my corp shoes in real life #Sheffession8814 I’m a queen that performs at Grapefruit. Can we just appreciate the acceptance and support of all who come and scream? We Stan #Sheffession8786 basically still drunk, got with my first girl in RAINBOW ROAR last night after coming out. Tbh I didn’t get her actual name but I think its Emily or Amy . Please help me find my missing rainbow fairy so I can live my magical Sheffield fairytale. P.S she is blonde and fit x #Sheffession8773 Hangover shits are called alcoplops don’t even @ me #Sheffession8758 Why drunk me decided to tape my boobs up with SELLOTAPE I don’t know, safe to say my night ended in pain and tears and drunk me is on time out
2
3
Kakuro
Word Wheel How many words can you find in the word wheel? Each word must contain the central letter and be at least 3 letters long. Unless it appears twice, you can’t use letters twice either. Proper nouns are fine with me.
#Sheffession8823 At the age of 19 I still will walk on a smooth road surface and think ‘this would be perfect for heelying’ #Sheffession8810 You: John’s Van Me, an intellectual: Johnathan’s Vehicle #Sheffession8806 After a month and a half of barely having enough food, and taking IC bog roll home, I finally managed to get a job. Bought Andrex, and oh, it’s like angels licking my butthole #Sheffession8802 Today, half asleep, I tied my hair up into a scrunchie and headed to the IC. Upon coming back home and getting ready to take a shower, I took the scrunchie out of my bun to only realize that I had in fact used a thong to hold my hair in place the entire day. #Sheffession8776 The number of times I see someone leaving the IC toilets without washing their hands is actually a disgrace. Wash your hands you DETTY PIG
U O
N G
D E S
A R
Place a digit from 1-9 in each of the empty squares. Each column and row should add up to the number to the left and above. Columns and rows cannot have repeated numbers. It’s like sudoku but with more maths. Fun!
22
Spotlight
What’s On
Dream catcher making underpass Say farewell to bad dreams after this mindful and creative workshop. Part of ‘Wellbeing Wednesdays’ Wednesday 18 March Gallery Room 2 5:30-7:30pm Tickets £4.40 (res life £2.20)
PLATFORM FESTIVAL
forgetoday.com
2 May In the spirit of SU Officer Elections, SU President Jake Verity recently launched his SU music festival, with a load of acts set to defend on Sheffield Students’ Union just after Easter. Tickets are £22 for the first phase release, and are on sale on on the SU Box Office website. Keep an eye out for more act announcements online and on Facebook.
Friday 13 March - Monday 23 March
afrodance workshop Wednesday 18 March 6-7pm Studio, SU Join the West Indian and Afrodance societies as they bring together the two genres of dancehall and afrobeats! Features unisex choreogeaphy and no experience is requried! Just lots of fun and a good sweat! Wear sportswear and bring water. Tickets £4.40 (res life £2.20)
Friday 13-15 March Platform festival is a weekend long festival at our SU which raises money for Cavendish Cancer Care whilst promoting the arts. Immerse yourself with a weekend experience of theatre, music, art, film and so much more! Day passes: £5, weekend passes £10.
film night: the true cost Sleepout to speak out Tuesday 17 March 7:30-9:30pm Nelson Mandela Auditorium. Come along to the screening of ‘The True Cost’ to find out the dark secrets of fast-fashion and how you can help make a sustainable impact. Hosted by the Just Love committee. Free, BYO snacks!
Monday 23 to Tuesday 24 March 8pm start, 6am the next day finish. SU concourse Sleep Out to Speak Out a fundraising event to raise money for local Sheffield based charities who support the homeless. You’ll spend the night outside underneath the concourse next to the Student’s Union. Tickets £5 and they ask for a minimum sponsorship
of just £30 with all proceeds distributed between the five selected homeless charities. During the event you’ll hear a number of local charity talks and discussions surrounding homelessness at both a local and national level. The five charities are: Cathedral Archer Project, Roundabout, Ben’s Centre, The Sunday Centre, The Sunday Centre and St. Wilfrid’s Centre.
SU OFFICER ELECTIONS
2020
27 candidates 8 winners Forge Media
HOW DOES THE ALTERNATIVE VOTE
1st Round
SYSTEM WORK? Sheffield Students’ Union uses a system known as ‘Alternative Vote’ for its elections, to ensure the results are fair.
When voting, you select all the candidates you want to vote for, including ‘Reopen Nominations’, by order of preference. The candidate with the least first-preference votes is eliminated, and their votes redistributed. This process continues until someone has more than 50% of votes, and then they’re declared the winner.
2nd Round
3rd round r!
winne
PRESIDENT
H T E B EYRE
B
eth Eyre has been elected as your new SU President, having taken 3,452 votes to beat Fleur Delugar into second place with 2,536 votes. Josh Glicklich and Dominic Fairbrass came third and fourth with 1,896 and 1,413 votes respectively. Beth won voters round with promises like “calling for an enquiry into the amount of leaflets and unnecessary plastic the SU uses for advertising” and ‘Life Lesson Lectures’ where she plans to teach students about how taxes and government work as well as resources like the now-defunct ‘Help to Buy ISA’. The third-year history student was merry as she took to the stage, declaring “I regret drinking so many Long Island ice teas now”. “I’m speechless, thank you so, so, so much to everybody” she told the audience in Foundry as she thanked her campaign team. Eyre ran an alternative campaign,
Votes cast 7,186 Total candidates
using no leaflets due to their environmental impact as well as doing daily litter picks which were well attended by both her supporters and fellow candidates, demonstrating her commitment to sustainability at the forefront of the SU. It seems like she was born for political campaigning too; ‘Vote for a Beth of fresh Eyre’ is by far and away the punniest slogan in recent memory. Speaking to Forge Media after the results, Beth said that she was “proud” of herself and her campaign. “I’ve stuck it to people who wanted to make this campaign about clicks on their website or people who want to make this into something it shouldn’t be,” she said. Asked what her plan of action is once she takes office, she said “hopefully I’ll be able to get the meet and greet service set up but obviously it’s super ambitious so if it did come to next year, I wouldn’t mind.” By Niall O’Callaghan
CAMPAIGN SUMMARY Ran on a sustainability first platform with a number of her policies Didn’t use leaflets and did daily litter picks on the campaign trail First would like to implement the ‘Meet and Greet’ service for students but accepts it is ambitious Wants to introduce ‘Life Lesson Lectures’ to teach students about taxes, savings and other resources
BETH EYRE FLEUR DELUGAR JOSH GLICKLICH DOM FAIRBRASS RON
I’ve stuck it to people who wanted to make this campaign about clicks on their website
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DEVELOPMENT N
A D R JO WEIR
Y
our new Development Officer is Jordan Weir who finished with 2,192 votes, 87 more votes than runner up Ciara O’Sullivan. Reacting to his victory, Weir said: “Thank you everybody that voted - I won’t let you down.” He also thanked his team, and his campaign dogs that joined him on the campaign trail. Speaking to Forge TV after his victory, he credited the dogs as a key to his success: “They were such a good help, not just for the campaigning but for the actual destress.” It was second time lucky for the third-year politics student who ran for the same position last year, but lost to current Development Officer, Harry Carling. Speaking about his campaign this year, he said: “It’s been brilliant. I loved every second of it and I’m so glad I came back and did it again.” Comparing this year’s campaign to last, he added: “I feel like this year I
Votes cast 4,912
Total candidates
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learnt a lot. I’ve learnt a lot more about what development means, it’s not just about sustainability, it’s about the financing of the SU.” He said that while working behind the bar in Foundry he learnt about the conditions of SU workers. This led to one of his key campaign points of improving terms and conditions of casual SU staff. He said: “I’ve adapted my knowledge and really prepared a lot more than last year, which was more off the cuff running.” He credited this internal knowledge of the SU’s inner workings for setting him apart from the other candidates in this year’s four-way race. His campaign’s other key environmental plans are to lobby the University to completely divest from fossil fuel energy; open a student led inquiry to end plastic waste across our venues, and start a swap shop in the SU to combat fast fashion. By Kate Procter
CAMPAIGN SUMMARY Re-ran after coming second to Harry Carling in last year’s two-candidate race
I’ve adapted my knowledge and really prepared a lot more than last year
Plans to lobby the university to completely divest from fossil fuel energy Suggested opening an SU swap shop Plans to improve terms and conditions for all SU casual staff Suggested opening a student led inquiry to end plastic waste across our venues
JORDAN WEIR CIARA O’SULLIVAN TARA KIMBERLEE SOPHIE MCGINLEY
LILY W A H S M I GR
L
ily Grimshaw is your new Women’s Officer. Lily was the only candidate for this role, and the last time this happened was in 2014/15 when Sharmin Jaham won Women’s Officer uncontested also. Following her victorious win of 3,813 votes, Lily shared a short hug on stage with current Women’s Officer Rosa Tully, and spoke highly of her on stage. “I know I was the only candidate running and I just feel honoured to be part of this experience. I’ve really enjoyed it and I’m going to take on the great work of Rosa.” Whilst aiming to carry on Rosa’s policies of zero tolerance to sexual harassment, Lily aims to extend this by tackling toxic masculinity and sexist chants across campus. Her own campaign strives to create more conversations about body positivity. Her ‘Body Neutrality’ campaign focuses on eating disorders, sets to tackle negative body-image by providing all students with the tools
WOMEN’S
needed to form better relationships with their bodies. She said it was a “massive shame” that no one else ran for the same role. “I’ve tried to treat the whole experience as though there were people against me as I wanted to go out and meet people, and I want people to listen to what I’ve say and vote for me for that reason.” Lily was inspired to run for Women’s Officer through her involvement with FemSoc and actively campaigning on campus. Once in office, Lily plans to lobby for a BME officer, and wants to ensure that intersectionality remains at the heart of SU policy and campaigns. Heartwarmingly, Rosa Tully also spoke highly of Lily. She said “to the candidate that ran, running for this position in light that not many people ran, showed a real strength of character. I feel very honoured to be passing on the role to Lily Grimshaw.” By Bethan Davis
CAMPAIGN SUMMARY ‘Body Neutrality’ campaign focusing on eating disorders and tackling negative body-image Continue a zero tolerance policy to sexual harassment, and tackle toxic masculinity and sexist chanting Wants to esnure that intersectionality remains at the heart of SU policy and campaigns Received high praise from the incumbent Women’s Officer Rosa Tully
LILY GRIMSHAW
RON
I just feel honoured to be part of this experience. I’ve really enjoyed it
Votes cast 4,303 Total candidates
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EDUCATION
E I L L E S A N LY
Y
our new Education Officer is Ellie Lynas who finished with 1,990 votes in the final round, only 56 more votes than runner-up Sam Calderbank in what proved to be a hotly contested race. Reacting to her win, she said: “I’m quite shocked. I didn’t think I was going to win so this is a nice surprise really.” The third-year Chemistry student, who ran with the slogan ‘Don’t Be Smelly, Vote 4 Ellie’, said it was difficult running her campaign due to her nine-to-five study schedule, but credited her victory to her strong manifesto. She said her policies, such as ending negative marking, were built off both her own and her friends’ experiences. She said: “I felt my Department has
Votes cast 4,260 Total candidates
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made a lot of mistakes and I’ve got friends who have struggled so much through the university experience so I’ve built my manifesto on correcting those wrongs. So I feel very strongly about all my points.” Lynas has been elected into her new position just as the current round of strikes comes to an end. When asked by Forge TV how she will represent students during such periods of uncertainty, she said: “I think it’s quite difficult really. It’s such an uncertain time for students during strikes but I’m always going to put students’ well-being above everything else. I want everyone to have the best shot at education.” By Kate Procter
CAMPAIGN SUMMARY Plans to push the university to no longer use negative marking in exams.
I’m always going to put students’ well-being above everything else. I want everyone to have the best shot at eduation
Demand humanities students get more for their money. Suggested departments provide an unbiased welfare officer and have better welfare training for tutors. Plans to improve university communication to students during strike periods.
ELLIE LYNAS SAM CALDERBANK MICHA FARRELL RON
ACTIVITIES
L E O J KIRK
J
oel Kirk has been elected as your next Activities Officer, taking 3,373 votes to run out winner. Kirk trounced rival Simon Alford by over 2,000 votes with promises of a ‘societies week’ and online committee member training to relieve staffing pressures. More events support, an ‘events fund’ to help societies curate their own events and a promise to sort out society storage were also part of his manifesto. Having joined Societies Committee “as a dare”, Kirk is self-professed to have held “every committee position possible” including being SocCom’s inaugural representative on SU Council for the past two years. The fourth-year chemical engineering student said that the campaign to establish his position on SU Council was the “stepping stone” in his journey to running for Activities Officer. Taking to the stage to chants of “Joel, Joel, Joel”, Kirk thanked his
Votes cast 4,814 Total candidates
campaign team, saying he doesn’t know “why you’ve got so much time on your hands” and thanking Martha Daisy Evans for her work this year. His slick, sci-fi inspired campaign and extensive connections around the University brought Kirk endorsements from across the society spectrum. His multiple endorsements ranged from DragSoc to Jewish Society and from Arab Society to Geography Society. In an interview after the announcement, he told Forge Media that the campaign was a “surreal experience” that he struggled to put into words. Asked why he ran for the role he said: “It wasn’t so much I decided to run for the role, it’s more like I felt like I had to run for the role. Societies are my passion, I’m so addicted to them”. His first step will be to sort out the “storage crisis” which he says has been brushed aside for years. By Niall O’Callaghan
CAMPAIGN SUMMARY Led the way for society endorsements, gaining over 20. Wants to sort out “storage crisis”, launch ‘Societies Week’ and improve funding for societies events. Has been Societies Committee’s representative on SU Council for two years.
JOEL KIRK
SIMON ALFORD RON
I felt like I had to run for the role. Societies are my passion, I’m so addicted to them.
