Forge Press #132

Inside...

Sheffield varsity 2019 pullout All the action from this year’s Varsity events

THE UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER

ISSUE 132 | THURSDAY 28TH MARCH 2019 | FREE

Uni of Sheffield overtake Hallam with seventh successive Varsity victory

Parents warn about dangers over gambling Charlie McGrath

Sheffield parents have warned students about the dangers of gambling after their son committed suicide because of his addiction.

Liz Ritchie, who helped setup Gambling With Lives with her husband Charles, said young men are “specifically targeted by the advertising and products”.

The couple, from Nether Edge, Sheffield, began their charity work in 2017 after... (cont. on p4)

Bummit have raised over £1m for charity Uni of Sheffield celebrate their Varsity win at the Ice Hockey Final.

Image: Juliet Cookson

Ben Warner

The University of Sheffield have taken the overall lead in Varsity for the first time in the history of the competition, with an overall score of 45.5-32.5 for Varsity 2019.

They also broke the record winning

margin of 12, set in 2017.

For the seventh successive year, the Black and Golds beat Sheffield Hallam to take home the trophy, with the winning point coming in Women’s Hockey 1s, taking the University of Sheffield over the 39.5 point threshold needed to win the trophy.

The Uni of team triumphed 5-0 in the match at Abbeydale, sealing the win and meaning that for the first time the Black and Golds have won more editions of the competition.

The final score was confirmed after a 5-4 defeat to Hallam in the Ice Hockey Final.

Since it started in 1996, the overall

Varsity score now stands at 11-10, with draws having been recorded in 2008 and 2009.

Greg Unwin, Club Sport Manager at Sport Sheffield, said: “I am so proud of all our sports clubs. Not only were the players on top form but so were the supporters and coaches.

“I would also like ... (cont. on p4)

Ben Warner

Bummit have reached a milestone of over £1 million being raised in their history, ahead of their annual hitchhike in Easter.

It was started by Raising & Giving (RAG) in 2003, with a one-day trip to Bognor Regis in West Sussex.

“Why they chose Bognor Regis of all places I can’t fathom,” said Adam Carter, the current Vice-Chair.

The working committee puts on two hitchhikes a year, where students raise... (cont. on p6)

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PIC OF THE PRESS

University of Sheffield Trampolining Club preparing for their Varsity competition

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

Image: Juliet Cookson

Editorial

Hello again, lovely readers, and welcome back to another issue of Forge Press. This one is our Varsity special, so we’re all feeling pretty sporty right now. Varsity has been going on since the first skiing and snowboarding events kicked off in the French Alps over the Christmas break, but the bulk of the fixtures have been taking place over the past couple of weeks. If you’ve been in uni at all since mid-March, it’s been hard to miss the black and yellow t-shirts and painted faces parading around campus.

And it’s hard not to get a little caught up in the Varsity hype. Whether you live and breathe sport or you can’t stand the site of a pair of trainers, you can’t deny that the community spirit it promotes is admirable.

There’s always a dark side, of course. Emotions ride high at sporting events, people drink too much and they say and do things they may regret. But, on the whole, it’s been lovely to see the majority of the athletes and supporters embrace the spirit of the Varsity oath and get together behind a common cause.

Most of all, it’s been nice to see them

enjoying themselves.

You can recap this year’s events in our stunning 12-page Varsity pullout, impeccably designed as always by our talented Head of Design Chloe Dervey. The reports and roundups inside have been compiled by our excellent Sport team, led by the brilliant Adam May, our Head of Sport. Adam is a natural when it comes to sports journalism, and the quality of our coverage online over the past couple of weeks and in this issue’s pullout has reflected this. The time and effort he has put into organising reporters, editors and photographers to cover dozens of fixtures across several venues has been remarkable.

Of course, it’s not just Varsity in this issue, and it’s not Adam who’s been doing a great job. As ever, each of our sections have produced exciting and interesting content to inform and entertain you. In Lifestyle you can check out a handy guide on how to look after your houseplants, while in Screen you can read different opinions on what’s the greatest TV drama before realising it’s definitely Game of Thrones.

Sadly many of these brilliant editors will soon be leaving us, as our year as the Forge Press committee is coming to an end. We’ve had a great year, culminating recently in us being shortlisted for three Student Publication Association awards, including Best Publication. But we’ve still got one more issue to release after this one, so I’ll save the soppy goodbye until then.

In the meantime, we need to figure out who’s going to be filling our shoes. If you have a passion for news, sport, entertainment or anything else to do with student journalism, do consider running for a role at our AGM on Wednesday 3 April.

You can learn new a bunch of skills, be part of a great big fun team, and help produce a newspaper every two weeks which you can be proud of.

If you don’t have an interest in joining the team, that’s cool too. Just read and enjoy. Until next time!

Get involved Want to join the team? Get involved!

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

Plus, Forge Press have an AGM coming up on Wednesday 3 April.

Think about running for a role on committee!

Contact editor@forgetoday.com with any questions.

3

News

NEWS IN BRIEF SHEFFIELD SCR’s Active Travel boss to be revealed

STUDENT SU Officers collect toiletry donations

NATIONAL

Mayor Dan Jarvis’s new ‘Active Travel Commissioner’ is to be announced at Hallam View on Monday 1 April.

The Commissioner will work with Jarvis to ‘deliver his transport vision’ across the City Region which includes elements of ‘active travel’ such as walking or cycling.

The SU Officers held a toiletries donation drive in aid of Rotherham Food Bank. Collecting toiletries and sanitary products from the beach huts, they said “nobody should go without the basic right to the toiletries and sanitary products they need to live safe and happy lives.”

Controversial copyright laws which ‘could change the internet’ have been passed in Brussels. Some say it will compensate artists fairly, whilst others argue it will destroy usergenerated content. Memes and GIF’s are specifically excluded. It is now up to states to approve the directive.

Article 13 voted in by European Parliament

SHEFFIELD STUDENT VC appointed chair Labour MP wins knife concession of UCAS Board Vice-Chancellor Professor Koen Lamberts has been appointed as Chair of the Board of Trustees at UCAS. He was described as ‘an exceptional leader in the UK higher education sector’ and will take up the post from 1 September 2019. He replaces the Exeter VC in the role.

Paul Blomfield, MP for Sheffield Central, has won concessions from the Government to step back from their plans in the Offensive Weapons Bill to prohibit the delivery of ‘bladed products’ to residential properties.

The MP described the move as a ‘big win for local business’.

Tramlines NATIONAL donate £30k Petition to revoke to cancer A50 to be debated charities A petition to revoke Article 50, which at the time of writing has reached over 5.9m signatures, is to be debated in Parliament on Monday 1 April. The petition coincides with the People’s Vote march which took place in London on Saturday 23 March. It is estimated over 1m took part.

The new International Students’ Officer has been announced, with Mengya (Sissi) Li completing the 2019/20 SU Officer team.

The result was announced on Friday 15 March after a delay of over two weeks, due to the Returning Officers not being able to confirm the result due to a rule breach by one candidate.

Sissi has been announced as the new Officer to represent international students, winning with 1,611 third-stage votes ahead of Laura Prieto in second.

She said: “The other candidates did so well, and we’re all friends now. We’re not competitors anymore. There’s another Chinese

girl in the campaign, and I just want to say thank you to her. We are the pride of China.

“I don’t know if I’m the first Chinese student to get this position, but I want to make sure all the international students benefit.”

The result was announced in a ceremony at Coffee Revolution.

The two-week delay in announcing the result came after one of the candidates, Chino Olumba, was disqualified for a breach of rule 4.5.1, as she told Forge Press.

Rule 4.5.1 states that candidates and campaigners may not “seek to influence or deliberately observe a member who is engaged in the act of voting nor provide voters with a voting platform (e.g. a smartphone, tablet etc.)”.

Chino was reported by other

Niall O’Callaghan Sheffield’s Tramlines Festival

has donated in excess of £30,000 to Weston Park Cancer Charity,

Cavendish Cancer Care and Crohn’s & Colitis UK.

The funds were all raised at

Tramlines Festival 2018 through

New ISO completes 2019/20 SU Officer team after delay Ben Warner & David Anderson

The iconic ‘Be More Nulty’ tees at Tramlines 2018 Image: Giles Smith

‘Nulty’s Bar’, a backstage area voluntarily staffed by Sarah’s

friends and colleagues, as well as

guestlist donations, merchandise

and the now iconic ‘Be More Nulty’ t-shirts.

£30,000 raised for local and national charities

Each charity was chosen because

of connections to Sarah Nulty and other members of the Tramlines team.

Nulty was director at the festival

until she tragically passed away in

July 2018 aged 36, just weeks before the first Tramlines was held at its new home in Hillsborough Park.

Image: Juliet Cookson

Danielle Gigg, Festival Producer

at Tramlines, said: “It’s been great

candidates for breaking the rule. She was granted an appeal, however it was rejected and she was disqualified from the race.

Chino has told Forge Press she is “far from upset” with the situation, saying “I just say things as they are”.

The result means that the final

2019/20 Officer team is Jake Verity (President), Rosa Tully (Women’s), Martha Daisy Evans (Activities), Beren Maddison (Welfare), Charlie Porter (Education), Mengya (Sissi) Li (International Students’), Harry Carling (Development) and Britt Bowles (Sports).

to raise so much money for two

charities that worked closely with

Sarah and did so much for her. It’s

amazing to see her legacy live on in the city in lots of different ways.

“The gap in my life since she

passed will always be there, but watching people continue to

celebrate her is a real comfort.”

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Students warned about gambling addiction Charlie McGrath

(cont. from front page...) their son Jack took his own life, aged 24.

“I suspect gambling is probably not high on anybody’s register amongst all the things that students are dealing with, but the message is that it really does need to be,” said Charles.

Jack began betting on fixed-odds betting terminals during school lunchtimes, but his problem worsened when he went to university in Hull.

“His first term at uni he suddenly got a big chunk of money and he had a really bad time controlling his gambling,” said Charles.

“I think these problems are overlooked because so much is going on at this stage in students’ lives and gambling is an issue which is generally hidden.”

His first term at uni he suddenly got a big chunk of money and he had a really bad time controlling his gambling

Jack’s addiction worsened when he took a graduate job, giving him more money to gamble.

He then moved to Vietnam to teach English and went months without betting, before he relapsed and took his own life.

Now, Liz and Charles are raising awareness about the dangers of gambling and calling for tighter regulations on the industry.

Charles said another key message is to encourage those suffering from an addiction to feel able to speak out.

“It is really important for people to feel that they can talk about their gambling problems.”

Anyone wanting help for their gambling addiction can call Gamcare on 0808 8020 133, 8am to midnight, seven days a week.

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Black and Gold finally take overall Varsity lead against Team Hallam Ben Warner

(cont. from front page) ...to give a huge congratulations to all the staff who have been involved in pulling the event together. To win seven in a row is no coincidence and we have all dug deep when needed. I think it’s fair to say the Black and Gold spirit will only get stronger.”

Uni of started as they meant to go on, claiming three of the four points on offer at Winter Varsity in November. In the rest of the early events, however, points were shared and the teams went into football at Hillsborough with the scores tight.

The Women’s Football 1s drew in the early match, before Hallam’s Men’s 1s took their point, winning 2-1.

Going into Sports Park Day, Uni of had a slight lead of 5.5-3.5, but extended their lead to 18-10 by the end of the day, with wins in ultimate frisbee, cricket, and rugby, amongst others.

Team Hallam then comfortably won boxing at the Octagon, with eight bouts going in their favour, although this was cancelled out

by Mixed Ice Hockey 2s winning at IceSheffield the same night.

Climate change campaign group Extinction Rebellion are taking to the streets of Sheffield to ‘make the city beautiful again’.

On Saturday 30 March, they say they will be spreading their call to action by installing a semi-permanent piece of art in Sheffield. Called ‘Paint the Streets of Sheffield’, it will start at 11am and culminate outside the Town Hall.

They say that while they want to ensure climate change stays in people’s minds, they also want to draw attention to the organisation’s week of action next month.

Extinction Rebellion say they will be engaging with passers-by, telling them how they can get involved and “join the movement”.

Image: Extinction Rebellion

Norton Playing Fields proved to be a similarly mixed day, with the points being shared after the three lacrosse fixtures, although the Black and Golds took the opportunity to extend their lead thanks to a win in the Women’s Hockey 3s.

Both universities kept pace with each other over the weekend events, drawing in rowing before Team Hallam closed the gap after an American football win, which was countered by Uni of’s dodgeball triumph on Sunday.

Ahead of EIS on Monday, the University of Sheffield were looking favourites with a lead of 25-15, and put themselves in prime position to take the title, claiming ten of the 16 points available for the day. Particular success was found in netball, volleyball and athletics, although Team Hallam did take home all three points from basketball.

The Hallamshire and Abbeydale day would prove to be the day the tournament was won, with Uni of needing just 4.5 points from the day to seal it. The winning point finally came in Women’s Hockey 1s, after results in tennis and squash. It meant the Black and Golds could go into the final day with their heads

Two boxers clash at the Octagon. Image: Christian Hopewell

held high, ahead on 40.5-25.5.

Team Hallam started off Finals Day strongly, winning both swimming events, although Uni of did claim the final cycling event, giving them 1.5 points of the two available. Points were largely even in the korfball, badminton and canoe polo, but the Black and Golds had

already sealed their record winning margin when the ice hockey began.

It was a back-and-forth game at the FlyDSA Arena, with both teams exchanging the lead, but Hallam eventually emerged as 5-4 victors, ending Varsity for another year.

Check out our Varsity pull-out inside for more on all the action.

5

News

Graduate to walk to work for Children’s Hospice Niall O’Callaghan

A University of Sheffield graduate will walk 19 miles to work on Friday 5 April to raise money for Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice, as part of national ‘Walk to Work Day’.

Connor Copeland, who studied

Information Technology for Business, graduated in 2017 and now works for Reach Interactive in Doncaster. He will be racing a colleague to their headquarters in Atlas Office Park, beginning on Division Street.

They will be raising money for

Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice who provide palliative care and support to children and young people with a shortened life expectancy.

The Hospice, which is based in Rotherham, needs to raise £11,000 a day to keep their doors open.

Connor said “We were brainstorming ideas in the office on how to raise money for Bluebell Wood, our charity of the year.

“I was thinking about how my

morning commute takes nearly an hour and I regularly find myself stuck in traffic - sometimes I think to myself it’d be easier to walk this than drive.

“The pressure is on me as I’m hoping to complete the walk quicker than my colleague, Andy, who is seen as the underdog - he’s been gathering a lot of support in the office”.

The walk is estimated to take them around six-and-a-half hours.

Connor facing up to Andy Image: Reach Interactive

Magid Magid taking part in RAG Week at the Students’ Union Image: Coffee Revolution

“This role is what you make of it”: Magid Magid on students, climate strikes and being Lord Mayor Ben Warner

Lord Mayor Magid Magid says he has “no idea” what he’s going to be doing when he steps down as a Councillor in May, in an exclusive interview with Forge Press.

Since he took the role last April, Magid has been a controversial choice, as the Green Party’s first ever Lord Mayor in Sheffield. He has turned the role into more of a campaigning role, and has divided opinion in the city and nationally.

In terms of whether his perception of the role had changed, having done what he has, the Lord Mayor added:

“It’s weird, because I can only think of what I knew before I was Lord Mayor, and what I knew was how it was done before, and of course I came into the role knowing I wanted to have a different approach, and do things differently.”

He came to the United Kingdom from Somalia in the 1990s as a child refugee, before going to university in Hull.

After university he returned to Sheffield, and was elected as Councillor for Broomhill & Sharrow Vale ward in 2016.

Despite being popular with a lot of student residents in his ward, he has divided opinion amongst many

Sheffield locals, but doesn’t pay too much attention to it.

He said: “Honestly, couldn’t give a shit. Everyone’s not going to like me, and I can sleep at peace with that. I was never gonna make everyone happy. If you’re trying to be everyone’s cup of tea, you might as well be a mug.”

However, this year he is stepping down as a Councillor, and he told Forge Press that was always his plan.

He said he wants new challenges, and to push himself. Despite that, though, he doesn’t know what he’ll be doing after he quits.

“I have absolutely no idea. If you guys have any idea, hit me up.

Something will come about for sure.

“My friends joke about how funny it would be if on my last day, my chauffeur asks me where I want to go, and he drops me at the JobCentre,” he laughed.

Magid has made the role his own, campaigning on the issues he cares about, such as the recent youth climate strikes.

“I’m a big supporter and advocate for non-violent direct action, whatever that is. More power to you,” he said.

“Elected representatives aren’t listening and with the strike, these young people actually care about the future and are using their voice,

collectively coming together.”

However, on a more local level, the outgoing Lord Mayor hailed the work of student volunteers, such as the organisers of RAG Week, in which he offered up the chance to spend a day with him. “[They] are just amazing. They give so much back to the local community, not just in fundraising but time, volunteering. It’s great that they’re part of Sheffield, and not just staying in the bubble like a lot of students,” he said.

“Anything I can do to support and encourage that I will. Whether I’m Lord Mayor or not, that offer stands.”

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Bummit reach £1 million raised in their history Ben Warner

(cont. from front page) ...money for charity.

This year’s ‘Big Bummit’ is to Transylvania in Romania, with the halfway point being the Czech Republic’s Prague. Last semester, the committee oversaw the annual ‘Baby Bummit’ to Bristol.

The short-distance, one-day trip to somewhere in the United Kingdom was brought back in from 2008, and is seen as a good way to get involved.

After 16 years of regular hitchhikes, Bummit have managed to raise over £1m for charity. Adam said: “[This] is an amazing achievement, and testament to the hard work of Bummit committees over the years, as well as all the students who’ve taken a chance and done something wild for charity.

“Everyone has different highlights but a couple of my favourite Bummit places have been hitchhiking

The society donating almost £10k in 2012 Image: Bummit

Green Party appeals for openness on fire safety Ben Warner

The Green Party in Sheffield is calling for more openness on fire safety in the city, ahead of next month’s full Council meeting.

A motion is set to be proposed to the Wednesday 3 April meeting, by Cllr Rob Murphy, who represents the City ward, which acknowledges that two years after the Grenfell Tower tragedy, recladding work on Hanover Tower in Broomhall is still to be completed.

The motion, if passed, will also resolve that Sheffield City Council will write to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to call on them to fund replacement cladding.

Cllr Murphy said: “We now know that, despite concerns raised about fire safety at the time the cladding was installed in 2012, someone authorised a switch from

the original, aluminium cladding on Hanover Tower to a flammable version.

“The council has confirmed it has not sought to recover any money from the contractor but has refused to say who it thinks is at fault. The investigation is still ‘ongoing’.”

Hanover Tower falls within the Broomhill & Sharrow Vale Ward, and is represented by Cllr Kaltum Rivers, who was elected last year, as well as Lord Mayor Magid Magid and Labour’s Michelle Cook.

Cllr Rivers said: “Residents tell me they are worried about fire in the flats but also about the cold after the cladding was removed.

“When one resident complained of damp, she was told it was because of her ‘lifestyle choice’ because of condensation.”

Angela Argenzio is running for Cllr Magid’s seat when he steps down at May’s local elections, after four years in the job.

through the Austrian Alps, passing through northern Italy and travelling through the stunning lakes region in eastern Poland.”

Activities Officer Cecilia HudsonMolinaro, who took part in Bummit during her time as a student, said: “This student-led hitch-hiking event has expanded from our very own Raising and Giving community here in Sheffield, to become an organisation which provides students with some of their best experiences and memories at university.

“Not to mention the exceptional amount of money which has been distributed over the years to a series of local and international charities.

“I am so proud to have had the opportunity to contribute to this achievement and also meet some amazing individuals along the way.

“Congratulations to everyone who stepped out of their comfort zone to make this happen.”

Two new SU Councillors set to be revealed David Anderson

Kaltum Rivers, Councillor for Broomhill and Sharrow Vale Ward, (left) with Angela Argenzio, Green Party candidate for the same ward Image: Sheffield Green Party

The winners of the two new SU Councillor positions will be announced on Friday 29 March.

By-elections have been held to elect the first ever Societies and Sports Councillors, with voting being held after midday on Wednesday 27 March for 24 hours.

The positions were created after a referendum was held alongside the SU Officer elections in February and students voted resoundingly to create the roles.

A proposal was put to SU Council in mid-March to create the roles immediately rather than wait for the Council elections in October.

As well as having roles on the Council, the highest decisionmaking body of students at the SU, the elected people will also have ex officio roles on Societies Committee and Sports Committee respectively.

7

News

Sri Lankan Society triumph as the international community celebrates its 47th year of ICE Alex Peneva

The Sri Lankan Society were crowned winners at the International Cultural Evening (ICE) on Saturday 23 March, celebrating cultural diversity in Sheffield for the 47th consecutive year.

Themed as ‘Voyage across the globe’ the event gave a platform to 11 cultural and national societies and guest performers, who staged dances and plays to celebrate the cultural diversity in the city’s international community.

Rex Bechu, the International Students’ Officer at the SU, said: “International students don’t usually have this space, this platform and audience. They spend their day surrounded

by British culture. “ T h e International Cultural Evening is a chance for them to speak about themselves, their cultures, their stories, and to be listened to. Tonight, for the 47th year, they have done so

beautifully.”

The Sri Lankan Society, who were crowned best performers of the night, are one of the usual participants in ICE and favourites of many.

The society gave a performance which, through dancing and acting, showed how their traditional dances have developed over the years.

As runners-up for the title were the Indian Society. They told the story of a young girl who would fight against stereotypes to follow her passion for playing cricket and become like famous women who have inspired change in society.

ICE started with a minute of silence for the victims of the Christchurch mosque shootings on 15 March and their families.

The few technical issues faced were covered up with impressive multimedia and fire effects, followed by the first performance for the night, given by the Pakistan Society.

They were followed by the Nigerian Society’s first ever performance at ICE. Through a play, they told the history of Nigeria, who was played by a young woman in a cultural dress.

Among the usual performers were Son de America, a local Latin American dance group, and the Belly Dance Society. Part of the first act also saw the Bulgarian Society performing for the first time at ICE. The second act had the African Caribbean Society presenting the ‘ACS Interactive App’ through a play and dances that demonstrated the cultures of different countries in Africa and the Caribbean.

Every international student adds value to everything we do in Sheffield Last year’s winners, the Tamil Society, appeared again, as well as the Irish Dance Society and K-Pop Dance Society who made guest appearances.

At the end of the night performers and members of the International Students’ Committee got on stage

Image: Olive Enokido-Lineham

for the traditional international parade. They all walked through the hall waving their national flags, with many wearing traditional cultural dresses.

The event ended with speeches by the Lord Mayor Magid Magid, the Students’ Union President Lilian Jones, the International Students’ Officer Rex Bechu and the Chair of International Students’ Committee Aritro Dutta.

