Lifestyle give us the lowdown on campus fashion
Find our review of Captain Marvel in Screen
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Science & Tech explain why the hot weather is bad news
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THE UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER
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ISSUE 131 | WEDNESDAY 13TH MARCH 2019 | FREE
Trams will be interrupted for five months Niall O’Callaghan
Supertram, the tram service that runs through Sheffield, is to intermittently stop services over a period of five months between April and August this year. The work will be complete just before the start of the 2019/20 academic year, in which SU President-elect Jake Verity has promised students a new ‘student tram fare’. Stagecoach, the company which runs the service, is halting services to replace essential... (cont. on p5)
Image: Juliet Cookson
Frustrated employees say Sheffield SU is ‘exploiting’ its staff, as stand-off over payment method continues Ewan Somerville
Sheffield Students’ Union is “exploiting” and ignoring the welfare of its lowest paid staff, it has been claimed as Forge Press can reveal that a stand-off has emerged between top Union figures and those pulling the pints. Bosses at Britain’s top SU have prompted widespread backlash over their plans to change the pay of several hundred employees from
a long-established weekly basis to a monthly rate. The measures, due to be imposed at the start of April if passed, will affect the Union’s ‘casual’ workforce which are mostly students, all subjected to zero-hours contracts, and commonly seen at popular SU outlets including Bar One, Coffee Revolution and Foundry. Seven casual staff members have expressed their frustration to Forge Press, with many questioning whether Sheffield SU deserves the
title of the nation’s best when the new pay scheme will, they say, cause unnecessary stress at a time when mental health is at the top of the agenda for universities nationwide. However, other disenchanted SU staff say the pay dispute is not an isolated concern but rather the culmination of a wider feeling of anger that has built up among the casual workforce. Senior managers at Sheffield SU, which is formally independent from the University of Sheffield, say
the changes will allow less “timeconsuming” administration and free staff from paying National Insurance and pension pot contributions. One student casual worker at Sheffield SU, who asked to remain anonymous, told Forge Press that the case shows that the pride the Union stressed it holds in listening to its workforce when employing them was mere “lip service”. “Despite what they say, the Students’ Union always puts their profits ahead of... (cont. on p7)
WEP candidate pledges to hear students Ben Warner
The Women’s Equality Party candidate for Ecclesall ward has pledged to listen to students if elected in May’s local elections. Megan Senior was announced as the party’s candidate for the ward on Tuesday 5 March. This will be the first time voters in Ecclesall have the chance to vote for the WEP. She came to Sheffield as a student in 2010, and if elected wants to make sure she is a voice on... (cont. on p4)
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PIC OF THE PRESS
Reflections in the water feature outside of Sheffield train station
Editorial Team Editor-in-Chief David Anderson Managing Editor Becky Sliwa Webb Deputy Editor David Craig Deputy Editor James Pendlington Head of News Ben Warner Head of Sport Adam May LOF Coordinator Sorcha Simons Culture Coordinator Tom Buckland Culture Coordinator Gethin Morgan News Editor Lucas Mentken News Editor Niall O’Callaghan News Editor Alex Peneva Features Editor Rebecca Lally Features Editor Lisa Wehrstedt Opinion Editor Connie Coombs Opinion Editor Matthew Hartill Arts Editor Bethan Davis Arts Editor Kate Procter Lifestyle Editor Harry Browse Lifestyle Editor Amelia Shaw Music Editor Harriet Evans Music Editor Ben Kempton Screen Editor Gethin Morgan Screen Editor Izzy Cridland Games Editor Luke Baldwin Games Editor Tom Buckland Science and Tech Editor Aidan Hughes Science and Tech Editor Jade Le Marquand Break Editor Robin Wilde Sport Editor Patrick Burke Sport Editor Joshua Taylor News Online Editor Ewan Somerville News Online Editor Ynez Wahab Features/Lifestyle Online Editor Rebekah B Lowri Opinion Online Editor Jack Redfern Culture Online Editor Brenna Cooper Culture Online Editor Ben Kempton Sport Online Editor Michael Ekman Sport Online Editor Fraser Harding Copy Editor Coordinator Leah Fox Copy Editor (News) Charlotte Magdalene Copy Editor (LOF) Brogan Maguire Copy Editor (LOF) Laura Foster Copy Editor (Culture) Salena Rayner Copy Editor (Culture) Matthew May Copy Editor (Sports) Charlie Payne Design and Training Coordinator Chloe Dervey Secretary and Social Secretary Connie Coombs Inclusions and Welfare Coordinator Charlotte Magdalene Marketing and Publicity Coordinator Chloe Dervey Photography Coordinator Juliet Cookson Website Coordinator Lisa Wehrstedt In-house Artist Chloe Dervey
Image: Juliet Cookson
Editorial
Hello readers. Here we are again with another issue of Forge Press. It’s quite scary that we’re already releasing this issue, really, as it feels like only yesterday we were going to print on our Elections special. These past couple of weeks have just flown past, and I expect the next couple will go even faster, as it’s getting to that non-stop time of year when things come flying at you from all angles. There will be university deadlines, there will be elections for committees and there will be Varsity. Then, before you know it, the Easter break will be upon us and we’ll be approaching the final stretch of this university year. If Varsity is your thing, then make sure you’re following all our coverage at Forge Media, as we’ll have all angles covered on TV, Radio and online, and when our next issue of the paper comes out it will feature
a comprehensive roundup of all the action in a special Varsity pullout. If it’s committee elections that get you excited, then that’s a bit weird. But you’ve also come to the right place. Because we’ve confirmed the date for our annual general meeting, and it will be held on the evening of Wednesday 3 April. We’ll be electing an entirely new committee and, with many of us planning on graduating in the coming months, there will be plenty of roles up for grabs. So, if you fancy getting involved with your student newspaper, do put yourself forward for a committee position. I really can’t recommend running for a role on Forge Press enough. Don’t get me wrong, it takes commitment and dedication to be part of a committee. But, if you’re up for it, it can be one of the most rewarding experiences you can have at university. I’ve met some
Get involved
Want to join the team? Get involved! No prior experience is necessary, just join the Facebook group Forge Press Contributors and come along to our regular contributor meetings every other Tuesday to meet the team and pitch your own ideas. Plus, think about running for a role! We have an EGM coming up on
incredible people through being a part of this team, and I’m filled with pride each time I see their brilliant work printed in these pages. This issue is no different. From all the hard work put in by the News team to keep you in the loop on what’s happening at your university, to Screen’s beautifully presented review of Captain Marvel and Science and Tech’s fascinating look at the worrying recent fluctuations in weather, the team have delivered again. So, if you haven’t already, stop reading my waffle and get on with reading the brilliant newspaper they’ve put together.
Monday 4 March, and our AGM will be held on Wednesday 3 April. Contact editor@forgetoday.com with any questions.
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News
NEWS IN BRIEF SHEFFIELD Ex-student to take case to High Court
NATIONAL Knife crime now ‘national crisis’
UNIVERSITY Tsinghua University agreement signed
Felix Ngole, the former Sheffield student who was kicked off his social work course for posting ‘anti-gay’ remarks on Facebook, will this week bring his case to the High Court. He will argue that the ruling made by the University puts 6m professionals at risk due to their beliefs.
The head of the Police Federation has called on the Government to tackle the ‘national crisis’ of knife crime as figures from The Guardian have shown that knife crime is rising faster outside of London than the capital itself. Kent has seen a 152% increase in knife crime since 2010.
The University has signed an agreement with Tsinghua University in north-eastern China. It is regarded as one of the most prestigious institutions in the country and the deal aims to strengthen partnerships in research and student exchanges across all subjects.
Tony Foulds Image: Dave Johnson
Professor Koen Lamberts and Professor Yang Bin
SHEFFIELD UNIVERSITY Tony Foulds to be in University takes 17 ‘walk of fame’ ‘top 100’ spots
NATIONAL May: ‘Meaningful vote will go ahead’
Tony Foulds, the man who has been looking after Endcliffe Park’s war memorial for decades is to be inducted into Sheffield’s ‘hall of fame’. Sheffield Council said that Mr. Foulds has put Sheffield “on the world map” and the proposal to induct him was backed unanimously.
The second meaningful vote on Brexit will go ahead according to Theresa May, quashing speculation that the PM would pull the vote to avoid a second humiliating defeat. The Government suffered the largest defeat ever in January on the first meaningful vote, losing 202-432.
The University has been placed 13th in the UK and 75th in the world in the QS University Rankings. 17 subjects were ranked in the top 100 in the world, six of which were in the top 50 with the Library and Information Management course being ranked highest at second best in the world.
Gethin Morgan
Sheffield Doc/Fest have unveiled big-name filmmaker Paul Greengrass as their first programme announcement for the 2019 festival. Greengrass is best known for directing the likes of Captain Phillips, Green Zone, and three films in the Bourne franchise. On Friday 7 June, the second day of the festival, Greengrass will be in conversation with journalist Danny Leigh at the Crucible Theatre. Leigh said: “Paul Greengrass is an inspiration – a giant of British film. I’ve always been fascinated by how he has stayed true to research and realism whether working in documentary journalism or the most spectacular blockbuster movies. His belief in people from all social backgrounds being able to play their part in the film and TV industries is
Blomfield criticises Stonger Towns Fund Ben Warner Paul Blomfield, the Labour MP for Sheffield Central, has criticised
the Stronger Towns Fund for not adequately compensating UK regions after Brexit.
The pot of money, which will
Blockbuster director announced in first Doc/Fest lineup yet another reason to admire him. I’m thrilled to be talking to Paul at Doc/Fest, one of the most essential film and TV festivals anywhere.” Before becoming a Hollywood director, Greengrass spent ten years making TV documentaries for ITV current affairs programme World In Action. He continued making docs before transitioning into feature-film directing, though his documentary roots have stuck with him, often concentrating on retelling true stories such as Captain Phillips and his most recent film, 22 July, about Anders Behring Breivik’s 2011 terror attack in Norway. Sheffield Doc/Fest’s Interim Director, Melanie Iredale, said: “It is such an honour to be welcoming the hugely talented Paul Greengrass to Sheffield in June. The focus of his discussion, with Danny, and with our audiences, lies close to the heart
Image: Forge TV
distribute £1 billion to various
parts of the UK, as well as making
another £600 million available for areas of the country to bid for, was announced by the Government on Monday 4 March, but Blomfield
has criticised it for not going far enough.
This is compared to the report
from the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions, which detailed
that the UK would be entitled to up to €13 million (£11m) of regional development funding from the
European Union between 2021 and 2027.
He told Communities Secretary
James Brokenshire that South Yorkshire would’ve received
£605m from the EU, compared to
just £197m allocated for the whole of Yorkshire and Humber in the
Image: Dick Johnson of Doc/Fest’s ethos, to celebrate and create opportunities for all filmmaking talent, including those from less privileged backgrounds; a conversation that will continue throughout this year’s festival.” Early bird tickets for the talk go on sale today until 25 March, with
Stronger Towns Fund. Blomfield is
a limited number of £5 tickets for under 25s. This year’s festival takes place from 6-11 June and will see over 25,000 people from over 50 countries come to Sheffield to celebrate the finest documentary filmmaking in the industry.
demanding that the Government matches EU funding in full.
The MP said outside of the
debate: “EU funding has been crucial to South Yorkshire.
“People didn’t vote to lose out
in the Brexit referendum. So I’m
demanding that the Government make sure they don’t.”
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Ecclesall Council candidate announced Ben Warner
(cont. from front page) ...the City Council for students. She said: “I am really eager to hear from students living in Ecclesall about whether they feel their views are represented by the current make-up of the Council. I was a student in Sheffield and struggled to engage with local politics whilst studying.” The ward is currently represented by three Liberal Democrat councillors, including Shaffaq Mohammed who leads the party on the Council. However, this year it is Cllr Paul Scriven’s seat up for re-election. He has represented citizens on SCC since 2000, apart from a fouryear spell between 2012 and 2016. “We know that safety and sexual harassment and assaults are an issue for women students,” Senior said.
Image: Women’s Equality Party
“We want to make sure that Sheffield is a welcoming city, but have heard from female students that they don’t feel safe from harassment on public transport, so instead have the expense of getting Ubers everywhere. “If elected we will liaise with the Women’s Officer and Women’s Committee, to offer political support for their work in making the student experience free from discrimination and sexism.” The Women’s Equality Party launched in 2015 and currently claims to have 45,000 members and registered supporters. Sophie Walker, the first leader of the party, resigned the post in January. Local elections will take place on Thursday 2 May.
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Islamic Circle society celebrate launch of first ever women’s football team David Anderson
The University of Sheffield’s Islamic Circle Society celebrated the launch of its first women’s football team as part of #ThisGirlCan week. #ThisGirlCan week is a national campaign, running from Saturday 2 to Sunday 10 March, which aims to promote and celebrate women in all levels of sport. Although the Islamic Circle Society has provided opportunities for women to play sport casually in the past, this year is the first in which they have entered a women’s team in the University’s intra-mural league. Ambar Shabbir, captain of the Islamic Society’s women’s football team, entered the team into the league after joining the society and noticing a lack of opportunities for women to play sport. She said: “When I joined the society I noticed that the amount of women’s sports didn’t match the men’s, who had things going on all the time. I joined to make a bit of a change to that, and until now the girls have never had a team in the league so it was quite a big deal. “Now that I’ve put one team into the league, I’m hoping the next officer in the society carries on and
Image: Sport Sheffield
enters again next year.” Each week 1.5 million more men play sport than women, recent study from Women in Sport revealed. A different study showed that 40 per cent of women in sport face gender discrimination in the industry. Sheffield Students’ Union’s Sports Committee has teamed up with Sports Officer Sarah Morse to put on a range of activities
throughout Sheffield’s third annual #ThisGirlCan week to combat these kinds of statistics. The range includes more Give it a Go and women-only events. Sarah said: “Championing gender equality and celebrating women in sport is something we are really passionate about. I am particularly excited to host #ThisGirlCan week with the University, to celebrate
female athletes, as well as encourage more women to get involved in sport. “We hope to challenge the stereotypes and celebrate women who represent the University of Sheffield through all types of sporting participation. It doesn’t matter what level you are or if you have never played sport before, this week is a perfect chance to try.”
Jake Verity, President-elect of Sheffield SU and the current president of Geography Society, had a case of mistaken identity as he and the society donated £950 to Sheffield Mind. The incoming president visited Sheffield Mind with Max Johnson and Steph Lake, to donate the money they’ve raised for the charity this year. Sheffield Mind thanked the society on Facebook, but called Jake ‘Luke’, with him laughing it off and saying they misread his name badge. He added that this year, GeogSoc have raised a combined £1900 for Mind and the Cathedral Archer Project. Image: Sheffield Mind
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News
Mayor debates regional transport spend with MPs Matt Atkins
Sheffield City Region Mayor Dan Jarvis has visited Westminster to lead a debate on the importance of increasing investment in regional transport infrastructure. Mr Jarvis told MPs and Ministers that regions outside of London and the south-east have not received
their fair share of cash, and called for a more ‘joined-up’ approach. The Mayor said: “Getting transport infrastructure spend right for regions across Britain will help each and every part of the country contribute to national prosperity. “This is not about a binary North versus South debate. This is about the benefits of growth being better
shared between, as well as within, regions. “We need to ensure that we connect our nation’s best talent with the opportunities that will enable them to reach their full potential.” In December, Mr Jarvis launched the Sheffield City Region’s first Transport Vision, mapping out the future for transport in and around the city. The vision aims to improve the connection between towns and cities across the region, as well as set limits on journey times to major
cities nearby. Last month the Transport for the North Board agreed on a £70 billion investment programme for transport links in the North of England. Mayor Jarvis said: “Because of private and public-sector investment, our region unlocked £1.8 billion of investment and created 1,200 jobs. We know that we can do it, but we can only achieve these great results if the Government supports us.”
Image: Sheffield City Region
Sheffield below average for drop-outs Stela Gineva
Image: Juliet Cookson
Trams to be out of action city-wide for five months but will run for Tramlines Niall O’Callaghan
(cont. from front page) ...tracks which were initially laid in the early 1990s, according to the Sheffield Star. Services between Hillsborough Corner and Middlewood Road will be the first to undergo the replacement and will be affected from April 19 to June 2. The line from Shalesmoor towards Hillsborough will be affected from
June 3 to July 18 with further work around Shalesmoor taking place from July 22 to July 25, whilst the Hillsborough line towards Holme Lane will be affected from July 26 until August 9. Finally, Glossop Road and the University tram stop, located outside the IC will be affected from August 25 to 30. Supertram currently has a discount for students, who can go to the SU Welcome Desk and get a ‘day rider’ pass for £3.60 instead of
the standard £4.20. However there are currently no student discounts available for single and return tickets. In Forge TV Debates for SU Elections, Verity said this “simply isn’t enough of a discount” and said that students should instead be “looking for a £2.50 tram fare”. Despite the work, Stagecoach expects to operate a full Supertram service for Tramlines Festival, which takes place in Hillsborough Park for the second year running on the
weekend of July 19 to 21. There will be buses running as a tram replacement service while the work takes place. There will be two drop-in sessions for those who would like to find out more about the replacement. These will be taking place on Wednesday March 13 at Hillsborough Library from 12pm to 3pm and Hillsborough Interchange on Wednesday March 20 from 3pm to 6pm.
The University of Sheffield has a lower than average drop-out rate after first-year, according to national performance indicators. The data, released by HESA (Higher Education Statistics Agency), looked at the proportion of young, full-time degree entrants in 2016/2017 who did not continue into their second year. On average, 6.3 per cent of full-time degree entrants in 2016 dropped out before their second year across the UK. The University of Sheffield’s drop-out rate stood at 2.7 per cent - from the 4,395 full-time students who began university in 2016, 120 were no longer in Higher Education the following year. Sheffield Hallam University’s drop-out rate stood at 6.6%, slightly above the national average. Of the 5,490 full-time students who began university in 2016, 365 did not continue after their first year. The University of Cambridge had the lowest drop-out rate at just 1%, while the highest drop outrate was at London Metropolitan University where 18.6% of students did not go on to their second year. Although the national drop-out rate has fallen slightly from 6.4% in 2015/2016 to 6.3% in 2016/2017, it still has not reached 2011/2012 levels when it stood at 5.7% HESA started collecting non-continuation statistics in 1997/1998.