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INTERNATIONAL
I R U I O R G E N E T MON
I
uri Montenegro has been elected as your new International Students’ Officer. He has triumphed in the most competitive race in this year’s SU elections, beating six other candidates. Iuri bounded into the lead with a massive 2,654 votes, with Jack Gong in second, securing a still admirable 1,875 votes. Vice-Chair of the International Students’ Committee, Saya Uotani, was eliminated in the penultimate round. However, Iuri’s victory may not not come as a surprise to some, after he made music a central part of his campaign with his acoustic song ‘Jingle’. Running with the simple slogan: ‘Vote for you, vote for Iuri’, he centred his manifesto around making Sheffield a home for everyone. One objective he has for making this a reality is a ‘Buddy Programme’ to pair Home and International students. On stage, Iuri received a standing ovation, and seemed almost
Votes cast 5,522 Total candidates
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speechless as he gave his speech. He said: “This was an incredible experience, I got to meet so many people.” Iuri gave his thoughts on being an international student and living in a different country. He said: “What is home? The bird has its nest, the spider has its web and a hero has friendship.” Iuri went on to thank his friends who made him feel at home in Sheffield, and also fellow ISO candidates Jack Gong and Saya. Iuri praised Jack’s mental health policies and Saya’s idea to hold career fairs with employers that have tier 2 Visa sponsorship schemes, claiming he will add them to his extended manifesto of ‘20 Ideas for 2020.’ Iuri will begin to be able to enact his policies from June, when he replaces current Officer Sissi Li, who has also made it one of her priorities to make international students in the Steel City feel more welcome. By Bethan Davis
CAMPAIGN SUMMARY Buddy Programme’ – to pair up home and international students to support each other
This was an incredible experience, I got to meet so many people.
International Silent Disco – an SU night-out featuring the greatest international hits! Decolonise the curriculum. Extend University membership through the summer after graduation.
IURI MONTENEGRO JACK GONG SAYA UOTANI HELEN ZHANG LU SHAN, JING LI
WELFARE
Y L L O H ELLIS
Votes cast 4,494 Total candidates
H
CAMPAIGN SUMMARY
olly Ellis is your new Students’ Union Welfare Officer, after triumphing against rival candidate Chris Burrey in the final round of voting. She came out on top in the four candidate-race, claiming 2,269 votes in the final round of voting, compared to her closest rival, Chris’ 1,697. She was elected on a platform of 24/7 mental health support, increasing food options in the SU and increasing the frequency of Housemate Finder events, ran collaboratively with Welfare Committee. Almost 4,500 votes were cast for this position, an improvement from last year’s turnour of just 3,783. ‘Reopen nominations’ was first to be eliminated, followed by Elmo Huang then Megan Dora Roberts, before Ellis clinched the role. Third-year psychology student Ellis has served on the Welfare Committee for the past two years, firstly as Mental Health Officer and currently as Chair. Speaking to Forge TV after her victory, Ellis seemed humbled to be trusted with the position.
Create an expanded 24/7 talking service for mental health support Support housing by running more housemate finder events Fight for student compensation for missed teaching during strike action Improve the food options available in the SU and on campus
HOLLY ELLIS CHRIS BURREY MEGAN DORA ROBERTS ELMO HUANG
I’d love to make our SU even better. I think it’s such a lovely environment
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“I’m very excited and shocked and happy. I was really surprised because I didn’t think that I’d have won, I thought another candidate would have won,” she said. “I’ve been trying to calm myself down and not get my hopes up too much, not get too excited. It does mean a lot to me, and it’s something I’ve really wanted for quite a long time. “I’ve had lots of different jobs at uni and lots of roles on committees, so I thought I’d love to stay and make our SU even better. I think it’s such a lovely environment.” She spoke with great passion about arguably her headline policy to create a 24/7 talking service for mental health support, extending the current Nightline service which runs from 8.00pm to 8.00am. Whilst accepting that it would be ambitious, Ellis hopes to implement in full her manifesto throughout her year-long term as Welfare Officer. By Patrick Burke
T T A M S E V GRA
M
att Graves is your new Sports Officer, edging an incredibly close two-horse race with Jordan Frith by 2,323 votes to 2,285 after the elimination of ‘reopen nominations’ – a difference of just 38. His sporting background is in swimming and water polo, and led with his eye-catching ‘all aboard the Gravesy train’. Graves’ election gives him the mandate he was looking for to go “straight to the top” and campaign to Vice-Chancellor Koen Lamberts for more funding for university sport. In a touching victory speech, Graves had the Foundry on its feet as he referred to his successful battle against depression. “Next week is the two-year anniversary of my attempted suicide, and I want to use this to say to people who are feeling low, to people who are feeling out of it, that things will get better and time will heal, and if this isn’t a huge example of it, I don’t know what is.” He also criticised the University’s position on sport, and believes that his triumph sends a message that
SPORTS Votes cast 4,717
2
Total candidates
students want better. “The club sport members have voted in mass, and have voted to say that sport is not high enough on the University’s agenda: not in the master plan, no Goodwin upgrades until at least 2035, club sport is not sufficiently appreciated in University funding contributions. If there’s one thing to say on any of the issues that have come up in this election period, it’s that the University need these meetings. We need to go straight to the Vice-Chancellor, we need to go to the Head of Education, and we need to say that this simply is not good enough.” As well as lobbying senior University staff to increase its annual £142,000 Club Sport contribution, Graves hopes to reopen discussions over dropped plans from 2016 for a Goodwin facilities upgrade, create a Social Sport season ticket and reduce transport costs to Norton. By Patrick Burke
CAMPAIGN SUMMARY Pledge to go “straight to the top” to campaign for more funding for university sport
To people who are feeling low or out of it, things will get better and time will heal
Reopen discussions over dropped plans from 2016 from 2016 for a Goodwin facilities upgrade Create a Social Sport season ticket to increase accessibility to the social sport programme Reduce transport costs to Norton as part of a longterm solution
MATT GRAVES JORDAN FIRTH
RON
TRUSTEES & REFERENDA JANICE AZU
MARK AYAD
HONORARY PRESIDENT Y Z M STOR This is an honorary position, elected every few years by the students at the University of Sheffield. Loads of worthy candidates had their names put forward by Sheffield students, but grime rapper Stormzy has beaten off the competition from Greta Thunberg and Vanessa Nakate to be named the new Honorary President for Sheffield Students’ Union. Students in Sheffield will be hoping this increases the chances of seeing him at a Tuesday Club near you sometime soon.
Sheffield Students’ Union has voted to remain affiliated to the National Union of Students
With thanks to...
R E C I F F O SU S N O I T C E EL E G A R E V CO Aaron Griffin Abbie White Amanda Sian Ayaho Tsunematsu Becky Sliwa Webb Ben Warner Bethan Davis Callum Booth Cameron Jurevicius Chelsea Burrell Chloe Dervey Chloe Ann Morcombe Ciara Treacy Claire Henderson Dan Cross David Marriott Emily Milne George Tuli Georgia Livingstone Isabelle Dean Iwan James Jack Mattless Jack Redfern Jenny Thompson Joe Kwanchai Jordan Sollof Kate Procter
Kayla Price Liam Warden Mia Hall Niall O’Callaghan Oliver Morgan Paola Restuccia Patrick Burke Rahul Warrier Rosie Wright Sama Ansari Pour Stephanie Lam Tevy Kuch Tianzi Liu Tom Buckland Tom Ephgrave Tomoka Kanke Umanga Perera Ximena Burns-Hunt William Kirkpatrick Zhihui Hu Amy Thornton Connor Young Sarah Pugh Tim Woodliffe Technical Services Committee
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Forge Press
Friday 13 March 2020
23
Spotlight
Society Spotlight PokéSoc
Getting to know...
Patrick Burke Deputy Editor
Since its inception in 1996, Pokémon has enjoyed remarkable global success: its growth has now made it the second-best selling video game franchise and the biggest media franchise in the world. Pokémon Sword and Shield, released last year, sold over 16 million copies.
PokéSoc is a society ran primarily for students with an interest in Pokémon and its publisher Nintendo It is therefore of little surprise that Pokémon has found resonance here at the University of Sheffield. PokéSoc is a society ran primarily for students with an interest in Pokémon and its publisher Nintendo. We caught up with their president, Matt Sykes, who gave us an insight into life as part of the society. Socials take place in the
Students’ Union on most Fridays, encompassing a wide range of Pokémon-related activities including raids, battles, quizzes and mini-tournaments. Weekend tournaments are also a frequent feature. However the society is keen not to limit itself to Pokémon, and incorporates other Nintendo staples
such as Super Smash Bros and Mario Kart, whilst Sykes believes that the new release of Animal Crossing next week will go down well with members. Excitement is also building for the annual 24 hour event towards the end of this month, which sees members take part in a range of tournaments, from Mario Kart to Pokémon Showdown. Away from the Nintendo scene, PokéSoc arrange bar crawls and movie nights. Sykes holds that joining PokéSoc should be something that all Pokemon and Nintendo enthusiasts consider, highlighting its varying degrees of competitiveness and some of its collaborative work. “People should come along to PokéSoc to meet others who also share a passion for Pokémon or Smash Bros. We try and get everyone
involved whether it’s a lighthearted social event or a competitive tournament. “We’re always open to working with other societies. We recently had members of BoardSoc attend one of our socials for some Smash Bros. It would be great to do a full collaborative event with more societies at some point.”
rather than a breath of gaming.” You can keep right up to date with all the latest updates from the society via their Facebook page, ‘PokéSoc Sheffield’, where you can also get in touch with any questions or queries you may have.
Fridays
when most socials take place in the Students’ Union
Interview by Ben Warner Words by Patrick Burke
We offer a nice chilled out enviornment to play Pokémon and Smash at the end of the week, with the opportunity to get more competitive The president also placed on record the friendly and welcoming atmosphere that typifies the society. “We offer a nice chilled out environment to play Pokémon and Smash at the end of the week, with the opportunity to get more competitive. The emphasis on Pokémon and Nintendo titles also allows us to give our events focus and offer a depth into those games
Image: josemiguels, pixabay.com
forgetoday.com
24
Arts
Kate Procter and Rosie Davenport Arts Editors
Welcome back to Arts! In this issue we have an opinion piece examining why YA fiction is still fun to read in your twenties. Betty Wilson shares her view on why she is still inclined to delve back into the likes of the Hunger Games and Divergent series. Our other opinion piece, by Amber O’Connor, looks into the
Why I still read Young Adult Fiction at age 20
OPINION Betty Wilson Arts Contributor
Take yourself back to the early 2010s when everyone was pacing through The Hunger Games series, speed reading Divergent and crying over The Fault in Our Stars. We could be reading about chosen ones fighting to the death, or teenagers with cancer falling in love, and somehow we’d see ourselves in these stories. This was the era of Young Adult fiction and it’s one that I still live in. Yes, at the age of 20, I still read YA fiction and I love it. There is something different about YA literature, something that is simultaneously magical and yet entirely ordinary. It crosses the line between fantasy and real life, blurring the distinction between the impossible and the possible. Whilst the plots often act as an escapism from the everyday (I’m looking at you, Twilight), the characters themselves are a true reflection of teenagehood and the struggles of growing up. It’s this balance that makes YA uniquely special. When I was younger, YA fiction was my coping mechanism. I would read and read and read in
an attempt to submerge myself in the much more exciting lives of the protagonists. Whilst you might have been studying for a maths test, I would be pretending that I was secretly the daughter of Zeus and I was the only one who could save the world from complete destruction. Instead of chatting to guys in the playground, I would be imagining myself falling in love with a boy wizard or a wallflower. Books have always been a better reality for me. But they also meant much more than that. YA books taught me so many of the morals that make me the person I am today, cringy as that sounds. They made me want to be a badass heroine and a problem solver (even if my problems are more about how to turn on my student housing oven instead of cracking true crime cases on the regular!), they made me see relationships in a new and intricate way, and they made me believe in myself and my own potential. If it can happen in the stories I read, then it can happen in real life too. Now that I’m at uni and out of the secondary school bubble, YA holds a new place in my heart. Although the characters aren’t necessarily living a reflection of my own life anymore and a lot of their worries and
Betty Wilson holding YA novels, What Magic is This? and Twighlight. Photo Credit: George Tuli.
controversy of theatre etiquette following a recent tweet by Layton Williams - lead character in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie - about disruption by audiences at the Lyceum. Meanwhile, Megan Roberts gives us her review of Priscilla Queen of the Desert, and A Monsters Call, both performed at the Lyceum Theatre. And Claire Gelhaus visited Sheffield’s Site Gallery to review their new exhibition, Points of Rupture.
concerns seem trivial to me, it can be a welcome break from adulting to relive those times and remember what it was like to be 16 again. Diving back into old favourites and discovering new ones fills me with a simple sense of nostalgia that always manages to relax me and transport me back to when I was that girl amongst the pages. There’s also a sense of achievement that comes with reading a book that you can finish in a couple of nights, unlike the hefty classics on an English Literature degree’s reading list. YA is easy to read and there’s bound to be something out there that’s accessible for everyone. But Young Adult books now are so much more than they used to be back in the heyday of our generation reading them. Contemporaries such as The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas or Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli have paved the way for these stories to tackle modern day issues and increase race and LGBT+ representation. Fantasies such as Samantha Shannon’s The Priory of the Orange Tree are more aware of the historical connotations of the genre and are making active moves to modernise these tales. YA literature is no longer just about being a teenager, they’re about being human and all the complexities that comes with that. So why aren’t people still reading them? Why do people stop picking up these stories? It’s not like there’s a wealth of books focusing on being twenty-something, although the new adult genre is definitely on the rise. I think people are scared of the judgement that comes with still reading YA when you’re no longer a teenager. People don’t understand that these stories can be universal. We’ve all experienced being a teenager and we can all relate to these characters even if it requires us to look back instead of being in the present. YA books still continue to teach me about the world and about myself and I will never stop reading and writing these stories. You can be sure to catch me at 80 years old flicking through the pages of some book about a teen robot and their alien love interest!