Magid said in his closing speech: “Every single international student really adds value to everything that we do in Sheffield. They simply make Sheffield the amazing place

it is.

“To all of you, please remember that you always have a home here in Sheffield.”

ICE 2019 also celebrated 51 years of International Students’ Committee.

Aritro Dutta said: “For 51 years we have been promoting diversity and we have been showing the world that this is a platform open for all.

“I would like to thank everyone who volunteered to perform for ICE, as you are the ones who make this event successful. You are the ones who make sure that the world knows about the cultures that we have in Sheffield.”

Sheffield charity hero given Freedom of the City Ben Warner

A Sheffield man who has raised nearly half a million pounds for charity has been given the Freedom of the City, one of only a few to ever be given the honour.

John Burkhill, 80, has been fundraising for Macmillan Cancer Support for over 30 years, and although he has raised almost £500,000 for the charity, he says he wants to break the £1 million barrier.

He has taken part in more than 1,000 organised races in aid of the course, wearing his famous green wig and pushing a pram along. He’s raced in the city’s 10k runs, half-

marathons, and more, as well as going further afield to raise money for charity.

Now, John joins a prestigious list of people who have been given the Freedom of the City, including Team GB Olympian Dame Jessica EnnisHill and Nelson Mandela.

£1 million is John Burkhill’s target for fundraising

Leader of Sheffield City Council, Julie Dore, said: “I am thrilled to grant the Freedom of the City of Sheffield to John Burkhill. He is a true reflection of Sheffield’s spirit

and makes us all feel very proud.

“Today the city is recognising his enormous contribution by awarding him the right to walk wherever he wants - the Freedom of the City.

“This seems particularly fitting given that over the years John has walked through hundreds of the city’s streets fundraising. On behalf of everyone at Sheffield City Council, it is my pleasure to bestow this award in recognition of his fantastic efforts.”

Speaking to the Sheffield Star, John thanked the people of Sheffield, and said the award was “a great honour”.

He added that he never expected it to happen.

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9

Features Features Editor Rebecca Lally Lisa Wehrstedt Hello, and welcome back to the latest issue of Forge Press!

It’s amost Easter, and AGM season is upon us, when the University’s societies are choosing their new committees for the upcoming year. So we’ve got a piece about why you should run for a society position - why it could be the best thing you do during your time at uni, in fact.

Considering the current political situation, we also have a topical piece about Brexit and how it affects our University, with points of view from several international students.

Our final article is about an increasingly important yet underreported topic - period poverty. Trust us, it’s an eyeopening one.

That’s all from us - happy reading and see you next issue!

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Join our Facebook group Forge Contributors or just drop any of us an email! Hope to hear from you soon!

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The best thing you can do at uni? Join a committee Ben Warner

Last year Sheffield Students’ Union was named as the best SU in the country for a tenth year running – a decade at the top. Despite this successful streak, the SU have always been very keen to highlight that it’s the students who make it.

The students who turn up to events, sit on committees, and run for elected positions in the SU. The Officer elections might have just finished, but now the Union is ramping up for another hugely important time – AGM season.

Annual General Meetings are where members of societies and working committees meet to organise themselves, but most importantly to elect their committee members for the next year.

For smaller societies, this is often a simple, quick process, but big working committees (our very own Forge Press had 54 positions at last year’s AGM) can see their AGMs running for hours. However, despite this often lengthy process, most ex-committee members would recommend getting involved with something you’re passionate about.

“I’d say it’s never too late to join in, even if you’re going into your final year. Come and join a committee this AGM season,” said Beren Maddison, who is currently Chair of Welfare Committee and one of the campaigns officers for LGBT+ committee. In February, he was elected as the SU Welfare Officer for 2019/20.

He added: “It’s such a rewarding experience and you can develop so many skills, I’d definitely recommend it.”

The SU have always been keen to highlight how much opportunity there is for students to get involved, with nearly 400 societies, over 20 working committees, and a wide range of representative committees.

Societies are often devoted to specific interests, or represent a departmental or academic subject. Sheffield SU is also very proud of its national societies, giving international students the opportunity to meet more of their compatriots, but also allowing home students to widen their cultural horizons.

Working committees, on the other

hand, work to provide all students with a service or benefit the wider community. Film Unit, for example, is a working committee and their film screenings are open to all. Every student at the University is already a member of these committees, and everyone has the chance to run without paying for membership.

However, this isn’t common knowledge, and even if it was, many find giving a speech at the AGMs tough, especially if inexperienced at public speaking. Matt Shadrack, Chair of Societies Committee, said: “Standing in front of a room of strangers trying to convince them to vote for you is not fun for many people.

“However, from my experience in the SU, I have seen how supporting and welcoming everyone is. It is so worth doing it”.

A great way to get involved in a Society or a Committee is to ask questions. Drop them an email or ask at their next event - I am sure everyone will appreciate your interest and make you feel more than welcome.

GeogSoc is one of the academic societies who appear to have a very visible presence, both online and around the SU. Jake Verity, their president, was Social Sec for the society in his second year, before running for the top job this year. In February, he was also elected as SU President for 2019/20.

He, however, denied claims that his academic society is more active than others, and says it’s more about the strategy each society takes.

“I would say all societies are brilliant. I wouldn’t say just because we’ve put a few Facebook posts out we’re more active,” Jake said.

“A lot of societies do things that go under the radar, like meetings, turning up to things, it’s actually quite tiring.”

GeogSoc attracted attention at the start of the year, when they cut the price of international student membership by half, which Verity says was really important to ensure they could get more involved. Since then, they’ve hosted talks with a variety of people including Lord Mayor Magid Magid, and raised nearly £2,000 for charity.

Jake is reluctant to claim credit for it though, and instead says that his team are doing the really good work,

Forge Press - one of the largest commitees!

he just guides them and makes sure they stay motivated and can accomplish what they want to. In many ways, that’s the epitome of what a chair should do.

Perhaps some of the most active, campaigning committees, however, are the representative committees at the SU, of which there are seven.

They cover the most well-known ones, such as LGBT+ or International Students, but there are also slightly less vocal ones, such as Postgraduate Students’ or Mature.

Beren Maddison said: “The idea of being the part of the committee that represents all of the LGBT students at the University, it’s something that I felt was important to me, having that space to make things better for students, making sure that the University is supporting LGBT students in the right way.

In February, Beren organised LGBT+ History Month with a series of events held around the Students’ Union, and says this is his proudest moment, as it was a huge undertaking along with running an SU Officer campaign.

However, he also highlighted the work he and the committee have done around inclusions in various parts of the University, particularly with the various sports teams.

“As a committee we’ve done a few different inclusions-based things for different areas of the University, and I’m really happy about that,” he added.

Many representative committees emphasise the social aspect of being part of the committee, even just as a member, in order to meet more people. LGBT+ committee hold two socials a week – including an alcohol-free coffee social – while BME Committee have recently

helped launch VYBEZ, a night-out at the SU targeted at BME students.

It’s difficult to capture just what committees mean for the Students’ Union, because of the scale and range of interests and causes that are covered. The resounding theme, however, is that students should absolutely consider running for a committee position, or even just attending events more regularly.

“The range of societies here at Sheffield is really impressive, having over 350 groups to choose from shows how diverse our student body is, catering to a vast majority of interests,” said Cecilia HudsonMolinaro, this year’s Activities Officer.

“Taking part in an AGM is where it all starts, where you can truly get involved and make a difference whilst gaining priceless skills which you can take on to your future life.

“You’ve just got to believe in yourself and give it your best shot and with the support from staff and friends you’ll be so pleased you took the chance and stepped up to the challenge.”

Most AGMs are expected to be held before Easter, although some take place later.

Societies and committees advertise their elections widely, and there should be something for everyone to join in and enjoy.

10 write for us!

Alex Peneva

I was raised with the conviction that, to have a bright future, a child from Bulgaria should pursue higher education abroad. So I have always known that once I finished school, I would pack my stuff and leave home to come to the UK. So, just as planned, I did.

Britain was a rather dark and gloomy place for me until I came to live here. I was prepared for rainy weather, grey clouds, cold wind and even colder people everything I had been told to expect.

But Sheffield turned out to be just as sunny as I need to keep my good mood and to avoid sunburns.

Everyone I met here, local, EU or international, was so nice that it made me want to become a part of this friendly community.

Michael Ekman For a long time, I hadn’t felt that much fear or worry about Brexit.

Since it’s been so unclear all this time (and still is), it never seemed much use to me to worry about something when I didn’t really know what exactly to worry about.

The point where I started to really consider the consequences was when several months ago the Home Office announced that EU citizens had to pay £65 to apply for the EU Settlement Scheme (even though Theresa May later announced that that fee would be dropped). It got me thinking a bit about the fact that perhaps I should start considering my future here. I like living in the UK and could consider staying here for a few more years, but it isn’t

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“British people are much colder than Eastern Europeans. You will soon be crying for home,” everyone used to tell me. But I was right in refusing to believe them, as it all proved wrong.

Things here are very different indeed. Sometimes, what I am used to doing or saying doesn’t make sense to others. But even then they don’t laugh and instead ask me to explain. In this international community everyone’s little differences are welcome and accepted, and now I can’t imagine a life where I hadn’t experienced this.

I once thought the stigma of being Eastern European would always prejudice people to expect very little of how I would behave, speak and perform in my work and studies… But while this thought still occasionally crosses my mind when someone tells me ‘thank you!’ or ‘good job!’, there hasn’t been a single time when I didn’t feel accepted by or equal to everyone else around me in Sheffield.

So everything turned out even better than expected.

unreasonable to think that charges similar to this are going to appear every now and then.

No matter what happens on 29 March, I’ll definitely stay here and finish my course. But after that I’m not too sure. I think I’ll have to wait and see to really get an idea of exactly the steps I would have to take to stay here and whether or not it’s really difficult to get settled status.

So far though, I’ve had a really good experience here in the UK - I like my course, living costs are fairly reasonable and Sheffield is a nice place. I think Brexit will undoubtedly be bad in the long-term for everyone, but for now, I’m not too worried.

“WE WANT Why Sheffield’s EU students Lisa Wehrstedt

We have all come to the UK for different reasons. Some of us simply to explore a different culture, while others have left their home countries because they simply did not give them the opportunity to chase after their dreams. But whatever brought us here, we now find ourselves on this island, away from our homes and families, trying to adapt to the different culture and the grim weather, while down in London they are negotiating the departure from the institution that allows us to study here in the first place.

The uncertainty of Brexit is hitting everyone at the moment, but probably no more so than the almost 150,000 EU students currently in the UK. We share some of the same fears

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Features

Dana Raer

TO STAY!” won’t leave the UK afer Brexit

as Brits while having had no say in the future of the country we have chosen to live in. We have to tolerate our homeland being demonised in the news everyday as that institution that will not set the UK free on its own terms. All the while our future in this new home we have built for ourselves is blurry and undecided.

Should we stay? Should we leave?

Where to though? Home doesn’t feel the same after you have seen the opportunities that the UK could give you. But will we still be welcome here after Brexit is finalised?

We have asked some EU students at our University to tell us their story, their fears and worries, and what their hopes are for a postBrexit Britain.

Brexit has brought a wave of uncertainty over my life, a fear of the unknown. Anything can happen during these decisive months: I might end up not having the same work opportunities; it might become more complicated to apply for a citizenship. Either way, one thing that is certain about this tumultuous situation is that my desire to remain in the United Kingdom after my studies has not changed. Even more so, as a journalism student, I feel personally involved in one of the most fascinating and newsworthy topics of this decade. To say I am strangely thrilled as well as a bit nervous would be the best way to put it.

The UK offers more open doors for young journalists than where I come from. People are polite and cheerful.

There is so much diversity and acceptance towards new cultures and different views. Sheffield has one of the strongest student communities, and smiling to other people on the streets is seen as normality.

I don’t think Europeans are scared of the outcome of Brexit - no matter how harsh it will be. We are aware of what being an immigrant implies and what to expect. Brexit will be just another stepping-stone to fulfilling achievements, personally motivating me to work even harder.

Stela Gineva I moved to the UK back in September 2018 fully aware that I would probably be living in uncertainty and chaos during the following months.

Uncertainty breeds fear, and one of my biggest worries was whether I was making a huge mistake moving over at this stage in time. Would I be subjected to hate speech or violence? After all, with the referendum as divisive as it was, it was possible that fringe groups might become more vocal. Of course, there were the more practical worries too, worries like, what happens if the UK crashes out of the EU without a deal? Where would that leave me?

Yet I moved anyway, because the opportunity was too good to pass. I’d get to do exactly what I wanted to do

with my life and I was willing to take a risk if that’s what it took.

I also decided to move because I had spent most of my life living abroad. In my experience, despite divisive politics and crippling social issues, there is always something to learn from living somewhere new.

Six months on, I can say that most of my fears were baseless. I met a lovely group of people who became my friends. My course involves meeting and interacting with people from within Sheffield’s community as a whole, and I’ve always been made to feel welcome.

Although no one knows what Brexit holds, I would love to try and stay in the UK after my course ends.

I would be sad to leave the group of friends I’ve made. This is such a diverse country with so many new places to discover and so many more things to experience - I’m sure I have a lot left to learn!

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Features

Crimson conversations: Let’s leave period poverty in the past Chloe Dervey

Period: Once a taboo whispered only at prepubescent sleepovers, this word has steadily undergone a transformation among women worldwide determined to put an end to the stigma of menstruation period.

In December 2017, the humanitarian organisation Plan International UK published research in a landmark study, identifying factors for change in society’s approach to menstruation.

Repeatedly cited across news outlets, the findings sent shockwaves up and down the country, as the deplorable reality of the extent of shame internalised by girls and the secret nationwide crisis of period poverty was exposed for the first time.

The teenage campaigner Amika George set social media alight with her ground-breaking campaign #FreePeriods, and The Red Box Project was established in response to the revelation that young girls were missing days of school because they could not afford sanitary products to get through their cycles.

Education settings are key in supporting our youth where other areas in their lives fail to do so. Schools need to be a safe environment in every sense of the word, and this includes providing young girls with the security that their menstrual needs can be met and supported, should they be in a position where they cannot do this alone. But why has it taken us until now to begin to understand the importance of this?

Earlier this month, fervent campaigning (including a petition with 27,000 signatures and 2000-strong march on Downing

St.) finally appeared to have paid off: the 2019 Spring Statement saw Chancellor Phillip Hammond announce the development of a national scheme to provide free sanitary products for our young girls in colleges and secondary schools in England, starting from the next school year. Although this is fantastic news, we must continue to rationally reflect on the delayed attention period poverty has received in order to decipher how we can eradicate it for good.

Most young girls are dependent on their guardian to supply the sanitary products that they need, and many do not have the resources to do so independently. Period poverty is naturally going to be prevalent among lower-income families; not to mention those with family members needing to share a supply of sanitary products. Between 2010 and 2013, the ONS found that almost a third of the UK population experienced relative poverty in at least one of these years (a household is in relative poverty if their income is 60% or lower than the median income, meaning any household with income lower than £17,040).

Additionally, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation reported that child poverty has seen a rise of 500,000 in the last five years, and 4.1 million children are therefore now living in relative poverty.

It therefore comes as little surprise that one in seven girls struggle to afford sanitary protection, or that one in ten are unable to afford any altogether. Yet, all the same, the nation recoiled at a correlation between poverty and period poverty.

Perhaps the true disgust was at the shocking reality of the extent to which we have trained young girls to hide their menstruation, silencing

this naturally occurring process in half the world’s population, even in one of the most developed countries of the world.

This also begs the question: at what age do we believe it is acceptable to ask a young girl to begin buying her own menstrual products? Why do we normalise this, when half report missing school days, one in five have to change to a less suitable, cheaper product, and a heart-wrenching 12 percent of girls have had to improvise sanitary wear out of the likes of toilet roll and socks, due to financial costs?

We are letting our young girls compromise. We have historically taught girls to quietly accept this as their burden which they need to bear silently, and this embedded shame persists into adulthood.

How better to illustrate the effectiveness of the far-reaching silencing of menstruation, than recalling the multi-faceted wave of both relief and sadness that hit me when I heard, during Amika George’s TEDx talk, that other girls hide their sanitary products up their sleeves on the walk to the toilets too, and that it wasn’t with my own female friends I had discussed this almost laughable technique of concealment.

Period poverty is very real, and it is happening here in Sheffield.

In terms of donations, The Red Box Project Sheffield South-East coordinator tells us “I can get 50 plus donations a week or five. It’s never consistent”, though through their efforts they estimate to have sent out 500 products into local education since September 2018. Until the Education Secretary announces further details on the national scheme for free products, there is much that can still be done in order to help shape a future without

A Statement from our SU’s Women Officer, Mayeda:

How can I help?

“I hope the union to continue providing free sanitary products in the toilets and hold sanitary product drives every year so we can keep doing our part in tackling period Poverty”

The Education Secretary is to announce further details in due course on the new scheme.

Until then, Beighton lifestyle centre is the main donation point for The Red Box Project in Sheffield. Get ahold of them on their Facebook page or

Infographic provided by The Red Box Project

period poverty. There have also been no further statements regarding the needs of girls who start their period in primary school.

The need for rational, open and honest conversations about menstruation is now more urgent than ever. If we hope to create real change then we have to start actively facilitating these conversations for everyone and nurturing confidence by normalising menstruationespecially now we know that nearly half of girls aged 14-21 in the UK are embarrassed by their periods.

We should also be vocal about the economic injustice. This is the

Twitter if you want to know more information about how to donate sanitary products to them.

reality of it: staying comfortable and somewhat in control of menstruation requires the purchasing of more expensive, branded products. The idea that someone may not be in a position where they can supply their needs effectively and feel ashamed to be vocal about it is heart-breaking. And that just isn’t fair. Our compromising and hiding around this topic needs to end.

Menstrual equity is achievable, and it starts with honest conversations.

Or perhaps a simple newspaper article, like this one!

Opinion Opinion Editors Connie Coombs Matthew Hartill Well, Varsity has ended and naturally Uni of have won.

We decided last issue had too much merriment, so have some more sombre pieces.

Much more on brand. We’ll be back after Easter - we hope yours is restful and not filled with revision.

Want our job? Come to our AGM! April 3, 6pm. Details on Facebook. Or email us. We love your attention.

Love, as always, Opinion x

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On Masculinity Angelo Irving ponders the meaning of masculinity in today’s world In 2004, I was seconds away from death. I was in a car, on the way to London for a night out. The music was playing and my friends and I were singing loudly. On the M2, there is a bridge that is notorious for amplifying the effects of the wind. The road was wet from intermittent showers. None of these meteorological factors bothered us much. We were speeding along, marvelling that the tiny one litre car we were in was capable of such power. About half way across the bridge, our speed, along with the water on the road, caused the car to aquaplane.

It is an absolutely surreal experience – the car inexorably veering to the left whilst we slowly realise what is going on. The driver realises what is happening and does what he can – in this case, turning down the music (an underrated hilarious moment in the story) and lifting his foot off the throttle. The car glides for a few seconds, but time is warped; that time is long enough for me to consider the totality of my life and consider it a shame that I haven’t

maximised it. About five feet from the barrier, the tyres re-engage with the tarmac and the car shoots forward.

For 90 seconds, we say nothing, each lost in our own thoughts, and then, simultaneously, we break out into the kind of laughter that can only be understood by those that have cheated death. We resolve in that moment to live every day to the fullest. That day has done more to shape the person I am, for better or worse, than almost anything else. As cliché as it sounds, I try hard to seize the day, especially when I have an opportunity to meet new people. I also try to help everyone I meet to maximise their potential.

I have called this article “On Masculinity” and the reason is simple: whilst there is a lot in the news about all that is wrong with masculinity, there is very little about either what masculinity should be or the positive aspects of it. I was discussing it with a friend last night and wanted to give a definition of masculinity that fits 2019. I came up with this:

That essence of being that is intrinsically different to the feminine whilst still being beautiful.

That kind of masculinity is beautiful. Masculinity is the moment my friends and I shared in the moments after the car righted itself when we were alone with our thoughts, but together; it is the games my nephews aged six to eleven play, which involve running, wrestling and, in the period of weather which I believe other countries call ‘summer’, soaking each other with water; it’s the Skype chat that I was on with five other guys where one lad said he was tired, but fine and, with a bit of prodding led to a full blown discussion about mental health; it’s my friend and I walking around the school I used to work at and knowing when to have a ‘quiet word’ with a lad or give him a kick up the backside; it’s those same nephews asking me what to do when a boy in their class is ‘mugging them off’; as I type this, it’s my seven year old nephew reading this paragraph out loud

and asking me what masculinity and mental health is.

I recognise that none of the examples I’ve used have females in them. There are two reasons for that: firstly, these moments are special because, in much the same way that women have times that are special in the absence of men, so men have times that are special without women. Secondly, it’s these moments that have positively informed how I interact with all people. As a teacher, I worked hard to cultivate the image of an out of touch dad. I let the pupils teach me about ‘dabbing’, ‘YOLO’ and ‘Grime’ music. I would talk to the pupils and try to be an advocate for them. I was never the ‘cool’ teacher. When I left, I had just as many cards and well wishes from the girls as the boys.

Masculinity, when cultivated, is a beautiful, wild, intense, loving and amazing thing. It is important that we remember that, because, as we have seen all too often, it is easily corruptible.

Has the meaning of Easter been lost?

Nicole Oshisanwo

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Easter. A time for chocolate and merriment or a time for honouring Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross to save humanity? In recent times, one could be forgiven for thinking that the religious meaning of Easter has been completely lost from the holiday, but that is far from the truth. Christian symbolism can be found throughout the ways that the British celebrate Easter; one only needs to look.

The sheer excitement that greets Pancake Day doesn’t seem particularly religious, but it is a day that is rooted in Christianity.

Shrove Tuesday was originally a day when you would try to eat all your leftover foods in order to properly fast for Lent and although many do not fast during Lent anymore,

it’s still very common for people to give something up for the 40 day period. We decorate our homes with cute chicks, and whilst they are an acknowledgment of the spring period and the birth of many animals, they also symbolise the rebirth of Christ. In addition, although Easter eggs appear at first glance to be non-secular, empty decorated eggs were originally symbols for the empty tomb from which Jesus was returned to the living; the more common practice of buying chocolate eggs is merely an offshoot from this custom. Hot cross buns of course refer to the cross upon which Jesus was crucified and Simnel cake to the 12 apostles.

There is still symbolism therefore in some of the Easter practices even if most people are not aware

of it.

Now, of course the easy rebuttal is that just because a festival is derived from something religious, it doesn’t mean that the true meaning hasn’t been lost through time. However, to an extent I don’t believe that it matters. The British public are still observing Protestant traditions on one of the most holy days of the Christian calendar and most are aware of the link to religion. In a world of declining religious belief, where only 59 per cent of people in 2011 identified as Christian compared with over 70 per cent in 2001, you should take what you can get.