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RAG plan their biggest fundraising week yet David Anderson
Magid Magid popped into Coffee Revs for one of their special Sheffield RAG brownies. Image: Coffee Revolution
There will be flash mobs, a vegan John’s Van burger and even the chance to win a night out with Sheffield’s Lord Mayor throughout Sheffield SU this week, as the biggest RAG week yet gets underway. Sheffield Raising and Giving (RAG) is a Working Committee at Sheffield Students’ Union, run by a core team of 15, who put on events throughout the year to raise money for charity and support other students who want to do the same. RAG Week is their big second semester event during which they liaise with societies and sports clubs to raise money in exciting and unconventional ways. Joe Hewitt, Chair of Sheffield RAG, said they want this year’s RAG Week to be better than ever. “RAG Week is really our opportunity to take over the SU as much as possible,” he said. “We’re
really lucky to have 370 societies here so we’re trying to get as many involved as possible. “This year is the first year we’ve done it this way. This year we sent out a questionnaire and said right, if you’re interested in taking part in RAG Week, let us know what sorts of things you want to do. There’s a wide range of cultural and artistic performances as well as some sporting ones and all sorts.” As well as the range of student run events, one way in which RAG are raising money is through a raffle to win a day with Magid Magid, Sheffield’s Lord Mayor. The raffle will go on throughout RAG week, and the lucky winner will have the chance to have lunch with the Mayor, do some volunteering, do an escape room and finally go on a night out. “It was great fun talking to him,” said Joe. “He had lots of great ideas, so once we settled the date and told him what we wanted to do and said
we were happy to raise money for his charities we left it with him and he’s come up with this. “The proceeds from the raffle will go to his chosen charities, and any money raised by RAG itself during RAG Week will go to one of his charities as well.” The committee have also organised several RAG themed food and drink deals to be on sale throughout the week. This includes a special Coffee Revolution brownie, an Interval hot chocolate, and even deals with John’s Van, including the first ever vegan John’s Van burger. “We’re trying to just get as many things as possible, just to get the reach of RAG as wide as possible,” said Joe. “We’ll also be doing glitter and glow sticks on ROAR and Pop Tarts during the week. So that’s another way for people to get involved. You can throw us a quid, be extra shiny and help the charities.” RAG Week runs until 16 March.
40 years of Korean Studies celebrated
Management School hosts Speak Out event
Sophie Candler
Ben Warner
The University of Sheffield’s second annual Korea Day, organised by the Students’ Union’s Korea Society and KPop Dance Society, was held on Sunday 10 March. It was held for the first time in 2018, but this year’s event coincided with the 40th anniversary of East Asian Studies. Both societies worked hard to put on another amazing event, which was very popular both among members of the University and other people from the community. The day included lots of different celebrations of Korean culture, including traditional Korean music, demonstrations of Taekwondo by the University’s Taekwondo club, trying on traditional Hanbok clothing, Korean makeup tips and demonstrations and Totem Pole carving. There was also a stall where a calligrapher would write your name on a bookmark in Korean,
which proved popular. Other stalls provided different kinds of Korean food including Kimbap, Kimchi.
The event coincided with the 40th anniversary of East Asian Studies
One of the most exciting events was the KPop Dance Society performing three dances, showcasing popular KPop songs. KPop is a major part of Korean culture and is very successful globally with the likes of boy group BTS. The final part of the day included a KPop cover competition, run by the Dance Society. The competitors sang or danced to a KPop song of their choice and the Dance Society chose the winners.
The University of Sheffield is
hosting a competition as part of the Speak Out initiative, developing the academic skills and employability of disadvantaged young people in Sheffield. Dr Andreana Drencheva, from the UoS Management School, set up the project which is sponsored by local businesses and works in partnership with a group of Sheffield schools. The schools taking part this year are Meadowhead, Chaucer and Sheffield Park Academy. Groups of young people have met with mentors from the University over the last six weeks, working on a project to tackle loneliness in their communities. They will have to present their ideas, including how they are sustainable, to representatives from the University, local businesses and Age UK at an event at The Edge on Friday 15 March.
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News
SU employees angry at proposed staff changes Ewan Somerville
(cont. from front page) ...our welfare, and to continue to push through with this change, which will save them so little, yet will affect us so detrimentally, is the antithesis of this,” the employee said. “This proposal is totally unnecessary and it angers me that the UK’s number one Students’ Union could treat its workers with such disdain.” Another casual staff member added: “The Union brands itself on being a supportive employer for students, yet it is treating its staff exploitatively and ignoring their wellbeing and the concerns they have voiced on the issue”. The SU says most companies and payment cycles operate on a monthly basis, claim they have given plenty of notice of the changes and have offered a ‘pay advance’ scheme to help upset students navigate the transition more smoothly. But casual workers explained to Forge Press that the closure of SU outlets during the upcoming Easter holidays will mean no pay for an entire month, creating added anxiety over bills and budgeting, and expressed worry of a scramble for shifts near the pay deadline.
Douglas Johnson, Green Party councillor for City ward, and Ruth Mersereau, Green candidate for the Ward
“Jumping immediately from weekly to monthly without even having fortnightly pay in between I also find quite rude and inconsiderate to the staff at the SU as it would require a massive lifestyle change,” one employee told Forge Press. “And if the best SU in the country can’t respond to that appropriately then I don’t think it deserves that title.” Initially beginning with discussions on Facebook group chats, around 80 casual SU workers have now joined together to stand up against the Union, who are trying to impose the new scheme, and met last Thursday to form their collective arguments to present to SU managers.
93%
of casual SU staff came out against monthly pay in a survey
It comes as SU bosses have agreed to meet with the disgruntled staff this week for two consultation sessions to discuss their concerns, but those affected are calling for the two week period between the consultations and the last weekly pay day of April 5 to be extended. A telling 93 per cent came out
against monthly pay in a survey launched by one of the opposing casual staff members, with seven of the 107 workers who responded from Bar One, Coffee Revolution, Interval, New Leaf, Our Shop and Venues abstaining. Another casual staff member, who also wished to remain anonymous said they felt “let down” and will now view the SU differently. “I felt let down on the statements that were assured to me when I first joined being, ‘This is your SU’ and ‘This SU is run by the students for the students’,” he told Forge Press. “These statements are unequivocally incorrect and now shows how ignorant I was to believe them. “I am angered by the decision as the sentiments of the policy is that it takes the stress off the administration staff that must deal with our pay, which maybe is a fair point. “Although the lack of consciousness on the nature of student employees and how stressed they are with University life and budgeting shows the incompetence of the decision.” But others claim the anger over the measures, rather than an isolated issue, reflects the breaking point of a wider culture of resentment among
casual staff who are unhappy at their poor working conditions at the SU, widely championed by the National Union of Students as an SU success story. An anonymous source told Forge Press that many SU employees have raised uncertainty over insecurity of being on zero hours contracts, minimum wage, minimum sick pay and holiday allowance.
550
casual staff are employed by the Students’ Union
They said that for many weekly pay was one of the ‘few perks’ left of the job and that it’s “almost not worth it anymore” if weekly pay is removed. Another disaffected employee claimed the SU was being “narrow minded”, adding: “The weekly pay allows me to plan my finances for the next week and work accordingly, I work when I need the money so the weekly pay makes sense especially given that we are on zero hour contracts also.” The source added that an array of deeper issues have surfaced through the ongoing pay dispute, and called for the Students’ Union to address these “whether they implement the
monthly pay or not.” Responding to Forge Press’ enquiries about the frustrated staff SU President Lilian Jones insisted that further consultations would take place before a decision was made. She said: “Our team of casual employees are at the heart of the Students’ Union, and we do not seek to make changes to their pay arrangements without ensuring all 550 of them have a chance to comment first. “The Senior Leadership Team, therefore, opened a consultation on moving all employees from weekly to monthly pay and communicated this to employees on 21 February. “The consultation period is designed to ensure that employees are given ample time and opportunity to respond to the proposal. We have provided several opportunities for employees to give feedback including two feedback meetings open to casual employees during the week commencing 11 March. The SU Senior Leadership Team will consider responses to the consultation in making a final decision w/c 25 March. “We are happy to continue this conversation and provide an update after the consultation period ends.”
Green Party ‘People’s budget’ amendment voted down Ben Warner
Sheffield Green Party have expressed disappointment that their ‘people’s budget’ amendment was voted down by the Labour Party, but say they are ‘not surprised’. The Green Party proposed an amendment to the budget proposal at the full Council meeting on Wednesday 6 March, but it wasn’t passed by the majority Labour group. The 43-point amendment would have committed the City Council to actions such as investing £2.5 million in green construction jobs, creating more cycling routes and decreasing the cost of parking permits and cutting executive pay, amongst other things.
The party say that their proposals would have meant another £992,000 saved a year from 2020-21. However, the amendment was voted down in favour of Labour’s original proposal, put forward by the Cabinet following their meeting on Wednesday 13 February.
£992,000
would have been saved with the Green Party budget proposal
Douglas Johnson, Green councillor for City ward, said after the meeting: “We’re not surprised that the Labour group voted against our proposals. “Our ideas for webcasting, cutting executive pay and the taxpayer-
funded party spin doctors threaten their position. “We have some great ideas to use the council’s resources better to tackle climate change, air pollution and plastic waste. “We all condemn the government cuts but it falls to elected councillors to do the best we can. “Our budget amendment proposed a net increase of 26 new jobs directly employed by the council plus many more, from the renewable energy industry to the voluntary sector.” The Green Party currently have six Councillors, although Lord Mayor Magid Magid has announced he is standing down at May’s local elections.
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Features Features Editor Rebecca Lally Lisa Wehrstedt Welcome to Lisa, who is joining the Features team here at Forge! We’re excited to see what she brings to the table. This issue, we’ve got some really current and informative content for you on the big issues of today, like sustainable fashion and the apporiation of black culture. We’ve also got pieces on issues closer to home, including one on the rise of anti-semitism at British universities, and one on the history of women’s activism at Sheffield Student’s Union, inspired by last year’s officer team! We hope you enjoy our content this issue, and see you next time!
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University of SHEffield: the history of women’s activism at our university Flo Cornall
It’s March, it’s Women’s History Month. A month where women’s accomplishments throughout history are acknowledged, celebrated and liberated. What has the University of Sheffield done in terms of women’s activism? Well, it certainly has taken empowering steps forward. Notably, the historic election of an all-female Officer team in 2018 being a huge success towards women advancing in leadership roles. However, preceding this massive achievement were inspiring steps of women’s activism towards representation, diversity and ensuring all self-identifying female voices were and are still being heard. You may remember the #SheShouldRun campaign launched by the 2017/18 Women’s Officer Celeste Jones. The campaign was inspired by the ongoing US movement of the same name, which empowers women from all walks in life to run for leadership roles and move towards gender equality together.
The further you go up the workforce ladder there are less and less women represented in higher-paid jobs and leadership roles
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Why is #SheShouldRun necessary? Aren’t women equal in the workforce? You may be asking. Statistics show that women make nearly half of the UK workforce (47 per cent). Equality, right? Well, it’s not as simple as that. The further you go up the workforce ladder there are less and less women represented in higher-paid jobs and leadership roles. This is the general gist of the ‘leaky pipeline’ metaphor that
Photo: University of Sheffield’s Student’s Union The all-female student officer team from the year 2018/19
is widely used by feminists - the input of women into the workforce dwindles out near the end as you reach higher paid positions. This has been argued to be down to the disproportionate focus of leadership roles. Women are not encouraged enough to go into these roles because society says otherwise. For example, with our Union’s officer roles the Development Officer and President have been predominantly represented by men; the President role in particular had only two female occupiers in 21 years. When Celeste Jones promoted the #SheShouldRun campaign for the 2018 SU Officer Elections, she wrote ‘Be the change you want to see, believe in your abilities and make history’. And history she did make by encouraging women to apply, with the inspiring result of an allfemale Officer team in 2018/19. Reclaim the Night, the annual march and rally organised by the Women’s Committee and the SU Women’s Officer, has become somewhat of a tradition. Last year’s protest focused on increased street lighting, a ‘zero tolerance’ approach to sexual assault and improvement of support services for survivors of sexual assault. The march itself has a long history in Sheffield, it was started in 1977 by second-wave feminists as a result of the Yorkshire Ripper murders; where police told women to stay at home during the
night for their own safety. Today, it seems ridiculous to say women don’t feel safe on our streets at night - but it’s unfortunately the truth. Almost two thirds of adult women (63 per cent) in Britain have said they feel unsafe walking alone after dark. In an ActionAid research project interviewing 2,500 women, it was found that 75 per cent of British respondents had experienced some form of harassment or even violence in British cities. However, every year we march in solidarity together, students and women all around Sheffield. Reclaiming our streets back in an empowering event. An event that allows not only our voices to be heard, but the voices of women throughout history that have demanded the right for safer streets. Recently, our Students’ Union has shown support towards the ‘16 Days Against Gendered Violence’ campaign - a global UN movement focusing to ‘galvanise action to end violence against women and girls around the world’. Running from 25th November until Human Rights Day on the 10th December, the university campaign has displayed insightful panel talks and discussions on topics which concern women from all backgrounds. So, what else needs to be done? Let’s think of the future. Women’s activism is an ongoing movement and there are many opportunities for you to get involved, for example
with SU platforms like Women’s Committee and Feminist Society, which do campaigns all-year round to put a stop to the stigma against women, achieve gender equality and empower all self-identifying women. In the words of our current Women’s Officer for 2018/19,
75% of British women have experienced some form of harassment or even violence
Mayeda Tayyab: “I think there is still more needed to encourage women to take part in activism because, even though it’s great to have women in all Officer roles, the fight is far from over; women around the world still face violence and discrimination everyday and for us to tackle that we need to stay active”. Whilst Women’s History Month gives us the chance to celebrate our predecessors’ achievements and become inspired, there’s much more that needs to be done and women’s activism is the movement to bring about that change. And you can do that with your own voice. Make your voice heard because it matters.
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Blackfishing: The trend accused of cultural appropriation Eve Thomas
The issue of ‘blackfishing’ has recently attracted the news’ interest, with several celebrity influencers facing accusations of appropriation. The term refers to the use of products or surgery by those of European descent in order to appear to be of African, Arab or Hispanic ancestry. The phenomenon has caused controversy, bringing forth questions about how dark fake tan can be before it begins to appropriate black culture, which hairstyles are fashionable and which are inappropriate, and whether cosmetic surgery to adopt features typically belonging to those of another race amounts to appropriation. Ariana Grande in particular has faced recent criticism in regards to her appearance, with social media users posting images of her on stage alongside Nicki Minaj– an AfricanTrinidadian woman – whom she
Photo: Flickr Ariana Grande in 2014 with a paler complexion
appears to be darker than. Alongside her, however, are equally big names including Kim Kardashian, also accused of blackfishing. Blackfishing also extends beyond skin colour and into hairstyles and body enhancement, appropriating styles, traditions and shapes which do not belong to
Caucasian culture or biology. The most recent case of public outrage towards blackfishing was directed at Emma Hallberg, a 19
The phenomenon has caused controversy, bringing forth questions about how dark a fake tan can be before it begins to appropriate black culture year old Swedish model with over a quarter of a million followers on Instagram. Many of her photos depicted her as darker in skin and with curly hair, implying that she was black or mixed-race. A photo of a far paler, obviously European, Hallberg subsequently emerged, prompting her to respond that she does not see herself as “anything else than white” but that she ‘get[s] a deep tan naturally from the sun’. Her explanation though was not particularly well received. YouTuber Annie Nova used her platform to argue that the issue of blackfishing extends to a question of capitalising on a black aesthetic. Nova argues that “it takes away from actual black creators on Instagram and YouTube whose job it is to promote things.” She notes that brands who market products designed for naturally curly hair often do so primarily through white influencers who appropriate black hairstyles. Her observations suggest that blackfishing is damaging black influencers monetarily, which in turn raises the question of whether blackfishing should entail harsher consequences than simply public backlash. Parallels have been drawn between individuals such as Hallberg and Kim Kardashian, who has found herself spotlighted multiple times for appropriating black culture over the years. By wearing Fulani braids
to the MTV Movie and TV Awards in 2018, Kim appears to have solidified already existing accusations of blackfishing prompted by the figure she has built through cosmetic surgery. These accusations highlight the delicacy of the balance between cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation, as well as an individual’s right to expression. Ariana Grande’s idea of expression seems to have become a progressively more explicit example of blackfishing, having recently been accused of adopting a ‘blaccent’ in her song thank u, next, whilst already having adjusted her skin colour, hair and music style towards a typically black image. She, however, comes from an Italian-American family and began her career with a far paler, more authentic appearance.
Blackfishers exercise white privilege, taking on pieces of another culture but escaping the discrimination and prejudice those of that same culture face
With such indubitable evidence that blackfishing exists problematically in the modern world, the question remains as to why. One reason is the aforementioned monetary motivation, with influencers receiving payment for adopting a certain image in order to promote a brand. However, figures such as Kim Kardashian, Ariana Grande and Emma Hallberg appear also to have more individualistic agendas. In part it is an expression of style, but this reason is riddled with issues, centrally the question of whether we, as a society, can continue to put racially insensitive figures on a pedestal, glossing over their faults
Photo: Flickr Ariana Grande in 2016 with a darker complexion
in the name of self-expression. Their individualistic agenda also means that through blackfishing they attract interest from a greater audience. This is achieved in part by developing a media interest by being controversial. By capturing the attention of the media, they create for themselves a platform by which to talk about their style and expression, even if in a defensive
discrimination and prejudices which those who truly belong to the culture
Photo: Flickr, Disney Nicki Minaj and Ariana Grande
Photo: Wikimedia Commons Kim Kardashian with her hair in braids
context. Additionally, there is an increased interest in figures with whom the audience can identify. By having a range of hairstyles, a broader figure and seemingly transcending race, blackfishers hold appeal to a wider audience. The irony however, is that in appearing not to be white, blackfishers exercise white privilege, taking on pieces of another culture but escaping the
face. For some time, there has been an ongoing conversation about the line between cultural appropriation and appreciation. In an increasingly connected, integrated and therefore multicultural world, cultural appreciation is intrinsic for healthy relations between different communities and in the battle against racism, but if the line is crossed then tensions are increased and relations strained, potentially leading to a vicious cycle of racism and further cultural and racial insensitivity.
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Features
Can you be a student and fashion conscious? Kirstin Gentleman
Sustainable fashion has come to dominate both the news and social media platforms over the past few years, as a topic born out of an increasing awareness for the environmental and human impacts of fast fashion. In a society where Kim Kardashian can post an Instagram in a customised gold dress, and within three hours the fast fashion giant Missguided has posted a knock-off for a quarter of the price, it is hard to ignore the uncomfortable pace at which clothes are being produced. A recent study by charity Barnardo’s found that on average, a clothing item bought by a woman is worn only seven times. This stark warning
calls attention not only to the physical overproduction of cheap, unsustainable clothing, but also to the need for a drastic change to a mindset that encourages an ‘onlywear-once’ approach to shopping. There seems to be a some kind of disconnect between the desire to own a piece of clothing, and our ability to see the impacts that that item is having on our environment. Each step in the process of making a new item of clothing has detrimental impacts on our planet, yet one third of all the clothes we buy end up in landfill. Increasing the lifetime of our outfits by only an extra nine months, could reduce water usage, carbon emissions and waste production by up to 30%. British shoppers buy more new clothes than any other European
country. It has become obvious that something needs to be done about the devastation unsustainable clothing is having. Sustainability charity Wrap revealed that £30 billion worth of unworn clothes are hanging in UK wardrobes, a problem which at its root stems from our trend-led, Instagram influenced, convenience seeking mindsets. The fact is, these attitudes can and must be changed. Even as a student you can make small changes to your shopping habits which in turn will make a significant difference. A new potential way to combat this has come come in the form of renting clothes. There is a growing business in renting, with companies capitalising on the ‘wear-once’ habits of many consumers, and
Follow sustainable fashion influencers
Fill your Instagram, Twitter and Facebook feeds with people who give alternative options on where to shop. Join groups where people suggest the best vintage shops in your local area, and most importantly open up discussions about sustainable fashion with people around you.
allowing people to rent a dress for a week for as little as £7. Not only does this allow you to gain access to designer clothes that may previously have been out of your budget but also marks a future for fashion which seems more sustainable. Speaking to Isabella West, the founder of new clothes rental company Hirestreet, the benefits of this emerging business are clear. Typically, an item from their company is rented at least 15 times, which according to the Ellen MacArthur foundation can reduce the environmental impact of the garment by up to 70%. Hirestreet buys items which they then lease for 20% of the price, making them an affordable option for students, especially if you need a dress just for just a single night out.
