Forge Press #158

Forge Press ISSUE 158 | MONDAY 7 FEBRAUARY 2022

THE UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER

UCU announce two weeks of strikes and industrial action

FORGEPRESS.ORG

Knife-wielding thieves target Weston Park area of city Kane O'Regan

Staff Strikes from 14 - 22 February and 1 - 2 March Disputes over pay, conditions and staff pensions have spilled into the new year Industrial Action to continue after three day strike in December

Joey Grindrod (he/him) The Sheffield branch of the University and Colleges Union (UCU) have announced a second round of strikes as part of their ongoing disputes over “cuts to pensions, falling pay and worsening working conditions”.

Sheffield UCU members are due to walk out for a total of 10 days, starting in February. The first round of strikes

Inside Mid-term SU Officer grades Analysis: How well have the Full-time Officers done? pg 5-7 >> The next SU administation...

Nominations for the 2022 Officer Elections are now open pg 4 >> Council CEO at No.10 party Party being looked at by Met pg 4 >>

will take place from the 14th – 22nd February, with later strike days also planned on the 1st and 2nd of March. Nationally, the strike action is expected to affect over a million students.

This semester’s strikes follow a short stint of industrial action last December, during which UCU-affiliated members of staff at the University of Sheffield...

Five knife-point robberies have been reported in and around Weston Park in the space of just over a week.

South Yorkshire Police believe the incidents to be linked, with the culprits still at large.

The first incident allegedly took place at 7pm on Sunday 16 January. A couple were reportedly approached by three men, aged 16-to-19, and threatened at knife-point. All three men wore balaclavas or face coverings.

The three perpetrators fled in the direction of Ponderosa/Crookes Valley Park after stealing the male victim’s phone and wallet.

The second incident occurred shortly after, at 7.06pm in Ponderosa Park. A woman in her 30s, also threatened at knife-point, was forced to give up her phone and wallet to three men.

The perpetrators are said to have met up with a fourth man after taking the victim’s possessions. Their description matched those of the previous incident.

Two similar thefts took place in the area on Saturday 22 January, between 7.15pm and 8.30pm. The two male victims, both aged in their 20s...

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Forge Press

Letter from the Editor FORGE PRESS EDITORIAL TEAM Editor-in-Chief Harry Harrison

Deputy Editor Kate Procter

Deputy Editor John Gilding Managing Editor Michael Scarborough Head of Design George Tuli Head of Photography Flo Kilby Website Manager Vacant Head of Socials and Advertising Charlotte Crompton Inclusions & Welfare Officer Molly Powell Events Coordinator Jiaxu Luo Secretary Charlotte Langford Head of News Indie Labbe-Jones News Editor Joey Grindrod News Editor Laycie Beck News Editor Kane O’Regan Features Editor Gina Marie Kalsi Features Editor Wiktoria Wrzyszcz Opinion Editor Pia Cooper Opinion Editor Leticia Chen Science & Tech Editor Louise Elliott Science & Tech Editor Tevy Kuch Lifestyle Editor Claire Gelhaus Lifestyle Editor Ella Brooker Break Editor Aidan Smith Break Editor Chloe Louise O’Connor Arts & Theatre Editor Vacant Arts & Theatre Editor Vacant Music Editor Callum Martin Music Editor Rory O’Shea Screen Editor Miette D’Souza Screen Editor Chloe Aslett Games Editor Reiss Mason Games Editor Tom Butt Head of Sport Jemma Snowdon Sport Editor Rahul Warrier Sport Editor Miriam Kuepper Multimedia Editor Jinqian Li Multimedia Editor Larissa Hurt Multimedia Editor Tong Liu News Reporter Charlotte Stokes News Reporter Stephanie Lam News Reporter Nathan Barcio News Reporter Connor Ost News Reporter Jade Bullen Deputy Head of Socials and Advertising Joel Hooke Social Media Assistant Ellie Storey Social Media Assistant Amy Mullen-Brown

Semester 2: UCU Strikes Back

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elcome back one and all to the sequel to your 2021/22 first semester.

Today, everyone will be back on campus ready (or not) to crack on with some work.

Forge Press is back to, as you can see, and we’re refreshed and ready to go after our winter break.

It’s been a slow news period at your Students’ Union over the past month and a bit with very little to update you on. Main stories are of course covered in here, along with anything else you need to know as you get back into university life.

The big story of course is the University and Colleges Union announcing 10 days of strike action in February, hence the awful attempt at a movie title joke above.

Forge Press have made a commitment to cover these strikes as neutrally as possible, as we, just the same as the broader student body, have opposing views on the industrial action and the lack of an agreement causing them.

There is also the big news that nominations for SU Officer Elections have opened this week. Students who wish to take over from the current administration must nominate themselves before Friday 18 February.

Us at Forge Press and our colleagues at Forge Radio and TV will be bringing you everything you need to know about candidates and their

policies in due course, as well as offer opportunities to get involved in our coverage, including live TV debates, so join all Forge Media contributor groups to sign up.

Sheffield Varsity is also on the way in 2022. The events return, after two years out, is very exciting and I will be the first to suggest all third-year and masters students who have never had a chance to watch a Varsity be granted first dibs on Ice Hockey tickets in the Sheffield Arena.

Finally, I would like to congratulate International and Community Officer, Taylor Ogle, on her engagement over Christmas to her, now fiancèe, Samuel Timson. I am very happy for them both and wish them all the best, as I know the rest of the Forge Press committee, and former members who worked with Taylor, do too.

Make sure you’re following us on all your social media (@forgepress on Twitter and Instagram) so you’re updated on all the stories uploaded to our website that you need to see.

Now crack on and get into these 32 paper pages of the good stuff.

Harry Harrison Editor-in-Chief

Monday 7 February 2022

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NEWS Sheffield City Council CEO could lose job over No.10 parties Page 4 ▶

NEWS South Yorkshire Police urge park walkers to travel in pairs after thefts Page 4 ▶

FEATURES “It’s like learning to walk again” - former student speaks on dealing with grief Page 10 ▶

OPINION When the (Tory) party’s over, it’s over Page 12 ▶

SCIENCE & TECH

The big picture Head of Design, George Tuli, on beating the January deadline season blues.

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ith short daylight hours, dark evenings, and looming exams, the new year can be a difficult time for students. One way to make this period feel easier is prioritising time outside as much as possible.

This issue’s Big Picture

Human trials for brain chip implantation could be soon comes to you from the Peak District, a fantastic place to visit to destress and alleviate the January blues.

The famous Arts Tower, Photo: George

Page 16 ▶

Lifestyle Vegan lunches to keep you full and focussed Page 17 ▶

MUSIC We look back at 2021: The year music came back Page 22 ▶

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Forge Press

News

Staff strikes back Police urge park walkers to for another year travel in pairs after thefts Joey Grindrod (he/him) Continues from front >> ...and 56 other higher education institutions in the UK walked away from work for three days.

The UCU promised to “escalate its disputes” if its demands were not met after last semester’s industrial action. This time round, UCU-affiliated staff at 68 universities and colleges in the UK will undertake strike action for 10 days, including those at the University of Sheffield.

The UCU claim that higher education staff are at “breaking point” and say that

“falling pay, the gender and ethnic pay gap, precarious employment practices, and unsafe workloads” have motivated them to strike, as well as significant disputes over pensions.

The University of Sheffield is yet to comment on the latest round of strikes, though Michelle Donelan, Minister of State for Higher Education, called the strikes “deeply irresponsible”.

Kane O'Regan (he/him) Continues from front >> ...cite three and five perpetrators in both incidents. Both their phones and wallets were stolen.

A fifth robbery was reported on Tuesday 25 January at 7.30pm. A woman in her 20s was threatened at knife-point by three men demanding cash.

Inspector Kevin Smith, of Sheffield North West Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “We are taking all five instances extremely seriously and have increased the number of high visibility patrols in and around the area

“

We are taking all five instances extremely seriously

to help reassure people and to deter further offences.”

He urges anyone walking in the area, particularly at night, to be aware of their surroundings and to keep to well-lit areas, walking in groups whenever possible.

City Council CEOs job at risk Nominations open for 2022 full and part after revelations she partied in time officer roles Downing Street lockdown bash Harry Harrison (he/him) Nominations have opened for the 2022 Students’ Union Officer Elections, with all full-time and most part-time officer roles open for election come voting in March.

The Elections take place each beginning in February and ending with a televised results night in March, broadcasted by Forge TV. Current Mature Students Officer, Tom Hill, who is one of the Returning Officers of the election, said: “It’s a great way to decide the direction of the Students’ Union and to get your voice heard in the decision process.”

This year will be the second time Officers are elected to the composition of positions established under 2020/21 President, Beth Eyre’s reforms, which reduced the number of full time roles and introduced the part time roles for the first time.

Seven full time positions and five of the six part time

positions will be elected during the voting period between the 7 and 9 March.

The full time positions are SU President, Activities and Development Officer, Education Officer, Liberation Officer, International and Community Officer, Wellbeing and Sports Officer and the Welfare and Sustainability Officer.

There officers work full time in the Students’ Union and are paid a salary.

Part time officers include the BAME Student Officer, Disabled Student Officer, LGBT+ Student Officer, Mature Student Officer and the Women Student Officer, which was previously a full time position, before being made part time and replaced by the Liberation Officer in 2021 in order to have an officer representative of all students.

People who wish to run will need to put themselves forward on the SU website and nominees will be announced on 28 February.

Kane O'Regan (he/him) The Sheffield City Council Chief Executive’s position is under review after media leaks reveal she attended a leaving party during Covid restrictions.

The event is one of twelve currently under investigation by the Met Police in response to the Sue Gray report.

Kate Josephs is now on “paid” leave from her £190,000-a-year position as a cross-party committee of councillors hold meetings to decide her fate.

Ms Josephs, who led the government’s Covid-19 taskforce from July to December 2020, released a statement apologising for the party only minutes before a nation-

al newspaper published the story.

Josephs said: “I am truly sorry that I did this and for the anger that people will feel as a result. Sheffield has suffered greatly during this pandemic and I apologise unreservedly.”

After news of the Downing Street party broke late last year, the BBC questioned Sheffield City Council as to whether Kate Josephs had attended a party on 18 December 2020 at Downing Street.

