Forge Press #136

Features

Screen

Achieving inclusivity on the University campus

Games

Tommy Shelby and his Peaky Blinders are back

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How video games could aid your mental health

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THE UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER

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ISSUE 136 | WEDNESDAY 9TH OCTOBER 2019 | FREE

Students urged to run for SU Council Ben Warner Editor-in-Chief

A new group of Students’ Union councillors are set to be elected by University of Sheffield students.

The period in which students can nominate themselves runs until Friday 11 October, and candidates will be announced the following Friday.

From Monday 21 October, voting opens for two days before closing on Wednesday.

A day later, SU Council results will be announced in a ceremony at Raynor Lounge, before new councillors will... (cont. on p6)

Pro-democracy protesters and politicians come out to back Hongkongers in Sheffield city centre James Cottis News Contributor

In light of the ongoing political turmoil that has engulfed Hong Kong over the past four months, Sheffield pro-democracy students took to the streets of the city centre on Saturday, calling on locals ‘to stand with Hongkongers [...] against the largest dictatorship in the world’.

The demonstration happened

among a turbulent political background, as Hong Kong’s Chief Executive, Carrie Lam, authorised the use of emergency powers on Friday. Under such powers legislation was passed to ban face masks used in protests.

Speaking to Forge Press, one demonstrator expressed deep frustration and sadness at this latest development, saying; ‘It is sad how she [Carrie Lam] has destroyed the rule of law and justice.

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If she keeps using these emergency laws, any bill can pass. The freedom of Hong Kong is damaged. We are on the road to authoritarianism.’

Saturday’s demonstration also came after a similar demonstration on Wednesday, that saw clashes of upwards of 200 Hong Kong and Chinese students outside the Town Hall; a demonstration that resulted in Chinese students throwing glass bottles and passers-by being harassed.

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Mental health week returns to the Union

After the clashes on Wednesday, and the regional developments in Hong Kong, demonstrators at Saturday’s protests were ‘quite scared’, noting that in wearing face masks they were breaking the law back in Hong Kong. However, demonstrators insisted on remaining defiant in the ‘fight for our [their] freedom’.

Speaking to one Hong Kong student, who insisted on remaining anonymous... (cont. on p5)

Georgie Marple News Editor

Our Mental Health Week is set to return to the Students’ Union on 10 October to highlight the importance of a healthy mind and the mental health support that is available to students at our university.

Beren Maddison, the Students’ Union’s Welfare Officer, outlined the objectives of Our Mental Health Week: “It’s about portraying the diversity of people’s experiences with their... (cont. on p6)

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Editorial

Editorial Team Editor-in-Chief Ben Warner Managing Editor Becky Sliwa Webb Deputy Editor Bethan Davis Deputy Editor Patrick Burke News Coordinator Tevy Kuch Sport Coordinator Michael Ekman LOF Coordinator Jack Mattless Entertainments Coordinator Luke Baldwin Entertainments Coordinator VACANT News Editor Lucas Mentken News Editor Georgie Marple News Editor VACANT Features Editor Anastasia Koutsounia Features Editor Bernadette Hsiao Opinion Editor Jack Mattless Opinion Editor VACANT Arts Editor Kate Procter Arts Editor Rosie Davenport Lifestyle Editor Jaz Catlow Lifestyle Editor Em Evans Music Editor Ella Craig Music Editor Dana Raer Screen Editor Dan Cross Screen Editor Josh Teggert Games Editor Catherine Lewis Games Editor Ash Williams Science and Tech Editor Bethany Hanson Science and Tech Editor George Tuli Break Editor Luke Baldwin Break Editor Alicia Hannah Sport Editor Alex Brotherton Sport Editor VACANT

So, you’ve made it past your first week at (or back at) university! Or at least, we hope you have. Everyone knows what a tough time it can be when you’ve just started a new course, and you’re moving away from home, but hopefully our paper can provide some comfort as you settle into your new (or returning) home.

By now you’ve been here for a few weeks, and you’re probably getting your bearings a bit more. All those shortcuts people have mentioned are starting to make sense, you’re getting the hang of the lingo and hopefully the hills aren’t taking their toll too badly on you.

Sheffield is a truly wonderful city, and October is a fantastic example of this. Literary festival Off The Shelf is returning to the city, and alongside that it’s also Black History Month.

To celebrate this, we’ve got a few pieces around diversity, including a powerful Feature on what more our University can be doing to promote diversity on campus.

Thursday 10 October is also International Mental Health Day,

and to tie in with this the SU are running the Our Mental Health Week campaign for a second time due to its huge success last year.

However, I’d recommend if you want to know about mental health, take a look at Games. They’ve got a wonderful piece from a contributor about how caring for a virtual egg threw them a ladder when they were struggling with their mental health.

It’s truly one of the best articles I’ve ever read in my time on Forge and I’d recommend you sit down with a cup of tea and digest every word.

Screen also have a great interview with Film Unit, who were recently named Student Cinema of the Year for the fourth year in a row, while Josh Teggert breaks down the Emmys and everything wrong with them.

Three years ago I came to uni on the back of Britain voting to leave the EU and David Cameron stepping down as Prime Minister to avoid having to deal with it. Now, he’s back with his memoirs of a turbulent time in British politics, and Owen Jones (no, not that Owen Jones) gives his

PIC OF THE PRESS

two cents on whether the medium is worthwhile or whether it’s just selfaggrandising.

Also, a special shoutout has to go to Break who’ve decided to bring in an Agony Aunt portion to their section – something I’ve always thought Forge Press should include.

If you have a problem, and want our thoughts on what to do, please find their new page on Facebook and get in touch.

Over the last couple of weeks we’ve met a fair few of you, and so many of you have shown interest in getting involved with writing and designing the paper. The other Heads of Forge outlets and I were blown away by how many of you came to our Welcome Meeting at the end of September and hopefully it only gets better from here.

A view of the Arts Tower from alongside Ponderosa Park, on Crookes Valley Road

Head of Design VACANT Secretary and Social Secretary Tom Buckland Inclusions and Welfare Officer Chloe Dervey Head of Marketing and Publicity Giulia Carleton Head of Photography Chelsea Burrell Head of Online VACANT

Get involved Want to join the team? Get involved! This year’s committee want to have as many people writing for the paper as possible. No prior experience is necessary, just join the Facebook group Forge Press Contributors and come along to the regular members’ meetings. More details of these will be released in due course.

Contact editor@forgetoday.com or message us on Facebook with any questions.

Image: Chelsea Burrell

Editor’s Picks: Off the Shelf Decline and Fall: Read in Case of Political Apocalypse 11 October 2019, 7.00pm

Sheffield’s Windrush Pioneers Winter Gardens 14 October 2019, 12.00pm

Tin Can Cook - Jack Monroe Students’ Union Auditorium 15 October 2019, 7.30pm

These are turbulent times for our politics, and the Guardian’s John Crace is coming to Sheffield to tell you how to deal with the current political climate as part of Off The Shelf. This collection of his sketches is sure to stave off the cold autumn weather as it splits your sides.

This exhibition is running throughout much of Off The Shelf, starting on Monday 14 October. It aims to tell the stories of Windrush pioneers who came to Britain in the 1950s and 60s and settled in the Steel City. Now, you’ve got the chance to hear their stories.

Jack Monroe is enjoying somewhat of a heyday at the minute, but hasn’t forgotten where she came from, having to use food banks to support her son. But now she wants to show that good food really can come from a tin - news which I’m sure will be welcomed by any student.

Forge Press

Wednesday 9 October 2019

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News in Brief

Got a story? press.news@forgetoday.com

News editors Tevy Kuch, Lucas Mentken and Georgie Marple

SHEFFIELD Night Strider walk raises for charity

UNIVERSITY Sheffield top in north for grad jobs

INTERNATIONAL Six elephants die in Thailand accident

Walkers from the city took part in the fifth annual ‘Night Strider’ half marathon on Saturday 5 October all around Sheffield city centre. The event, which takes place every year over 10 kilometres, was in aid of St Luke’s Hospice and as usual was very successful.

The University of Sheffield has been ranked the top university in the north of England for employing graduates, according to The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2020. Nearly 85 per cent of those leaving the University find jobs within six months of graduating.

Six wild elephants died at a waterfall known as ‘Hell’s Fall’ in Thailand on Saturday 5 October. Five adult elephants fell to their deaths and drowned after trying to save a calf. Two more were found alive at the scene, but the waterfall was subsequently closed to visitors.

UNIVERSITY Off the Shelf Festival returns

SHEFFIELD NATIONAL Pet parrot prevents PM says UK to do a burglary in Sheffield deal if EU is willing

One of the UK’s largest literary festivals is currently running until Saturday 26 October, concluding with a day celebrating the life and work of John Ruskin. Tickets for the diverse programme of more than 150 events can be purchased from the Students’ Union’s Box Office.

A pet parrot has helped to prevent a burglary by scaring off a would-be thief with its squawking. The African Grey, called Taffy, was in his cage when the burglars got in. According to the Sheffield Star, it’s thought the burglars were looking for keys to a car parked outside.

Boris Johnson said that a revised Brexit agreement is possible “if the EU is willing”, but said that “there will be no more dither and delay” and the UK would leave the EU on 31 October with or without a deal.

The PM is heading to Brussels for a crucial EU summit on 17 October.

“The climate crisis is systemic.

This means that it cannot be challenged by individual responses alone and necessitates collectivity.

Further, when faced with a problem on the magnitude of the climate crisis, it is easy to feel despair.

“The increase in climate anxiety shows this clearly. Collective action offers a hope that individualism cannot and avoids the isolating

effects of the climate crisis.”

The launch comes just days after Vice-Chancellor Professor Koen Lamberts said students at the University would soon be attending compulsory lectures about the climate crisis.

Charlie added: “It was fantastic to see so many passionate people at the launch, but this is only the beginning.”

Climate steering group launches following protests Ben Warner Editor-in-Chief

Following on from the global climate strike, the Students’ Union has launched a climate crisis steering group in an effort to get more students involved in the campaign.

Climate justice is likely to be one of the big movements for this year’s Officer team, and they were out in force at the steering group launch on Thursday 3 October in UniCentral. The event was hosted by Harry Carling, Development Officer, alongside Charlie Porter, Education Officer.

It began with presentations about the recent climate strikes – which saw the SU close for an hour to coincide with global climate protests – and about the global impact of climate change.

Attendees were then split into groups by faculty, as they discussed what they’d like to see from their faculties in order to do more to

tackle climate change within the city and further afield.

People then reunited into one group, and fed back to each other about how research and work they do could be greener in its protection of the environment. Guests were given the opportunity to sign up to keep informed about the work the SU is doing, and also allowed to make it plain they’d like to be involved in the people-led steering group.

A meeting of the steering group is set to take place in the next few weeks, to which students will be invited.

“At the SU we recognise that the climate crisis is not only one of the most pressing issues humanity faces, but supercharges every other fight for justice,” Charlie told Forge Press.

“With only 10 years to radically transform our economy, practices and relationships with one another, at the SU we cannot stress the importance of action enough.

Councillors call for more park cleanup measures Ben Warner Editor-in-Chief

City councillors were left calling for clean-up efforts following a messy festival on Ponderosa on Saturday 28 September.

Two one-day festivals were due to be held on consecutive days during the weekend, but the Sunday was eventually cancelled due to adverse weather leading to health and safety concerns for concertgoers.

Fire in the Park took place as planned on the Saturday, while Bass in the Park, run partially by The Tuesday Club, was due to follow on Sunday but was called off.

Due to the weather and large attendance of the Saturday festival, councillors were left with concerns about the state of the park.

“I am calling on the festival organisers to bring the Ponderosa back up to scratch so local families and children can continue to enjoy it,” said Cllr Olivia Blake, Labour councillor for Walkley.

“We have been contacted by concerned local residents. They have nothing against the festival taking place but aren’t happy with the mess that it’s been left in.”

Cllr Blake is also Labour’s candidate in Sheffield Hallam.

Cllr Mary Lea, the Cabinet member responsible for parks, said: “Sheffield is a fantastic place to hold music events, but as part of this promoters must do everything they can to ensure used sites are returned to the condition they were in beforehand.”

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SCC chief exec to call time at the end of the year Ben Warner Editor-in-Chief

The Chief Executive of Sheffield City Council announced on Friday 4 October that he is to retire from the role at the end of 2019.

John Mothersole took over the leadership of SCC in 2008 and after over a decade of service has decided to call it quits, saying it was a difficult choice for him to make after such a long time in the job.

“I have been in this role for over 11 years and it has been the best job of my life,” he said.

“I know that the success of this council is the product of the efforts of everyone who works for it and with it and of the councillors who are elected to it. I will look back on my time working with the council with great fondness and affection.

“Over the next three months I will be working with my council colleagues to hand over my responsibilities and to ensure there is a smooth transition to whoever replaces me in this role.”

The Chief Executive of a local authority is a non-political employee who ensures continued leadership of the body in spite of

potential political change during election cycles, as control passes from one party to another.

The Liberal Democrats were in power when Mothersole took the job in 2008, before losing control to Labour three years later.

The Labour leader of the Council, Cllr Julie Dore paid tribute to the outgoing CEO: “John has been an outstanding Chief Executive, leading his council colleagues through times of great success for the city and through this difficult time of austerity faced by councils up and down the country.

“We all wish John a long, happy and healthy retirement.”

forgetoday.com

News

Dan Jarvis offers improved support to homeless S Yorkshire veterans Yash Raveendra News Contributor

Sheffield City Region Mayor Dan Jarvis is putting in £90,000 to support veterans in need after statistics show that more than 720 homeless people died in England and Wales in 2018.

The funding will be used to extend the work of the Help 4 Homeless Veterans charity. Their services will be available to all those who are homeless and have served in the British Army, Royal Navy or Royal Air Force.

Additional training will be provided for front line staff to support those who are homeless

and ensure support to veterans and their families. Efforts will also try to tackle current issues faced by the veterans.

“As someone who had the honour of serving in the Armed Forces myself, I understand the challenges some people can face when leaving the Forces,” said Jarvis.

Figures released by the Office of National Statistics show that more than 720 homeless people died in England and Wales in 2018 which represents the highest increase since records began.

These figures follow the Big Issue’s No Homeless Veterans campaign, launched last week.

Their figures show that more than 1,700 homeless veterans make up 0.72% of homeless cases. However, experts think that more than 3,500 homesless veterans are not accounted for.

Jarvis added: “In one of the richest economies in the world, no one should be without a home, especially those who’ve risked their life serving our country.”

The Help 4 Homeless charity was created in 2012 in Barnsley to help homeless veterans and works with Barnsley and Doncaster councils to let homes to homeless veterans.

In that time the charity has helped around 500 veterans with their housing problems. Help 4 Homeless also works with private landlords if social housing is not available.

Steve Bentham-Bates, Chief Executive for Help 4 Homeless Veterans said: “We are delighted to learn our charity has been identified by the Sheffield City Region as a worthy recipient of funding to enable use to provide help to the most vulnerable veterans right across South Yorkshire.”

Alcohol-free accomodation recommended for former care children Lucas Mentken News Editor

Universities are being urged to introduce alcohol-free accommodation for students who have been in care to make their transition to higher education easier.

New research led by staff from the University of Sheffield found that 70 per cent of students who have left care find it easy to make friends at university.

However, 27 per cent find the culture of drinking and drug use too much for them while more than half of students surveyed who were care leavers seriously considered dropping out for a variety of reasons.

Lydia, a participant in the study, said: “I’d come back to look at the kitchen and there’d be road signs, traffic cones, rubbish on the street, sick everywhere, pizza boxes.

“I was just like this is not what I want. I’m surrounded by everything that made my life crap.”

The report led by Dr Katie Ellis and Claire Johnston recommends alcohol-free accommodation options for first year students who have been in care and are nondrinkers.

It called on universities to offer more practical and emotional support to these students, after finding that 68 per cent experienced mental health difficulties, but just 44 per cent received counselling

throughout university.

The researchers found that a member of university staff acting as a ‘care leaver contact’ can help, after 71 per cent of survey participants found their support useful.

While some were aware that counselling was available, others worried that they would be stigmatised for accessing support.

Another survey participant said: “I didn’t want to access services from my university because I felt like my contact with any university mental health services would be added to my academic or medical records. I guess I just didn’t understand how the process worked. I wanted to remain truly annonymous.”

Dr Katie Ellis, Lecturer in Child and Family Wellbeing at the University of Sheffield, said: “There are lots of negative statistics bandied around about those who have experience of being in care, but in fact care leavers often go on to achieve really positive things.

“I had the privilege of meeting a whole host of very bright, caring and empathetic students, with care experience, who all made a really positive contribution to their university community.

“Many overcome significant barriers to access university and it is important that universities do everything they can to ensure that care leavers feel welcomed and appreciated for the valuable contributions they make.”

Arts and Humanities ranked amongst best in the world Tevy Kuch News Coordinator

The University of Sheffield has secured its spot as one of the world’s leading universities to excel in teaching and research for arts and humanities.

The Times Higher Education World University Ranking by Subject 2020 has awarded Sheffield’s arts and humanities courses 62nd spot on its list, amongst 500 other universities worldwide.

Subjects include languages, literature, linguistics, history,

philosophy, music, architecture and archaeology.

Professor Susan Fitzmaurice, Vice-President for Arts and Humanities at the University of Sheffield, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be recognised once again as one of the world’s top 100 universities for arts and humanities subjects.

“Arts and humanities scholars and graduates are needed in the world now more than ever as they have the unique skills and abilities to help us understand and address some of our biggest challenges.”

Forge Press

Wednesday 9 October 2019

News

Sheffield scientists given £610k dementia funding Georgie Marple News Editor

Two Sheffield scientists have been awarded £610,000 in funding for pioneering new dementia and Alzheimer’s research.

The two projects will begin next year and aim to understand more about how the brain

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develops Alzheimer’s disease or frontotemporal dementia.

The results of this research could lead to new approaches in developing dementia treatments.

Dementia is a condition that causes cognitive (and, less frequently, physical) decline, usually in adults over aged 65.

Although scientists know about many of the changes in the brain that lead to dementia, diseases like Alzheimer’s are complex and involve multiple biological processes that require more research in order to understand the causes of the disease and how to prevent it.

Prof. Stephen Wharton from the Sheffield Institute of Translational Neuroscience and Neuroscience Institute (SITraN) based at the University of Sheffield has received £310,000 in funds from Alzheimer’s

Research UK for his project, which involves looking at brain tissue to understand the causes of dementia and the effect that senescent cells have on the brain.

Dr Kurt De Vos, from SITraN, will lead a second £300k project funded

by Alzheimer’s Research UK, looking at the connection points between neurons in the brain and what causes the breakdown of these connections in frontotemporal dementia (FTD); one of the most common types of dementia in people under 50.

Professor Stephen Wharton Image: The University of Sheffield

Sheff dialect lessons launched for new students Ben Warner Editor-in-Chief

A PhD candidate from the University of Sheffield has cultivated a list of slang from the city in an effort to help students settle in better.

Working in partnership with language app Quizlet, Johanna Blakey has made the extensive list, featuring words and phrases such as “nesh”, “be reyt” and “put wood in t’oil”.

It comes alongside statistics that

There was a huge crowd supporting protesters in the city centre.

Images: Jasmin Deans

Hong Kong protesters find support from Sheffielders James Cottis News Contributor

(cont. from front) ...they made clear that: “Even though we were attacked on Wednesday, we, the Hong Kong people are brave. We will never give up. We will not surrender at all, even when Chinese students try to attack us. Hong Kong people are here to fight against [the Chinese government], and we will not back down. This is why we are here today, to show that we aren’t afraid.”

Central to the Hong Kong demonstrations are a series of demands, which include an independent inquiry into police brutality; the release of all detained protesters, the de-characterisation

of protesters as ‘rioters’, universal suffrage and the full withdrawal of the controversial Extradition Bill.

One demonstrator attributed the severity of Wednesday’s clash with a deliberate misrepresentation of those demands, saying that: “China has done a really great propaganda job. They attack us, call us terrorists, and that we are extremely violent, fighting for an independent Hong Kong. We are actually fighting for one country, two systems.

“There are those on the mainland [of China] don’t really understand what we are doing, because of the way the chinese government are using the press machine. They just believe what they are told. That is why they are so united against us.”

Local councillors and MPs from among the political spectrum, among them Labour’s Clive Betts MP and Paul Blomfield MP, joined in solidarity with demonstrators.

Paul Blomfield, in an interview with Forge Press, spoke of the importance of such demonstrations and the right to protest, and that the UK desperately needs to do more to support Hong Kong.

“I wanted to be here today to support Hong Kong students and their right to protest, and share their concerns about what is happening,” he said.

“I think the rest of the world has been appalled at what has happened over the past 17 weeks; first by the encroachment on Hongkongers

rights, as shown in the extradition bill; and more recently by the way in which the police in Hong Kong has responded to protests.

“It’s vitally important that we use what pressure we can, so that China abides by the obligations that were settled between the two countries [Britain and China], in which one country two systems is at the heart.

It is absolutely wrong to stand by and see any form of encroachment on the rights embedded in that settlement. We [Labour] have called for an enquiry into the actions taken by the Hong Kong police, supporting the demands being made here today. We need to see what further measures we can take to put action behind those words.”

44%

of students never socialise with locals in their uni town

show 11 per cent of students never visit the town they’re studying in before they begin university, while 44 per cent say they hardly ever interact or socialise with locals in the town.

Quizlet was started 10 years ago, and has since grown to a user base of over 50 million people, with 300 million courses available. They work with students and teachers, including in the classroom, to build skills in maths, science, languages and more.

Johanna is currently working on her PhD, studying Dialect Continuity and Change, in the Department of English Language and Literature, but has found time to curate this extensive list around that.

Breadcake - bread roll Dinner - lunch Tea - supper Oreyt? - how are you doing?

Sithee - see you later Gi’o’er - stop being silly Be reyt - things will be okay

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forgetoday.com

News

One in five land species are traded across the globe

Our Mental Health Week set to return to the Union

Lucas Mentken News Editor

Scientists have found that at least one in five land-based species are bought and sold on the world market.