Two-week rule
The Panic Buy
If you are tempted to continue buying from high-street retailers, attempt to be as restrained as possible. That leopard print skirt from Zara might be calling out to you but wait two weeks and if you’re still thinking about it constantly and see a gap in your wardrobe for it, then go back and buy it.
One of the worst culprits for encouraging you to splash on fast fashion items is sale periods and late-night shopping. Unsubscribe from fashion retailer mailing lists which bombard you with messages about a 50% sale on EVERYTHING!!! Unfollow these same brands on social media and you will be surprised at how quickly the temptation subsides.
Second Hand Clothing Perhaps the most obvious but also the most accessible way to reduce your fast-fashion footprint is participating in ‘slow fashion’. Switch up your browser tabs from Missguided or Pretty Little Thing, to Ebay or Depop. Perfectly good clothing, at often much cheaper prices, can be found both online and in high street vintage or charity shops. It might take a little more time to sift through, but you will be rewarded with unique, and less environmentally damaging outfits.
The research done by the company found that women were spending over £500 a year on fast fashion, but by hiring the clothes instead they could save nearly £400. As a student this kind of saving is extremely attractive and means you could also do something towards reducing your fashion footprint. But if renting is not for you, there are plenty other steps you can put into place to change your outlook on the fashion industry and alter how you act as a consumer within it. Sustainable fashion doesn’t have to be expensive. We can make a substantial difference to our planet by choosing to slow it down, make more conscious decisions about what we are buying and ultimately change our mindsets when it comes to clothing.
Mental list Before buying something, create a mental picture of all the items in your existing wardrobe. Will this new piece go with items you already have? Do you already have something similar?
Clothes Swaps
I’m sure lots of people borrow items of clothing off their friends regularly for a night out, but why not extend this? If you have a top that you don’t really wear but your friend loves, why not swap it with them for something they have but don’t love? This way you get to reconsider whether you love the pieces in your wardrobe as much as you should, and if not then they can go to a better home.
Image: Jmtrivial, Wikipedia
12
Features
Comment: The rise of anti-semitism in British universities Liam Clements
Earlier this year, in excess of 200 students at the University of Essex voted to oppose the creation of a Jewish Society in an online poll held by the Students’ Union. The poll was suspended before running its full course by the University ViceChancellor, ensuring the creation of the Essex Jewish Society. The vote has since been declared null and void, but antisemitism is an issue the broader academic community and society at large have been blighted by with increasing frequency and ferocity. Towards our collective hope to tackle discrimination in all forms, it is imperative that light is cast upon it at every opportunity, working towards a deeper understanding and appreciation of how antisemitism and all its manifestations are regrettably reinforced and perpetuated. Disquietingly, this sentiment is not unique nor new, with historical examples of this very phenomenon as rife as they are disturbing. In 2002, accusations were made by the Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester, during the voting phase of a University of Manchester Students’ Union motion, of the distribution of a leaflet from the General Union of Palestinian Students quoting a neoNazi propaganda forgery describing Jews as vampires and calling for their immediate expulsion from the United States.
Politicians simply must see sense and bridge partisan divides in order to make progress on this front
Instances of this discrimination have recently been reported at Cambridge, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Sussex and University College London to name but a few, which according to the Union of Jewish Students (UJS) suggested a degree of
coordination. It is thought to form part of a wider resurgence in hate crime targeted towards the Jewish and other minority communities, supported by figures released by the Community Security Trust (CST), a Jewish charity monitoring antisemitism which indicate that when compared to data collected in 2016, instances of antisemitic violence and harassment against students and academics in 2018 had almost doubled. Particularly troubling examples within the last year alone of antisemitic activity on University campuses across the UK included flyers found in Cambridge supporting Holocaust denier David Irving, as well as a student of Sheffield Hallam University being recommended by the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education £3,000 in compensation after the University failed to satisfactorily handle his complaints concerning posts on its Palestine Society social media accounts. The fact that these incidents were reported to the authorities or yielded compensation for the victims after the fact is unfortunately very much a case of ‘closing the stable door after the horse has bolted’ insofar as the aim should always be to prevent these incidents’ occurrence as opposed to simply making amends for their damage. Naturally, our attentions turn to the experiences of the Jewish community here at the University of Sheffield and the city as a whole. “As you might expect, we were horrified to hear that over 200 students voted against the establishment of a Jewish Society at the University of Essex.” said Sara Stone and Gabe Milne, the co-chairs of Sheffield’s University Jewish Society. “Our society provides a space for Jewish students to celebrate their culture and identity and the fact that some students at the University of Essex deem it fit to vote against it is shocking.” They said that JSoc have a good relationship with the security teams in both the SU and the university, who are receptive to their concerns. In addition, the SU adopted a policy regarding antisemitism including the full IHRA definition, a non-legally binding working definition of antisemitism adopted by governmental and
Image: MichaelBueker, Wikipedia
non-governmental organizations worldwide, which also lists examples of such behaviour. “We regularly liaise with the Officer team and with Student Group Support and they fully support us. The SU has taken measures to support us and create a safe environment for Jewish students,” said Stone and Milne. One problem highlighted by the co-chairs is with the lack of clarity surrounding reporting procedures regarding antisemitism to the university, due to the categorisation of abuse as either racial or religious. They added that “It would be helpful if the university better advertised these processes to Jewish students so that they are better equipped to access them. “We have seen an uptick in antisemitism nationally, and Sheffield is no different to that – specifically the graffitiing of swastikas in student areas. However, we are absolutely clear that Sheffield is and will remain a safe place for Jewish students and we are proud to be part of it.” Stone and Milne also called for greater action and leadership on this issue to come from political parties: “It is up to them to engage with the Jewish community and listen to Jewish leadership on this issue.” Interestingly, the notion of blame was discussed, with an emphasis upon the responsibility of political leaders to engage with the Jewish community and heed the advice offered by Jewish leadership on this topic. It is incumbent upon politicians given their significant capacity to influence and to utilise their position to guide and shape societal temperament towards a
more inclusive environment within which individuals of all creeds can thrive. Politicians simply must see sense and bridge partisan divides in order to make progress on this front. Now is not the time for point-scoring, for politicking, but instead for compassion and for a belated recognition of the gravity of the implications of allowing antisemitism for flourish in our educational institutions. The far left and far right alike are
We have seen an uptake in antisemitism nationally, and Sheffield is no different to that
infected by this disease in distinct though similarly profoundly damaging ways and so partypolitical stance and ideological loyalty should, where an issue of this magnitude is concerned, become irrelevant. The mismanagement of the scandal in the political sphere has yielded the net result of an atmosphere within which antisemitism becomes permissible first in academia, later in society at large, at best often merely symbolically derided. A further persistent concern touched on is clarity, which is important as, for this issue to be appropriately tackled, it must first be properly understood by all.
In the case of the situation in Sheffield specifically, it is encouraging to hear of a positive working relationship between JSoc and the security teams associated with the SU and the University alike. However, clearly there remains a lot of work to do with instances of antisemitism still observable around our campus and this great city, and the channels through which activity of this kind can be reported not as clearly advertised as they ought to be. Regrettably, these reprehensible sentiments appear to be escalating despite our hopes to the contrary. The era of neglect rages on and this issue continues to be overlooked. However, it is now more than ever incumbent upon political leaders and the public alike to ensure that Jewish students, and the wider Jewish community within Sheffield and of course beyond can find comfort in the solidarity offered through our enduring outrage and rejection of such attitudes and behaviour. While the far-left and farright alike may find themselves perversely united through a loyalty to denial and finger pointing while careering towards the mistakes of the past, it is a different kind of unity between these two adversarial poles of the political spectrum that must be encouraged. The public must ensure through education and proper punishment of offending parties that any efforts to perpetuate this shameful idea are ill-fated and condemned as a disgraceful, saddening indictment upon the treatment of the British Jewish community.
Opinion Opinion Editors Connie Coombs Matthew Hartill Hmm. March. This may be a long month, right? You’re well into the semester by now, and probably kneedeep in work, deadlines and stress. Here at Opinion, we recognise that and we listen to you, our loyal readers. So, in a shock to all of us, we’ve gone light-hearted for this issue, with pubs and Easter both on our radar. Oh, and the new Independent Group… but you didn’t expect us to ignore it, did you? Not in Brexit month… Happy reading (please)! Love, as always, Opinion x
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The Independent Group - a new era beckons? Can the breakaway group really change anything? Josh White asks. The Independent group isn’t the answer, and I’m not even sure they understand the question. Over the past few weeks, the new Independent Group have been setting out their stall for what they can bring to British politics. The breakaway MPs have announced they are going to “pursue policies that are evidence-based, not led by ideology, taking a long-term perspective to the challenges of the 21st century”, and solve Britain’s ‘broken politics’. This appears to be a sensible and intelligent way of resolving our current issues. However, perhaps if they actually did this, they would come to very different conclusions about the solution than the ones they currently have. The current polarisation of politics clearly demonstrates that our economic system isn’t working for a huge part of the population. We are currently
enduring the longest period of peacetime wage stagnation since the Napoleonic Wars, household debt is rising dramatically as more and more people become reliant on credit just to survive, and Britain is currently forecast to have the lowest growth of any EU country when it leaves the EU. These may sound like abstract statistics, but there is a human cost to these issues as well. A recent study found that 14 million people in the UK currently live in poverty, with 4.5 million of these being children. This is not due to a shortage of work, as two thirds of working age adults and children currently in poverty live in working households. This clearly represents a crisis in our economic system, where jobs do not pay enough for many people to do much more than just survive. All the evidence points to a broken economy that requires
systemic change. No such change, however, is being offered by the Independent Group. Their claim of having no “ideology” in economics is only true in that they have no ideology or motivation to change the status quo. Their desire to maintain the current economic system is clear to see, and the continuation of privatisation, spending cuts, and lowering taxes for the rich and corporations will surely be high on their agenda. This is a status quo which, as we have seen, just isn’t working. Supporters of the group’s position on Brexit may at this point highlight that leaving the EU will only make these problems worse, and that avoiding that must be the priority. To this, I must stress that these are issues that go far beyond Brexit, and Britain’s economic policy after we leave will be far more significant than the
act of leaving itself. Sadly, it appears as though the Independent Group are determined to maintain the status quo of this country, a status quo which isn’t working. Their claims of pursuing “evidence-based” policies seem to be completely contradictory to the solutions they have proposed to Britain’s ‘broken politics’. Not only do they not have the answers to our current economic crisis, but I fear that they are also so out of touch that they don’t realise there are even such problems to begin with.
Are you ever too old for Easter Eggs? Eve Thomas
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Whatever religious views you may hold, there is one uniting theme across the Easter period: chocolate. Whether you’re a milk chocolate fanatic or more of a dark chocolate lover, there isn’t much to complain about when the focus of the foodie world is chocolate-orientated. You may remember being frequented by an infamous bunny during Easters past, and whilst the magic of that particular character may have worn off, the excitement of the seasonal chocolate-fest may still linger, and rightly so. It seems to me that, if you like the sweet stuff, there is every reason to get excited by an annual opportunity to gorge yourself. If you are gorging, then you’re certainly not alone. Britain loves its chocolate, ranking fourth globally in consumption per capita, only
behind chocolate heavyweights such as Switzerland. We each consume approximately 9.5kg per year, and it seems likely that we make a significant contribution to this weight around the Easter period. And why shouldn’t we enjoy the sugary pleasures of the season? There is even some evidence to suggest that chocolate is a positive addition to our diets. According to research by Columbia University, a component of chocolate has been found to reverse age-related memory loss in healthy adults between 50-69. Considering this, it seems we should be getting progressively more excited about chocolate with age – after all, we only have our health in mind. Once we’ve justified our gluttonous festivities, the next obstacle to overcome is deciding which chocolate is worthy of the calories. Whilst it may be a matter of opinion, there are some options
which raise their heads but once a year, and need appreciating accordingly. Mini Eggs and Creme Eggs are the most obvious contenders, although I would have to argue that the sweet insides of the latter just give it the edge. On the other hand, the classics must always be appreciated: I often find there is nothing better than a pure slab of Cadbury’s milk chocolate, or perhaps a cheeky caramel. However, for every good egg there is bad, and any kind of fruit or nut-based chocolate must immediately be ruled out of the equation. It might seem controversial, but raisins just don’t belong in
chocolate (or chocolate-chip-cookie lookalikes either for that matter). So, this Easter, remember that you’re never too old to indulge - but I’d steer clear of the fruit and nut.
Image: Lotus Head
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A definitive list of the best pubs in which to ignore global warming The thing that drew me to Sheffield, if I’m being truthful, was the prospect of cheap drinks. My palate has evolved somewhat over the last four-and-a-half years (goodbye vodka-Irn Bru, hello vermouth cocktails) but I’ll always love a pint or three in a beer garden, shivering in a denim jacket that’s far too thin for the weather. Now that global warming looks like it’s granting our wish of hotter days, I’ve compiled a (non-comprehensive) list of some of the best places to drink in Sheffield when the weather gets warmer. Connie Coombs
Bar One & Interval
Bungalows and Bears
Wetherspoons (all)
Bar One and Interval are obvious contenders, but they’re deserving nonetheless. The downside is the fact that they fill up quick, but get there early enough and you’ll definitely secure a seat, and some of the drinks are the cheapest in Sheffield. The beer gardens get enough sun to last you the afternoon, and I don’t need to mention the food, do I? I grant them both three beers out of five.
Not a fan of the outdoors? Is your hayfever hellish? Do you and sunshine just not get on? You sound like my boyfriend. The best bar for those who are indoors-inclined is, without doubt, Bungalows and Bears. Yes, it’s expensive, but that’s the price one pays for refusing to take lukewarm tinnies to Weston Park like the rest of us. Bungalows and Bears gets four beers out of a possible five for opening their floor-to-ceiling windows on hotter days, simulating being outside while avoiding sunburn.
Wetherspoons, as always, deserves an honourable mention. I’m not going to rate it out of beers, because everyone knows and loves Spoons, but my two personal favourites are Francis Newton and Sheaf Island. As a side note, Sheaf Island was the first place I ever tried Henderson’s, so it’s got that going for it.
Doctor’s Orders If quieter pubs are more your speed, then Doctor’s Orders is a solid choice. The pub has good beer gardens in the front and back (automatic grant of three beers for maximisation of space). Were it not for the priciness I would happily give it four beers, but as a result it’s three out of five.
Public Public is the priciest on this list, but given everybody else will be enjoying the sun, it’s bound to be empty. It gets three beers, for being expensive but worth it for the ‘gram.
Gardeners Rest Are you misanthropic to the student population? Then you’ll love the Gardeners Rest! It has the benefit of not being anywhere near a big student area, so tends to be a little quieter than anywhere in Broomhill, Crookes or Crookesmoor. For me it’s got to be four beers out of five for the Gardeners Rest.
Honourable Mentions Honourable mentions: The Riverside (I’ve never been, but it looks neat and it’s right on the river); Fox and Duck (four beers; student deals and a nice beer garden); Forum (not cheap, but not too expensive; four beers for cheap pizza and being right on Devonshire Green).
Wetherspoons (All)
All photo credit: Juliet Cookson
15
Opinion
SU Elections: Are they really worth it? We get an inside look into this year’s campaign... Ben Warner
When I came to Sheffield, I never pictured myself running for an SU Officer position, but I can honestly say running for Education Officer was one of the most rewarding experiences of my time here, and I would highly recommend it to anyone thinking about it next year. Even though I didn’t win. I know a lot of people are skeptical about the importance of these elections, and in my first year here I was the same; I couldn’t see the point in the Officers, I didn’t know what they did for me, and I’m not sure I even voted. Two years on, having worked with two Officer teams as Head of News for this paper, and held them to account representing the Journalism Department on SU Council, it’s safe to say my view has changed, and that’s part of why I wanted to run. I believe the Officers can bring about
genuine change, which helps our students’ lives in the short - and long - term. I don’t believe that people who run are part of the “it’ll look great on my CV and I can stay in Sheffield for a year” brigade. Both those things
But fundamentally I believe that candidates and the winning Officers want to help out students, and that’s what makes the grueling campaign period all the more
Fundamentally I believe that candidates and winning Officers want to help out students
are true, and if you’ve been part of the SU during your time here it would be nice to have a bigger role at such a vital institution. I’d be lying if I said those things didn’t cross my mind.
For the past five years, the most popular backpack across the world has undoubtedly been the Fjallraven Kanken. If you want to buy yourself one of the square block-colour bags you have a big choice in front of you: either go to a shop and buy it for £70, or get one from sites like eBay and AliExpress for £12. The two would look absolutely identical to an untrained eye. But once you start using them, the difference in quality becomes apparent. Yet Fjallraven’s jaw-dropping price points are justified not only by the high quality of its gear, but also by a deep commitment to the natural world. The brand became a staple for the outdoor community
in the 1970s and its commitment to the environment started in 1994. Climate change had made Arctic foxes (the logo of the brand, and the English translation of Fjallraven) almost extinct in Scandinavia, so the brand partnered with the EU to sponsor research and conservation efforts. Fjallraven has also recently started applying this ecoconsciousness to its production chain. Its Re-Kanken backpack is woven from a single yard made of 11 plastic bottles, which allows it to be recycled, and it has implemented a Code of Conduct for its suppliers that prioritises animal welfare, workers’ rights and sound environmental practices. But, like any other company, Fjallraven must still make a
I won’t lie and say I wasn’t disappointed to lose, but I know what a good campaign both I and the other three Education candidates ran, and it’s given me a clearerthan-ever perspective on SU life. It can’t change the world, but it is genuinely so important and I’m really excited to see what the new team do in 2019-20.
Photography: Chelsea Burrell
Greenwashing: Unethical and dangerous and it has to end Lisa Wehrstedt
worthwhile. The 12-hour days, getting up early for breakfast briefings, going into lecture shoutouts, then doorknocking in Endcliffe or Ranmoor, were really tough, especially for a small campaign team. But it’s really rewarding, and hearing students talk honestly about their experiences was a good way to spend a week.
profit. As much as they can brand themselves as environmentally conscious, their main aim will always be to sell more products. So, are their efforts really having an impact or is just a ‘greenwashing’ tactic?
Image: Yui Ke, Flickr Lately there has been a trend from outdoor brands to
cultivate a more conscious and environmentally friendly image. Another brand that received a lot of backlash for their green marketing campaigns is Patagonia. On Black Friday 2011 they ran an advert in the New York Times which said in block capitals “Don’t buy this jacket.” The advert explained the company’s green business plan and promoted a consumer ethics focus, championed by the slogan “Don’t buy what you don’t need. Think twice before you buy anything.” Yet, in the two years following this campaign, Patagonia increased its sales by 40%. They might encourage a consumer not to buy their products, but they have an interest in them doing so and will obviously not stop them if they want to. Nonetheless, Patagonia has the largest apparel repair facility in North America. They launched a ‘Worn Wear’ campaign, offering to repair decades-old gear. But they have also been capitalising on this anti-consumerist aesthetic, selling a $29 repair kit that looks like it’s straight out of a Wes Anderson film.