Sheffield City Council responded that Ms Josephs "did not attend any party at 10 Downing Street".

However, Ms Josephs has now admitted that the day before, 17 December, she "gathered with colleagues, who were at work that day, with drinks" in the Cabinet Office to mark her leaving the Covid-19 Taskforce. It was later revealed an email invitation was sent to 40 guests.

Terry Fox, the leader of Sheffield City Council, said: “I have heard strong and emotional views from across the

city. I absolutely understand the reaction after all that Sheffield has been through these last couple of years.

“We now need to let the committee carry out this work and we also continue to await the outcome of the Cabinet Office’s wider report.

There is nothing further to add at this time.”

The committee of councillors state that it will determine “what steps, if any, should be taken next”.

There is no deadline for the council report to be delivered, however the council claims: “While we cannot yet know how long it will take, we expect it to move at pace. We expect that it will also take in the findings of the Sue Gray report.”

Lord Paul Scriven, Liberal Democrat leader of Sheffield Council from 2008 to 2011, said Ms Josephs had "undermined the name of the city", adding that "whenever she says something to support Sheffield's fight against Covid or the NHS, no-one will believe her".

Monday 7 February 2022

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News

2021/22 SU Officer administation: twothird term performance evaluations Forge Press News Team On Monday 7 February, nominations have officially opened for the Full and Part Time officer positions within the Students’ Union. This means the countdown to a

new SU administration has begun and the current team are heading into the final stages of their terms.

Forge Press have decided this is now a perfect time to look back over the first semester and the few months before that when they took

office and analyse their success. Have they achieved any of their promises from the campaign trial? Have they over-promised so far? How have the officers responded to problems that have appeared during their time in office? We take a look at the

President of the Sheffield SU: Evie Croxford Campaign Objectives • Advance Sheffield’s sustainability progress • Dismantle barriers to Higher Education • Transform student democracy Objectives Achieved • Attended COP26 climate summit in Glasgow • Coordinated the SU’s response to industrial action • Started consultation and proposal to make SU democracy more accessible and inclusive

Analysis:

It’s been a quiet year for Evie Croxford. She has attended the COP26 climate summit along with Ness Matanda Mambingo and has opened a dialogue with the Student’s Union in order to make SU democracy more accessible and inclusive to minority groups, albeit this last one is a very vague ‘achievement’.

In a pre-election interview with Forge Press, Miss Croxford said she wanted to “look at racial justice and try to really embed this within the SU and the University’s community” through “compulsory anti-racism training for societies and committees.”

However, only sports clubs have reported consistent notice of this training (with very little consequences for not attending to this point in the year); some academic societies report never having heard about such training.

A major issue that fell to Miss Croxford last year was the alleged spiking incidents that happened around

the city and in the SU's own nightclub, Foundry. Miss Croxford claimed on the SU Instagram page to have responded to this “promptly”, however some students felt that the SU’s response to the spikings was poor and that many of their introduced methods of prevention were things that were already in place.

Furthermore, on the SU websites Drink Spiking Safety and Support page (that Croxford directed students to in an email on 22 October 2021), the SU promises to “continue to review and update our action plan”, something that seems to have been basically forgotten about now, as the page is dated 21 October 2021.

Overall, Miss Croxford’s objectives were pretty widespread and whilst she has definitely started to implement some of them, there will definitely be more to say on the achievements front at the end of the academic year.

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facts.

This year's administration has been very well-behaved.

Previous teams have had scandals erupt regarding facebook blockings in 2020/21 and the 2019/20 International Officer causing controversy after contentious

WeChat posts about Taiwan and Hong Kong came to light.

There is very little known about the workings of this officer team, they keep to themselves and work hard and this is reflected in their grades and our analysis.

Enjoy.

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Forge Press

News

Education Officer: Savannah Hanson Objectives: • Fair and holistic approach to marking and assessment • Value for money education • Alleviation of digital exclusion • An inclusive, accessible and decolonised education for all • Innovating opportunities impacted by Brexit and Covid 19 Achievements: • Mandatory digital training for academic staff • Restarting the Academic Representatives Conference • Recorded lecture access for all • Increased accessibility of study spaces

Analysis: During her time as Ed ucation Officer, Savannah Hanson seemed to fulfil her goal of helping students communicate with their respective departments by popularising the role of academic representatives and hosting the Academic Representative Conference in November.

With online learning still prevalent during the first semester, Hanson managed to make digital spaces inclusive by advocating for recorded lectures for students and providing more online resources from the library.

However, there was little done on her goal in providing more holistic and

innovative approaches to assessment styles, especially when it comes to reviewing and scrapping some single-assessed modules, which she stated in her objectives.

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International and Community Officer: Taylor Ogle

Ojectives: • Increase international student engagement • Increase employment support for international students • Build better support for asylum seekers and refugee students • Increase access to local businesses through Biometric Residence Permit cards • Increase student involvement in the wider community • Expand payment plan options for international students Achievements: • Winter Wellbeing Week • Collaborative effort with Careers Service • Talk at UKCISA Fest 2021

Analysis: Taylor Ogle has certainly adapted well to the role, so far organising a Winter Wellbeing Week for students to take care of their mental health with a five-day programme of events to keep participants happy, active, and talking. This in particular had a large focus on community not only amongst students but in the wider area.

Ogle also worked with the Careers Service to communicate opportunities within the Student’s Union to international students. She told Forge Press during the officer debates last year that she had learned a lot facing the difficulties in employment support and financial flexibility.

Though exactly how opportunities were communicated seems to have

escaped the headlines.

However, Ogle expanded on this work by conducting a talk at UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) Fest 2021 on how international students can explore a students’ union at a foreign university, the challenges they face when trying to be more involved, and how their experiences can be improved.

As for offering alternative payment options for international students and building better support for asylum seekers and refugees, these goals are very broad, relying on communication and action from the University and wider authoritative bodies. Ambitious, and potentially requiring a lot of time and resources, but significant if they come through.

Overall, Ogle has made a clear commitment to increasing student involvement and has begun to address furthering international student engagement with societies and the Student’s Union.

Meanwhile, next steps regarding the en masse education on Biometric Residence Permit cards, the Homesickness Survival Guide, and Ogle’s other goals, may yet be in store later this year.

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Monday 7 February 2022

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News

Activities and Development Officer: Morgan McArthur Objectives: • Expand societies post-COVID accessibility • Reform SU funding and finances • Empower employable and sustainable futures • Tackle societies Inclusions Issues • Showcase societies and skills Achievements: • Arranging new facilities for 2022 to improve society storage • Presented a social media campaign to shine a spotlight onto societies • Presented the first Activities Fair since COVID with over 200 societies

Analysis: Following a difficult few years for societies due to the impact of Covid, Morgan McArthur’s role has been crucial for showcasing societies. which has evidently been met through the highly attended activities fair which displayed over 200 clubs and societies.

Miss McArthur met this aim at the end of the year through a social media campaign, ‘Advent of Activities’ on Instagram in order to promote various societies including Sheffield Marrow, LGBT+ Committee and five others where she not only promoted them but also attended the sessions they offered.

The promotion of sustainability within the SU was achieved towards the end of 2021 with the ‘Festival of the Future’ which promoted vegan food through special deals alongside encouraging customers to use reusable cups.

Although Miss McArthur has been very active hitting campaign promises, a handful of societies have noted that she has not always been very responsive when societies have attempted to reach out.

McArthur did come under fire early in the year after the ‘Dance your Socks Off’ bar crawl was criticised as “unorganised” with communica-

tion of information lacking from the organisers.

Although McArthur aimed to tackle inclusion issues within societies this hasn’t been fully met. The introduction of ‘compulsory anti-racism training’ has mainly been implemented for sports clubs, but the same cannot be said for academic societies, with some reporting to Forge Press they had not heard of such training.

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Welfare and Sustainability Officer: Anesu (Ness) Matanda Mambingo

Objectives: • Ensure support for Covid alumni • Advance transition to a student-focused new normal • Progress sustainability in the University’s outlets • Deliver sustainability across all university courses Achievements: • Organised a week long ‘Festival for the Future’ • Successfully lobbied the University to become a founding signatory of a declaration of climate expectations • Campaigning to ensure the universities investments, careers, and education are sustainable and benefit both people and planet Analysis:

Ness Matanda Mambingo has shown an admirable commitment towards sustainability during her first term. Her standout achievement the ‘Festival for the Future’ featured a packed week of events culminating in a protest for national climate justice.

She also secured SU discounts on ethical food produce throughout the festival, however the impact is questionable.

The deals may promote a logic of consumption at odds with the sustainable message.

Mambingo successfully lobbied the University to sign a new declaration of climate expectations.

The new commitment builds on the University’s divestment from shares in fossil fuel companies, bringing the University in line with COP26

expectations, an event which Mambingo also attended.

Aware that this is only a minimum, Mambingo also supports the campaign ‘Fossil Free Careers Sheffield’. The campaign aims to refuse new or renewal contracts with all gas, oil or mining companies. They also aim to implement an Ethical Careers Policy at the University.

The promise to ensure support for Covid alumni and the rather broad, ‘advance transition to a student focused new normal’ seem to have received little progress.

This may be due to the fact certain criteria Ness outlined are already in place at the university, such as subject-specific career mentors. Or the fact that the manifesto was made when Covid

restrictions presented a larger barrier than they do currently.

The promise to improve and inform students of tenancy rights has thus far only resulted in a generalised social media post followed by a referral to a housing advisor at the Union Advice Centre.

That being said, it is Mambingo's first term.

She has made considerable progress in her sustainability promises and still has ample time to continue her effective charge.

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Forge Press

News

Sports and Wellbeing Officer: Charlotte McGinley Objectives: • Emphasise the importance of sport for mental health • Increase accessibility of sports facilities • Wednesday afternoons free for student sports and activities • Norton travel subsidised and prioritised • Provision of qualified coaches for club sports and funding for coach qualifications Achievements: • Begun work on increasing the accessibility of sports facilities • Planned race equality and consent training for sports teams

Analysis: Charlotte has had an eventful start to her term as Wellbeing and sports officer and has shown her enthusiasm for the role through taking part in multiple events and panel talks. She has also demonstrated good communication skills with students and sports groups.

Whilst Charlotte has clearly emphasised the importance and benefits of sport for mental health, one of her key objectives, she has not yet achieved all her initial goals.