The study is the first to quantify which species are most affected with up to 3,196 additional species at risk.

Research led by Professor David Edwards at The University of Sheffield and Dr Brett Scheffers at The University of Florida/IFAS found that 5,579 vertebrate species have been reported as traded.

The research also determined hotspots of where trading species occurs, in particular identifying regions within the Andes and Amazon, subsaharan Africa, South East Asia and Australia.

The wildlife trade is the number one cause of species extinction, tied only with land development, and includes animals being traded as pets or for animal products such as horns, feathers or meat.

Professor Edwards said: “Global wildlife trade is a billion dollar industry and our study highlights that there is a hyperdiversity of species entering the trade.

We predict thousands more species could be at risk of trade in the future. This represents a major extinction threat “We predict thousands more species could be at risk of trade in the future. In combination with those species already known to be traded, this represents a major extinction threat to several thousand species of birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles.

“Without urgent focus on how to stem both the supply and demand for wild-caught species, there is a real danger that we will lose many traded species.”

Georgie Marple News Editor

(cont. from front) ...mental health, and having conversations that are relevant to different people which allow them to take ownership of this week.”

Beren also stressed the importance of a healthy mind: “Having good mental wellbeing and managing any mental health problems you have

means you can live your happiest and healthiest life, and it reduces the number of barriers a person can face in terms of getting involved in all aspects of University life.

“For many students, going to University is their first experience of moving away from home and dealing with the stress of exams and adult life can mean that they forget to look after their mental wellbeing, when actually it’s most crucial for them to

take care of it,” he added.

Our Mental Health Week intends to educate students about the necessity of talking about mental health, how they can receive support and how they can support others around them.

“There is still a stigma amongst university communities which can make people feel alienated from a week like this, but I’m hoping to tackle that with a range of

discussions that go beyond the usual portrayal of mental health work,” Beren said.

A recent study from The Guardian found that about one in five students said they had a current mental health diagnosis, with more than three quarters of them concealing their symptoms from friends.

One of the aims of Our Mental Health week is to move away from this stigma and teach students about the importance of expressing their feelings.

There are a range of societies that are involved in Our Mental Health Week, presenting and exploring mental health in a way that is relevant to them.

They will run various events such as a walk in the Peak District for wellbeing, pop-up therapy and a Black History Month Collaboration event.

This variety aims to highlight the different facets of mental health while offering something for everyone.

Beren hopes that these events will move the discussion around mental health at our university forward in a productive way.

For more details on Our Mental Health Week visit the Students’ Union website.

Societies allowed to endorse candidates as part of mass SU Council revamp Ben Warner Editor-in-Chief

(cont. from front) ....get trained and start their new roles.

This year marks an effort to revamp Council and promote it more to the general student body. It is the highest decision-making body at the Union, passing motions and policies which determine the SU’s actions and viewpoints.

Harry Carling, Development Officer said: “SU Council is so important as it is run by students, for students. It is at the centre of SU democracy, debating policy and making important decisions to shape the future of our SU. “Made up of a range of students from various different departments and societies, Council democratically decides the right direction for the Students’ Union to take that reflects the values of the student body.

“You should run to be on council because it is so important to democratically engage with your Students’ Union.

“I cannot express enough that this organisation is owned by you, so you would be missing out on a fantastic opportunity to shape the future direction of this wonderful place you are automatically a member from.”

SU Council is made up of 46 departmental councillors, nine representative councillors and, following a referendum last year, a societies and sports councillor.

Over 2,000 students voted in favour of creating two new positions to represent student groups.

Another new addition for this year is the ability for societies to endorse candidates in the elections.

“We have decided to allow society endorsements this academic year in order to maximise student engagement with our democracy, by

encouraging already active students into SU politics - something every student should care about,” added Harry.

He also expressed disappointment that turnout last year was just 15.6 per cent, with less than 5,000 of the nearly 30,000 students at the

University voting. The turnout is much lower than for Officer elections.

The Council meets every two weeks, debating the issues of the day and hearing reports from the SU Officers, asking them questions and holding them to account.

Forge Press

Wednesday 9 October 2019

7

News

Jared O’Mara subjected to official Parliamentary complaint Ben Warner Editor-in-Chief

A constituent has launched a formal complaint against Sheffield Hallam MP Jared O’Mara.

This is the latest in a string of incidents involving the former Labour MP, who quit the party in 2018 and now sits as an independent.

O’Mara has cut a divisive figure since his election in the summer of 2017, beating former Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg in his Sheffield seat during the snap general election.

Over the summer parliamentary recess, it was reported that O’Mara had had enough and was planning to resign once Parliament returned in September. However, a month on he has gone back on that decision and is still in his seat.

Now, a constituent has formally complained to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, alleging he hasn’t acted in the public interest and is working to benefit himself, according to a letter seen by the BBC. “I feel he’s not properly fulfilling his duties [and] I really want to know what has changed as he’s not come out to say why he’s withdrawn or postponed his resignation; it just leads me to think it’s for the wrong reasons.” she said in a statement to the BBC. This comes just a few weeks after O’Mara was arrested at his Sheffield office, along with his chief of staff Gareth Arnold, on suspicion of

A number of new murals, promoting sustainability and showcasing how Coffee Revolution is supplied, have gone up on the wall of the coffee shop.

The coffee beans come from Colombian and Costa Rican farms, where seedlings are planted and eventually grow into coffee bushes.

Three years after being planted, the bushes start to grow beans, which are picked, washed and dried, before being roasted and heading to coffee shops.

One mural is also promoting the #ReusableRevolution, showing where money spent on single-use cups goes, and promoting reusable cups as an alternative.

Image: Ben Warner

fraudulently claiming expenses in his role as MP. A month prior to that, Arnold explosively quit his job with the MP in an outburst on O’Mara’s nowdeleted Twitter account. However, he was still working out of the MP’s office when he was arrested a month later.

Both men were later released without charge by South Yorkshire Police.

Parties have already started gearing up for an election in Sheffield Hallam, whether that be in a by-election or in another general election later this year.

The Liberal Democrats have selected Laura Gordon, a GP who lives in Crosspool, while Labour have chosen Cllr Olivia Blake, who represents Walkley and until a few weeks ago was the Deputy Leader of Sheffield City Council as their candidate.

O’Mara, who formerly owned and DJd at West Street Live, was an unexpected victor in the 2017 general election, beating Nick Clegg by over 2,000 votes.

Sheffield Hallam contains much of Endcliffe and Ranmoor student villages, and high student turnout was a key factor in deciding the constituency result.

However, within weeks O’Mara was mired in controversy for previous comments made on forums and social media, and has been heavily criticised throughout his time in Parliament, eventually becoming an independent.

More gender neutral toilets built in Foundry Ben Warner Editor-in-Chief

Jared O’Mara has become embroiled in a number of controversies throughout his time

and according to Hansard hasn’t spoken in a debate since 2018. He has missed a number of key Brexit

in Parliament.

Within weeks of his election, he was criticised for previous comments he made about other countries, LGBT+ people and various celebrities, all of which he eventually apologised for. He was suspended from the Labour Party as a result. He was let back into the party, but later quit to sit as an independent.

He has also been criticised for his poor attendance record at debates and votes in Parliament,

votes in recent weeks.

Over summer, he was arrested alongside his chief of staff on suspicion of fraudulently claiming expenses, and reportedly decided he was going to step down as MP for Sheffield Hallam.

However, this latest news - the official complaint made against him - comes weeks after he went back on that and decided he was going to remain in the seat longer.

He has said he’s likely to step down at the next election.

Two new gender-neutral toilets have been introduced in the Students’ Union venues in order to coincide with the start of the 2019/20 academic year.

They are located within the ‘Fusion’ part of the Venues, replacing the former men’s and women’s toilets next to the bar.

Rosa Tully, Women’s Officer, said: “For many Trans and/or NonBinary students, using the toilet, an act that many take for granted, can induce feelings of anxiety and fear. If a student is perceived to be using the ‘wrong’ toilet, it can often be a humiliating and distressing experience being pointed out.

“As an organisation, one of our key values is ‘empowered by inclusion’ and any way we can alleviate stress faced by our Trans or Non-Binary Students is welcomed by me.”

The repurposed toilets in Fusion and were in use for revellers during Freshers’ Week.

Forge TV nominated for several PCAs Lucas Mentken News Editor

Forge TV has been nominated in the 2019 People’s Choice Awards, the second annual awards from the National Student Television Association.

Forge TV, which will be hosting the awards together with YSTV in York, is nominated for categories including Content Innovation, Live Broadcast, Best On-Screen Talent, Un-Sung Hero and Station of the Year.

Ximena Burns-Hunt, Station manager at Forge TV, said: “I’m really proud of the work members put into Forge TV and I’m proud of the content we make.

“Being nominated in the PCAs is a great way for Forge TV to get recognised for all the hard work and it’s a great opportunity to showcase our best stuff. As co-hosts this year it’s proved a great way to collaborate with other stations.

e fe

Pen

g Cof n i d

Sche me

Ask for a “Pending Coffee” with your order

Donate with your drink

We’ll add a

£1

Which will help buy food & drink for vulnerable people in Sheffield

homeless charity donation to your order ‘Pending coffees’ originate in Naples, where cafe customers would buy a second coffee for those less fortunate.

Our donations will go to Ben's Centre, a place of sanctuary for the vulnerable people of Sheffield Activities Officer

SU Development Officer

Forge Press

Wednesday 9 October 2019

9

Features

Anastasia Koutsounia Bernadette Hsiao Features Editors

Hello again! We are back with another issue and this time we are bringing you a variety of topics.

With Black History Month throughout October we recruited Flo Cornall to examine our University’s efforts to achieve diversity. We also have an amazing scrutiny of the world’s reaction to Greta Thunberg,

our take on Threads, the new location-sharing companion app to Instagram, and a bit of astrology to end on a lighter note.

We truly hope you enjoy reading this issue as much as we enjoyed making it. And if you’re interested in writing for us, it’s easy!

Just be aware of notifications from our ‘Forge Press Contributors’ group on Facebook or email us at press.features@forgetoday.com.

Until next time!

Diversity on our campus - could the University be doing more to help?

Flo Cornall examines what is being to achieve inclusivity on our campus Flo Cornall Features Contributor

Black History Month is upon us.

A month celebrating the diverse achievements, progress and accomplishments of black people and communities within the UK and across Europe. The annual event’s roots can be traced back to America - created in 1926 by influential black historian Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), almost a century later the annual event is a key player in raising awareness, educating and encouraging further research into black history.

Alongside celebrating the accomplishments of black people, this month is a great opportunity to examine the diversity in universities across the UK. It allows us to question what has been accomplished so far and what could be done further to achieve inclusivity across our campuses; ranging from reading lists to societies.

Naturally, education is the central focus of our time at university.

However, the education we receive in many universities does not represent all students being taught.

The narrow reading lists distributed continuously follow the same pattern of books written by middleaged, white, male academics providing limited representation

for both people of colour as well as women in general. Decolonising the curriculum is a way to expand reading lists to acknowledge BAME scholars and make students of

The education we receive in many universities does not represent all the students being taught colour feel represented in the profession they are pursuing.

This does not mean ridding the curriculum entirely of white writers or academics; decolonising the curriculum is about making it more inclusive, spreading the right message for BAME students as much as every other type of student.

The movement towards decolonising the curriculum became more apparent when the #RhodesMustFall campaign in South Africa made headlines in 2015. The campaign, started at the University of Cape Town, aimed to take down the statue of the Cape Colony’s ex-Prime Minister Cecil Rhodes and became the stepping stone for similar movements in American and British universities. Here, whilst that particular battle was lost when it was decided his statue would remain in Oxford University’s Oriel College, students continue to fight the war for diversity in their education.

Keele University’s Race Equality Charter manifesto and Decolonising the Curriculum Network, described their move towards decolonization in their curriculum and enabling greater diversity as: “Identifying

colonial systems, structures and relationships, and working to challenge those systems. It is not “integration” or simply the token inclusion of the intellectual achievements of non-white cultures. Rather, it involves a paradigm shift from a culture of exclusion and denial to the making of space for other political philosophies and knowledge systems. It’s a culture shift to think more widely about why common knowledge is what it is, and in so doing adjusting cultural perceptions and power relations in real and

significant ways.”

Despite the obstacles, universities across the country have proven great allies with their visible efforts to bring about change. In particular, in this past academic year, the University of Sheffield has attempted to tackle the lack of diversity in education with various campaigns and activities; hosting workshops and debates on decolonising the curriculum and university.

This year the University of Sheffield also released the ‘Race

Equality Strategy and Action Plan’, a collective work between students, staff, and the University which aims to attract, engage, and assist staff and students from different backgrounds in reaching their full potential. The plan acknowledges that, in order to achieve this, we first need to recognise the existing barriers. The plan addresses the institutional barriers that BAME students face in education, especially since, in 2016-17, there was a five per cent attainment gap between Russell Group BAME and white students and went up to 11 per cent in 2018 for non-Russell Group universities.

Naturally, the ‘Race Equality Strategy and Action Plan’ aims to reduce the attainment gap to zero, improve BAME student graduate outcomes (as well as their progression to postgraduate study), increase and support diversity in university staff, and create an inclusive environment that brings a sense of belonging and promotes respect.

In addition, the university has also launched a BAME Staff Network in response to the fact that in 2016-17 black people made up eight per cent of university professors nationwide.

However, it is not just the University itself which is taking action to tackle the underrepresentation of minorities, student-led groups such as the SU’s BME Students’ Committee are also active in their efforts, including their campaign called ‘A Bit Racist Is Still Racist’ which launched earlier this year. The campaign’s central focus was the microaggressions BAME students face on a daily basis by showcasing the racist phrases they experience daily, on boards

around SU outlets. The phrases were based on what is often heard in everyday conversations around the University. The campaign proved very effective and moving as it got a lot of students to stop and acknowledge the stereotypes and

11%

The attainment gap between white and BAME students increased to 11 per cent in 2018.

injustices BAME students face on campus.

Diversity and representation shouldbeatthecoreofalluniversities, enabling underrepresented and minority groups to fully succeed and appreciate their time in higher education. The University of Sheffield might still have a long way to go but its efforts are visible and, with a bit of luck and determination, will have lasting effects. This Black History Month events are advertised all around our Students’ Union, all aiming to engage and educate students and staff of every background, to help celebrate diversity and raise awareness of black visibility. The University’s BAME strategy states, ‘Inclusion is everyone’s responsibility’ - that’s something that should never be forgotten.

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Features

Greta Thunberg: What happens when the youth tries to take charge Are the labels of the young activist valid? Or is she just doing her best to fight a serious global issue?

Saz Bennett Features Contributor

Branded the ‘snowflake generation’, Gen Z are inspired by radical change, and they want it. Fast. Highlighting every issue – from gender identity to climate change – they face extortionate levels of criticism from a predominantly white, older, male population.

When investigating veganism, Richard Twine of Edge Hill University found that men who are invested in inflexible models of masculinity are most agitated by the idea of compassion for the planet. True, some of Gen Z’s outspoken critics are women, yet the backlash is definitely characterised by internalised misogyny. And 16-year-old winner of Sweden’s ‘Alternative Nobel Prize’, and climate change heroine Greta Thunberg is a telling example of this.

Thunberg represents a generation of young, politically engaged people.

As a figurehead, she is attacked.

There is scientific evidence that the planet is at breaking point in terms of climate change. India is running out of water, people are migrating from Guatemala because food no longer grows there and the insect population – a crucial part of our ecosystem – is dropping at a record speed. However, many men in political and corporate power, who follow the same beliefs as above, dismiss these warning signs as a mere political fabrication.

On Monday 23 September, Thunberg addressed world leaders at the UN about these problems.

The speech created a wave of support, eternalised by Twitter’s #howdareyou. But where there is approval, there is condemnation.

Her appearance was compared to far-right 1940s propaganda. Her tone was infantilised. And her words were undermined. However, Greta is just an aspect of the issue; a figure who represents the challenges that young, outspoken activists face.

First of all, Thunberg’s branding as a “hysterical teenager” by Sky News commentator Chris Kenny felt very familiar to the younger female population. The concept of hysteria is commonly associated

with women. The term has Greek roots – hystera, translating to uterus. Medium columnist Shalome Sine put it best: “When we’re upset, we get asked if we’re on our period.

When we’re not upset, and instead of feeling emotionally level, we’re considered cold.”

Greta Thunberg Image: Anders Hellberg

Greta Thunberg represents a generation of young, politically engaged people. As a figurehead, she is attacked This leaves young women in a place of expectation, to smile and act uncomfortably neutral.

Naturally, Thunberg’s outspoken nature antagonizes her older male critics so much. It is the opposite of this expectation and a universal response to young women speaking up. Conservative MP Sir Chris Chope, objected to Gina Martin’s push for the bill to make ‘upskirting’ a criminal offence. Overseas, the appearance of Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is being caricatured.

Yet, the issue is not confined to within the walls of misogyny. There is also a barrier of ableism that Thunberg faces.

Fox News guest Michael Knowles referred to Thunberg as “mentally ill” in the aftermath of her UN address. Thunberg has Asperger syndrome, a disorder on the autism spectrum characterised by abnormalities in social interaction.

Both Abraham Lincoln and Mozart were presumed to have the syndrome, yet in Thunberg’s case it is spoken of negatively and, frankly, is incredibly ableist.

Knowles had every intention of implying that Thunberg’s beliefs and morals were nonsense because of the condition. Since 2000, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that the diagnosis of autism amongst children has increased from 1 in 150

1 in 68

children are diagnosed with autism.

to 1 in 68. The question of why there are not more activists with autism if these statistics stand unfortunately can be answered by the ableist tone of Thunberg’s critics.

Alongside misogyny and ableism, young activists also face the repression of infantilization, and patronisation. Following her speech at the UN, President Donald Trump labelled Thunberg “a very happy young girl.” There was nothing happy about Thunberg’s speech;

she had accused world leaders of stealing her childhood. Other critics repeatedly labeled Thunberg as ‘a child’, building on Trump’s image of her being a young girl with no place in the UN. When society wants young women to be silenced on substantial issues, it labels them as children who are too immature to interpret such complicated problems.

Those like Thunberg, who hold views commonly associated with the left, also have their words taken out of their intended context. Twitter critics of Thunberg compared her to children in third world countries after she had told world leaders that they had stolen her dreams and her childhood. These critics failed to note that she also referred to herself as one of “the lucky ones”, not yet greeted by the disastrous impacts of climate change. The misconstrue of her words implied that she was entitled, and discredited her activism.

Some Twitter users have also stated that Thunberg, as the leader of climate change activism, is not doing enough to fight the issue. An image

Image: Fabrice Florin

recently emerged of Thunberg on a train, eating pre-packaged food and she was quickly attacked for being on a vehicle, notorious for CO2

In an imperfect world how are climate change activists expected to be perfect? emissions, and for using plastic.

Yet, in an imperfect world, how are climate change activists expected to be perfect? It is estimated that 1.2 million tonnes of plastic film from packaging arises in the UK waste stream annually. These critics overlook that plastic consumption is not always the consumer’s fault, but instead, the blame lies with large corporations that maintain plastic production.

Indeed, it is clear that Thunberg and similar activists face a number of issues and obstacles. Young people continuously face pressure to act against climate change, and when they don’t, they are deemed irresponsible and ignorant.

However, Greta Thunberg is an indication of what happens when a young person takes charge and speaks up. The bottom line is this: the younger generations are left to fix problems created by the actions of their older counterparts, whose only reaction is to sit back, criticize, and diminish their every move.

Forge Press

Wednesday 9 October 2019

11

Features

Threads | Another way to tell the world when you’re home George Tuli Science & Tech Editor

“I believe the future of communication will increasingly shift to private, encrypted services where people can be confident what they say to each other stays secure and their messages and content won’t stick around forever.”

These are the words of Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg, taken from his blog post in March 2019. Zuckerberg recognised that private messaging, be it between two people, or within a closed group chat, is the fastest-growing form of online communication. It comes as no surprise then that Facebook is developing a new private messaging service, Threads, designed to be a companion app for Instagram.

Threads will provide users with a way to automatically share their location, speed, and their device’s battery life with people on their “close friends” list from Instagram.

The app will integrate the current messaging features of the Instagram app too, with the ability to send ordinary text, photo, and video messages.

The ideas of this app are nothing new. In June 2017, Snapchat added the ‘Snap Maps’ feature to their app which allowed users to share their location with friends, and track their friends’ locations in return.

In the app, a map was populated with friends’ Bitmoji, which not only displayed their location, but also showed whether they were listening to music, and their mode of transport if they were moving.

A level of safety was present, given that users had to open the app for their location to update, but the feature was still initially viewed as a potential risk to privacy because the coordinates of users’ Bitmoji were accurate down to the exact road they were on.

However, a public leak revealed that despite

having more than 30 million daily users at launch, by September of 2017 the user base had fallen to 19 million per day. In a bid to rekindle its popularity, a publicly accessible version of Snap Maps with

The coordinates of users’ Bitmoji were accurate down to the exact road they were on usernames removed was launched online in February 2018. In spite of the new feature, this was a concern to users whose activity, although anonymous, was now viewable to millions of strangers on the internet, not just to a select group of close friends.

While Snap Maps relies on users to download the app and opt-in to share their location, a service called Who’s in Town finds out your friends’ locations automatically, without them having to share it with you. Who’s in Town uses location data about your friends that’s already online. Photos uploaded to Instagram are usually geotagged with the location they were taken, and this information is collected by Who’s in Town to infer where your

friends are located. Each time they add a location to a story or post, the app saves their locations and displays them on a map for you to see.

If your account is private, your photos and geotagged locations are only visible to people you’ve added.

However, many people choose to make their accounts public, meaning anyone on the internet can see their posts, and thanks to Who’s in Town, their most recent location.

This could provide stalkers with an easy way to track you, and if they can establish your schedule — based on frequented locations — could facilitate crimes including breakins.

As creepy as this sounds, the app was in fact developed to illustrate just how much we share online, and who this information is available to, as highlighted by the app’s creator Erick Barto. In an interview with Wired he said, “[people operate under] the false assumption that this information is only going to a few people… but it’s public.”