Of course, the very existence of these companies is reliant on consumption, and unless we change our whole economic system, we cannot hold companies accountable for saving the environment on their own. Customers should understand the ethics behind the brands that they buy, and the advantages of this corporate activism. Most importantly though, we should understand the damage that we are doing by appropriating these brands’ identities. By buying a fake Kanken for £12, not only are you supporting counterfeit products and the working conditions that come with it, but you are also promoting yourself and shaping your selfimage around eco-friendly values, without doing anything concrete to help that cause. Being completely ethical with our choices is not easy in today’s consumer market, but there are three things we can try and do: buy slow, buy smart or don’t buy at all.
16
Lifestyle Lifestyle Editors Amelia Shaw Harry Browse As we start to transition from Winter to Spring, this issue is all about having confidence with your wardrobe. From statement tees to must-have accessories, we want to help you get through the semester with style. Whether you’re looking for a new, unique spot to get some inspiration for your dissertation, or just somewhere a bit more exciting to catch up with friends, we’ve reviewed Whatetown Coffee Company, the new coffee shop in Crookes that certainly didn’t disappoint. If staying home is more your forte, we also have a recipe for a vegan ramen that will make the rainy evenings a little more bearable.
Have an interest in food, travel or anything else Lifestyle related? Want to write with us? Drop us an email, or join the Forge Press Contributors Facebook page!
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Campus Confidence W
hat outfit makes you check yourself out? Spring is showing its first glimpses and this season, confidence is key. We speak to four people about the outfit which makes them feel like their best self. A big trend at the moment is superimposing layers of tonal colours with pops of vibrant yellows and reds; a subtle but effective way of standing out from the crowd.
Trishul V. Chauhan Although I take much of my stylistic inspiration from an arguably disturbing amount of people watching, I cannot deny that the most persistent avenue for my aesthetic ‘presentation of self’ would have to be the local vintage stores. Much of my outfit originates from such esteemed outlets. Although I may be paying a higher price for such naughty garments, I find that there is a longevity to
such unique purchases which cannot be said for the buffet of ‘fast fashion’ options which plague our nightclubs. When one embellishes themselves with a tantalising mix of textures and classic staples, such as crisp corduroys and classic leather, one tacitly accepts that the devil resides in the most meticulous of details.
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Lifestyle
Conal Gallagher This jacket was probably the only good thing to come out of the Iron Fist tv show, but everyone at uni assumes it’s Roar merchandise. It’s actually based on souvenir jackets from WW2, where American GIs stationed in Japan would get traditional designs stitched into their jackets to commemorate their service, and bring them home as souvenirs (hence, the name).
The rings are a bit less cultural-I just like them. Some are from online, others from markets in random cities, and one I traded for a slice of pizza (don’t ask). It’s a simple outfit, but for someone who spent years trying to blend in and not be seen, a bright red jacket and chunky silver rings feels a pretty good evolution.
Eri Kikkawa My favourite blouse I got from a boutique store in Tokyo always cheers me up with its brightly coloured painting of a port city, reminding me of fresh sea breeze and bright sunshine even when the weather is not really pleasant. Going for more details, elegant but not too posh design of the watch (Olivia Burton, London) enhances the positive impression of my overall fashion styling. I can wear this lovely watch for various social scenes, both formal and casual ones. Another highlight is Dr. Martens’
boots, which always keeps me fashionable even when walking down the street in rain. Both Olivia Burton and Dr. Martens are widely appreciated British fashion brands in Japan and they give me confidence as a Japanese student studying in the UK, reminding me of the cultural exchange of these two countries.
Ali Turner My favourite jeans to wear with the top are my grey straight legs, mainly because they suit my blue kickers that I like to wear with the top to show off the blue accent. Sometimes I wear a flannel shirt over the t-shirt because the vintage twang of a t-shirt tucked in with a belt and a shirt thrown on top brings it all together. Wearing this makes me feel expressive for capturing my love of art, nostalgic for reminding of a place I adore and proud of that because it looks pretty cool. Wearing my Roy Lichtenstein t-shirt from Louisiana Art Gallery in Denmark
is always a pleasure. It not only expresses my admiration of Pop Art, but reminds me of a place I enjoying being. Where I am surrounded by art from some of the greats such as Warhol, Haring, Picasso, Moore. Plus, I think the detail of the picture being in velvet makes it extra special.
Photography: Rebekah Lowri and Harry Browse
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Lifestyle
REVIEW Whaletown Coffee Charlie Heywood-Heath
Whaletown Coffee Company is small shop with a whole lot of soul. The friendliness of the shop is achieved not only by the impressive array of soul music which flows around the room but also the personalities of both the owner, Jordan, and his friend Stephen who work tirelessly to run the enterprise six days a week, 8:30am to 5pm. The coffee shop feels like an extension of Jordan’s own personality. His enterprise offers a variety of speciality coffees which combine both his knowledge and passion for coffee. A novice myself, I was impressed by just how much involvement Jordan had in his venture, with posters on the wall
that informed customers of the origin, process, taste and roast of the beans used. This insight reflected the importance of ethics to the company, with Jordan only working with providers who treat everyone in the supply chain with respect and dignity – something which he checks and advocates for every local business. I started off with a flat white. Contrary to what some adverts suggest, there was no pretence or pompier to how Jordan and Stephen made this. It was presented beautifully and tasted just as good; a velvety texture which was soft on the palette and soothing to drink. I knew instantly that this was top quality coffee, which Jordan quickly verified when he revealed more of his knowledge of
The
the types of coffee bean and how it affects the taste. Anyone who wishes to know more about this can easily check out the chart on the
Cookbook
wall which provides information on the various tastes and textures, but I’d encourage asking the two lads as they are friendly and passionate enough to tell you themselves. In learning more about the beans used, Stephen then made me an Americano whilst Jordan informed me of the various community events the business was involved in. This was a more subtle taste, with less bitterness than other outlets who perhaps use poorer quality beans; however, the earthiness and rich flavour made for another pleasurable beverage. Described as a thirdwave coffee shop, Whaletown Coffee Company
Three Ingredients Vegan Ramen Lisa Wehrstedt
With its rich and tasty broth, ramen is one of the most iconic and sought-after Japanese dishes. Traditionally, it takes hours of simmering to make this hearty soup. But with this threeingredient and two pots recipe, you can make yourself a bowl of vegan ramen in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
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- 500ml of water - 1 teaspoon of red miso paste - 5 medium-sized shiitake mushrooms (fresh or dried) - 70g of spinach - 1 spool of rice or egg noodles - 100g of tofu (optional) - 1 egg (optional)
truly believe in the importance of local enterprise. This quality is not just reflected in the coffee but the behaviour of Jordan and Stephen. Whether it’s saying goodbye to every customer, holding the door open for mothers with prams or spending 2 hours talking to me about everything from soul to Sheffield; Jordan and Stephen enjoy and thrive in what they do. Even if you don’t like coffee (they do serve other beverages), I would encourage everyone to visit and relax in a truly enjoyable coffee shop. You would not think it had only been open three months as it already feels like it is a big part of the Crookes community; a testament to the pride and endearment Jordan shows for his new home of Sheffield. Whaletown Coffee Company is a place founded on inclusivity and breaking down barriers. You will not find anywhere else which is so inviting and insightful; I’ll definitely be back!
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Bring the water to a boil and stir into it one teaspoon of miso paste until it is completely dissolved. Leave the broth on the stove on low heat. Cut up the shiitake mushrooms and cook them in a pan with a splash of olive oil for five minutes. Transfer the mushrooms into your miso broth and let them simmer, then cook the spinach in the same pan you used for the mushrooms, again for five minutes. Transfer the spinach into your soup and let it all simmer for another five minutes to give the broth some flavour before you turn of the heat and put in your noodles. Leave the noodles to cook in the broth for five minutes, stirring once halfway through to separate them and ensure they are completely submerged. As optional toppings you can add some, cut up and pan fried tofu, or a soft-boiled egg (boiled for 6 minutes in a separate pan).
Women’s
History
Month Acknowledge, Celebrate, Liberate Get involved at sheffieldsu.com/ IWHM
Mayeda Tayyab Women’s Officer
20
Break
snow white for us!
Break Editor Robin Wilde
It’s only four months until graduation for final years. Just something to make you relax, there. The job market is a cruel mistress and you’ll want to maximise your chances by making your CV sparkle. That’s why across the page, we’ve put together a fresh guide to faking it until you make it (into a badlypaid graduate job). After the politics nerds had their fun running around campus and annoying everyone last month, March marks the revenge of the jocks, as Varsity reaches its conclusion with another year of victory for Sheffield on the cards. If it were up to me, we’d wind up the whole sorry business, tear down Goodwin and build the new library we so desperately need. After several threats from large men dressed in black and gold, however, I am now clear that it is not up to me, nor is it an appropriate platform on which to run for Sports Officer. It is my sad duty to report that the next issue of Forge will be my last as the official Break Editor. I’ll give you the chance for tearful tributes (preferably chocolate or money, please) in two weeks’ time, but the AGM for Forge Press will be taking place on April 3rd (location and time TBC). If you’ve enjoyed the paper this year and want to try your hand at working on a student paper, please come along and put your name forward. This has been my third year on the team, and it’s been such a rewarding way to gain skills and make friends. That’s the serious bit over - on with the pisstaking.
“If I can stop one heart from Breaking, I shall not live in vain.”
Sudoku
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press.break@forgetoday.com
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Varsity gets a bit of a bad rap for being a hive of often offensive chants and mockery, and a chance for society’s beefier members to swagger around and feel big before they go off to work at low-end PR companies like the rest of us. But what if we replaced the macho ego stroking with a chance to all calm down and discuss our differences with Hallam over a nice cup of tea? As well as giving the nerds a chance to get involved, it would set some kind of record for the most sedate use of the Octagon since the SDP conference in 1989. Niceity
Votesity
Borrowing the format from Radio 4’s Just A Minute, competitors will have to describe their opponents in more and more flowery terms, avoiding hesitation, deviation or repetition. The winner is chosen by a panel of judges comprising the wettest people pleasers from each university.
Fresh from electing officers with very little real power, we should be geared up for another pointless electoral contest. This event is simple - the university which can motivate the most students to show up at its respective SU and cast a ballot for them wins the Varsity point. It’s a good way to get the whole student body involved, while not actually requiring them to do any work - just like real sports.
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Puzzle 1 (Hard, difficulty rating 0.73)
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Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/sudoku on Sat Mar 9 13:17:08 2019 GMT. Enjoy!
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Relatable Content Corner
Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/sudoku on Sat Mar 9 13:17:48 2019 GMT. Enjoy!
Emily Dickinson
licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 2.5 License. See: https://xkcd.com/license.html
Pleasant to watch and cheap to host, this would consist of teams of five from each university attempting to put on the most impressive abstract performance using the playground’s favourite whip substitute, the humble skipping rope. If it doesn’t work, at least we’ll get to laugh at the Hallam captain belting themselves in the face with a stray handle.
The earlier Olympic Games had a Town Planning event, and there’s no reason Varsity can’t live up to that lofty ideal. Given three hours, a bag of lolly sticks, some PVA and some spaghetti, teams from each university will be tasked with constructing a new model metropolis fit for the mighty spacemen of the future. They lose if all they make is a mess.
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Break
If you’re graduating this summer you’ll want to get together your CV and start applying for jobs soon. But we at Break know that can be hard - you need experience to get a job, and you need a job to get experience. That said, everyone lies on their CV just a little, and we’ve come up with a handy guide to how you can get away with it - and get the job.
Skills
Education
Remember, nobody over 40 knows how to use a computer, so you can make up any software you like, safe in the knowledge that you’ll never be called on it. Do say: I have advanced knowledge of R, Python, Tableau and C++. Do not say: I completed the rainbow challenge at Corp twice, and can now understand human speech well after watching all my lectures back at double speed.
Once you’ve had your first job, your degree grade basically ceases to be relevant, unless you really screw up. But for now that grade does matter, and you’re blessed with the final mark being a big question mark. You may benefit from extrapolating from your highest grade ever - once you’re hired, employment rights will protect you and your Third from consequences. Do say: Predicted grade: 1st Class BA in History and Politics from The University of Sheffield. Do not say: Predicted grade: 2:2 in Event Management from Sheffield Hallam University.
Experience
Hobbies and Interests
This will probably be the toughest section to fill out, given your relative lack of useful work so far in your life. Below, find a selection of fake jobs you can use as placeholders they won’t bother to check.
While this isn’t the most important part of your CV, it can be a bad one to get wrong. Do say: In my spare time, I enjoy tennis, reading, and the comedy of Rik Mayall. Do not say: In my spare time, I enjoy excessive drinking, eight hour TV binges and obscene quantities of chicken nuggets.
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Wishing Well Repairman Consumer of Fine Spirits Freelance Tweet Writer Influencer Meme Artist Lecture Attendee Break Editor (Forge Press) President of Sheffield Students’ Union Scavenger
»» »» »» »» »» »» »» »» »»
Night Raider of the Blasted Wastes Pasta Chef Parental Fundraiser Student Nightlife Critic Civilian Podcast Recording Engineer Coffee Connoisseur Cleaner (unpaid) Personal Shopper
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What’s on
write for us!
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13 Mar - 28 Mar
budding filmmakers
Scriptwriting and Storyboarding
Friday 15 March // Foundry 11:30pm - 3:30am // £5.50 The student union’s newest club night returns for a second time, after a successful launch last month. Vybez is run in association with BME Students Committee and features genres like afro-beats, dancehall, hip-hop and R&B. Tickets on sale now for Sheffield’s hottest urban club night.
16 Mar 1pm - 4pm View Room 4 £3.30 £1.10 (Res Life)
The first of the weekend’s filmmaking workshops tackles all things scriptwriting and storyboarding. This course is designed to teach you the basics of formatting and visualising your ideas for the screen.
Camera and Lighting 17 Mar 1pm - 4pm View Room 4 £3.30 £1.10 (Res Life)
Disney Quiz
Monday 18 March 9pm Bar One
Bar One continues their worldfamous run of themed quizzes, this time turning their attention to all things Disney. The topics in question will include the animated classics, Disney-Pixar collaborations and the recent liveaction remakes! Guaranteed to be a fun night for any fan.
Those interested in the practical side of filmmaking should definitely check out this workshop, which will teach you the basics of filming and blocking scenes, as well as framing a great shot.
Vision Board Workshop Thursday 21 March 6pm - 8pm High Tor 3 £2.75/55p (Res Life)
Focus your dreams and goals for the year with a vision board! This exercise aims to keep you heading in the right direction as we approach the second quarter of the year. Plus, it’s a nice way to get those creative juices flowing.
Other highlights: Course: AutoCAD Essentials 16 March, 10am-4pm Diamond Computer Room 4 £27.50/£25.30 (Res Life) Trip: City of York 17 March, 8am-5pm Departs from outside Bar One £16.50/£11 (Res Life) Live Gig: Cellar Darling 21 March, 7pm-10:30pm Foundry £13.75 Trip: Harry Potter Studios 23 March, 10:30am-7:30pm Departs from outside Bar One £77/£71.50 (Res Life) Film Unit: Mary Queen of Scots 23 March, 3:30pm/7:30pm Nelson Mandela Auditorium £3.30
Credit: Movie DB
DJSoc: Give it a Spin 26 March, 5pm - 8pm Raynor Lounge £5.50/£3.30 (Res Life)
Dance Like Beyoncé
Can You Ever Forgive Me? Sunday 24 March 3:30pm/7:30pm Nelson Mandela Auditorium £3.30 This drama earned stars Melissa McCarthy and Richard E. Grant Oscar nods this year. It tells the story of a writer who began forging letters from dead celebrities and selling them to unsuspecting buyers. It was widely regarded as one of the best films of 2018.
Thusday 28 March 4:30pm - 6pm Studio (at the SU) £3.85/£1.65 (Res Life)
This one-off dance class will teach you the routine to Beyoncé’s iconic “Single Ladies” routine. Beginners are welcome and encouraged to join, but just make sure you bring plenty of water!
Scan the QR code to see all of the Student Union’s events.
23
Spotlight
Society Spotlight USLES
David Anderson
T
he city of Sheffield is a hive of creative talent, and the opportunities available for students to explore their creativity in Sheffield Students’ Union alone are vast. There are several societies dedicated to the performing arts, from Sheffield University Theatre Company (SUTCo) and Sheffield University Performing Arts Society (SUPAS) to comedy improvisation society The Shrimps and the student run Platform Festival. There is also USLES, the University of Sheffield’s Light Entertainment Society. USLES is an relaxed and inclusive society which puts on two performances a year - one at Christmas and one in the summer to raise money for charity.
Joe Reed is President of USLES, and when I meet him in the Student’s Union to talk about his society, he has just finished watching a show at Platform Festival performed entirely by members of USLES, before putting on his own show. “There was a Platform show called Moving On which I went to see,” he explains. “It was written by a member of USLES and all the cast I think were USLES members, as far as I’m aware. It’s not a USLES thing as such, but drama people stick together as we’re in drama groups. “Then I had my show, which again was all USLES members. It was called Cast versus Crew, which is an improv show in which we try to tell a fairytale and the crew - lights, sound and props - try to derail the show by chucking in random lights, random sounds and random props. “It went well. We got laughs, which is always good for a comedy show. It was pretty derailed. We got to the end, just about, but it was good fun. It was the first time we’ve ever done it properly, so it was kind of intense because we didn’t know how it was going to go down. But it was excellent in the end.” Joe has auditioned and been a part of SUTCo productions in the past, but he values USLES’s inclusive and friendly ethos highly.
“It’s a performance society, but it’s very relaxed,” he says. “So everyone who turns up gets a part. All our scripts are written by members. We do two shows a year, one at Christmas and one in the summer, but it’s just a very chilled, very welcoming performance society.
If you want to be involved in the show then you can be, we never turn anyone away “It’s the more inclusive side of things [that makes it different]. In SUTCo and SUPAS you turn up and audition and it’s yes or no whether you get a part. Then rehearsals are pretty intense and they do about six shows a year, or something like that, whereas we only do two. So it’s a much more relaxed rehearsal. Plus, if you want to be involved in the show then you can be, we never turn anyone away.” USLES have eight members on their committee. They have a cast of 13, which is about regular for them,
and about 10 people involved with tech. For their Christmas show this year, the team put on a 90 minute performance of I Know What You Did Last Wednesday, an Anthony Horowitz book which Joe had adapted into a play. “It went well, we got a good audience,” he says. “It’s always the hardest part of a show, getting people to come and watch it. Especially when there are so many shows going on, how do you get them to come to this one rather than another one? But we got a good turn out. “We performed both of our shows in the Union this year. In previous years we have done other venues, but it’s just a lot easier to do them here. One was in Uni Central and the other was down in Studio, which is a nice little venue because it’s quite small but still feels professional.”