Work has begun on ensuring sports facilities are inclusive for all, such as the start of the Disability in Sport campaign.

Following successful sessions in the first semester, Charlotte has also planned multiple Race Equality and Consent Training sessions to take place later this month; as well as a Pride in Sport panel talk.

However, Wednesday afternoons are not free for students’ sports, or other activities. We have also not yet seen evidence that Charlotte has managed to provide qualified coaches for club sports, funding for coaching qualifications, or of Norton travel being subsidised.

Additionally, following the drink spiking epidemic Charlotte has been a part of a Safety on Nights Out and Nightline

Awareness campaigns.

However, claims of ‘responsive action’ seem exaggerated as the Student Union could and should be doing more to ensure student safety on nights out.

Overall, Charlotte’s objectives were clear and focussed, but she has a lot more work to do to achieve them. We hope that the second semester will allow Charlotte to build on her progress and fully deliver on her campaign promises.

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Liberation Officer: Shona Tulloch Objectives: • Introduce a system to report issues affecting liberation groups • Decolonise the curriculum and establishing Sheffield as an anti-racist university • Improve accessibility for disabled students • More gender-neutral facilities • Boost equality, inclusions, and consent training Achievements: • Co-ordinating the Sheffield SU black history month carnival • Working with the University to to broaden the Disability Inclusion Strategy • Co-organisation of ‘reclaim the night’ and ‘16 days against gendered violence’

Analysis: Shona Tulloch began the semester with success in her initial campaign to make students safe, seen, and supported through an environment of equity and inclusion, as published on the SU officers page.

The coordination of the SU Black History Month Carnival at the end of the month's celebrations was a huge success and a credit to her hard work.

There are also ongoing communications between Tulloch and the University in an attempt to broaden the Disability Inclusion Strategy, an online community that discusses the needs and concerns of any staff or students with physical or mental conditions.

The group aims to remove barriers, create an open and inclusive culture around disability, and level the playing field for all students at the University.

Tulloch was also involved in the response to incidents of spiking that occurred in SU venues during semester one. Though the Students’ Union implemented some changes in response to the spiking epidemic, such as making drink covers available behind the bar at Students’ Union venues, the response was ultimately inadequate with many of the ‘changes’ being made by the SU not as revelatory as they seemed to make them out to be.

Tulloch led the organisation of the ‘Reclaim

the Night’ and the ‘16 Days against Gendered Violence’ campaigns, which aimed to reclaim the bodily autonomy and space that is often stolen from women through gendered and sexual violence. The campaigns allowed members of the university community to gather, learn, and demand change.

B+

Monday 7 February 2022

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Features Top image provided by unsplash.com (Moritz Knoringer)

Bottom image provided by unsplash.com (Lesly Juarez)

Feature by Charlotte Stonehouse (She/Her)

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think that, without a clear goal in mind, it’s difficult to make meaningful changes to your habits’’, suggests student Isabel Andrewes, ‘’Starting these changes on a random day of the year can make it hard to stay motivated, but the clean blank slate of a new year and an aim for how much of the year you’re going to keep them up makes it a lot easier for me personally – as long as the resolutions are attainable of course.’’

Isabel’s view is not an uncommon one – an estimated 54% of Brits took on resolutions for 2022. However, it has to be questioned why just 9% of people feel they achieve their aims in an average year and 80% give up before the six week mark.

Feasibly, the reason for this is, as she alludes to, that a lot of resolutions are simply unrealistic. Suddenly going to the gym every day if you haven’t exercised in years, or giving up alcohol if you’re a heavy drinker, is perhaps asking for too much. People seem to see the new year as too much of a fresh start and completely forget their typical tendencies. With this in mind, is the huge (social

media fuelled) conception of ‘new year, new me’ isn’t just counterproductive, but damaging to people, especially students and young people, and lays on too much pressure. ‘’As a student, you’re likely still adjusting to living alone, finding out what you enjoy and what habits work for you’’ says Maisie HonJacobs, another student, ‘’It can often become a toxic game on social media and in real life at the beginning of every year with everyone reporting on and talking about their progress. If you aren’t in the right place to make changes, the impact of feeling everyone else advancing while you aren’t and the disappointment at yourself can become detrimental to mental health.’’

Dr Avril Gabriel reports that January is psychologically the worst time to try and make lifestyle changes.

Everybody is on a comedown from Christmas excitement and the weather is dark and cold. That’s hardly an environment one is likely to flourish in under any circumstances. It is a hard time and in hard times people are predisposed to lean on old habits for the

comfort and familiarity; it’s likely to be easier sticking to goals at a different time of the year when peoples’ spirits are generally higher.

This is even more so the case for students, most of whom have an exam period in January, which Maisie has just completed and describes as ‘exhausting’. The absolute last thing needed is for them to be putting extra pressure on themselves.

Even more damaging is the focus of New Year’s Resolutions on the negative. They quite literally are forcing people to focus on things which they don’t like about themselves or their lives, and a lot of them are based on weight loss or attempts to change body shape. This is far from ideal for everyone, but again particularly for students. With more and more news concerning the mental health epidemic among young people and in an age of social media where people are constantly comparing themselves to others online, breeding insecurity, this focus on what one should change about themselves instead of embracing what they like can compound feelings of self hatred. Couple this with the

disappointment and anger at oneself when you fall off the wagon as Maisie says, and it’s easy to see why New Year’s Resolutions cause problems.

Leading on from this issue of falling off, people also have a habit of forgetting when they make the resolutions that progress is not linear. Psychologist Francine Broder observed, in the Philadelphia Inquirer, that because of the blank slate that a new year is perceived to be, many people expect perfection from their resolutions. There will always be bumps along the road when working at anything, especially when trying to make the drastic changes so often at the centre of one’s focus. It’s entirely normal and healthy to slip up sometimes, but a lot of people give up at the first hurdle

and see their advancement as ruined when it’s not. This is, again, particularly applicable to students who tend to live fairly unplanned and chaotic lives. It’s hard to stick to your new running schedule if you’ve had an impromptu night out the evening before you’re due to go on one!

Of course, it’s always good to have aims to work towards, but it also needs to be remembered that contrary to the advertising, you’re the same person on 1 January as you were on 31 December.

There is no point pressuring resolutions for the sake of change; in fact, focusing on what one likes, and being happy means most likely the changes will come naturally anyway! Students have a lot of stress already, and need no more, especially if it is coming from within.

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Forge Press

Features

Feature by Angus Goldsmith

“It’s like learning to walk again” - former UOS student speaks about living with grief at Univeristy

from the left: Angus’ mum Claire, with his sister, Naomi, Angus and his two brothers, Alfie and Tom; Credit: Author

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n a sunny 12th April 2019, whilst at work back home in Brighton, I received a call from my brother. Our mum had been involved in a collision with a car whilst riding with the local road-cycling club and airlifted to St George’s hospital in London.

My family and I arrived at the hospital and met with a doctor who informed us that Mum had experienced a traumatic head injury and was ‘unconscious but in a stable condition’. In order to get a satisfactory recovery, we needed to see improvements in her condition as soon as possible.

We spent the following weeks in intensive care, fuelled on black coffee and sympathy cake baked by friends, waiting agonisingly to see her open her eyes.

It became apparent that the impact on her brain was more severe than first thought, and recovery to a quality of life that she would deem satisfactory became an increasingly distant reality.

By August 2019 there had been little, if any, progress towards a satisfying quality

of life and future progress seemed impossible. Medical staff began raising the subject of Mum’s‘best interests’: what she would want in this situation. As she was unable to communicate her preferences, it was up to her loved ones - her husband, children, mother, and best friend - to paint the picture of what she would want. We wrote letters to the medical staff and the decision that she would want us to withdraw her clinically assisted nutrition and hydration was agreed on unanimously.

Covid struck the UK in March 2020, and visits to the hospital were subsequently suspended. By June, Mum had begun her process of nutrition and hydration withdrawal and was brought back to the family home. On 7th July 2020, my siblings, dad and I gathered by Mum’s bedside as she took her last breaths.

Throughout the following year, I learnt some very important and helpful techniques for dealing with this grief.

Talk about it: People tend to shy away from

“

It was up to her loved ones - her husband, children, mother, and best friend - to paint the picture of what she would want. conversations of death, using terms such as‘passed away’ instead of ‘died’. I appreciate that people struggle with the term, but I think that’s a result of us not talking about death enough. Grieving often requires us to acknowledge our feelings, and through talking we help bring these feelings to the surface where they can be better dealt with.

I found that the more I shared with my flatmates, the more comfortable they became with the subject it provided a safe space in which discussing grief was not a taboo. This was impor-

tant during Covid lockdowns as we were often confined to the house, but the lesson can be applied more broadly. By making a safe space amongst those you spend the most time with, it avoids creating a stifling sense of a grief which cannot be discussed.

Talking can be done in a professional setting with a counsellor or grief-group, both of which the University offers, or more casually with a friend over coffee. Particularly, talking with someone who has experienced grief may help you (both) feel less isolated.

Exercise: In my final year, I lived near Ponderosa park, where I ran a 5K route when I wasn’t running in the Peak District.

I also played 5-a-side football once a week at Goodwin, played tennis in Weston Park, and regularly went to the basketball court in Ruskin Park to compete in the flat’s self-devised league. It was tough to get the motivation to do any of this sometimes, but time spent exercising helped me work through feelings of bereavement, whilst also acting as a tem-

porary pick-me-up. It may be worth trying to get out for regular exercise, even just walking - a healthy body doesn’t necessarily mean a healthy mind, but it helps.

Notably, a strict exercise program with goals is unlikely to be helpful, and may in fact be counter-productive by forcing expectations on ourselves.

If you’re struggling to get motivation to do exercise, try not to look at the bigger picture of going for a run.

Instead, just begin by putting on your running shorts - working in small steps and breaking a task down into its components will help to get the ball rolling. Sheffield has plenty of opportunities for exercise, either on your own, with friends, or as part of a club.