Because Who’s in Town uses data already published online, the people you’re following are not asked for their consent to be tracked and mapped.

This is where the new Instagram companion app, Threads, takes centre stage.

Instagram’s “close friends” list allows users to share certain stories with a select group of friends, rather than broadcasting to their entire followers list or even the world, if their account is public. Threads will take this to the next level, by

automatically sharing information about your location, speed, and your device’s battery life with the people on your “close friends” list.

In reality, there are several stages of consent required before your data can reach anyone. First, you must download the app. Second, you must add people to your “close friends” list in order to share your information with them. Only then can they interact with your data.

Knowing who has access to your location data is an important part of staying safe both online and offline. Sharing your location can be beneficial to family and friends.

Parents use apps such as Find My Friends by Apple to keep track of their children — by setting up Family Sharing, all members of the family have their locations displayed in the app. If you’re meeting a friend, rather than repeatedly texting, “How far away are you?”, and “Where are you now?”, it is useful to see them on a map. Facebook Messenger already has a feature that lets users share their location for up to one hour, whilst with the Google Maps app, location sharing can be switched on for between 15 minutes and three days, or set to share “until you turn this off”.

Sharing your location is also useful for emergency services, where it provides help finding crime suspects and victims alike, as well as people involved in accidents who might be unable to tell anyone where they are. However, as stated on the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) website, “cell phones, smartphones, and other mobile devices (e.g. laptops and tablets) can be located whenever they are turned

on.” This means GPS location tracking, the sort that will be used by friends, need not be enabled for authorities to pinpoint your device.

Urban areas often have a dense network of antennas to provide a reliable mobile phone service.

When a mobile device connects to one of the antennas, the service provider stores information about which antenna is connected. Similar location information is collected when a phone call is made, a text sent, or data downloaded. This technology is so specific that, according to EPIC, it “can reveal the location of a mobile device in a specific area (like a room in a house)”. Today, you cannot escape being tracked.

Make sure it can’t identify somewhere like your home However, it’s easy to minimise, or eliminate, the risk of information getting into the wrong hands. When setting up any social media app, devices ask for permission to see your location. Look at why the app wants to know your location, and whether it’s right to grant access.

Ensure that you keep track of which apps can access your location, and if you geotag a photo on Facebook or Instagram, make sure it can’t identify somewhere like your home.

Take these steps to protect your information and enable yourself to enjoy social media to the most.

That way there should be no need to worry about your data falling into the wrong hands!

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Features

Astrology: A hoax, or your personal fairy godmother?

Katerina Vyurkova Features Contributor

“So, when’s your birthday?” is a common question we’re asked when we first meet someone.

It’s often handy in situations where astrology-lovers need to know whether they’re compatible with another person. Whether it’s a potential partner, future best friend or colleague, it is always good to know what kind of person you’re dealing with, and when daily life includes interactions with countless new faces that come and go, astrology gives a basic idea of who they might be.

For those of you who dismiss the idea that your date of birth has any relation to how you come across to other people, buckle up and enjoy the ride through the mysterious world of star signs, moon signs and other kinds of signs that are part of the celestial realm.

Let’s start off with the basics; there are 12 star signs in astrology: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces.

According to ancestral experts in astrology, these are the names of constellations formed above your head during the time of your birth.

The names also carry with them the weight of time and history as it was around 3200-3500 BC when these constellations were named by the people of Mesopotamia in Western Asia.

Later on, the Babylonians realised that by creating a group of 12 constellations, they would be able to use them to monitor the skies throughout the year. They would also go on to use the 12 signs to reflect seasonal changes and remind the farming communities of all the agricultural duties to be fulfilled during each season. The 12 signs were then divided into four categories of natural elements: fire, air,

water and earth. Specifically, the fire signs are Aries, Leo and Sagittarius; the water signs are Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces; the earth signs are Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn; and the air signs are Gemini, Libra and Aquarius. The Ancient Greeks also had a great influence on astrology by naming the group of signs ‘the Zodiac’ before the concept flowed into the Ancient Roman t i m e s ,

explaining the Latin names.

This might all sound fascinating, but you might be wondering what on earth it has to do with your life today? Well, if you’re in the habit of reading magazines, chances are you have come across the horoscope section. A horoscope is basically the modern way of predicting what your day, week, month or even year will be like by calculating the positioning of the Sun, Moon and stars and your connection to them.

Although it’s up to you

whether you believe it’s predictions or not, there are some ways in which astrology can be truthful.

Let’s take the characteristics of each sign as an example. Try to associate each of the four elements with a personality. If you’ve pictured

a fire person as bold, energetic and ambitious or a water person emotional, sensitive and artistic, then you are on the right track - but it goes deeper than that.

Each star sign usually represents a specific month, for example being born on 29 March makes you an Aries. But it doesn’t automatically make you an Aries with a drive to lead and conquer.

The time and place of your birth also plays a part in painting a picture of your personality. To elaborate, your natal chart is the full representation of you as a living being. It is generated by calculating the day, time and place of your birth, matching it with the celestial patterns and producing a multi-layered description of your personality.

The three main layers of your natal chart are the S u n sign, the

Moon sign and the Rising sign.

The Sun sign is your dominant personality trait. It provides a general idea of your interests, the people you’re attracted to, and your decisionmaking process. Your Moon sign is your subconscious personality; how you feel when you are on your own and how you react to different situations. It is more difficult to grasp than your Sun sign but, to put in simpler terms, it is your inner mood. Lastly, your Rising sign is about first impressions.

It is the

very first thing people notice about you, the very first stereotype they associate you with before they learn more about the kind of person you are. Other elements of the natal chart, such as the positioning of Venus, Mercury and Mars are also directly linked to different forms of

You must admit that it does make you feel a little bit more sure about yourself and your decisions when you seek understanding communication and relationships you may form with other people and the outer world. Astrology has a complicated methodology, and maybe that’s why it continues to fascinate people so many eons after its creation.

On a final note, while astrology is considered a pseudoscience, and has a lot of conflicting views surrounding it, it is useful merely as a guide to give you the chance to learn a bit more about yourself and your connection to the world.

Maybe astrologers are completely wrong about everything they have preached over the centuries, and our generation can no longer be fooled by something as detached from reality as astrology. However, you must admit that it does make you feel a little bit more sure about yourself and your decisions when you seek understanding by diving into the world of astrology, a bit more special to know that your birthday is something more than just a day on a calendar. At the end of the day, it is fascinating to think that the positioning of stars really might have affected something as absurd and trivial as your favorite colour.

Forge Press

Wednesday 9 October 2019

13

Jack Mattless Opinion Editor

Opinion

It now seems like several lifetimes ago, but there were a number of interesting policy debates to come out of the Labour Party Conference this year. In this issue, two of our contributors tackle those head on, albeit it from differing perspectives.

We also have some great pieces on the demise of Thomas Cook, the limits of protest and why we should

all continue vaping to our heart’s content. Our Editor-in-Chief, Ben Warner, also makes the case for why running for SU Council may just be the best decision you ever make!

Hopefully you find something interesting on these pages but if you think these pages could use a little improvement, then why not run to be my co-editor at our EGM on Thursday 10 October? No prior experience is required and you only need to give a 60-second speech.

Labour’s four-day week is just what this bedraggled country needs right now Caelan Reid Opinion Contributor

According to Eurostat, Britons in full-time employment work longer hours than any other EU nation.

We’re overworked, in the middle of a mental health crisis, and we’re not even particularly productive for all these extra hours in the office or on the shop floor. Yet a new policy announced at this year’s Labour Party conference could see a radical restructuring of British working life, and perhaps bring us some extra benefits as a result.

In his speech, Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell announced Labour would seek to move the UK to a 32hour working week over a ten year period with no loss in pay.

Working less to improve productivity feels somewhat counterproductive. But think of it as an extra day for hobbies, for looking

after our health, and keeping in touch with family and friends. A happy, healthy worker is far more likely to be productive, after all, and a reduction in working hours means a vastly improved work-life balance.

Some companies have already switched to a four day week with no loss in pay. Perpetual Guardian, a financial services firm from New Zealand, did so as part of a trial observed by academics from the University of Auckland and the Auckland University of Technology.

In this particular instance, staff stress levels dropped, and work-life balance scores improved by over 25 per cent.

Of course, this proposal is met with considerable resistance. The Confederation of British Industry is a notable critic, claiming that more flexibility is needed, while conservative commentator Nick Ferrari claims that smaller

Banning private schools is truly terrible public policy Lucy Moses Opinion Contributor

At their party conference last month, Labour made one of their

most radical moves yet.

It voted to abolish private schools.

They said that they will ‘integrate’ private schools by scrapping tax breaks, taking away their charity status, seizing their assets and redistributing them.

In theory, this should provide a better education for everyone. In principle, it’s not all it’s cracked up to be.

Firstly, abolishing private schools won’t automatically make all children ‘equal’. It is the extracurricular activities just as much as the academic tuition that gives privately-educated children extra clout in the real world.

Abolishing them won’t stop this. Ultimately, parents who can afford to pay for extra clubs and extra academic tuition will continue to do so. You can force all children

into the state system but you can’t micromanage what they’re doing outside of school. Parents will always find a way to provide ‘the best’ for their children and it’s hard

to take that choice away.

‘Integrating’ private schools into the state system is also problematic.

House prices within the catchment areas of the best state schools have skyrocketed. It was reported that in London, parents were willing to pay an average of 15 per cent more to live in the vicinity of their first choice school.

Inevitably, the ‘integrated’ private schools will be highly desirable.

Competition for places will be extreme and only the wealthiest parents will be able to afford to live in the areas which house the best schools.

Under a Labour government, universities would also only be able to admit seven per cent of pupils from private schools. This seems like slightly bizarre policy-making considering the party wants to

businesses would struggle to afford such a measure, and the Adam Smith Institute says such a proposal would put people out of work. I’d argue that we ought to take these criticisms with a pinch of salt.

The current eight-hour day, five-day workweek was met with significant opposition at first, and hardly anyone today would argue that working the nightmare shifts of the past would boost productivity.

Many of these commentators were also sceptical when it came to the minimum wage’s introduction in 1999, claiming it would increase costs for businesses and cause unemployment, only to backtrack when this was proven to be anything but the case.

A four day week would be a perfectly feasible and reasonable way to improve our working lives, no matter what the naysayers might think. abolish private schools outright anyway. But it might actually be the only attainable aspect of their proposed education overhaul as abolishing private schools could potentially breach human rights legislation and private schools could legally challenge a government for taking away their possessions. It’s a complex and potentially futile process.

However,

it

is

important

to

Shadow Chancellor, John McDonnell Image: Rwendland

recognise that many state schools are currently underperforming.

In 2017, 12 percent of secondary schools fell below the government’s determined target for GCSE grades.

The system certainly needs reform.

But abolishing private schools isn’t a guaranteed effective solution.

Instead, increasing taxes on the wealthy and enforcing rules and regulations admissions

around university would work more

effectively.

The exclusivity of our private schools can feel unfair and many have questionable and problematic characteristics.

But they are also British institutions embedded in history.

Labour’s hunger to tear them down with vengeance puts high-minded idealism before robust public policy.

Frankly, it leaves me wondering what comes next.

The Vaighn Library at Harrow School Image: Robert Cutts

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Opinion

Take a deep breath... vaping Why you should run isn’t going to suddenly kill us all for SU Council

Image: Lindsay Fox

James Dunstan Opinion Contributor

Full disclosure: I vape. Peer pressure is a devil to deal with and with everybody around me smoking at university, I started smoking socially which was both expensive and obviously unhealthy. I felt that if I was going to start a sordid relationship with nicotine, I’d choose the cheaper, not-obviouslydeadly option.

That said, the controversy in the US is almost entirely exaggerated.

I’m no chemistry student, but all the current data says that vaping with legally-tested products will not kill you, except for potential long-term effects which cannot yet be studied.

It’s possible some of the recently reported deaths in the US were a result of black market products, made with banned ingredients. All

legitimate liquids (in the UK at least) have to be approved in the same way any other consumer product has to be.

Those who’ve died might not have known the standards of the products they were using but the point remains: we need high consumer standards, especially with dangers like this.

But what about the children?

Teenagers cramming as much nicotine as possible into their bodies to be the coolest kid on the block?

Teenagers have enough to deal with without using high nicotine products and becoming utterly addicted. The solution to this is the same with cigarettes, ban the advertising.

If we’ve learned anything from prohibition and the war on drugs, making something illegal just increases deaths. Especially as nicotine use, while hardly healthy,

is not something which usually kills on its own.

But should us students be worried about vaping? In short, no. For one, it’s a lot easier to reduce the amount of nicotine you use, rather than quitting smoking altogether if you ever want to quit. I’ve quit once already because I couldn’t afford it, and frankly reducing how much coffee I drank gave me worse headaches.

Maybe, probably, vaping will cause you some harm. But so will binge-drinking. So will eating ready meals five days a week. We all have habits that are unhealthy, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do them.

Don’t pretend it’s healthy, but don’t be ashamed of doing something you enjoy either.

Protest alone won’t save our planet; it’s time those in power did something Gwynnie Naylor Opinion Contributor

Climate strikes have dominated city centres around the globe in recent weeks and for good reason. Recently, hundreds of strikes have taken place in cities around the globe, including here in Sheffield.

Protesting and calling for immediate action is required to prevent the destruction of the Earth while it continues to get hotter and hotter.

Mass protests should surely make people sit up and notice the imminent end of the world, and I believe this is true for some people.

It appears the youth are the ones acting, and are the driving force behind these protests, which is exactly why they’re unlikely to lead to immediate action. Those at the top

will only change the way the world is run when it becomes profitable for them, and given the throttle that they have on the major industries that contribute to climate change, wrenching power from their tightfisted hands will be impossible until there is significant, governmentbacked legislation that will change how the world is operated.

The people who are failing us are those at the top The climate strikes should feel inspiring, they should make people feel like change is finally coming, yet all they make me feel is frustrated and angry. The size of the protests, while large and widespread, feel like

a small hand beating away at a steel door. Real political change will not happen while there is a President in the White House who denies that the issue exists and mocks those who recognise the danger we all face.

Similarly, it’s hard to see any real progress happening in the UK while we mither and wallow in the Brexit deadlock. Both our political class and diplomatic service seem to be at capacity debating other issues.

Greta Thunberg recently spoke to the United Nations, condemning world leaders for their laziness, condescension and ultimately, their complacency. She is absolutely right. Although global climate strikes signal our desperation, the people who are failing us are those at the top. Without their support we are doomed to fail.

Ben Warner Editor-in-Chief

It’s easy to laugh off or scorn the work SU Council does, but I’m here to convince you why it’s worth your time, and I hope you give it a chance.

I’ve done more things than I care to list at the Students’ Union since I arrived here in 2016, but there’s few I’m more proud of than representing the Journalism department for the last two years as their councillor. I initially ran on a whim – the first time I suggested running to my mates I was halfjoking, but then I latched onto the idea, ran and eventually won.

It was genuinely quite heartwarming to see so many people from all the different departments and representative groups coming together for a few hours every two weeks to talk about what mattered

to them, to hold the elected officers to account and ensure our students were getting the best from their Students’ Union.

SU Council is the highest decision-making body in the building and it’s great to see how hard the SU is pushing to make sure the work Council does is promoted and celebrated this year. I know better than most that it’s a lot of effort to go sit in a lecture theatre for a meeting after a hard day at uni, but many tend to do it without complaint.

If you’re thinking about running, I’d definitely recommend taking a look at your department, seeing what takes your fancy and putting your name forward.

There are endless things you could accomplish.

Nominations are now open and close at 5pm on Friday 11 October.

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Wednesday 9 October 2019

15

Opinion

We should pity Thomas Cook employees, but the company’s demise is no great loss

Image: Ken Fielding

Joe Farmer Opinion Contributor

Thomas Cook was Britain’s oldest travel company, having been in existence since 1841, originally providing transport for temperance supporters across the Midlands before moving into what they would come to become famous for – holidaying.

However, in what seems to have occurred overnight, the company has folded with thousands losing their jobs and 150,000 holidaymakers having to be repatriated.

It seems debt and mismanagement are the reason to

Image: NIAID

blame for the company’s demise.

Sure, some factors have been beyond control: high fuel prices, a falling Pound, a rise in terrorism and warmer weather in the UK means fewer people holidaying abroad.

150k

holidaymakers have been repatriated

However, these problems will have had an effect on all travel companies and so it would appear the problems have come from gross mismanagement on the part of the Thomas Cook bosses. From the

investigation into their collapse, the biggest error is surely their acquiring of package holiday companies ‘My Travel’ and ‘The Co-operative’ and taking on their premises on the high street when clearly most aspects of retail are now moving towards the internet.

This acquisition entailed greater costs and outgoings without any real benefit or increased revenue. For a while it’s been probable the slide into disaster was coming. To make matters worse, their executives took home £18.7 million in pay over the last 10 years despite the problems that were obviously unfolding under their premiership.

Executives took home £18.7 million in pay over the last ten years despite the problems unfolding The company’s collapse has been a disaster for employees and customers but also a sad day for our country. Thomas Cook was a cornerstone of the British tourism industry and British culture, hence we’ve seen calls from parts of the

public for a government bailout.

While it is devastating to see such a company collapse, Thomas Cook failed to adapt to the rapidlychanging tourism economy around them and thus should we really shed a tear? As customers, we will benefit as the companies that survive are able to provide us with much better business models that fit the digital age. It’s not a time to be sorrowful for the company itself. Frankly, it manufactured its own demise. We should, however, shed a tear for the employees and customers that put their faith in this once great organisation. They are the ones paying for its failures.

Parents should educate themselves and vaccinate their kids Dana Raer Music Editor

Should vaccination be mandatory?

It’s a question that has caused a lot of controversy on social media in recent years, and after a fall in the rate of children being vaccinated, the Government looks set to turn its attention to this key issue.

Low vaccination rates are accompanied with an assortment of dangers. It is, frankly, a serious matter that needs addressing. If a child who hasn’t been vaccinated were to go on a school trip to a place which has been reported to have a high rate of disease, the child would be extremely likely to contract whatever disease they encounter if they weren’t vaccinated against it. In the worst-case scenario, they could even die. Low vaccination

rates in England have allowed measles to return to the country after generations of vaccinated people had halted its continuous transmission in the country.

There is an active and outspoken minority of anti-vaccination campaigners who seem to have swayed public opinion in regard to the consequences of opting out of vaccinations. On social media there are a lot of derogatory comments about this topic. To escape this trap, follow news from a trusted and respected outlet, which present clearly scientific facts coming from experts in the field. Some of the articles show exactly the benefits of having vaccinations to combat the serious risks of natural infection and to preserve immunity.

I do instinctively believe in the individual’s right to choose whether

they, or the children in their care, receive vaccinations.

It is a fundamentally democratic concept that should be respected in a democratic country. Having said that, decisions by individuals not to vaccinate their children can negatively affect those around them which is why this remains such a divisive issue.

This is exactly the message Health Secretary Matt Hancock is trying to put across. That is to say, the consequences of some parents’ actions have a snowball effect on others.

Remaining unvaccinated can cause further infection to spread so just as individual decisions affect the community directly, the wider community should perhaps have a say on those decisions on an individual level.

forgetoday.com

16

Jaz Catlow & Em Evans Lifestyle Editors

Lifestyle

Hello and welcome back to another issue with Lifestyle! We have some great articles for you this week, from things to do to what to wear.

As the winter evenings are drawing nearer and the desire to turn that summer wardrobe into woolly jumpers and hats grows, you might want to think about how your shopping habits could be affecting the planet.

Check out Ella Craig’s piece on fast fashion to learn more.

Alternatively, if cosying up with a hot chocolate and catching up on some telly is more your thing, read this issue’s recipe - it’ll get you feeling warm after those cold walks home from the library. We also have some suggestions for what to do if you’re missing your furry friends back home! Have a read of the places to go if you’re wanting a snuggle with something cute to help ease that homesick feeling.

Top 6 places to visit in Sheffield

Whether it’s a day off from the bustle of university life or some time spent with family when they come to visit, the following six places are all worth visiting if you haven’t done so already. Some of these must-see locations are within Sheffield’s city centre, and others are a bit further afield, but all are wonderful for those days that need filling with something a little bit different.

Em Evans Lifestyle Editor

Chatsworth House Chatsworth House is a magnificent building, home to the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire which has been passed down through 16 generations of the Cavendish family. With more than 30 rooms, beautiful architecture and artwork that anyone of any age would be in awe at seeing. Located in Bakewell, approximately a 40-minute drive from the bustle of Sheffield, Chatsworth House is the most idyllic escape from the busy streets and city. Get lost in the 105 acres of gardens which welcomes all nature has to offer, stopping by in the coffee shop after a day of exploring.

Chatsworth also hosts events all year around, so taking note of the following dates is an absolute must!

Bonfire night firework displays with live entertainment will be happening across two days next month, on the 1 and 2 November.

Chatsworth’s Christmas special is also right around the corner and the house is currently in the process of being vamped up for the festive season. If you fancy going any time after 9 November, you’ll see the halls decked with holly! Chatsworth House around the Christmas period is something well worth the visit.

Bakewell On the topic of places near Bakewell, another place that ought to be added to the list is Bakewell town itself, the home of the Bakewell Tart! You can visit the café and shop where all sugary goodness started off back in the 1860’s, but do note: portion sizes are particularly large! You may want to consider sharing…

However, Bakewell has so much more to offer than its glorious treats - take a wander down cobbled streets and along the River Wye. It’s a wonderful thing to do as a family, with friends, or even if you fancy a venture out by yourself for the day, it’ll make you forget all the stresses of university work!

Peddler Market Located in the northern part of Sheffield city centre, Peddler Market is home to an array of stalls selling a large variety of foods from vendors across the North. Whatever your dietary requirements might be, Peddler will accommodate all types of eaters – from vegan tacos that will get you talking to burgers like no other. There is certainly something for everyone. But it doesn’t end there; with local artists flaunting their work and designs, your eyes won’t know where to look. And that’s just in the day! By the time the Sun sets and the drinks start to flow, this place becomes something of a night-time attraction. Musicians and DJs come from all over to deliver you the best performances. These night events only happen once every month, the next one being on the weekend of 1-2 November. Entry into Peddler Market is free, however if a Gin and Tonic Masterclass is up your street tickets are available for £12 per person. Get your tickets soon as they sell out quick!