It’s like a murder mystery, but about Henderson’s Relish. So it sounds strange, and it is a bit strange, but it’s good fun Their summer show will be a performance of The Dreaded Henderson Hurler, a play written by a USLES alumni who has come back to the society with this show. “It’s an original play and it’s about
The USLES team during the last performance. Images: USLES
someone who goes around Sheffield throwing Henderson’s Relish bottles at people,” explains Joe. “It’s like a murder mystery, but about Henderson’s Relish. So it sounds strange, and it is a bit strange, but it’s good fun.” Every USLES show raises money for charity, and this year the committee voted to support Sheffield Mind, a local charity which offers a range of support and services to help people struggling with their mental health. “That’s sort of our big thing and one of the things that sets us apart from the other societies,” Joe says. “We raise money for charity and it’s not all for us. We chose Mind right at the start of the year - we had a vote on it. A lot of people feel it does good work, especially for students, lots of students have mental health issues. It’s better talked about now than it used to be, but it’s still not particularly well dealt with all the time. So I think just having that charity at the centre of what we do, especially because of the inclusive side of things in terms of helping each other out, it’s just what we’re about.” USLES have finalised their roles for their summer performance, but are still happy to have people involved with tech, and Joe wants to encourage students to get involved in the society next year. “It’s just really good fun,” he says. “I’ve met some of my best friends over the past two years being part of USLES, everyone’s just so nice and we really help each other out. So if you want to get involved in a society - which I think everyone should at university because it’s a great thing to do, rather than just sitting and studying all the time - but you don’t want anything too intense, come along and meet some really great people and do some really great shows.” You can find find out more about USLES by visiting their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/groups/ ShefUSLES.
24
Arts
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OPERA REVIEW Arts Editors Bethan Davis Kate Procter
Editors’ Picks
Rouse, Ye Women!
at Lantern Theatre
Charlotte Quinlan-Merry
Bethan: Women March! A Show of Protest Photography by Female Artists DINA Diner DINA Venue brings a host of female artists showcasing the ferocity of Sheffield’s own female activists protesting across local and international scales. From the early 90s Sheffield Woman Against Pit Closure protests to photographs from the recent Women’s March, this exhibition encapsulates female empowerment and is a must see. On 5th March - 27th April.
Rouse, Ye Women! fits perfectly into the modern political climate. A play documenting and celebrating the victories of nineteenth-century women in the face of adversity resonates with a very twenty-first century audience. Set in the soot-ridden hills of the Black Country, Neil Gore and John Kirkpatrick’s folk ballad opera opens with the former’s particularly rousing monologue. As Albert the Fogger, Gore introduces the audience to the miserable mundanity and financial distress of women chain makers in the industrial revolution. The set worked well to frame this, positioning a small shack at the centre of the stage in which chainmaker Bird (Rowan Godel) resides. Mary Macarthur (the wonderfully charismatic Bryony Purdue), founder of the National Federation of Women Workers,
OPENING NIGHT REVIEW Kate: Mausoleum of the Giants Renowned Sheffield-based muralist and artist Phlegm will be showcasing some of his intricate and surreal work in an immersive sculptural installation next month. His intricate, narrativerich murals can already be found painted on public or abandoned structures around Sheffield. His new solo exhibition, ‘Mausoleum of the Giants’, will take place from 15 March to 6 April at a currently secret location. Visitors will be able to meet and interact with vast depictions of the artist’s weird and wonderful creatures.
Cellar Theatre Spring Programme Jack Spacey-Helder
Finding Sheffield’s newest fringe theatre is by no means effortless. Hidden down five steps at the back of DINA venue you’ll discover a low-ceilinged room with statement green walls and large patterned rugs. Transformed last year from an old beer cellar into an intimate performance venue, Cellar Theatre is a pint-sized realm of subterranean intrigue.
is soon introduced. Urging Bird to strike against the middlemen - the Foggers - in a bid to demand liveable wages, the formidable Macarthur is lorded as a “human dynamo”, confident in her ways and unyielding in her pursuits. Despite marking himself as the villain, Gore’s Fogger plays out brilliantly across the stage. His character provided perfectly timed comic relief during his confrontational disputes with both Bird and Macarthur; at several points he was able to rouse the animated audience into almost pantomimic ‘boos’ with his corrupt meddling and
deviousness. Godel and Purdue were equally as impressive, with Bird’s realism fitting perfectly with the optimism of Macarthur. The musical numbers, penned by Kirkpatrick of ‘70s folk-rock band Steeleye Span, should not be overlooked. The numerous ballads worked excellently, mixing elements of the rurality of folk music into the intrinsically urban setting of the industrial revolution. Three songs included choruses where the audience were encouraged to sing along, giving the impression that a grassroots revolution was being actuated in the walls of the
Lantern Theatre. Using guitars and banjos, Gore and Godel soundtracked the play, ranging from the mellow and melodic tunes to more upbeat pieces, where the audience collectively tapped their feet. The small cast, compiling of only three members, made the play feel very intimate. They interacted well with the audience, using the presence of the crowd to mimic the protesters during Macarthur’s speeches - something that furthered our feeling of being part of the revolution.
On 1 March, the corner bar was in full swing for the opening night of the Spring Programme. Packed from now until June, the schedule offers poetry workshops, film screenings, open mic nights and, of course, fringe theatre. The first of three acts to grace the stage (read: floorspace) was improv comedian Aixin Fu, who, with teetering-on-thebrink, “uncensored comedy”, had the audience flabbergasted in a mock-shock parade. A sympathy for Donald Trump was proclaimed - real or invented - you decide; as outlined in Fu’s poetic naming of Trump’s adversaries. Abby Russell, AKA Cheryl’s warp-speed, accented, postmodern, poetic bonanza was a leotarded leap into the leagues of belly-laughter. Tinder Steve, Tinder Scott, and Tinder Brett come and go and are subsumed
into Cheryl’s interpretive dance-meets poetry-meets pastiche piece. As you can tell, it almost defies definition. A true sensation, must be seen to be unbelieved. Last up, Sheffield’s poet
eye out for his upcoming live performances. A true rapper in every sense of the word, Mensah’s wordplay and speed of delivery inspire an instant re-examination of his lyricism, while his content is poignant and personal, calling for connection in dislocated times. The Cellar Theatre is one of the many important independent venues which, as Sheffielders, we should be proud of. The conversion of disused space into a welcoming hub for progressive social and artistic activities is a crucial aspect of this city’s growing creative community. In this, The Cellar Theatre offers a welcome subversion of the increasingly prominent sanitized and commercialized glass and steel shopping facilities which are being built a stone’s throw away from the Theatre.
The Cellar Theatre is one of the most important, independent venues, which as Sheffielders, we should be proud of laureate and philosophic hiphop wordsmith, Otis Mensah. If you’re unfamiliar with Mensah, I highly recommend a listen to his new EP, ‘Mum’s House, Philosopher’ and keeping an
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Arts
THEATRE REVIEW
Saturday Night Fever at Lyceum Theatre
Jade Le Marquand
Even without seeing the original film everyone knows the iconic white suit, the funky dance moves and the unforgettable music. The stars of Saturday Night Fever brought the Lyceum to its feet as it treated us to a show of stunning dancing, tight trousers and no less than eight disco balls. Tony Manero (Richard Winsor) is the local it-guy; he has the best dance moves in town - all the guys want to be him, and all the girls want to be with him. But behind closed doors he’s the black sheep of the family who works a dead-end job and lives
PREVIEW Me & My
Whale: A
Sound Play Kate Procter
Delighted by last year’s Oscarwinner The Shape of Water I went with an open mind to meet the creator of the next aquatic-based love story coming to Sheffield. Me & My Whale integrates innovative audio technology with analogue waterbased visuals (read: lots of bowls
with an abusive father. When a dance competition at the local disco is announced, Tony has an opportunity to prove his talent and enlists Stephanie Mangano (Kate Parr) as his dancing partner. Winsor stands out on stage, and not just because of his costumes, when he’s dancing it’s hard not to tear your eyes off him and he pulls off those timeless moves with flair and that John Travolta-confidence that we all associate with the production. His and Parr’s chemistry together stands out as we get to know them. All the while the ensemble cast provide great support and help to bring the musical numbers alive (even if their American-Italian accents leave little to be desired at times). One of the best parts of the production is the inclusion of the Bee Gees, who provide vocals from atop a balcony (Ed Handoll; Alastair Hill; Matt Faul). Their hair and beards almost make them look like a trio of Gods gazing over their
creation – never interfering, only providing musical context. The set felt rather cramped on the small stage and the relatively short scenes which are inevitably followed by a set change gives the production a ‘jumpy’ feel at
times. Nevertheless, when the stage is lit with multi-coloured squares and the disco lights are spinning, suddenly the whole theatre becomes the dancefloor as the audience rise out of their seats and dance along with the
cast. The production is an homage to some of the most memorable music of the 70’s and shows that, even 42 years later, it still makes us get up and dance.
of water) to tell the story of a misanthropic submarine captain who, while wandering alone in the deep ocean, falls “head over fins” in love with a whale after
singing into a bowl of water and recording it, and then thought ‘what else sings underwater?’” he says. So naturally, he looked into whale song.
we have this image of whales as mythical, ancient, peaceful creatures and we project all of these things onto them, but the voice that we take from them
technique but the actual show is playful and quite silly,” he says. Not least in the sexual dynamic of the relationship, with lines like “would you like to come
hearing its song. Sound artist Xavier Velastin’s show – a mix of experimental music, sound installation and contemporary theatre – has been transformed with the help of writer and performer, Hannah Mook, from a “super dark, complex and weird” master’s dissertation into a fully flourished show supported by Arts Council England funding. The idea came Velastin when he borrowed a hydrophone – an underwater microphone – from a friend: “I was just playing with
What he found was a surplus of recordings created specifically for mindfulness practice: “I realised on YouTube that all the whale songs have stupid Einaudi played over the top of it.” Velastin wanted to strip the songs back so he could look into the whale vocalisation scientifically. He discovered that the recordings on YouTube are not even real whale vocalisation – but rather a sped up version of the small frequency range audible to humans. “I found it interesting how
we’ve manipulated and edited. “We’re actively changing it to fit our conception of whales, particularly given the way we’re destroying their environment chemically and acoustically.” As a twist on this, the whale’s voice in the show is made of human voices slowed down to the level that whale’s voices have been pitched up. Sound is a core part of Me & My Whale – from the rich oceanic soundscapes to the glitchy vocal manipulations, it is nearly all created, sampled and manipulated live on stage. “Everything is made in the moment and is part of a process. It’s really important to me to make everything in the show transparent, because I find a lot of sound art can be like a dude with a beard hiding behind an Apple logo which means nothing to me. “I may be coming from a more academic approach in terms of
back to mine for some krill?” peppering the show. Yet, while the performance is undoubtedly absurd, Velastin has endeavoured to make it accessible. At the beginning, he and Mook come on as “weird sentient ocean droplets” to outline the story so, he says, the audience have “one thing to hang onto because, when they can do that, they can let their imaginations go. “I think it’s important that people can make whatever they want out of it. There have been quite a lot of weird reactions to it, but I think it’s nice if you can create an environment that people can imagine what they like.”
Me & My Whale will be on at Theatre Deli on March 16-17
26
Arts
Life Drawing with Dogs!
at Coffee Revolution
Meet the Canines... Edna
Bethan Davis
• • •
It would be hard to name a more wholesome evening than Life Drawing with Dogs. Coffee Revolution became a cosy circle and soon the dogs were guided into the centre like celebrities. Once everyone got their fair share of pats, the excitement quickly segued into silence as everyone put pencil to paper. Any underlying nerves of being even less than a beginner artist seemed to dissolve as Illustrator Anya Raczka supported everyone at each level. The four dogs alternated positions on the stage so everyone had the chance to sketch them all. However, this was hard as the dogs were too excited to see so many humans, and dogs being dogs, they would not sit still. Raczka said: “The best way to do it is to draw them as quickly as possible, or for a more detailed drawing, consider using gesture drawing, using basic lines and shapes which establish the fundamental layout of the subject.” She also advised to look at your
French Bulldog 13-14 years old I tried to get an interview but she would not stop smiling. Fair enough. She stopped smiling when she noticed she looked more like a bat in my drawing though…
Bronte • • •
German Shepherd 6 ½ years old Jacquie Neilson, CEO & Founder of Rain Rescue said: “If she was a human, she would be Vera. She’s the boss who likes to know everything.”
Mabel • • • • •
Around 12 years old Pug-spaniel cross breed bark bark Has a tendency to lick faces and give all the affection Depicted right looking like a blobfish (sorry)
Yogi • • • • •
9 years old Schnauzer A sensitive king Was found bald and abandoned in a rabbit hutch Is given all the love now
Life Drawing with Dogs is next on April 3 Tickets can be bought from the Student Union website Note: Bethan would like to say that, although she is an Arts Editor, she is not an artist!
paper as much as you look at the dogs, but this was impossible when Mabel was gleaming at you. It became apparent that the audience was just a sea of friends wanting to unwind from University stress, and the evening unfolded into being about having fun in a relaxed environment - no one sought to be a modern day Picasso. With no pressure, our attention was given solely to the dogs and their stories. Rain Rescue is a rescue centre for pets in crisis and has saved the lives of thousands of dogs and cats across Yorkshire who have been abandoned and abused. £1 of each ticket went towards their work and by the look of the turnout, it seems a lot of dogs and cats will be blessed in the coming future. No matter what your ability, Life Drawing with Dogs was an amazing event. The atmosphere was chill and dogs were abundant, when you see the next event posted on Facebook, invite your friends and definitely give it a go.
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28
Music Music Editors Harriet Evans Ben Kempton We’ve stepped back from the usual format of reviews and interviews in this issue and got some great opinion pieces. From a comment on the current state of indie music to a look at what on earth has happened to Avril Lavigne? We’ve got plenty in this issue to get stuck into.
Editors’ Picks
Harriet: Out of Space The Prodigy
Following the immensely tragic passing of The Prodigy’s iconic frontman, Keith Flint, I couldn’t not choose one of their tracks as my editor’s pick this issue. It was hard to pick just one song as a tribute to such a musical legend. The Prodigy’s unique influence on the world of dance music shaped the style that we know now, and Flint will always be remembered as a pioneer.
The Prodigy were my childhood so Keith Flint’s death was a really hard one to take. Picking a favourite track by them is also really hard, especially after Harriet stole my favoruite (good choice Miss Evans). My pick then is Breathe, the opening song to their headline set at Isle of Wight Festival in 2015 which is still to date the best live show I’ve seen. Breathe is also the song my Dad played religiously. Put it on, turn it up and ‘come breathe with me.’
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COMMENT
Does all new indie music sound the same? Joeseph Farmer
As an avid listener of indie music, when looking at recent festival lineups it led me to wonder why there were few new and exciting indie bands on the bill. Of course, bands like The Courteeners and Foals were plastered across many of the posters that have flooded my newsfeed but there was little in the form of original guitar driven music. In recent years the indie scene seems to have come to a musical standstill, with bands that seem to gain any kind of popularity all having a very similar musical blueprint. It seems to me, indie music has become a victim of its own success from previous decades. Many indie
bands that break onto the scene seem to be consistently trying to pinch the attitude of the Britpop bands and pair it off with the sounds of 2000s indie. I understand being influenced by your inspirations, but currently at the forefront the up and coming bands all seem to play this tried and tested formulaic sound with no real innovation like the bands of the noughties. Two bands come to mind – The Hunna and Catfish and the Bottlemen. Both seem to pride themselves on having a limited sound that offers nothing new to a scene in desperate need of originality. In a recent interview Van McCann, the lead singer of ‘Catfish’, said that he felt bands like Alt J and Radiohead were too leftfield, and instead he wanted to make music ‘that’s inside the box’ and ‘puts girlfriends on shoulders’. I find it rather ironic that the initial pillars of
21 Savage: Reflecting on the wider issue of immigration Katy Francis
Ben: Breathe The Prodigy
write for us!
By now you will almost certainly have heard of rapper 21 Savage, but maybe not because of his music. 21 Savage, born She’yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on February 3rd and now faces deportation from the United States. The ICE say that Abraham-Joseph has been living illegally in the United States after entering legally in July 2005 but then outstayed his visa when it expired in July 2006. 21 Savage had been nominated for two Grammy’s and was scheduled to perform at the awards show before his arrest. Originally born in London and brought to the US as a child, he grew up in Georgia, Atlanta. The city has a rich history of being a breeding ground for successful hip-hop artists. Rappers T.I, Offset and Killer Mike, Atlantan natives, have been
championing the right for 21 Savage to remain in the US. His lawyer Charles Kuck has called 21 Savage’s case ‘emblematic’ of the 50,000 other immigrants arrested and facing deportation, who don’t have the same resources as a successful rapper. Unlike those 50,000 detainees, 21 Savage has had an unparalleled level of support from human rights movements, famous musicians and the public. 50 protestors gathered outside the Atlanta immigration court for the #Free21Savage rally hosted by Black Lives Matter and Color of Change. Demonstrators delivered a petition that they said had nearly half a million signatures of support to the Atlanta ICE office. The mounting pressure on the ICE has clearly worked as 21 Savage was recently released from ICE detainment on bond, after paying $100,000 bail. He is now to have an expedited hearing that is to be held at a later date. His ‘aggravated
the sound were to be alternative, and yet the popular alternative bands in the modern era pride themselves on being as similar as their forebearers. While I don’t have a problem with big anthemic choruses they could at least try and bring something new to the table. These bands are guilty of repeating a tried and tested formula, but I think the root of this problem are the fans and magazines of the Indie scene. ‘Dark Fruits Twitter’, the term coined by many to describe these people, seem to crave a return to a time when indie was the pinnacle of mass culture. I would like indie music once again to be as popular as it once was, but unlike a large portion of the fanbase, I want this to happen through innovation of the sound rather than a regurgitation of what made The Kooks successful. Magazines like the NME only seem to compound this problem. They
seem to only want to report on either bygone bands like Oasis and the Arctic Monkeys, or only throw their weight behind seemingly average bands that do not sound out of place in a 2006 edition of the magazine. Of course, this is probably because the magazine is increasingly falling in popularity and so naturally harks back to the days when they held sway amongst the musical community. Don’t get me wrong, I think there are pockets of innovation within the indie scene, bands like Tame Impala and Wolf Alice have implemented new sounds and ideas into their discographies and as a result they seem to be carrying the banner as the best in the indie scene. The issue is they are in a minority and until a revolution of the press and fans’ musical desires takes place this will carry on to be the case.
felony’ charge has been dropped, which means the case to deport him now only rests on his overstayed visa. Immigrants often enter the immigration process without lawyers. 21 Savage has three top lawyers representing him, Charles Kuck, Dina LaPolt and Alex Spiro, who were hired and paid for by Jay Z. The right to an attorney does not apply to immigration proceedings because they are subject to civil law but too often immigrants don’t know that they have to request a hearing and pay a lawyer upfront and for immigrants without 21 Savage’s earnings, it’s an unrealistic notion. Many of the other 50,000 immigrants facing deportation haven’t had a state representative send a letter of support to the judge overseeing their case. Congressman Hank Johnson and Representative for Georgia’s 4th District pleaded for 21 Savage to be allowed to remain in the US on the basis of his community endeavours, including his non-profit foundation
‘Leading By Example’. Whether or not 21 Savage will be allowed to remain in the US remains to be seen, but given his unique position of celebrity, money and widespread support, his case seems much less uncertain than the 50,000 other immigrants being detained.