Be kind to yourself: Grief is complicated and manifests itself in different ways. I don’t think of it as an emotion, but a never-ending process, and in that sense it becomes a permanent quality of the individual. It’s like learning to walk again, re-familiarising yourself with your body and brain. You

Monday 7 February 2022

11

Features

Feature by Angus Goldsmith

Angus’ mum, Claire. Credit: Author

From the left: Angus’ dad, Angus and his mum Claire may begin viewing or reacting to situations differently than you would have done previously. Don’t get stressed about not functioning the same as you once did - this is a big transformation for your body to go through, and it will take time to readjust.

I specifically noticed that I began running at a reduced capacity with my academic work, and some days I could barely write a word. It was as if my motivation and working week had halved yet the workload remained the same.

As such, I had to work twice

“

Don’t feel guilty for ordering a pizza from Broomhill’s ‘Prove’, watching a film on Netflix instead of going to a party, or going on an extended walk around the Botanlical Gardens

as hard to construct the same quality of work as I was producing pre-grief. When you’re not feeling able to write that essay, cook dinner, or meet your friend in a plan you made earlier, then don’t.

You can apply for an extension, pick up a ready meal, or just take a rain check.

Don’t feel guilty for ordering a pizza from Broomhill’s ‘Prove’, watching a film on Netflix instead of going to a party, or going for an extended walk round the Botanical Gardens during your lunch break.There are no instructions for how your grief will go or how you should deal with it. Everyone is unique, and there is nothing you ‘ought’ to be doing, so don’t set expectations of yourself.

Look after your basic needs and make sure you’re getting enough sleep, eating healthily and generally resting when you feel you need to. By looking after your basic needs, you’ll be in a better position to deal with the more complex feelings you experience.

Ask for help: Being kind to yourself begins by acknowledging you need help, in whatever form that takes - help-

ing yourself personally, or asking for external help. The University was incredibly accommodating when I was struggling. Whether this

“

Being kind to yourself begins by acknowledging you need help, in whatever form that takes was a personal tutor directing me towards wellbeing services, lecturers helping me gather a case study for an assignment, or the academic department creating a manageable timetable for assignments. Staff genuinely cared for my wellbeing and had the resources to make my academic life more manageable. Utilise those resources and help make life a little easier. The same goes for friends. It’s important to remember that people want

to help in whatever way they can. Chances are they don’t know how they can help, or even if you want help, and would appreciate you telling them - they want to look after you and make your life easier, so don’t be afraid of asking for help. Whether this involves requesting a chat, asking them to proof read an essay or inviting yourself over for dinner (which I did many times). With regard to talking about it: friends may be uncomfortable with instigating conversations about your feelings in fear of making you upset - they may see that you need help but are too nervous to offer it.

Sometimes this requires you to instigate the connection.

They’ll be happy to help, and asking them is a step in the right direction.

Help offered by the Uni: The University of Sheffield has multiple systems put in place to help you deal with grief: - Speak to your academic department to get the ball rolling. They can put you in contact with relevant actors to support you, and will know the specifics of how your assignments can be adjusted

to fit your schedule.

- The University health service offers bereavement counselling through the Student Access to Mental Health Supports (SAMHS). After you book and attend an initial triage appointment, with your input they will determine the most appropriate course of action regarding your health. I recommend arranging counselling at the first moment you feel ready to do so.

- The chaplaincy also runs a session called ‘Good Grief!’.

In this group-led setting, you discuss your bereavement with other students in similar positions.

“

It’s important to remember that people want to help in whatever way they can. Chances are they don’t know how they can help

12

Forge Press

Opinion

When the (Tory) party is over, its over Thanucha Sooriapatham Think of the most Tory scandal you could commit.

Now double it. Whilst the entire country sat down to watch the daily Downing Street briefings regarding the coronavirus, little did we know that behind the scenes, the government were throwing party after party.So far there have been 17 accounts of civil servants and mayoral candidates breaking their own rules to throw ‘casual’ leaving drinks and ‘cheese and wine’ garden parties.

The parties at Downing Street are possibly the worst of Boris Johnson’s wrongdoings.

Hypocrisy, two-facedness, and pietism seem to be major values that the prime minister lives by. What adds more salt to the wound is the millions of people across the country who couldn’t see their family

and friends, or couldn’t be beside their dying relatives during the times of the lockdown.

Compared to Johnson, Theresa May and David Cameron’s shortfalls don’t look so bad. Previously, David Cameron had resigned after the country decided to leave the European Union as opposed to his own opinion.

Johnson’s predecessor, Theresa May, had quit after failing to pass the Brexit Withdrawal trade agreement.

The current PM has numerous scandals behind him, with arguably the worst of ‘partygate’ being the rager held the night before Prince Phillip’s funeral. Yet despite all this, Boris Johnson does not know that it is his time to go. He simply must be pushed out of his seat, bringing a victorious end (to the people) to a scummy reign.

Unsurprisingly, the Tory party’s declining popularity has meant that they have fallen 10 points in opinion

polls behind Labour following ‘partygate’. Johnson’s original arrival as Tory leader seemed to most voters as an asset, yet now he seems to be a liability. Most previous Tory scandals seemed to brush over people’s heads, but when one commits a scandal so personal, humiliating and frankly insulting to the public, it is their duty to step down.

For Boris Johnson, his next step should be resignation.

The latest revelation is Johnson’s own birthday party. However, according to the Tories, this was barely a party because there were only 10 people present and the PM was present for just 10 minutes. The Tories have always wanted to correct the facts and dismiss the principles themselves. Nevermind it being a party or a gathering, the coronavirus rules at the time of the party was that no more than two households of up to six people could meet indoors

at any one time. This meant that people were missing weddings, funerals, and quality family time. There was no time for families to cherish their vulnerable relatives.

However, no matter how sad the story is, Johnson doesn’t have a single sympathetic bone. If he wants to do anything right, then he needs to follow the exit of his predecessors and resign before the country gets any worse.

Of course, though, it’s not that simple. Without the publication of Sue Gray’s full report, MPs won’t submit a letter of no confidence.

Even then, if enough MPs don’t submit a letter, then this scandal, along with the others, will be brushed over the heads of the public, enough so that before the start of the next electoral campaign, we would have forgotten about it. Had there been normal circumstances, Johnson’s shenanigans would

have been overlooked by the public. However, when you make the rules and fine people extortionate amounts of money for breaking them, the least you could do is follow the rules yourself. The trouble with sensationalising every single scandal is the immunity that it creates with the public. Yet, the public aren’t the same as before.

There are not as many protests or uproars, just simply angry tweets which don’t add to investigations.

In the coming weeks there will be more revelations, more scandals and more rule breaking. For his own sake, Johnson needs to step down or even better, leave the world of politics for good. Right now, he’s living in his own bubble of apple-polishers and people pleasers. What he doesn’t realise is that his own voters are now against him, and so the entire country too.

Monday 7 February 2022

13

Opinion

Should the BBC license fee be scrapped?

Orla Kats Webb-Lamb The BBC is a key tenet of British society. Along with the NHS, it has been hailed as one of the reasons that countries across the world envies the UK. From its news to its Sunday night dramas, it impacts so many across the country.

Why is its future in doubt?

Unlike other public services, the BBC is not funded by tax, but by its own licence fee, which currently costs £159 per household per annum. And the licence fee is currently a hot topic of discussion for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport, led

by Nadine Dorries, Minister for Culture. According to its charter, the BBC’s licence fee funding deal expires in 2027, and there are many who do not want it to return.

Should the license fee be axed?

On Sunday 16 January, Dorries tweeted that “This licence fee would be the last, the days of the elderly being threatened with prison sentences and bailiffs knocking on doors are over”,

causing a debate which dominated the news. It is perfectly plausible that this was timed to distract from the Downing Street party allegations, which didn’t quite work. This suspicion is not just mine, Dorothy Byrne, former Head of News and Current Affairs at Channel 4, agreed. She said the timing was “so obvious”, Johnson was in trouble and he needed another story. Furthermore, Byrne was outraged that the government would release such a statement on Twitter of all places, and that it would do so without a solution or replacement.

Putting the politics of the announcement details aside, Byrne had an interesting opinion concerning the licence fee in general.

Despite her anger with the government, she does think that it could be time to reconsider the fee. At the moment, she describes it as the ‘least bad system’, but that does not mean that it works.

It is no secret that the licence fee isn’t perfect.

The licence fee was introduced in 1964. Its purpose was to fund a public

service broadcaster that served its audience - you and me. As TV channels grew, the licence fee remained, to ensure that whatever the purpose of other channels, the BBC’s remit stayed solid.

But this was before the proliferation of the industry.

We now have hundreds of channels in the UK if you care to watch them all, but you still have to pay the BBC licence fee to watch any of them on a TV. Due to its existence, it is illegal in the UK to install a TV and watch or record any programmes as they are being broadcast without paying for a TV licence. In real terms this means that up and down the country receive letters with threats of fines and home visits, which I can attest to, as I received four in my first year of university.

Whilst letters might seem like a small issue, it means bringing the licence fee and its running into question and whether it is really ok that we are threatened with fines if we do not pay £159 to watch an hour of telly on a Sunday night? When the fee was introduced, it all made more sense, you paid to be able to

watch TV. But we are living in the technological revolution, we now have streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon to watch TV on, the mere possession of a licence is no longer essential to watch TV. It is also no secret that the youth are watching less and less terrestrial TV. A lot of students don’t even have a TV nowadays. Aidan, 22, a University of Sheffield student, said: “I don’t need a TV, everything is on my laptop.”, as the demand and consumption of the BBC is changing and diversifying, Should we still have to pay £159 for everything?

I agree with all of those who say that it is so important to have terrestrial news and TV. Looking at the US, every news source has its own audience and there is not one which represents all different sides of the political spectrum, whereas the BBC is held up to be duly impartial. If we keep news and cut dramas, where will Britons see their lives portrayed? Or enjoy the classic cultural Sunday night show? On a US bulk series? I think not.

However, there are other

services that the BBC provides such as Bitesize and BBC Sounds which, whilst so helpful, might be considered surplus to requirements visa-vis the licence fee. This does not mean that we should not have free revision resources for children. I believe we should. Across the country people are questioning whether they should have to pay for something that they never use, essentially just to watch a bit of telly. Whilst it is a valid question, it is also a dangerous one. The British welfare state is built on paying for things that we do not use, you may never have children, but pay for schools through tax, you may not even use the NHS, that is how our society is run.

Do we have a solution?

Probably not.