Friday 13 March 2020
25
Arts
Illustration: Kate Procter and George Tuli
Forge Press
“Hissing, booing and heckling is NOT okay”: Why the theatre is not your home
OPINION Amber O’Connor Arts Contributor
A tweet from actor Layton Williams, posted following a recent matinee performance of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie at Sheffield’s Lyceum Theatre, has reignited the longstanding debate about theatre etiquette. Williams, who currently
plays the lead character in the touring production of the show, claimed audience behaviour had “distracted the entire cast”. In the same tweet, he reaffirmed that the musical “is NOT a panto. Hissing, booing and heckling is NOT okay.” Audiences either being unaware of theatre etiquette or choosing to ignore it is not uncommon. We’ve all sat through shows where we’re straining to hear after our
neighbour decides a pivotal scene is the perfect moment to open their bag of sweets. “Do you want one? Do you? Do you? No okay, pass them back.” Sometimes actors have even taken to calling out the audience’s behaviour whilst onstage. When Lin-Manuel Miranda reprised the eponymous role in Hamilton last year, for a fundraising tour in Puerto Rico, and noticed a woman illegally recording the show, he changed the
lyrics to the song ‘My Shot’. Miranda improvised, rapping “lady filming in the fourth row, please stop it,” according to his own tweet, after the performance. Writing for The Stage, Kate Maltby criticised actors for using Twitter to reprimand audience members, arguing that demanding people “follow certain rules in expensive environments is a way to shame those who didn’t learn them in a gilded childhood.” Yet, assuming that disruptive members of the audience haven’t encountered these rules does not explain their lack of respect for other theatre goers. Unsurprisingly, people answering phone calls mid-show, standing up for the duration of the performance, or singing along to musicals (singalongs excluded) are not frequent occurrences. It’s common sense that there are certain things you shouldn’t do at a show. You shouldn’t need telling that it’s unfair to distract those around you, or even the actors onstage, and so you can follow theatre etiquette without even realising that you are. It’s obvious to anyone who has opened a bag of crisps before that they make a lot of noise, and it shouldn’t be a surprise that people don’t go to shows to listen to the sound of your chewing. The same goes for phones – if the screen is
THEATRE REVIEW Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Lyceum Megan Roberts Arts Contributor
Fun-filled jukebox musical Priscilla Queen of the Desert is an exuberant party and everyone’s invited. This hilarious romp of a show follows three drag queens’ journey in a battered old bus across the Australian desert and their consequent antics, misunderstandings and musical numbers. The production proudly and positively portrays queerness and the art of drag while bringing joy, laughter and iconic 1980s and 90s tunes to the audience, ultimately delivering the emotional, core message of tolerance, acceptance and positivity. Priscilla is an absolute pleasure to experience as the show encourages the audience to sing along and boogie in their seats to celebrate the awesome power of drag, camp and friendship. From the very first moment of
the show, the audience is enchanted by the impressive vocals of the Divas played by Jacqui Sanchez, Claudia Kariuki and Rosie Glossop, belting out ‘It’s Raining Men’. The entertainment only increases as the musical progresses, as flawlessly lip syncing bedazzled drag queens perform a myriad of iconic pop hits such as ‘Hot Stuff’, ‘I Will Survive’ and ‘Finally’. It is this use of such popular and familiar songs that draws so many audience members to the show, the joy radiating out of these well-known hits is infectious and inescapable, and is particularly effective in delivering accessible representations of drag and LGBT+ identities. The performances delivered by Miles Western as Bernadette and Justin Lee-Jones as Felicia are incredibly comic and emotive throughout the play. However, the title role of Mitzi played by Joe McFadden is somewhat underwhelming, as he seems less enthusiastic and dedicated than
bright enough for you to see it, then you know the people around you can too. And I know at least someone agrees with me. A similar Twitter debate started last year when an audience member attending a West End show shared a picture of her neighbour’s bare feet, which were stretched across a safety rail. The picture of the feet dangling over the Dress Circle was captioned “the theatre is not your house.” Although, Joe Douglas, artistic director of Newcastle’s Live Theatre, disagreed, responding: “our Theatre IS your house,” perhaps a midway between these perspectives is most useful. Douglas, who was seemingly implying that the theatre can and should be a safe, welcoming environment, has a point. The theatre is like a home to many people, but maybe we should think of it as someone else’s home, one we are visiting and need to be respectful to. You can do some of the things you would do at home but without forgetting that you don’t own the house and that there are other people present. If you really have to check your phone, remove your shoes, or eat something, be discreet. If it’s true the theatre is a house, treat it respectfully whilst you’re making yourself comfortable.
Image: Darren Bell
the rest of the energetic cast. The ensemble by contrast vigorously delivers impressive choreography clad in flamboyant, sparkly costumes, creating a true feast for the eyes. Though the show is undoubtedly carried by the fact it’s a jukebox musical, and felt a bit shaky in places, it is a non-stop thrill ride of popular songs. At times the jokes seem somewhat outdated given Priscilla was written 25 years ago. However the show’s
heart - the celebration of drag culture and the LGBT+ community - shines through. Particularly its centring of a trans character’s narrative was wonderfully radical, as even in 2020 there remains little representation of trans experiences in mainstream media. It is amazing to watch such an influential show that has paved the way for so much mainstream queer media, such the popular new musical Everyone’s Talking About Jamie - in fact Priscilla seems to be
crazy older auntie, or ‘drag mother’ of Jamie, and for that it must be revered and respected for all it has done in furthering the cause of the LGBT+ community. Overall, Priscilla Queen of the Desert will have your sides splitting, your feet tapping and your heart glowing with its carnivalesque celebration of drag, friendship and iconic pop hits.
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forgetoday.com
Arts Image: Manuel Harlan
Image: Site Gallery
EXHIBITION REVIEW
Points of Rupture Site Gallery
THEATRE REVIEW
Claire Gelhaus Head of Design
A Monster Calls Lyceum Theatre
Megan Roberts Arts Contributor
A Monster Calls is a powerfully intense, theatrical and creative adaptation, depicting a poignant yet accessible tale of our fear of loss, the denial and avoidance of confronting death and the magical ability of storytelling to help us connect with each other and our inner selves. Adapted for the stage by Sally Cookson from the YA novel by Patrick Ness, A Monster Calls tells the story of 13-year-old Conor, a boy whose mother is terminally ill, though both of them ignore this fact. His anxieties and anger spiral as all the adults around him pity him while avoiding the truth. At 12:07am every night a Monster comes to visit. The vast ancient yew tree in Conor’s garden comes to life to tell him a series of grim and confusing tales that eventually help him to speak the truth about his own situation. The strikingly bare set designed by Michael Vale confronts and captures the audience’s imagination from the very start, as the looming white wall at the back of the stage screams out to be filled with a story. The set throughout the production is the perfect canvas for the incredibly slick and entrancing movement directed by Dan Canham and performed by the talented ensemble. It is combined with lighting and projection designed by Aideen Malone and Dick Straker to
portray Conor’s psyche. The physical theatre delivered by the tight ensemble is simultaneously enchanting and disturbing as the cast convey an atmosphere of tension and anxiety through their bodies. The most impressive instance of this is the representation of the tree and Monster through the use of hanging ropes. The ensemble gather, writhing and interlinking to form the base of the old, gnarled tree, as the Monster (played by Keith Gilmore) floats on wires high above the stage. This extraordinary use of aerial acrobatics creates an ethereal and fantastical atmosphere, providing relief from the gritty real world portrayal of terminal illness. As well as this, the use of soundscape and music (composed by Benji Bower and Mike Beer) creates an ominous, tense atmosphere and is most effective in combination with the strobe lighting, eery projection and lurching physical theatre in which Conor and the ensemble cover their mouths and fall to the ground to depict Conor’s nightmares. Similarly Conor’s frustration being unleashed leading to his destruction of his grandmothers sitting room, combined with a dramatic soundscape as the Monster watches on from above, is shocking and
emotive. The cast is wonderfully diverse and the performance given by Ammar Duffus as Conor is captivating as he perfectly captured the anger and denial of a child terrified to lose his mother, suffering and lashing out. Gilmore gives a formidable portrayal of the Monster as initially threatening, with astonishing feats of acrobatics, to eventually sentimental, becoming a stand in father-figure for Conor. Finally Maria Omakinwa’s heart-breaking portrayal of Conor’s mum attempting to remain cheerful in the face of her illness for Conor’s sake is powerful and tragic. Overall, the production is amazingly slick and professional, with all c r e a t i v e e l e m e n t s working together seamlessly, culminating in a flawlessly produced theatrical vehicle to talk about difficult subjects such as illness, death and grief, climaxing in a cathartic and immensely emotional conclusion. This is such an important and compelling piece of theatre about denial, loss and release and anyone who has the opportunity to see it must grab it with both hands - make sure to take a packet of tissues with you.
The Site Gallery’s new exhibit, Points of Rupture, by London-based multimedia artist Phoebe Davies, is a soundscape and film set in an immersive one-room installation. Davies’ work frequently calls upon community and instances of social groups such as feminists. Through this multimedia exhibit Davies highlights tensions within the self and draws attention to the camaraderie of athletes. Wrestling mats at the centre of the room act as a bullseye to which concentric circles and arrows draw visitors in. Some laze upon them and some stand in the corner, but it invites all to imagine scenes from the sounds and shifts of light. To create the installation Davies worked with physiotherapy experts and the leading UK sports floor providers to develop the flooring design and wrestling mats as her own map of recovery and training. Her design, ‘Defensive Drills #01’, references court flooring designs as well as gymnasium and wrestling facilities. From this base Davies’ recorded sounds, coordinated with movement of lights, are able to focus on certain areas of the room and create the sense that training is occurring right in the centre. Visitors feel as if they are intruding on a wrestling match, or a training session, and witnessing the real event. The piece ‘Spiral Rides and Involuntary Peaks’ consists of 17 minutes of sounds collected from Davies’ recovery after a knee injury. Recorded over two years in a variety of settings, these range
from cacophonous huge thumps and bangs that shake the room and whooshing wind reminiscent of the approaching tube, to softer whispers and exhausted heavy breathing and grunts, repetitive training movements, and the unmistakable scuffle of feet. Together they create the sense of a tumultuous recovery period, and the growth and limits of the human body after injury. The gallery brings a contemporary space and creates art out of something grappling, gritty and rough. The unnarrated film following a group of female wrestlers training in Oslo, ‘The Sprawl’, shows the girls struggle with the limits of their own abilities, and the hours and training they endure. Juxtaposed with the girls’ jokes and interactions, it truly feels human and like a celebration of the body. The discussion of strength of bodies and young girls’ tough selfcriticism highlights an undercurrent of feminist discourse that Davies has referenced in her past work. Overall, Davies’ newest work is a celebration of strength to exhaustion, from training to recovery, exploring the everyday functions of the body as well as its extraordinary feats.
Points of Rupture is on at Site Gallery until 17 May.
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Dana Raer and Ella Craig Music Editors
Music
Hello and welcome to the music section of Forge Press. Afer the lineups for this summer’s festivals have been announced, Forge decided on finding out what contributors are looking forward to most. That is why, on page 29, you can find a few words about Glastonbury, Leeds and Latitude fesivals. We’ve also got two features: one
The UK at The Eurovision Song Contest
FEATURE Oliver Morgan Music Contributor
‘Nul Points!’: the words that bring a sense of dread to any intrepid Eurovision fan from the UK. This has only happened once, in 2002, but is why lots of people are hugely sceptical of the competition. Most of the time, the voting system has been relatively consistent in determining the best from the rest. Yes, it’s veiled in the extravagance of funky costumes, crazy dances and the allimportant wind machine, but what the UK needs reminding of is that this is a song contest. One of ‘The Big Five’, the UK, along with France, Germany, Spain and Italy, are automatically entered into the Grand Final. On the one hand, this presents a huge opportunity for the UK to showcase itself to the world on the big night. On the other, it means that our song doesn’t get the chance to pass the vital litmus test of the European audience beforehand. This year, James Newman (John Newman’s older brother) is flying the flag for the UK with the song, ‘My Last Breath’. Considering that we have been placed at (or near) the bottom of the scoreboard four times over the past five years, many people aren’t holding out hope for the UK’s chances. But this is Eurovision, and anything really is possible. Upon first listen, Newman’s entry does relatively little in comparison to the bangers submitted by the likes of Sweden and Belgium in recent times, and social media seemed rather conflicted about it when the song was released on Thursday 27 February. Many people suggested that our entry is a middle-of-the-road, Eurovision staple. Not necessarily a hindrance, songs like these have the potential to fare relatively well on the international stage. After this initial reception, ‘My Last Breath’ briefly landed a Top
Ten spot on the UK iTunes Chart. Being received particularly well by pop stars and the public alike, the lesson here is to ignore the critics and embrace the competition. Last year, Michael Rice’s ‘Bigger Than Us’ didn’t hit home, leaving the UK dead last on the final scoreboard. In comparison to some songs that sailed to the Grand Final, this was hugely disappointing. Other countries certainly stepped up their game in 2019, and after being left in the dust, it is clear that this perfectly competent entry was precisely not what Europe wanted to consume. This pattern has been occurring for quite some time. Rice’s song had potential, like with SuRie’s ‘Storm’ in 2018, but the general consensus among Eurovision fans is that the UK has not been serious enough. Undeniably, our recent cohort produced tunes which should have picked up more votes – but they simply didn’t. What both songs did well was convey a message, but they ultimately couldn’t compel audiences in the way that other tracks just have. Similarly, Lucie Jones’ ‘Never Give Up On You’ had the power, uniqueness and intensity of a classic Eurovision song. It made waves across the continent, and was relatively successful, even though it was just an unsophisticated ballad with a clear message to express. Utilising a professional panel and an open submission process, what these songs have in common is that they were all shortlisted and subject to the UK public vote before being selected. This year, the BBC reverted back to its internal process, collaborating with BMG to create their vision of the perfect tune for our 2020 entry. Listening again, ‘My Last Breath’ doesn’t radically deviate from anything that we have sent in the past. Patience is a virtue, and it has the potential to stick in your head. Through mixing together all of the components you would expect from a UK entry, this song adds a contemporary twist to a classic
formula - and could fare very well on the big night. Disappointingly, some people feel that the UK is too blasé, expecting to win because of our music scene, revered the world over. Eurovision has been, but shouldn’t be the exception. Newman’s tune isn’t in-your-
face, nor is it weird or majorly cheesy. However, looking at its initial reception, a top-half result is perfectly achievable. The challenge now is to persuade voters that the UK is genuinely serious about Eurovision – and Newman’s tune certainly does that.