Photo by Jill Furmanovsky
Photo by Ralph Arvesen
29
Music FEATURE
Avril Lavigne: Are things just complicated? From sk8er girl to grown up songwriter, Jessica Murray delves into Avril Lavigne’s changing image
W
hen Avril Lavigne burst onto the pop rock scene back in 2002, her look was distinctive: poker straight hair, a school tie worn loosely over a tank top and half a dozen chunky wristbands, she was the tailormade antonym to pop princesses like Britney Spears. Angsty teenage girls all over the world related to the tormented emotions in the likes of ‘I’m with You’ and ‘Complicated’, the biggest hits from her debut album Let Go which sold more than 16 million copies. Her career has taken a rather inconsistent trajectory since then. In 2007, she ditched the grunge for pink and the Hey Mickeyesque p o p punk with h e r smash hit ‘Girlfriend’. Subsequent albums seemed desperate to cling on to some of this
bubblegum teenage rebelliousness. In 2011 she sang “All my life I’ve been good but now, what the hell” and in 2013 her music video for ‘Here’s to Never Growing Up’ recreated her original sk8er girl look. Avril has always been the Peter Pan of pop music. But after a four-year hiatus during which she battled Lyme disease and split from her husband (Nickelback frontman Chad Kroeger), many expected her 2019 comeback to hail a new Avril, more grown-up and emotionally mature. The album cover art, in which she poses naked with an acoustic guitar, seems specifically designed to symbolise raw honesty. But it’s a mixed bag of an album, with the obligatory kitsch pop punk track (‘Dumb Blonde’) featuring alongside semireligious anthems like ‘Head Above Water’. It’s still not clear who Avril really is. This was demonstrated in a rather prickly interview Avril gave for the Guardian earlier this year. In it she said: “I’m young at heart. I’m a free spirit. I’m super-fun. I love to hang out and have fun and dance and skateboard”, but not a lot else about herself. There are times when she comes across like a cardboard cut-out character, and let’s not forget the ridiculous conspiracy theory that she actually died and was replaced by a doppelganger. But women shouldn’t be expected to ‘bare all’ in the name of selling records and making headlines, and Avril’s reluctance to pander to intrusive questioning is admirable. The real problem is a music industry which doesn’t easily allow women to be themselves. In the most revealing part of the interview, she talks of the pressure from record labels to constantly recreate her previous hits: “You guys want singles that are going in this direction. Fine, I’ll work with you but I’d rather be doing something else.” It is interesting to
relationships that have secured her many top ten hits in recent years. P!nk has maintained a relevance today that Avril has failed to achieve; ‘Dumb Blonde’ seems to fit better alongside P!nk’s ‘Stupid Girls’ than it does in the 2019 pop music scene. There is no denying Avril’s musical talent. Her latest album arguably shows off her vocals better than ever before and she’s always been a strong song-writer. It’s perhaps the pressure of a toxic music industry that forces stars replicate their greatest hits that has left Avril fans so disappointed over the years – while they have grown up, her music hasn’t kept pace.
compare Avril to P!nk, another big pop rock singer who came onto the music scene in the early noughties. P!nk’s gritty Missundaztood vibe was placed in direct contrast to other big female stars at the time, culminating in 2006 smash hit ‘Stupid Girls’. But P!nk’s sound and image have evolved since then, with soaring anthems about messy emotions and complicated
Image: Luke Denekamp
Image: Avril Lavigne
30
Music
COMMENT
Gucci Gang night- should Leadmill branch out? Ali Turner
Leadmill is Sheffield’s muchloved home of indie bangers, but has the time come for a revolution into a new age of Drake, Cardi B and Post Malone? Leadmill certainly attracts a particular audience through the genres they play - you only have to observe the sea of rolled-up jeans, vintage shirts and Dr Martens to tell you that. The Leadmillers get their dance shoes on and dress themselves up for a night of boogying to WHAM and Arctic Monkeys, attracting a steady flow of students through their doors
every Friday and Saturday. You’d think Leadmill would be more than content with the constantly recurring queues underneath that famous neon sign, but evidently not. They have decided to reach out to an entirely different audience. They’ve created an event that aims to appeal to those who listen to modern, and arguably more popular music. Perhaps this is because they have recognised a huge audience they are not targeting and want to get more of a profit by including them in their demographic. Of course, every business is profit conscious and will want to bring in what they
can, however you have to wonder if Leadmill will ruin its renowned image by disregarding their loyal audience. There are not many clubs that stick solely to retro and indie music, but this is part of what gives Leadmill its charm and keeps the regular punters coming through the doors. Now that they are conforming to popular culture their regulars may fear Leadmill is becoming just like everywhere else. So, while they may become attractive to some new faces they may be discouraging their familiar ones. Having said that, it must be questioned whether a new audience will even be willing to give Leadmill a chance. Many of the people who don’t visit the club are well aware of what it’s all about and simply choose not to go, so can a few nights that differ
from their long-term reputation really draw in a crowd that appear to be pretty content with spending their nights out at Code or a Corp Monday? It seems Leadmill are hoping their existing goers are loyal enough to give ‘Gucci Gang’ a go. They love Leadmill for its Club Tropicana, ABBA nights, David Bowie events and unofficial after parties, so perhaps they trust that Leadmill could beneficially open them up to a genre that is completely different. Back in 2017 when Leadmill first launched their 80s themed night, Club Tropicana, many people thought that it didn’t belong at that venue. However, since then it’s gone to sell out nearly every time and attract regular loyal customers, many of whom wouldn’t have gone to Leadmill for a night out before then. Perhaps
Leadmill are hoping that ‘Gucci Gang’ will be able to do the same for the venue, attracting more groups with more money in their pockets. Personally, I think that would be a pretty optimistic outlook. Leadmill should keep to what they know and do best. The people of Sheffield know where to go if they want some golden oldies or indie tunes and I’m sure they would be disappointed to stagger out of an Uber and find their beloved bar invaded by modern trap. They have a large audience who are willing to pay for entry fees, drinks and gigs so risking that just to try appeal to a different - and likely reluctant - audience is asking for too much. Leadmill, all I have to say is sometimes less is more.
Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost Pt.1 by Foals Leah Fox
After a lengthy break that left fans thirsty for new music, Foals are back to rescue rock with Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost - Part 1. The record sees the band swap gritty guitars for suave synths. Part 1 kicks off with mysterious choral sounds in Moonlight. It’s instantly clear that the band are taking their sound in a different direction, however tracks such as Exits still follow Foals’ classic song formula of a ‘chant-able’ chorus and infectious riffs. The interestingly named White Onions is erratically brilliant and drummer Jack Bevan shines through with brash and ferocious beats. It’s hard for a band to retain their style whilst staying relevant and exciting, especially after releasing four albums, but Foals don’t appear to be struggling with this at all. This is particularly noticeable in In Degrees, where the band explore a groovy, 80s-style electronic sound and marry it with their fast, plucky guitar work. Elsewhere in Syrups, they create a funky bassline that erupts into upbeat chaos towards the end of the track. It’s fair to say that Part 1’s tracks all hold similar elements of Foals’ previous music, however it appears that they’ve amped everything up 10 times to create an even more colossal sound. You could place On
the Lunar straight onto 2013’s Holy Fire due to its club-friendly guitar riffs...but it would still hold its own, being a more souped-up and synthheavy anthem. Café D’Athens and Surf, Pt. 1 are the creepy, cinematic tunes that transition the beautiful bedlam at the beginning of the album into a slowerpaced, reflective temperament. Sunday wholeheartedly stands out as the ‘sleeper’ hit of Part 1, and acts as a breath of fresh air with its sleepy melody. The more melancholy I’m Done With the World (& It’s Done With Me) is a direct display of how well Foals can chop and change the mood to their music and produce a plethora of outstanding tracks, all with different sounds. Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost - Part 1 firmly stands as the reason why Foals are pretty much the last remaining indie rock band of their era. With not one skippable track and a constant change of tempo, this album becomes irresistibly compelling and moreish. These songs will be a huge asset to the band’s live shows and will hopefully result in an even more raucous atmosphere. It’s challenging to be the flag-bearer of indie rock in a world that appears to be obsessed with mumble rap and Drake, but Foals definitely don’t want to give up the fight to bring decent indie rock back into the spotlight.
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Varsity Class of 2019 sheffieldvarsity.com
32
Screen
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Screen Editors Gethin Morgan Izzy Cridland Hey pals, there’s been some TV! We sometimes get a little carried away with film here at screen, so we’ve decided to turn our heads to some BBC comedy, with reviews of Fleabag and This Time With Alan Partridge. We also have a preview of Reel Steel’s cult festival, and a review of Captain Marvel, written up just in time for this issue’s deadline. Enjoy.
Editors’ Picks
Spirited Away
I finally got round to watching Spirited Away, a classic from Japanese animation legends Studio Ghibli. It focuses on Chiriro, a young girl whose parents get turned into pigs when they feast on food from a bath house full of spirits. Told through incredible, picturesque animation, Spirited Away is a surreal critique of capitalist society that truly touches the soul. Izzy
Saturday Night and Sunday Morning
Following the recent death of Albert Finney I decided to search out one of his very first films, which just so happens to be the inspiration behind Arctic Monkeys first album, with the title taken directly from a line of dialogue said by Finney’s Arthur. Depicting the mundane nature of working class life and the importance of weekends as a release, Finney is terrific as a charming, funny, rebellious young man desperate to enjoy the finer things in life. It’s just a really beautiful portrait of working class life in the 50s. - Gethin
Gethin Morgan
With Avengers: Endgame just seven weeks away, it’s about time the MCU introduced an extra bit of firepower to bite back at that big purple prick Thanos, so what better time to introduce the single most powerful hero in the franchise to date? Captain Marvel takes us through the complex backstory of Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) and her rise to becoming the titular character in the midst of an intergalactic war between the Kree and sneaky shape-shifting species, the Skrulls. Utilising flashbacks, dreams and memories heavily, it’s a complicated way to tell a story, but it actually works in the film’s favour. At this point we’ve seen enough superhero origin stories to make the standard formula feel tiresome. Shaking up the structure helps avoid
1st
It only took 21 films and over $6bn of box office earnings for the MCU to finally have its first female lead
some of those tropes and maintain a genuinely engaging plot. Despite this, the film continuously suffers from the same pitfalls. The first hour is extremely expository, with clunky dialogue and comedy which doesn’t land nearly enough as it should. Fortunately, they become less prevalent as the story develops
and it gathers a momentum which takes it flying through a well-done third act and a satisfying ending. Heavy-handed filmmaking is very much at the core of those pitfalls. The world-building is very weak, with directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck resorting to forceful 90s pop culture references time and time again. There is so much nostalgic potential with that decade, but rather than create a textured 90s world which feels familiar, all they do is repeat the same joke in increasingly tenuous forms. The saving grace is a terrific female-led soundtrack, which gives the film some desperately needed spirit. While tonal issues are a problem, a charming narrative does unfold. Brie Larson grows into the role well, bringing rebelliousness and vim to an otherwise s l i g h t l y uninteresting protagonist. She’s backed up by a strong supporting cast too. Samuel L. Jackson is a highlight as young Nick Fury. Sporting de-aging special effects, which
The film continuously suffers from the same pitfalls are becoming scarily natural to Marvel, he owns almost every comedic moment in the film. Seeing a more youthful, wide-eyed Fury is a pleasure to watch. Jude Law and Ben Mendelsohn also deliver as leaders of the Kree and Skrulls respectively. Mendelsohn in particular is a pleasant surprise, s p o r t i n g his natural Australian accent - a nice change from h i s
usual, impeccable American impression. Having become typecast as ‘generic blockbuster pantomime villain’ in recent years, here he brings a little more depth and colour to his character. Perhaps the standout in the supporting cast, however, is Lashana Lynch. A breakout role for a previously jobbing British TV actor, she doesn’t get an awful lot of screen time as Danvers’ former pilotbestie Maria, but what she does in that time is quite remarkable. One intimate conversation between her and Danvers is dominated by the newcomer, in what is comfortably the most emotional scene in the film. With the biggest MCU entry yet less than two months away, it would have been tempting to leave Captain Marvel as merely a set-up exercise. Thankfully Kevin Feige and co. stick to their old formula of ensuring each film stands alone first and foremost, allowing the wider threads to naturally weave the universe together. It is a valuable pre-Endgame viewing experience, but that is not its purpose at all. After 20 male leads in a row, it is long overdue to see a woman front a MCU picture. While the end product unfortunately lands somewhere between mediocre and decent, it is an important step in the right direction for the biggest film franchise on the planet.
33
Screen
All images: Movie DB
Small Screen Fleabag Season 2 Ep 1 Kate Procter
Small Screen
This Time with Alan Partridge Jack Mattless
Twenty- four years and one stagnant local radio career after he last appeared on live TV, Alan Partridge (Steve Coogan) is back presenting for his old frenemies at the BBC. Filling in for an illness stricken main presenter on mock-magazine show This Time, his broadcasting skills now leave much to be desired. Yet, if the first two episodes are anything to go by, this may just be the best iteration of Partridge to date. Originally conceived as an inept sports reporter on The Day Today in the early 1990s, the character has
Big Screen Jellyfish Lisa Wehrstedt
“They wouldn’t employ you as a speed bump”, exclaims 15 year old Sarah Taylor (Liv Hill) at her bipolar mother (Sinéad Matthews), who struggles to find the strength to get out of the house to the job centre once a week to sign for benefits. Sarah becomes the primary
evolved numerous times. The flashy self-confidence of the Partridge from Knowing Me, Knowing You never quite returned in the I’m Alan Partridge sitcom, just as the littleEnglander Partridge of that era has given way to a mellower, more self-aware character in more recent material. The beauty of This Time is that the format gives a platform for every shade of Partridge to shine at different moments. Pre-packaged documentary shorts invoke the Alan we see in Welcome to the Places of My Life and Scissored Isle, whilst the presence of a live studio audience in the second episode is reminiscent of scenes from Knowing Me, Knowing You. Moreover, appearances from Simon Denton (Tim Key) and Lynn Benfield (Felicity Montagu) provide continuity from Mid-Morning Matters and I’m Alan Partridge respectively. This is not to say the show recycles
old gags; far from it. Writers Neil and Rob Gibbons have absolutely nailed Partridge’s passion for the mundane and obsession with the irrelevant. There is, for instance, a fantastically frivolous package on the art of train-bathroom hand washing which proves a highlight of the first episode. Such material does border on the absurd in the context of a primetime television show but it’s worth remembering that the absurd has always been the bedrock of Partridge. This is, after all, a character who lost his original presenting gig for accidentally shooting a studio guest live on air before shoving a whole block of cheese in his old boss’s face in the process of begging for his job back. With writers who genuinely understand the essence of the character and a handy format at its disposal, This Time is shaping up to be hotter than the sun.
caretaker of her two younger siblings. She takes them to school, picks them up and brings them home, before starting her evening shift at a seafront arcade in dreary Margate, where she gives hand jobs to old men in a back alley. When her snarky remarks to her classmates catch the attention of her drama teacher, Adam (Cyril Nri), he sees that there is something going on in her life, though he doesn’t understand the full extent of it. He sees beyond the façade of the unengaged teenager and suggests she tries her hand at stand-up
comedy for the school’s end of year performance. He drops some names – Richard Pryor, George Carlin, Joan Rivers – for her to do her research. With little left to do but laugh at her dire conditions, Sarah starts writing jokes. But Sarah doesn’t find redemption in her hidden talents. Nor does she have a knight in shining armour that sweeps by and saves her from her turmoil and despair Jellyfish is a film of striking social-realism, sober yet gritty and truthful. An impressive zero-budget film from James Gardner, who
It’s been three years since Fleabag premiered on BBC Three. Written and starring Phoebe Waller-Bridge, series one followed Fleabag, a dry-witted young women and her attempts to navigate modern life. Naturally, this included keeping a guinea-pig themed café afloat, whilst coming to terms with the tragic loss of her best friend. Since then Waller-Bridge has kept herself busy – not least creating last year’s hit-success Killing Eve – but, thankfully, series two is back to quench our thirst for her original brand of raunchy dark comedy. In exactly 371 days, 19 hours and 26 minutes since we left off, Fleabag has focused on selfimprovement: squats sessions, salad diets, and dodging unhealthy relationships. All ready for episode one it seems, which dives straight into her reunion with her estranged dysfunctional family. Occurring over a single evening, it revolves around a hilariously awkward restaurant dinner to celebrate her father’s (Bill Paterson) engagement to Godmother, played by recent makes a striking directorial debut that needs to be seen on the big screen to appreciate its charm. In every frame of this film you can see the passion that everyone involved put into it. The performance of Hill is astonishing for her first feature and Cyril Nri was as much a mentor for her as his character was for Sarah. Jellyfish is an independent film that is worth buying a ticket for and supporting in every possible manner, and it will be exciting to see what James Gardner will produce in the future.
Oscar-winner Olivia Colman. Across from her sits unforgiving sister Claire and husband, Martin, whom we saw in the previous series kiss Fleabag and convince Claire it was the other way around. They too are focused on well-being – Claire is hyper, in fact, about having worked at her own happiness, including abstaining from alcohol to support her addicted husband. It is indeed, as the father says, “a very special family gangbang”. Yet, whilst a swearing priest (Andrew Scott) has been added to the mix, little has actually changed. Fleabag continues to naughtily break the fourth wall – seemingly more interested in the audience than her surroundings. Colman remains brilliant as the obnoxious Godmother, waving a fur bag (“it’s ok because it had a stroke”) and spouting her newfound expertise, since touring her ‘Sexhibition’, in a bashful monologue on Japanese sex culture. Then, as to be expected, the episode descends into disaster when a dark twist disrupts the evening. Immaculately scripted, episode one is a masterclass from WallerBridge in comedy writing. She delightfully meddles with taboos, navigating tonal shifts effortlessly. High-expectations have been set for another series following our favourite anti-heroine.
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Screen
Man of Steel Interview with Joe Harris
From Friday 15 March to Sunday 17, Sheffield’s Abbeydale Picture House will be home to Reel Steel’s Cult Weekender Film Festival. We caught up with Joe Harris, producer of the event and co-founder of Reel Steel, to find out more about the event. Tell us about Reel Steel. What is it? How did it come about? Reel Steel is an online film magazine and screening event group. Myself and co-founder Josh Senior met when we used to work at the same job. He originally came to Sheffield to do Film Studies at University and then stayed, and I grew up in Sheffield and had spent a few years previously volunteering and working at different events in the city like Sheffield Doc/Fest, Sensoria Festival and the Children’s Media Conference. We each love cinema and Josh was keen to do some more writing, so he asked a few people he’d met on his course if they were interested in contributing to a new film platform. The screening events came a little later on, wanting to not just write about films but also screen them. We’ve met a few more people since we started who have got involved, and the thing that links us all is Sheffield - the ‘Steel’ in Reel Steel refers to the Steel City.
It’s at the Abbeydale Picture House. It’s such an historic building, how much does that add to the experience? The Abbeydale has added to the films we’ve shown in different ways. We did a 30th Anniversary screening of cult horror Evil Dead 2 back in 2017, and as the film takes place at a cabin in the woods, the venue held an old and creaky vibe that matched the film. Similarly when we screened a John Carpenter double-bill of The Thing back-to-back with Big Trouble In Little China, the building fit the setting of the remote outpost where The Thing takes place, then the palace of Lo Pan with Big Trouble. We factor in things like this when we select our films too, we think about what would be good to watch in such a unique building, as it has such a historic feel it’s almost like stepping back in time when you walk in, making the screening of older titles feel that little bit more special.