Image: Mike Fowkes

The Treehouse Board Game Café This café is one of Sheffield’s hidden gems and everyone should take an hour or two out of their day to destress with a good cuppa and play some board games with friends. The Treehouse Cafe welcomes anyone of any age and gaming ability to choose from over 500 different board games, whilst having some homemade nibbles and drinks.

They cater for dietary requirements, with gluten-free and vegan options available. It is advised to pre-plan your visit as they do get popular over the weekends, but for a more relaxed visit then head on over during the working week before 7pm. There is no charge for those with a valid student ID. Thereafter, it is a £2.50 charge per person playing for every 2 hours. The Treehouse Board Game Café is located on London Road, in the southern part of Sheffield’s city centre, a mere 10-minute walk from the University. They also offer memberships for £25 a year, giving you half price on admissions costs and 10 per cent off gift shop board games.

Nottingham House If you’re a new student this year and living around Endcliffe and Ranmoor, there is simply no excuse for not visiting the good ol’ Notty House. The cosy, green pub is famous for their signature pies and mash – they don’t serve anything else. That’s when you know a place is good! They are great for a humble lunch with the family or a treat after a long day at the library, either way you’ll be pleased to know the portions are something else!

Fired Arts Craft Cafe If you’re feeling crafty or want to try something new, Fired Arts is the perfect place to bring out your creative side. With pottery painting and decopatch just two of the things on offer, this is the perfect place to relax away from uni. You can choose from a range of pottery animals including owls and geckos, or choose to paint a plate, bowl or lantern for your uni home. The cafe also offers baked snacks while you paint, and if you can get a group together, book on a Friday to enjoy their wine and takeaway night!

Forge Press

Wednesday 9 October 2019

17

Lifestyle

Recipe: YoHoHo Pirate Hot Chocolate Ingredients 250ml milk 1 teaspoon cocoa powder 1 teaspoon honey 1 teaspoon maple syrup 60ml dark rum (optional) 50ml whipped cream 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract A sprinkle of ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, ground ginger Vegan alternatives A plant-based milk substitute Agave nectar/syrup for honey Coconut milk for whipped cream

Sometimes there is nothing like a hot chocolate to warm you up whilst the winter nights are drawing in. This recipe is perfect for enjoying a little tipple whilst cosying up with a good book or The Great British Bake Off. I’ve also included an alternative vegan version for those plant-based pirates out there.

Method 1) Firstly, whip up the cream and stir in the vanilla extract.

Squirty cream will also do the job.

2) Put the milk in a saucepan and whisk in the cocoa powder until combined. Add the honey and maple syrup, and heat gently until it begins to simmer slightly. Remove from the heat and whisk in the rum (if using).

Return to a low heat until back up to temperature.

3) Pour into your favourite mug and spoon the cream on. Mix the ground spices together and dust over the cocoa.

4) Enjoy with your favourite box set!

by Liv Taylor

Fast Fashion: what you should be doing Ella Craig Music Editor

As the autumn leaves begin to fall, pumpkin spice lattes are back in season and woolly jumpers are needed to keep us warm through the October breeze; fast fashion brands are just releasing their autumn/ winter collections. For many people, this means that it’s time to throw away the shorts and t-shirts as “we can always buy new ones next year.”

But this disposable attitude is affecting our planet.

Most high street fashion retailers such as New Look, Topshop and Primark as well as popular online clothing stores like Boohoo, Pretty Little Thing and Missguided are examples of fast fashion retailers.

The primary selling point of fast fashion is that it is affordable and easily accessible.

Additionally, people are drawn to the fact they produce clothing that is considered on-trend.

With the call for ‘on-trend’ clothes increasing, not only do the monstrous machines that manufacture these items demand more electricity, but due to the synthetic, non-biodegradable textiles that fast fashion retailers prefer, the clothes you throw away end up on landfill sites.

This means more greenhouse gases are emitted, causing global warming. We’ve all heard too often about the impacts that global warming will have on our planet.

So where are we meant to buy clothes if our favourite shops are damaging the environment?

Keep an eye out for eco-friendly

alternatives on your favourite fashion sites ASOS, which is primarily considered a fast fashion retailer, has an eco-friendly section on their website which includes brands such as ASOS Design and Collusion that are organic, vegan or use recycled materials. Some designer label brands also have eco-collections; Tommy Hilfiger launched a campaign a couple of years ago alongside Better Cotton to improve the cotton farming industry and make clothing that is 100 per cent cotton and therefore recyclable.

Go vintage Vintage doesn’t always have to mean old fashioned - more like second-hand.

You can find some unique or ontrend pieces in vintage stores that can help elaborate your style and personality.

The Students’ Union hosts vintage sales throughout the year and there are many vintage clothing shops in Sheffield, such as Cow and Mooch.

Topshop even has a reworked section in most stores that includes revamped vintage pieces.

Don’t throw clothes away It’s okay to buy fast fashion pieces once in a while, especially if you know they will last you a long time or it’s an item you really love. But when you’ve worn the item to the extent you desire, be sure to donate it to charity shops, vintage clothes sales or even sell them on sites like Depop and let someone else get wear out of it too.

Fast Fashion: A Background H&M and Zara are thought to be the ones to have kick started the idea of fast fashion, and since then others have followed in their footsteps to ensure all top trends are being flaunted in store windows and our screens as quickly as possible.

Fashion trends swap and change so frequently, that there is such a demand for retailers to live up to the speed which people alter their style.

Zara was founded in Spain, influencing fashion trends in and around Europe within the mid 70’s, later opening their first store in the US in 1990. The idea of fast fashion revolutionised the industry as Zara would turn ideas of new concepts into a finished piece in just 15 days.

It was just a matter of time before

other retailers caught onto what Zara were doing, allowing brands such as Boohoo and Missguided to emerge onto our screens, making online shopping such a simple thing to do.

ASOS offered a year-long subscription of next day delivery for a mere £9.95, enticing all those who are on top of their trends to get items from their screen to their door in a matter of 24 hours. Since ASOS kick started this idea, others have followed in their footsteps.

According to WWF it takes 715 gallons of water to produce the cotton to create a single t-shirt, equating to the same amount of water the average human consumes in three years. Jeans on the other

hand, are significantly worse with it requiring a staggering 1,800 gallons of water to produce the cotton for a single pair. High street retailers are beginning to take note of such statistics and make a change; Marks and Spencers for example have released a range of selvedge jeans which require a mere 14 litres of water to make. Moreover, Patagonia now create their products through a process called Archroma Advanced Denim Technology, allowing them to create the same coloured jeans as other brands without the negative environmental effects. An 84 per cent reduction in water usage with 30 per cent less energy, emitting 25 per cent less CO2.

This all goes to show that there are retailers willing to make a change, it’s now our turn to make it happen.

by Em Evans

18

forgetoday.com

Lifestyle

Pets Away From Home Pets are part of the family. Whatever antics they get up to, research suggests they are crucial to our happiness. They relieve stress, lower blood pressure and prompt the release of serotonin and dopamine, making you feel good when you’re around them. Leaving them at home is painful, and you find yourself missing them throughout the year. Fortunately, Sheffield is full of opportunities to interact with a variety of animals, from kittens to armadillos.

Holly Hagg Community Farm Whilst it is probable you don’t own a llama as a pet at home, interacting with them in Sheffield is made easily possible with llama and alpaca treks available for a fee of £25 at the Holly Hagg Community Farm. If this feels steep on a student budget, there is the free alternative of volunteering there on a short-term or long-term basis, or simply visiting the farm and its animals during an open day. Although the llamas and alpacas are the stars of the show, the farm is also home to therapy dogs, chickens and natural wildlife. £25

Cat Cafe If you’re a cat person, you might find yourself interested in Tabby Teas Cat Café on Cemetery Road.

For £5 per person, you can spend an hour with the cats that live in the café, where they have been rehomed from local animal rescues to socialise with visitors. You can book a longer slot with the agreement of the café, to allow you to take even more time to indulge yourself in food, hot beverages and the luxury of furry friends. £5

Pet Society Why not join Pet Society for an annual fee of £3 via the Students’ Union website? Their mission statement is that they are ‘here to give students of Sheffield University the opportunity to volunteer with animals, make a difference and improve their mental well-being in the process... with tonnes of fun socials and easy access to furry friends.’ For more information about their activities and events, check out their Facebook page ‘The University of Sheffield Pet Society’. £3

Nature and Wildlife Society If these animal-based interactions aren’t exotic enough for your taste, try looking into Nature and Wildlife Society and their events. On Friday 11 October, the society has organised a meet and greet with an interactive talk from the team at ‘Oreo and Friends Animal Encounters’, which allows you to meet meerkats, snakes, hedgehogs, armadillos and many more. The society is also heading to Chester Zoo in November, to give you more animalbased enjoyment. For more information check out their Facebook page ‘WildSoc’. £2

Whichever pet you’re missing, or however intensely you’re missing them, Sheffield offers a multitude of opportunities to indulge in some animal affection. If these suggestions don’t quite satisfy your yearning, watch out for other events run by the Students’ Union across the year, including sessions with therapy dogs or live drawings with animals, to add an extra opportunity for some fluff-based attention.

All contributions courtesy of Bethany Thomas

Run campaigns like this!

Join BME Students Committee Email womens.officer@sheffield.ac.uk

Black and Minority Ethnic Committee EGM Wed 2nd October

Film Unit Presents: Rafiki Sun 13th October

VYBEZ

Fri 18th October

Film Unit Presents: Black Britain on Film Sat 19th October

Taking Up Space – Chelsea Kwakye Collaboration with Off the Shelf

Sat 19th October

Britishness - Eelyn Lee Film & Panel Hosted by Off the Shelf

Sun 20th October

From ABC to PhD: Decolonising the Curriculum in Sheffield Wed 23rd October

Decolonising the Curriculum in H.E: A Discussion with Professor Kehinde Andrews Mon 28th October

forgetoday.com

20

Luke Baldwin and Alicia Hannah Break Editors

Break Crossword

This week’s Break is centered around the dreaded ‘H’ word. The anti-climax, the nausea-inducing, the unwanted but familiar friend: the Hangover.

However, every cloud has a silver lining. Whether you did the rainbow challenge and produced something that could only be deemed nuclear, or you thought you could Irish dance

You’ve had your Freshers’, your Corp shirt is stained with blue pints, you’re a semi-seasoned Sheffielder because you’ve met Dan Bean, and you’ve managed to go to Intro Week. But, can you remember the places you went?

Across

DOwn

5. Named after a lion, these chips will have you cryin’ (6) 9. You’ll feel stylish with the luck of the Irish (12) 10. If sports is your thing, the tiger is your king (4) 12. Get gay the right way (8) 13. Try and stay stable on the table (10)

1. Rob a poster to use as a coaster (14) 2. Buy a round for just five pound (10) 3. Be a freak on the second day of the week (11) 4. Coloured drinks you’d like to sink (11) 6. Get on your dancing shoes and sing the blues (8) 7. Fancy a curry? Get the loo in a hurry (9) 8. Cheesy tunes in two different rooms (8) 11. Crack the ... (4)

FUN FACT

1.West Street Live 2.Tiger Works 3.Tuesday Club 4.Corporation 5.Aslans 6.Leadmill 7.Balti King 8.Pop Tarts 9.Molly Malones 10.Roar 11.Code 12.Dempseys 13. Bierkeller

On this day 9 October -Phantom of the Opera, written by Andrew Lloyd Webber, premieres on London’s West End (1986) 10 October -The Jesus Christ Superstar soundtrack is recorded by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber - what a great week for Andy (1969) 11 October -Saturday Night Live premieres on NBC with George Carlin as host (1975) 12 October -Jimi Hendrix forms his band, the Jimi Hendrix Experience, along with Mitch Mitchell and Noel Redding (1966)

Women have a higher risk of hangovers than men Sorry gals - if a man and woman drink the same amount, the woman is more likely to feel the effects. That’s because men have a higher percentage of water in their bodies, which helps dilute the alcohol they drink. When women drink the same amount, more alcohol builds up in the bloodstream.

13 October -Italy changes sides in WW2, declaring war on former ally Germany (1943) 14 October -William the Conqueror and his Norman army defeat King Harold II at the Battle of Hastings (1066) -Keeping up with the Kardashians, featuring Kim, Khloe and Kourtney, premieres on E! (2007) 15 October -Napoleon Bonaparte begins his exile on the island of St. Helena, where he spends the remaining six years of his life (1815) - Nelson Mandela is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts in ending apartheid in South Africa (1993) -Actress Alyssa Milano tweets “if you’ve been sexually harassed or assaulted write ‘me too’”, sparking an international movement (2017) 16 October -Brothers Roy and Walt found the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio (1923) -The start of the Cuban Missile Crisis, the closest the world has ever come to full nuclear war (1962)

Images courtesy of Wikimedia, Flickr and Fshoq

Did you Know?

How you doing? Feeling settled yet? You know who else was feeling settled this time of year? Nero when he became Emperor of Rome on 13 October 54 AD. What else happened this week?

and sprained your ankle in Molly Malones, there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel.

Open the curtains, put your several empty bottles of Lambrini in the recycling and get the kettle on.

We hope you settle into your course well, eventually you’ll find the balance. When you do, let us know. We’re still looking.

Forge Press

Wednesday 9 October 2019

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LONEly Hearts

Looking for love can be a huge part of university life. You’re at the peak of your youth, figuring out who you are and what you want to do with your life. So why not share this incredible experience with a significant other?

Alternatively, seen the love of your life on a night out or in the library? Who knows? Maybe they felt the same way and happen to read Forge Press. What have you got to lose?

If you’re wanting to put yourself out there, head over to the ‘Forge Break Agony Aunt and Lonely Hearts Club’ Facebook page, fill in a short form and we’ll publish your description. Don’t worry, all contributions are completely anonymous!

See someone you like, either in the paper or on the Facebook page? Email us at press.break@ forgetoday.com and we’ll help put you two lovebirds in touch.

top tips

BY LAUREN BAGNALL

Third-year Journalism student Lauren shares her personal ‘Things to Remember’ list as she embarks on her final year at University.

1. Never apologise for your mental health and the limits it entails.

2. Stand up for yourself - if you want something, go out and get it.

rare, we’re not all comfortable with sharing our secrets and shame with some bloke from down the hall.

You can share your problems, clear your conscience, or just have a laugh with us by using our anonymous form.

You can find it on Facebook at Forge Break Agony Aunt and Lonely Hearts Club.

5. PUT YOUR MENTAL HEALTH FIRST!

10. You are beautiful, you are smart and you are enough.

Got the munchies for love!

20-year-old woman studying psychology. Just looking for another woman who’s into smoking weed and fancies a chill? You bring the pizza and I’ll bring the bud!

Netflix and Chill (no seriously) 18-year-old female studying physics. New to Sheffield and wanting to make friends, maybe more. Really love a quiet night in watching films and cuddling, but also up for the occasional night out.

Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!

19-year-old international fresher from Sweden. Female. Quite tall so ideally after someone taller than me. Love everything sports or outdoors related. Played hockey back home. Let’s go to the Peaks!

so hung-over it Dear Alicia and Luke, I’m not a big drinker, in fact I’d rather not drink due to the implications it has on my mental health, but it’s the only way my friends seem to socialise.

I’ve suggested sober stuff but none of them seem to be bothered or just laugh it off. I just feel like everything we do results in everyone being madly drunk, and I’m either stone-cold sober, or get drunk and wake up the next day feeling horrible.

Alicia The first friends you meet in uni aren’t always the most suited friends for you. It’s hard to get out of your comfort zone when you don’t know what’s out there. I’d recommend joining a society or a committee, they have plenty of sober socials, and will help you broaden your friendship group. Good luck to you, you’re not alone.

Tip to try: Mocktail Lounge at Coffee Revolution, monthly

Luke Fuck ‘em. When you’re living it large at 92, they’ll be dead from kidney failure. Sober life is the future. Just think of all the wonderful stuff you’ll be able to do, like operate heavy machinery, thanks to your sobriety! Also you’ll save a bomb by not having to buy booze. Just think how silly your mates will be when you flash that cash. Make it rain!

Tip to try: Gloating

dishing it out

6. Ask for help when you need it.

9. Play to your strengths.

Larping for love 21-year-old non-binary person.

Interested in men, women or anything in between! Pretty nerdy, like comics and board games so if you’re down for DnD, hit me up!

University is a strange place to open up to people. So why not air your problems anonymously in a student newspaper?

Seriously though, good friends are

4. Limit yourself, don’t put your brain through too much at once.

8. Forget tomorrow unless you have a deadline.

A man with experience 27-year-old mature PhD student.

Male. Non drinker/smoker. Wanting to meet someone who I can take to the cinema and theatre. Easy going and chilled.

Agony Aunt

3. Live for the moment.

7. Stick to a structure - don’t let yourself do work after a certain time, let yourself have breaks.

The Creative type 23-year-old male looking for a man who I can throw around the bedroom. Must be less than 5’10”, preferably blonde. Hobbies include painting and writing but also up for most things adventurous.

Dear Alicia and Luke, Am I an arsehole? My flatmate wouldn’t clean their dishes so I smashed a few. Now she’s angry and won’t talk to me.

If you are experiencing issues like these, please seek expert advice from your GP, or speak to an advisor in the Student Advice Centre by calling 0114 222 8660, or emailing advice@ sheffield.ac.uk.

Nightline can also be contacted on 01142228787 for listening, and 01142228788 for information.

Alicia Have you ever tried having a Berocca? Or are you just extremely Greek?

Luke It’s understandable that you were annoyed, dirty flatmates can be a nightmare! But maybe

smashing their stuff was a step too far. Always try to be the bigger person, not just at uni, but in life. Maybe you should buy some replacement plates as a goodwill gesture. Hopefully this will open up a dialogue with your flatmate, where you can politely explain your feelings and help them see your point of view.

22

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What’s On

What’s On

Wednesday 9 October - Sunday 20 October

Baby Bummit is the University of Sheffield’s own hitchhiking event to raise money for four amazing charities. You’ll set off in a team of two or three in an epic race to reach Glasgow. You’ll meet so many people along the way, explore familiar or new places, and end the night with a meal and a night out on the City.

The four charities Baby Bummit are fundraising for this year are: Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust, Target Housing, Snowdrop Project and Molly’s Fund.

Bummit’s been running for 16 years and has never faced a safetyrelated issue. You’ll be given an in-

depth safety talk, 24-hour phone support on the day and loads of advice from seasoned hitchhikers.

Tickets are £30 on the SU website and includes a hostel after the event, a restaurant meal, insurance and more. You will also have to raise £80 for charity, but the Bummit team will give you loads of help with setting up fundraising websites and will run regular money-raising events.

Baby Bummit to Glasgow Information Talk: 15 October, 7pm, venue TBC. Keep up to date with where the information talk will be held on the Bummit Facebook page!

Forge Media Annual Bar Crawl!

Join Forge Press, TV and Radio on 11 October for a night down West Street, where we’ll end up at The Leadmill!

This is an amazing night out and a great way to make new friends and get to know all of us across the committees - as we’re really one big family.

We’ll be selling Leadmill tickets dead cheap at £3 so don’t miss out!

We’ll meet at Bar One for 8pm.

Search the event ‘Forge Media Annual Bar Crawl 2019’ on Facebook or follow our Facebook page ‘Forge Press.’ for more information.

Give It A Go Archery Fancy a game of archery? The Archery Club is offering a taster session for anyone who is interested.

No experience is needed!

Wear sensible clothing and suitable shoes.

Long hair should be tied back and bring water.

When: Monday 14 October 2019, 6pm - 8pm Where:Activity Room 3, Goodwin.

Tickets: £4.40 Student (£2.20 with Res Life.)

Order tickets for both archery and tie-dye t-shirt making on the SU Website.

Tie-dye - Make Fashion Traffik Free Tie-dye a shirt whilst learning more about the fashion industry’s role in human trafficking.

Please bring a preferably white, cotton T-shirt to dye. Charity shops are great for picking one up which is cheap and ethical and all other materials will be included.

Please inform beforehand if you have any allergies to specific dyes.

When: 15 October, 7pm-8pm Where: Collaboratory Room 1 1.26 (32), IC Tickets: £3.30 Student (£1.10 with Res Life)

Build Your Own Jar Terrarium Craft your own ‘forest in a jar’ as you learn about the rich history of terrariums and the ideal plants to fill them with.

All the materials will be provided for, including a large glass jar and an assortment of plants to choose from, like: Fittonia, Ficus and Moss.

This is a great mindful activity to do individually or in groups.

No experience is required, only a love for botany.

When: Sunday 20 October 1:45pm-2:45pm Where: Dorothy Fox Education Centre, Botanical Gardens.

Tickets are £30 and can be found on their Facebook event.

This page was created by Bethan Davis, Deputy Editor

Give it a Go Rock Band Looking to become the next Led Zeppelin?

Bring along your instrument to this Rock Band session. With styles varying from classic rock to punk and indie rock - there’s something for everyone.

When: Thursday 10 October, 7pm-9pm Where: Workroom 1, 38 Mappin Street.

Tickets: Free

Robert Plant (left) and Jimmy Page (right) of Led Zeppelin, in concert in Chicago, Illinois Image: Jim Summaria

Forge Press

Wednesday 9 October 2019

23

Spotlight

Society Spotlight Getting to know...

Ben Warner Editor-in-Chief

The Students’ Union has been the setting for a number of climate change protests in recent weeks, including shutting for an hour on Friday 20 September, to coincide with the global climate strike.

It is an issue close to the hearts of many, but actions speak louder than words. Carbon Neutral Society is one group trying to change the way the University works towards making itself more sustainable, by encouraging them to go carbon neutral by 2030 - their initial target was 2025, but they’ve pushed this back. Put simply, they’re urging the University to take as much carbon out of the atmosphere as they put in.