James Newman, UK, 2020 Image: BMG/Victor Frankowski
Micheal Rice, UK, 2019 Image: Andres Putting
on Eurovision, the other on Lizzo’s impact in popculture, beauy and body positivity. Another live review of The Temples at the Leadmill and an album review of BTS’ new release can also be found in this issue. We are excited on posting more article ideas on the ‘Forge Press Contributors’ page, so keep an eye on that page if you want to contribute! Other shows you can get press passes will also be announced soon.
LIVE Temples at The Leadmill Thomas Hirst Music Contributor
I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from Temples as I got into The Leadmill. The release of Hot Motion marked the band’s third album, and like much of their previous work it was received rather divisively, with people seeing it as either a psychedelic triumph or a nostalgic pastiche. Would this mean a live set full of trippy visuals and fuzzy guitars or just another band yearning to have been born decades earlier? Guess I’d have to find out. Despite having two members quarantined due to coronavirus fears, the first support Creeping Jean had a sound that felt like The Black Keys had been injected with the spirit of the 1960s, as well as… bongo drums? Yet, it was fresh and resulted in a stellar set. Children of the State impressed as well, their tracks peppered with a mix of romance and anarchy, a midpoint between The Blinders and Blossoms. The sporadic harmonica was a nice touch, making it quite a wide range of instruments on display from the two supports. From the second Temples stepped on stage they embodied that psych look. Long hair, eccentric jackets and even high heeled boots. Despite the rather lacklustre opening of ‘The Howl’, the setlist was a neon draped delight, it was everything you’d hope a Temples gig to be. They were polished and adventurous with the intermittent instrumentals elevating the tracks to a state of psychedelic wonder, my hopes had been met and exceeded. Highlights from the set included fan favourite from the new album ‘You’re Either on Something’, its contagious chorus sang with eerie elegance from James Bagshaw.
SuRie, UK, 2018 Image: Andres Putting
Lucie Jones, UK, 2017 Image: Andres Putting
You can check out the full review of Temples at Leadmill, as well as the rest of our Music content, online at forgetoday.com
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Friday 13 March 2020
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Music
The best 2020 festival lineups
As the summer festival season draws closer, each festival is begining to share which artists will be performing. Forge Press contributors share their thoughts on the best festival lineup of 2020.
Leeds Festival 28-30 August Jonathan Slater Music Contributor
I don’t think a line up has ever excited me as much as the line up for Leeds Festival 2020. I doubt there’s a better Indie line up anywhere in the world this year. Tom Grennan and Courteeners will kick things off on the Friday. Indie titan and ex-Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher will close the show on Sunday evening, after being warmed up by the biggest thing in indie music at the moment, Gerry Cinnamon.
Image: Ella Craig
Glastonbury 24-28 June Gwynnie Naylor Music Contributor
Glastonbury is a staple of the British festival scene and has been so for decades, and this year serves as another example as to why the summer festival scene is unrivalled. I’m most excited about the addition of Lana Del Rey to the line up, as she will surely bring in a younger crowd than some of the other headline acts. Glastonbury
this year feels crowd pleasing, which is in no way a bad thing; there won’t be a single person in the crowd who won’t be singing along when Paul McCartney takes the Glastonbury stage (possibly for the last time), as will those who attend Taylor Swift’s Sunday set - definitely not for the last time. In addition, it’s exciting to see bedroom pop acts such as Clairo receive some major attention, as her attendance has also been confirmed in the line-up. When times seem dark, this Glastonbury line up feels like the perfect antidote, warm, inviting and easy.
Image: @markheybo
Latitude Festival 16-19 July Eve Rafferty Music Contributor
Image: Paul Holloway
Most tastes have been catered for by the organisers. Lewis Capaldi, the breakout act of 2019, will woo the crowds on Saturday before making way for one of the UK’s only mainstream grime artists, Stormzy. Rock fans will be pleased to know the iconic Rage Against the Machine are headlining on Friday. There’s a dedicated dance stage, hosting the likes of Hannah Wants, Wilkinson and MK. Slowthai, AJ Tracey and Run the Jewels are the most well known rap artists appearing. This line up has everything. Everything. It’s a masterpiece and it’s not even been painted yet. If you can, go. I have the feeling Leeds Festival 2020 will be one of those ‘I was there’ festivals you can never forget.
Based in Suffolk, Latitude Festival is the ideal place to spend lazy summer days soaking up the electric atmosphere and some great music. This years’ lineup boasts Haim, Liam Gallagher and The Chemical Brothers as headliners - providing choice for all tastes. Snow Patrol are making a guest appearance for a special Sunday lunchtime performance, one which I imagine will be filled to the brim of dedicated fans. Michael Kiwanuka’s smooth vocals will be filling the fields of Henham Park, an artist I doubt
anyone would regret seeing. Folk band The Lumineers are making an appearance as part of their world tour and will undoubtedly be a crowd favourite. Innovative rock band King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard are performing once again at the festival, a band worth seeing purely for their name. Some lesser-known artists playing over the weekend include Phoebe Bridgers, Chloe Moriondo and City and Colour. As always, Latitude hosts varied and equally hilarious comedians including Bill Bailey, Simon Amstell and Rich Hall to name a few. So, if music isn’t your scene there’s always a good laugh to be had in the comedy tent. Over the years, Latitude has widened its musical acts, enticing younger audiences year by year. It’s definitely one to keep your eye on for top-class music (and good weather!)
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Music
REVIEW BTS: Map of the Soul: 7 Stephanie Lam Music Contributor
The South Korean boyband BTS are known internationally for their dedicated fan base and inspiring music. BTS’ influence is seen everywhere; they sing on late night talk shows, dance in stadiums and even speak to organisations like the United Nations. So I was pleasantly surprised to find that despite their success, their latest album Map of the Soul: 7 pays homage to the band’s humble beginnings. Seven is a symbolic number for BTS. It indicates both the number of members in the group, and the
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Credit: Big Hit Entertainment number of albums the band has released over the past eight years. The album incorporates songs from their 2019 extended play, Map of the Soul: Persona. According to the group’s record label, Big Hit Labels, Map of the Soul: 7 reflects the members’ deepest thoughts and emotions about their journey to stardom. Each song on the album successfully captures the honesty of the boys’ views on heavy topics, like self-worth. However, most of the
instrumental tracks don’t do those heartfelt lyrics justice. For example, ‘My Time’, a song performed by Jungkook, reveals the artist’s doubts about exchanging a normal life for a high profile one. It’s a touching confession, especially when Jungkook asks himself, “Don’t know what to do with, am I living this right?” However the substantial amount of quick electronic beats throughout the track masks the sincerity of the message. Other songs, like the vocal line’s ‘Zero O’Clock’ focus on the struggles of finding internal peace in a fastpaced lifestyle. The simple guitar strums and airy vocals present make the entire track feel like a lighthearted cheesy pop song. The music reminds me of those early 2000 boy bands featured on Nickelodeon. Although I’m critical towards a majority of the songs, I will admit there are some that manage to perfectly highlight both the band’s emotionally thoughtful lyrics and
unique sound. The tune of ‘ON’ is unlike anything I’ve ever heard, on the album and on the radio. The heavy drum beats and the repeated vibration of high notes give the melody more dimension. The sharp vocal changes in the pre-chorus helps to build up the energy in the song. It’s definitely an ego-booster anthem, especially when the boys are confidently chanting, “Bring the pain on”. ‘Louder than Bombs’ is a haunting track about the emotional ups and downs fame brings to celebrities. What stands out the most in this pop tune, is the emotion in the member’s voices when they sing,
“Louder than bombs I break”. The riffs and slow claps help set an eerie mood that appropriately matches the song’s point. The music in BTS’ new album doesn’t showcase the same originality and diversity as their previous ones, however, their decision to write emotionally insightful lyrics is one that should be well rewarded and recognized. The album doesn’t sugarcoat the messages the artists are trying to send. They may be international superstars, but BTS are still boys who struggle to make their inner voices heard.
Image: AJEONG_JM
Lizzo’s got us all feeling good as hell, and here’s why FEATURE Flo Cornall Music Contributor
By now, you’ve probably heard the name Lizzo at least once, and for all the right reasons. Lizzo is the music industry’s patron saint of self-care and self-love; h e r lyrics
Image: Andy Witchger Modifications: Ella Craig
have become gospel truth. Grinding for years, and still spreading her confident message to live your best life and love yourself, Lizzo has become a staple name in the music
industry. Lizzo’s name sparks respect and strength; even more so in her infectious lyrics, there is a sense of community and self-boosting positivity for the days when we feel like we’re not enough. Lizzo is an outspoken, bold and prominent figure in the music industry nowadays. As a plus-size woman o f
colour Lizzo’s incredible success shines through a music industry which is known to be misogynistic and suffocatingly confined to narrow beauty standards. Following her chart success with genre-blurring tunes like self-love anthem ‘Good as Hell’, song of the summer ‘Juice’ and break-up bop ‘Truth Hurts’. Lizzo’s unapologetic personality shines through, she isn’t afraid to repeat what is unheard and preach self-love and body confidence. Lizzo fights for self-acceptance, and her rapid success is no surprise with lyrics like ‘I know I’m a queen but I don’t need no crown’ and ‘I’mma marry me one day’ in ‘Soulmate’. In ‘Like a Girl’ she begins with the iconic lyric ‘Woke up feelin’ like I just might run for President’ and her audiences can’t help but agree that she should. In a world of thickening tensions and growing divisions, catalysed with the age of Donald Trump, there is something undeniably important that Lizzo has exploded onto the music scene with a bedazzled bottle of tequila in one hand and her much-beloved internet sensation flute Sasha in the other. In a dark age of misogyny, racism, rigid beauty standards and hatred, Lizzo is like a ray of much needed sunshine radiating all the goodness that we as individuals have neglected from ourselves for so long. At Lizzo’s iconic 2019 Glastonbury set, she led a crowd-wide breathing
exercise, further explaining: “I want you to know that if you can love me, you can love your god damn self. And if you don’t mind, I’d like to do a little mantra with you. I want you to go home tonight and look in the mirror and say, ‘I love you, you are beautiful, and you can do anything.’ I really want you to say that, because I believe that we can save the world if we save ourselves first.” ”We can save the world if we save ourselves first”; Lizzo’s words of wisdom that ring true, through a crowd of millions on their phones watching a video shared by their friends. Lizzo is changing the industry, she is breaking the mould and making space for the diversity of people who need to be represented and have their stories told. In a time where we are told to fit ourselves into the standard, the confining spaces that were not made for people like us in the first place - what to wear, what to look like, when to speak, and when to be silent - Lizzo’s music breaks the mould. It is difficult to pin it to one genre and it should not be confined to one space either. However, her message is essential - when you learn to love yourself, you can rule the whole damn world. Whether that be accepting your curves or finding your voice, Lizzo unites her audience in self-love and invites everyone to join in celebrating themselves with her catchy bops.
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Dan Cross & Josh Teggert Screen Editors
Screen REVIEW Film: Onward
In a similar sense to how the recent SU Officer Elections have sparked a sense of drive to this semester, 2020 is beginning to gain traction for all things Screen-related as we look ahead to the next year of film and TV, particularly the summer box office season. With Pixar’s first release of two this year in Onward, Hollywood truly restarts its blockbuster cycle.
Our very own Josh offers his analysis of Onward below. Meanwhile, Music Editor Dana sat down with Sam Arden, a University of Sheffield student who offers his inside intuition on the new Sheffield-based BBC reality series, Back in Time for the Corner Shop. Also featuring in this issue are reviews of Doctor Who series 12 and Altered Carbon’s second outing, as well as the latest Blumhouse horror picture, The Invisible Man.