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What to do with Shamima Begum

Back in February, a journalist from The Times found a British teenager at a refugee camp in Syria, heavily pregnant and wishing to return to the UK. It ignited fierce debate in Britain and beyond. Just over a month later, and her fate remains uncertain.

Anastasia Koutsounia argues that she should be allowed back; Finn Byrne argues the opposite.

‘Let her return’

‘Leave her there’

by Anastasia Koutsounia

I

f you’ve been following the news or are on social media, you probably know about Shamima Begum, the 20-year-old British girl who travelled to Syria in 2015 and recently had her citizenship revoked after asking to return to the country with her newborn child.

Her face has been on every front page with people seemingly hugely divided on the potential rights and wrongs of allowing her to come back. With the recent passing of her baby that debate has been reignited and, to my mind, Britain should set a humane example by letting her come home.

In July 2017 it was revealed by multiple papers that the UK had revoked the citizenship of 150 ‘jihadists and criminals’, yet Shamima Begum belongs to neither category. A jihadist is someone who is involved in a ‘violent struggle’; as far as we know, she has never killed anyone or been part of propaganda spreading messages. The media continues to portray her as an extremist and a danger to society yet there is no concrete evidence to support this, except a collective displeasure towards her choice to go to Syria, which surely only highlights further the problem of Islamophobia that this country is trying to resolve.

What is also not mentioned is how susceptible today’s teenagers are to external influences; the effects of social media and peer pressure can add to the feelings of confusion that often consume many teenagers. That, in addition to their search for a purpose and a place they belong, makes them more likely to rebel or even be lured away. What happened with Shamima happens on a smaller scale with millions of teenagers on

Illustration: David Anderson

a daily basis. Should every teenager who acts out or makes a wrong move be turned away?

Even now, when speaking in interviews, Shamima did not appear the composed and threatening woman that she is portrayed to be, but a frightened young girl fearing for her and her child’s life. Instead of this situation being an opportunity to show that there is compassion and acceptance in this country, it has turned into a fuel for the existing hatred and Islamophobia that has created such problems to begin with.

So, unlike Sajid Javid’s belief that revoking her citizenship is somehow for the good of the British people, the truth is, when the country is turning its back on people who ask for a second chance, it is essentially proving the jihadists’ point that there is no home in the UK for these people.

This is a dangerous and counterproductive message to send to these frightened young people.

by Finn Byrne

N

o doubt you’ve heard the name Shamima Begum a lot over the past few weeks. The young mother, who fled to Syria at 15 years old to join ISIS, has just been denied UK citizenship and will not be let back into the country. There is no doubt that when she fled to join the group she was vulnerable, and had made the decision off the back of a campaign of radicalisation. In an ideal world the right decision would be to allow Shamima back in to the UK, put her on a fair legal trial for her actions and then start the process of rehabilitation to help her rebuild her life. But can we afford this risk?

Gathering the evidence to successfully prosecute her would prove a challenge and she would more than likely not be charged, as proof of her personal actions would be sparse. The Home Secretary, Sajid Javid, made the decision to revoke her citizenship in order to protect the safety of other UK citizens.

Although Shamima was radicalised she still voluntarily got on the plane and went to Syria to support a terrorist organisation.

In her own words she explained that the only evidence people have of her being a threat is that she was “in ISIS”. The very ideology and ethics of this group are based around creating a Muslim state in which Sharia l a w is in

place, justifying attacks on ‘nonbelievers’ by saying that all those who do not believe seek to destroy Islam. Whether she was radicalised or not, this doesn’t change the fact that a person with this ideology is no doubt dangerous to the general public. The group she was part of holds the same worldview that those who conducted terror attacks such as the Manchester bombing also shared. The risk she poses is not worth taking if there is an option to exclude her from the UK. Looking at interviews with Shamima it is difficult to find anywhere where she genuinely seems remorseful or has regret for her actions and support of ISIS. It seems extremely coincidental that she decides to try and return at the very moment ISIS are crumbling.

It seems that she is not returning due to her having a change of heart but due to the fact ISIS are being defeated. The UK can’t just let terrorists leave and attempt to imprison, kill and force an ideology on others and then welcome them back with open arms when this doesn’t go to plan. I don’t think that anyone would be comfortable knowing that a terrorist is living in their community or alongside them, so why should we force this upon people? After all, how could she ever be integrated in to a community successfully with the prior knowledge that the very thing she stood for was to see Western civilisation imprisoned under an Islamic state? The Home Secretary was absolutely right to revoke her citizenship - for the safety of us all.

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Opinion

Will Smith: Colourism What’s behind Hollywood’s latest scandal?

Nicole Oshisanwo

To many outside and inside the black community, the furore surrounding Will Smith’s casting as Serena Williams’ father in the upcoming film ‘King Richard’ seems bizarre.

Simply put, colourism is the idea that the darker one is, the less desirable one becomes

Why are people complaining that a black person was cast to play another black person? This casting brought up an issue that is becoming

more and more recognised within communities of colour: colourism.

Colourism is discrimination based on how dark one’s skin is. It is one of the reasons why there is so much antiblack sentiment in communities of colour across the globe and one of the reasons why black people often feel more embattled than other BME communities.

Simply put, colourism is the idea that the darker one is, the less desirable one becomes, and this can be seen across the globe: in China where women wear ‘facekinis’ to protect from the sun on beaches and therefore remain lighter skinned; in India and parts of Africa where skin bleaching is extremely common, often through extreme methods; and, of course, in Hollywood with their questionable casting decisions.

This issue has existed for a long time. Many comic book fans were surprised when the very fair Halle

Berry was cast to play the character Storm in ‘X-Men’, a character who was consistently drawn and described as dark skinned. More

Colourism can be seen, of course, in Hollywood with their questionable casting decisions

recently there was a backlash when it was revealed that the mixed race actress Amandla Stenberg was cast as the lead in ‘The Hate U Give’; a character once again described by the source material the film was based on as dark-skinned.

It may not seem like a big issue to those outside the BME community, but for darker-skinned people who are constantly reminded that the ideal is to be as close to white as possible, castings like these can be a kick in the teeth; a further reminder that they will never be attractive enough to others.

So when in 2019, after the success of movies like ‘Black Panther’, which had a darker skinned cast than many movies might have opted for, and ‘Crazy Rich Asians’, which showed that studios are capable of casting diverse and representative actors, a light skinned actor was cast to play a dark skinned man, it naturally upset a lot of people. It seems that the film industry is still stuck in the same narrow colourist rut it has always been in.

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore

Happily ever after, again and again and again Peter Reed

In 2019, almost all of the traditional Disney films set for release are going to be live action remakes of animated classics, the main exception being sequel Frozen 2, proving that there is little originality left in the House of Mouse.

We saw Disney begin their live action crusade back in 2014 with Maleficent, and it continued with Cinderella, The Jungle Book and Beauty and the Beast. Meanwhile, it has been three years since their last original animation film, Moana, came out. The animation process certainly takes longer than it does to put together a live action film, but this does not excuse the fact that the remake is often not able to live up to the standards of the original, instead seemingly

only serving to fill time and make a profit. The recent Aladdin trailer seems to indicate that this trend is set to continue for a while yet.

For some, these remakes won’t be an issue. Any Disney is good Disney, right? Yet suggesting that what we want out of film companies is a constant stream of remakes and sequels means we lose out on newer concepts and ideas. The Walt Disney Company takes fewer risks by going with what they know, and this safe film-making increases the time between original content and spreads out staff and resources that could be going towards making the next big animated hit. In both the golden age of Disney animation and the Disney Renaissance we saw new, original Disney animated films almost annually, yet when Disney released their schedule for 2019 and beyond, we saw a huge

amount of remakes, and very few original animated films. Disney may be bigger than just animation nowadays, but it is still at the core of what makes Disney so beloved.

None of this is to say that these live-action films are bad, as often films like Beauty and the Beast have stunning cinematography and can be good on their own merit. But to say that what we want in future films are remakes and sequels is to say we are tired of originality. Why should Disney and other studios always rely on past successes when this could mean we miss out on some truly amazing new films?

A remake here and there is not a bad thing, but when almost all the films coming out this year fall into that category, surely enough is enough?

Image: Steve Jurvetson

16

Lifestyle Lifestyle Editors Amelia Shaw Harry Browse We’ve all been there; you’ve just bought a gorgeous new houseplant. You’ve named it, potted it in the prettiest pot from IKEA and you’ve given it its first taste of water, all the while feeling like Alan Titchmarsh on a warm spring day. Then, two weeks later, it’s dead. No more! We’re going back to nature in this issue with a handy guide for keeping your houseplants alive. Also we have an informative piece about travelling in Europe after Brexit, if that day ever comes. Or, if you prefer the comfort of your own home, snuggle up with our minestrone soup recipe and read about someone else’s BUMMIT travel experiences.

write for us!

How NOT to kill your houseplant Jack Dunnett

A positive to living in damp student houses is the humid air can allow many houseplants to thrive.

All plants require different conditions and favour different amounts of watering at different times of the year. This guide has some general tips for keeping your houseplants healthy. However researching your specific plant’s needs is key to helping it thrive.

Common houseplant problems.

Mould soil surface / side of the pot. As a result of moist and warm compost being in contact with the air, fungus can grow on the surface.

This can also be a sign of over feeding. This can be combatted by adding a layer of gravel to the top of the pot. Mould found on the side of terracotta pots can be wiped off, this is usually a result of over watering.

Terracotta is permeable if the pot is kept moist for a long period of time mould will grow on the exterior.

Small flies / Fungus gnats. Small flies plague most houseplants.

These are called fungus gnats. They live in moist soil. You can reduce the risk by watering less frequently and letting the soil dry out between waters.

Create a physical barrier between the air and the soil by adding a 2cm thick layer of gravel above the compost.

Yellow spotted/pale washed out leaves. Most likely the plant requires a feed. Liquid house plant feed can be applied when watering.

Unhealthy potted plant

This plant needs re-potting.

There is no more room for the roots to expand

Mould on soil surface

Feeding

House plants look fantastic when purchased, they have been fed and watered regularly and grown in the perfect conditions. Many people don’t even think about feeding their houseplants. Every time the plant is watered nutrients from the soil are washed out. After six months to a year the plant will need feeding.

Feeding tips. Do you research and find out what sort of feed your plant requires.

In the spring and summer when the plants you should feed your house plants roughly once a month.

Reduce feeding in the autumn and stop feeding in the winter when the plant is dormant. Do not over feed.

Healthy potted plant

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Layer of gravel to suppress mould and flies Decorative pot Plastic pot with holes in the bottom Space for excess water to drain to, avoids over-watering Excess water is disposed of from the bottom of the pot

Flies hatching from soil

Excess water in the bottom of the pot

Watering

Surprisingly, overwatering is a common cause of death for houseplants. Overwatering results in the plant’s roots sitting in water logged soil and this causes the roots to rot, killing the plant.

Overwatering can also cause other problems such as mould and flies.

Although the top of the soil may look dry however just below the surface could still be wet.

How to know when your plant needs watering. Method one.

Poke a cocktail stick into the soil, when removed if the cocktail stick is clean then water the plant. If small particles of soil remain on the cocktail stick do not water leave for a couple of days and try again.

Method two. Lifting the whole pot up when the plant has just been watered will give you a rough estimate on how the plant should feel when well watered. Next time you go to water plant lift the pot again. If it still feels just as heavy leave the plant for a day or two to become noticeably lighter. After a couple of times you should become accustomed to the weight of your plants.

Winter watering. As a result of cooler temperatures and shorter days most houseplants will slow

their growth. The plants require less water over the this time slowly reduce the amount of times you water over autumn ready for the winter.

Positioning

Grouping multiple houseplants in one area will help increase the surrounding humidity, preventing the leaves from browning and drying out. Most people treat plants as an accessory for their bedroom, to embellish the corner of a room or sit on top of your chest of draws. Unfortunately, plants will only thrive in if they are supplied with enough sunlight.

Positioning a plant should be decided on the conditions that the plant favours, rather than the aesthetics of your room.

Positioning tips. Avoid placing houseplants in strong drafts close to radiators or heaters. Experiment with your houseplant. If it looks unhappy, move it to a different position every couple of weeks.

Plants on windowsills will bend towards the light source. As a general rule, simply turn your plant every time you water it to get even growth.

Illustrations: Jack Dunnett

17

Lifestyle

Preparing for travel in post-Brexit Europe Gaby Heaton Borrageiros

However much we try to deny it, Brexit will undoubtedly affect us in many ways, especially when it comes to travel. Whether you are considering a quick weekend break to Barcelona or a 2-month interrailing trip around Europe, there will inevitably be changes to the way we travel after the 29th of March.

Luckily, the Foreign and Commonwealth office have started a campaign called Prepare for EU Exit (you can follow the hashtag #prepareforEUexit on social media!) where they provide all the information you need about postBrexit travel to Europe. Here are a few of their top tips: Buy travel insurance when you book your holiday – make sure you have the right cover, including for healthcare.

Even if you already have an EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) you will need to take out additional insurance to ensure that you are fully covered. Your access to healthcare when visiting the EU may change if the UK leaves the EU without a deal and EHICs may not be valid after the 29th of March. If you are planning to visit a country in the EU/EEA or Switzerland on or after that date, you should continue to buy travel insurance. Although this has always been the usual procedure for travel to Europe, Brexit will mean that if you are taking out travel insurance shortly after the UK leaves the EU, you should also make sure that the policy is sufficient to cover possible disruption. The best thing to do is to shop around for the best deal, but never buy a policy based on price alone. The cheapest policy may not cover all of your needs. Check that any policy you buy provides comprehensive cover for all of your pre-existing medical conditions and cover for any activities or sports that you may be undertaking.

Check your passport is valid for travel using the gov.uk Passport Checker.

A no-deal Brexit will mean you have to have at least 6 months validity on your passport from the moment you travel, even to countries such as Spain and France.

If your passport does not meet these new requirements, you will have to apply to get a new passport before travelling. Make sure you leave plenty of time to do this - but if you need to you can apply to get a passport urgently.

If you’re going to drive in Europe, the rules have changed and you need to check you’ve got the right documents.

Planning a road trip? On 28 March 2019, the type of international driving permit (IDP) that some countries outside the EU and EEA recognise will change. From 29 March 2019, in the event that there is no EU Exit deal, you may need an IDP in addition to your UK driving licence to drive when visiting EU and EEA countries. Following the UK’s exit from the EU, it is recommended that you display a GB sticker on the rear of your vehicle, irrespective of whether you currently have a number plate which includes the GB identifier. Remember to carry all your up-to-date documents with you at all times to avoid any problems.

Although it seems as though there is a lot to consider, this should not stop you from travelling and enjoying your holidays to Europe! By staying informed about how the UK leaving the EU could affect you when travelling in Europe, and following the steps you need to take you should not encounter any problems, simply make sure to keep checking gov.uk/ euexit before you travel.

Photography: Gaby Heaton Borrageiros

18

Lifestyle

Why Bummit is great Bethan Davis

In coming to University, I knew I wanted to get involved with a society or activity which would challenge me. That being said, I had no idea I would find myself planning to hitchhike to Cluj- Napoca, Romania, in the Easter holidays. My best friend took part in the Baby BUMMIT to Bristol earlier this academic year and through her saying it was an amazing experience, I decided to actually read the flyer they hand out around the SU and was immediately interested and wanted to find out more. BUMMIT is a sub-group of Sheffield Raising and Giving committee, and raises money for charity through hitch-hiking.

Since they started in 2003, BUMMIT have raised over £1million, which is incredible. This is a challenge which would differ from trying out a new sport and an experience which would get me out of my comfort zone and exploring parts of the world I have not seen yet. Luckily, my now

seasoned BUMMIT friend already had her ticket and encouraged by her and all the friendly committee members and newcomers like myself, I decided to buy my own.

Although hitch-hiking is a scary concept, it is quite feasible in Europe. We set out in teams of three and BUMMIT gives us training, insurance, a BUMMIT Bible and over-the-phone support throughout the journey to make sure we are safe. Many on the BUMMIT team say the hardest part is just getting out of England. A University student-led charity hitch-hike is not so uncommon either, with other Universities organising ‘Jailbreaks’ in which they try to get as far as possible without spending much money. I was drawn to BUMMIT as I liked the idea of a middle and end goal where we can all catch up, share our travels and all the different people we met along the way.

I’m excited to start planning our trip. Whilst you can never know for certain what time you’ll get where,

The

visiting both Germany and Hungary is on my bucket list of places I wish to see. I’m thrilled to go on such an exciting adventure all to raise money for five amazing charities; to meet a host of new people and to hopefully get to Cluj-Napoca on-time to try a papanași, a traditional Romanian pastry.

List of charities: ASSIST Sheffield, The Children’s society, Boccia Sheffield, St Wilfred’s Centre, Mary’s Meals

Cookbook

Minestrone Soup Joanna Jenkins

It’s cold, it’s raining, and everyone needs a warming bowl of soup. This soup is full of vegetables, making it healthy, but the pasta and beans make it really filling too.

Ingredients 1 onion roughly chopped 1 garlic clove finely chopped 1 carrot roughly chopped 1/2 a red pepper roughly chopped 2 celery sticks roughly chopped 400g can chopped tomatoes 1 tsp soy sauce Mixed herbs 1 tbsp tomato purée 1 tsp Henderson’s Relish 200g cannellini beans (1/2 can) 75g spaghetti, snapped or chopped into short lengths 1l vegetable stock Bread and pesto to serve

Photograph: Flickr

Method 1. Fry the onion in a little oil in a large saucepan for a few minutes. Then add the garlic, carrot, pepper, celery, and a splash of water. Cook until just beginning to soften. At this point you can also add any other chopped veg you have in your fridge (mushroom, broccoli, potatoes). Soup is a great way to use up leftovers!

2. Add the chopped tomatoes, herbs, soy sauce, Henderson’s Relish, tomato purée, and seasoning. Mix well and allow to come to the boil.

3. Pour over the stock and mix again.

Once the stock has started to boil, lower the heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes.

4. Add the spaghetti and beans, then simmer for another 10 minutes.

5. Serve with bread and a spoonful of pesto (trust me, this makes it). This recipe makes 2-3 servings depending how many vegetables and how much stock you add. Leftovers can be taken to uni in a flask. Enjoy!

Sheffield SU

TOTUM TREATS

Offer valid untill: Sunday 7th April 2018

20

Break Break Editor Robin Wilde The ongoing Brexit impasse at time of writing is a good way to get yourself thinking about the end of the world.

So naturally, we’ve taken the chance this issue to tell you a bit about the more likely scenarios aiming squarely at your distinctly un-bombproof student house.

As you may have seen elsewhere in this issue, the Forge Press AGM is coming up April 3rd, and it’s your chance to take on an important role reporting on the issues that matter to students. Alternatively, you could stand to be the new Break editor.

Break as a section can be whatever you want it to be if it’s amusing, puzzling, or otherwise miscellaneous, this is your section. If you have a vision for something a bit different, Break is for you.

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Sudoku

Easy

Puzzle 1 (Easy, difficulty rating 0.33)

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Reasons to Run

You might be the class clown of the editorial committee, but you’ll have responsibility for two whole pages every issue, no matter how blisteringly silly the content might be.

If you’re otherwise a cave-dwelling misanthrope, the AGM on April 3rd is your chance to set down the Mountain Dew and come into the light for a few hours. For the first time in your life, you’ll get to feel the reflected glory of an established brand.

2 - Learn useful skills If you’ve never been trained in Adobe software before, this is a great shot to experiment with making layouts for a newspaper.

This will be useful when China invades and they need loyal citizens to take up the mantle of designing the People’s Daily.

Your frivolous quizzes and personality tests will be a useful weapon in the battle for the hearts and minds of the proletariat, providing them with humour and renewed vigour between their shifts in the salt mines.

3 - Make Friends

Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/sudoku on Tue Mar 19 12:08:26 2019 GMT. Enjoy!

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Friends you make at work are almost like real friends, and friends you make at work you don’t get paid for are closer still.

I’m told by my sources that wallowing in your self-loathing in the company of other people and copious amounts of alcohol is how human relationships work nowadays, and Forge is as good an opportunity as any to learn how these curious creatures interact.

4 - Someone has to do it

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“When things Break, it’s not the actual Breaking that prevents them from getting back together”

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For ge AGM Press Spe cial

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press.break@forgetoday.com

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Relatable Content Corner

Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/sudoku on Tue Mar 19 12:08:49 2019 GMT. Enjoy!

I didn’t put in literally tens of hours over the course of this year to see the section dissolve now that I’m going back into the world to try to be an adult. The editorial team at Buzzfeed didn’t die for this.

5 - The High Ones demand service Last March, I woke in the night, a cold sweat drop tracing its way down my cheek. The window had blown open and a cold breeze chilled me to my soul. As I made to close it, a voice blew in on the wind. Krucht’ep, the Puzzle Demon and King of Riddles, had chosen me. Within the confines of my mind, he drove my hand to every more unspeakable Sudoku-based cruelty, a puppet to his whims. Now my life force is drained, and I am but an empty postgraduate husk. Krucht’ep demands fresh souls to serve him. Your time has come.

The Forge Press AGM takes place on Wednesday, April 3rd, at 6pm in the Arts Tower, Lecture Theatre 3. We need two Break Editors - plus other, lesser positions - and we’d love to see you give it a go.

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

21

Break

Seven Hills, Four Horsemen

We all know ours will be the last generation of humans to inhabit this sordid wet rock before the cleansing flame of the asteroid strike descends. But if a lesser-order apocalypse occurs, what then? The University bubble is a place to avoid many of the world’s ills, but how well would it work in practice? Let’s take a look at the different scenarios.

ZOMBIE nuclear ALIEN OUTBREAK war INVASION

An outbreak of the living dead would be difficult to survive using Sheffield’s selection of buildings, filled with easily-broken glass panels and automatic doors. The Students’ Union, for instance, has entrance points on virtually every level, and with a twisty internal layout would be difficult to garrison effectively.

The Hicks Building may be a good bet here, with one relatively defensible entrance and plenty of choke points on the tall staircases. Plus, it’s filled with physics equipment, and plenty of nerds you can press gang into constructing makeshift weaponry - helpful, as its many windows offer impressive fields of fire.

CLIMATE CHANGE

Sheffield’s climate is already as unstable as a philosophy student after a night at Pop Tarts, and the potential for devastating consequences is real. It means more flooding and storms, which means less chance of your landlord getting round to fixing your leaky roof, and as food becomes more scarce and expensive, your ability to afford meal deals on your pitiful student loan will shrink further.

Fortunately, being enrolled at university will rule most of us out of the draft come the resource wars. But that exemption might only last as long as you stick around here. Fancy another look at that PhD?