What about the ‘Cult Weekender’? What’s the idea behind it? The Cult Weekender is a bringing together of films from across the different genres we’ve covered at our individual screening events over the past few years - horror, adventure, animation, etc. with back-to-back screenings across a whole weekend. The idea has been to launch a new annual event on the Sheffield calendar. We’ve always done screening events at different points throughout the year but to have a date that we, and audiences, can look forward to each year will be great.
There’s a great lineup of films on show, tell us about them and how you chose the lineup? We focus on films which hold a ‘cult’ or ‘classic’ status in cinema, screening influential titles in their genre. We make sure not to repeat ourselves by putting on the same films each year or just sticking to one genre, and sometimes a certain film will just stick out for us. Our debut event was a screening of Bruce Lee’s Enter The Dragon, taking place on the date that would have marked Bruce Lee’s 75th birthday (27/11/2015). Being a big Bruce Lee fan, I was aware of the approaching date and
thought it was a more than good enough reason to celebrate this anniversary with a screening of his final film. There have been a few occasions like that with our screenings, we always try and think of a reason to show a film and be a bit creative with it. What can people expect from the festival? As with our previous screenings, a great atmosphere amongst people who are either seeing a classic film they love or experiencing it for the first time, in a fantastic venue which brings a real sense of occasion. What next for Reel Steel? Any other upcoming events? We don’t have anything confirmed yet, but we have a few event ideas in the works. We’ve also been exploring the idea of screening films that would have played at the Abbeydale Picture House on their original release when the building was previously a cinema - titles from the 1920’s through to the 1970’s, bringing them back to where they first played in the city. We’re keen to continue to grow our presence across The North too our 35mm film screening of Studio Ghibli’s My Neighbour Totoro last year attracted people over from Leeds and Manchester, and we presented a 35mm film screening of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon at the 2018 Widescreen Weekend Film Festival at the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford. There’s more to come from Reel Steel.
Photo: Lisa Wehrstedt
The Lineup Freddy v Nancy double-bill Fri 15 March
Indiana Jones double-bill Sat 16 March
Starting at midday on Saturday is another carefully chosen double-feature, this time featuring everyone’s favourite hadnsome archeologist, Indiana Jones. Temple of Doom and Raiders are on show.
Spirited Away (35mm) Sunday 17 March
Sunday delivers an absolute treat, with two of Studio Ghibli’s finest features in 35mm. Kicking off the proceedings is Spirited Away, which you know is good, since it’s Izzy’s pick for this issue!
For times, ticket prices and any other infomation, visit https:// reelsteelcinema.com/festival/ or find the event on Facebook.
The festival kicks off with a spooky back-to-back showing of A Nightmare on Elm Street and A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors.
Extreme Asian Cinema double-bill Sat 16 March
Then on Saturday evening it’s time to travel east for an intense Asian cinema doubler. Classics Battle Royale and Oldboy should provide ample entertainment.
Princess Mononoke (35mm) Sun 17 March
And to close off a festival of excellent cinema is another 35mm print of another Studio Ghibli film. Princess Mononoke is one of Hayao Miyazaki’s classics from 1997.
Images: Movie DB
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Games Games Editors Tom Buckland Luke Baldwin We’ve made it to March, everyone. That’s well and good if you ignore the sad fact that we have to endure a very uneventful month for gaming, and we must say that we don’t have much hope for many of the games coming out. You shouldn’t get your hopes up either. Instead, enjoy our various features. They’re better than reviews.
Editors’ Picks
Tom - Phoenix Wright series High-octane courtroom battles start off surreal, but you quickly learn to love them. Phoenix Wright gave me the brief motivation to take up a masters in Law, sadly the actual court of law works NOTHING like Phoenix Wright. In reality, catchy music doesn’t cue when you catch a witness out on faulty testimony, or when you contradict the prosecution’s facts. Why bother with real law when Phoenix Wright is so much more fun? The soundtrack’s also fantastic.
Luke - Football Manager 2019 I actually have no idea why I play this shit. I have zero emotional attachment to it and I gain nothing from the experience. I sit into the early hours looking at numbers and graphs then watching fake football games. And for what? To lift a fake trophy? To say I got back to back promotions Bury? It literally means nothing! But still I play, because this game is like fast food: I know it’s bad for me, but my god is it good.
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What I want from Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield Unless you’ve been living under a rock, far away from the clutches of social media, you’ve probably heard by now that Nintendo are giving us the next generation of Pokemon. Available on the Nintendo Switch, the new games are titled Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield. The game takes place in the Galar region, inspired by our very own Great Britain. With its vague, fairly short announcement via a “Pokemon Direct”, it’s left to the fans to speculate and ponder on what they want these new games to provide. Tom Buckland.
A challenge It’s mutually agreed upon by all Pokemon fans that the recent Pokemon games have descended into something mind numbingly simple and effortless. It’s very rare that you’d struggle in Pokemon Sun & Moon, Pokemon X & Y, or either of the two Pokemon Let’s Go games. The latter justified its straightforwardness through
focussing its attention on the catching element of Pokemon games, but there has been a noticeable lack of challenge in the latest games. Making these games easy is a requirement in order to engage younger gamers, but that doesn’t change the fact that the gamers who played the older Pokemon games were young too, and appreciated the challenge. A healthy compromise
would be to somehow implement difficulty settings.If you want your exploration of the Galar region to be a breeze? No problem, you can opt for that. If you want your exploration of the Galar region to result in your pokemon being slaughtered by opposing trainers left right and centre? It’s your funeral. It could be argued that difficulty settings would not work in a game like Pokemon, which has a competitive scene
More Grookey When they announced Generation 8, they also treated us to a brief look at the three starters we can choose from at the beginning of the game. Anyone who knows me is very aware that I have instantly gravitated towards one of these three, that being Grookey - the chipper and sprightly grass monkey. Sobble, the timid and shy water lizard, invokes a strong desire to defend and protect him, whilst Scorbunny, the energetic fire bunny, is forgettable at best. Of course, this is all my opinion and may not be correct to others (though it absolutely is), I’d love to have a close relation with these three starter pokemon. Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver implemented the first opportunity for players to walk with their pokemon in-game, and Pokemon Let’s Go furthered this by allowing us to explore the Kanto region fully realised in 3D, with our pokemon either following us or we riding atop them. It also allowed us t o play with our
The Galar region looks like the UK upside down. Does that mean our protagonist is scottish? chosen starters, Pikachu or Eevee, and granted them a more realised personality than any of the previous games had made an attempt to. It’d be adorable to have an intimate connection formed between our protagonist and the chosen starter. If I can have Grookey sat on my shoulder or head throughout my adventure, then the game doesn’t have to do much more to keep me interested. I hope Nintendo are reading this.
Kalos was a stunning region to explore.
Stunning visuals The most exciting aspect of Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield will be that they’re the first original games - the Pokemon Let’s Go variations were essentially remakes - being released on the Nintendo Switch. The Galar region will be fully realised with graphics the Nintendo Switch
alongside the base game where people battle online, but there’s easy ways to work around and solve those issues. I miss being destroyed by my opponent and having to do the walk of shame back to the pokemon centre. I want Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield to publicly disgrace me when I lose a pokemon battle against an obnoxious child, is that too much to ask for? allows, ignoring the restrictions once in place for the games released on the Nintendo 3DS. Pokemon Sun and Moon and Pokemon X and Y were pretty games, there’s no doubt. The Hawaii-inspired Alola region sustained its aesthetic throughout your adventure, and the Europeinspired Kalos region showed us how far the series had grown visually when one of the Pokemon gyms was in a skyscraper very reminiscent of the Eiffel Tower. It’s needless to say that Pokemon has been getting prettier and prettier to the best of its ability when trapped on a handheld such as the Nintendo 3DS. However, moving onto the Switch has granted them far more visual freedom for us to enjoy. With the Galar region being inspired by Great Britain, the trailer showed us some Industrial and Victorian architecture, and even hinted at a train system that players may potentially get to use. The player also begins in a very rural, countryside town that looks so adorable. However, they could do so much more. For instance, recreating the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben as a pokemon Gym where we battle a gym leader that looks eerily similar to Theresa May. I’m sure many people would like to beat Theresa May in a pokemon battle, I know I would.
36 write for us!
Nostalgia: playing with a rose tinted controller
When it comes to criticsim of games of the past, sentimentality is a regularly argued case. Paige Cockbain looks closely at the power of nostalgia.
The phenomenon that is nostalgia is a powerful thing. It reminds us of better times, and of simpler childhoods. Good memories linger with us longer than bad ones - we cling to them - and though one might not give it much thought, for video games, this rings particularly true. You might feel particularly fond of an old film, or a television show you watched as a child, but video
games can run even deeper. The memories attached to them are of things you have done. The time and effort, the emotional investment and competition, can all surmount to a nostalgia so strong it is on an entirely new level. If nostalgia is comparable to homesickness for a place in time that was wonderful and rewarding no matter how difficult, it raises some pretty interesting realisations. If I stripped myself of all emotional and nostalgic connection to games such as Final Fantasy VII, a game I played at a pretty young age, back when I was first falling in love with the Playstation, I could pretty easily
tear it limb from limb objectively. But when it comes to games entangled in your own nostalgia, objectivity is simply thrown out the window, and you sort of have to accept that. The 90’s boxy animation and jarred game mechanics are not what I think of when FFVII comes to mind. Instead, I think of being young, of my mum calling me down for tea, and of ignoring her in favour of dressing Cloud Strife up as a woman in order to sneak into Don Corneo’s mansion. I think of the music, and of saving the world. Video games are not things you observe, but things you do, and for that reason, the brain keeps those narratives and experiences locked tightly with your real life ones. It’s not something you really notice until you’re looking at it from the outside. I used to think the original Ratchet and Clank game had the most complex and shellshocking storyline of anything I had ever consumed, and any exposure to it now would only rekindle a sense of fondness in that regard - but does that make my opinion on the game
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invalid? I don’t think so. You see how nostalgia drives the industry even now. Nintendo are still making Super Mario Bros. A game that, objectively, is just running along and jumping on things. Yet behind it, is generations of gamers who can pick that up and immerse themselves in familiar mechanics, music and characters that they love; that make them feel like children again. There may never
be a final Final Fantasy. Ganondorf may never cease his devilry, and gaming nostalgia may very well
Video games are not just memories we can recall, but ones we can go back to, and relive
continue to dominate, but that is sort of beautiful. Video games are not just memories we can recall, but ones we can go back to, and relive. They are places we can revisit again and again. I stand my ground when I say Kingdom Hearts is the stupidest concept for a game ever conceived, but I don’t feel stupid when I am playing it. I feel like a hero. The supposed ‘issue’ surrounding
nostalgic love for video games is something I think has come about more recently, in the face of utterly perfect games. When masterpieces like Witcher 3 are floating around, it is easy to understand the sudden rise in elitism when it comes to games, but again, this seems like a pointless thing to be angry about. Certain games, franchises and even companies have cult followings, but it was these very games, franchises and companies who set the foundations for video games to progress and flourish in the first place. Maybe some people do go utterly deaf when their favourite childhood
games are criticised, but given the fact that opinions are subjective when it comes to enjoyment, I would be quick to dismiss the debate. The new Smash Bros. is clearly perfect, but I would never buy it, because I don’t enjoy games where the plot is just ‘have a fight’ - this is flipping the elitism idea on its head entirely but it shows the point I’m trying to make. At the end of the day, a game enjoyed is a successful one. Even if that game is by default nothing special. Even if it is ‘technically’ bad, or if every game in the franchise is just a mild variation of its predecessor. If there’s a debate to be had, don’t be afraid of owning your sentimentality. It doesn’t cheapen your opinion of the game, it adds a warm validity to it. It shows that particular video game means something to you. And regardless of perfect graphics, gameplay or writing, if a game means enough that you carry it with you through the years, it was worth every penny.
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Games
The gameplay has more depth
Many are calling it the Fortnite killer; Luke Baldwin looks at what makes Apex better than its royale rivals. It’s a better shooter Respawn Entertainment are no stranger to the FPS genre, spawned from the remnants of Infinity Ward, the developer originally behind Call of Duty, which reigned supreme over the gaming zeitgeist for many years. The freshly reformed Respawn went on to cut their teeth with the Titanfall series. Although both these franchises have their flaws, they are undoubtedly some of the best playing shooters ever made; gameplay is balanced and fun, with slick movement and solid shooting. Apex is no different. It’s clear that Respawn have used their wealth of experience to make a product that feels incredibly polished. Compare this to the clunky, arcade-like feel of Fortnite and it really is a no brainer.
The loot and equipment system also has a lot of fun characteristics, namely tiered weapon attachment and marked “Hot Zones” and supply ships, home to rare goodies
Other than being technically better, Apex seems far more fleshed out than the somewhat vapid experience of Fortnite. Inclusion of Overwatch-esque hero characters, or Legends, categorised into the roles of Offence, Defense, Support and Recon, adds an extra element which forces the player to think tactically and play smart. There’s also enough variation in each of the character’s unique class abilities to promote experimentation. The loot and equipment system also has a lot of fun characteristics, namely tiered weapon attachment and marked “Hot Zones” and supply ships, home to rare goodies. Little additions like this just give the whole game that little bit more je ne sais quois.
Teamwork is a must
Unlike many of the battle royales on the market, Apex has no solo mode. Instead every player is plonked into a three-person squad. If like me the thought of human interaction makes you want to have a panic attack, then this might sound like a living nightmare. But fear not, an easy to use, context based ping system makes interacting with teammates a doddle, without having to say a single word over mic. Just point your crosshair at what you want to
talk about, whether it be an enemy, location or piece of equipment, and at the push of a button your avatar will call it out to your squad. This also gives further incentive to play as one of the more support-based characters, which helps given optimal class composition within your squad is crucial for victory.
25,000,000 registered players after just one week of its release
There’s no building What is people’s obsession with building? I remember when Minecraft was at its peak and the trend was set for every single game to include some sort of janky building mechanic. Thankfully those dark days passed, until Fortnite decided to resurrect the rotting corpse that is basic building mechanics. A fundamental part of the Tower Defence style gameplay that was originally envisioned for Fortnite, the resource collection and building elements have since become an ugly and inconvenient secondary focus to the game. For most players, building is simply an annoyance. So rejoice, because Apex doesn’t have any of it. A quirky roster isn’t the only thing
Progression is fairer Apex has pinched from Overwatch. Inclusion of loot boxes packed with cosmetic items like skins and taunts also make their way into the game. They’re awarded semi-regularly, so unlocks can be gained at a decent pace, with enough incentive to keep plugging away. Of course you can pay for more boxes, but at the end of the day the game is free so they’ve got to make their money somehow. Overall, it still feels much fairer than Fortnite’s rather restrictive Battle Pass system. Sadly, there’s no flossing though.
Did you know? Apex Legends was on no one’s radar and kept very secretive before it’s launch. It’s one of the first big games (of recent) to be announced and released simultaneously. This type of secretive release and launch is something Respawn and EA have never done before.
38 write for us!
Science & Tech Science & Tech Editors Jade Le Marquand Aidan Hughes Welcome back to Science and Tech, or as it quickly becoming known - Science and TEXT. But that doesn’t mean we’re stopping any time soon - get ready for a whole lot more reading as we weigh in on the palm oil debate and completely ruin that sunny February weekend we had a couple of weeks ago. We also bring forth to you the scientificallyproven best ways to revise (we recommend you read this one). P.S. Tom Buckland wanted to be credited for that lame joke (we didn’t really want it anyway).
Aidan’s Pick
Humble Pi - Matt Parker
Stand-up mathematician Matt Parker has just released a new book - Humble Pi: A Comedy of Maths Errors. Matt describes a few of the numerous cases throughout history when maths has gone wrong with real life implications. Amongst others, he answers the questions ‘How did a gym class almost cause the collapse of building?’ and ‘How can a billion dollars vanish into thin air?’. He argues that people should not fear maths but see it as an ally, whilst taking a jovial look at the times when the maths just doesn’t work out. You can find it in any good bookstore!
Jade’s Pick
Behind the Curve Netflix
Is the Earth flat? No. But does that give us the right to demoralise and shame those that believe it is? Of course not. This documentary explores the world of the growing community of flat-earthers, as well as talking to some astrophysiscts and psychologists. It gives these people a voice without mocking them; discusses the psychology of why people may have come to this conclusion and how we should try to engage with them rather than belittle them if we disagree. An interesting, yet at times rather frustrating film.
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Top tips to train your brain Eve Thomas
As the second semester progresses, assessment deadlines and upcoming exams are drawing ever closer and the increased workload is perhaps becoming more palpable. Studying and revising can seem tedious, but if you put the hours in, you deserve to get the most out of your efforts. There are a huge variety of techniques designed to maximise productivity when studying, but whilst some are useful, others might be wasting your time. In an age of technology, it’s tempting to utilise the convenience of eLearning media, but research suggests that the old-fashioned print-based techniques are better for studying. Perhaps surprisingly, a study published by the London School of Economics found that students in Europe and Asia find it easier to retain information from a printed page than a digital screen. Whether working digitally or from print, music has long been
a controversial study tool: whilst some people refuse to look at a book without their headphones firmly attached to their heads, others require complete silence. Experts continue to debate its use, but many now agree that specific genres can stimulate the brain. Eighteenth century composers seem to be particularly popular, engaging the parts of the brain that enable us to focus and make predictions. Aside from this, music may also help to increase motivation, as long as you are able to objectively decide when this motivation becomes a distraction. It is well established that the brain and the body are deeply connected; physical health indubitably contributes to the mental capacities, which we rely upon to focus and learn. Studies now suggest that our ability to focus is improved drastically in the short-term after a workout. This is because the brain is receiving an increased quantity of oxygen and nutrients. Dr Douglas B. McKeag believes that studying
Credit: Pixabay
immediately after a short, highintensity workout means that you are more alert, open and able to take in new information. Studying can be stressful, particularly when revising for important and imminent assessments. Whilst some stress can be helpful through motivating and disciplining us to stay focused, excess stress is harmful. UC Irvine researchers found that high levels of stress which last beyond a couple of hours can engage corticotropinreleasing hormones which disrupt the process of creating and storing memories. If stress levels last for this duration, studying becomes counterproductive, making you inefficient as well as unhappy. Make sure to avoid this pitfall by taking regular breaks, maintaining a social life and taking time to practice selfcare. Most people have a particular place they believe themselves to study best in. For some, it might be in the privacy of their own room, whilst others feel they require the library setting to maintain the right mind-set. However, psychologist Robert Bjork suggests that regularly changing the environment in which you work could increase both your concentration and retention levels. He particularly suggests trying – at least occasionally – to work outside. Wherever you work, studying is all about engaging your memory. Scientists have been trying to understand memory for centuries, and 1885 saw the development of the theory of ‘the curve of forgetting’, which, to some extent, remains useful today. The idea is that the first time you learn new information, you remember up to 80% of it, provided
that you review it within 24 hours. If you keep reviewing it, the effect is cumulative, so that after a week you might remember the full amount. Today, it is more recognisable in the form of interval studying, which scientists generally agree to be far more effective than the alternative of cramming. More recent research highlights the idea of active recall, which became a particularly popular technique around 2009 when an article advising against repeatedly rereading textbooks was published. It argued instead that students should close the book and recite the information repeatedly to practice long-term memorisation. Perhaps a lesser-known system, the Leitner method forces students to learn by repeating the information they know least well. It involves writing questions onto a set of cards and separating those that are answered correctly from those that were answered incorrectly. This process will be repeated for the incorrectly answered ones until there are none left. The method is effective at singling out weaknesses and addressing them, rather than revising information that is already understood. It might appear obvious, but practice tests should never be underrated. These give a sense of the examination style and presentation whilst also highlighting which areas you are still struggling on, just as the Leitner method does. Going over them afterwards with a mark scheme to self-assess and establish what level you are working at is also crucial. A 2011 study found that students who tested themselves using a practice
Science & Tech
For more advice and support, you can visit the student advice center in the student’s union. Find advice online at www.bigwhitewall.com
examination retained 50% more of the information a week later than those who did not. The Fenyman technique is an alternative to the classic mindmap. Physicist Robert Fenyman created the system based on the deconstruction and reconstruction of ideas to understand the most complicated of concepts. To use the method, first identify what you want to learn and then try explaining it as if to a five year old, using analogies to help. From there, you can build the complexity of the idea to its full level. Not too dissimilar to the Fenyman technique is the method of playing teacher. Teachers do not only have to understand the information they are teaching but also organise it in an accessible and engaging way in order to explain complex concepts simply. Teaching others will force you to revise and organise your knowledge, whilst delivering it in your own way and therefore consolidating it in your mind. Ultimately, different methods will work more or less successfully for different people, and most will work best in conjunction with others: variety is crucial and using a single technique will never bring about the best result. The key is to find what works for you and spend time focussing on committing information to memory through dedication, time and hard work.