We sat down with Sophia Reeve, the President of Carbon Neutral Society, to talk about climate change, what more people can do to

Carbon Neutral Society at Activities Fair Image: CNUS

Carbon Neutral Soc

help, and how they can get involved with the society.

“Ultimately we want a clean, green, innovative research campus that is a living laboratory, showing people, organisations and even countries that a carbon neutral future is possible, potentially slowing or even reversing global warming with everything we do, and we want renewable energy to be generated at every opportunity,” she said.

We want a clean, green, innovative research campus that is a living laboratory ... a carbon neutral future is possible The society has been around for

around five years, and Sophia has been involved for three of those, now leading the group of students trying to lead the way on climate change.

The society operates as part of a wider network of staff, lecturers and students throughout the University, all operating under the banner of Carbon Neutral University of Sheffield. The society is one way students can get involved in the campaign at an SU level.

Despite the society having been going for a number of years, Sophia says it’s still quite small, but is heartened by the amount of people who want to get involved and are passionate about the subject, although warned it is a long-term project.

She said: “We had 130 sign-ups at the Activities Fair, but I do think people might sign up then not know how to go about it.

“I think they do like the idea but they don’t actually commit to it.

It’s not something where you’ll see a short-term achievement, it’s very long-term and about staying

I think climate change is real, regardless of what Trump says, and I’m passionate about doing what I can motivated. It’s great that people are showing interest, but we need more people to actually commit to sticking with it and seeing it through to the end.”

While the wider group campaigns on a more scientific level, the society is more involved in day-today running of the campaign, and

Sophia says she’s excited to work with more societies this year to raise awareness of the cause.

However, she stressed that they need more members to get involved if they want to do more things, and the society have their first meeting of the year on Thursday 10 October.

There, they’ll discuss the kind of campaigns they could run this year, and ask people to volunteer to take the lead and run them. However there aren’t any projects yet, and Sophia is very much encouraging people to join up and contribute what they can.

Membership of the society is free, and is likely to be popular for anyone interested or passionate about climate justice.

“I think climate change is real, regardless of what Donald Trump might say, and I’m just passionate about doing what I can to save the planet.”

forgetoday.com

24

Rosie Davenport and Kate Procter Arts Editors

Arts

I hope you all had a fabulous Freshers’ Week and explored all that Sheffield has going on. Between issues, I was lucky enough to see one of my friends in Northern Ballet’s Cinderella and Kate has been busy reviewing all sorts, with this issue featuring her thoughts on Sheffield Theatre’s The Last King of Scotland.

As we get started with term again, we suggest taking full advantage of all the arts in Sheffield as a break from studying. 4 October marked National Poetry Day and our piece on the rise in Instapoetry illustrates how accessible this is becoming.

If poetry isn’t your thing, we hope you enjoy the more controversial conversation around David Cameron’s new political memoir.

Happy recovering! Rosie

Vanity publishing: how David Cameron tried to revise his befitting legacy

Owen Jones Arts Contributor

Following the Brexit Referendum of 2016, David Cameron resigned as prime minister and seemingly fell off the face of the Earth. Rumours of a book deal spread soon after, which were confirmed only four months later by his publisher, HarperCollins. Speculation around the memoir was rising, especially when Cameron bizarrely spent £25,000 on a designer shed to write in.

Now, three excruciating – yet somehow unproductive – years on from the referendum, Cameron has finally emerged from his shed bearing a 700-page memoir he hopes will “help us understand the past”, hence the title: For the Record.

Cameron claims that the book gives him “the chance to explain many of the things people wanted me to explain – the things I wanted to explain.” This book, however, is less a chance to ‘set the record straight’ and more an opportunity for Cameron to salvage his frankly,

yet deservedly, soiled reputation.

For the Record is ultimately a vanity project – a pursuit that is not exclusive to Cameron, however, and that has become somewhat of a rite of passage for all former politicians. Tony Blair, Alastair Campbell, and Margaret Thatcher have all published their own political memoirs; a common weakness amongst them all is that they are, for the most part, overly self-indulgent aggrandisations of their careers, usually overstating their supposed achievements in an attempt to recolour their less-than-favourable legacies. Cameron’s memoir is no different.

It is very clear that Cameron desperately wishes to reframe his legacy far away from “the man who broke Britain”, as Michael Fletcher described him in The New Statesman, to someone more statesmanlike. Cameron has styled himself as a moderate, Disraeliesque figure whose legacy should be his self-accredited success in realising what he calls “modern, compassionate conservatism” using “Conservative means…[to meet]

progressive ends.”

To suggest that Cameron’s government was in any way ‘progressive’ in its own right is seriously delving into the realm of hyperbole. Cameron cites such issues as equal marriage and the environment as examples of “progressive Conservatism in practice”. When one scratches below the surface, however, it’s clear that these apparent accomplishments were not achieved via Conservative means, but in spite of them.

In his book, Cameron claims the legislating of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 was a Conservative effort; while Cameron’s personal intentions may have been noble, framing this as an achievement of his party is rather disingenuous. In reality, the Conservatives were a roadblock towards equal marriage, with 127 of the 306 Tory MPs voting against it and a further 58 abstaining, an effective vote against.

Cameron also claims his government “led the way on the environment”, pledging in 2010 to forge “the greenest government ever.” Once again, the reality

suggests otherwise. Cameron boasts that 99 per cent of all solar panels in Britain were installed while he was Prime Minister; he fails to clarify, however, that this was accomplished by the Feed-In Tariffs scheme, established in April 2010 by Gordon Brown’s Labour government.

These are only a few examples of Cameron’s flimsy attempt at historical revisionism which demonstrates a recurring issue, not just in For the Record, but in the genre of political memoir.

In truth, political memoirs are little more than vanity projects, usually attempting to rewrite history whilst keeping the author relevant in the ever-changing political zeitgeist. For the first time since his resignation, Cameron has been launched back into the mainstream political discussion and been handed a platform to espouse tenuous excuses and unconvincing platitudes. Blair experienced a similar public resurgence with the release of A Journey, as did Thatcher with The Downing Street Years and Campbell with his ongoing diaries.

All of them have been involved in

highly contentious and massively controversial missteps: for Thatcher it was the closing of the mines, for Blair and Campbell it was the Iraq War, and for Cameron it was the EU Referendum.

When considering the authors and their legacies, political memoirs can be highly unreliable, especially when discussing said missteps. The likes of Cameron and Blair stand to lose a lot from their questionable legacies, so when given the opportunity to retell their own personal histories, the prominence of the genre becomes clear.

For the Record, along with the majority of high-profile political memoirs, serves little purpose outside of flattery for the established elite and maintaining their position in the mainstream conversation – and if they can convince readers that their mistakes were justified and successes magnanimous, then that’s a nice bonus. Cameron is certainly guilty of misrepresenting his accomplishments and downplaying his failures, rendering For the Record little more than a self-congratulatory doorstop.

Forge Press

Wednesday 9 October 2019

25

Arts

Top, left to right: @bysampayne, @jusmun, @lonely.penguin, @quarterlifepoetry and @robinwpoetry. Bottom, left to right: @marya.layth (art by kelletteworks), @srwpoetry, @cgcpoems, @marya.layth (art by morningaltruist) and @lonely.penguin.

Viral verse: how Instagram has inspired a new generation of poets Olivia Hutton Arts Contributor

The rise of Instagram poetry certainly didn’t happen quietly. Becoming the bone of much contention, the worlds of social media and literature collided. Characterised by stripped back verse and hand-drawn illustrations, ‘Instapoetry’, as it is sometimes referred to, has reached an audience with which the likes of Auden and Keats fail to engage. With the most popular poets reaching an audience of millions, publishing on Instagram gives a platform for both new and seasoned writers to experiment and publish their own work. However, with many neglecting to even regard Instapoets as ‘real poets’, their position within the world of literature, and society as a whole, is certainly not without judgement.

Instapoetry’s popularity is largely down to its broad accessibility. It can be read and written by anyone.

There is no rule book; it demands only for the poet to write what they feel. ‘Feeling’ is one of the greatest distinctions between classic works of poetry and Instapoetry, with Instapoetry mainly centred around self-reflection and reclaiming one’s self. This, partnered with the anonymity that social media can

provide, has become the winning combination for thousands of new Instapoets. This includes Sian Wilmot (@srwpoetry), who writes under the initialisation s.r.w and gets hundreds of likes on poetry posts as simple as “i hope you know/ that you are the sun,/ even on days when nobody/ is in your orbit.”

The anonymity of the internet empowers deeply personal writing She said: “Writing for me was a way to express the words I couldn’t say out loud - I’ve always been anxious and shy and not very good at speaking or articulating words out loud, so writing them down seemed like the only option for me to get my thoughts out.”

The anonymity of the internet empowers deeply personal writing, and the online space allows for immediate feedback on their work with a simple like, comment, or follow. For many, writing poetry to be published on Instagram is a cathartic experience and an act of self-care.

Wilmot’s page is a classic example of Instapoetry: poems with lowercase letters and concise

stanzas, artfully curated in a recognisable format that is both easy and pleasing to read. However, this typical stylisation has become Instapoetry’s greatest criticism.

Arguably written more like epigrams than verse, Instapoetry has become subject to relentless ridicule for its allegedly shallow aphorisms and clichéd subject matter.

While Wilmot has attained over 5,000 followers, providing her with an audience to sell ‘poetry postcards’ to via her Esty page, others have captured followings into the millions - an audience sizable enough to secure book deals. It has been this transition of Instapoetry from digital to print which has garnered the most heat.

Rupi Kaur is certainly the most famous Instapoet in regards to audience size, having attained 3.7 million Instagram followers. She is the author of two poetry collections, including 2014’s New York Times Best Seller, Milk and Honey. From an initial glance at her Instagram account, you could easily mistake the 26-year-old for a fashion influencer: beautiful images of Kaur in elegant outfits fill her page, yet alternating between these are her short poems, often accompanied by simple illustrations. One recent poem simply reads: “the irony of

loneliness/is that we all feel it/at the same time.”

However, Kaur’s unique rise to fame has put her work in the firing line. Her work is often used as an example in the criticism of Instapoetry’s encroachment on market space formerly reserved for ‘classic’ poetry. Yet neither Kaur nor the form of Instapoetry is trying to compete with the skill and nuance of classic poetry. It is an entity of its own, a new and exciting art form.

The community that comes with Instagram poetry is an incredible collective to be a part of The poetic canon has consistently been dominated by white men, so this new movement of poetry allows people to celebrate their own identities, actively making room for diverse voices. Kaur, an Indian-born Canadian poet, is known for writing about her racial identity: from unyielding eyebrows in Unibrow to the colour of her skin (“the colour of the earth,” she says in multiple poems), her poetry provides a place for her to reclaim herself as a

“beautiful brown girl.”

While Kaur has become a recognisable figure, many Instapoets prefer to utilise the anonymity that comes with such territory, including @lonely.penguin (over 36k followers), whose simple, typewritten posts are distinctly nondistinct. They said that by sharing their poetry they have been able to express and reflect on private problems in a public space without feeling scared of judgement: “I started writing after going through a very tough time in my life some years ago and I started sharing my stuff when a friend (who is a psychologist) suggested I share them to the world on social media and see if I could connect with similar like-minded people. What a lovely safe haven it has been for me.

“Now I write because I have truly found a love for it. It is very liberating and so cathartic.”

The community that comes with Instagram poetry is undeniably an incredible collective to be a part of.

The level of support which comes from such a close network of people is a far cry from the rhetoric of Instagram as a damaging tool. With a place that facilitates you both artistically and pastorally, there is an obvious reason why Instagram poetry is so enamoured.

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forgetoday.com

Arts

REVIEW

The Last King of Scotland The Crucible Kate Procter Arts Editor

With his booming voice, roaring laugh and swaggering walk it’s easy at times to forget that Tobi Bamtefa is playing one of the cruellest despots in African history. Known for his corruption, human right abuses and ethnic persecutions, the former Ugandan President Idi Amin is not a character to be liked.

And yet, in this adaptation by Steve Waters, his humour gives him an undeniable charm.

Directed by Gbolahan Obisesan, The Last King of Scotland is set across Amin’s eight-year reign in 1970s Uganda following a successful military coup to overrule Milton Obote. Initially he is welcomed by Ugandans and viewed by the British as a valuable ally. But soon he begins to isolate his country – first by expelling Asians who refuse to take Ugandan nationality, then by declaring economic war on countries failing to bring wealth to his country.

He compares his leadership to the likes of Napoleon and Stalin and prefers to count Colonel Gaddafi as an ally over any western nation.

As with Giles Foden’s novel of the same name, Amin isn’t the play’s only protagonist. Nicholas Garrigan (Daniel Portman) is a totally fictitious Scottish field doctor who is called out to treat a sprained wrist after the president crashes his red Maserati into a cow. Despite being interrogated and, at one point, having a gun held to his head, Garrigan is given the dubious honour of becoming Amin’s personal physician. Initially his duties comprise of little more than treating Amin’s thunderous wind (by placing a wooden bat across his abdomen and getting him to touch his toes, in case you were wondering…).

However, with such care a sense of trust is borne by Amin in Garrigan. Yet their friendship lacks development, making it difficult to understand why Garrigan is loyal in return – particularly given the early indications of the fear Amin elicits in those close to him. Indeed, when asked why he even stays in Uganda, Garrigan’s answers are vague; he is drawn by his love and optimism for the country – none of which we see. It can only be assumed he turns a blind eye in order to focus on his job, clinging to his Hippocratic oath

Images: Helen Murray

PREVIEW

Female Transport Kate Procter Arts Editor

when asked by British diplomats to spy on Amin. But his willingness to become complicit in the regime by turning communications officer is perplexing.

Bamtefa does all he can to hold the show together.

He seamlessly transitions between hilarious and terrifying...

This is just one in a series of plot holes in the play regarding Garrigan in particular. Be it the random fishing trip in which he unsuccessfully attempts to seduce a British diplomat’s wife, or the journal he manages to leave lying around – despite us never once seeing him write in it – to weakly advance the plot.

Bamtefa does all he can to hold the show together. His performance is outstanding as he seamlessly transitions between hilarious and terrifying: one moment boasting about his appearance in a kilt for his

wedding to his fourth wife, the next threatening the Archbishop who is refusing to marry him.

However, the fear of Amin’s regime is distinctly missing for most of the play – kept at a distance by stylish yet excessive TV news bulletins. The most emotional scene arises when Amin’s second wife Kay (Akuc Bol) and fellow doctor Peter Mbalu-Mukasa (John Omole) plead unsuccessfully with Garrigan to conduct an under-the-table abortion to prevent the president from discovering the couple’s affair and killing them both.

When Amin’s full sadistic horror is revealed it is ultimately too heavy handed: bookshelves theatrically rotate to reveal bloody torture chambers, and prosthetic severed heads and limbs are dolled out.

The Last King of Scotland possess strong performances, but it struggles to deliver the coherent drama that the dictator’s disturbing reign demands.

The Last King of Scotland is on at the Crucible Theatre until 19 October.

Since the arrival of Netflix’s Orange is the New Black there has been a ceaseless interest in female incarceration. From the recent documentary TV series Jail Birds to Rachel Kushner’s novel The Mars Room, female prisoners are proving popular with audiences and writers alike. Yet, Sheffield University Theatre Company’s first production of the academic year takes this focus not only away from the US, but back to the early 1800s.

Female Transport is about six women convicted of petty crimes and sent to Britain’s overseas penal colony in present-day Australia for a life of hard labour. For first-time director K a t i e Kelson, who suggested the play by Steve Gooch, it offered a great opportunity: “I really wanted to have a show that had women at the forefront and gave the women in SUTCo an opportunity to have quite interesting and complex roles which we haven’t necessarily had since I’ve been at uni,” she said.

The play takes place on the six-month voyage as the women learn certain truths about society, represented by the crew. Foremost among these is that they have been condemned due to the bias of a male-dominated class system.

Despite being based in the 19th century both Kelson and producer Mia Young noticed the political relevance the play still holds.

“I think a lot of the issues that it looks at with women being in a

male-dominated world and seen as second-class citizens are still very prevalent today,” said Kelson.

While some productions in recent years have adapted the play for a modern setting – even going so far as to don the iconic orange jumpsuits – SUTCo have purposefully maintained the historical setting, desiring the audience to draw their own parallels.

In fact, they have embraced the period – be it costume designer Molly Wyatt bringing a dissertationlevel standard of research to the clothing or prop manager Simon Alford attempting to locate barrels for the set (borrowing one from Bar One is looking likely). There are also adventurous plans for a twolevel set of the ship in the Drama Studio.

“I think it’s quite exciting because it’s not often we can do a set with multiple levels or such large structures,” said Kelson.

Aside from adding an interval, the team have only made minor alterations to the original play, explains Young: “We have really focused on it being naturalistic and immersive.

“We were thinking of not having an interval just so you are caught up in the show because it is quite an intense play, but at the same time there are some moments of beauty and relief.

“We want the audience to live the experience with the characters.”

Female Transport is on at the Drama Studio from 16 to 19 October.

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28

Dana Raer & Ella Craig Music Editors

Music

Hi there! In the Music section of this issue, we’ve packed in lots of reviews including two albums: Beth Hart’s latest album War in My Mind as well as Temples’ third album Hot Motion. We also have two live reviews in the form of Sheffield’s latest indie export SHEAFS, who played The Foundry on Friday 27 September, and DJs Rebekah and

Helena Hauff, who had the whole crowd jumping at Hope Works on Saturday 28 September.

What’s more, we have picked out five of the most iconic album covers that made history, including the best of the banned and the beautiful.

October is Black History Month and we are celebrating by featuring songs about black history alongside songs about activism issues such as climate change, coming out and feminism. Hope you enjoy!

Top 5 album covers that made history FEATURE Gwynnie Naylor Music Contributor

Music is one of the few things that is created by a person, but one struggles to possess tangibly. It exists only within a limited time frame, and so the creation of album art work allows for an art for that cannot be seen, to have a recognisable, visual icon. It is a medium almost as old as the creation of the record itself, yet the way artists have chosen to express their music visually has aged and developed over time.

The Earliest Game Changer – Nat King Cole , The King Cole Trio, 1945 Upon release from Capitol Records, Cole’s album artwork quickly gained notice due to its abstract image of Cole’s instruments, fanned out beneath a golden crown. The album became a piece of tangible media, something that could be possessed by a person.

As a result of the music and artwork, the album topped the Billboard Best Selling Popular Record Albums chart. Capitol Records developed a reputation for pioneering innovative album artwork, bringing in famous artists such as Thomas B Allen, and rising star Donald Lee Feld.

The Best of the Banned – The Mamas & the Papas, If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears, 1966 At first this album cover may seem harmless, four band members hanging out in a bathtub, smiling and friendly. However, the sixties were obviously a very different time.

In one of the earliest examples of censorship, the problem was held with the fact there was a toilet in the image. Later, it was covered with a sticker as to not offend the upright citizens of the world who may faint at the sight of a toilet, and following that, it was cropped out completely.

The Famous – The Velvet Underground and Nico, The Velvet Underground and Nico, 1966.

Who could forget the iconic artwork of Andy Warhol, the shiny yellow banana on a field of white.

Initially the banana was not yellow, but pink, and a certain limited number of covers had the yellow banana covered with a larger pink one, which could be peeled away and removed. While at the time the album was received unfavourably, the long-lasting appeal of the album cover has helped with its survival, and finally, its recognition as a fantastic work of music.

The Modern – Kendrick Lamar, To Pimp a Butterfly, 2015 An album cover worthy of one of the greatest albums of the 21st century, shot in vivid black and white with the quality of a polaroid image, it features a large ensemble, crowded around, playing up to the camera. Arranged almost in the style of composed painting, it exemplifies the themes that Lamar expresses within the album. The photo was taken by famed photographer Denis Rouvre, under the instruction of Kendrick Lamar, showing the level of purpose and creative control that Lamar holds over his artistic process.

The Beautiful – New Order, Power, Corruption and Lies, 1982 The juxtaposition of the gentle and soft floral imagery, with the harshness of the title is what makes the album art work standout as it does. The cover is the a reproduction of the painting ‘A Basket of Roses’

by Henri Fantin-Latour, and was reproduced by Peter Saville. Saville himself commented that the flowers “suggested the means by which power, corruption and lies infiltrate our lives. They’re seductive.”

LIVE Rebekah x Helena Hauff at Hope Works

Fitzgerald was behind the decks as the clock struck midnight. On Saturday 27, Helena Hauff didn’t make her appearance until the unholy hour of 4.15am which, for a reveller already suffering the worst excesses of freshers’ flu, was slightly unwelcome.

Frankly, I needn’t have worried.

Not only was the temperature inside the main room warm enough to act as a kind of makeshift steam room to nurse my ongoing cold, but the performances were stellar from open to close.

We arrived midway through the set from Hope Works’ kingpin Lo Shea, who was on final warm up duties. A particular highlight came when he played ‘Nite Fliet’s

Reply All’. It’s a track I’d normally associate with the fading euphoria of a closing set, but he made it work equally well as an atmospheric reset before Birmingham-based Rebekah took to the decks and provided two hours of relentless energy. Some DJs like to give dancers respite between heavier tracks but there was absolutely none of that here. Not that it seemed to matter; the dance floor was heaving from start to finish.

There was an initial drop in intensity when Hauff began her set, expertly treading the tightrope between techno and chirpy electro with vinyl mixing skills so astute you’d be forgiven for thinking the whole set was pre-recorded

and just played out to the crowd.

Early tracks dropped included a forthcoming banger from Skin on Skin that’s been a staple of many festival sets this summer.

Around 5am things descended

into a distorted wonderland where they stayed until close. It was a night where both Hope Works and underground music were at their very best and that sets the bar high for the season ahead.

Jack Mattless Opinion Editor

Hope Works likes to keep you on your toes. It does this literally with the intense danceability of the music emanating from whichever soundsystem they have installed on a particular weekend, but also in the metaphorical sense with the utter unpredictability of the headliner’s set time.