When the bomb drops, the best place to be is out of the city. The excellent NukeMap, by Alex Wellerstein, shows that a 150 kiloton North Korean bomb, dropped ironically on the Peace Gardens, would level the city centre, but that most of the University buildings would be just outside the immediately lethal radiation range. Unfortunately, the SU and everything around it would be demolished seconds later by the massive overpressure.

If you live in the student villages or the far side of Crookes, you might stand a better chance. If caught in the open, you’d suffer intense burns, but inside a solid structure and away from the windows, you might just survive.

Then, you’d have to dodge fallout and finding rats to eat while the country fell apart around you.

Enjoy!

If you happened to be using the Hicks Building telescope at the right time, you might be able to see the alien fleet approaching, and begin to make good your escape.

Science fiction tells us they would look for cattle to steal and yokels to probe, so it would be worth avoiding the Peak District.

If they landed in Interval’s beer garden demanding to be taken to our leaders, it would be worth reminding them that Jake Verity doesn’t actually take office until July, so they can’t get a guaranteed slot at the promised Students’ Union music festival.

As extraterrestrial beings, the University will be keen to recruit them for high-demand courses to enhance Sheffield’s interstellar reputation. Unfortunately they will be charged four times the home student fees as a result.

Adaptation work will begin to make the libraries suitable for shoggoths, to be completed in approximately ten years.

Wrath of the ancients

The Old Ones care little for our frivolous kindergartens, save for those within them who have studied their lore by candlelight.

They lurk in the shadows, ready to steal the minds of the learned and wise and turn them to their own twisted designs. Blood sacrifice, strange idols, unearthly dancing and screams at once

both agony and ecstasy are the signs. Be watchful, and ever aware of our status as a mote of dust, suspending in nothing by the fortunate carelessness of R’thoth, the Time God. Basically, stay out of Western Bank and the Biblical Studies department.

22

What’s on

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29 Mar - 12 Apr

Alnwick Castle and Poison Gardens Saturday 30 March 8am - 5pm Departs from Bar One £44/£38.50 (Res Life)

Credit: David Clark

This trip takes you out of the city to the picturesque location of Alnwick Castle. While there, you’ll have time to explore the grounds, including the ominously-titled Poison Gardens, which are home to a selection of dangerous plants!

Spooky!

Other highlights: DJ Marky & Friends 29 March, 11pm-4:30am Foundry £15.40 (second release) Yoga Day 30 March, 11am-4pm Endcliffe Studio, Crewe Flats £13.20 Film Unit: On The Basis of Sex 30 March, 3:30pm/7:30pm Nelson Mandela Auditorium £3.30

Saturday 30 March 7pm - 9:30pm Octagon Centre £7.70

The Malaysian and Singaporean Society of Sheffield bring you this exciting production.

Persona tells the story of a man accused of abandoning a family he has no memory of.

Credit: David and Benson Craig

Sheffield Malaysian Night 2019

Life Drawing with Dogs

Wednesday 3 April 7pm - 8:30pm Coffee Revolution £6.60

It’s drawing with dogs!

What isn’t to love? Enjoy this collage of my dog getting into predicaments.

THREADS Wednesday 3 Apil 7:30pm Nelson Mandela Auditorium £3.30

Threads is an iconic piece of British drama, presenting a nightmarish image of Sheffield in the wake of a nuclear attack.

Filmed on location in the Steel City, the film stars Karen Meagher and Reece Dinsdale.

TRY SOMETHING NEW Aromatherapy Wed 3 Apr 6pm - 8pm Monsal Dale £4.13 £1.93 (Res Life)

This session will teach you how essential oils can help the body and mind. Lovely stuff.

Credit: AnnaliseArt

Refugee Rhythms 3 April, 8pm-1am Yellow Arch Studios £6.60 Vintage Fashion Show 4 April, 5:30pm Studio (at the SU) £4.40 Film Unit: Cold War 5 April, 7:30pm Nelson Mandela Auditorium £3.30 Sundara Karma 9 April, 6:30pm O2 Academy £19.65

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

23

Spotlight

Society Spotlight Sheffield Links

David Anderson

S

heffield Links, as well as being Sheffield Students’ Union’s first aid society, is a unit at St John’s Ambulance. In this regard it’s quite different to many other societies, and it bucks the trend even further in that the group’s weekly meet up in the Hicks Building is also attended by students from Sheffield Hallam’s first aid society.

“It’s quite a broad group, and it’s quite hard to explain to people, but it’s kind of three things in one,” says James Dudfield, who has just been elected President of Sheffield Links and Unit Manager of their St John’s unit, as I meet with him to chat about the work his society does. He explains

The Sheffield LINKS team performing their various training and volunteering duties

that each university has its own committee for their society, but they meet together as they’re all doing the same thing.

What they are doing is practicing first aid, from their sessions in Hicks each Monday, during which they cover first aid skills ranging from CPR to sepsis and infections, to going out with St John’s and volunteering at events around South Yorkshire and beyond.

Sheffield Links has 25-30 members on the books, with those involved ranging from experienced first aiders who are also part of the St John’s unit and volunteer at local events, to people who just want to learn some new skills and enjoy the social aspect of the society. James says that it’s a common misconception that all the students involved are medics.

“We’re students of all different backgrounds, not just medical ones,” he explains. “That’s what people tend to think - that it’s just like a medical students club.

But we have Nursing students, Paramedic ones, but then English, Engineering, Psychology, Biology… there are people from everything.”

James has been involved with St John’s since he was 13 years old, initially as a cadet, before

becoming a full volunteer when he turned 18. He’s now trained as an advanced first aider, meaning he’s taken extra courses to give him more skills.

I started off because I thought maybe I want to do something medical with my life, and thought ‘oh, this club sounds fun’ “I started off because I thought maybe I want to do something medical with my life, and thought ‘oh, this club sounds fun’, as a 13-year-old,” he says. “So I joined up. I’m from Leicestershire originally so I joined there, and as soon as I became 18 I switched over to become an adult volunteer.

I did that for a bit, then I came to Sheffield, saw the stand at the freshers’ fair and thought ‘oh, I already do that, maybe I can switch to here’. I spoke to them and I transferred and became part

of the first aid society.”

But James insists this has not been the case for everyone, and that anyone can join Links, whatever their background.

“There are not many people in the society who have done it my way,” he admits. “Most are kind of fresh-ish. We all meet together and there’s no differentiation between people who are just society members and people who are society members and St John’s volunteers. For the St John’s volunteers, if you wanted to do that you just have to do a separate course, an internal St John’s one, but then you come back and it’s all integrated. So there’s no differentiation, and I don’t even necessarily know, looking around the room, who is and who isn’t, I can’t always remember.”

James is a second year medic, but he says his experience with Links is more than just a chance to practice medical skills. The volunteering he does sees him attend local football matches at Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham, as well as local events including fetes and fireworks displays. When he talks about the society and the good it does for the community, his enthusiasm really shines through.

“I really enjoy it,” he says.

“I think it’s a really good opportunity and even if you’re not from a medical background, I think we all enjoy it. The reason I enjoy it is I find it rewarding, being able to give something back to the community. Particularly

around here, when I’m not from round here, it’s nice to be able to integrate myself into the area and kind of give something back.

“It’s also a really nice social opportunity, because obviously I meet people from my unit and our first aid society, but also different volunteers from Sheffield, Rotherham, Doncaster, Barnsley, so I get to meet people from all walks of life. So if, for example, you’re sat at Barnsley Football Club, sat in the corner with someone, you end up chatting to them, you meet people from different walks of life and it’s really interesting.”

I think it’s a really good opportunity just to get out there, to have a little bit of responsibility that you wouldn’t otherwise have as a student People can join the society at any time of the year and attend their weekly meetings. There’s no pressure to get involved further, but the opportunities are vast, with St John’s courses running every couple of months. As well as his regular trips to football matches, where he’s always treated to prematch tea and cake, James has volunteered at the Christmas lights switch-on and Tramlines Festival in Sheffield. Beyond that, he’s going to Wimbledon with St John’s this year.

“I think it’s a really good opportunity just to get out there,” he says. “To have a little bit of responsibility that you wouldn’t otherwise have as a student, and also to go to things that you wouldn’t have gone to before.”

24

Arts Arts Editors Bethan Davis Kate Procter

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EXHIBITION

Editors’ Picks Bethan: Connections Festival at The Lyceum Each year the National Theatre commissions ten new plays for young people to perform.

Connections Festival brings together 6,000 young people across 300 youth theatres to share their love of the arts. In Sheffield, The Lyceum is hosting this talent across six consecutive days. The performances vary from exploring typical teenager feelings in alternate situations, to playwright Rob Drummond reflecting the familiar Lord of The Flies with his own play: Flesh about lost teenagers, in an unknown place, who struggle to work together to survive.

Kate: This Life is so Everyday: The Home in British Art 1950– 1980 at Graves Gallery

Kate Procter and George Tuli

It was around this time last year that the University’s Arts Tower was forced to close. In solidarity with lecturers involved in the nationwide strike over changes to staff pensions, students staged sitins and protested at the building’s entrance. For the rest of us, our relationship with the Tower may be simpler: a place we go for lectures and the occasional joy-ride on the paternoster lift. But since it was built, the local landmark has played a part in every Sheffield student’s experience – if just as a backdrop to our day-to-day lives.

In fact, the student-Tower relationship began even before it was officially opened by the Queen Mother in 1966. Back then the tower’s entrance was adorned with fountains spraying water into two large pools either side of the central steps. On the opening day, a student thought it would be funny to decant washing powder and frothing agent into the pools, creating a 10ft high wall of suds. The fire brigade was called to drain the pools and finished just in time for the Queen Mother’s arrival. After subsequent occurrences of this nature the pools were permanently drained, and the area was paved as it is today.

Bringing together work by artists including Patrick Caulfield, Helen Chadwick and David Hockney, Graves Gallery’s new exhibition explores our diverse experiences of home life. Our relationship with our homes influences the way we think about ourselves and each other. This exhibition, comprising over 40 pieces from the late 20th Century, highlights how artists have questioned ideas of class, gender and sexuality to represent some of the most intimate and important aspects of who we are.

On 30 March - 6 July.

This is just one of the stories shared in a delightful exhibition currently celebrating the Arts Tower.

On until the end of March in Western Bank Library, One Hundred Views of the Arts Tower is curated by Our Favourite Places – a Sheffield culture guide created and run by the team

at Eleven Design. The exhibition is an extension of Sheffield Modern, an architecture festival organised by the team for the first time last October.

“Following the success of the concert and interest in Sheffield Modern in general, we wanted to do even more to celebrate our love of the building – and since there are clearly a lot of people in the city and beyond who share this love, we decided to invite them to join us,” says Kathryn Hall from Our Favourite Places.

The exhibition showcases one hundred art pieces that are largely housed in glass cabinets. Around the perimeter are extracts from the University archives – architectural sketches, and old analogue photographs of the Tower’s construction, interwoven with quotes from the people involved.

Across the exhibition floor is a diverse array of artistic media, everything from a knitted model to a quilt telling a paternoster-related love story to an IKEA-style assembly poster.

The history of the Arts Tower dates back to 1953, when the University

held a competition to design a new building as part of an ambitious expansion plan. Young architecture practice Gollins, Melvin, Ward and Partners won with their modernist design.

Architecturally Miesian in style, the building conforms to Mies’ rational ideology that minimalist constructive forms, if nicely proportioned and well-detailed, could produce a sense of timeless elegance. But what Mies also recognised was that buildings change their functions frequently

and so should be flexible to different purposes. Keeping the building straight and square was the way to go and an alternative cylindrical design was thrown out by the firm.

However, this has led to the longstanding criticism of the Arts Tower: that it looks like any other office block.

Above: Exhibition (via Our Favourite Places). Left: The Queen Mother opens the Arts Tower, 1966 (from The University of Sheffield archive).

Below: 'Searchlight of Knowledge'

by Russell D Light.

25

Arts

BALLET REVIEW

Victoria

at The Lyceum Theatre

Bethan Davis

Above: IKEA-style Arts Tower assembly guide by Ashley Mayes.

Right: Felt artwork by It Snipped My Heart. Below: Construction of the Arts Tower (from The University of Sheffield Archive).

Still, this didn’t prevent nearly 100 people submitting pieces to express their love for the building.

Our Favourite Places advertised an open call for contributions to the exhibition, which was inspired by the Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai's One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji, a collection of woodblock prints that captured the mountain from different perspectives around Tokyo.

“The variety of pieces submitted really surprised us,” says Kathryn. “From tiny felt depictions of the tower to album covers to ceramic vases.

“A piece that I think has a really lovely backstory, that isn't immediately obvious when you look at it, is an intricately laser-cut sheet of tracing paper

by Tracey Doxey. It was

originally designed to be displayed on a window overlooking the Arts Tower, so that you'd see the pattern superimposed on the building – though in the end it went into a display cabinet to protect it.”

In a tribute to the paternoster, audio producer Lucy Dearlove was commissioned to make a compilation of memories and stories about the iconic lift. People recall their first impressions and rides, such as the sound that the paternoster makes as it continuously cycles round (“mechanical clunking fairground ride”). Other sounds have found their way into the Tower.

From controversial concerts in the 70s to a classical music performance in which a musician occupied each compartment of the lift, creating a unanimous ensemble.

The Arts Tower is unlike any other university building in the UK and could not be more deserving of a dedicated exhibition. Universities are distinct microcosms within their parent cities – we’re acutely aware of this as freshers, but with time, we soon adapt and can forget our surroundings.

This exhibition provides an opportunity for us to reconsider the space around us and learn more about a building that our timetables dictate we routinely visit. Next time you’re leaving Western Bank Library, stop by One Hundred Views of the Arts Tower to appreciate the building looking over from next door.

Catalysed by the ITV series Victoria, Choreographer and Artistic Director Cathy Marston has brought the iconic Queen to the stage. Victoria’s (Abigail Prudames) first appearance is as a frail old woman writing her final diary entry. Watching is her youngest, Beatrice (Pippa Moore), born shortly before her father Prince Albert’s (Joseph Taylor) death.

The Northern Ballet production exceptionally focuses on the precious mother-daughter relationship.

Their movements blossom on stage; concentrating on Victoria’s maternal instincts and the dependency they share as Victorian women in a harsh, patriarchal society.

Although the ballet is called Victoria, it is centred around Beatrice reading her mother’s diaries to see who she was before the black dresses.

Marston, therefore, takes an episodic route and alternates from past to present. Victoria dominates both tenses, making it occasionally hard to differentiate the shift in tense. Rich music from Philip Feeney externalises the emotions on stage; with shrill violins building tension and a strong brass section adding to the regality. A towering bookshelf encapsulated the dancers, effectively conveying the confinement of the now dead Queen to pages.

As Beatrice reads, she censors her mother’s history. She rips out pages in shock and edits diaries to fit the mother she wanted. Dramaturg Uzma Hameed, in conversation with historian Mathew Dennison, spoke of his amazement at how the history of the infamous Queen is

shaped by their complex motherdaughter bond. Beatrice’s anger towards Victoria is categorised by close gestures and Victoria’s fear of abandonment. Yet, Victoria is there to support Beatrice once her husband, Liko, Prince of Battenberg (Andrew Tomlinson), dies and they share a loving embrace. Dennison categorises their relationship as: “The ultimate Victorian motherdaughter relationship” and that Beatrice’s most significant relationship in life was with her mother.

Victoria basks in her power at Parliament. Men flock to surround her and she is never positioned below them - only lifted. Prudames’ wide smiles mesmorise as she is wrapped in a map of her Empire - a demonstration that she is the divine monarch alone.

She loses this once she falls smitten with Albert, and ultimately is usurped by motherhood.

Amongst industrial clangs from the percussion, the Great Exhibition arrives and the ensemble physicalise as machinery.

Each element of this scene is fused together incredibly, whilst its effect wasted Victoria, possibly moulding her to the isolated figure Beatrice knew.

The ensemble fill the stage and perform with delicacy and rigour.

They move intrinsically as both people and objects, and are tangent to the reactions of Beatrice.

Queen Victoria was one of the most powerful monarchs of all time. The Northern Ballet unravel her vulnerability as a woman in a patriarchal society and her ferocity to rule. Victoria is a declaration that a woman can be both soft and strong.

26

Arts

EXHIBITION REVIEW

Mausoleum of the Giants Katerina Vyurkova

A world-renowned artist from Sheffield has transformed an abandoned industrial complex into a hidden haven of giants waiting to meet the curious visitors ready to enter a monochromic realm.

Sheffielders of all ages waited patiently in snaking queues last weekend to see the Mausoleum of the Giants created by Phlegm.

Preparations took five months and the location was not revealed until last week. Despite the downpour, all were eager to go on a journey inside the artist’s imagination.

In the end, a relic of Sheffield’s industrial heyday was chosen to house his unearthly creatures: a former factory that produced pocket and kitchen knives for over a century. This choice was by no means a coincidence - Phlegm’s work consistently draws a connection to

his hometown’s industrial heritage.

The characters in the installation were given shape via wood, newspapers and wire stuck together to form the skeletons. Other famous street art works of Phlegm can be found scattered across Sheffield, adding character to the walls in Snuff Mill Lane and to the gates of The Millennium Gallery, leaving passers-by in awe.

When you initially peer into the building you are immediately met by a visionary illusion of a figure pointing its hands in the direction of the main hall. The flat appearance was achieved with a sketching technique prominent in Phlegm’s work.

Then on your first step through the door, you are introduced to a beast, folding its long limbs to find comfort in the tight space.

Children gaze at the unworldly installations whilst adults wander between the limbs of the creatures.

Visitors’ thoughts seem to fill the air and are inhaled by the gently breathing giants hiding within their secret nest.

A feeling of eeriness is added by a three-eyed tower with a snakelike tongue and horns, that hides in a separate tent, ready to scare everyone away.

Outer reality stops in this vacuum of fantasy. Visitors walk in circles in no determined direction, witnessing new elements appear with every step as they examine the tamed monsters. Phlegm has brought life to this historical factory - soon to be used for a new residential project - with his unexpected yet warmly welcomed exhibition.

Mausoleum of the Giants is on at Eye Witness Works until 6 April.

OPINION

The Wizard of Oz: a cultural icon or children’s fantasy?

Researchers at the University of Sheffield have declared that the music from The Wizard of Oz has transformed the story into a “cultural icon”. But is that an exaggeration for a children’s tale?

In their research, Dr Dominic McHugh and Dr Danielle Birkett draw upon the film’s continuing relevance in society to discuss how the music has become more than entertainment. They consider it a “cultural icon” that provides comfort and expression. Recent examples include Ariana Grande singing ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ after the Manchester arena attack and the revival of ‘Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead’ after Margaret Thatcher’s death.

They also relate the film’s morals to the LGBT+ community for how diversity should be accepted and celebrated.

I recognise the connection between the film and these examples. It is a classic film and nostalgic to almost everyone who was born after its release date in 1939. It will always hold a place

in people’s hearts and perhaps comfort them as a childhood food or toy might. But I am unsure whether that makes it a “cultural icon”.

Music is a celebrated art because it is something we all find identification with. Songs as old as the Monkees’ 1966 hit ‘I’m a Believer’ and Fleetwood Mac’s 1977 ‘Go Your Own Way’ still appear on people’s playlists and certainly made my primary school discos fun. Music - as poetry, film and television do communicates universal emotions allowing audiences to express or comfort their same emotion. I think The Wizard of Oz is just the same.

The songs have made appearances throughout generations, but I do not believe that is solely because it is The Wizard of Oz. Instead, people desire a means to express their emotions and they seek relatability in the songs. They could have been from any musical or band and related just the same. I understand that might persuade people that the songs themselves are significant. However, it was not the creators of the songs that crafted pieces relating to future events - it is those interpreting the songs. The film’s genre is ‘fantasy-adventure’

and the writers produced songs to fit that. For example, ‘Ding-Dong!

The Witch Is Dead’ is literally about a witch in the fantasy film who dies.

It’s people in 2013 that deserve the credit for using their creativity to invent a metaphorical meaning out of an initial fantastical meaning.

Furthermore, the message of embracing yourself is timeless.

Many children’s films teach this message to provide them with

structure. For instance, The Jungle Book, released in 1967 with several versions leading to the 2016 remake, is a journey of self-discovery as Mowgli learns about trust and independence. So, the LGBT+ community might find relevance in The Wizard of Oz, but everyone can also find relevance in a story about self-discovery. Therefore, by relating to its audience the musical is doing exactly what

almost all children’s films intend to do.

I do not consider the musical to be more than a famous childhood favourite. That does not mean it deserves no respect – it is still loved and iconic for being the first ever Technicolour film. Consequently, if The Wizard of Oz is to be called a “cultural icon”, it should be for its revolution in the history of film. That is the true reason it has survived for decades.

Image: Movie DB

Ali Turner

28

Music Music Editors Harriet Evans Ben Kempton This issue we’ve looked at the controversy surrounding R Kelly and Michael Jackson, should their music still be played? Or should it be pushed aside? We’ve also got a review of Nicki Minaj’s huge performance at Manchester Arena as part of her world tour.

Editors’ Picks

Harriet: Wasteland, Baby! - Hozier Hozier has come back on the scene with a bang with new album Wasteland, Baby! Featuring stand out tracks such as ‘Nina Cried Power’ and ‘Almost (Sweet Music)’. His beautiful, booming voice combined with countless catchy verses is ready made for sold-out stadium tours, it’s definitely worth a listen.

Ben: Sunday Foals Since the album was released a week ago, I have been playing it non-stop. The new sound of Foals is infectious and upbeat but the one song on the album that really sticks out for me is Sunday. A bit more melancholy, this track is the perfect song to stick on when you’re disgustingly hugover from the Saturday night before maybe that was their intentions when they called it Sunday? I highly doubt it but hungover or not, this song is incredible.

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press.music@forgetoday.com

LIVE REVIEW

The Nicki WRLD Tour Manchester Arena Charlotte Lilith Magdelene

Emerging on an iridescent pterippus, Nicki Minaj was met with a crescendo of elated screams from a packed-out Manchester Arena. After waiting through a staggeringly mediocre performance from opening act Juice WRLD, during which he encouraged fans to celebrate the memory of alleged domestic abuser and murderer XXXTentacion, it’s no wonder Minaj received such a warm welcome.

The opening bars of ‘Majesty’, from her 2018 album Queen, were almost drowned out by the ecstatic crowd. From the nosebleeds, to the pit, almost everyone was dancing and rapping along with the self-proclaimed ‘black barbie’.

Almost everyone was dancing and rapping along with the selfproclaimed ‘black barbie’.

The beginning of Minaj’s set consisted mostly of her features, from her career-shaping verse on Kanye West’s ‘Monster’, to her punchy spot on ‘BedRock’. Amongst the features performed was her verse from Tekashi 6ix9ine’s ‘FEFE’, reminding me that whilst Minaj makes what appear to be female empowerment tracks with

Beyonce and Little Mix, she is also happy to make music with an artist convicted of the sexual exploitation of a 13 year old girl. When it comes down to it, Minaj is another example of an artist happy to use feminism as a marketing technique, but unwilling to prioritise feminism over the chance to make even more money.