Keep an eye out for the iconic Pizza Planet truck... Hint: troll bridge. Image: MovieDB
Josh Teggert Screen Editor
Following a string of sequel-centred releases from the mammoth animation studios Pixar, their 22nd feature film yet their first original story since Coco in 2017, Onward features all the recognisable elements of a Pixar film, with the exception of long-time Pixar helmsman John Lasseter, who left in 2018 over sexual misconduct claims. The heart-rendering, intergenerational fun of Disney Pixar’s celebrated family charm endures in Onward, even if it is less inventive and somewhat more disjointed than their previous endeavours. Much like the aforementioned Coco, in fact, Dan Scanlon’s Onward has the rare honour (or burden?) of being released in the same year as another Pixar film. What’s more, it too tackles contact with the hereafter. In a world where magic once existed but has since been forgotten, two teenage elf brothers, Ian (Tom Holland) and Barley Lightfoot (Chris Pratt), set out on a journey to find the magic still out there after they accidentally bring their late father back for a day… from his waist down. Onward’s setting is a simple one; essentially what is a provincial American town with elves and mythical creatures in place of humans, this is probably one
Disappointingly absent is the genre-subversive, artistic flair illustrious of the originality of Pixar of Pixar’s least innovative new backdrops. Likewise, the tale of halforphaned kids on a road trip to find a lost parent feels all too familiar. Sure, it still packs an emotional punch, but there’s something manipulative and artificial about the way Onward chooses to
execute its story, making the film feel like a divergence from their previous initiatives. What should be an explosion of idiosyncratic variants combining to make that all-important Ratatouille-esque harmony in flavour, instead leaves a rather plain taste on the tongue which fails to resonate as much as it thought it might. The surroundings lack the spark to ignite the magic in this tale, despite the Pixar formula doing its best to break you emotionally. Pratt and Holland play their characters well, and though they’re certainly not an instant classic Pixar combo, they bounce off each other effectively over the course of the film and make for an entertaining watch. Clever one-liners keep the pace of the film going, and Onward is generally successful with its high-speed momentum. Indeed, the story may be personal for Scanlon, whose father died when he was young, but the Lightfoot brother’s journey materialises through what feels like routine procedure. Similar to the constant obstacle-infused exploit of Inside
Out, everything that could possibly go wrong, does, but where Onward falters is with its use for the impediments – the reasoning for
Clever one-liners keep the pace of the film going, and it is generally successful with its high-speed momentum. such hindrances to exist. While Inside Out relayed its message and tailored its problems through the changes experienced inside the mind of a vulnerable young girl, Onward plays each of its story deviations out as largely insignificant time-filling plot devices. There’s nothing really to challenge the perspectives of viewers, with the exception of a wonderfully rewarding if slightly miscalculated tie-up towards the end. For Pixar’s standards, it’s hard not to judge this film in light of what has come before it, and disappointingly absent is the genre-
subversive, artistic flair illustrious of the originality of Pixar Animation Studios. There are no standout, imaginative segments which throw the audience an energising curveball such as with the space ballet scene in WALL-E; no daring tone modifications like the synergistic adult perspective provided in Up; nor the same level of creative intricacy as displayed in the animation of Coco. Instead, everything is just… good, which strangely does not feel good enough. Perhaps it’s down to the unaccustomed feeling of walking out of a Pixar film with few memorable moments to reminisce over. Onward is certainly an enjoyable film, that cannot be denied. But in its attempts to resonate with the oldfamiliar, it serves only as an isolated slice of forgettable fun. One can only hope that it serves this year as Cars 3 did in 2017, and Pete Docter’s Soul, out in June, turns out to be the Coco of 2020.
Quickfire Pixar facts that you probably don’t need to know: 1. The final balloon count in Up was 10,297. 2. Pixar’s first Oscar was for the 1989 short film, Tin Toy. It has since won 16 in total. 3. The lowest Rotten Tomatoes score for a Pixar film is Cars 2 (39%). The second lowest is cars 3 (70%). 4. Pixar’s highestgrossing film worldwide is 2018’s Incredibles 2 ($1,242,805,359). 5. Toy Story 2 was the first film to be created, mastered and shown digitally. 6. In Monster’s Inc., Sulley’s fur has 2,320,413 individual strands of hair.In it’s 2013 sequel, Monster’s University, this was increased to over 5.5 million.
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Friday 13 March 2020
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Screen
Sam Arden, a history undergraduate at UoS, reveals insights into filming on the BBC reality show, Back in Time for the Corner Shop
Music Editor Dana Raer writes up Sam’s reflections on long hours, family bonding and adjusting to the settings in the show
FEATURE Dana Raer Music Editor
My mum applied originally to do the show on a whim. We’d had a bit of a rough year because my nan got a harsh strain of dementia. She just thought we needed something different, so she applied to do it in January 2019. I thought “it’s never going to happen”, that we would never ever get to actually do it. A couple of months down the line, we’ve been shortlisted to two families and the next thing we know we got a phone call saying we got picked. It was the most bizarre thing; I remember the experience had sunk for a bit because I was so anxious about it. I have never done any sort of acting, but I was so excited, and it turned out to be an absolute brilliant experience.
We really did, by the end of the experience, feel like shopkeepers This series of Back in Time looked for a Sheffield, industrial, more northern heartland sort of family which I hope we do come across as because we are all Sheffield born and bred. The show had an interesting view on how the institution of the corner shop has changed throughout history. A part of the idea is that the corner shop affects anyone; it conveys that sense of change, not
the importance of it necessarily, but how it has changed throughout history to where it is today. It evokes its glory days, from the 1920s when the corner shop was professional and people had a lot of respect for shopkeepers, to modern day where you’ve got the Co-Ops and Tescos running over. I don’t particularly like crowds or public speaking, but filming is very different. It never felt like you were on TV. At the end of the day we were natural, very true to ourselves; the more invasive it is, the more natural it becomes at times. I can say for certain that I was terrified going into it, it is a scary thing to have a camera shoved into your face, to be told “answer the question” thinking “oh God what do I say?”, but actually I think we all got into it a lot quicker than we expected it. The first day was a bit iffy; we were all nervous, a bit stuttery, but by the end of the first week we were really getting into the spirit of it. I think you can see through the episodes we become more relaxed. We are all playing ourselves basically going through the routines of the corner shop, eating the food, getting up in the early morning, closing late, a lot of physical strain, getting all the vegetables and food and taking them outside, putting them on display outside the shop, sweeping the floors. Some of the food there was horrendous. One in particular was a horrible concoction that everyone made for breakfast. It was a bizarre recipe of marmite in a sort of gravy. In the show, you can actually see I was trying twice to eat this horrible mess of food, which
This is the seventh series of Back in Time, each set in various different fields of work. was a real recipe that people really ate I believe in early 1900. Normally, I don’t wake up before 9.00am most days, but we were getting up at six, finishing everything at around 9.00-10.00pm. I’m not saying that a history degree is not hard work, but it was a different kind of hard work doing the corner shop. It was incredibly exhausting. I remember some days you really had to force yourself to get up in the morning, but it immersed us in the experience. We really did, by the end of the experience, feel like shopkeepers. Even just eight days gave you a real impression of how life was back in the day or what a struggle it would’ve been for a shopkeeper to get up in the morning. Acting-wise, it is a reality show, I suppose, but there is always some acting involved; you’ve got to reshoot some stuff. I know there is a part that didn’t make the cut in the show during the Second World War, for the celebration at the end there was a party and we were all cheering. I think they must’ve filmed this cheering 20 times and it took ages, and at the very end, it still didn’t make the cut. It is not disappointing because I know things get into the program for a reason and I am absolutely ecstatic about the show. We didn’t use technology in the first few episodes. I remember my friend, who didn’t know about the experience because we weren’t supposed to tell anything, texted me on the Monday we started filming. Because we handed in our phones (they were put in a safe in the
production office), I haven’t replied to him for a week and he thought I was ignoring him when in reality I just didn’t have a phone with me. None of us had headphones or even TV, we lived as a family occupied by the entertainments of the time. We were playing cards; the family did come visit a couple of times. In the second episode, music became a big one. We had record players and then tapes. There was no phone. I am a bit political; I like keeping in touch with the news so it was mostly the fact that I couldn’t check what was happening in the world that was the hardest bit for me. Brexit was also in full swing, so it was hard having an eight-day plot hole. My mum struggled as well, she was always on her phone because of work so she felt very disconnected from the world. Certainly, that got easier. My dad has no social media; he was fine. He was loving it. For the rest of us it was a genuine struggle to get by without phones for the first week. My mum’s experience in Victorian times is a vastly different experience compared to my dad’s. So, my dad would be running the shop where my mum would never step foot in. She would be in the kitchen, cooking, looking after the family the entire time. So, I guess having a family really gets across the evolution in time of women’s roles, what each person faced. As you can see in the show, my mum was more annoyed about that. She hated being behind the shop, but it wasn’t for long. In the 1920s and 30s, times were more liberal, my mum was able to come into
the coffee shop, interact with the customers. From the 70s onwards my mum had as big a role in the shop as my dad. The experience of that did bring us back together, especially to my younger siblings. My dad is a nurse, he runs a care home and I do history. I am not going to realistically work
Acting-wise, it is a reality show, but there is always some acting involved; you’ve got to reshoot some stuff with my dad at any point or sort of do his job. So, it gave a fantastic opportunity to work with him and have that experience which otherwise I don’t think I would have. We obviously have different career paths, but it definitely has brought us closer. When the show premiered on Tuesday, we all went home to sort of have a drink and have a bit of pie around it. Why should people watch this series? I think for everyone there are two reasons. 1. It’s very informative, interesting to see how the corner shop changed over time 2. We are an ordinary family struggling. There are some good laughs along the way. There will be a few opportunities where I will be laughed at and then at my dad.
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The initial broadcast for the series’ finale, ‘The Timeless Children’, was watched by 4.7 million people, the lowest viewership for the show Image: Movie DB
REVIEW TV: Doctor Who S12 Betty Wilson Screen Contributor
Doctor Who has got its mojo back. After a disappointing first series as showrunner, Chris Chibnall has returned in spectacular fashion with series 12, proving that Doctor Who is at its best when it pushes the boundaries of its 56-year history. Opening with a stunning twopart episode on New Year’s Day, the show set the bar very high for this series, with its star-studded cast
(finally, Doctor Who answers fans’ calls and includes Stephen Fry in the show) and unpredictable twists that set the tone for the rest of the series. The following episodes dealt with important issues such as climate change and mental health, whilst The Doctor and her clan paid visits to Nikola Tesla (Goran Visnjic) and Mary Shelley (Lili Miller). This made Doctor Who feel like the show it used to be again. But the best aspect of series 12 was the use of the plot arc running through all ten episodes, leaving the audience on the edge of their seats every week. The show went to new and very exciting places this year, factors that are going to dictate the direction of the show going into the future. It felt risky and had definite potential to go horribly wrong, but ultimately the finale
This film is the first of Jason Blum’s attempts to reboot the Universal Studios ‘Monster Universe’. Image: Movie DB
found the perfect balance between providing answers and allowing there to still be plenty of questions. Series 12 also saw the return of Jodie Whittaker as the first female Doctor and once again she delivered in the role, showcasing her incredible range as an actress in both the funnier moments of the show and in those where the character is pushed to their darkest limitations. However, there is still sizable disconnection from the companions. Yaz (Mandip Gill), Ryan (Tosin Cole) and Graham (Bradley Walsh) barely added to the show, often they just felt like a plot device to aid new audiences who weren’t as familiar with the show’s complex history. The overcrowded casting meant that the trio were unable to get the character development that they deserved. Another notable highlight of Series 12 was Sacha Dhawan as The Master. Dhawan is the perfect casting for The Doctor’s oldest and closest foe as he portrayed the renowned insanity of the role perfectly, providing some great moments of tension alongside Whittaker, but also fitting in seamlessly with the character’s history. Overall, series 12 of Doctor Who has been one of its best in recent years, bringing back both the fear factor and the shock factor that the show thrives on. Hopes are high for the next series (scheduled to air in autumn 2021), but perhaps it is time for The Doctor to find some new friends.
REVIEW Film: The Invisible Man Luke Baldwin Break Editor
Based on the H.G. Wells science fiction, The Invisible Man is a slick modern horror which gives a new perspective on the classic notion: what if a person could be completely invisible. But does this adaptation shine new light on the genre or is it just totally transparent? We open to Cecilia (Elisabeth Moss) fleeing her home in an attempt to escape the manipulative grip of her boyfriend Adrian, who also happens to be a Silicon Valley tech whizz and genius in the field of optics. Two weeks later, she is taking refuge at a friend’s house but still haunted by her traumatic
REVIEW TV: Altered Carbon S2 Thomas Hirst Screen Contributor
Altered Carbon is a world of pure cyberpunk, a world that has evolved to the point where your entire being is loaded onto a device that’s inserted into your neck, a device known in the show as a Cortical Stack. This stack can be interchanged between replaceable bodies - or skins - meaning people can live for hundreds of years. But bodies are expensive, therefore the rich live long and prosper in gorgeous, enhanced skins, whereas the poor suffer in anything they can get their hands on. In season one, this world was fascinating. It explored the class inequality, delved into how people perceive their morality when death isn’t final; it was a dirty world with a lot of problems and it wasn’t afraid to show them or to really explore
what such technology could do to society. This was all on top of a twisting plot of intrigue and deeply interesting characters. Season two unfortunately just does not follow suit; it’s different, and not in a good way. Firstly, the whole atmosphere and look of the show has changed. In contrast with season one’s rusty aesthetic, everything now looks clean and polished. It has gone from Blade Runner to Star Trek. The new characters don’t work as effectively either. Lela Loren’s politician Danica Harlan is a prime example. She has little-to-no development and just isn’t engaging - strange for a politician. Simone Missick, as Trepp the bounty hunter, is one of the few saving graces of the season. Season two of Altered Carbon, like many of the characters in the show, has changed its skin and come out looking worse for it. Whilst the production value is still very high, the story and characters have been dulled down too much. A once interesting and boundary-pushing show now resembles the vast black hole of Netflix’s forgettable attempts at the sci-fi genre.
Anthony Mackie replaces Joel Kinnaman as this series’ lead. Image: Movie DB
relationship, worried Adrian will find her and exact his revenge. Her worries are seemingly answered, however, when her ex is found dead due to suicide, or so everyone thinks. Cecilia is convinced by a stranger narrative; Adrian is still alive and has found a way to turn invisible, giving him the perfect tool to continue his torture. Of course, the film is a subversive depiction of abusive relationships, using the elements of horror and sci-fi to convey this point whilst remaining entertaining. One could argue that such serious topics shouldn’t be masked in the soft velour of movie fantasy, but in some cases, it can make some issues easier to dissect. No one believes Cecilia’s insistence that Adrian is alive, rather that the signs are simply in her head, a lasting trauma from his behaviour. The film highlights these issues wonderfully, in a manner easy for any audience to digest, partially due to how well crafted it is
as a basic horror. The Invisible Man is the quintessential Blumhouse Production - a relatively low budget conceptual horror in which the creative players have been given carte blanche to showcase their talent. What’s great about The Invisible Man is that the main source of terror is, as the title suggests, invisible. The tension and fear come from the clever use of cinematography, coupled with immersive acting from Moss and a typically twangy and disjointed horror score. A slow pan with a swell of music and suddenly an empty doorway or vacant seat becomes a thing of nightmares. Likewise jump scares are used sparingly, just enough to keep viewers on their toes but never outstaying their welcome. The Invisible Man is the epitome of good low budget horror; a simple premise executed well in order to deliver some thrills and frights as well as a poignant message. What’s not to love?