But one thing is for sure, this is too intricate, important and complicated an issue to be used as political ammunition to ward people off the scent of the Downing Street parties, and thankfully, it hasn’t worked.

Image Credit: strollerdos, Flickr

Forge Press

14

Science & Tech

Octopus farms aren’t the sustainable solution they claim to be The demand for octopus in catering businesses are skyrocketing - and octopus farms are supposedly the sustainable answer. Sophie Teall unpacks the ethical concerns science has over this culinary trend.

T

here’s something undeniably other-wordly about an octopus.

They can taste the world around them as they touch it, they change colour to communicate, and their lack of skeleton allows them to squeeze into the tiniest of spaces. They are part of the same biological group as snails and clams, yet have high levels of intelligence, problem-solving skills and playfulness. Evolutionary biologist Dr Jakob Vinther suggests that if we were ever to meet an intelligent alien life-form, they may be a little less human-like than we typically think, and a little more like these fascinating animals that live in Earth’s oceans.

Yet there’s also increasing demand for octopuses on the plates of gourmet diners.

In 2014, almost eight times more octopuses were caught than in 1950. With this increasing demand comes growing pressure on already shrinking wild populations.

Many octopus fisheries are

already experiencing issues with overfishing, where octopuses are caught in higher numbers than the population can replenish.

Overfishing of one species not only risks their loss but has the potential to affect the entire community they live in.

It is this overfishing that Spanish multinational Neuva Pescanova claims to be addressing with the world’s first commercial octopus farm, that will start selling farmed octopuses in 2023.

Through producing 3,000 tonnes of octopuses every year, they aim to “reduce pressure on fishing grounds and ensure sustainable, safe, healthy and controlled resources”.

Only there are concerns over how sustainable octopus farms can actually be. Established fish farms are already associated with the loss of natural habitats, spread of disease and the overuse of antibiotics. Add onto this is the huge amount of fish that octopuses depend on to live, and the whole argument of

sustainability begins to fall apart.

It’s probable that octopus farms will only increase the pressure on fish populations already struggling with overfishing.

Food webs are complex, and methods to conserve a singular species cannot be done in isolation.

The ethics of octopus farming are also questionable. There is strong scientific evidence octopuses are sentient and capable of feeling both pleasure and distress. They also need high levels of mental stimulation and are solitary animals.

When kept in confined spaces with others, they can become aggressive and may even turn to cannibalism.

Nueva Pescanova have yet to disclose the conditions for the octopuses, but with a lack of official regulation, it’s doubtful how many of octopuses’ needs will be met by a commercial farm.

While overfishing of any species is and should be a concern, octopus farms are an unethical approach that do not sustainably address

Thanucha Sooriapatham (She/Her)

the ecological problems they claim to. By ignoring the complexity of the natural world, they simply shift the pressures of overfishing elsewhere. It’s even harder to justify octopus farms when they are not essential for food security. The main market for farmed octopus is upscale outlets selling to affluent customers.

Governments, companies and academic institutions have all invested in the development of octopus farms, but perhaps to actually address sustainability issues their money should be focused elsewhere.

Octopus vulgaris Merculiano.

Credits: Wikimedia Commons

Can science really help us slow aging?

Charlie Vickers (He/Him)

T

wo things in life are inevitable - death and taxes. And one thing leads to both - ageing. But what if ageing wasn’t inevitable as we currently see it? What if we could treat it, as if we were taking pills for high blood pressure? Well, as we better understand the ageing process, this may become a possibility.

One possible factor in ageing is the Hayflick

number, the limited number of times a cell can divide.

This varies between cells, and when cells reach their Hayflick number they may enter a state called senescence – where they are alive but dividing.

These can be beneficial in the body’s repair process and when we are young, the immune system clears these cells fairly quickly.

As we get older, they stick around longer and cause inflammation, which is a known risk factor for

multiple diseases including cancer.

Genetics may also play its part, as our DNA can be damaged in many ways, for example by UV radiation from the sun. Cells can repair the damage, but if they miss some or make a mistake in the process, it can lead to cancer. Our chromosomes also play their role with each one having telomeres at the end, which are repeated bits of DNA that protect the important genes from being damaged if they are not

Straw-wars: plastic, metal, silicone, or bacteria?

properly copied. As we age, these telomeres slowly get shorter, as less is copied to the new cell each time.

Researchers are finding that some drugs appear to improve lifespan, and our view of ageing may change as more light is shed on this area. For example, some diabetic patients have been seen to live longer when taking metformin whilst senolytics are beginning to emerge which can help clear senescent cells.

S

ince the ban of supplying plastic straws came into force, scientists and manufacturers have had to come up with other plastic alternatives such as paper, metal or even silicone.

However, these alternatives have their major cons. Paper straws absorb drinks and become soggy whilst silicone straws are difficult to clean, unhygienic and nonbiodegradable.

To overcome such issues, scientists at the University of Science and Technology in China have recently developed straws made by bacteria. These straws have the potential to not only be stronger and cheaper than plastic straws but are also biodegradable - a key factor for tackling world plastic pollution.

Through the process of biosynthesis, scientists produced complex molecules from bacteria cellulose with an additional sodium alginate coating. Cellulose has high tensile strength due to its strong hydrogen bonds between its layers.

This makes them stronger than regular plastic straws.

Scientists also found that the straw itself is edible too due to the lack of adhesives added to the alginate coating.

Although plastic straws are banned in the UK, they are still causing plastic pollution on a global scale. Bacterial straws are biodegradable and don’t need specific conditions to degrade, making them an eco-friendly alternative to using plastic straws. However, more research must be done to ensure that the straws do not biodegrade whilst they are being commercialised and mass-produced.

Monday 7 February 2022

15

Science & Tech

University of Sheffield lecturer leads world’s first subglacial lakes inventory Laycie Beck (She/Her)

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he University of Sheffield has led an international team in the world’s first inventory of subglacial lakes.

Dr Stephen Livingstone, senior lecturer in Physical Geography at Sheffield University, led the team of researchers which has catalogued data on more than 770 subglacial lakes, some of which were under 3,000m of ice.

This inventory has provided a directory of where the lakes are and how they are changing in a warming climate.

The majority of lakes

included in the inventory were in Antarctica, but other lakes included were across Greenland, Iceland and valley regions, such as The Alps.

Whilst it is believed that there are thousands of subglacial lakes across the globe, there was no specific details on the size, stability and characteristics of the lake until now.

The environments of the lakes, how they behave and the impact on their local areas have also been described in the inventory, which was recently published in the Nature Reviews journal, Earth & Environment, as ‘Subglacial lakes and their changing role in a warming climate.’

As this is the world’s first

inventory of subglacial lakes, it has highlighted gaps in collective knowledge that will help researchers focus on new areas.

The team found that 80% of the lakes were stable, and had no addition or removal of water or a balance of inflow and outflow.

However the other 20% were active, which means they can suddenly drain, and so could pose a hazard to human populations and infrastructure downstream.

Dr Livingstone said: “Innovations in radioecho sounding, swath radar technology, satellite altimetry and highresolution time-stamped digital surface models have confirmed the widespread

existence of subglacial lakes over the last five decades.

“Our inventory will enable researchers to evaluate subglacial lake environments and their dynamics across different regions. As the ice above subglacial lakes responds to climate change, lakes which were once stable may become unstable, and vice versa.

“Now we have a better understanding of how many lakes are currently stable, we can monitor how this changes with time.

These changes are not just important for water and ice flow, but also for the lifeforms that exist in the lakes.”

Dr Kate Winter, senior lecturer in Northumbria

University’s Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences, said: “Subglacial lakes are fascinating, they can occur due to meltwater from the surface of the glacier travelling to the base and lying in hollow areas or cavities, or they can occur due to geothermal heating from the earth below, warming the ice above and causing it to melt.

“The lakes are protected by a layer of thick overlying ice which insulates it from the cold air above, preventing them from re-freezing and can exist alone for millions of years, harbouring unique life forms, or they can fill and drain over hourly timescales.”

A starring breakthrough

Forgetting is vital for learning

Louise Elliot (She/Her)

Nelson Walker (He/Him)

U

niversity of Sheffield researchers have made a major breakthrough to help scientists measure the size of stars planted outside our solar system more accurately.

Led by Dr Marco Stangalini of the Italian Space Agency and Dr Gary Verth and Prof Viktor Fredun from the University of Sheffield, the team of researchers have developed a new model to explain the waves detected from a large sunspot on the surface of the sun.

The sunspot in question is around three times larger than the diameter of the earth. Large sunspots such as this contain a wide variety of waves which can have both magnetic and acoustic characteristics, thus being known as magneto-acoustic waves. Data from the Dunn Solar Telescope in New Mexico has provided clear evidence of this, leading the team from the University of Sheffield to create a model

to match this data.

The results of this study suggest improvements that can be made to models currently used to measure the size and structure of stars outside our solar system. At present these models only concern acoustic waves but adding in the effect of magnetoacoustic waves produced by large starspots can increase the accuracy of measurements.

Professor Viktor Fedun of the University of Sheffield’s Department of Automatic Control and Systems engineering said: “What we discovered through this research is that the frequency power spectrum of the rich variety of magneto-acoustic oscillations inside the sunspot have a completely different character to the spectrum of the Sun’s global acoustic oscillations. In fact, the structure of the frequency spectrum of the sunspot has a far more complex nature, creating challenging new questions to answer for solar researchers.

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cientists have proposed a new theory that ‘forgetting’ may be a vital part of learning and acquiring new knowledge.

Dr Tomás Ryan and Dr Paul Frankland, leading professors at Trinity College Dublin and the University of Toronto respectively, proposed the new theory, outlined in international journal Nature Reviews Neuroscience.

The theory suggests forgetting may be a functional feature of the brain and that it could be a beneficial process which fosters more flexible behaviour and better decision-making.

Dr Ryan said: “Our new theory proposes that forgetting is due to circuit remodelling that switches engram cells from an accessible to inaccessible state.

“Because the rate of forgetting is impacted by environmental conditions, we propose that forgetting is actually a form of

learning that alters memory accessibility in line with the environment and how predictable it is.”

Memories are stored in groups of neurons (nerve cells) called engram cells.

To successfully recall these memories, the theory proposes that these cells need to be reactivated.

Forgetting subsequently takes place when engram cells cannot be reactivated.