After a speedy costume change, Minaj proceeded to her classics, which everyone present seemed to know verbatim. Earlier tracks such as ‘Roman’s Revenge’ and ‘Massive Attack’ had the fans in front of me twerking in the stands. Minaj also showed off her considerable singing chops, with tracks

such as ‘Grand Piano’ providing genuinely moving moments.

Perhaps the highlight of the show was Minaj’s tribute to the 2017 Manchester arena

bombing. The arena lit up in unison as Minaj encouraged us to pray for both the victims and the survivors.

Whilst Minaj rapped, danced, and generally performed like the seasoned pro she is, her interaction with the crowd was quite bizarre.

Putting on what sounded like a caricature of an English accent, she asked the crowd where in Manchester she would be from if she had been born there. The Mancunian crowd yelled back that she would have been from London, and they were right; I have never heard anything further from a Northern accent than Minaj’s attempt at one. Another odd moment came when Minaj called for the ‘sexiest boy’ in the arena to come on stage. The sexy boy she produced was a Jack-Wills wearing Welshman, who barely looked old enough to be there without a chaperone.

Minaj proceeded to lead him into a giant tube (think the cryogenics freezing machine from Austin Powers), where he danced until he was wheeled off backstage.

On balance, whilst the show wonderfully executed, highenergy, and glamorous, Minaj’s choices of collaborators exposed the ‘strong, independent woman’ narrative she sells as a gimmick, rather than a source of empowerment for her fans. Minaj has the star power to choose who she works with, and it’s time she gave other women in her field a leg up, instead of working with alleged and convicted violent criminals.

Photo by Ralph Arvesen

29

Music

Photo by Channel 4

OPINION

Should Michael Jackson’s music still be played?

Ben Kempton

Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, was a global superstar unlike anyone else. With an estimated 750 million album sales worldwide, 14 US number ones and seven UK number ones, Michael Jackson was a largerthan-life pop star who in the eyes of his millions of fans could do no wrong. His gargantuan career began with the Jackson 5 in 1964 when he was just five, but as is the case with so many child stars, his early fame came at a cost. Supposedly forced into the spotlight and abused by his father Joe Jackson, MJ was left with a void for a childhood – something people would later use to explain his alleged behaviour.

Last week Channel 4 released British filmmaker Dan Reed’s documentary Leaving Neverland. A damning set of stories told by Wade Robson and James Safechuck who claim that Jackson sexually abused them when they were seven and ten-year-old boys. The programme delves into the lives of the two who retrospectively adored the pop star and through talent shows got to

meet the man. Jackson befriended the boys and their families to the extent that he would apparently call them for hours every day. Neverland was the estate Jackson purchased to turn into his own version of Disneyland. It was also the location at which he allegedly got the boys to play with his nipples and bend over to spread their legs whilst he ejaculated.

We are at risk of allowing sexual predators to have their voices heard Ben Sherlock Payne

The accounts from the men in their 30s are nothing short of horrifying but despite their supposed sexual abuse, the documentary has sparked mass backlash. The king’s legacy has been jeopardised. It seems to

have become a question of whether you believe these men or whether they are doing it for the fortune. MJ has been protected by the crowds who gathered outside Channel 4 as defenders of the deceased star.

A big question has consequently been raised over whether Michael Jackson’s music should still be played on the radio, with stations across the world deciding to remove him from their playlists. Ben Sherlock Payne says, “I maintain in playing Jackson’s music, we are at risk of allowing sexual predators to have their voices heard, rather than taking a stand against sexual abuse.”

“By playing Michael Jackson’s music we are demonstrating that we would rather believe an out-oftouch singer who likely abused his power from fame over two innocent honest men that just want the truth out.”

“The accounts of Wade Robson, James Safechuck, and those close to them led me to believe, beyond any reasonable doubt, that Michael Jackson was guilty of paedophilic sexual abuse. Remember Jimmy Savile? All memory of him seems

to have been erased from the public eye. If Jackson is similarly guilty, surely, we must think similarly?”

On the contrary Darby Knight says, “Should we stop listening to Thriller? Absolutely not. MJ’s music is the work of more than just one man.”

If we stop playing his music, the hard work of others is wasted Darby Knight

“If we stop playing his music, the hard work of others is wasted. Many worked tirelessly to bring his music to life: songwriters; producers; mixers; photographers; audio engineers; instrument technicians; publicity teams; artists who produce album and merchandise art. The little recognition they get is made

up for in the credits they receive, the popularity of the final product and money made.”

“Pulling MJ’s music from playlists erases their life’s work and achievements. They are not guilty simply because of association. That doesn’t justify MJ’s alleged crimes, but why punish them for MJ’s actions?”

Jordan Sollof adds to the debate and says, “It is important to remember the positive light that the legendary musical icon shone on the world. His illustrious music career had a significant effect on people’s lives and he produced arguably some of the greatest music of all time.”

“He is not a convicted paedophile, and there may never be clear enough evidence against him. Why don’t we all just remember how talented Michael Jackson was and preserve a legacy that deserves to live on for many generations to come.”

Whatever your opinion is, Leaving Neverland is worth a watch so you can construct your own thoughts on the Michael Jackson situation.

The three hour two-part program is available to stream on Channel 4.

30

Music

R Kelly “The Pied Piper of R&B” Over the course of R Kelly’s successful 30-year career he has won 110 awards (including three Grammys), written multiple hit songs (several No. 1s) and collaborated with many top artists including Lady Gaga, Jay Z, Celine Dion and Michael Jackson. When it came to his professional life, Kelly was winning in all areas.

His personal life was not the same and has recently been the focus of many people across the world.

Kelly referred to himself as the Pied Piper, referencing the character who lured children away from their parents

I believe he is guilty and that his current girlfriends are being abused

Photo by CBS This Morning

Mojama Fallah

Over the course of R Kelly’s successful 30-year career he has won 110 awards (including three Grammys), written multiple hit songs (several number ones) and collaborated with many top artists including Lady Gaga, Jay Z, Celine Dion and Michael Jackson. When it came to his professional life, Kelly was winning in all areas. His personal life was not the same and has recently been the focus of many people across the world. Over the past two years multiple allegations and charges have been made against the singer. In 2017, Buzzfeed released a long and detailed report of a sex cult being ran by the singer, he has been accused of sexually abusing multiple underage girls (some as young as 14) and in 2019 a six-part documentary called ‘Surviving R Kelly’ went into detail about all these allegations, interviewing victims and former employees of the singer.

However, this is not the first time the singer has been accused of these things. The allegations

started back in 1994 when Kelly, at the age of 27, married 15-year-old goddaughter and singer Aaliyah.

This was later annulled in 1995.

Both Kelly and Aaliyah (who died in 2001) didn’t speak about the nature of their relationship, both claiming to be ‘best friends’ and extremely close. In the 2019 documentary Kelly’s former backup singer claimed to have witnessed Kelly and Aaliyah engaging in “things that an adult should not be doing with a child”. Kelly’s most infamous case happened in June 2002 when the singer was charged with 21 counts of making child pornography (the infamous urination sex tape).

Despite multiple people including family, close friends and teachers identifying the 14-year-old girl in the tape, the victim refused to testify resulting in an acquittal. Moreover, during his career, Kelly also referred to himself as the Pied Piper, referencing the character who lured children away from their parents with music. Was this him subtly confessing his true nature or making a mockery of the allegations?

So how was Kelly’s career able to

flourish despite all these allegations?

Some believe that people did not care for the victims since they were mainly black girls. The activist who started the #MuteRKelly campaign told Buzzfeed “We protect problematic black men in the black community and discard black girls in all communities”. Whilst others believe that Kelly’s music was good enough for people to turn a blind eye – separate the art from the artist.

Are we that mesmerised by music as a society that we refuse to see the truth?

Recently, the singer sat down with Gayle King to discuss the allegations and recent uproar surrounding them. After watching this interview I came to several conclusions, the main ones being that I believe he is guilty and that his current girlfriends are being abused. The majority of what he said and did during the interview painted him in a bad light. The singer said multiple things that were quite problematic for me; he claimed that the allegations and cases in the past didn’t matter because he was found not guilty. When King brought

up the fact that all the stories and allegations made against him had similar features, he shut it down by claiming all the victims were angry exes. Throughout the interview Kelly tried to play the victim, at one point even asking for help, but spun it to make it seem that he was being betrayed by his friends.

There are many issues and questions surrounding these allegations made against Kelly, one being if people should stop listening to his music. The #MuteRKelly campaign became very popular in recent months with streaming services like Apple Music and Spotify agreeing to stop adding Kelly’s songs on their playlist (although this was later reversed). The singer was dropped by his record label and many of the songs he’s written for artists like Lady Gaga have been removed.

Many famous people including Viola Davis and John Legend have publicly spoken out against Kelly, calling for an investigation into these allegations. However, a lot of fans believe that they should separate the art from the artist; Kelly’s songs for many people are connected to a lot

of happy memories like weddings, birthdays and graduations. I initially found it hard to delete his songs from my phone since I have quite a few childhood memories of dancing and singing to songs like “I Believe I Can Fly” and “Happy People”.

However, I eventually chose to delete all of his songs because not only was the meaning altered, but as a young black girl I connected with the victims in a way and wanted to make my voice heard in support of the victim and therefore chose to #MuteRKelly from my life. I found that after watching the documentary and reading about the allegations I began to question whether certain songs were written about the 15-year-old girls that he had been abusing. In the Gayle King interview, the singer spoke about having around $300,000 in his accounts, most likely a result of his music not being played and legal fees. This just shows the effect of the #MuteRKelly campaign, which should encourage more people to refuse to play his music.

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32

Screen Screen Editors Gethin Morgan Izzy Cridland Hello dearest friends. WINTER IS COMING. And with it comes our very special feature on some of the greatest television ever to have graced our TVs. To keep the small screen theme going we’ve each chosen our favourite shows (which don’t already grace the feature) as our picks this issue.

The North remembers, Valar Morghulis.

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The Greatest Show

Here at Screen, we’re just a tiny, tiny bit excited for Season 8 of Game of Thrones, which is now less than three weeks away *has nervous breakdown*. But is GoT the GOAT? Well, there are three other giants of television who might have something to say about that. We’ve asked four people to fight for each of the four greats of TV. Who wins? You decide.

Editors’ Picks

Mad Men

Matthew Weiner (who wrote on The Sopranos) is the creator of Mad Men, which offers a lens on the gender dynamics in America during the 1960s/70s. Mad Men just misses out on being one of the greatest shows but the intricate, lengthy storytelling and moulding of characters, creates a complex story, displaying the state of sex discrimination in the workplace. - Izzy

Community

My favourite sitcom of all time (fending off some strong competition) is Community.

Created by the brilliant Dan Harmon (Rick & Morty) with help from MCU darlings, the Russo brothers, it is a popculture obsessed, sharply written comedy jam-packed with heart.

Get invested in the characters and stick with it to see some of the best episodes of television ever made. From college-wide paintball deathmatches to episodes in stop-motion and retro video-game animation. Genius.

- Gethin

Game of Thrones

Breaking Bad

Gethin Morgan

Lisa Weherstedt

Amongst all the blood, dragons and naked bodies, it’s easy to forget just how brilliant Game of Thrones is. And it isn’t just brilliant at a few things. It’s brilliant at everything.

Equal parts political drama, family drama, war and apocalypse show, all under the guise of a fantasy epic, their world building is remarkable.

There’s such texture to Westeros and Essos, carefully introducing more and more lands, cultures and houses throughout.

Matching the richness of the world is a ridiculously impressive depth of character. By my count, Game of Thrones has over 70 worthy of remembering, ranging from Starks, Lannisters and Targaryens - given just as many shades as any other show’s leads - to a constant stream of great supporting characters.

It’s what makes the show’s well-known ruthlessness so damn effective. With more strings to their bow than Ygritte, creators Benioff and Weiss can rest easy when offing major characters left right and

centre, knowing they have an army of others ready to step up and fill the gap. It also allows a freedom to create beautiful character dynamics by pairing the most unlikely of friends/foes; whether it’s Brienne and Jaime or Arya and The Hound, there are countless combinations of great chemistry on show.

Ultimately though, Game of Thrones is event television. It excels at delivering singular episodes which become legendary. From pure drama (‘Baelor’, ‘The Rains of Castamere’) to battle sequences barely matched by cinema, never mind television (‘The Watchers on the Wall’, ‘Battle of the Bastards’).

Game of Thrones is the most cinematic television show of all time. It makes the boldest decisions, provides the biggest highs and the deepest lows. Quite simply, it is an achievement unmatched in television, or arguably any form of visual storytelling at all. If you play the game of thrones, you win or you die. And if you watch Game of Thrones, you love it, or you’re madder than the Mad King.

Breaking Bad is an incredibly heavy drama that pulls no punches, while also having a striking balance of amazingly compelling characters, style, and even humour.

We know Walter White in a way that few great characters have ever been known. During the show’s five seasons, we truly enter Walter’s mind and his perspective on the world. To the point where we start to think of Skyler as a nagging wife who doesn’t recognise the potential of her husband, while she is in fact only a concerned mother, worried that her husband has become a drug-lord.

The show-makers not only trap us with the characters and their stories but put us in awe of the constructions that are going on behind the scenes, at the storytelling techniques and how they break all conventions.

Breaking Bad starts out as any other hero’s journey, where an ordinary person gets thrown into an extraordinary situation which is bigger than themselves. Except

that it is the anti-hero’s journey, and despite having already seen many TV anti-heroes, Breaking Bad subverts that tradition so well, with a hero that never repents and never redeems himself.

There is no turning point when Walter becomes Heisenberg. He gradually unleashes the beast that has always been inside of him. He has always been an egotistical man from the very beginning; he has just finally found a chance to gain power.

But at the same time, Walt is never portrayed as a drug lord when he gains wealth and status in the drug world. His behaviours are never glamorised and instead we follow his spiral of moral justifications that hide the true reason: to be remembered beyond the grave.

Breaking Bad is a show about change, about the path from inaction to action. And it has the same appeal to the viewer that chemistry has for Walt: “It is growth then decay. And transformation! It is fascinating, really.” That is why Breaking Bad is the greatest television show of all time.

33

Screen

on Earth... take your pick Illustrations: Chloe Dervey Images: Movie DB

Future heirs to the Throne These are the new shows that could one day have the strongest claim to GOAT status...

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

The Wire Angelo Irving

The crime drama genre didn’t start or end with The Wire, but it certainly perfected the form. Its dedication to moral ambiguity helped it stand apart from other dramas, whilst its depiction of the city as a place of beauty, corruption, growth and decay give credence to it being the greatest television show of all time.

What stands out when you rewatch the show is the quality of the acting. Idris Elba and Michael B Jordan have gone on to be international leading men; Dominic West, Wendell Pearce, Wood Harris and Michael K Williams have enjoyed successful careers on other television dramas and Aiden Gillen had a legendary run on Game of Thrones.

The talent of the actors only further highlights another aspect of the show that made it so iconic: it wasn’t afraid to kill popular characters. Whilst Game of Thrones is famous for killing-off its central characters, The Wire was doing it years before and in similarly brutal

ways. Perhaps the most famous aphorism from the show is ‘all the pieces matter’ and this was often shown in the way a minor character from an earlier season would later become crucial.

Creator David Simon had an incredible ability to write the most powerful allegories within a scene of dialogue. Whether it be using a game of chess to break down the hierarchical dynamics of a gang, or a conversation about the working tiers of McDonalds to reflect that of drug dealers.

The Wire is also one of the funniest dramas that television has ever produced. Whether it’s two characters arguing over what kind of human effluence rolls or trickles down a hill, a gang leader politely asking his assistant why he is taking notes on a criminal conspiracy, or a character taking his pet duck to the pub and sharing shots of whiskey with it. The Wire is one of the few shows that can elicit the full range of human emotions from its audience.

That is why The Wire deserves the title ‘Greatest TV Show of all Time’.

The Sopranos Aaron Gunter

The perception of The Sopranos may be of yet another Italian-American mob story - a genre done to death in

film and TV. In reality it’s one of the most fascinating depictions of any culture on screen.

Placing said mob in New Jersey at the turn of the 21st century, it portrays changing times in society, which outdates the mentalities and traditions of the mafia. It is years ahead of its time, tackling toxic masculinity with the most toxically masculine man imaginable.

That man is Tony Soprano, who is potentially the greatest character ever portrayed on screen.

A big statement, sure, but James Gandolfini is truly special as he totally inhabits a man stepping up to become a mob boss. Bigoted, backward and emotionally heavyhanded, he is a guy born decades too late, unable to cope with the reality that as a man (and a man of power at that), he is capable of being emotionally vulnerable.

It’s his dynamic with psychiatrist

Dr Melfi (Lorraine Bracco) which tests Tony as Melfi, frustrated, desperately tries to get something out of him. While they dance around the true nature of Soprano’s “waste management” business, she knows exactly what he does, yet feels genuine sympathy towards him.

The writing is so enveloping that it doesn’t even feel particularly episodic. Instead you just dip in and out of this twisted world of crime, soon becoming obsessed with the dynamic of the Soprano household and the wider crime family.

The Sopranos essentially set the benchmark for television. We might be living in the golden age of TV today but it can all be traced back to David Chase’s masterpiece. It was he who perfected the anti-hero. He who unlocked the potential of longform storytelling and ensemble casts. It is he who we should thank for all the great TV that followed. Watch this show and pick up its numerous wonderful Italian-American expressions. So take it easy and stop breaking my balls. Marone this show is good.

This delightful 1950’s comedy/ drama has already won 8 Emmy’s and is a welcomed break from the sheer number of crime dramas that grace our screen. Its unique tone could set it apart over the next few years as one of the most enjoyable shows on TV. Mrs Maisel is quite frankly marvelous.

Westworld

HBO has always been TV’s big dog, producing three of the four GOAT shows. Two seasons in, this series created by Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan (brother of Chris) could be their next giant. Vast, dramatic and exceptionally well made, it has all the right ingredients to go down in history.

The Handmaid’s Tale

This dystopian drama portrays a society which subjugates women to be nothing but child bearer’s called ‘Handmaids’. Its first season won eight Emmy’s, and with season three due this year, it’s only getting bigger.

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Screen

Mum’s the word Mums are too often underappreciated in film. For every twenty father

orientated films, you’d be lucky to get a single mum-focused-flick. Even in The Godfather, the ultimate family drama, Mama Corleone gets almost no dialogue or screen time. But now, this Mother’s Day, Harry Cottle and Hannah Jackson have taken some time to appreciate our favourite on screen mums.

Helen Parr

The Incredibles & The Incredibles 2

The Incredibles introduced us to Helen Parr (Holly Hunter), or Elastigirl to some, who went from superhero in the golden age to stay at home mum. Not only did she have to raise three children, but three superpowered children at that, whilst her husband went back to crime fighting behind her

Ellen Ripley Aliens

If you haven’t watched the Special Edition of Aliens, you may not know that Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) had a daughter. For some reason, executives decided to cut the scene for the theatrical version

back - until she once again dons the costume to save her husband and protect her family.

Helen’s balance of so-called ‘traditional’ motherhood and her work fighting crime is further explored in last years Incredibles 2. This saw her kicking ass as the family’s main breadwinner, looking after them by making the world a safer place. Her superpower of being able to stretch is symbolic of the ways mothers are flexible and able to balance supporting a family whilst also having a successful career and a happy life. Whilst not all our mums have literal superpowers like Helen Parr, they perform miracles for us everyday. of the movie in which Ripley is informed that during her 57 years in cryogenic sleep, her daughter has passed away. This indirect loss of a child to the encounter with the Alien on the Nostromo adds to her trauma throughout the film. After discovering a young survivor of an alien attack, Newt (Carrie Henn), Ripley is given another chance at motherhood. She continues to protect her surrogate daughter throughout the film, although Newt is eventually taken. Ripley, refusing to give up, dons the power loader and takes on the Xenomorph Queen in order to rescue Newt. Whilst not all our mums shout “get away from her you bitch!” in a mech suit before fighting off the Queen of a giant Alien hive, it sometimes feels like they do.

Images: Goodfellas - Warner Brothers Flowers - Public Domain Pictures Others - Movie DB

Marion Mcpherson Lady Bird

In the face of national tragedy and recession, Lady Bird takes a heartwarming - if not occasionally heart-rending - look into the strained relationship between a mother, Marion Mcpherson (Laurie Metcalf) and daughter, Christine (Saoirse Ronan). A coming of age story familiar to almost all students,

Sheryl Hoover

Little Miss Sunshine

A feel good film that delves into themes of loss, sexuality and what it means to fail, Little Miss Sunshine features a slightly happier portrayal of Toni Collette as a mother than last year’s Hereditary. Sheryl

Christine’s headstrong and idealistic attitude frequently collides with Marion’s world-weariness as her move to college looms.

Yet the film does not demonise Marion; as the narrative unfolds, she is portrayed as the pinnacle of support, both in her family and within her community as a mental health worker, and her inability to articulate her love and concern for her daughter builds up to a stunning moment of realisation at the end of the film. Metcalf’s brilliant acting combined with Gerwig’s captivating and nostalgic cinematography create a sympathetic exploration of motherhood, and its unreliable perception by the ones closest to it.

Hoover (Collette) wishes only to protect her young daughter from the shallow and judgemental world of child beauty pageants, whilst juggling other family commitments and work. On the brink of family breakdown, the Hoovers relent and take a small road trip to get Olive (Abigail Breslin) to her pageant in time. Over the course of this trip, barriers between characters are broken down and the family grow closer, even in the face of tragedy, culminating in a ritual of joy and togetherness. Most importantly, Sheryl is finally able to understand that the best way to support her children is to let them be themselves and love them more for it.

Catherine Scorsese Goodfellas

Perhaps this one is cheating but, still, the fact that Martin Scorsese puts his Mum into his films is unbelievably wholesome. Who better to play a mum than the director’s mother? Catherine Scorsese has made cameos in multiple films, but is perhaps best known as Mrs. DeVito, Tommy’s mother, in Goodfellas. After Tommy (Joe Pesci), Jimmy (Robert De Niro) and Henry (Ray Liotta) return from burying a body, they are welcomed with a full Italian meal

by Mrs. DeVito. Despite the fact that her guests are covered in blood following a hit, she welcomes them with open arms, teases them and shares stories. Catherine Scorsese also played mothers in 4 more Scorsese films, with Casino being her last role before her death in 1997. She truly was the mother of film.

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Games Games Editors Tom Buckland Luke Baldwin Happy Varsity folks! We thought we’d celebrate/commiserate our victory/loss by treating you to some lovely games content. Some interesting features for you this issue: some of our thoughts on the BAFTA nominations, the influence of open-world games, and female representation. Nothing sportsrelated, because we don’t want to overwhelm you - we’re just that polite. On that note, gooooooo team!