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Friday 13 March 2020
Catherine Lewis and Ash Williams Games Editors
Games
Looking for a break from all the SU Officer Elections coverage? You can count on Games for having no way to theme our content! Yay! Instead, we have a lovely feature from Ash about storytelling in games, and how little details can help bring them to life. Please take a look as it’s easily the most beautiful page we’ve printed so far!
Speaking of beautiful, why don’t you have a peek at some of the gorgeous screenshots that we’ve been sent in by our contributors (and some of our own), celebrating the very best game photo modes have to offer! Finally, in celebration of International Women’s Day, check out Catherine’s feature on how the pink Nintendo DS impacted a generation of girls, by normalising playing video games no matter your gender. Enjoy!
Imag e Pixa : bay
How the Pink Nintendo DS defined a generation
FEATURE Catherine Lewis Games Editor
others my age were (to the dismay of my grandma). Anyway, as you’d imagine, I wasn’t part of the pink DS gang. On the other hand though, there
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Ah, 2006. An iconic year for many reasons; Pirates of the Caribbean 2 came out, all the cool kids had Beyblades or Bakugan, or a different assortment of collectible creatures, Sonic ‘06 was a thing, though maybe we shouldn’t delve into that... but most importantly, it marked the beginning of the DS Lite era. The DS Lite was my first ‘proper’ gaming experience. Aside from a few PC ROM games I had, the DS era marked my true venture into the world of games. The Christmas where I got my DS, alongside Nintendogs and Sonic, was the best I ever had, and since then I was captivated by video games and that magical feeling of escapism they gave me. Unfortunately though, I don’t know if it was just where I grew up, or if this was a universal experience, but at that point in time, playing video games just wasn’t considered cool or mainstream; particularly if you were a girl. It’s rather odd really; when you talk to anyone about their childhood, almost all of them will tell you that they had a DS or at the very least wanted one. Anyway, this presented a challenge for small me; my new favourite thing was,
seemingly, a taboo subject, one that I couldn’t talk about openly with other kids, or face the wrath of their judgement. Children can be very evil beings. Regardless, I soon learned to keep my love of games to myself. This didn’t hinder my enjoyment of them; games provided me with comfort and escapism when I needed it most, offering me new worlds to explore when the real one was dull. It just sucked not being able to let my prized Shiba Inu play with some other Nintendogs for a change, or race against a real person in Mario Kart. However, as time passed, there became a shining ray of hope that broke through the clouds of my solitary gaming experience. And that hope came in a glistening, coral pink casing. Let me get something straight. I was, by no means, a pink-loving child. I was going through that phase that many young girls did; actively rejecting the rosy hue and everything associated with it. Probably my subconscious going out of its way to reject female gender stereotypes, not that that was something actively crossing my seven-year-old mind, I just knew that I didn’t want to be marked with a glittery pink brush that many
were of course many girls who couldn’t get enough of the blushed shade. And there was a slowly building army of girls who loved to rock the pink console. In public! This was revolutionary. I remember the first time I encountered another girl out in public playing on her DS. It was on the way back from the airport on a coach, and lo and behold, sat in front of me was a girl, perhaps a little older
than me, taking her Nintendogs for a walk on her glistening pink handheld. I was awestruck, and after all these years I’ve never forgotten the sheepish interaction we had, as my mum got her attention for me so that we could let our dogs play together. It was fantastic. It may have only been a fleeting moment, but it stuck with me. It was a big deal! I’d never seen another girl have the confidence to flaunt a games console out in the harsh light of day. And it gave me hope - I wasn’t the only one. It feels awfully stereotypical to say that it was a pink console that changed the gaming scene for young girls, but the thing is, it wasn’t the colour that was making people play games, it was the confidence it gave them to openly show that they were. We were at a rather sad point in gaming history where gaming was still just considered a ‘boys thing’, and previous efforts to bring girls into it, such as introducing ‘girly’ games like Barbie and Bratz on the Gameboy didn’t go down that well. In fact, they probably only helped perpetuate the male gaming stereotype further; reinforcing that girls would only play games that
were suited to them. So what made the pink DS different? It didn’t limit what girls were ‘expected’ to play, for a start. It didn’t matter if it was Pokémon or Sonic; masked by a veil of femininity with the exterior of the handheld, anything was possible. The ‘girly’ outside appearance gave them a lifeline, an excuse of sorts, as to why they were playing on a games console. Sure, it was still stereotypical in that regard, but it’s what we needed at that point in time, when girls playing games was yet to be normalized to the point it is today. It was thanks to the army of pink DS girls that the rest of us could crawl out of our hidey holes and show the world that we existed, and love games too. They reinforced the movement that showed just how many girls did play video games, and it wasn’t just a boys’ thing anymore; in fact, it never was. It may have relied on a stereotypically feminine colour to do so, but it didn’t matter - it brought us to the point where we are today, where games are something for everyone, no matter what colour console you’re rocking. I may not have been part of the brave pink DS gang myself, but I’ll always be grateful for their efforts, even if they probably didn’t realise their societal impact at the time. To my fellow comrades, I salute you.
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Games
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Image: Cardboard Computer
Why game dialogue relies on getting the little things right One day, I came across a small indie You can write a decent story with title on Steam called Night in the uninteresting characters, or Woods by Infinite Fall. It told the stale dialogue, but get those little story of Mae, a university dropout moments right and you might land returning to her hometown after on something truly special. a while away, finding things very As a fan of the Persona series, I’m different on her arrival. no stranger to sequences between The art style spoke to me, and a protagonist and secondary trips to YouTube to look for the characters being primarily made soundtrack convinced up of dialogue exchanges, eF nfi nit all I : me enough to get the and a lot of them can e ag Im game, and I slowly feel boring or worth changed as a skipping to get to result of playing the gameplay. it. I resonated These three with Mae, as games, on the her decision other hand, were to drop out of the complete uni was one I had opposite. Maybe briefly considered I can put it down to at numerous points ‘right place, right time’, throughout my uni life, and but I found myself totally her hometown, a former industrial engaged with what was on screen, town with its glory days far behind very rarely feeling compelled to it, resembled my own. However, it skip the dialogue, the exceptions was Mae’s conversations with her being parts that I’d already seen on friends that stuck with me most, YouTube when deciding whether to and I’m finally starting to grasp get the games in the first place. why. But back to Mae and Night in Dialogue is a simple concept to the Woods. Why does it convey a learn while making any work of sense of wistful retrospection that fiction; write like it’s believable and hits home in all the right places? it’ll generally work. But NITW, and Because it’s written believably. two other games I’ve been playing There aren’t any world threatening recently, Oxenfree and Kentucky villains, and while there is an Route Zero, have proved that overarching mystery that serves as there is so much more to writing the driving force behind the plot, an enthralling narrative than the main focus is on Mae and the general story beats. It’s the inrelatable discovery that the best the-moment things, the way it all times might be behind you. adds up as a collective by stacking In contrast with so many other lots and lots of little nuances games nowadays, the problems into a tightly crafted package. that you face in NITW are central
to Mae and her friends, from psychological issues to the pains of growing up. There are so many quotes to pull from with NITW, but one of my favourites comes from Bea, your alligator pal who says: “I stayed here and got older, while you went off and stayed the same.” Balance is so important to get right as well. Both NITW and Oxenfree contrast lighter moments with hard-hitting truths very well, walking the tightrope between humour and seriousness to a degree I found impressive. Kentucky Route Zero strays more towards the latter than the other two games, with playful banter between supporting characters serving as brief respites from the constantly evolving journey that makes up the central narrative. However, it’s not a simple case of even quantity; KRZ’s approach to character building is markedly different. Playing as a series of central characters, you ultimately don’t
You can write a decent story with stale dialogue, but get those little moments right and you might land on something special build a character story over the course of your playthrough like you do in most games; instead, the characterisation is portrayed by not just what dialogue responses you
choose, but also by what you don’t. Alex and her accompanying cast You’re often given the chance to of friends, the conversation is on choose what protagonist Conway autopilot, giving you opportunities says, but there’s little recourse on to butt in with your selected quip. choosing one option over another. This approach ends up capturing Most don’t get picked up on later; the faster paced conversational it’s pick and move on. And yet, style of the group of friends that each time they come up, it gives it’s trying to portray compared you a little extra insight into to the styles in the other two Conway’s personality without the games, benefited by the use of game having to dedicate any extra voice acting, making it easier to time shoving backstory down the follow exchanges while constantly player’s throat. moving forward. Like NITW, You see, each of the many you’re dealing with a younger responses go down the same route; cast of characters, and during the you don’t get to necessarily change excellent opening, you’re allowed the way Conway thinks, just how to guide the conversation through he delivers it. It creates a a series of enjoyable and c S h t o h o blink-and-you’llrelatable topics, such l St ig ud e: N io ag miss-it approach as love confessions Im to developing and fears. Even the character; before that, with giving the player Alex meeting enough choice up with each to feel in control of the other of the narrative characters, sets to an extent, up this “kids on an but rewarding adventure” feeling the extra-attentive while simultaneously player with added nuggets revealing the prior history of character exposition. This between everyone, elements that approach doubles up as a way factor into choices later down the to ease the player into making line. choices naturally, preventing the While many games are often dichotomy between playing for fun lauded for their bombastic set and strategising in order to get a pieces or amazing graphics, games particularly desired ending. like these showcase the success Whereas in NITW and KRZ, that can be achieved by focusing on characters patiently wait their what makes character interaction turn to speak, Oxenfree casts you interesting. Now and again, when as a participant, rather than a it’s time to unwind and relax, distant observer. During dialogue maybe give one of these games a exchanges between protagonist look, they might just click.
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Friday 13 March 2020
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Science & Tech
George Tuli & Bárbara Pinho Science & Tech Editors
While the world is focusing on the coronavirus outbreak, we’re focusing on other viruses, namely HIV and ebola. For only the second time ever, someone is reported to have been cured from HIV - Adam Castillejo, in London, and researchers at Yale University have discovered how to use the ebola virus to treat brain cancer. We’re also covering
the EU’s proposal to standardise charging ports on mobile devices, and an ambitious plan by over 100 organisations to collaborate and create a freely accessible map of all of Earth's oceans by 2030. On top of this, we're reporting on how one day your clothes could capture your body heat and use it to charge your phone or your smartwatch. We hope you enjoy reading our content! Remember to wash your hands and stay hydrated. (George)
EU’s standardisation of Treating HIV: study mobile chargers: a moral or suggests that a personal opposition by Apple? second patient in the world is cured The EU has talked on standardizing mobile devices chargers, meaning “one size fits all”. What would this mean for Apple? Joe Brien Science & Tech Contributor
A bill that would standardise smartphone charger connectors is currently being considered by the European Union. In layman’s terms, this means that the shape of the charger’s end – the part that you plug into your phone – will become consistent for all devices, regardless of manufacturer or version. Such a heavily suggested transition will require all technology companies to make products that accept USB Type-C, a style already favoured by many in the industry, including Google and Huawei. Advocates for the legislation argue that its success would represent a large step towards combating exponential electronic waste, which was quoted at 51,000 metric tonnes in 2014. The European Electronics Recyclers Association (EERA) stated that standardisation will not only improve re-use and repair of chargers but also present a great “opportunity for resources efficiency and recycling.”
Apple expresses concerns that removing variety in connection types will “freeze innovation” in the sector Despite these proposed benefits, tech giant Apple has struck out against the bill. In a statement addressed to the European Commission, the iPhone maker argued that conversion to USB Type-C connectors would make over one billion Apple products in circulation “obsolete”, creating an “unprecedented volume of
electronic waste” and “great inconvenience” for its customers. Apple also disagrees that the bill will have productive effects on the quality of device chargers, expressing concerns that removing variety in connection types will “freeze innovation” in the sector. This could undermine their ongoing efforts to create devices that are charged wirelessly – an idea that they patented in 2017. Apple, with this statement, announced an opposition on environmental and creative grounds. However, this underplayed significant implications on the company if the legislation is to pass. On the one hand, considerable inconveniences will arise if USB Type-C complicity is implemented, due to the company’s predominant use of Lightning connectors. The law would require a complete redesign and remanufacture of existing devices, costing considerable money and resources. Additionally, with it being a law exclusive to the EU, practical difficulties would occur when Apple creates future products intended for global use. Will they decide to adopt a blanket use of USB Type-C charger ports? Or opt to create two product lines – one for the EU and another for the rest of the world. On the other hand, left unspoken but no doubt in Apple’s mind, standardisation threatens to undermine the exclusivity of their charger market. Since its patent over Lightning connectors in 2012, the company has enjoyed a monopoly over the production of chargers for most of its devices. As a result, handsome revenues have been drawn from its unique style, whether it be from its own product or that of third-party manufacturers. A turn to USB-C complicity would blow
open the charger market for Apple products and, thus, result in a loss of valuable income for the company. Apple has accepted that greater unilaterality is required if the technology industry is to progress alongside modern expectations of environmentalism and convenience. As an alternative, they proposed in their statement a “collective effort” between those within the sector towards reaching a “common charging solution” – an approach that was put in motion with Apple’s release of iPad Pro with USB Type-C complicity. Avoiding the EU’s dogmatic proposals, the company believes, will bring more gradual standardisation that will be “better for innovation, better for consumers and better for the environment.”