On Friday night George

Images: Capitol Records, Dunhill Records, Verve Records, Top Dawg Entertainments, Factory Records.

Credit: deepskyobject on Flickr

Forge Press

Wednesday 9 October 2019

LIVE SHEAFS at The Foundry Sahar Ghadirian Music Contributor

With the recent release of their fiercely invigorating single ‘Care Less’ last month, indie punk fivepiece SHEAFS performed a seismic headline set at the Foundry.

Despite hailing from Liverpool, Stoke, Nottingham and Derby respectively, the creation of SHEAFS is rooted in the Steel City after meeting here at university.

The electrifying crowds they’re able to attract at their Sheffield shows prove that this is, without a doubt, their adopted hometown.

Having seen them from being a support act at The Leadmill back in 2016 to performing across various venues in Sheffield such as The Harley, Shakespeares, The Great Gatsby and now the Foundry, their punk-infused indie mayhem continues to set the record straight on why they’re one of the most musing and exciting live bands on

REVIEW Temples: Hot Motion Elle Alicia Bennett Music Contributor

As the current pop music landscape continues to lean towards glossy, heavily electronic pop and hiphop, there’s something compelling about bands that cling to their ‘real instruments’ and eschew trends in favour of carrying the banner for good old fashioned Rock’n’Roll.

On Hot Motion, Temples deftly replicate the aesthetics of the hypnotic and experimental psychedelic rock of the 60s and 70s, but the sense of innovation and spontaneity or of mindexpanding exploration - key parts of what made the psychedelic genre captivating to listeners - are all lacking on this album.

The title track ‘Hot Motion’ is a boisterous and bold opener, immediately establishing a dazed - albeit familiar - retro vibe. The album’s production is arguably its strongest feature. On each song the instruments are mixed to create a rich and intoxicating soundscape.

The drums hit hard and deep; the bass riffs feel velvety and fuzzed

29

Music the Sheffield scene.

After a summer of big festivals including Madrid’s Mad Cool and a huge hometown show at the Tramlines Fringe, the quintet have been no stranger to crammed halls and animated crowds.

Beginning their set with a new track ‘Thinking Out Loud’, the band solidified a galvanic atmosphere for their fans. Their interactions with the audience from the outset was as thoughtful and authentic as ever. Not to forget the band’s mutual chemistry, all as equally genuine as the meaning and vulnerability behind the words they were singing.

‘Mind Pollution’, ‘Popular Music’ and the caustic and attitude-fuelled single ‘Get Used To It’ were notable favourites, once again exposing the anarchic energy of the band as they dispelled any thoughts of it being a quiet Friday night.

The encore: ‘This Is Not a Protest’ and ‘Care Less’, emphasised that the politicallycharged urgency of the band showed no sign whatsoever of burning out. The anthemic ‘This Is Not a Protest’, a highlight of their live performances, is always

out; the lead guitars are spacey and intermingle with the vocals that croon away somewhere in the middle distance.

However, as the tracklist wears on, it becomes increasingly apparent that luxurious production isn’t enough to compensate for stale songwriting. Melodically, songs like ‘The Beam’ or ‘It’s All Coming Out’ lack imagination and start to feel predictable and dull before they’ve even reached their halfway point.

The band’s rose-tinted nostalgia and reverence for bands like Pink Floyd, The Byrds and The Beatles are in full force on Hot Motion, and the end result is a collection of beautifully produced and lush sounding Psych-Pop songs.

However, three albums into their discography and it still feels like Temples are playing it safe, relying on the same formulaic approach they codified on their last two albums.

Aside from the beautiful production and collation of instruments creating depth to the songs, at times the listening experience of Hot Motion is pretty hollow. I was just left reminded that as much as Temples might be able to adopt the styles or sound of the bands they’ve been inspired by, they haven’t managed to capture their substance.

SHEAFS Credit: Sonic PR one to move along to. Its catchy riffs and upbeat tempo created an entrancing spirit, captivating the crowd with their confident, pithy probes - as was the same during another of their new songs ‘Totally Pessimistic’, where the lyricism of frontman Lawrence Feenstra reflects on the state of the world today.

Armed with a catalogue of new, stimulating songs, as well as their

Credit: ATO Records / Fontana North

REVIEW Beth Hart: War In My Mind Ashton Kirby Music Contributor

Beth Hart’s War in My Mind is the perfect soundtrack to your rainyday trips to the IC. Within this album, Hart offers a mixture of ballads and upbeat blues songs which will motivate you whilst at the same time providing some calm to your library trip, pushing you through that long book, essay or lab report.

In an interview with Classic Rock, Hart declared that in this

older and equally as explosive tracks, SHEAFS are undeniably a band worth experiencing live.

Their enrapturing stage presence and subtle yet striking politically injected lyrics, enable the gig-goer to encounter an alternative to what is seen in mainstream media.

Causing quite a stir in the UK alternative music scene, with continuous support from major radio stations such as Virgin Radio

(Edith Bowman) and BBC Radio 1 (Huw Stephens) to name just two, all eyes remain on the band’s every move, undoubtedly promising for the band’s future.

Catch them as they continue their headline tour in October, notably their Nottingham show on Friday 11 October alongside Cucamaras and Celestines. You won’t be disappointed.

album she has been more open than ever when writing songs, and with songs such as ’I Need a Hero’, ‘Without Words in The Way’ and the title song ‘War in My Mind’, you really feel like Hart is opening up about past regrets and pains within her life.

Her album is truly diverse and does offer as her first song suggests some ‘Bad Woman Blues’. The upbeat blues of this track perfectly compliment the ballads of the album by providing you with a break from Hart’s truly emotional approach.

with the other songs. It feels devoid of the intimate lyrics that the other songs have to offer, although we must recognise that within the song she isn’t making reference to a sweet shop but rather possibly a past addiction with an important lover. It is easy to recognise the pain she is experiencing within the song, however, unlike the other songs it fails to strike a note in my heart like ‘Rub Me For Luck’.

The fact that the only criticism to her album War in My Mind is that ‘Sugar Shack’ fails to strike the same high bar that the other songs on the album reach shows the high standard Hart sets throughout this meaningful album. I highly recommend that you listen to this album in the IC on a rainy day, as I

Beth Hart will play Sheffield City Hall on February 20 A statement song which superbly sums up the whole album is ‘Rub Me For Luck’ - a song that wouldn’t look out of place as a James Bond theme song. It’s a cauldron of everything Hart has to offer; powerful instrumental backing, truly intimate lyrics and a powerful chorus, allowing Hart to show off her greatest talents as a singersongwriter.

Nevertheless, parts of the album are vulnerable to criticism, such as ‘Sugar Shack’, which falls under the high bar she has set herself

first did, finding yourself staring out the window making the music video for ‘Without Words in The Way’.

Credit: Provogue Records

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Music

Activism in music Empowerment Edie McQueen Songs of empowerment vary wildly, often depending on individual experience and personal reception, whilst still uniting underdogs from the folds of society. The brash self-assurance of the aptly named Confidence Man cannot fail to stir our feelings, making us feel dynamic and buzzing with potential. ‘Try Your Luck’ in particular, with its assertive, unapologetic female sexuality, demands to be heard and danced to, instilling the same sense of power threaded throughout the lyrics in the listener. Oasis’ insistence that

Politics and anti-establishment Ben Sherlock Payne Evidently in popular music, political opinions and antiestablishment attitudes have always been expressed. I have chosen four examples from across pop and punk that demonstrate this. Firstly, ‘Power to the People’

by John Lennon emphasises the importance of democracy, and the need for people to go and fight for what’s truly important to them when they’re treated unfairly. ‘Working Class Hero’, also by Lennon, is further linked to societal unfairness, explaining how, no matter how much ambition a working-class person has, it can be impossible

Feminism Dana Raer Feminism is a movement that caused sparks in general mentality and paved its way through the music world in the form of lyrics of empowerment, emancipation and equality. Artists such as Aretha Franklin with songs such as ‘Respect’ contributed to the idea of equality between women and men, an idea of mutual respect.

the UK heard Liam Gallagher’s drawling vocals in a society whose media and pop culture were distinctly lacking in working-class voices remains a call to arms to embrace more, holding a middle finger to the class system.

They remained unapologetic about their roots, forcing the dual mundanity and gorgeous potential of their day to day life into the public consciousness with songs such as ‘Digsy’s Dinner’. Or take Aretha Franklin’s belting vocals, her famous anthem insisting on ‘Respect’ epitomising the vibrant power that music has the capacity to bestow.

to progress in the class system.

Moreover, the Sex Pistols became notorious for their song ‘God Save the Queen’ due to its antimonarchy and anti-establishment attitude. Like Lennon, the band sympathised with the English working class whilst examining the arguable problems of the monarchy, who only exist for “tourism” and “money” and aren’t real “human beings”.

Finally, ‘Mis-shapes’, by Sheffield band Pulp questioned why some people get top positions in society purely based on their wealth, while others, or the “mis-shapen” reject pile, are sidelined and lose out.

Anti-establishmentarianism has always been expressed in music with, demonstrably, a common focus on the working-class.

Other artists such as Ariana Grande succeeded in portraying in her latest songs our generation’s view of the modern woman, a ‘Dangerous Woman’.

Miley Cyrus’ song ‘Mother’s Daughter’ protested against the abortion ban in parts of the United States. Lots of feminist singers are trying to fight inequality in society through their words. After all, words have the power to change the way we view the world.

Credits: Ron Kroon, crommelincklars, petercruise, Samuel Wiki, Joost Evers, Side Stage Collective, Oli Gill;

Black History Month Azalea Francesca May ‘I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free,’ Nina Simone herself said. She also said: “There’s no excuse for the young people not knowing who the heroes and heroines are or were”, and I believe Simone falls into the category of heroine.

I feel that this song has the intensity and impact of Billie Holiday’s ‘Strange Fruit’ but is more uplifting. As a prominent activist Simone drew upon current events. For example, ‘Mississippi Goddam’, which highlights the dramatic events sweeping America in the battle for civil rights. However, this song makes no mention of specific events but instead draws upon the powerful and elusive feeling of freedom, “removing all the bars that keep us apart” as she reaches out across the

Best songs touching coming out Chelsea Burrell Whether being direct, or littered with hidden meanings, songs about coming out can have a massive influence on the coming out experiences of others. In recent years, one of the best songs about such experiences came from artist Hayley Kiyoko with her song ‘Girls Like Girls’, an anthem that when paired with the music video enforces the positivity behind a same-sex relationship whilst also dealing with the backlash that does

Climate change Ella Craig Over the years, many artists have used their music to convey messages about the dangers of climate change and global warming. For example, the Pixies song ‘Monkey Gone To Heaven’ from 1989 and Radiohead’s ‘Idioteque’ from 2000.

In 2019, the world has declared a climate emergency and artists are expressing their views on climate change in their music more than ever.

16 year old environmental activist, Greta Thunberg worked alongside The 1975 by delivering a speech on why climate change matters over

divided masses. This song is about unification and reflects the changing times. Her consistent efforts for political equality in the face of adversity put incredible pressure on her career and marriage with her husband and manager, Andrew Stroud. Andrew believed that Nina should make her music more accessible to a somewhat ignorant audience. Despite this Simone was motivated by the promise of justice and racial equality, not money.

The positive energy in this song is guaranteed to lift your spirits, so when Nina croons “I wish I could share all the love that’s in my heart” you will feel the same sense of hope and love for humanity. Nina’s ageless wisdom penetrates this song and once you hear it it will penetrate your soul. It will remind you of how far we have come, how far we have yet to go and you will rejoice, as Nina does, that you “got life”.

occur with coming out experiences.

Another coming out song that became a hit in 1990 is George Michael’s ‘Freedom! ‘90’ which hits hard with its lyrics encouraging being your authentic self over hiding who you are and who you want to be. Originating from the musical Les Cage Aux Folles, ‘I am what I am’, performed by the character Albin, makes absolutely no apologies for being gay or a drag queen. The song beautifully reminds us that we just are what we are, and until we are ready to shout from the rooftops just as such, we aren’t truly going to be living.

their upcoming album’s first single: ‘The 1975.’

Lana Del Rey’s album track ‘The Greatest’ includes references to the California wildfires which highlights the mass effects of global warming; ‘’L.A. is in flames. It’s getting hot”.

Artists such as Billie Eilish are also using their music videos as a platform to express the severity of climate change. Her video for the song ‘All The Good Girls Go To Hell’ has imagery of a dystopian world filled with fire to highlight how Earth is warming up at an unpredictable rate and how this could soon be the reality.

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Dan Cross & Josh Teggert Screen Editors

Screen

INTERVIEW Dan Ctoss Screen Editor

With autumn semester now in full swing, we’ve been treated to a spot of grim weather and for one of our editors, the dreaded freshers’ flu!

That being said, this weather has made it easier to cuddle up in bed and watch your favourite TV series or film, safe from the onslaught of wind and rain just outside your window.

Equally, a trip to the cinema at this time can provide a safe haven from the rain and the increasing workload. Here at Screen, we’ve been doing all of the above, and we’ve got some lovely content to share as a result. Dan visited the Students’ Union’s very own Film Unit cinema for a chat about the upcoming year and more, Josh rants about the Emmys, and in a rare occurrence for Screen, we also have two five-star reviews!

Did you know that here at our very own Students’ Union, there’s an entire studentrun cinema lurking beneath our feet. I sat down with a few members of the Film Unit committee to find out what it’s all about and how you can get involved...

Sabina (Chair) [SPres] I’m the Chair, which essentially means I do a lot of everything. I’m supposed to coordinate actions, make sure everyone’s doing their job, make sure everyone’s feeling okay and essentially make sure we’re going consistently in one direction and have a shared vision.

Jamie (Treasurer) [JTreas] I mainly manage the budget - making sure we have enough money for events and merchandise, trying to balance our expenditure and income.

Scott (Publicities Officer) [SPub] I try to be in charge of the Facebook and make sure that everyone knows about our upcoming screenings.

Freya (Publicities Officer) [FPub] I mainly run the Twitter and help sort out getting all of our marketing materials and stuff like that.

What is Film Unit?

SPub: It’s a way of life. It’s a volunteer-run cinema: to volunteer you can be a student or member of the public; all of our volunteers have a shared passion for cinema and we put on really frequent, very affordable screenings open to students and locals alike.

How long has it been running?

SPres: 70 years now, which is a big anniversary for us - stay tuned for our events and celebrations.

How do you decide what films you show?

FPub: We have a selections meeting once a semester and anyone can suggest films which go in a massive spreadsheet and we sit there with pizza and we watch a minute of each trailer, then we vote and it works out based on how many people put their hands up. Then after that we try and get a good mix of classics and genres.

SPres: We advertise them everytime. The Selections Officer’s

role is very important as to finding out the correct balance and they are responsible for lining up the films so they do a lot of work over Christmas and summer.

How do you actually obtain the films you show?

SPres: Essentially we work with a distributor who sources the licences for us, and we usually wait a bit because cinema licences are quite expensive so that’s why our films are usually shown six weeks after their official cinematic release and this way we collaborate with one company - it’s all perfectly legal!

FPub: I love that we do that ‘cause I always miss things in the cinema.

SPub: Yeah, so it’s like a second chance to see it on the big screen.

How many people normally come to a screening or event?

FPub: That’s a hard question.

JTreas: If it’s like a blockbuster we sell out.

SPres: I think the key is the variety of films, so sometimes we have something very niche where only 30 people will come but then all of them will be completely amazed that they wouldn’t have seen this film if there wasn’t Film Unit. Then we have a blockbuster that will sell out like Avengers or something like that.

Any famous guests to FU over the years?

JTreas: The most recent was Greg Sistero.

FPub: And he asked us if he could come, ‘cause he came before and he wanted to come back.

SPub: I was ushering last year… and the guys from Drenge were in the audience and I got to rip their ticket and I was like “oh I really like your music”, they’re so cool aren’t they?

They’re big fans of us as well.

FPub: It’s mutual; they follow us on Twitter, and I feel so cool because the BFI (British Film Institute) and all these really cool organisations follow us, which is awesome.

Have you ever had any problems/ issues trying to show certain films in the past?

SPub: I know there was a nipple rule last year. My friend was in the Burlesque society when we showed Rocky Horror Picture Show, and I know there was a rule about it, no nippleage [in the live performance], I think that was an SU rule “if there’s a nipple you’ve crossed the line.”

FPub: We’re not showing Rocky Horror this year because people in the Uni have suggested that it’s transphobic and we look at the film and think “okay yeah”, so we won’t show it if people are offended by it.

SPres: Yeah we’re always listening to what our audiences say.

In your opinion, what is the best thing about FU? FPub: I think just the variety, Where I come from there’s one Cineworld multiplex, whereas in Sheffield I’ve seen so many things I wouldn’t ever have seen normally. Just generally it’s really nice to go and see a film

you wouldn’t necessarily see.

JTreas: Being from Malaysia, small student-run cinemas are so rare and it’s really nice to have this community - everyone’s so welcoming.

SPres: I think I would say the community is the best thing, because I came first for the free films but then I stayed for the people. It’s just amazing how many different people you can meet from different backgrounds with different degrees and tastes so it’s an amazing place to make friends.

Finally, if people want to get involved with FU, how would they go about doing so?

SPub: Well you can message us on Facebook, we’re very easy to find. You can DM us on Twitter and Instagram, you can email us or come and speak to us at the end of the screening.

SPres: We have plenty of people who come just to usher, which takes literally half an hour and they see the film for free.

Forge Press

Wednesday 9 October 2019

33

Screen

The Primetime Emmys: does ‘emmy-one’ still care about this outdated measure of TV accomplishment?

FEATURE Josh Teggert Screen Editor

The autumnal equinox normally means only one thing for film and TV buffs: the start of the Oscar season. Through September until February, moviegoers worldwide are treated to the wide release of a plethora of films hoping to win big at the annual awards ceremonies with studios hoping the release of an ‘Oscar contender’ in this period will help gain some extra recognition and buzz amongst audiences before the winter awards season starts.

But there’s one ceremony that is contemporarily overlooked, potentially due to its current disconnection with the rapid development of the medium it is attempting to reward. The 71st Primetime Emmy Awards (not to be confused with the Daytime Emmy Awards) were held on Sunday 22 September, and celebrated the supposed best television which aired in the US between 1 June 2018 and 31 May 2019… although disappointingly for me, I must say, was the noticeable absence of The Big Lez Show: Choomah Island 3 from its appropriate categories.

Regardless of the success that British TV had at this year’s ceremony, the Emmys are becoming less relevant with time Nevertheless, 2019 was actually a rather momentous year for British shows at the Emmys. Although Game of Thrones led the way initially with 14 major nominations - including nine for acting and three for directing - it was the British show Fleabag which went home with the most Emmys, claiming four awards including Outstanding

32%

The drop in viewers from the previous year, from 10.2 million to 6.9 million viewers in the US

Comedy Series.

In combination with the HBO and Sky UK production Chernobyl winning Outstanding Limited Series, this marks the first time in history that programmes from the UK won two of the three major awards - the other, for Outstanding Drama Series, went to Game of Thrones, despite its remarkably illreceived final season.

However, regardless of the success that British TV had at this year’s ceremony, the Emmys - like the Academy Awards - are ultimately becoming less relevant with time. Questions have been raised recently over whether or not the Emmys truly represent the ‘best in television’. Take Game of Thrones, for example. The final season may have become the first in history to win Outstanding Drama Series for an eighth series of a show, but to put it lightly, there’s a distinct agreement amongst fans that this was by far its weakest series to date.

Why, then, might it deserve to win the ‘best drama’ prize at television’s most prestigious awards?

It all boils down to one simple and quite disheartening fact: the Emmys are an outdated institution that loves to reward the familiar favourites. Between 2010 and 2018, only two shows won the Outstanding Comedy Series category; Modern Family won it five years on the trot, then Veep for three. The Marvellous Mrs Maisel took it home last year before Fleabag’s win marked the first time since 2007 that two different shows won the award in consecutive years.

The same is true for Outstanding Drama; since 2000, two shows have won the award four times in a row, with The West Wing trumping the years 2000-2003 and Mad Men dominating between 2008 and 2011.

Game of Thrones wasn’t eligible for 2017’s awards, allowing The Handmaid’s Tale to take the prize, but it has won the previous four times it has been up for the award.

£12m

The average production cost of Outstanding Drama Winner, Game of Thrones

Some may argue that Game of Thrones’ big win this year is more of an acknowledgement of its incredible contribution to television over the past decade or so. Yet this becomes quite a confusing concept when looking at the other nominations in the category. Better Call Saul, Bodyguard and Killing Eve, to name a

few, all had fantastic runs this year, receiving much more praise among viewers and critics alike than the HBO fantasy did and each were arguably much more deserving of the title.

Thus, the big Game of Thrones win stands to represent the tremendous bias that the Emmys - and the

0

There were no hosts at this year’s Emmys, for only the fourth time in its history

Oscars to a degree - have towards the convenient, and it’s become a tediously foreseeable affair.

This mentality allowed Modern Family to win it five years in a row, and it’s why The West Wing was able to beat out The Sopranos on a regular basis. Sure, Fleabag is a commendable winner on this occasion and deserves every ounce of recognition it receives - but inspecting the wider picture, what becomes clear is that the Emmys are not generally an accurate representation of what is truly the best television out there.

The Wire only gained a dismal two nominations. Ever. And won nothing. Think on that...

TV is a platform which is widening its horizons every year, and the Emmys are simply too complicated a method of examination and acclamation. Not only are the Primetime Emmys split into three more general subceremonies (Primetime Emmy Awards, Creative Arts Emmy Awards and the Emmy Engineering Awards) which aren’t even held on the same night, but to be eligible for the Emmys in one year, at least half of the show’s season must have run between 1 June of one year and 31 May of the next.

This means a Netflix show which dropped on 1 June 2018 could have won on 22 September 2019, or a half-completed show on Fox could be up for nomination just a few months before the ceremony. It’s a system that could do with a serious revamp in the near future.