Editors’ Picks

Tom - Uncharted: Lost Legacy Uncharted is a beloved franchise of mine, but Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End didn’t quite meet my expectations from the globetrotting adventure series. Uncharted: Lost Legacy changed that completely, and started my unconditional love for the charming duo Nadine Ross and Chloe Fraser. These two are, ironically, the newfound legacy that should be who Naughty Dog continue the series with. I hope they’re reading this and taking notes.

Do you ever listen to a song you haven’t heard in years and remember just how good it is? I had this with Jeremy Soule’s Morrowind theme, now iconic for it’s use in the whole Elder Scrolls series.

Morrowind is often undrrated, especially compared to the gaming behemoths Oblivion and Skyrim.

But it’s Morrowind which defined subsequent Bethesda titles to this day. So thank you Morrowind, for being so bloody great.

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Best of the Best

Our thoughts on some of the nominees for the Video Game Baftas. Results will be announced on the 4th of April.

Artistic Achievement Luke Baldwin

From 8-Bit to cell shading, year on year we see video games push the boundaries of what is expected visually. Better technology, bigger budgets and longer development cycles are just some of the reasons we now find gaming as the largest entertainment industry in the world. It’s this status that has helped cement the sometimes controversial idea of games as art.

No category celebrates this notion more than the award for Artistic Achievement.

It’s easy to misconstrue Artistic Achievement as Best Graphics but

Best Performer Tom Buckland

When we judge video games and critique their design, sometimes the people that provide the voices for loveable - or sometimes detestable characters within said games can be overlooked. Best Performer counters that, and the people nominated for this award illustrate exactly why voice acting in video games is so essential.

It’s indisputable that every single nominee for this award has earned their right to contend for the award,

Best Game Luke -Elder Scrolls Morrowind

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Harry Cottle

The 2019 BAFTA Games nominations are in and leading the way is God of War with 10, including Best Game. Of course, God of War is the favourite to win after sweeping Game of the Year at most websites/ award shows, and its deserved. God of War is a fantastic game. But today I’ll be making a case for the other contenders.

I should first say that I haven’t played Assassins Creed Odyssey or Astro Bot: Rescue Mission but from what I’ve heard both are deserving

there’s more to it than that. Red Dead Redemption 2 and Detroit: Become Human both provide stunning and detailed worlds, which transport us to the Wild West and Sci-fi settings respectively. These worlds are then filled with beautifully designed, photorealistic characters, but for all their praise they lack true artistic innovation.

Likewise Marvel’s Spider-Man does a fantastic job of injecting its version of New York with that comic-book feel, but I can’t help feel that it could have been taken a step further. Just look at the recent (now Oscar winning) Enter the Spiderverse whose animation oozes uniqueness; this extra level of commitment could be the defining factor.

Frontrunner for best in show, God

of War offers the first real surprise. You’d be forgiven for assuming that a game based on Norse mythology would contain a lot of woodland, snowy and mountainous environments.

It mostly is. But there’s also a plethora of additional worlds, each with their own distinct architecture and style.

But, as is so often the case, we must look toward the indie darlings to provide us with that “outsidethe-box” flair. Enter Gris and Return of the Obra Dinn. The former is bright and vibrant, whereas the latter is dark and brooding. But both offer an incredibly charming hand drawn approach. Whether this is enough to compete with the big boys, we will have to wait and see.

but to discuss all of them would be discursive. Instead, there are a handful of stand-out performances that I believe are entitled to and deserve the award of Best Performer.

There are two apparent frontrunners for me, but they wouldn’t necessarily be my pick out of the bunch. Christopher Judge as Kratos, and Sunny Suljic as Atreus in God of War both stand out amongst the nominees as the most likely to take the award. However, Danielle Bisutti’s performance as Freya in the same game is regularly discarded and overlooked in exchange for Judge or Suljic. It’s benighted to consider

her irrelevant in comparison to the strong leading duo, instead, it’s wiser to consider them as a powerful trio.

Bisutti and Melissanthi Mahut as Kassandra from Assassin’s Creed Odyssey are, unfortunately, the only women that are up for the award but it’s absolutely well-deserved. I can’t discredit the voice acting prowess of the other nominees, Judge and Suljic included amongst the other fantastic voices like Roger Clark as Arthur Morgan in Red Dead Redemption 2.

However, it’d be my ideal world for one of these incredible women to walk away with the award.

nominees.

Celeste is one of the best 2D platformers I’ve played in years.

Alongside the fantastically brutal platforming sections is a unique and beautiful art style. The story is small in scale but deals with huge issues like anxiety and depression in a truly personal way.

Red Dead Redemption 2 seemed like the frontrunner upon its initial release but its popularity seems to have petered out. That being said, it’s a true technical and narrative achievement. Whilst some of the design philosophy feels dated, the world is unlike any other.

Return of the Obra Dinn would be

my personal choice for Best Game.

From Lucas Pope of ‘Papers Please’ fame, Obra Dinn sees you as an insurance man who is tasked with finding out how the entire crew on a cargo ship died. The fantastic art style and musical score help aid the central puzzle of putting together clues to guess each crew members’ fate.

Last year, despite the new Zelda and Mario games’ popularity, BAFTA chose ‘What Remains of Edith Finch’ for the top award (my personal game of the year) so I guess anything is possible. The winners will be announced at the ceremony on Thursday 4 April 2019.

36 write for us!

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How open-worlds have mapped the landscape of gaming Conal Gallagher

There was once a time in the games industry when every game seemed to be open world. Every new game giving us a map to explore, collectibles to track down, and an entire virtual world at your fingertips. The Grand Theft Auto series, The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Minecraft for crying out loud. Each open world game has left their imprint on the games industry, for better or worse.

It’s a fine line to walk, as it is, admittedly, with any type of video game. But where a shooters lack of depth can just lead to a bland experience, or easy puzzles in a puzzle game lead to a generally forgettable experience, a bad open world game can leave a much more sour taste. There’s that feeling of emptiness, of nothingness to it.

Where a good open world game has you feverish to explore each new area you stumble upon, perhaps sighting them from afar, exploring every

nook and cranny, completing every quest, collecting every bug or feather, before sprinting on to the next one, so breathless you forgot you left twelve sidequests and your horse back there. A bad open world game means each new location just feels like a checklist.

Enter place, speak to people, obtain quests, complete quests, move on, lather rinse repeat.

Sure, the essence of the open world is still there, but it’s not the same. A new batch of collectibles and sidequests do not make an open world game. This stagnation becomes more present with each new instalment, where the soul of open world games is sucked a little dryer. The Assassin’s Creed series definitely showed signs of this before its 2017 rebootishquel with Origins, after Rogue, Unity, and Syndicate merely recycling the previous year’s engine with a lick of new country paint (and that’s my usual AC series dunk out of the way, only took me 300 words).

But if Assassin’s Creed showed signs, No Man’s Sky was a twenty storey high neon sign that shot fireworks and trumpeted “18 quintillion planets!”, with Morgan Freeman’s voice. A sign that told a harsh

truth: open world isn’t a selling point anymore.

The wonderful Mirror’s Edge, with the tantalising promise of an open world sequel, fell flat on its pointy red shoes, because it became just another collect‘em-up. The premise of Watch Dogs was cool, but without good execution, just felt like a GTA clone with hacking minigames.

And let’s just say, the less said about Banjo Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts, the better.

Each open world had left their imprint on the industry, for better or worse.

But now, at the end of my life as a fan of video games (as I have no desire to learn who Ninja is or see Thanos floss), I can see the patterns emerge.

Open world games were revolutionary at the start of their existence, then became a tired concept that a likeness and name were slapped onto to drum up new interest.

I now put forward the concept of battle royale games in comparison.

An endless cycle of the cool new thing is what a lot of developers are forced to chase, with the creative freedom and desire to create an original concept secondary to the hot new craze. Call of Duty and Battlefield jumping on the battle royale train (or bus, okay I know some terminology) is the same move Mirror’s Edge, the inFAMOUS series, or the Lego games copied years ago.

But when developers aren’t subject to these whims, or perhaps the corporate overlords have a degree of foresight, open world games can be absolutely bloody fantastic. The Just Cause series, the very definition of freedom in-game. You want to fly a jumbo jet into a tornado then eject and wingsuit to safety? Strap the hell in.

Red Dead Redemption, and its sequel, the gorgeously rendered, painstakingly detailed stories of greed, failure, and loss, showing us what open world games were meant to be.

A new frontier to be explored, in more ways than one.

The goddamn Legend of Zelda series, with Breath of the Wild practically reinventing open world games, with random encounters dotted throughout its enormous map, the game world sprawling at your feet within the first few

minutes, the cover art perfectly embodying the game.

The player character, Link, standing atop a mountain, turning to us as if to ask “You coming?”.

Sure, open world games aren’t a perfect genre. Metal Gear Solid V was not made bearable by plunking Snake into an open world and saying “Go! Have fun! Ignore the enormous development time and budget poured into what amounted to half a game with a bananas story!”, and Arkham Knight wasn’t made suddenly better with an enormous city to drift around in the Batmobile, forcing you to track down every single collectible.

But when they’re done right, with love behind them, and a world to travel that feels real and vibrant, they can be a bloody masterpiece. Saddle up, grab the biggest loot sack you can, and let’s go exploring.

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Games

women

in

gaming

The gaming industry still needs to do more on female representation OPINION Meredith Graham

I play video games for the story: if it’s got a good plot, then I’m in. I love when a game gives me the chance to see myself in the narrative, but as a woman? This isn’t always possible.

Don’t get me wrong, gaming has come leaps and bounds in terms of this since I was a child, and it’s reassuring to see the progress we’ve made. But, unfortunately, we still have a long way to go.

There’s always been a fair share of female characters in games, but the way that these women are sometimes portrayed?

Questionable.

Presentation is one of the main ways in which female characters are still fighting for equal footing. As soon as you saw the title of this piece, I’m sure at least a handful of you thought about the original Lara Croft and her polygonic monstrosities. Women in a lot of cases are still being designed in a way which appeals to men, to be an object of traditional male desire.

For example, one of my favourite game franchises, Fire Emblem, has given me some of my favourite and most memorable female characters personality-wise. However, many of these characters have been drawn in a way which is not only completely impractical for battle, but defies gravity and realistic expectations of what fabric can support. Please, stop designing female characters

who only wear skimpy bra-armour (if that). If a female character is not interesting or eye-catching enough without her chest, midriff, or legs on full display, then perhaps you should hire more creative writers as opposed to objectifying her. But, that’s all I’m going to mention in regards to visual design.

I want to illustrate my point of ‘doing w e l l , could do

better’ in terms of females in video games with one of my favourite characters in gaming: Princess Zelda. Now, for me, this is an interesting one (I’m biased, I know).

Zelda began as nothing but a plot device, a reason for Link, the hero of the Legend of Zelda franchise, to begin adventuring and want to save the day. Whilst the lack of characterisation was very much to do with the limitations of the technology at the time, we didn’t see much improvement to this ‘damsel in distress’ trope until the release of

Ocarina of Time in 1998.

In this installment of the series, a young Zelda is the one who tells the player to stop Ganon, and it is the older Zelda under the guise of Sheik who aids Link on his journey before finally revealing herself and using her magic to help end the villain once and for all. We can see a lot of improvement to her characterisation through the rest of the series, particularly in the most recent game, Breath of the Wild.

Though she still relies greatly on Link for help in many of

the games, she is an active player: things are moving in the right direction.

Another game franchise which has produced wonderfully written women is the Witcher: Ciri, Yennefer, Triss all have their own personality, goals, motivations, desires and stories. Whilst they are all linked to the male protagonist, Geralt of Rivia, they are not reliant on him for legitimacy or personality.

These women are badass, all whilst being completely different from one another. They are not stock characters placed into the game to act as companions or love interests alone.

The way in which the female gaming community reacted when it was revealed that the new Assassin’s Creed game, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, would have a playable female character as its lead,

s h o u l d tell us a great deal.

Kassandra h a s the same weapon, ability and armour options as her male counterpart, and at no point in my playthrough of the game has there ever been a comment or reference to her being a woman, or using her gender as a plot point.

It’s a breath of fresh air to have a female character where the fact that she’s female is almost completely irrelevant.

The games industry has given us a host of other well-presented and written female characters which I simply don’t have the word count to discuss. The games industry is changing, and I hope that it continues to progress to a point where articles like this are no longer needed.

38 write for us!

Science & Tech Science & Tech Editors Jade Le Marquand Aidan Hughes Your penultimate fix of science and technology brings you a convincing argument for utilitsing nuclear power as a bridge to a renewable future. You’ll also find a guide on how to build muscle, and a look into the stem cell research that has been causing a stir for decades now. We are sure that over the weeks your affinity for this periodic publication has increased like an Arrhenius function, so to celebrate we’re giving you our favourite elements.

Aidan’s Pick

Today’s recommendation is the element Caesium. If you can get your hands on some of this element, you probably won’t have them for long. As an alkali metal it reacts violently with water to form caesium hydroxide and hydrogen gas, resulting in a very big bang.

Jade’s Pick

The original badass of the element world, Mercury (also known as ‘quicksilver’) is not only toxic if you ingest it, but it can also be absorbed through the skin. Ironically, ancient Chinese emperors used to use mercury in some of their medicines in a bid to prolong their lives (weird flex, but okay). Mercury is by far the coolest element - I mean, it shares its name with Freddie Mercury, what more proof do you need?

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EUreka! We’ve lost it...

Eve Thomas talks about how Brexit could affect EU-funded British research

The last two years have brought seemingly endless negotiations regarding similarly endless complications arising from the 2016 Brexit referendum. Perhaps one of the less widely discussed issues is the question of the EU-funded research taking place in educational establishments across Britain and the future of these endeavours.

According to the draft UK-EU agreement published in November, UK scientists and entrepreneurs will no longer be eligible for EUfunded grants under the bloc’s big research programme (Horizon) after the 29th of March. Despite this, UK participation will likely continue to some extent, under several specific conditions. In the short-term, the UK government has pledged to finish paying for any British researchers whose EU grants have been approved up until the end of the current EU programme, Horizon 2020 (which ends 31 December 2020). Currently, it seems that

the UK will make its payments equivalent to those Horizon 2020 would have provided, although this

new research programme – Horizon Europe – begins, without the inclusion of the UK. Many predict

Could Brexit spell disaster for important British Research?

has not been officially confirmed.

The issue will culminate then in 2021 when the EU Commission’s

that the UK will negotiate a form of ‘associate country’ status in order to be included in the programme, just

The stem cell revolution?

Abdullah Iqbal

Stem cells, they’ve been marked as the next big thing for so many years. People all over the world have been shouting that they will be able to cure everything from cancer to Parkinson’s to organ failures using the power of stem cells.

This has been especially true since 2006 when Yamanaka produced stem cells from skin. These cells are called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and matched current ‘embryonic’ stem cells to a high degree. However, it’s been nearly 13 years since then and still we haven’t had a mainstream stem cell treatment.

What are stem cells and do they really have the potential to live up to the hype?

Stem cells are cells which have the amazing ability of pluripotency, which allows them to differentiate into many other types of cells, such

as those which make up the skin and heart.

There are various types of stem cells. Some can only become one type of cell (known as totipotent) while others can become all the cells within your body.

Currently stem cells are only used for the treatment of immune or blood disorders by replacing stem cells in the bone marrow of a patient with healthy stem cells.

They are also used to provide skin grafts for severe burn victims in rare cases.

However, treatments are coming. A Japanese committee has provisionally approved the use of

reprogrammed stem cells to treat diseased or damaged corneas. Kohji Nishida at Osaka University plans to treat damaged corneas using sheets of tissue made from iPSCs. Furthermore, a patient dubbed ‘The London Patient’ has been cured of HIV after replacing his bone marrow stem cells with HIVresistant stem cells.

Subsequently the patient has not taken any anti-HIV drugs for 18 months, with no resurfacing of the disease. Further study is necessary, but we may have finally discovered a breakthrough in the treatment of HIV. Stem cells aren’t just useful in

as Switzerland, Norway and 14 other countries already have. However, these talks can’t begin until the UK has officially left the EU. The general consensus across the scientific community has been that Brexit will bring damage to the research being conducted across Britain, not least as a result of the uncertainty currently surrounding Brexit dates and deals. Major concerns are in regard to loss of funding, but also in potential future difficulties in collaboration with European scientists.

Although Brexit generally is a concern, no-deal Brexit is perceived to be a particularly damaging threat.

“A no-deal Brexit would be hugely damaging for UK science,” says Mike Galsworthy, who co-leads the Scientists for EU campaign group.

He hopes instead for a second people’s vote which might allow the public to express an opinion on the terms of the deal. According to him, “it could be that through

direct transplantation into patients, they are also extremely useful as models for drug discovery and the improvement in our understanding of disease. We can generate any type of cell and use it to test a drug’s effectiveness or generate cells with faulty genes (just imagine it like sabotaging a recipe for a chocolate cake, the recipe replaces baking powder with black pepper - that isn’t a proper cake anymore) to further our understanding and potentially lead to cures.

There are currently 2,200 clinical trials worldwide recruiting patients for testing stem cell treatments, which means we are moving forward.

Stem cells have the potential to cure so many problems, we just need to dive deeper into how they work and how we can use them to cure all these diseases.

Stemcells have the potential to cause a medical revolution, but we must use them ethically and

39

these flames comes the phoenix of opportunity.” (nature: International journal of science; 15/11/18).

If Britain were to leave the EU without any agreement, it would instantly lose access to at least three of the major funding streams for research and it would be likely that there would be disruption to the import and export of essential goods, including scientific research equipment.

With the current uncertainty around when, and even whether, Brexit will materialise it is almost certain that Britain and the EU will have to return to the negotiating table regarding funding and collaboration for research.

Ultimately – as with much of Brexit – there remains much uncertainty regarding the future of EU-funded research. With time, clarity will indubitably emerge, but in the meantime, the scientific community must remain patient alongside the rest of the nation.

carefully, ensuring we do not rush into treatments that have not been fully tested.

Not following the established guidelines could possibly lead to unforeseen suffering and maybe even death. A report published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2017 highlights this fact by describing a study in which retinal cells created from stem cells extracted from patients’ own fat cells and were transplanted into the eyes of the patient to treat macular degeneration; it was shut down after three people in the trial were left with severe vision loss following the treatment.

Monitoring the patients is of extreme importance but it takes time and we have to be patient, but if the field continues in its current upward trajectory, mainstream treatments could be appearing 3 to 5 years down the line.

Lardy to Arnie: How to build muscle Eve Thomas

Getting to the gym regularly is hard work, and as such you would expect to experience the benefits: the toned abs, muscular calves and biceps which are ready to flex at a moment’s notice. Building muscle is a natural outcome of regular exercise but simple adjustments can maximise the effects of your workout and give you the best results.

The simplest way to build muscle is through weight lifting. More strength equates to more muscle.

A common misunderstanding is the idea that you will build muscle through repetition. On the contrary, high rep exercises are not efficient means of muscle development, even if you lift until the point of exhaustion. Muscle develops according to what is being demanded of the body: this means that the most effective means of developing muscle is by lifting heavier weights for shorter amounts of time often, until your body develops the muscle necessary to meet the new weight.

Once you have reached this point, move onto a heavier weight.

The majority of gym-goers will do a range of exercises, including cardio.

Cardiovascular exercise provides a wide range of health benefits, including increased heart muscle

strength, lower levels of cholesterol and improved sleep. However these exercises are often associated with health, rather than muscle development (although the two are not mutually exclusive). In reality, cardio workouts can be tweaked to develop muscle.

In order to achieve notable muscle growth in running (a standard cardio exercise) try increasing the elevation on the treadmill so that you are running uphill; if you are bold enough to be running in the real world, pick routes which are purposefully hilly - should be pretty easy in Sheffield. By running uphill, you will demand more of your calves and thighs and, just as with weight lifting, the higher the physical demand, the greater the muscle development. This concept can be applied to almost any cardiovascular exercise. For example, increase the resistance on the rowing machine or exercise bike, or choose hilly, challenging routes in the great outdoors.

When trying to improve your physical condition, the temptation is to challenge yourself, but it is important not to underestimate the importance of recovery time. Ideally you should take three or four rest days a week to allow muscle growth and development; you can help the recovery process by eating well, staying hydrated and maintaining a healthy sleep schedule in sync with the circadian rhythm.

Your body uses proteins in order to build muscle and repair any muscle tissue damaged during a workout, and so a protein-rich diet is vital. The ideal protein intake is approximately 1.8g of protein per kilogram of body weight every day. Protein-rich foods include white-meat poultry, soy, beans, eggs and lean beef, which should be consumed as a part of a balanced diet.

In summary, muscle is built by demanding more of the body than it is accustomed to. However, this should be done safely, in order to avoid damage; as a general rule, if something feels wrong, stop and rest. Increase your workout difficulty steadily and consume plenty of protein as part of a healthy diet, whilst sleeping regularly to maximise muscle development.

Through patience, diligence and dedication, muscle will grow and develop.

40

Science & Tech

The Nuclear Catalyst Darby Knight

Public meltdowns are never fun, and nuclear power’s reputation is tainted by them. Mere mention of Fukushima, Chernobyl and Three Mile Island still trigger fear in the general populous. When considering fossil fuel alternatives, nuclear is pretty much glossed over in favour of renewables because of this stigma. However, renewables also have a dark side, and nuclear has potential, and both can help each other. So, let’s flip the table to see what’s what.

If the word nuclear makes you think of bombs, then you might be surprised to hear that nuclear power works exactly the same. Inside a nuclear reactor, a neutron particle is fired at a uranium atom, splitting them into two smaller atoms; a process called nuclear fission.

Neutrons released by this split then hit other uranium atoms and this chain reaction carries on, with each split producing energy used to heat water to produce steam, which turns a turbine generator to generate electricity.

No fossil fuels are burned, so no greenhouse gases are produced, however, because of nuclear energy’s reliance on uranium, it isn’t strictly a renewable energy source. Renewable energy comes from sources that aren’t naturally depleted, such as wind, solar or tidal energy, all of which can be captured with increasing efficiency as technology improves.

A lot of renewable energy technologies require rare-earth metals for their components.

These metals include neodymium for wind turbine magnets and electric vehicle motors, copper for electrical wires and cobalt for rechargeable batteries; and metals require mining which leave nasty environmental scars. Neodymium mining in China, where 85 per cent of deposits are found, has already produced a toxic lake in Baotou, Inner Mongolia. Radiation levels are three times higher than background levels, and ingested lake water can trigger leukaemia, pancreatic and lung cancers.