The memories are still there but they will not be recalled unless the engram cells are reactivated.

The theory proposes that memories gained in situations which are not entirely relevant to a person’s current environment may be forgotten.

Therefore, we may learn to forget certain memories over time and yet retain the memories that are important to us.

The theory suggests that this process of forgetting certain memories could be a positive change that ultimately enhances our well-being as we learn to forget memories that become less relevant to us in

“

It could be a beneficial process which fosters more flexible behaviour and better decisionmaking our current environment.

For Dr Ryan and Dr Frankland, this new theory may also have implications with regards to forgetting in disease.

They noted: “Importantly, we believe that this ‘natural forgetting’ is reversible in certain circumstances, and that in disease states – such as people living with Alzheimer’s disease for example – these natural forgetting mechanisms are hijacked which results in greatly reduced engram cell accessibility and pathological memory loss.”

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Forge Press

Science & Tech

Itching for the promising mRNA-based vaccine against lyme

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Soft Tick. Credits: Wikimedia Commons

Sophie Teall (She/Her) team of researchers at Yale University have made progress in the development of a vaccination against ticks and tick-borne disease.

Using the same mRNA vaccine technology used in the COVID-19 vaccine response, the team found that vaccinating guinea pigs reduced infection rates of Lyme disease.

Tick-borne disease rates in North America are increasing, with Lyme disease being the most

prevalent. Early signs of Lyme disease consist of a rash and flu-like symptoms, although if untreated more severe symptoms develop.

Almost 40,000 cases of the disease are reported annually in the US, but the actual number is estimated to be up to 10 times greater.

Previous attempts to develop tick vaccinations have been generally unsuccessful, and commercial vaccines available for animals reduce tick numbers but do not prevent disease.

Repeat exposure to ticks can lead to the development

of “tick immunity”, so this new vaccine aims to safely achieve immunity while bypassing the need for multiple exposures. Referred to as 19ISP, this new vaccine contains 19 different proteins found in tick saliva, simulating a bite. Once vaccinated, guinea pigs were exposed to ticks to examine the vaccine’s effectiveness.

19ISP combats ticks on two fronts. Firstly, it made the bites unusually inflamed and itchy, allowing for early detection and a higher chance of the tick being removed before disease

spreads. When ticks were removed once the bite became inflamed, none of the vaccinated guinea pigs tested positive for Lyme disease while almost half of the non-vaccinated control group did.

Secondly, 19ISP reduces the number of time ticks spent feeding on the guinea pigs. While ticks typically feed for 3-5 days, after four days 80% of the ticks on vaccinated guinea pigs had stopped feeding. In contrast, only 20% had stopped on the un-vaccinated guinea pigs, showing that the vaccine

decreases the amount of time the ticks were able to feed for.

By reducing tick feeding time and increasing detectability, 19ISP has the potential to combat numerous tick-borne diseases. Further studies are needed to understand its effect on these other diseases and the degree of protection in humans.

However, this study is a promising step in the right direction to improving Lyme disease prevention.

Human trials for brain chip implantation could be soon

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Tevy Kuch (She/Her) urns out ‘mind over matter’ might just be a thing - if you’re willing to participate in Elon Musk’s neurotech company’s firstever human trials to test their brain chip.

The company, Neuralink, has so far appealed for a director to oversee the trials.

According to their website, they aim to create a “brain computer interface” that will allow people to wirelessly transmit and receive information between their brain and a computer.

A paralyzed person, for example, could control a mouse and keyboard without moving their limbs by implanting a Neuralink chip inside their brain.

Information could be transferred in the opposite direction, causing the brain to simulate the sensation of tactile touch.

The technology owes thanks to the neurons in

the brain that produce electrical impulses.

Electrodes positioned close to the neurons can collect and record those signals.

Repeating these impulses can simulate the same sensation of a variety of experiences, like holding an apple or kissing someone. “[The] First Neuralink product will enable someone with paralysis to use a smartphone with their mind faster than someone using thumbs,” Musk tweeted last year. “Later versions will be able to shunt signals from Neuralinks in the brain to Neuralinks in body motor/ sensory neuron clusters, thus enabling, for example, paraplegics to walk again.”

While Neuralink persistently emphasises the technology’s invaluable promises to assist a number of disabilities such as blindness, paralysis, hearing loss or paraplegia. Equally, it comes to no surprise that many can’t turn a blindeye towards the potentially

harmful nature of the technology.

Although Neuralink’s technology is now being utilised to treat medical issues, the company’s longterm vision is to create an artificial internet-connected overlay for the brain that would allow users to interact with future intelligent technologies.

In a 2020 company presentation, Musk said: “In the future you’ll be able to save and replay memories.

Ultimately you could download them into a new body or a robot body.” He has also previously mentioned other purposes of the chip, including adding ‘a layer of super-intelligence to the human brain.’

Alongside issues involving ownership and data transparency, peoples minds’ would be susceptible to

technological threats such as hacks, payments for software updates or deactivation.

As the technology progresses beyond correction to enhancement, the possibility of behavioural and emotional alterations could have detrimental psychological impacts.

Twitter users were quick to draw parallels between Musk’s Neuralink brain implant chip to a similar device featured in the Netflix dystopian series, Black Mirror.

In a 2011 episode “The Entire History of You”, where characters could replay memories or feelings via chips implanted inside their brains, leading to consequential damages to their mental health and privacy.

In addition, concerns are raised over testing the technologies in animals.

Neuralink devices were

trialled on pigs and monkeys - including one test where a chip was implanted into a monkey’s brain.

Rest assured, Musk’s ambition for Neuralink could take a long time to come to fruition. In 2019, he announced that the neurotechnology company would shortly commence human clinical trials on brain implants. As of April 2021, Neuralink has only released a video of an ape using the gadget to interact with a computer and play video games like “mind pong”, demonstrating how humans may be able to utilise the chip to command computerised devices with their minds in the future.

The desire to sensationalise and even fantasise possible ramifications is hard to shelve. More importantly, the need for informed discussions and strategies to address plausible issues Model of brain chip implanted in humans Credits: Neuralink

Monday 7 February 2022

17

Lifestyle

Vegan lunches to keep you full and focused Hannah Naylor (she/her)

You’ve been back at university for a few weeks now, and you promised yourself last term that you would be better at not wasting money here and there. You know you ought to start making your own lunches to take with you to the library, but you just can’t be bothered.

Here is where this article steps in to help: 3 GENUINELY EASY lunch ideas. The slog of essay writing and reading can continue uninterrupted, and as an extra bonus they are also all plant-based and super healthy.

Mashed butter bean sandwich Beans are so versatile and can really bump up the nutrition of any meal. They have loads of fibre and a decent amount of protein, and butter beans are a personal favourite of mine. For this sandwich, you’ll need a can of butter beans, vegan mayo (£1 from Tesco on West Street), a squeeze of lemon juice (I buy a bottle instead of using fresh lemons for ease), a bell pepper for an added crunch and sweetness, and any salad leaves of your choice if you like.

Toast two slices of bread, and meanwhile drain and rinse the butter beans and add a tablespoon or two of mayo, depending on how creamy you want it, and a squeeze of lemon juice.

Falafel and hummus wrap A vegan classic if there ever was one, this simple falafel and hummus wrap is better than Tesco’s and is far more budget friendly. All you need is a packet of tortilla wraps, falafel (I like the Cauldron’s one which is available at most supermarkets), houmous, and the rest is up to you. I usually add some tomato and salad leaves for a refreshing crunch, but this can be switched for grated carrot, chopped bell pepper or nothing at all if you’re not big on salad. Feel free to add any sauces too – I’d recommend sriracha for an extra fiery kick.

Mash the beans on a plate, either with a fork or masher. This can be quite tricky, but the mayonnaise really helps them to mash quicker without deforming your fork!

Once mashed, you want to spread some over your toasted bread and add strips of bell pepper and salad leaves if desired.

Tips: -Flavoured hummus can make a nice change if you’re bored of the original, such as red pepper or sweet chilli.

-If you’re not a fan of hummus, avocado works nicely as a substitute and gives it a nice creamy addition.

Tips: -I usually toast the bread; however, this is completely optional.

-The mix of butter beans will make a few servings, so you can keep the mix in the fridge and use for the next couple of days By pairing this yummy sandwich with some fruit and a cereal bar of your choice you’ll be able to focus all afternoon.

Roasted veg couscous Whilst not quite as quick to put together as the first two ideas, this couscous recipe makes a nice change when you’re bored of bread and want to have something a bit more exciting to look forward to for lunch. Couscous is a personal favourite of mine, because all it requires is adding boiling water and it cooks itself in around five minutes!

For the roasted veg, feel free to experiment with your own favourites. Here I used broccoli, onion, bell pepper, mushrooms, and a can of chickpeas (tofu also works nicely here). I then added smoked paprika, cajun seasoning and salt and pepper, along with a drizzle of oil before mixing it all up on a bak-

ing tray. It will take around 20-ish minutes to cook, but keep an eye on it and take them out when they’re nice and crispy.

When you’re ready to assemble in a box to take with you, just mix the couscous and vegetables, and feel free to add any sauces (I added sriracha). I find this an easy option for lunches because you can make a big batch of vegetables, and then each morning quickly assemble with the couscous and you’re ready to go!

Tips: -Crumble in a bit of stock into the couscous along with the boiling water (not a whole cube, more like ¼ per serving) for some extra flavour so it isn’t too plain.

With chickpeas in the hummus and falafel, this wrap is surprisingly satisfying from its source of protein and healthy fats, and will be sure to keep you working hard in the IC. And, if you’re planning on being out and productive all day and tend to get hungry, just make two to keep you going.

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Forge Press

Lifestyle

Trending in 2022: ditching the micro-trend

L

Ruby Watson (she/her) oads of trends came and left us in 2021, particularly with the rise of influencers, trends move through the fashion world faster than ever. Although I liked a lot of the things we saw rise to popularity last year, I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t any that I didn’t like. These are my top 5 trends I plan to leave behind in 2021.

Low Waisted Jeans Like marmite, this style of jeans is controversial. You either get on board with the trend or jump ship.

Personally, going into this year I could do without having to worry about whether anyone can see my underwear as I stroll down the street. I know that 2021 saw a big Y2K revival and you can spot that through some of the past year’s fashion trends. But I don’t think we need to bring every single element of Y2K fashion back.