Indeed, television is a panoramic spectrum of artistry which is overspilling with content. This medium - progressing at such an unprecedented pace allows artists to provide greater breadth and depth to their stories, allowing for even stiffer competition. This wasn’t an obstacle for the award institute back in 1949 when, in its first annual ceremony, only six Primetime Emmy Awards

137

Number of nominations the American channel HBO had across all categories

were awarded from a very limited selection of shows. But now with the binge-culture prevailing and TV shows garnering extensive followings across virtually every single media sharing platform, the Emmys need to change with

The big Game of Thrones win stands to represent the tremendous bias that the Emmys have towards the convenient the times. They must modernise in order to accomodate for the vast spread of new and exciting material released every week to keep wider audiences appealed by this idea of awarding the acclaimed content.

Or maybe I’m just bitter that The Big Lez Show: Choomah Island 3 didn’t win anything. Who knows.

The Top Winners

Image: MovieDB Fleabag: 4 wins

Image: MovieDB Chernobyl: 3 wins

Image: MovieDB Game of Thrones: 2 wins

24,000 Amount of people who can vote in the Emmys

34

Screen

Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy) is at breaking point. Image: MovieDB

REVIEW TV: Peaky Blinders S5 Anastasia Koutsounia Features Editor

When Peaky Blinders was first broadcast on BBC One back in 2013, it was thought to be just another gangster show that would quietly exist for a short while. Fast forward six years and Steven Knight’s series is an instantly recognisable brand. Its newest season, while not one of the strongest, continues to command the attention of viewers with its complex plot, political intrigue, a now infamous soundtrack

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and aerie atmosphere - coupled with a good dose of guns and murder. The perfect recipe.

Knight has an undeniable talent in storytelling and the elaborate weaving of plotlines, also showcased by his characters, be it new additions or recurring roles. They all command attention and fit into the show like a puzzle piece you never thought was missing.

Following the theme of time jumps, season five kicks off after the stock market crash of 1929, the beginning of The Great Depression, which brings the mighty Shelby Limited Company down to its knees.

With the company on the brink of bankruptcy, the Shelby family goes back to its roots of fixing races, drug dealing, the occasional murder, and questionable alliances as politics take centre stage. However, this time

the enemies are more formidable.

Enter Oswald Mosley (Sam Claflin). As every season introduces an opponent for Thomas Shelby (Cillian Murphy), this time we have one of the most crafted and evil characters the show has ever introduced. Despite all the blood, gunpowder and violence, Claflin’s performance as the fascist MP will chill you to the bones. In season five, Tommy finds himself torn between fortune and power, and doing the right thing.

A recurring theme this season is the Shelby boys’ flailing mental state. We’ve had snippets of Tommy’s instability teased for many seasons, but here, we get a clear insight into his suffering. We see him haunted by memories of war and his dead wife, but now, we have Tommy pushed to the brink of madness.

Thomas’ mental undoing is more prominent than ever. Arthur’s untamed nature returns to the surface, and the inner untangling of the Shelby family becomes a possible reality as Michael Gray (Finn Cole) comes back from America with a wife and a different outlook towards the business.

The last episode was one of the best conclusions to a season that the show has created in a while, ending on a terrifying, morose note that surely sent its millions of fans into a frenzy. The question, though, is whether Thomas will succeed in taking down his biggest enemy yet.

Or will he find his downfall by the hand of his own people?

REVIEW Film: Ready or Not Dana Raer Music Editor

Not the kind of Hide and Seek you’d play with your kids. Image: MovieDB

Ready or Not has one of the most impeccable cinematographic aesthetics to showcase one of the bloodiest movies, in what is an oddly attractive manner. The ceaseless suspense and skilful acting contribute to the realistic portrayal of a thriller.

While humorous and intense, this is the perfect combination of surprise, disgust, laughter and genuine pleasure.

A pact with the devil is the trigger for the entire storyline, as newly-wed bride Grace (Samara Weaving) enters the realm of a rich and distorted ‘gaming dynasty’.

REVIEW Film: Ad Astra Josh Teggert Screen Editor

Brad Pitt fronts this truly gripping space tale, which is a masterful disguise for something far more heartfelt. Roy McBride (Pitt) embarks on a mission across the solar system to uncover the truth about his father, Clifford McBride (Tommy Lee Jones), and his doomed expedition which now, 30 years after its inception, threatens the universe.

What can be described as the Apocalypse Now of space exploration, Ad Astra - directed

by James Gray - is an emotional, deep-cutting sci-fi which espouses

notions of toxic masculinity, only to continually break them down over the course of the film.

McBride is using space travel as a means of escape from himself.

Gray captures his vulnerability with graceful delicacy, weaving strands of McBride’s psyche together dexterously over the course of the film to give the viewer the same sense of growing nervousness as the character.

Yet behind the subtle undercurrents of male susceptibility is a superbly crafted science-fiction film.

Gray explores the grandeur of space terrifically, without any need to go beyond the realms of conceivability.

Fundamentally, Ad Astra is a truly brilliant story about a son trying to reconnect with his long-lost father, discovering along the way that there are parts of himself that he may have lost as well.

‘Ad astra’ translates from Latin as ‘to the stars’.

Image: MovieDB

On the first night with her in-laws, she is forced to play a card game, a determining factor for all people involved.

Unfortunately, Grace draws the ‘hide and seek’ card which results in a murder game between her and the rest of the family.

The story unfolds in a world where bold characters have an advantage in matters of life and death. It’s most enjoyable to see how strong the main character is in combatting the evil forces which surround her. Her progression as a person is enunciated by her weak husband, Alex le Dumas (Mark O’Brien).

What is innovative about this movie is the fact that every reaction is as human as possible. For example, in times of extreme tension when Grace is trying to hide, aspects such as heavy breathing when shocked or swearing when extremely angry or frustrated are natural; the standard of acting and the elaborate attention to detail is very high.

From beginning to end, the entire

set looks stunning with contrasts of white (the wedding dress) and black (the halls of the mansion), showcasing the innocence and naivety of the main character -

What is innovative about this movie, is the fact that every reaction is as human as possible with further contrast achieved through illustrating how quick comedic scenes become bloody and terrifying, completely catching by surprise. Furthermore, directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett pay lots of attention to the smallest details, in creating lots of stunning shots in the mansion and forest.

Enticing in its entirety with long beautiful shots, Ready or Not captivates audiences with its realism and shocking nature.

Forge Press

Wednesday 9 October 2019

35

Catherine Lewis & Ash Williams Games Editors

Games

Hi, and welcome to Games! In this issue, to celebrate Mental Health Awareness Day, one of our lovely contributors, Rosie, has delved into the topic of how video games can affect your mental health. How can a simple game about an egg help you feel better? Read on to find out her experience. We also celebrate diversity with a collection of Forge

Press’ favourite BME video game characters, and why we think they’re so great! Meanwhile, Beth from the Science & Tech section has written us a review on the masterpiece that is Untitled Goose Game, which is sure to be a honking good time! Finally, we’ve included a section highlighting some of the upcoming games we think are ones to look out for.

We hope you enjoy this issue of Games!

FEATURE Rosie Wright Games Contributor

I can’t remember how I found Egg Baby. It’s possible I could have stumbled across a well-placed Tumblr post - or else Rachel showed it to me one fortuitous lunch time as we laid about in the sixth-form common room trying desperately to nap between lessons. I didn’t get a lot of sleep back then. I don’t think either of us did.

And at the points when I was at my lowest, that company - that community meant everything to me Rach and I were cursed with the unfortunate affliction of being profoundly allergic to secondary

education. I won’t attempt to speak for Rachel any more than necessary.

That said, it would be remiss of me to talk about video games, and Egg Baby in particular, without mentioning her. For every game that I clung to and mined for motivation to make it through the week, Rach was right beside me playing along too. And at the points when I was at my lowest, that company - that community meant everything to me. More on that later.

The concept behind Egg Baby is relatively simple, particularly to those who are veterans of the virtual pet scene. It was a mobile app housing what was essentially a Tamagotchi but rounder, eggier, and less inclined to leave piles of poo spattered over the screen.

Advancements in technology being what they were, you could also enjoy your egg-friend in full technicolour as you dressed, fed, and bathed them. Revolutionary stuff. I loved it all the same.

I loved it. he thing about depression is this: it makes you dangerously apathetic.

Games can help provide valuable motivation.

Image: PeakPx

I was 16 when my first depressive episode started. At that time I didn’t possess the language to articulate what was happening to me. Why did my appetite increase tenfold but I never felt full? Why couldn’t I motivate myself to get out of bed and go take a shower? Why was my body refusing to sleep at night? I didn’t know enough to answer any of these questions.

What I did know was that inside my phone there lived a tiny egg with wide anime eyes and the need to be fed and washed several times a day.

I also knew that - despite everything else the apathy had eaten away at - I genuinely cared about this stupid, beautiful egg. Perhaps it was

I also knew that despite everything else the apathy had eaten away at - I genuinely cared about this stupid, beautiful egg because I wasn’t an egg. Or perhaps it was due to a more complex set of reasons. Whatever the cause, at the time I was caring for this egg I hadn’t yet mustered the ability to care for myself. The egg did prove to be a help with that, though.

Did this egg feed me, encourage me to wash, or hug me as I cried at night? No. Of course not. It was a virtual egg and a virtual egg baby at that.

But what it did do was plant the seeds of motivation in me.

When the things you care about have been whittled down to a razorslim list, and nowhere on that list are rudimentary things such as -

let’s say - your own wellbeing, then it’s pretty easy to see the allure in giving up. There’s an attraction in dismissing the project of plodding through life, refusing to put one foot in front of the other, and climbing into bed and staying there until someone drags you out.

Alluring stuff. At least it is if you’re depressed.

I eventually learnt that the trick to not giving in to this allure was reasonably simple, at least superficially. I had to be motivated.

I had to care about something more than I cared about crawling into bed and living out the rest of my days as a festering duvet gremlin.

Of course, finding that all important motivation was just as easy as deciding to be motivated and then pulling myself up by my bootstraps and getting on with it, right?

I trust I don’t need to answer that one for you.

There are a plethora of factors that led me down the path of finding my motivation.

I would love to say accessing well-funded mental health services was one of them, but sadly that is seldom a reality in this country these days. Still, I wasn’t without support. Cooking someone a meal. Helping them book a doctor’s appointment. Doing their washing up. Giving them the money they don’t have for the therapy or prescriptions that they need. These are all things we must do for each

Image: Max Pixel

How games can help improve your mental health

other if we can. These are all things people have done for me when they could.

There was a time before I had access to this bountiful community. Back then all I had was an egg and a friend There was a time before I had access to this bountiful community.

Back then all I had was an egg and a friend.

And I had this ... feeling.

It was there when Rachel and I would curl in our corner of the common room deciding what foods our eggs would like best.

And when I would break out of an hour-long stint of staring at the ceiling to remember my egg needed bathing. I felt it on the occasions I would save up in-game currency for days a n d weeks to buy my egg a cute hat.

It was a little tickle in the pit of my stomach. A warm thrum in the depths of my heart. Not fully realised yet but it was growing. A seedling being soaked, sucking rich nutrients into its core. It was my motivation. Waiting for a little more fertiliser and for the season to be ripe. It was preparing to one day finally - bloom.

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forgetoday.com

Games

Forge Press’ Favourite BME Characters Lee- The Walking Dead Joe Stead Lee Everett is the main character in Telltale’s The Walking Dead. To me, Lee is the best character Telltale ever managed to create during their time developing ‘choose your own adventure’-style games. Lee is a character with many flaws that Telltale doesn’t try to hide.

Throughout the story Lee’s dark, troubled past before the zombie apocalypse is slowly revealed.

However, as the game progresses Telltale also reveals the things that make Lee such a great character.

He serves as a strong leader to several different groups during the game while also managing to be a reassuring guardian for the game’s other star,

Clementine. Telltale didn’t try and make him this infallible, aweinspiring hero. Lee is a man who has made a lot of mistakes, and when thrown into such an extreme situation he does his best to make up for those by helping people who can’t deal with it as well as he can. I think he’s a good role model, a prime example of someone overcoming their dark past to be a better person.

We’ve all made mistakes, and Lee helped me deal with the fact that those don’t have to define who we are.

Image: Intelligent Systems

When it comes to memorable characters in gaming, one of the standout nominations, BME or otherwise, has to go to Sergeant Avery Johnson, the loudmouthed platoon leader that sticks by the Master Chief’s side throughout Halo 1-3.

Combining humour with kick-ass speeches and general badassery, he becomes a beacon of hope during humanity’s war with the Covenant and the Flood.

A genuine ally on the battlefield; he’ll stick with you

in games is so important, so that nobody is left out and everyone can play as and meet characters that they can see themselves in.

We hope you enjoy the list, and here’s to celebrating diversity and embracing our differences!

Basilio is one of your most powerful and loyal allies in Fire Emblem: Awakening. He is the West-Khan of the country Ferox, and was once the reigning Khan of the entire country.

He is dependable, witty, and also very jolly as seen in his interactions with the East-Khan, Flavia, as they frequently engage in friendly banter with each other (usually leading to him being put in his place when he goes too far).

He lends his advice and strength to Chrom and Robin throughout the war, and plays an

important part in securing their victory.

The other characters in the game look up to him due to his wisdom, experience and age, but the reason I admire him so much is because of how he stays so optimistic even in bad situations, never giving up.

Despite Awakening having a big focus on the characters’ fates and written futures, Basilio doesn’t believe any of that can stop him from achieving his goals.

“Don’t you put any stock in this destiny hogwash! Let the dead whine about their fate... As long as I draw breath, I choose to keep fighting!”

A 2009 study published by the University of California found that African Americans appear in games proportionally to their numbers in the real world, but mainly in sports games and titles that reinforce racial stereotypes

Image: Telltale

Sergeant JohnsonHalo Series Ash Williams

Basilio- Fire Emblem: Awakening Catherine Lewis

Here in Sheffield, diversity is important to us, which is why we at Forge Press wanted to celebrate our differences with a collection of our favourite BME characters and what we like about them!

Video game characters are more than just people on your screen, they are role models: people that players young and old can look up to and relate to. This is why diversity

through the worst of times, just to enjoy one of his trademark cigars at the end. What a guy.

Image: 343 Industries

Hau- Pokémon Sun and Moon Zac Hickton-Jarvis Hau is your plucky friend and rival in Pokémon Sun and Moon, who you meet at the start of the game and frequently throughout the story.

He is very kind and caring towards his Pokémon, while still striving to become stronger so he can be like his grandfather, Hala, the Melemele Island Kahuna.

He’s a very happy-go-lucky character and never minds losing to the player, always saying that having fun is what matters most. This is a characteristic more common in

recent Pokémon rivals, but I think that Hau is the best written of them so far, as he also shows other realistic emotions throughout the game such as the fear of not being good enough to live up to his grandfather, and worrying for his friends.

He loves to eat the Alola region’s most famous dessert, malasada, which he frequently raves about on your adventure. He stands out to me as a very important character, being the first BME Pokémon rival and paving the way for Hop in the upcoming games Sword and Shield, who hopefully will be written just as well.

Image: Game Freak

Forge Press

Wednesday 9 October 2019

REVIEW Untitled Goose Game

Games or if you are in danger of being discovered. There’s just enough tension in the quests to motivate

I get so much joy out of honking at people and stealing their belongings

Beth Hanson Science & Tech Editor

Untitled Goose Game is the type of explorative, laid-back game that you need to wind down and relax at the end of the day. You play as a rambunctious goose and explore a variety of town and garden settings while playing pranks on the villagers. I downloaded the game because of its random and quirky concept, but while I was playing, the main thing that struck me was how soothing it was.

It really allows you to fall into a world where you’re just a goose with an odd list of shenanigans to do Upon starting the game, I was pleasantly surprised by the music.

It has a playful piano medley that flows and grows louder whenever your goose is being mischievous

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you to complete them, yet it doesn’t add to the stresses and anxieties of everyday life.

I wouldn’t call myself a gamer. I don’t play games regularly because I have genuinely awkward thumbs and I’m not very good at them. There is also the ever-present crushing guilt about not studying!

With this game, all the quests are nonsensical and aren’t timed or graded. It really allows you to fall into a world where you’re just a goose with an odd list of shenanigans to do. I get so much joy out of honking at people and stealing their belongings (only in-game, of course).

3D-model entire continents doesn’t mean we have to. I have enjoyed playing as a 2D goose more than games with much more time and funding behind them. It’s hard to believe it was made by just four guys as a joke!

I would certainly recommend this game to any casual players who just want to embrace the power fantasy of being a cheeky goose on the warpath. It’s easy to pick up for beginners and children too. I hope you enjoy causing chaos in this sandbox-style game. PEACE IS NOT AN OPTION.

Fun Fact! The game’s name in Japan is “Here Comes the Mischievous Goose”

At its core, I believe this game is testament to the fact that we don’t need huge, multilayered games full of detailed assets and characters. Just because the technology is there to

Images: House House

Introducing... Upcoming game releases

Catherine Lewis Games Editor

Grid PC, PS4, XBO 11 October

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare PC, XBO, PS4 25 October Image: Activision

Image: Codemasters

Doraemon: Story of Seasons PC, Switch 11 October

Luigi’s Mansion 3 Switch 31 October

Image: Bandai Namco

Image: Nintendo

MediEvil PS4 25 October Image: Sony

Garfield Kart Furious Racing PC, PS4, XBO, Switch 7 November Image: Microids

forgetoday.com

38

Science & Tech

Beth Hanson & George Tuli Science and Tech Editors

Hello and welcome to Science & Tech! We hope you enjoyed our first issue of the year.

In this issue we bring you articles on research from the University’s Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, into the combined effects of climate change and deforestation on tropical species.

We also showcase some of your

wonderful nature photographs from over the summer period. We had so many photos sent in that we’ve had to continue this showcase online.

Finally, we explore the autumn equinox and what this event marked.

If you would like to write for Science & Tech, please let us know! We really value ideas from contributors so feel free to pitch your passions to us at press.science@forgetoday.com.

Climate and deforestation threaten tropical species Bethany Hanson Science and Tech Editor

A new study, published in Nature Climate Change in July 2019, investigates the interaction between deforestation and climate change in the tropics. The research was led by Dr Rebecca Senior and Dr David Edwards from the University of Sheffield’s Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, in collaboration with Dr Jane Hill from the University of York’s Department of Biology.

The topic is crucial to our ability to predict the overall effect of climate change and thoroughly explores the multiplier effects of both issues working in tandem.

The tropics contain most of the biodiversity hotspots of the world. These hotspots have been identified by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and are characterised by having a high number of species that are found nowhere else in the world (known as endemics).

For this reason, maintaining and protecting these areas is paramount for species conservation.

The average tropical forest, is not sufficiently connected along a temperature gradient to enable species to avoid climate change by shifting their distribution

Image: NASA

Hotspots are threatened by human activity, land use changes and climate change. As the temperature of our planet increases, tropical species must attempt to either adjust to or avoid the warmer climates. To remain in an appropriate temperature range, animals migrate towards the poles or to higher altitudes. This is called a range shift and is a vital mechanism to prevent individual animals from dying or potentially going extinct due to increasing temperatures.

Range shifts are dependent on both the availability of similar climate envelopes in other locations, and the connectivity between the current and future habitats.

Large areas of deforested land in tropical forests can prevent range shifts and therefore leave species vulnerable within habitats as they become more and more inhospitable.

The barren and fragmented land left by deforestation means that animals have limited food and shelter and can’t survive the crossing to higher altitudes. Deforested land can often span many miles

which further reduces the chance of successful range shifts.

The tropics are also vulnerable to entirely novel climates and will experience higher temperatures than anywhere else as global warming continues. Species will be unable to adapt to climates they have never experienced before and will be

>62%

of forest area is already incapable of facilitating range shifts

unequipped to face temperatures exceeding their thermal safety margins, the range of temperatures in which they can survive.

Dr Senior et al assess the potential for species to reach similar climate envelopes in the future, which they call “climate connectivity”. They conclude that, “over 62 per cent of tropical forest area is already incapable of facilitating range shifts”, and over the 12 years of their study, deforestation severed connections for a further 27 per cent of the surviving forest.

“The average tropical forest, for any given realm, is not sufficiently connected along a temperature gradient to enable species to avoid climate change by shifting their distribution,” they add.

Even in regions with large connected areas of land mass, such

as the western Amazon, the Congo Basin and New Guinea, the pathway to the projected target climates was thousands of kilometres. Even after this migration, species may still experience a few degrees’ warming.

Overall the study highlights the vital need to curb global warming and, on a more local scale, change the way we manage forests in the tropics. Connecting forests along climate gradients should be a priority when there is opportunity for protecting and restoring the tropical forests. The availability of ‘green corridors’ may be the saving grace of many species and ensure we preserve the maximum biodiversity possible.

Forge Press

Wednesday 9 October 2019

39

Science & Tech

Nature photography showcase Grey Seal

Image: Samantha Skinner

Sanderling on Baleshare On a windy September day on the western coast of the Outer Hebrides, I couldn’t resist following this little flock of sanderling. I was armed with my Canon 1300D and a Canon EF 70-300mm lens, and the Sun was sinking fast on the horizon.

I was supposed to be focusing on the vegetation, collecting data on

sand dunes for my dissertation as time was running out. However sanderling, along with turnstone, purple sandpiper, dunlin, ringed plover, redshank, lapwing, snipe, and curlew, represent nationally important populations of waders.

Therefore, the vegetation could wait.

Over the summer, Kate (of Arts section fame) and I went camping in Penzance, and took the coastal train from St Erth to St Ives, with my trusty Nikon D7200 and Nikkor 35mm f/2 AF-D lens. After buying the best piece of rocky road in the world, we walked along the pier, and noticing a crowd of people leaning over the end, went to investigate. In the shallow turquoise water of the harbour, a greyish blob was lurking just below the surface. Before long, the animal emerged and turned out to be a grey seal. The seal smiled for a photo, then dipped back below the surface.

Swan on the Avon This year, as an intern with the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust, I was lucky enough to live beside the Hampshire Avon. The river was teeming with wildlife, and I saw water voles, foxes, grass snakes, kingfishers, and all manner of wading birds at the water’s edge.