51 per cent of greenhouse gas

emissions produced when mining rare-earth metals in China result from producing energy to mine, an important point when considering how efficient renewables are at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Copper deposits of the future will require mining down to several thousand feet below the Earth’s surface, while cobalt mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo often violates human rights, employing children as young as six. While the extracted material is put to good use for renewable energy, there’s already a large local environmental and social footprint.

So, renewables requiring rare metals aren’t as squeaky clean as they appear. Scientists are trying to mine copper using in-situ leaching: injecting acid into the ground to flush the copper out. Thus, no mining required. Many start-up technological firms are trying to produce cobalt-free batteries, with

Elon Musk wanting to make this a reality. Improvements to mining supply chains and recycling rareearth metals from discarded gadgets are also needed to help reduce the impacts of mining and the extent of mining needed. But we’re not there yet.

Nuclear energy can act as a bridge between the world of renewables and the world of fossil fuels. The low-carbon nature of nuclear power plants means local air quality is cleaner compared to coal plants. A recent study in Nature Energy shows that the closure of two nuclear stations that were swapped for coal power-stations led to measurable reductions in the weight of newborns in the area. Past studies indicate nuclear energy, even when large accidents are taken into account, are the safest way to produce reliable electricity because of the cleaner local air quality. In the US, another study showed a predominantly

renewable energy system, using flexible nuclear operations to meet electricity demands when renewables couldn’t, lowers operating costs, increases reactor owner revenue, and reduces restrictions on the use of renewables.

Compared to extreme weather and pollution from fossil fuels, the low number of devastating nuclear accidents has had far less of a global, long-term environmental impact.

But these incidents make larger waves in the media when things do go wrong. Rushing into renewables may sound great for our immediate selves in the moment, but globally there are other impacts to consider, and more work needs doing to ensure renewables are made as sustainably as possible. Nuclear power can be that low-carbon bridge, helping to meet emissions targets while we perfect the manufacturing of renewable technology.

Nuclear fission is the fundamental reaction in the produciton of nuclear energy. Many types of nuclear reactors utilise uranium-235 as fuel.

During the fission process, uranium-235 absorbs neutrons to form uranium-236 - an unstable isotope of uranium which then splits into two duaghter nuclei whilst also releasing neutrons.

The energy produced from nuclear fission arises from the difference in mass between the origninal uranium-235 atom and neutron and the fission products. For example in the reaction shown in the image at the top of the page, sum of the masses of the 3 neutrons, barium atom and krypton atom produced will be less than the mass of the sum of the masses of the uranium-235 atom and neutron that began the reaction. The energy released in this reaction can be calculated using Albert Einstein’s famous equation:

Fission image: Mike Run

Hinckley Point C - one of the UKs few proposed nuclear power plants. Image: Hydrock

WINNERS

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Can Manchester City clinch the quadruple? Ben Warner isn’t writing it off Ben Warner

Football would be nothing without dreams, and that’s what Manchester City have got right now. A dream.

15 games to become legends, to cement their status as potentially the greatest club side of all time.

Last season’s 100 points was good, but winning the quadruple would top that a million times over and then some.

Forget the “corruption” allegations, ignore the “Emptihad” shouts, try to suppress that letting Jadon Sancho go was one of our biggest mistakes of the last decade.

You can’t begrudge the fans getting misty-eyed, looking out of the window at work, dreaming about watching Vincent Kompany lift the Champions League in Madrid in May. That is all City fans, who went through it all in the 80s and 90s – who were stood there at 2-0 down against Gillingham – have ever wanted. In the playgrounds of Manchester, as United won trophy after trophy, gong after gong, as their fans ridiculed ours. This is our

time now.

In late December it was all looking a bit bleak. After successive losses against Crystal Palace and Leicester City, in which we’d took the lead in both, it looked all over for the league challenge, and the Champions League was too far away to bear thinking about.

‘Dare to dream, and it might just happen’ But since then, City have shown a new grit and determination, scoring more than 60 goals in three months, beating Liverpool, Chelsea (twice), Arsenal, capping it all with a 7-0 win in the Champions League. 7-0. In the Champions League. Look at that and tell me we can’t dream.

If we do win it all, it’s not like last year where we were all-conquering,

Can Pep Guardiola mastermind a legendary haul of four trophies this season?

Image: Wikimedia Commons

swashbuckling superstars.

Liverpool have been very good, and probably should have taken advantage of our run of poor form.

If they’d won at the Etihad, it would have been game over. Still, on the other hand, you could argue coming from seven points behind to being back in the ascendency with a great

chance of winning it all is the stuff of champions.

For all my glossy words, and the blue-tinted spectacles, let’s not kid ourselves here. This 15 games is going to be brutal, but what gives me goosebumps is the thought that just maybe, in the last minute, Raheem Sterling will run through,

and slot past the keeper to win us the Champions League.

That will cap it all. 93:20, Edin making it six at Old Trafford, Yaya scoring against Stoke at Wembley.

They were all brilliant, brilliant moments, but a quadruple? Dare to dream, and it just might happen.

Are English teams ready to go and dominate on the European stage?

Nicole Oshisanwo

For the first time since 2008-09,

four English teams have reached the quarter-final stage of the Champions League and two English teams have also reached the same stage of the Europa League. Given that in the last three seasons combined, only four English teams have reached the Champions League last eight, this is certainly a very positive step.

The riches of the Premier League have always been a stick to beat its teams with when in previous years they seemingly inevitably exited early, but as many clubs have shown, money has never been enough – shrewd investment is also key, and the English top flight is now finally seeing some of its good coaching play an important role.

Over the past few years, the likes of Pep Guardiola, Jürgen Klopp and David Wagner have been successful in importing pressing football to

England. Combine this with the newly arrived Sarri-ball and until now successful Emery-ball and you get a distinctly continental flavour to English football, which has given its teams the edge in Europe this season.

One of the pleasing things to see as well was how easily most of the teams made it through. Arsenal had a slight blip in Rennes following an early red card, and Manchester United struggled against a very strong PSG, but besides those ties, the English teams dominated their opposition.

Although the coefficient is now less important in terms of qualification places, as the top four European teams automatically

receive four qualification places for the group stages of the Champions League, it is still significant as good past performances can lead to

increased financial reward, with the best leagues receiving more money.

This will only serve to strengthen the Premier League teams for future European challenges.

That the new found strength of English teams in Europe is occurring at the same time as the English academies are producing some of the best talent in the world is a happy coincidence that could lead to many more years of success to come. It may have been a while since English teams were high flying in Europe but, having regained some of their dominance, I predict that they will be there for a long time to come.

Chelsea somehow overcame the Bayern onslaught in 2012 Image: Flickr

43

Sport

Captain’s corner

Sport Editor Josh Taylor

This week, Josh Taylor from Forge Sport continues his tour around the University sport clubs with Ben Noble from Jiu Jitsu Josh Taylor

1)How did you get into the sport?

BN: I chose it quite randomly after talking to them at the refreshers fair in first year. I had wanted to try a martial art and Jiu Jitsu sounded cool so went along to a session. Two years later I think it’s the best decision I’ve made at Uni! 2) What’s the society like?

BN: The society is just great. Training sessions are quite relaxed, everyone is just trying to get better and help others get to where they want to be whilst all having a good time. It’s a really social society to be in as well.

We always go the pub after sessions and socialize with different clubs from all over the country!

3) How do competitions work in Jiu Jitsu?

BN: We have two national competitions. The first is the Atemis, which are conveniently in Sheffield, and centre around the self-defence aspect of Jiu Jitsu. Competitors are put into pressured situations whilst a couple of senior instructors score them on how they react. Our second national is the Randoris. This is more of a Judo competition, given that Judo and Jiu Jitsu share common roots. Lower belts will compete in ground fighting competitions (Gatamae-waza) and higher belts will also compete in standing fighting competitions (Nage-Waza).

4) Do you guys compete in BUCS? BN: The Artemis does have a BUCS open where more seasoned

competitors can fight. The Randoris doesn’t but it’s always a great weekend away!

5) What’s the best way to learn Jiu Jitsu?

BN: Just train as much as possible really, like everything practice makes perfect! We put on training sessions twice a week and there is also regional training once or twice a semester, as well as the training at the nationals. Because Jitsu focuses on using your opponent’s strength and size against them you can train with anyone of any shape or size.

The more different people you train

with, the better you are going to be.

6) How can people get in touch?

BN: We have a Facebook page, Sheffield University Jiu Jitsu club, and you can find us on Instagram and on the Sports Sheffield webpage as well. Although the best way could be to just turn up to a session. It doesn’t need to be a Give it a Go as we have people joining at any time.

Just turn up around 10 minutes before the session starts with loose clothing and an open mind!

You can read the full interview on our website: www.forgetoday.com/sport

Championship promotion race promises drama Patrick Burke

Probably for the first time since 1959, both Sheffield clubs have genuine promotion aspirations from the second tier going into a pivotal Easter: United are deep into a three-way battle for the top two, and Wednesday are in an eight-horse race for two play-off spots.

Chris Wilder’s United go into the final eight games in second – a point ahead of Leeds United and four behind Norwich City. Since blowing a 3-0 lead at Aston Villa, the Blades have won six and drawn one without conceding. They’ve shown their ability to steamroll teams with the 4-0 demolition of Reading, and a capacity to grind out results. The ten men did that in the last match at Bramall Lane against Brentford (a 2-0 victory), and the 1-0 triumph at Elland Road before the international break could prove crucial.

What Wilder has done in less than three years defies description.

Through astute man management and careful recruitment, he has taken a club who lumbered to 11th in League One in 2016 to the brink of the Premier League. For all Marcelo

Bielsa’s undoubted tactical brilliance at Leeds, it is Wilder’s 3-4-1-2 formation – as well as his players’ willingness to give everything for the club and the manager – which currently holds the advantage. The licence of the two outside centrebacks to overlap the two wing-backs has rarely been seen to this extent English football – but it is working a treat.

Beginning on Saturday at home to Bristol City, United have eight hurdles to clear. Norwich on paper have the easiest run-in, while only a fool would write-off Bielsa and Leeds, but in S2, they’re starting to dream.

The turnaround at Hillsborough under Steve Bruce has arguably been just as big a story. When

Jos Luhukay left in December, Wednesday were 18th, just five points above the relegation zone.

Successive caretaker management teams steadied the ship, but Bruce’s five victories and five draws mean he remains unbeaten since taking charge. The Owls are now just two points behind 6th placed Villa and only three behind Middlesbrough.

Most had expected Bruce’s task to be a rebuilding job to get the club back to the top flight, but the manager has consistently said that his team can gatecrash the play-offs this season – and it’s time to start taking those claims seriously.

Goalkeeper Keiren Westwood has started every Championship game since Luhukay’s departure and Wednesday look a more secure outfit

for it. January signings Dominic Iorfa and Rolando Aarons have proved real successes, and Steven Fletcher is revitalised with five goals already under Bruce.

Wednesday travel to Stoke City on Saturday, before six fixtures in April all against fellow promotion hopefuls. The likes of Villa and Preston North End are in great form, but Bruce has breathed new life into a campaign which had gone badly off-piste.

The Championship can be uniquely unpredictable, but if United and/or Wednesday get back to the big time, there’s going to be a party bigger than anything you’ve witnessed to date in Sheffield.

Hello!

Everyone here at Forge Sport has been working around the clock to cover everything Varsity. It’s been a busy, tiring but crazy 14 days where we have seen some of the very best University sports has to offer. It was a pleasure to cover a plethora of sports across online, TV and radio and it was made even sweeter as we were able to capture the moment Varsity was won at Abbeydale during our broadcast. But that was just one highlight out of many during the competition.

The events at Hillsbrough, Boxing, Norton, EIS and Hallam Sports Park all provided different yet thrilling moments where points were won and lost in the matter of moments. The seventh straight Varsity victory was made even sweeter for Uni as it now means they overtake Hallam in the overall score 11-10, another incredible feat.

I would like to extend another huge thank you to every contributor who helped in our coverage and allowed us to broadcast across Sheffield, we really couldn’t have done it without you. However, the biggest thank you will have to go out to every athlete, from both Universities, that competed across the events, you all showcased excellent talent and provided more than adequate entertainment. If this is your last Varsity, be thankful Uni delivered another sporting high, if it’s your first, strap in for the drama to come.

Thanks again, Josh Taylor

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Lacrosse Women’s 1s celebrate at Norton. Image: Ross Waddoups

Black and Golds smash record for biggest ever winning margin in Varsity’s 23-year history Adam May

The University of Sheffield have clinched their seventh straight Varsity win and managed to smash some records along the way.

The 13-point winning margin over

Team Hallam eclipsed the 12-point record set two years ago as the Black and Golds remain unbeaten in the competition since 2013.

Uni of almost recorded their first win in the Mixed Ice Hockey 1s since 2002 after a pulsating end-to-end match at the FlyDSA Arena, but

Team Hallam’s Danny Hyde struck late to win the nine-goal thriller 5-4.

The latest Varsity crown for the University of Sheffield, however, edges the Black and Golds 11-10 in front on overall titles since the event began in 1996.

The winning point came in the

Women’s Hockey 1s, with Hallam’s 5-0 defeat ending the possibility of putting a halt to the University of Sheffield’s title charge.

The overall score finished 45.532.5 to Uni of and you can read a comprehensive round-up of the action inside this issue’s pull-out.

varsity 2019

32.5 45.5 brought to you by

official media partners of sheffield varsity

CONTENTS

EDITORIAL

19TH MARCH: FOOTBALL 20TH: HALLAM SPORTS PARK

ADAM MAY

21ST : BOXING & ICE HOCKEY 22ND : NORTON 23RD: AMERICAN FOOTBALL & ROWING 24TH: DODGEBALL & CYCLING 25TH: EIS SHEFFIELD 26TH: ABBEYDALE & HALLAMSHIRE 27TH: ICE HOCKEY & FINAL DAY

T

he city of Sheffield has been painted black and gold for the seventh straight year in a row and over the past 17 days we’ve witnessed countless emotions: pride and hurt, victory and defeat, euphoria and dejection.

It was all summed up perfectly in the Mixed Ice Hockey 1s as Team Hallam edged an incredibly entertaining match 5-4.

It was the perfect finale, befitting for a competition steeped in such history as this one.

We’re lucky that our Varsity competition is staged in such prestigious venues. We have the FlyDSA Arena that plays host to one of the best ice hockey teams in the country; the English Institute of Sport which is used by the likes of three-time world champion

- PRESS HEAD OF SPORT Jessica Ennis-Hill; and Hillsborough, home of Sheffield Wednesday since 1899.

During my time at university, I don’t I’ve seen both universities get quite as stuck into the Varsity spirit as they have this time around.

University life is stressful and sport gives us an escape, even if it’s for a couple of hours, and Varsity has certainly brought a few more smiles around campus.

It’s what makes sporting events so great and it’s why this brilliant city backs the competition so much.

It’s also important to remember that Varsity is the culmination of hours and hours of training, whether that’s in the gyms in the depths of November or travelling up and down the country on a Wednesday for BUCS matches.

Throughout this year, us here at Forge have tried to shed light on a whole host of sporting achievements that have taken place. We have some fine athletes at these universities and I truly believe Varsity has shown them in the best light.

It’s been great being a part of it and I’ll definitely miss it once I graduate this summer.

As ever, thank you to everyone who contributed to this pull-out, we hope we’ve done this competition justice, and it wouldn't have been possible without our trusted volunteers. Thanks to Chloe Dervey, our design guru, for making this look so great and for putting so many hours into it.

It’s been a real pleasure and I hope you’ve enjoyed this year’s event.

Take care!

EARLY EVENTS ROUND-UP FIXTURES AND POINTS UPDATE: SNOW SPORTS (1-3) CYCLING DUAL SLALOM (1-3)* EQUESTRIAN (1-4) SAILING (1-5) CYCLING CROSS COUNTRY (1-5)* TRAMPOLINING (2-5) *CYCLING POINTS WON'T BE ADDED UNTIL FINAL EVENT ON 27TH

B

efore the launch event at Hillsborough got underway, fans were treated to a gripping start to Varsity as the University of Sheffield mounted an early lead.

2019’s installment began 880 miles away from Sheffield in the snowy slopes of the French Alps, with the Black and Golds recording a 3-1 win.

More than 600 supporters travelled out to Val Thorens for the day-long event to back their teams in a series of freestyle and slalom skiing and snowboarding fixtures.

The first four points of the annual Varsity competition were up for grabs, with the freestyle ski race and snowboard race worth one point each and the final two points awarded on a

dual team slalom course. Hallam took the snowboarding race point, while the Black and Golds were victorious in both the ski racing and both male and female freestyle events in ski and snowboarding respectively.

Callum Green, president of the University of Sheffield’s snowboarding club, said: “It was incredible. The events were close which meant the competition was so exciting to watch and it made the results so tense that the final announcement made us ecstatic.

“I was incredibly proud; mostly because we had few experts and our winners were actually people who just wanted to give it a go from a variety of ability levels, proving that it’s accessible to everyone.”

Sarah Morse, University of Sheffield Sports Officer, added: “It was great to see so many students get involved, no matter their level. The end result was one we can all be proud of. I’m pleased to say that by the end of the day, there was almost a clean sweep of University of Sheffield winners on the podium and we are taking three points back home to Sheffield with us.”

Despite the 3-1 snowsports lead, Hallam made sure that they held their own against the Black and Golds in the

early events.

While Uni of managed to win equestrian and cross country cycling, Hallam made sure that their counterparts didn’t run away with all the points, taking victories in trampolining and dual slalom cycling.

At trampolining, Forge was joined by trampolining Olympian Bryony Page, who discussed the rise in popularity of the sport.

“I hope people have had a look at it and watched the whole thing and seen the development from what you can do as a beginner to what you can do as an advanced and how exciting it is and the support that everybody gives,” she said.

“You can see that there are people in their comfort zones and ready to go out and progress.”

BY MICHAEL EKMAN

points tally going into 19th:

2 5

MEN'S T

19th

HILLSBOROUGH

FIXTURES AND POINTS UPDATE: FOOTBALL WOMEN’S 1 (2.5-5.5) FOOTBALL MEN’S 1 (3.5-5.5)

WOMEN'S

T

eam Hallam and the Black and Team Hallam and the Black and Golds drew at Hillsborough with Women's Football 1s finishing 1-1 thanks to goals from Grace Wardle and Sydnie Naylor.

Before kick-off, a minute’s applause was impeccably observed for former University of Sheffield Club Captain, Cerys Beth O’Boyle, who died in September. An incredible player, a much-loved captain and a true Black and Gold.

In true University of Sheffield spirit, it was indeed the Black and Golds who started on the front foot, making several breaks down the right.

However, the early pressure didn’t amount to any real chances, with some crosses fizzing dangerously across the six-yard box from both wings without a decisive touch on the end of them.

Despite coming under early pressure Team Hallam, led by Sheffield United Women’s midfielder Sam Tierney, picked themselves up and created some dangerous opportunities.

The first real chance of the game fell to Hallam just a few minutes later as Katie Williams’ deflected drive from the edge of the box was saved smartly by Emily Batty in the Black and Gold net in the 12th minute.

eam Hallam’s Men’s 1s claimed the Varsity point in the football with a thrilling 2-1 win over their rivals at Hillsborough to move themselves just one point behind in the overall Varsity standings.

It was a phenomenal start from Team Hallam, and they were rewarded with an early lead as Sam Kay, a semi-professional at Staveley, opened the scoring in the third minute with a low right-footed effort that found the bottom corner.

Both sets of fans were in fine voice and after a frantic spell of end-to-end action, but it was Hallam who doubled their advantage midway through the first half. A beautifully weighted ball was played over the top of the Black and Gold’s defence and Scouse target man John Collo beat the offside trap before smartly lifting the ball over Kyle Cunningham.

A promising spell followed for Uni of with Tom Dally’s low drive from the edge of the box flying a yard wide of the post. Another opportunity, albeit a difficult one, came for top scorer Alfie Holden, however his effort was wild and way off target.

The University of Sheffield pressure eventually paid off though.

As the ball rolled through to Chike Ejeze, the skipper’s shot from six yards out was saved

by Hallam goalkeeper James Pollard, only for the ball to ricochet back off of Ejeze and into the back of the net with 20 minutes left.

Unlike last year, Team Hallam kept their heads up after conceding and still looked dangerous in attack, and but for some last-ditch Uni of defending, they could have easily restored their two-goal advantage. Uni of continued to press for an equaliser, but the Hallam defence and Pollard in goal remained resilient.

It was not to be a repeat of the unbelievable drama in the 2018 match where Uni of scored two late on to come from behind and win 2-1, as Team Hallam ran down the clock to seal a 2-1 victory of their own and move on to 3.5 points in the overall Varsity standings, one behind the University of Sheffield’s current tally.

Uni of captain Ejeze, said: “Scoring means nothing if you lose.

“I’m obviously gutted but proud of everyone in the team. We tried our hardest, so you can’t really ask for much more than that.”

Victorious Hallam captain Matt Leyland said: “It’s unbelievable, it’s been a great day. I think you can see what it means to these Hallam fans here, they were unbelievable throughout the game.

Those chances seemed to spark Hallam into life as they proceeded to dominate the next 10 minutes, controlling the midfield.

We had to wait until the 26th minute for the next good chance of the game and this time it fell to Uni of on the counter.

The ball broke kindly for Carly Jackson down the right and her cross almost ended up in the far corner, striking the post and bouncing out to a Hallam shirt.

Both defences were certainly on top as the first half drew to a close, but that didn’t stop Hallam from having some of the game’s best chances to take the lead.

The second half started in a pretty uneventful fashion as neither team were able to stamp their authority and, as the game wore on, it started to become an increasingly scrappy affair.

However, with just over 20 minutes to go, a corner from Jeffrey was directed home by Wardle to give Team Hallam the lead. The centre half was quick to celebrate with the bench and the delighted Hallam faithful.

But just two minutes later, the Black and Golds found an equaliser as a surging run from centre forward Jackson resulted in a hard hit shot towards Hallam ‘keeper Huscroft, who could only palm

points at end of day

the shot to the feet of Naylor who calmly slotted the ball in the back of the Hallam net.

Team Hallam were hoping their lead could be restored as quickly as it was taken away as Wilcock raced clear after a mistake from Taylor, but Whittle was on hand to make a crucial last-ditch block.

Minutes later, Hallam player Csomor met a deep cross from the left at the back post, only to divert her effort wide.

The winner nearly arrived late on as Tierney’s free-kick was met by Williams’ head, only to strike the post. The ball was still in play but Batty rushed off her line to deny Wilcock the winner.

In a last-gasp attempt to take home the bragging rights, Tierney charged through the defence and seemed likely to cap off a wonderful display, only for Whittle to once again make a crucial intervention.

The draw was probably a fair result as a dangerous Sheffield Hallam attack was well-matched by a strong and resolute University of Sheffield defence. Both sides should be content after sharing the spoils in what was a hard-fought draw.