Taking paper notes may be more beneficial than electronic notes
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the trial of palm oil Darby Knight
You’ve likely consumed it already today; perhaps through food, cosmetics, toothpaste, or fed it to your pets. Palm oil, extracted from oil palm seeds, is everywhere in our lives. Cheap and versatile, palm oil is in high demand globally by almost all industries, but growing it leaves a bloody ecological footprint. Greenpeace have been at the throat of the palm oil industry for a while. Iceland’s decision to remove their brand name from products containing non-sustainable palm oil is progress, it’s time to draw light on the complexity of the palm oil problem and the available solutions. Let’s put palm oil on trial: innocent until proven guilty. The defence for palm oil is stronger than it first appears and doesn’t get much attention. For landuse efficiency, palm oil is the most efficient crop for harvesting vegetable oils: 50% of each seed’s mass consists of oil. In a given area, palm oil gives the highest yields, making it cheap to grow and use. If we switch to an alternative, we must use a wider area to match the yield we currently get from palm oil, and clearing more land is the last thing tropical ecosystems need. Palm oil is an important source of income for poverty-stricken families in the tropics, who can grow a lot of oil palm in a small area to sell at markets. Local production is promoted by World Bank for sustainable development. Without it, many would grow crops requiring
Are palm oil plantations harming the environment? Image: Adam Jones
larger areas of forest to be cleared, or hunt animals to sell or trade,
another global driver of biodiversity decline. For the prosecution, it’s easy to see the crimes. Since 1990, areas harvested for palm oil have grown by 6.5 million hectares, bringing the total land area used for palm oil to over 14 million hectares, an area larger than the state of New York. New land cleared for palm oil plantations is largely primary (undisturbed) tropical rainforest, which fragments and drives out animal populations, endangering charismatic species such as orangutans. Shallow palm roots cause soil erosion, washing away sediment and nutrients which clouds and pollutes rivers, impacting freshwater fish populations. Land conversion releases vast amounts of carbon, previously stored in forest trees, into the atmosphere, with plumes in Asia being visible from Australia and Africa. This contributes to the hazardous air pollution encountered in large Asian cities. It’s no surprise there are cries for palm oil to be eradicated from our daily lives. However, palm oil’s dirty deeds are ultimately the result of human choices, not the crop itself. Large
companies that grow and supply palm oil on an industrial scale are the guilty offenders. It’s fine to use palm oil, but where and how it’s grown is at the heart of the problem. However, there is a solution. Degraded lands, already cleared and previously used as farmland, are so numerous in the tropics that it’s possible to meet the forecast 2 0 2 0 palm oil demands without any more forest loss, if production is focused on these areas. However, if demand continues to increase, these degraded areas won’t be enough to meet the forecast 2025 demands, so some cuts to our palm oil consumption are necessary to prevent deforestation for plantations recommencing. The verdict: large companies have decided to inflict catastrophic environmental damage with palm oil as the means. It’s the most areaefficient oil to harvest, so switching to alternatives will do more harm than good. As consumers, we must be conscious of our own consumption and strive to purchase products containing sustainable palm oil, while pressuring large companies to supply it more sustainably.
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Science & Tech
Sun’s out... Mojama Fallah
The sun’s out and there’s nothing like a little sun to get everyone happy. Being out with your friends, having a cold drink or a little BBQ can put anyone in a good mood, especially me. But when it’s February it should be snowing, or at the very least cold. People should be outside in jumpers and coats, not t-shirts and shorts. So why is it so warm during winter and what does that mean for our planet’s future? The answer is climate change as a result of global warming and the greenhouse effect. Global warming is the gradual increase of the Earth’s atmospheric temperature mainly caused by a dramatic increase in the amount of greenhouse gases. The gases in the atmosphere block the heat from the surface escaping and re-emits it back, warming the Earth’s surface and oceans. These gases are water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O). These can be released naturally through volcanic activity and respiration, but they are also released through human activities like deforestation,
Sheffield February 2018 (above) Vs February 2019 (below) 2018 image: Dan Cross 2019 image: Aoife Kent
agriculture and burning of fossil fuels. As humans have developed over time the amount of greenhouse gases emitted through these non-natural ways has increased drastically. Of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change made up of 1,300 independent scientific experts, 97% believe that climate warming trends over the past century are very likely due to human activity. Human activity has had a clear significant impact on greenhouse gas levels and climate change. Before 1950, CO2 levels had never been above 300 parts per million (ppm), but it is now currently at 400 part per million. The amount of greenhouse gases being released into the atmosphere due to human activity is increasing at a significant rate, with a lot of these changes happening in the past century. Most of the warming occurred in the past 35 years, with 2016 being one of the warmest
...Earth’s out? areas. Moreover, the acidity of the surface o c e a n water has increased by about 3 0 % due to the CO2 b e i n g absorbed into the oceans. This can have a negative effect on the organisms such as coral and planktons. Despite all this
years on record. Although temperature rises is the main result of these effects that the majority of us have experienced, hotter weather is not the only consequence. The planet’s average temperature has risen by about 0.9 degrees Celsius since the late 19th century; this number may seem small to the layman eye, but this increase can lead to a lot of other serious problems for the planet. These changes include the ocean’s surface temperatures rising, sea levels rising, the melting of both ice sheets and glaciers, and extreme weather events - ranging from hurricanes to droughts. These effects are occurring now with Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets decreasing in mass Greenland lost an average of 286 billion tons of ice per year between 1993 and 2016. Global sea levels have risen 8 inches in the last century and this could potentially lead to flooding and other problems such as food production in coastal
scientific evidence, some are not convinced that we should be worried about the planet or that global warming exists, with some claiming the Earth is actually getting cooler. This belief may be
due to the short-term effects of global warming we are facing, these effects include ‘cooler’ periods despite warming trends continuing. Fluctuations between cooler and warmer periods are expected but this does not affect or change the long term warming of the planet. What this means is that even though we had a really cold winter (December and January) in 2018 and some unusually hot sunny days in February, the Earth’s temperature continues to rise. The question that remains is, is it too late to reverse the damage? Scientists have high confidence that global temperature will continue to rise, with IPCC predicting a temperature rise of 2.5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit over the next century. The exact actions that need to be taken to reverse or minimise the damage are unclear, but what is clear is that drastic changes need to be made by all countries, governments and humans, across the Earth very soon.
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The Premier League title race is far from over. Will there be another slip up? Ben Gomes
Before the 2018/19 season kicked off, few would have expected the title race to even be a contest worth talking about, let alone there be just one point separating the top two sides with eight games left to play. Last term’s runaway winners, the centurions, Manchester City, were everyone’s favourite to retain the title with similar style and swagger that saw them claim the trophy last time around. However, despite faltering slightly of late, this season’s challengers Liverpool will not go away. They are sure to fight right until the very end, giving every last ounce of effort they can muster. Of course, what this makes for is a fascinating title race. Whilst we all (or most of us) enjoyed marvelling at the brilliance of City last season, nothing quite matches the nail-biting anticipation of a title race going right down to the wire. Both teams have been exceptional throughout this campaign, that is without question, and whilst Liverpool may have dropped points to deadly rivals in the past few
weeks, they are still hot on the coattails of arguably one of the best teams the Premier League has ever seen. That fact cannot be twisted or misinterpreted – Jurgen Klopp’s men have been brilliant. They’ve performed like champions.
Nothing matches the nail-biting anticipation of a title race going to the wire Champions or not, this season has had a much different feeling about it compared to previous near misses in recent memory. Liverpool are not there simply because they have the best player or the top goalscorer, Liverpool are there because they deserve to be. The defensive transformation has been nothing short of remarkable, and with Virgil van Dijk in charge of the backline they believe they can go anywhere and keep a clean sheet.
The Premier League went to the Etihad Stadium last season, but can Liverpool bring a first title to Anfield for 29 years? Image: Cléria De Souza The hugely criticised midfield, whilst lacking somewhat in guile and creativity, have had to dig in at times, helping to secure draws that otherwise could have been defeats. And then there’s the attack. The red arrows. Misfiring of late maybe,
but they still boast the second and fifth top scorers in the division and have been supplemented terrifically by full-backs Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold. Questions of mentality should not be feared; they should be
challenged. This Liverpool squad has proved its quality and have already proved so many wrong throughout this campaign – who is to say they cannot continue to do so? After all, eight games to go, with one point in it – this title race is far from over.
Van Gerwen is the greatest at present, but he will never surpass ‘The Power’ Jordan Sollof
Michael van Gerwen is undoubtedly the greatest darts player on the planet at present, and has been for at least the last five years. The Dutchman is number one in the PDC Order of Merit by some distance. The current World Champion is only 29, yet he already has three world titles, along with a host of other majors. With earnings of over £7 million, ‘Mighty Mike’ has already had a glistening career and will go down as one of the best players in the sport’s history. However, whether van Gerwen is the greatest ever his hotly debated, and for me, he’s behind one man: he still has never been as dominant as Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor. The Stokeon-Trent tungsten icon, who retired after the 2018 World Championship
aged 57, won an unprecedented 16 World titles and 16 World Matchplay titles, along with hundreds of other titles. No sportsman has dominated for so long, and it is almost impossible for MVG to match Taylor’s longevity due to the sheer number of world class players today, and the fact that the Dutchman himself has said he may not play professional darts past the age of 40. Not one player through Taylor’s entire career had a positive headto-head record against him. Van Gerwen, however, has negative head-to-head records against nine players, including Phil Taylor. The two met on 62 occasions, with Taylor winning 34 to van Gerwen’s 26 and two draws. Taylor even in the very latter stages of his career managed to beat him several times, and with the two players at their absolute peak, ‘The Power’ would surely
come out on top. Taylor’s final major tournament victory came in Blackpool in 2017 at the World Matchplay, where he won his 16th title, smashing van Gerwen 16-6 in the quarter-final. The trophy has since been renamed the Phil Taylor Trophy, as the Matchplay was Taylor’s favourite tournament. Van Gerwen is dominating a world of darts where it is much harder to win tournaments. No player could really challenge Taylor regularly in the late 1990s and early 2000s, but nowadays, despite MVG winning the majority of titles, the majors are a little more shared around, evident in this year’s UK Open in Minehead, where rising star Nathan Aspinall clinched his first TV title. MVG is an unstoppable green machine at times, but there’s only one Phil Taylor.
Michael van Gerwen Image: Sven Mandel, Wikicommons (cropped)
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Varsity 2019 Preview
Black and Golds target seventh heaven in Varsity 2019 Josh Taylor
Sheffield Varsity has come round again, and the hotly contested and avidly supported sporting competition has been a well of success for Uni of. They are already 3-1 up in this year’s edition, but can they clinch a lucky number seventh straight title? The action commences where last years finished, under the lights of Hillsborough as both the football Men 1s and Womens 1s battle it out for a point each on March 19. It’s an apt place to kick-off proceedings as the Black and Golds will be looking to repeat the dramatic finale of 2018, in which Oli Basham stabbed home from close range to send Uni of fans into hysteria. The fixtures kick off at the same time as last year, with the Women’s game starting at 4pm and the Mens at 7:45pm. The following day Hallam host Uni of on Sports Park Day, another place of anxiety-inducing drama last
year. In the Rugby M1s match Hallam fought bravely to score a try in the dying seconds of the game, pulling them within a conversion of taking the point. However, Adrien Parry shanked his kick wide, allowing Uni of to steal a 26-25 victory in enemy territory.
Follow Varsity coverage across Forge TV, Radio and Press Elsewhere, ultimate frisbee, cricket and the rest of the football and rugby fixtures will take place, with a total of 15 points available. Hallam Sports Park day is definitely a chance for either University to gain a forceful grip on Varsity.
Boxing then graces the Octagon Centre the day after to provide one of the most unique and raucous atmospheres during Varsity. With a point available this event will be decided on the grit, determination and the fists of the competitors. Between boxing and the last event there will be events at EIS, Ponds Forge and Abbeydale with the winning point, if anyone is within reach of it, likely to be clinched there. The curtain comes down on Varsity on the 27th March at the FlyDSA Arena, where the Ice Hockey Final will be played. Hallam are the favourites for the clash with their impeccable record in the fixture, however Uni of will be looking to cap off Varsity with a win alongside a seventh straight title. You can follow Varsity across Forge Radio, TV and Press, with reports and reaction on www.forgetoday. com/Varsity to ensure that you don’t miss a moment.
Image: Dan West
Image: Gunnar Mallon
Image: Dan West
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Captain’s corner
Head of Sport Adam May
This week, Forge Sport interviews DinaLeigh Simons, Isaac Vango and Ese Osi from the Gymnastics society. Josh Taylor
How did you get into the sport? DLS: I started gymnastics class at just 3 years old and have competed at national level. I actually founded the University of Sheffield Gymnastics Club and I’ve worked hard to improve the standard of Gymnastics in Sheffield over the last 3 years. IV: I was an overall energetic kid who used to literally bounce around the house everywhere! My mum started to take me to toddler play classes and now I’m competing at English and British Championships. EO: I trained at a young age but only just recently got back into gymnastics. We have a very diverse team that can offer a lot to students of any ability.
What’s the society like? DLS: We’re very inclusive, fun and relaxed. Although we have a competition element to the club, our main aim is to increase participation in Gymnastics, even for those who have never done a handstand before. We’re also very fitness focused and work with all abilities, so there’s zero pressure on newcomers. We aim to be friendly, non-judgemental, and create a family-like spirit. Do you guys go on any socials as well? EO: Yes! We host fun socials to ROAR every two weeks where we usually dress up and complete challenges and we also do sober socials such as movie and food nights! What are the competitions like in Gymnastics? Do you guys compete
in BUCS? DLS: We compete in BUCS and other competitions around the country! We’ve competed at friendly competitions such as Birmingham Open, Midlands Open and Notts Open. We have Manchester Open coming up this month! What about Varsity? IV: We don’t compete in Varsity because Hallam doesn’t have a club! What are your favourite aspects of the sport, any favourite routines or disciplines? DLS: I love the diversity and creativity of the sport and my favourite apparatus is A-bars
because it requires a massive range of skills. Gymnastics has taught me many important things, including discipline and hard work which translated well into other aspects of life. IV: For me, I enjoy learning a new skill and successfully completing a new or difficult routine. These are the moments where hard work really pays off and pushes you towards greater things. EO: I’ve always loved the social aspect of sport even when you don’t have to directly communicate with each other. My favourite apparatus is vault as I’m pretty strong at it.
Gold for Uni of Korfball continued... Patrick Burke
[Continued from back page] ...was fantastic, and once we started winning games in the league quite comfortably and qualified as top seed for the Nationals, we weren’t scared to be there.” The Black and Golds edged a close encounter with the University of Bedfordshire followed by resounding wins against Manchester, Cardiff, Southampton and Kent universities, and the final saw them eclipse the hosts University of East Anglia 1512, who had won the previous two Championships. “It was in their own backyard,
15-12
victory over UEA in the BUCS Nationals Champioship final
they had all home luxuries that you would get if you were a home team,” said Singh. “I want to thank some
of our team’s parents who were there cheering us on and some of the other unis, in particular Hallam, Nottingham and Leeds who stayed to the end to support us, and it almost felt as much our home game as it did theirs.” Kite added: “UEA are kind of like the Loughborough of korfball, people actually go to university at UEA to play korfball. They always medal, they’ve got fantastic coaching down there and five sports halls back-to-back. “We don’t even have Goodwin most of the time, we have to go elsewhere and we’re mainly coached in house. We get a few external people in but mainly it’s done by ourselves, so it does make it more rewarding.” This achievement was very much a collective work, as Singh made clear. “It was a proper team effort. Everyone played similar gametime, and those who were on the bench especially for the second day did fantastically cheering us on. The
reason why we won it in the end was because we weren’t relying on any individuals to step up and score, what we were relying on was for everyone to be confident and not be afraid to shoot.
‘It was a proper team effort. We weren’t relying on any individuals’ Jordan Singh First Team Captain “I think a real testament to that is that they do a male MVP, a female MVP, and top goalscorers. We didn’t win any of those individual accolades, but as a team we won the best prize going.”
Image: Ian Coughlan
Hello! Thanks for reading the latest issue of Forge Press. Hope you’re keeping well as we skip through this semester at a frightening speed. While Easter is just around the corner that also means one more thing: Varsity is here. We preview 2019’s installment as the competition between Hallam and the University of Sheffield gets well underway with both universities tied on the number of past wins. I thought I’d use part of this editorial to send a thanks to everyone who has put their names down to be involved with our coverage. We’ve had a huge response and our coverage is hugely dependant on all our volunteers. Without you, we wouldn’t have a paper each week. Elsewhere in this issue we celebrate korfball’s success, while gymnastics are thrust into the spotlight for Captain’s Corner. Darts and the Premier League titlerace take pride of place in Sports Thoughts, so check-out those as Liverpool and Manchester City continue to throw up twists and turns. Enjoy Varsity, stay safe and we’ll see you in the next issue for our Varsity special. Cheers!
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Image: Ian Coughlan
Gold medal triumph for Korfball team in the BUCS National Championships Patrick Burke
The University of Sheffield Korfball 1s are celebrating after their gold medal triumph at the BUCS National Championships at the beginning of the month.
This represents the pinnacle of korfball in university sport, and club captain George Kite explained how it came about due to years of improvement. “Most of us have played for three or four years, and about three-quarters of the team are graduating this year.
I’ve been here for four years and in my first year we didn’t even qualify for the top tier, the next year I think we came 12th, then we came sixth and now we’ve come first so it’s been a real nice progression and a nice way to round off uni for everyone.” That sentiment was echoed by first
team captain Jordan Singh, who said that the team built on its successes from last year. “We kept the majority of our team from last year, and we just got better and better. The commitment was...
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