Earlier this summer, against a

backdrop of water meadows and calling lapwing, I ambled down to the bank-side with my Canon 1300D and Canon EF 70-300mm lens in hope of seeing otters, to instead be charmed by a family of swans.

More photos online...

“Are you looking at me?”

Rose-ringed parakeet: Paola Restuccia

Image: George Tuli

forgetoday.com/

Black-headed Gull

Insects

Image: Matt Clements

Image: Samantha Skinner

Image: George Tuli

Image: Matt Clements

Image: Matt Clements

On what turned out to be the coldest and windiest day of the summer, I took a day trip to Dunwich on the Suffolk coast. The tide was out, so I walked along the pebbly beach.

On the horizon was Sizewell B nuclear power station, the only one in the UK with a Pressurised Water Reactor. Fishermen were positioned along the beach, and seabirds like

the black-headed gull, pictured, swooped through the sky. After snapping this with my Nikon D7200, through my AF-S Nikkor 55-300mm lens, the rain intensified so I headed back to the car. I later learned that the beach further down was closed due to an ammonia leak at the power station!

First Rose

Mona Monkey in Lagos: Nkechi Adeboye

The first pink rose of the year!

Nothing says summer like the first rose to bloom, especially when it looks so perfect. This picture was taken in my garden with an iPhone 6, which just goes to show you don’t need to go far away or have fancy equipment to capture beautiful pictures of flora!

Image: Kathryn Harris

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Science & Tech

forgetoday.com

George Tuli Science & Tech Editor

Autumn equinox 2019

It’s officially autumn, but what is an equinox, and how is it celebrated?

George Tuli Science & Tech Editor

What causes the autumn equinox?

The Earth takes one year to orbit the Sun - 365 cycles of day and night.

In the summer, the days are much longer. You wake up in the light, and the Sun remains in the sky until after nine o’clock in the evening.

Meanwhile, in the winter, it’s dark when you wake up, and the Sun has long set by the time you go to bed.

This is because, rather than rotating perpendicular to its orbit around the Sun, the Earth is tilted on its axis. About 4.6 billion years ago, our solar system was merely a cloud of matter - gas and dust. Over time, the gravity of these particles caused the cloud to collapse in on itself, and start to spin. The Sun formed in the centre, and with a new source of gravity, matter collided, forming protoplanets. When these preplanets slammed into each other, matter from both bodies combined to create even bigger planets. This is how the Earth is thought to have formed, and the way in which the collisions occurred is thought to have caused the axis tilt.

All of this means that for half the year - experiencing summer - the Northern Hemisphere is nearest the Sun, getting light for longer,whilst in the other half - experiencing winter - the Northern Hemisphere is furthest from the Sun, resulting in fewer hours of daylight.

At two points in the Earth’s orbit, the Sun appears to cross the celestial equator, a projection of the Earth’s own equator into space. It’s at these points when the hemisphere nearest the Sun swaps to being furthest away. We call these points equinoxes, meaning “equal night” in Latin, because when the alignment occurs, day and night are both 12 hours long.

When does the autumn equinox occur?

The autumn equinox, due to the misalignment between the calendar year and the tropical year, can occur at any time from 21 to 24 September.

This year, it happened at 8.50am on Monday 23 September. If you watched the sunrise on that day, you will have seen the Sun come up due east, and the sunset will have been due west.

People who use the astronomical

system to define the seasons use the autumn equinox to mark the transition from summer to autumn.

An alternative system uses the months of the Gregorian calendar to divide the year into meteorological seasons, and this puts the start of autumn at 1 September, 22 days behind the astronomical definition.

Autumn becomes winter on another important astronomical event: the winter solstice, which this year will be on Sunday 22 December.

Solstices occur twice a year when the Earth’s axis is tilted most closely towards the Sun. The longest day of the year occurs in the hemisphere tilted towards the Sun, whilst the other hemisphere endures the longest night.

There is debate over whether the winter solstice marks the start or the middle of winter, as well as conflict with the meteorological system. The coldest temperatures during the day are usually felt some time after the shortest day, which is why it typically snows in January or February, and the chances of a white Christmas are rather remote.

How is the autumn equinox celebrated?

For centuries, people all over the world have celebrated the autumn equinox.

In Japan, Buddhists recognise the equinox as symbolising the transitions of life, because the Sun sets due west - the direction of the land of the afterlife. In the week around the equinox, known as Ohigan, people visit the graves of their ancestors, leaving flowers.

Pagans celebrate Mabon, the ‘second harvest’, on the autumn equinox. It is a time to be thankful for abundant crops of the summer months, to share with people less fortunate, and to prepare for the darker, colder nights ahead in winter. Celebrations involve gathering crops from the fields, gardens and orchards, whose apple trees represent wisdom and guidance.

In the UK, we traditionally celebrate harvest festival on the full moon closest to the autumn equinox, known as the Harvest Moon.

This year, crowds gathered at Stonehenge to celebrate the autumn equinox. Pagans and neo-Druids were amongst the hundreds of

Image: George Tuli

people who visited the site to watch the sunrise. Visitors to Stonehenge were allowed to go right up to the stones, and to be inside the stone circle, which is usually roped off to the public.

After the Autumn equinox

Autumn has arrived. Horse chestnut and London plane trees are lining the streets with their crisp, golden leaves. Sunset is noticeably earlier in the evening, and the air has taken on a warm and earthy, almost smoky smell. Wildlife takes advantage of the abundance of autumnal fruits.

Acorns, rosehips and crab apples are squirrelled away so animals can build up their fat reserves for the impending winter. Jackdaws and rooks fly in flocks to their evening woodland roosts. Stags and bucks develop antlers to fight rival males.

Misty mornings reveal an intricate network of spiderwebs coated in dew.

Now it’s over to you. Go for an early-morning walk and watch the sunrise in the Peaks. Celebrate the start of autumn, and look forward to a season of warm colours, crunchy leaves, and pumpkin spice lattes.

Forge Press

Wednesday 9 October 2019

41

Sport Thoughts

press.sport@forgetoday.com

Forge_Sport @ForgeSport

England’s golden generation - what went wrong?

David Marriott Sport Contributor

There is little dispute that the period of 2002 to 2010 saw England possess its most talented group of players since 1966, but famously the side managed quarter-final finishes at best. With pundits and players disagreeing on what caused these failures, I’d argue it was down to three key factors.

Perhaps the most important element to consider is the playstyle.

Throughout the 2000s, England played with a rigid 4-4-2 with Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard in midfield. The pair have spoken retrospectively that they felt they needed a player like Michael Carrick to sit behind them, but neither Sven-Göran Eriksson nor Fabio Capello ever thought to try this.

Michael Owen has also suggested that England should’ve played a 3-5-2, with David Beckham and Ashley Cole as wingbacks, whipping in crosses for himself and Wayne Rooney. Nowadays, Gareth

Southgate may not have as talented of a squad, but he has a core way of playing that he always sticks to.

Another aspect is the cliques forming within the squad. The golden generation had core elements from Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool. The current England team does not have quite the same feed from the top clubs, with Leicester and Everton players making up key parts of the squad. In a revealing interview, Rio Ferdinand, Lampard and Gerrard all admitted that they did not socialise with each other for fear of giving away information about their clubs. It’s hard to imagine Harry Maguire, Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling avoiding each other for the same reason.

The final factor has to be the lack of preparation for tournament football.

Peter Crouch has mentioned on his podcast Capello’s poor preparations for South Africa 2010. From leaving the players alone in the hotel for long periods of time, to having poor player morale management –

Wayne Rooney playing for England at EURO 2012 Image: Ilya Khokhlov Southgate’s considered approach demonstrates that the camp around the players is just as important as their ability. However, England’s most common misadventure is that of penalties. The frequent arrogance to refuse to practice has thwarted

England on countless occasions.

The acceptance to understand the psychology around them has led to two successes in as many years.

One may wonder what may have happened if these lessons were learned sooner. Ultimately,

the deciding element was that the players never played out of their skin for the shirt. They could have tried harder and the shadow of what could have been will loom over the country for as long as the years of hurt continue.

Why British prodigies should welcome pastures new Ben Gomes Sport Contributor

Jadon Sancho in 2017 while at Manchester City Image: Werner100359

The Premier League is a sea of riches when it comes to young talent, yet fear of failure to meet objectives leaves clubs opting for established players over potential talents. The spending power of clubs sees them buy solutions rather than develop them.

Pep Guardiola has labelled Phil Foden as the most talented player he’s ever worked with, yet he can’t get a game. Chelsea’s young stars have only just been afforded game time due to the club’s transfer ban.

When youth players struggle to see a pathway into the first team, they are left with few options to prevent their careers from spiralling. However, the recent trend of young British players moving to foreign leagues, namely the German Bundesliga, has proven successful.

The case in point here is Jadon

Sancho. The Borussia Dortmund wonderkid found himself in a similar position to Phil Foden when at Manchester City. Too good to go out on loan and with no chance of starting, he decided to leave in pursuit of game time. Now he’s a regular starter for Germany’s second biggest club and has quickly become the Bundesliga’s most prolific creator, earning England caps in the process.

Arsenal’s Reiss Nelson and Everton’s Ademola Lookman tried their luck in Germany on loan and performed well, only to struggle for minutes upon returning home.

Lookman chose to move to RB Leipzig permanently. Additionally, Bobby Duncan acrimoniously parted ways with Liverpool this summer, after a spat between club and agent over the young striker’s game time resulting in a move to Fiorentina.

Whilst the Premier League seems to be improving this season with

regards to giving opportunities to youngsters, there is still much to be done to convince the potential prodigies that patience will be rewarded. If a foreign club is offering minutes then players should be encouraged to take a chance, to play, to develop.

Whilst not all players will become England starters within 12 months like Sancho, much encouragement can be taken by his meteoric rise.

Young players are often tagged with being fearless yet too few British players are prepared to take this leap of faith. The most fundamental part in a young player’s development is match practice and if foreign clubs are promising minutes over millions in a player’s contract, they should pack their bags and buy a ticket to unlocking their otherwise untapped potential.

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Sport

Rowing club paddles 50km marathon to raise funds for charity Support Dogs Alex Brotherton Sport Editor

The Sheffield University Rowing Club completed a tough Boston Rowing Marathon, just one of the events that has helped them to raise over £350 for Support Dogs.

Many of the rowers have relatives that suffer from conditions such as autism and epilepsy and so rely on Support Dogs, a charity that trains assistance dogs for people with various medical conditions.

The Sheffield women’s squad took part in its second Boston Rowing Marathon and was comprised of Emily Stewart (20), Laura Wickens (20) and Banke Ajayi-obe (24), with Isobel Catt (20) as the bowgirl.

The team completed the 50km rowing race from Lincoln to Boston despite a few hiccups along the way.

Emily Stewart, volunteering and inclusion officer at SURC, said: “Our quad had a difficult race, our steering got severely hampered by reeds and

weeds getting caught in our rudder and with 15km to go one of our seats broke, so we only had three rowers.

“Despite not having a great finishing time I am extremely proud of everyone’s determination to keep pushing through, it was a true test of mental and physical endurance.”

Aside from the rowing race, nine members of the women’s and men’s teams also competed in the Sheffield 10k running race just a few

Sheffield University Rowing Club members after the Sheffield 10k run Image: Emily Stewart

days after they had paddled away in the icy waters.

Explaining why the club chose to help Support Dogs, Emily said: “We really value supporting smaller, local charities. Support Dogs especially benefits such a wide range of people, training dogs specifically for each person who needs them, tailoring the dogs’ skills exactly to peoples’ needs.

“The charity is close to the heart

for many of our members.”

The club has a number of fundraising events planned for the rest of the year.

“We are planning a joint event with the University of Sheffield Men’s Rugby team, again to raise money for support dogs.

“Every year we also complete ‘12 Days of Fundraising’ from the 1st-12th December, where we get involved in everything from

ballroom dancing with care home residents to helping with food bank collections and running fun sports sessions in local schools.

“This Christmas we hope to raise £6000 for the Children’s Hospital Charity.”

While she admits that it’s easy to feel cut off from the real world while studying at university, Emily hopes that ther work will encourage other students to start fundraising.

“It’s such a valuable thing to get involved in and really opens your eyes to how close we are to people affected by poverty, homelessness and disability.

“Helping to improve people’s lives is a great feeling and can teach you so much about your own strengths.”

Former basketball player to be honoured at event at Goodwin over the weekend Alex Brotherton Sport Editor

Mathilde (l) with teammate Nikhita (r)

Members of the University of Sheffield Women’s Basketball Club will host a charity fundraising day on Saturday October 12, to celebrate the life of a beloved teammate and friend.

Mathilde Le Toquin, a second year Biomedical Scientist playing her second season with the first team, tragically lost her short battle with cancer in June, aged only 21.

Mathilde’s teammates, Mem Swanborough, Nikhita Chandar and Bethany Rutherford, have organised a day full of fundraising for the Teenage Cancer Trust. The charity supports the young persons’ unit at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham where Mathilde was treated.

The event will begin at 2:30pm with some friendly basketball games at Goodwin Sports Centre, with players requested to make a £2 donation.

After the basketball, a drinks service will start at 7:30pm at Interval Kitchen at the SU involving numerous fundraising activities.

Mem Swanborough said: “Some of us attended the funeral in July in Shropshire, and it was really nice to reflect on fond memories with her family and friends. This event is to share that with everyone that wasn’t able to attend, and maybe didn’t know her as well.

“The teenage cancer trust is a really worthy cause and we’d love to help raise awareness whilst celebrating her life. We want to raise as much money as possible while celebrating the amazing woman she

was.”

Mem, Nikhita and Bethany stress that the event is open to all, regardless of whether you knew Mathilde or not.

“Mathilde was the most motivated and kind-hearted person you’d ever meet. She had so much drive to do what she wanted to achieve in life”, Mem said.

She was extremely welcoming within the club and always helped people out “She never had a bad word to say about anyone, was extremely welcoming within the club and always helped people both on and off the court. She was always so bubbly and lively, you just couldn’t

really be in a bad mood with her.”

Sharing their memories, it’s clear how much Mathilde meant to her friends.

“It was Varsity in first year and Mathilde and I were both playing”, Nikhita remembers.

“Hallam usually smash us, but this time we played really well. We were ecstatic. Mathilde picked me up and spun me round and it was such a happy adorable moment.”

Beth recalls Halloween 2018: “We dressed up as zombie basketballers.

I went to her house early to get ready and she helped me with my zombie makeup because she was so good at it and I was useless.

“It just summed her up, she loved basketball and helping people so much.”

Forge Press

Wednesday 9 October 2019

Got a sports tale to tell? press.sport@forgetoday.com Michael Ekman Sport Coordinator

Hello everyone and welcome back to another issue of the Sport section!

Firstly, it’s great to see that there is so much interest in covering sports this year! A lot of you have approached us during Freshers week and said you’d be interested in helping out with our coverage so that’s been brilliant!

Furthermore, I’m happy to announce that we’re starting a new column. Some of you may remember Captain’s Corner was a regular

instalment last year but now, we’ll be replacing that with a Women in Sports column! The aim is to highlight some of the magnificent accomplishments that some of our women teams and athletes achieve over the year and give these just a bit more coverage.

There have also been several sports teams that have taken part in charity-related events. The Women’s Rugby team ran a 10km charity run in support of some of their members whose family members have been struck with cancer. Meanwhile, the rowing team

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Sport paddled 50km to raise funds for Support Dogs, a charity that trains dogs for people with various medical conditions. Finally, on 12 October at Goodwin Sports Centre, there will be a remembrance event for Mathilde Le Toquin, who sadly passed away recently. Mathilde was part of the women’s basketball team and the event is being organised by her teammates. I encourage everyone who can to come down on the day.

Even if you didn’t know Mathilde personally, it’s open for everybody to show up and is set to be a lovely event.

Results board

Upcoming fixtures

Watford 0 - 0 Sheffield Utd

Sheffield Utd - Arsenal

Sheffield Wednesday 1 - 0 Wigan Athletic

Cardiff City - Sheffield Wednesday

Sheffield Utd Women 5 - 1 Coventry Utd Women

Crystal Palace - Sheffield Utd Women

Altofts Ladies FC 0 - 1 Sheffield Wednesday Ladies

Sheffield Wednesday Ladies - Bradford Park Avenue

Sheffield Tigers 37 - 40 Loughborough Students

Wharfedale - Sheffield Tigers

Sheffield Steelers (Home) 4 - 3 (PS) Nottingham Panthers & Nottingham Panthers 1 - 3 Sheffield Steelers (Away)

Fife Flyers - Sheffield Steelers & Dundee Stars - Sheffield Steelers

Sheffield Sharks 75 - 60 Cheshire Phoenix

Sheffield Sharks - Glasgow Rocks

Women in Sports: Lifesaver earns medal at Yorkshire regional heat Michael Ekman Sport Coordinator

A University of Sheffield lifesaver finished third at a local Yorkshire lifesaving competition, earning herself a medal in the process and almost qualifying for the National Championships.

Biomedical Science student, King Yee Cheung, competed in the individual category at the Royal Life Saving Society’s (RLSS) Yorkshire Regional Heat.

“I was really happy coming third and getting a bronze medal”, King Yee said.

“I know I could’ve done a lot better and I had the potential to get a better position on the podium, but it was my first individual competition of that kind so I had no expectations to come away with anything.”

An unknown sport to some, lifesaving consists of various swimming races that incorporate lifesaving techniques, for example, swimming and carrying a mannequin.

However, as it is usually a team sport, the individual category is slightly different and made up of four different events: life support initiative, aquatic initiative, 12 meter rope throw and 100 meter swim and tow.

The two initiative categories place the contestant in high pressure situations and simulate people being in danger, drowning, or not breathing.

Meanwhile, the rope throw consists of the contestant throwing a rope to a ‘victim’ and pulling them onto the side and the swim & tow involves the contestant swimming

50 meters, picking up the ‘victim’ and towing them for the other half of the stretch.

Even though this was just a regional competition, the winner of it qualifies for the upcoming National Championships in November.

“Prior to this event, I had not trained at all as it was still off-season for the university club.

“On the day of the competition I was extremely nervous, simply because I had not done this type of competition before.

“I was a bit out of my comfort zone and since it was an individual event, I didn’t have my teammates there to support me.

Even though King Yee didn’t win the regional heat, she is still happy with her results, as she was up against much more experienced

King Yee with her medal after the competition.

opponents.

“I was only doing this competition for fun and I didn’t have high expectations for myself nor was I pressured to qualify for the Nationals, so in that sense it was relatively relaxing and rewarding.

“All the people I was competing against had done it from a very young age, whereas I only started lifesaving

in university four years ago, so they had a lot more experience compared to me.

“It was not close between me and the first and second placed competitors but now I have gained a lot of confidence from this and I definitely think I have the potential to be up there next time.”

Women’s rugby brave the downpour to complete charity run Michael Ekman Sport Coordinator

(cont. from back) ...views on the day

were echoed by fellow teammate Rebecca Kemball, who said: “I would be lying if I said the rain didn’t put a slight dampener on our mood before the run but despite that, while running, we all maintained high spirits and were determined not to let the rain stop us.

“I must admit, although I did bits of training here and there in the gym

over summer I didn’t do anything too full on.

“However, prior to the race SULFRC had a pre-season week

which enabled us to work on our fitness and get it vaguely up to scratch to complete the 10K confidently.

Rebecca added: “When the finish line seemed so far away, the fact that we were running for a great charity and for some truly great people made that pain feel that little bit smaller.

“For that reason, it is easy for me to say that it has been one of the most rewarding things I have done.

£1,535

raised for Cavendish Cancer Care after the team’s £400 goal

Additionally, the team recently hosted a development festival with other local women’s teams to help grow the confidence of new players

and familiarise them with the game.

Jennifer said: “This development festival offers [new players] the chance to learn through intensive workshops which were run by players who have been in the exact same position as them.

“These clubs were very keen to be involved and even offered their own volunteers to help run the event.”

Even with events such as the development festival and rugby generally being on the rise, Jennifer believes more could be done to boost

the women’s team.

“There has been a growth in women’s sports in the last few years. In terms of rugby, we are still

behind the boys in terms of funding and publicity but that is due to many factors such as membership size and skill. It’s the little things that can help such as giving women a key performance time during varsity, Sport Sheffield funding coaches more, ensuring that accessibility to sport is made easy through funded transport.”

forgetoday.com

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press.sport@forgetoday.com

Sport

Forge_Sport @ForgeSport

The team lining up ahead of the big run.

Women’s rugby runs 10k race to support teammates with cancer-struck family members Michael Ekman Sport Coordinator

The Women’s Rugby team braved the drenching rain to complete the Asda 10k Charity run, to raise funds for a local cancer charity that’s aided family members of the team.

The charity, Cavendish Cancer Care, provided therapy for team coach David Dean when his wife was diagnosed with cancer as well as for player Maeve Morrissey when the same disease struck her mum.

As such, the charity was a clear choice for the team to fundraise for.

Captain of the Women’s Rugby team, Jennifer Selim, said: “As the charity has provided support to key members of our club, it naturally felt right that we did a charity event to raise money for Cavendish for their amazing work, and as a sign of support from the club to Maeve and Deano.”

“We had an opportunity to look around the facilities and it really brought home the impact

of the work they do, and we felt the value of the therapies they offer.

“It’s an amazing place and it’s very welcoming.”

At the run itself, the team had to put up with torrential downpours but that didn’t put them off from finishing the stretch.

“All together there were twelve of us that ran with times ranging from 55 min to 1 hour 20 min. There were loads of personal bests that were beaten so it was a happy day all round.”

Several team members trained ahead of the run by running 5ks,

On the day everyone was pretty excited and the atmosphere was amazing so it makes you push yourself carb-loading, and getting plenty of rest before the big day.

Despite the serious

preparation and weather, Jennifer says that the team spirit remained high throughout.

“On the day everyone was pretty excited and the atmosphere was amazing so it made us push ourselves.

“Afterwards everyone was beaming and it was a great feeling to finish.

“The earlier ones were cheering the rest of us on and it was lovely to see some of our members who weren’t running supporting the team.”

Jennifer’s... (cont. on p43)