BY BEN GOMES

3.5 5.5

WATCH THE WOMEN'S FOOTBALL HERE

...AND THE MEN'S HERE

BY JORDAN SOLLOF

HALLAM SPORTS PARK

ELSEWHERE...

The two water polo fixtures took place at Ponds Forge. These fixtures were meant to happen on Finals Day, along with the swimming, but were brought forward. Sheffield Hallam triumphed in the Women’s Water Polo 1s, while the point was shared in the Men’s 1s fixture.

Another of the cycling events, the time trial, set off from Tideswell Dale Car Park, with Uni of taking the lead on 2-1 with two cycling events still to come, while the two climbing points were shared.

20th

FIXTURES AND POINTS UPDATE: CYCLING TIME TRIAL* (3.5-5.5) CLIMBING (4.5-6.5) FOOTBALL MEN’S 2 (5-7) FOOTBALL WOMEN’S 2 (5-8) FOOTBALL MEN’S 3 (5.5-8.5) FOOTBALL WOMEN’S 3 (6-9) FOOTBALL MEN’S 4 (6.5-9.5) ULTIMATE FRISBEE MEN’S 1 (6.5-10.5) ULTIMATE FRISBEE WOMEN’S 1 (6.5-11.5) ULTIMATE FRISBEE MEN’S 2 (6.5-12.5) CRICKET MEN’S 1 (7.5-12.5) CRICKET WOMEN’S 1 (7.5-13.5) CRICKET MEN’S 2 (7.5-14.5) RUGBY LEAGUE MEN’S 1 (8.5-14.5) RUGBY UNION MEN’S 1 (8.5-15.5) RUGBY UNION WOMEN’S 1 (8.5-16.5) RUGBY UNION MEN’S 2 (8.5-17.5) RUGBY UNION MEN’S 3** (8.5-17.5) WATER POLO WOMEN'S 1 (9.5-17.5) WATER POLO MEN'S 1 (10-18) *CYCLING POINTS WON’T BE ADDED UNTIL THE FINAL EVENT ON 27TH MARCH ** NO POINTS AWARDED

HSP ROUND-UP H

allam Sports Park marked one of the crazier days of Varsity this year and it saw the University of Sheffield starting to open a serious gap on the scoreboard.

The day started brightly for the Black and Golds with a thrashing of Hallam in the Women’s Rugby Union 1s. They flew to a 24-0 lead before the break and fended off an attempted comeback to run out 29-12 winners.

The rest of the Uni of rugby teams went on to dominate the sport in later fixtures, with points coming in both the Men’s 1s and Men’s 2s union fixtures.

However, Hallam had the last laugh of the day in the Men’s Rugby League 1s.

With the match entering the last few minutes it was poised 10-8 in Hallam’s favour only for those in maroon and white to score a late try and conversion to crush the hearts of Uni fans.

It was a different story in the football which served up multiple tightlycontested ties throughout a sun-soaked sports park. There were draws in the Women’s 3s and Men’s 2s, 3s and 4s.

The only victory came in the Women’s 2s for Uni of as they recorded their first

ever Varsity win thanks to goals from Holly Summers and Megan Wilson.

Ultimate Frisbee also proved to be a form of success for the University of Sheffield with a clean-sweep of victories in all three events.

Cricket provided a further two points with wins in the Men’s 2s and Women’s 2s, Hallam took the other point in the Cricket M1s.

Elsewhere, it was a point a piece in the climbing as Hallam’s won the Women’s 1s while the Black and Gold’s Men’s 1s tasted victory at the Climbing Works.

The Black and Golds tasted further success in cycling with a win in the time trial event.

The Women’s Water Polo 1s saw off Hallam’s charge, while the point was shared in the Men’s fixture.

The day was filled with sporting talent, a lively atmosphere and a fine slice of success for the University of Sheffield.

Athletes, students and fans alike came together to enjoy the ability that was on show under the scorching sun.

BY JOSH TAYLOR

WATCH THE MEN'S RUGBY UNION HERE WATCH THE WOMEN'S RUGBY UNION HERE points at end of day

10 18

21st

points at end of day

11 19

WATCH THE BOXING LIVESTREAM HERE!

FIXTURES AND POINTS UPDATE: BOXING (11-18) ICE HOCKEY 2 (11-19)

BOXING H

allam enjoyed a night of dominance at the boxing as they registered an impressive 8-3 win at the Octagon.

It’s the event that gets supporters going and the one everyone looks forward to on the annual Varsity calendar.

With a capacity crowd, under the lights, it captures the essence of the competition’s spirit and competitiveness.

2019’s installment lived up to the occasion and it was the University of Sheffield who made the first mark, with Tom Blacklock’s quick and nimble feet too much for Hallam’s Tom Colton. The second-year student gave the Black and Golds the edge early on as nerves from both fans started to really kick in.

The second bout was explosive. It looked like the Black and Gold’s Mat Burnyeat had suffered a broken nose and, despite taking jab after jab, he carried on but ultimately lost on a unanimous decision. Hallam’s Jimmy Johnson’s uppercuts were relentless.

The third round saw a TKO in the second round as Hallam nudged in front before Louis Hewitt pulled out the stops to make it 2-2 with a unanimous decision.

It was to be one of the Black and Gold’s last joys as Hallam won two successive bouts before the interval to take a healthy 4-2 lead. Archie Ampufu proved too powerful for Dan Hill as the Black and Gold boxer tried to take the blows but ultimately ran out of steam.

Jack Richardson then won by a unanimous decision over Ben Cook, with the Hallam star quick out of the blocks and using the adrenaline of the crowd to give him an extra boost.

While the Black and Gold’s Matheus Talbert appeared to rile the crowd up as he walked on to Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline, he was left seething after a split decision nudged Hallam into a 5-2 lead.

A bloodied James Harris battled as hard as he could, but Briece Livsey proved too strong to handle and, on a unanimous, brought home the Varsity point with the score being 6-2 with three bouts remaining.

It meant the University of Sheffield were playing for pride, although Hallam’s James Loosemore was determined to capitalise on those in the blue corner, with Loosemore striking hard and low.

The second round saw Ahmed Soussi of the Black and Golds come out with a

point to prove but Uni of could have no complaints as, on another unanimous decision, Hallam extended their lead to 7-2 as their opponents drifted further out of sight.

Hallam’s lead was extended as it became clear it really wasn’t to be the University of Sheffield’s night despite a strong opening.

In the brutal bout that followed it was clear to see why Hallam had such a successful BUCS season with the side notching 78 points over the course of the campaign.

Savas Bulduk’s white top may have ended up a more pinky hue come the bout’s conclusion, but the Hallam boxer stood strong and edged a testing bout against Mat Wickham.

Hallam missed the chance to win their seventh bout on the trot as Regan Parker saw off the spirited challenge of Hallam’s Nick Hu Ku despite having been knocked to the floor in the second round.

It’s a night that’ll go down in Hallam’s history books as their impressive season was made that little bit more special.

BY ADAM MAY

ELSEWHERE AT THE ICE HOCKEY...

Alongside the boxing, the Mixed Ice Hockey 2s was playing out. Sadly, this didn’t happen in a big showpiece at the FlyDSA Arena, like the final, but iceSheffield played host to a 2-1 win for the University of Sheffield, one of the first times they’ve won the fixture in recent years.

NORTON ROUND-UP

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oth Hallam and Uni of braved the blustery conditions and a long drive up to Norton to face off in the Lacrosse and Hockey, with the reigning champions leading overall.

The drama came thick and fast early on as Hallam roared into a 6-3 lead in the Men’s Lacrosse 2s, enjoying most of the possession and a potent offense.

However, Uni of refused to be beaten down and after clawing a goal back seemingly out of nowhere, they started to turn the heat up against their opponents.

This sent the game into a nervy standoff in the closing stages with Hallam doing everything to not concede and give Uni of a glimmer of hope.

Their efforts would turn out to be in vain as, with a goal pulling the lead within one, Uni of equalised in the last few minutes for a superb Varsity comeback.

The Men’s Lacrosse 1s couldn’t replicate such a feat though, as they dropped to a 7-3 loss in their fixture.

Hallam dominated the first two quarters without much resistance from the Black and Golds and this would inevitably pay off as those in maroon and white went into half-time 3-0 up.

There was a chance of a comeback however, with two quick fire goals from Uni signalling their intent to return some of the pressure Hallam exerted on them in the first half.

But the lead would never collapse, and Hallam built on their one goal deficit to run out the victors and secure their only win at Norton.

The best was saved for last from Uni of’s perspective though as they ripped Hallam to shreds in the Women’s Lacrosse 1s.

Despite trailing 3-2 early in the game they showcased skill and ruthlessness to completely sweep their opponents off the field, with a lightning offense providing the killer touch.

In the end the score stood at a mighty 17-5.

Elsewhere there was a draw in the Men’s Hockey 3s and wins for Uni of in the Women’s Hockey 3s and 4s, rounding off another rampant day for the Black and Golds.

The day may have contrasted in terms of weather to Hallam Sports Park but it still provided a wealth of success for the University of Sheffield and an abundance of entertainment for the spectators that made the journey.

BY JOSH TAYLOR

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FIXTURES AND POINTS UPDATE: HOCKEY WOMEN’S 4 (11-20) HOCKEY MEN’S 3 (11.5-20.5) HOCKEY WOMEN’S 3 (11.5-21.5) LACROSSE MEN’S 2 (12-22) LACROSSE MEN’S 1 (13-22) LACROSSE WOMEN’S 1 (13-23)

points at end of day

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FIXTURES AND POINTS UPDATE: ROWING (14-24) AMERICAN FOOTBALL (15-24)

15 24 points at end of day

AMERICAN FOOTBALL

Sheffield Sabres Vs Hallam warriors

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n a beautiful Saturday afternoon, the Sheffield Sabres headed up to Hallam Sports Park to take on the Hallam Warriors as American Football made a return to Varsity.

The event was unfortunately cancelled last year due to a lack of officials, but this year’s event saw an impressive return and made the wait worthwhile as the hosts stormed to a 32-24 win.

The first half was a close battle as the two sides traded blows. The Sabres struck first with an impressive kick return, setting up a quick run into the endzone for the first touchdown of the day. But the Warriors were able to respond on their first drive after it looked like they were settling for a field goal. Their quick-thinking surprised the Sabres with a fake, getting into the endzone for their first touchdown.

After some defensive turnovers, the Sabres were able to score after a series of passes took them 65-yards down the field with the final blow coming from a 30-yard pass. The Warriors were able to respond within one play and with the extra point they finally broke the tie.

Things would go from bad to worse

as the Sabres offense were quickly intercepted for another Hallam touchdown, extending Hallam’s lead.

After yet more defensive stops, the Sabres broke through again with a 68yard touchdown to finish off the half 19-18 to the Warriors.

The Sabres’ defensive started the half strongly and pushed the Warriors back, forcing them to attempt a 45-yard field goal which ultimately fell short. It became apparent that both offenses were struggling as the third quarter was filled with defensive stops. As the third quarter drew to a close, Hallam managed to find their way in for their fourth touchdown of the day putting the score at 25-18.

Heading into the fourth, the Sabres had to find their momentum once more in order to stay in the competition. It was tough, but they managed to grind their way down the pitch before running it in for a Sabres touchdown, placing them within one point of the Warriors.

For the Sabres to win they needed their defence to turn the ball over, and turnover they did. By stopping the Warriors from getting the first down the Sabres offense were quickly back

on the field. They couldn’t capitalise on this and by failing to secure the first down they gave the ball back to the Warriors within their own half.

The defence dug in but couldn’t stop the Hallam offense as they ran in for their fifth touchdown, and with the extra point it meant the Sabres were down by eight points before entering the last minute. A desperate Sabres offense tried to get down the field, but a tipped pass sailed straight into the arms of the Warriors giving them a 3224 victory over the Sheffield Sabres.

BY ROBERT EBBATSON

MEANWHILE AT THE ROWING...

While many people were having the weekend to take a breather, some committed athletes were up bright and early to get to Dam Flask Reservoir for the rowing at 9am. The early start and the cold weather didn’t stop both teams though, as they split the two points on offer.

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FIXTURES AND POINTS UPDATE: CYCLING DOWNHILL (15-24)* DODGEBALL MEN'S 1 (15-25) *CYCLING POINTS WON’T BE ADDED UNTIL THE FINAL EVENT ON 27TH MARCH

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points at end of day

CYCLING UPDATE

DODGEBALL T

he University of Sheffield's men's dodgeball team retained their Varsity title over Sheffield Hallam in the second ever dodgeball event with a 22-4 victory. Uni of stormed the first half, winning the first six games and taking a 12-0 lead. Having set the tone for the game they then went on to take 10 points from the second half to see the game out as 22-4 winners.

It could be said that teamwork won the game, as a coordinated effort between Finlay Britnell Craven and James Bateman to eliminate Harvey Moores helped the Black and Golds win their first points of the day. The pair, assisted by impressive play from Elliot Webb and Brennan O'Reagan, went on to win six of the seven games played in the first period.

A hint of controversy surrounded Hallam's first points of the day that were taken on the brink of half time as a slight delay ensued, in which the referees questioned whether the final throw of the half had been before or after the whistle. In the end, the points were awarded - bringing out a hugely enthusiastic cheer from the Hallam supporters.

The second half continued as the game had begun, with the University of Sheffield winning two more games

on the bounce. Hallam took another two points midway through the second period, holding on to a numerical advantage and seeing out the game well with some effective dodging.

With the scores at 18-4, some fantastic play from Hallam saw them avoid a five-man attack while the Black and Golds were in possession of all the balls. Bateman's impressive jumping throw in the second-to-last game was a real highlight as he eliminated Hallam's Robert Parry.

Uni of Captain Nina Scholey said after the game: "Our men are the second best in the country. They've played together for a really long time - a lot of it comes down to experience."

On standout player Finlay Britnell Craven, she added: "I've seen him play even better than that, which says a lot.”

Hallam’s stand-in captain, Sol Campbell, said: "The standout factor was ability today they were better than us.

"We've had a lot of injuries recently which is a real shame, but I don't think this will impact us too much for the season and we'll be strong going forward."

BY DANNY LARDNER

The downhill cycling at Wharncliffe Woods took place on Sunday morning, with the Black and Golds extending their lead to 3-1 ahead of the final cycling event, the hill climb, on Finals Day.

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FIXTURES AND POINTS UPDATE: NETBALL WOMEN'S 4 (15-26) NETBALL WOMEN'S 3 (16-26) NETBALL WOMEN'S 2 (16-27) NETBALL WOMEN'S 1 (16-28) VOLLEYBALL WOMEN'S 2 (16-29) VOLLEYBALL WOMEN'S 1 (16-30) VOLLEYBALL MEN'S 1 (17-30) BASKETBALL MEN'S 2 (18-30) BASKETBALL WOMEN'S 1 (19-30) BASKETBALL MEN'S 1 (20-30) FUTSAL MEN'S 2 (20-31) FUTSAL WOMEN'S 1 (21-31) FUTSAL MEN'S 1 (21-32) ATHLETICS (21-34) TABLE TENNIS MEN'S 1 (21-35)

21 35 WATCH THE NETBALL BELOW

points at end of day

EIS ROUND-UP G oing into EIS Day, the University of Sheffield had started to build up a sizeable lead, with 25 points to Hallam’s 15, but the atmosphere at the English Institute of Sport was electric nonetheless.

The day, however, did start off with a victory for Team Hallam in the Netball 3s, before the Black and Golds came roaring back with victories in the 1s and 2s fixtures. Later on, they completed a netball rout with a win in the Netball 4s game.

There was drama to be found on the other court though, as Uni of claimed both of the Women’s volleyball points; the 2s with a straightforward victory, the 1s after Hallam were disqualified, despite winning, for fielding an ineligible player. A member of the 1s team had

already played for the 2s, and Varsity rules state that one person can’t be involved in two fixtures in the same day.

The Men’s 1s then won the point with a 3-0 win.

Hallam regained some ground on the University of Sheffield, with wins in all three basketball games, including a confident 79-69 win in the Men’s Basketball 1s, a fixture they often dominate. That resurgence ignited the Team Hallam faithful in the bleachers, spurring them on the court.

Both Men’s Futsal teams won, with the 1s routing Team Hallam 16-8 in the final futsal match of the day. The Women’s 1s did, however, succumb to a late 2-1 defeat to Hallam. While more spectators could be found watching the volleyball and basketball, as the

futsal started to heat up, more heads could be spotted popping up over the back of the bleacher to keep track of the futsal drama.

Over on the athletics track, after 13 events – eight track and five field – the University of Sheffield took both the points home, This was the only event worth multiple points on the day, and gave the Black and Golds a real advantage moving into the evening.

The Men’s Table Tennis 1s also took their point, meaning that the score at the end of the day was 35-21, with Uni of having stamped their authority over Varsity 2019, needing just 4.5 more points to clinch victory.

BY BEN WARNER

ABBEYDALE AND HALLAMSHIRE ROUND-UP T

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points at end of day

FIXTURES AND POINTS UPDATE: SQUASH WOMEN'S 1 (21-36) SQUASH MEN'S 1 (21-37) SQUASH MEN'S 2 (21-38) HOCKEY WOMEN'S 2 (21.5-38.5) HOCKEY MEN'S 2 (22.5-38.5) HOCKEY WOMEN'S 1 (22.5-39.5) HOCKEY MEN'S 1 (23.5-39.5) TENIS MEN'S 1 (24.5-39.5) TENNIS MEN'S 2 (24.5-40.5) GOLF (25.5-40.5)

25.5 40.5

he University of Sheffield went into Tuesday 26 March knowing that their seventh straight Varsity victory could be clinched before the sun set. The overall scores sat at 35-21 going into the day, with the Black and Golds precariously close to the 39.5 point threshold necessary to claim victory.

Tensions were high across the city as clubs and supporters alike knew that, depending on which way results fell, the win could be confirmed at any of the day’s three venues.

At Abbeydale Sports Club, the hockey fixtures were taking place; at Hallamshire Tennis and Squash Club, the tennis and squash clubs were ploughing through matches all day; and at Hallamshire Golf Club, the golf teams were teeing off from 9am.

The first scores to come through were from Abbeydale, with a well contested 2-2 draw in the Women’s Hockey 2s and a comfortable 4-2 win for Team Hallam in the Men’s Hockey 2s.

At Hallamshire, both the Men’s Tennis 1s and 2s each played two doubles matches followed by four singles.

Hallam’s Luke Naylor and Oliver Gilmore made quick work of the Black and Golds’ Mo Tarner Safwat and Josh Wright in the first of the doubles matches, winning in straight sets.

The other doubles match in the 1s went the distance, though, with Albert Bru Alvarez and Uni of Sheffield club captain Alex Wood edging past Hallam’s long term doubles partnership Olly Jansen and Ben Jackson after a marathon match.

Jansen and Jackson made up for their doubles defeat with individual wins in the singles, however, beating Alvarez and Safwat respectively. Naylor then beat captain Wood to seal the Varsity point, before Gilmore edged past Wright to make the score 5-1 in matches.

It was a huge victory for Hallam who, despite having won their BUCS league

this year, sit two divisions below Uni of Sheffield and had not won this Varsity fixture in years.

Luke Naylor said: “Overall a pretty successful day. It’s been a lot of years so it’s probably the biggest moment we’ve seen in a while for the tennis at Hallam so it’s good. And we won the league too so it’s good for the whole.

Yeah, big celebrations tonight.”

Uni of Sheffield did have something to cheer about at Abbeydale though, as they comfortably won the Men’s 2s on the indoor courts and were on their way to victory in each of the three squash fixtures.

Shortly they had something else to celebrate too, because the results had come through from the golf, confirming a Uni of Sheffield win.

This took the overall score to 23.5-38.5 in the Black and Golds’ favour, just one away from victory, and events were heating up over at Abbeydale. In the Women’s Hockey 1s, the Uni of Sheffield team knew that a victory in their match could be the one which secured the Varsity win for their university.

It was anything but a tense finish, though, as Uni of swept the field with their opponents. When they went 1-0 and 2-0 up they probably fancied their chances. By the time it went 3-0 I expect they felt quite confident. When it got to 4-0 they must have known they’d won.

By 5-0 I imagine half of them could have left the field to start celebrating and they’d still have bagged the point.

With that, the University of Sheffield could celebrate winning Varsity 2019 and overtaking Hallam on overall wins a day early, which must have been a weight off the shoulders of the Korfball team.

BY DAVID ANDERSON

27th

FINALS DAY FIXTURES AND POINTS UPDATE: SWIMMING WOMEN’S 1 (26.5-40.5) SWIMMING MEN’S 1 (27.5-40.5) KORFBALL MIXED 3 (28.5-40.5) KORFBALL MIXED 2 (29-41) KORFBALL MIXED 1 (29-42) CANOE POLO MIXED (29-43) BADMINTON MEN’S 1 (30-43) BADMINTON MEN’S 2 (30-44) BADMINTON’S WOMEN’S 1 (31-44) CYCLING HILL CLIMB* (31.5-45.5) ICE HOCKEY 1 (32.5-45.5) *CYCLING POINTS ARE A CULMINATION OF ALL THE VARSITY CYCLING EVENTS

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espite the University of Sheffield being confirmed as Varsity 2019 winners on Tuesday at Abbeydale, there were still points to play for in the swimming, canoe polo, cycling, korfball, badminton and ice hockey – and the potential for the Black and Golds to set new records for winning margin and points tally.

But their hopes of achieving either of those feats were dealt a blow in the pool when Sheffield Hallam Men’s and Women’s teams both claimed their respective points. The Women’s fought back from early setbacks in the 4x50 medley relay and 100m individual medley to record fine victories in the 100m backstroke and 100m butterfly, while the Men’s delivered triumphs in the 100m butterfly, 100m backstroke, 100m medley and 50m freestyle as well as all three relay events. Tom Wiggins’ first placed finish in the 50m and 100m breaststroke gave Uni of something to cheer.

And the University of Sheffield were

able to take something from Ponds Forge as they came out on top in the Mixed Canoe Polo, accompanying an earlier success at Goodwin Sports Centre, where the Men’s Badminton 2s came out on top. Hallam hit back with 5-3 victories in the Men’s and Women’s Badminton 1s.

Over at EIS Sheffield, the day started well for Team Hallam in the Korfball as the Mixed 3s edged past Uni of 14-12. It was then the turn of the Mixed 2s, who shared a 10-10 draw, before the Black and Golds thrashed their opponents 25-9 in the Mixed 1s.

Uni of also secured 1.5 of the two available cycling points by winning the hill climb – which gave the Black and Golds the chance to make history in the Ice Hockey, where a draw would equal the record 14-point winning Varsity margin and points tally of 46, and a victory would better both.

BY PATRICK BURKE

final points tally: 32.5 45.5

WATCH THE ICE HOCKEY LIVESTREAM BELOW!

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