As the legislation moves into its drafting stage, Apple continues its criticism of charger standardisation within the EU. Only time will tell if their estimation of its environmental and innovative cost will hold against the lobbying of the legislation’s advocates. If the law is implemented, however, there is no doubt that the company will face severe intrinsic difficulties, which, as stated by their representative, will reach “far beyond the stated aims of the Commission”.
Bárbara Pinho Science & Tech Editor
In 2011, scientists introduced a new therapy to cure Timothy Brown of HIV. Also known as the “Berlin patient”, Timothy was the first patient ever to be cured of HIV and now, with a similar approach, scientists believe they have cured a second person, named the “London patient”. “This is a unique position to be in, a unique and very humbling position,” said Adam Castillejo (aka London Patient).
Stem cells have the ability to develop into many different types of cells, such as brain, muscle or even skin cells Castillejo received a transplant in 2016 as one of his last hopes for survival. For the last 30 months doctors have been monitoring him, and recent readings show that he has been free of the active version of the virus for two and a h a l f years. Castillejo received a stem cell transplant. Stem cells have the ability to develop into many different types of cells, such as brain, muscle or even
skin cells. In this case, Castillejo received stem cells that turned into immune cells. What makes this transplant remarkable is that the donor cells have an HIV-resistant gene. Thus, after receiving the stem cells, Castillejo’s body was able to prevent the HIV from spreading. The patient’s blood still has remnants of HIV DNA. However, scientists considered these “fossils” which are unlikely to replicate the virus once again. Even though this was a successful approach, it is only recommended for patients who cannot benefit from any other therapy. The lead author, Professor Ravindra Kumar Gupta from the University of Cambridge (UK) stated that, “this curative treatment is high-risk, and only used as a last resort.” Thus, curing HIV with stem cells is still far from being a low-risk approach to every patient, but it could inspire scientists into developing novel and more efficient therapies in the future.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
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Science & Tech
Scientists aim to map entire ocean floor by 2030 Saskia Lee Science & Tech Contributor
Seventy-one per cent of the world’s surface is water – a vast blue expanse of rolling waves full to the brim with countless animal and plant species. But few people consider just how huge the oceans are beneath the surface. In February 2018, the maritime and scientific communities announced their ambitious plans to map the Earth's entire ocean floor by 2030. This project, Seabed 2030, is headed up by General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO) and Japanese NGO, the Nippon Foundation. Considering that over 80 per cent of the ocean floors either haven’t been visualised at all, or have only been poorly imaged using old techniques, mapping this huge expanse in the space of 12 years is no mean feat. Over the years, many techniques have been used to survey the oceans. The earliest methods of depth measurement were recorded in tomb paintings of ancient Egypt dating from 1800 B.C., where depictions show a man using a long slender pole to measure water depths. Deeper waters could be measured by casting a weighted line off the side of the ship and recording how much string was immersed when the weight met the ocean floor. Similar systems were used on the voyage of HMS Challenger in the 1870s – wires and a winch allowed
greater depth measurements but, to achieve good accuracy, this was a very slow process. At the beginning of the 20th century, basic sonar systems were developed. If you could measure the time it takes for a reflected ping to be heard and know the speed of sound in water, then you can derive the water depth. These efforts provided the first insight into seafloor morphology. In 1957, Marie Tharp and Bruce Charles Heezen created the first threedimensional physiographic map of the world's ocean basins. Around this time, the development of computers allowed improvements in research efficiency and analysis of large quantities of data. This led to the creation of the first digital map of the world ocean bed in 1970.
Huge mountains and canyons, exotic hydrothermal vent forests and unique conditions that mimic other planets Constant developments in technology has led us to the modern techniques that we use today. Multibeam echosounders work in a similar way to the early sonar systems but these emit sound waves in a fan shape beneath a ship's hull
– measuring whole areas at once. LIDAR systems are also used which use laser lights instead of sound to measure distances underwater. According to the Seabed 2030 Project, 32 million square kilometres of the ocean has been mapped – whilst this seems a lot, this is actually only 15 per cent of the Earth’s oceans. This global initiative aims to create a detailed, freely available map of the entire ocean floor by the year 2030 – a much-needed resource in modern ocean science. This will be a collaborative effort from 100 organisations which formally support this initiative. The project will be a key feature of the recently announced United Nations Decade of Ocean Science initiative that will begin in 2021. “While mapping the entire ocean floor by 2030 seems like a daunting task, we are making headway thanks to the commitment of commercial, scientific and private vessels,” said Seabed 2030 Director, Jamie McMichael-Phillips. One of the most exciting efforts into ocean mapping is by Schmidt Ocean Infinity. The company was launched in 2016 and have announced their latest fleet of 11 robotic boats in February 2020. The ‘Armada’ are the vessels that they hope to use to map the entirety of Earth’s oceans over the next 10 years. Uncrewed Surface Vessels (USV) are the latest technology which open up the possibility for long-term marine missions. Ocean
Infinity’s USVs range from 21 to 37 metres long and are each fitted with hull-mounted, multi-beam echosounders designed to provide a radar image of the sea floor. They will also have their own capability to deploy tethered robots to inspect all the way down to the floor of the ocean – up to 6,000 meters below the surface. Whilst surveying the ocean floors, the boats will also be used to carry cargo in places like the North Sea, running containers out to oil and gas platforms. Ocean Institute have previously used their other vessels to find wreckages and have contributed to the search for the missing Malaysian Airlines MH370 flight in a ‘no find, no fee’ mission. This new fleet will be powered by diesel electric and have reduced CO2 emissions compared to regular boats. Whilst some have raised concerns similar to those of driverless cars about the unmanned boats, many believe that USVs are a huge step in the right direction t o w a r d s effective ocean surveying. But why is ocean mapping important? Ocean Institute co-founder, Wendy Schmidt, highlights how the ocean is so much more
than the blue waves we see at the surface: “Picture huge mountains and canyons, exotic hydrothermal vent forests and unique conditions that mimic other planets…There are still so many things we do not know about the topography or the ecosystems that cover the largest part of our earth.” Beneath the surface are potentially millions of unknown species to uncover, all of which have their own individual contributions that they make to both ocean and human health without our knowledge. Schmidt Ocean Institute will be making a vital contribution to the Seabed 2030 project, ultimately allowing the creation of a high-resolution map of the seafloor, an invaluable t o o l in protecting our oceans.
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Science & Tech
forgetoday.com
Unlikely hero: Ebola is helping scientists tackle brain cancer Malgorzata Urbacz Science & Tech Contributor
Photo: George Tuli
Charge your phone using your body heat Stephanie Lam Science & Tech Contibutor
When your body is cold, its involuntary feedback systems kick in to warm you up. Tiny muscles in your skin contract and cause your hairs to stand on end, creating an insulating layer to trap heat – because humans have very little hair, you can see the contracted muscles as goose bumps. And little blood vessels close to the skin’s surface, called arterioles, shrink down to reroute your blood to your body’s warmer core, in a process called vasoconstriction. The trouble is, it’s impossible to completely prevent heat loss from your body. Even with four or five layers on, some heat will still escape to the air around you. But could this heat be captured and used to your advantage? An intriguing study published in Nature suggests that one day we could harness our lost body heat and use it to charge our phones. Researchers from Northwestern University in the United States and Donghua University in China discovered how to embed technology into the fabric of your clothing. These devices (thermoelectric generators) could generate electricity from your body heat. So in just a few years’ time, you may be able to buy jumpers or shirts that use your body heat to charge everyday devices, such as your phone. As we use phones and laptops often, portable battery packs have become a staple in our bags and backpacks. These devices provide a convenient way for us to charge our phones, watches and laptops while we’re on the go. However, like any handheld device, it can easily be lost or stolen. And if you forget to charge the battery, you’re left with a bag full of dead devices. That is why a wearable thermoelectric generator would be desirable. All over the world, scientists have struggled to find a quick and effective way to make a ‘human generator’. Creating both
a working device and a wearable product has been a fickle process. Some thermoelectric devices are too stiff and bulky to be incorporated into a comfortable jumper or shirt, while others are too fragile to be embedded into mediums that are constantly in motion. In the past, scientists attempted to use a two-dimensional wavelike fabric pattern to maximize the amount of body heat captured for charging the device. They also considered inserting the thermoelectric generator into a
three-dimensional threads, heat is retained. The clothing is attractive and comfortable enough to wear in public. In this design, the thermoelectric modules can successfully match the direction of heat flow. It also displayed the highest power output reported out of all the thermoelectric prototypes, having the potential to fully recharge a dead iPhone. All the wearers need to do is to warm themselves up and then place their device on their clothes.
^ How will the thermoelectric clothing react in a washing and drying machine? random section of the clothing. Although these trials were somewhat successful, the final product had many disadvantages. For example, the clothing was vulnerable to an uneven distribution of heating, making the device unchargeable. In addition, everyday fabrics such as wool or cotton could not utilize heat in an effective way. The synthetic materials used to create the device made the clothing inflexible. Achieving a balance between generator efficiency and the wearer’s comfort was proving difficult. Researchers at Northwestern and Donghua solved these problems by deciding that the generator must be woven into the threads of the shirt or sweater. They use a blend of materials, including carbon nanotubes. The key is to strategically arrange these materials to maximise efficiency, and they found that a looped, almost knitted pattern works the best. Using the
There is still work ahead to make thermoelectric clothing more practical to use. Just because it was successful in a lab doesn’t mean it can translate easily into retail clothing stores. How will the thermoelectric clothing react in a washing and drying machine? How much will the clothes cost? Which devices charge the best? There is also the question of whether or not these clothes can be mass-produced. Scientists have yet to form a conclusion However, the possibility that Apple Watches, Fitbits and phones could one day be charged with something as simple as body heat is groundbreaking – no more searching for power outlets. This concept could also motivate people to exercise more, improving their health while charging their phone, and perhaps at a larger scale, thermoelectric clothing could help reduce the world’s high energy consumption.
Ebola virus With the world’s media focusing on coronavirus, it’s easy to forget the former king, ebola, which dominated the world’s media from 2013 to 2016. People demanded quick diagnostics and vaccines against the novel threat to humanity. Looking back, Yale University researchers have applied their skills to exploit features of the ebola virus as an aid for combating another ruthless disease: brain cancer. What prompted the scientists to use this specific virus as an anchor to their work, is its lack of interest in brain tissue. Although ebola virus infects a variety of organs, it shows relatively little attraction to the brain, thereby leaving victims systemically ill but cognitively aware. Ebola is significantly lethal because it evades the immune system, thus spreading throughout the body undetected. The host immune system is only activated when the infection is substantial, causing a fever so potent that it kills the individual. With so many risks, why would scientists even consider this as a potential therapy for brain tumours? The research approach exploited the fact that brain cancer cells are unable to mount an immune response against viruses. This has fuelled research into the use of viruses to fight various cancers, a field known as Oncolytic Virus Therapy. This new era of cancer treatment falls at the fact that viruses can potentially introduce dangerous infections, which can kill the host organism faster than the cancer itself. Additionally, the host’s immune system can eliminate the helpful virus before it has the chance to reach the tumour. Ebola virus intrigued Yale scientists as one of its seven genes allows it to avoid triggering an immune response. This gene is responsible for encoding a flaglike molecule on the surface of the virus, called a glycoprotein – an important structure to the virus. Researchers designed a novel “duovirus” which contained the ebola virus glycoprotein, stuck onto the
body of another virus, VSV – a lethal virus which usually infects domestic animals, although it can cause death in humans. The researchers inactivated the dangerous features of both viruses, resulting in an unlikely ally against glioblastomas, the deadliest of brain cancers. Playing with fire, the scientists tested their novel treatment on mice which lacked their own immune system. They transplanted human glioblastoma cells into the brains of mice. Since there is no immune system in these mice, there is no rejection of foreign tissues. They found that intravenous delivery of the duo-virus showed efficient targeting and elimination of brain tumours and significant extension of survival of the mice. Furthermore, the destruction of cells was limited to those which were cancerous, and there was little infection of healthy brain cells. It was important that the ebola virus glycoprotein in the duo-virus contained the important structural feature mentioned previously – it avoids triggering an immune response. Parallel experiments with a virus lacking this feature showed that it was unable to target the cancer specifically, and caused widespread infection of healthy brain tissue. Scientists are currently exploring the nature of this feature, identified as the “mucin-like domain”, and how it is able to distinguish between healthy and diseased tissue. Researcher Anthony van den Pol spoke about the breaking discovery on Wednesday 12 February, in the Journal of Virology, describing the irony that “one of the world’s deadliest viruses may be useful in treating one of the deadliest of brain cancers.” The fact that we are able to take advantage of a virus which once wreaked havoc upon our lives is promising for the future of cancer research. It also offers a glimpse of hope in light of the inevitable COVID-19 pandemic, which may also, in a few years, be manipulated to offer a new solution to cancer therapy.