It’s okay to let go.

The Micro Bag I’m all for mini bags but we have to draw the line somewhere.. Spotted on many influencer’s insta

pages this baby will set you back upwards of £380. I think 2022 should be the year of not overpaying for bags that you probably can only fit a packet of chewing gum into. Seriously, where are people putting their phones?

Marbled Bodycon Dress As seen on fast fashion websites like Boohoo and isawitfirst, I liked this pattern at first. I saw one on the Pretty Little Thing website on sale for only £3. I think that says it all. It was fun for the festival season but it has been overdone now. Let’s retire it for something new this year.

Patchwork Denim Now I don’t hate all patchwork denim. I think it can be done well sometimes and can be a good way of recycling old denim garments that might otherwise be thrown away. The patchwork denim I do have a problem with is the style that looks deliberately unfinished. I don’t understand overpaying for a pair of jeans that has loose threads and fraying everywhere. They were

Ella’s guide to mending heartbreak and learning to love yourself Ella Brooker writes on how to learn to love yourself following the end of a relationship with her top three tips to get your confidence back, preoccupy your thoughts and come out even stronger than you were before.

trendy at the time but it’s probably better to invest in a good solid pair of jeans that have more versatility.

The Mini Ugg Love it or loathe it, the ugg is back. Towards the end of 2021 we saw the ugg boot gain popularity again through off duty pics of models like Emily

Ratajkowski and famous influencers like Emma Chamberlain (pictured above). In particular the mini ugg style has had a revival.

I am not an ugg boot hater myself, I think they’re cute and cosy. But I remember the last time ugg boots were trendy and they were always a nightmare to clean despite using all of the protective

Whether it’s the end of a long-term relationship, or a short term one, going through a breakup undeniably sucks!

It is part of life- something most people will have to go through at least once, if not multiple times, but that doesn’t take away from how difficult it can be. I have compiled my top 3 tips to help you to get over the initial stages of heartbreak so that you can come out of it as an even better version of yourself.

Keep Busy Whilst it is important to let yourself face the emotions; it is also extremely wise to keep yourself occupied in the initial stages of a breakup.

sprays you can buy. They are expensive (a pair of these babies will set you back over £100) and ultimately impractical which is why the trend has made this list.

But of course, fashion isn’t always practical.

Ultimately, the trend we should be concentrating on getting rid of is the micro trend. These are small fashion trends that become cool for even just a few weeks. They’re the pieces that you bought because you saw it gaining traction on tik tok. You wear it maybe twice, then suddenly it isn’t in fashion anymore. Then it is destined for a life of sitting at the back of your wardrobe.

Fashion is subjective. Not everybody likes the same things and that’s the beauty of it. But, it might be better to think smarter when buying clothes. It is time to start investing in clothing pieces that will stand the test of time. It’s no secret that fashion runs in cycles, if you’ve made it a priority to protect the planet in 2022 consider looking into building yourself a capsule wardrobe. It’ll be better for your bank and the planet.

Making lots of fun plans with friends and family, or even throwing yourself into your university work are great ways to keep your mind busy from over thinking and getting down. It will make you feel fulfilled and loved by those around you and show you that you do not need a relationship to feel whole.

Take up a new hobby Post break-up is a great time to start investing in yourself.

Use it as motivation to be the best version of yourself by taking up a new and accomplishing activity which makes you feel good about yourself. Physical hobbies such as going to the gym or doing a sport are great for getting any negative energy

Monday 7 February 2022

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Lifestyle

It may be a New Year, but you don’t have to be a ‘New You’

Ella Gilbert (she/her)

t’s that time of year again where we are once again overwhelmed with New Year’s resolutions, endless emails from that gym you never signed up to, and supermarkets flooded with Veganuary displays.

New Year’s resolutions have become a divisive tradition.

People take the new calendar year as an opportunity to better themselves, but is this idea damaging and unrealistic?

For many, the new year is a clean slate where they can leave all the chaos of the previous year behind them.

It allows them to separate themselves from the last year and focus on something new.

From learning languages to getting active, there are so many ways to reinvent yourself as ‘the new you’ but is this tradition realistic?

January can already be a stressful period for many with the comedown from Christmas, financial worries for many- even the weather is dark and dreary! Fighting the January blues is difficult by itself, trying to reinvent yourself at the same time

amounts to a momentous task.

New Year’s resolutions perpetuate this constant feeling that we are not enough that is already woven into so many parts of 21stcentury life. With the rise of social media and the ‘girl boss’, there is an expectation for us to keep becoming better and better and reach unrealistic and unattainable goals. The original sentiment of resolutions may have been wholesome, but it has been manipulated by capitalism and social media to make people feel like they are not good enough This toxic culture of building insecurity has been disguised as entirely focused on the consumer’s wellbeing; under the pretense that they are simply promoting healthy habits and self-improvement.

There is nothing wrong with promoting healthy lifestyles but this isn’t the intention of these companies and campaigns. Instead, they are promoting insecurity and shame that fuels self-hatred which leads to more business for them.

Diet culture is a dangerous

out and focusing on getting stronger physically can help you feel stronger mentally.

However, simply getting outdoors for a nice walk, painting or even journaling can be effective ways to come to terms with your emotions and spend time with yourself. New hobbies also double up as fantastic distractions from feeling low.

Get back out there!

As hard as it may seem to begin with, getting yourself back out there can help many people cope with heartbreak. It may take you weeks or even many months to feel ready to do this, but when you do, deciding to ease yourself back into dating could really

part of society which becomes an even more prominent feature every January. Supermarket and Instagram influencers take advantage of post-Christmas insecurities by promoting their supposedly healthy new diets and dramatic weightloss programs. Instead of making sustainable and gradual changes to their diet, people take on unrealistic fad diets and end up yo-yo dieting. Shame and stigma are attached to certain foods and habits which leaves many feeling guilty for not partaking.

The biggest problem with New Year’s resolutions is the pressure that they create. While the clean slate is tempting, it is very easy to become defeatist and give up after one setback.

Despite valiant attempts, most resolutions fail by February, with recipe books and gym memberships left abandoned. As soon as you slip up, it becomes apparent that this is not a ‘new you’.

The effort and hard work feels futile and any future attempts at similar lifestyle changes are dreaded.

Instead, as a society, we should endorse gradual and more realistic lifestyle changes. There is no point making unrealistic, drastic lifestyle changes if they are unsustainable: you will just end up exactly where you were before but feel far worse for it. If you want to pick up a new habit or adjust something in your life, there is nothing wrong with that.

However, you don’t have to wait until January to do it and it does not need to be an entire lifestyle change.

If you are serious about your resolutions and not just conforming to societal

pressures, gradual changes are the most sustainable.

Regardless of what you do, you will not see immediate results so why change your life at that pace?

Adapting and improving your life is a pretty healthy and self-aware habit to have, providing it’s conducted in the right way. However, do not let yourself be pressured by what you might see others doing. Modify your lifestyle and habits on your own time.

Just because it is a New Year, you do not have to be a ‘New You’; you are enough as you are.

bring back any confidence you may have lost. Even if nothing comes from it, getting back on scene could be fun if nothing else. Try to remember that loving yourself is the most important thing and learning to flourish whilst solo is essential before you begin to take these steps. Give yourself time, and trust that you will get there.

It is important to say that every person will cope with heartbreak differently and you should honour whatever you feel is right at the time.

Allowing yourself to binge watch any rom-coms and cry with a tub of Ben and Jerry’s is absolutely okay and all part of the process.

Try to remember that

almost everyone has to deal with heartbreak at some point, and those before you have all managed to come out stronger and better, so you can too.

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Forge Press

Break

Major Moments of the month

@Wikimedia Commons

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Sheffield was chosen to be part of a ‘levelling up scheme’ where new jobs and housing are made to help transform derelict areas. The Steel City was one of 20 locations to be a part of the £1.5bn in funding which will be made available in April. Residents of Sheffield should expect to see better broadband and a decrease in anti-social behaviour in the city centre. Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove said the plans would help "transform" these areas, as well as relieving pressure on green fields infrastructure in the South East.

3

Masks and Covid passports are no longer a legal requirement as of January this year as Plan B eases. While the government is happy for people to normalise more of their life, supermarkets such as Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Asda and Waitrose are still insisting customers ‘do the right thing’ and cover their faces despite Covid cases, hospitalisations and deaths are on the decrease.

However, Boris Johnson warned ‘the pandemic is not over’ and told people to ‘remain cautious’. He also urged ‘anyone who hasn’t yet got their vaccine to come forward’.

4

After many protesting the NHS mandatory Covid jab Sajid Javid confirmed the government’s U-turn on their new policy. The rule was set to be imposed in April - meaning if NHS workers hadn’t had their first jab by Friday 28th January they would not be double jabbed in time. The mandatory vaccine has the potential to strain the NHS even further as around 77,000 have no jab at all.

Evidence showed being vaccinated cut the risk of catching and spreading the virus.

5

A couple have organised the very first Meta-verse wedding. It will allow for more guests, no masks and no social distancing. Dinesh Sivakumar Padmavathi and Janaka Nandhini Ramaswamy from Tamil Nadu, India, have spent 150,000 Indian Rupees (£1,490) on the design and hosting of their virtual wedding reception in February. Currently 2000 people have been invited; this is 1900 more people than what is legally allowed.

@Wikimedia Commons

1

Sue Gray published a nine page report into the investigation of the multiple accusations placed against the Prime Minister who has been photographed on multiple occasions of him drinking alcohol with peers in No.10 Downing Street. The report has been greatly criticised as it was published incomplete with many important findings and observations excluded.

The Metropolitan police has revealed it has received 300 images and 500 pages of documents about the partygate allegations from the Sue Gray inquiry.

Hands, Space, Party at my place

W

Aidan Smith (he/him) ell I think we can all agree this is a rather baffling turn of events. The word ‘party’ is a staple in the vocabulary of politics — for example when referring to Labour or the Conservatives.

What could be considered quite ironic indeed is how politicians might be the least likely people to be associated with the more common use of the word ‘party’. Or so we thought…The government has done well to fight these stereotypes of late. As we are all beginning to discover, the Conservatives really can party. It appears that during the height of lockdown in

the UK, they held numerous parties to celebrate various causes at No 10. Upon hearing this news, it’s fair to say all of our minds pondered the implications of what is meant by ‘party’.