Forge Press
Friday 13 March 2020
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Sport Thoughts
press.sport@forgetoday.com
Forge_Sport @ForgeSport
Man City and UEFA: are they as bad as each other? Alex Brotherton Sport Editor
When it comes to Manchester City and UEFA’s Financial Fair Play (FFP), it seems only extreme opinions will do. A two-year ban from European club competition, imposed on the English Champions by UEFA’s Club Financial Control Body (CFCB), has prompted many to celebrate football’s salvation, that the exclusion of state-owned City has righted all the wrongs of modern football. Meanwhile, deluded sections of City’s support pedal the myth that UEFA are out to get them, that it’s ‘us against them’. In reality, neither scenario is true. City may well be in the wrong. The club has been charged with misleading UEFA after allegedly overstating sponsorship revenue received from Etihad Airways (£51.5m) when it actually came directly from the club’s owners, Abu Dhabi United Group. FFP regulations limit the amount of money a club can spend that hasn’t come from revenue, i.e. the owner’s cheque
book. It appears that City ‘fudged’ the numbers in order to meet the restrictions. The line towed by some Citizens, that UEFA are willing to do whatever it takes to stop City’s success, seems far-fetched. Others have been punished, so why shouldn’t City? In 2014, PSG, like City, was punished with a £49m (£35m suspended) fine, a reduced playing squad of 21 players and squad salary restrictions. Galatasaray and AC Milan received European bans in 2016 and 2019 respectively. City enters the Champions League knowing the rules, so should abide by them. Saying that, FFP isn’t squeaky clean. UEFA say it’s a device to keep football financially stable, to stop clubs spending beyond their means to protect against heavy losses. If the books of Manchester United are anything to go by, it’s failed. United has the biggest net debt of any football club in the world, standing at £391.3m. In the last three months of 2019 alone, it rose by £76.3m. Bizarrely, while clubs like United and Juventus are free to make gargantuan losses, City, debt-free
MCFC mosaic by Mark Kennedy Image: Dunk, Flickr since 2015, is punished. Does FFP really champion sustainability? FFP puts a glass ceiling on sides trying to spend their way to the top and join the old elite, the likes of Real Madrid and Chelsea that spent millions to reach their current status. Footballing success and money will always be intrinsically linked. Nowadays, the old guard bypass FFP by offsetting spending
with massive commercial revenues. City had to spend big to catch up, as its lowly status in past years didn’t allow for the building of a commercial empire. It makes sense; Real Madrid & co. spent a lot to get where they are, so why would they want new kids taking some of the pie? It’s hard to argue City’s innocence. The club has broken the rules and
should therefore be punished. But let’s not kid ourselves. If the Court of Arbitration for Sport uphold the ban after City appeal, football isn’t going to return to the halcyon days of local lads playing for love not money. Unless wealth redistribution or salary caps are introduced, the gap between football’s rich and poor will continue to widen. It’s not all City’s fault.
ground, at the top of the order where he can potentially face the most amount of deliveries to maximise the fielding restrictions that come with the powerplay seems like a nobrainer. ‘Finishers’ are considered one of the most valuable assets in any sport. In the white ball game they are those with the level headedness, composure and skill to stay calm under high-pressure situations with big scores on the board or to finish the first innings with a flurry. Buttler’s frightening scoring rate of 8.97 at the top would appear to make him an automatic selection in that spot. But while Buttler’s opening capabilities can never be in doubt, question marks remain whether England have the finisher required to get them over the line. In the recent T20I series against South Africa, Chris Silverwood and
the England coaching staff found themselves in a catch-22 situation in deciding where to utilise Buttler’s talent. Using him at the top of the innings to maximise the powerplay may mean England may gain at first but they will almost certainly lose
the world. Buttler is as close to the complete batsmen as anyone in the current game with no real weaknesses. Even the best ‘death’ bowlers in the world would struggle to shackle Buttler who can access all sides of the wicket. Of course you risk under-utilising Buttler’s ability if you bring him in down the order where he will spend less time at the crease. However, I struggle to think of anyone more adept to closing out the pressure moments, even those where the game seems lost, than Buttler in the England ranks. Buttler is a once-in-a-generation luxury England have at their disposal and, if used in the right way, could propel England all the way. Stokes was the World Cup and Ashes hero of 2019. This winter it’s Buttler’s time to deliver more silverware for England on the biggest stage.
The formula for England to get the best out of Jos Buttler
Jos Buttler in 2013 Image: Nic Readhead, Flickr Henry Clark Sport Contributor
Not since the days that Kevin Pietersen stepped onto the scene and reverse-swept and ramped his way to cricketing stardom have we seen a maverick with a blade of willow like Jos Buttler in England colours. With Buttler, though, there is no streak of bleached hair, no fallings-
out with senior management and no questioning over putting his personal interests over the team’s. Buttler is, on and off the field, the complete package. Ever since the Rajasthan Royals trialled the idea of opening with the England wicketkeeper in the 2018 IPL, England have opted to use him in a similar vein. Having arguably your best batsmen, capable of playing shots to all areas of the
This winter it’s Buttler’s time to deliver more silverware for England on the biggest stage out later. Opting to use Buttler lower down the order will by no means hamper England’s power at the start of the innings and will allow Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy to reform what has become one of the most devastating opening partnerships in
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Sport
VARSITY 2020 PREVIEW
Black and Gold aiming for gr-eight-ness at varsity 2020 Alex Brotherton Sport Editor
It’s that time of year again – Varsity is here, and the University of Sheffield is looking to overcome Sheffield Hallam to win its eighth consecutive title. With 20 days of sporting events taking place across 10 venues around the Steel City, Sheffield Varsity 2020 promises to be an unrivalled festival of sporting excellence and fanatical support. Last year’s Varsity triumph was a landmark achievement for Uni of. Having led throughout the entirety of the competition, the Black and Gold rode out 45.5-32.5 winners, its biggest ever winning margin. Not only did this earn the university a seventh title in a row, but it secured an eleventh varsity crown since the competition began, overtaking Hallam’s haul of ten. This year Varsity begins on Friday 13 March, with the Equestrian event starting at 10.00am at the Parklands Equestrian Centre. The following weekend, on Sunday 22 March, the Chill Factore in Manchester will play host to the snowsports section of Varsity, which involves both freestyle skiing and snowboarding. Uni of will be looking to repeat its snowsports success of 2019, when it left the French Alps with a 3-1 lead
over Hallam. Wednesday 25 March is SHU Sports Park Day, one of Varsity’s biggest and most hectic days. Women’s and mens’ teams playing six different sports including football, rugby league, rugby union, cricket, ultimate frisbee and lacrosse will battle over the course of the day. All eyes will be on the Octagon Centre the following night, as the hotly anticipated boxing takes place. Hallam won 8-3 last year, so Uni of will be eager to get revenge. As in previous years, both the
Don’t miss a minute of the action by following our Varsity 2020 coverage online, on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube mens’ and women’s 1s football matches will take place at Hillsborough Stadium, this time on Saturday 28 March with 1:30pm and 4:15pm kick-offs respectively. After Hallam snatched the points last year with a 1-1 draw in the W1s and a thrilling 2-1 win in the M1s, two tightly fought games and a raucous atmosphere are guaranteed.
Image: Forge Media As was the case in 2019, the final act of Varsity 2020 is the Ice Hockey Final, played at the FlyDSA Arena. If last year’s finale is anything to go by, then we’re in for a treat. Hallam, traditionally Ice Hockey favourites, won 5-4, but Uni of put in an extraordinary effort to take the game the distance. After the conclusion of the game, the Varsity trophy will be lifted by the victorious side.
Image: Christian Hopewell
We’ll bring you a comprehensive results round up in Forge Press issue 145, out 2 April Tickets are needed to attend SHU Sports Park Day, Boxing, Football 1s, Ice Hockey 2s and the Ice Hockey Final, and can be purchased from
Image: Philip Hope
the Students’ Union Box Office. All other Varsity events are free and unticketed. If you can’t make it along to any of the events, then comprehensive Varsity coverage will be available at forgetoday.com/varsity, our Twitter feed and Facebook page as well as on our Youtube livestreams at Forge TV.
Forge Press
Friday 13 March 2020
Got a sports tale to tell? press.sport@forgetoday.com
Michael Ekman Sport Coordinator
Hi everyone! We’ve got another exciting Sport section lined up for you. On the backpage, we spoke with the lifesaving team who recently competed against some of the best athletes in the country at the BULSCA Championships and performed well above their expectations, with several personal bests broken as well as a lot of experience gained for
new members of the club. Additionally, in this issue’s Women in Sports, we spoke to the basketball team that won big against York St. John and are so near to finishing top of the league and gaining promotion to the league above. Varsity officially kicks off on Friday 13 March, the same day this paper comes out, and Sport Editor Alex has written up an extensive preview of the big 3-week event. Over in Sport Thoughts, Alex
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Sport has also written about Manchester City’s recent two year ban from European football and as well as a contributor’s piece regarding what’s needed for Jos Buttler to excel on the big stage. With Varsity right around the corner, we here at Forge Media will be covering it in as much as we can in nearly every possible way. It is sure to be an exciting next few weeks and I hope you are all as psyched as we are.
Results board
Upcoming fixtures
Sheffield Utd 1 - 0 Norwich
Newcastle - Sheffield Utd
Brentford 5 - 0 Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday - Nottingham Forest
Sheffield Utd Women 5 - 1 Blackburn Rovers
Sheffield Utd Women - Lewes
Sheffield Wednesday Ladies 5 - 1 Harrogate Railway Ladies
Sheffield Wednesday Ladies - York Railway Ladies
Otley 32 - 29 Sheffield Tigers
Stourbridge - Sheffield Tigers
Sheffield Steelers 4 - 3 Cardiff Devils
Sheffield Steelers - Manchester Storm
Sheffield Sharks 67 - 66 Newcastle Eagles
Worcester Wolves - Sheffield Sharks
Women in Sport: league-topping finish close for Basketball 1s after York triumph Michael Ekman Sport Coordinator
Women’s Basketball 1s dominated away against York St. John 1s, finishing the game 78-40, with Varsity being right around the corner. Shinade Walters, captain of the team, thought the team were in control of the game and is proud of the effort her team has put in all season. She said: “The game went really well for us and we ended with a convincing win. “We were evenly matched for the first quarter but once we locked down their best player we pulled away and had an impressive second quarter where we kept their scoring down to three while countered with 19. “This year I have had an absolutely
amazing team to captain, I feel very lucky to be surrounded by such hard working, ambitious and supportive teammates. “During the game and throughout our season as a whole the stand out characteristic of our team has been support. “No matter the situation, we have been cheering each other on or pulling each other up during difficult situations. Shinade, who is also a final year economics student, is also looking forward to Varsity, with basketball playing at the English Institute of Sport on Monday 30 March. “Varsity is very important for our club and for our first team. “At the beginning of this game we set out specific aspects of our game we wanted to work on such as rebounding and running certain plays on offence that we plan on
using during our Varsity games. “We also have a friendly game against Manchester 1s who are in the league above us, the same league as Hallam 1s, because we are trying to prepare for the level of basketball
that we are going to be up against in Varsity and really push ourselves.” The season has been going well for the team, with a top of the league finish as well as promotion in sight. “We have one final game at home
Wednesday 18 March and provided we win that game then we will finish top of our league. “This is a huge achievement for our 1s and will be a well deserved promotion for our club.”
New experiences gained for lifesaving club (cont. from back) ...our club performed well, coming in the middle of the pack. This is promising as it shows we have so much more potential to improve and to creep up to finish on the podium in the coming years. “Most of the squads there were university squads like us but there were some top level athletes competing. “Some had competed at World Championships and even medalled Commonwealth Championships. “It was certainly breathtaking and inspirational to see them compete. Some competitors were just starting out but, without a doubt, will have gained so much experience from this.” The tournament is split across two
days, the first being a speeds based competition, followed by the second being focused more on skill aspects of the sport. Lifesaving is not like most water-based sports. Whereas other swimmers might be tested on the speed of their front crawl, lifesaving has entirely different aspects to it and this tournament was no different. One of the most challenging parts of the tournament is the super lifesaver. In this, competitors need to first take part in a 75-metre freestyle sprint and dive down to the bottom of the pool to retrieve a submerged eight-stone mannequin. They then need to carry the mannequin for 25 metres, drop the mannequin and put on fins and
a torpedo buoy, swim another 50 metres with the fins and torpedo buoy, clip a second semi-submerged mannequin in the torpedo buoy, and tow that mannequin for the
Some competitors were just starting out but, without a doubt, will have gained so much experience from this remaining 50 metres. The club has also been lucky enough to be aided by the Performance Sport scheme and have added weekly strength and
conditioning sessions to their training regime, something King Yee thinks definitely paid off at the championships. A few notable highlights of their results include Daniel Jensen who finished ninth in the 200 metre super lifesaver, Katie Finney who finished ninth in the 200 metre obstacle swim and tenth in the 100 metre rescue medley, as well as King Yee, who finished eighth in the 200 metre super lifesaver. Looking ahead, lifesaving has other competitions coming up this season such as the RLSS National Speeds and the BULSCA League Finale Competition in Loughborough. “The committee, especially our two training officers, have worked
extremely hard to keep up the good results that our club was getting,” King Yee added. “We are happy with how it’s gone so far - the experienced members are getting even more experienced, while helping the freshers gain new skills and confidence in a sport they’ve never done before.”
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press.sport@forgetoday.com
Sport
Forge_Sport @ForgeSport
Lifesaving impresses at BULSCA Championships with personal bests broken and lessons learned Michael Ekman Sport Coordinator
The lifesaving team came away from the BULSCA Championships without any medals but with plenty of experience, as many personal bests were broken. The BULSCA Championships is an intense two-day competition that took place the weekend of 29 February to 1 March, that marks
the highlight of the year for the lifesaving club. This year, the lifesavers took a varied team, with several members having competed at the competition before while someone we’re at it for the first time. King Yee Cheung has been on the lifesaving club for the past five years and was impressed with how the team performed. “Over the years we have lost a
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lot of experienced members due to them graduating, and with lifesaving being such a niche sport, it is difficult for us to develop,” she said. “However, there is so much potential in every member of lifesaving, and the results of this competition has proved that we are still continually progressing in the right direction. “Whilst we didn’t win any overall
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medals like we have done in the
All the hard work that everyone put in over the past few months was all preparing us for this competition past, there were many personal bests broken, and a few individual
podium placings as well. “All the hard work that everyone put in over the past few months was all preparing us for this competition.” Despite not achieving any medals, the team finished in seventh place out of 13 competing teams consisting of some of the most experienced athletes in the country. King Yee added: “I personally feel that... (cont. on p43)
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