Did it refer to a conference in which top buttons could be undone for ease and casualty? Perhaps soft drinks were permitted as a oneoff during communal lunch at No 10. No. In fact cakes, alcohol, sincere smiles, and pleasantries were all present at these parties. Very impressive. What’s more impressive is the PR strategy that has been put in place as a crisis response. Well, rather not put in place. The line which has been agreed on by all is: ‘We didn’t know we were at a party.’ Now,

that certainly is interesting.

Would we not expect those issuing the lockdown rules to be clued up on the lockdown

rules? Hmmm, yeah perhaps that’s asking a lot. Come on guys, give the government a bit of leeway, they didn’t

know they were at a party, remember?

Image Credit: Andrew Parsons via Flickr

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Break

How to annoy anyone trying to revise in the Information Commons

@Wikimedia Com- mons

Exam season has plagued the Information Commons with a number of students visiting the IC for the first time. It has sent shockwaves through the library faithful, finding that their favourite and usual seat has been taken up by a part timer.

Exam season is a stressful time for all involved so it is inevitable that it would fill up at this time however for every person trying to work, there is also someone there whose main goal is to see your revision crash and burn.

Hopefully this guide will help you find the best technique for distracting the hard workers.

Eating as loudly as possible

No extended spell in the IC is complete without some topnotch scran. It’s important

when selecting your snack of choice, that the crunch on biting exceeds the 80 decibels mark. Why not bring in some baby carrots with hummus or some corn-nuts. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, slurping on some soup would be sure to drive everyone up the wall. For maximum efficiency, grab some food that is sure to stink up the area as well, potentially a peperami.

Playing Tik Toks on loudspeaker

Some light-hearted relief on Tik Tok can be quite remedial in your revision breaks. Sharing all the weird and wacky sounds is also fun. Everyone loves hearing ‘hElicOpter, hElicopTer’ and Liverpool’s latest answer to grime.

Be sure that, whilst the people around you revise, you’re also filling their head with an earworm for the next few hours.

Occupying a big surface area

Laptop? Check. Revision notebook? Check.

Annoyingly squeaky Chilly’s bottle? Check. Hundreds of flash cards spread out across

the work space? Check.

The entire contents of your pencil case laid out? Check.

According to science experts, there is a correlation between the amount of space taken up when working and the number of marks you get in your exam. Those precious square metres could be the answer.

Sitting on tables for four

Are you a solo reviser?

Have you gone to the IC by yourself so you can get more work done? If you answered either as yes, then there are lots of tables designed for four people that you can take up. Who needs those desks for one? Ruin someone else’s day by not letting them sit with their friends for some group study. It’s a power play.

1. Resolution 2. Winter 3. Gym 4. Dry January 5. Leaves

6. Mates 7. Semester 8. Cold 9. New Year 10. Diet

Fun Fact of the month

Becoming a Covid Marshall

“Are you aware of the covid policy?” Stick your Hi-Vis on and badger people about wearing their mask… or not wearing it. You can end your day knowing that you’ve told hundreds of people to put it on, only for them to take it back off as soon as you turn the corner. Repeat this process around 4 times and that will probably make them get the message.

@Wikimedia Commons

Joel Hooke (he/him)

T

he New Year starts on 1st January when the clock strikes 12 right? Well that has not always been the case. New Year is only celebrated in January if you follow the Gregorian calendar.

The earliest New Year celebrations date back to 4000 years ago where the ancient people of Babylon originally celebrated it in what we call March.

There would be an 11

day celebration for the beginning of spring and the plantation of crops for the new year. Starting in 1582 Pope Gregory XIII converted the world from following the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar. Countries such as France, Italy, Poland, Portugal and Spain were eager to get on board with the change but countries such as Turkey did not change until 1927.

On this day, did you know?

I

n 1812, Charles Dickens, arguably the greatest novelist in British history, was born in Portsmouth.

Dickens only lived to 58,

but his timeless work includes A Christmas Carol, Oliver Twist, and Great Expectations.

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Forge Press

Music

We look back at 2021: The year music Music Editor Callum Martin gives us their best albums came back and music moments from the year past For The First Time is so so different from the norm and broke BCNR through into the mainstream, and very deservingly so. I am so excited for what is to come from BCNR in 2022

Tramlines 2021 and the return of gigs

Albums of the Year

Blue Weekend Wolf Alice

“

Blue Weekend manages to brilliantly defy what we’ve come to expect from Wolf Alice without losing any sense of identity

When trying to follow up a Mercury prize winning album, it feels like the only way HAS to be down right?

But Wolf Alice’s incredible Blue Weekend showed that the London band has so much more to offer us than just the heavy rocking that punctuated their first two albums.

A much more confident and personal affair, Blue Weekend manages to brilliantly defy what we’ve come to expect from Wolf Alice without losing any sense of identity or who they are. They shift between pulsing indie anthems, like ‘Lipstick On The Glass’, to the beautifully constructed piano ballad ‘The Last Man On Earth’, and back to the heavy rock of ‘Smile’. And they do it all whilst weaving a beautifully strung out narrative of self-discovery, alluring hedonism, and friendship.

It’s a work of art that does not miss a beat.

It pushes them to the

forefront of the ever saturated British Indie scene as genuine stalwarts, and should make you very excited for what Ellie Rowsell and co. have to offer next.

For The First Time

Black Country, New Road

Now for one out of left field.

Black Country, New Road (BCNR) are like nothing you’ve ever heard before.

A seven piece made up of both classically trained musicians and ones who learnt off their own backs, the band plays anything that you can think of that would go into a rock band.

Guitar and bass? Of course.

Keys? Are you joking? Sax and violin? Double yes to that. And it’s that diversity in instrumentation and musical background that make BCNR such a good listen.

It’s six wonderfully different and diverse tracks that span 40 otherworldly minutes.

From the intense five and a half minute opening track ‘Instrumental’ all the way to the gorgeously climatic final track ‘Opus’, the album grabs your ear and does not let it go.

The highlight of the album is ‘Sunglasses’ - an almost ten minute ode to all that’s great about BCNR. It starts gloomy, quiet and intense with cryptically, introspective lyrics about the anonymous power that sunglasses give lead singer Isaac Wood. It crescendos into a joyously chaotic free jazz explosion before leaving you absolutely stunned as to what you’ve just listened to.

One of the biggest moments in the music sphere last year was the long-awaited return of live music, headlined by Sheffield’s own Tramlines. As a government test event, it was one of the first festivals to take place across Europe and the first time that many acts had performed in 18 months.

And from that first sunkissed Friday, it was an absolute joy to be a part of.

A momentous event marked with a spectacular line-up, Hillsborough park was filled with a joyful catharsis as friends alike got together for a time as they hadn’t experienced for almost 2 years.

“

From that first sunkissed Friday, it was an absolute joy to be a part of

Headlined by The Streets greeting a restrictionfree event by spraying the crowd with Moet, Royal Blood creating the most glorious organised chaos, and Dizzee Rascal bringing the bass, it felt like one of those “where were you?” moments. A celebration of all things music, it truly was the Sheffield music scene at its finest.

Tramlines 2021 has a special place in my heart.

Image Credit: (Tramlines Festival 2021/ Fanatic)

Monday 7 February 2022

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Music

And what the new year has in store...

What we're looking forward to here at Forge Press

One to watch Yard Act It’s just over a month into a new year and Yard Act have already dropped a contender for Album of the Year. Seriously. The Overload is a barnstorming debut and things are only going to get bigger and better for the Leeds four-piece.

With James Smith’s monotonous monologuing at the helm, they seem to offer something fresh to a British post-punk scene that has had a recent resurgence and is currently running into a bit too much thoughtless, angry shouting. Yard Act don’t need the noise to make their point heard, but when they get going they do make a superb sound.

Listen to the wonderful ‘Dead Horses’ or ‘Tall Poppies’ to get a flavour of them or check out our review of The Overload online for a more indepth look into the next best thing out of West Yorkshire.

Keep your eyes on this

lot as they tour their debut album and visit Sheffield Uni’s own Foundry in May and when they grace Hillsborough Park in July.

Tramlines

that will set the world on fire, but they will be sure to bring their A-game.

Keep an eye out for local acts Self Esteem, Reverend and the Makers and the Everly Pregnant Brothers to bring some northern sauce to the proceedings.

Either way Sheffield will be back buzzing when the city’s biggest party of the year returns.

Get Together We can’t talk about music in Sheffield and ignore Tramlines. It’d be like going to Paris and forgetting the Eiffel Tower existed, or heading to Giza but missing out on the pyramids. Since its inception, it’s been a mainstay of Sheffield music culture. And that isn’t about to change.

Even though this year’s lineup is mediocre in comparison to the monumental 2021, it still looks like it’ll be a great time.

Sam Fender, Kasabian, and Madness are not headliners

independent focussed festival will be making waves on May bank holiday Sunday with 5 stages across the University, Student's Union, and Octagon Centre.

Combined with independent food and drink stands and a reasonable price (~£30) for a day’s music, this little marvel of an event has topped Tramlines this time by offering something fresh and different during the university year that was missed when the 2021 edition was cancelled and pushed back into August.

Albums to look forward to Having just dropped its lineup, our pick of the bunch for Sheffield music this year is the University-based Get Together. Headlined by experimental band Squid, Aussie indie band Confidence and the riotous Irish post-punk rockers The Murder Capital, the

Chloe And The Next 20th Century Father John Misty

If you don’t know, get to know. Father John Misty is one of the most gifted songwriters and musical storytellers this side of the universe. His folk, indie, and rock-esque stylings are silky smooth; his lyrics deeply personal and thoughtful.

And if the singles that have been released are anything to go by, Chloe And The Next 20th Century should be more of the same, if with a slightly more grandiose feeling. A beautifully winding, melancholic musical masterpiece beckons.

TBA

Wet Leg

Regardless of whether this album is good like Suck It And See, great like AM, iconoclastic like Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not, or whatever on earth Tranquillity Base Hotel and Casino was, one thing is for sure. Arctic Monkeys are going to take over the airwaves and there’s nothing you can do about it.

Such a monumental band returning, not only with new music, but also to the festival circuit is news enough that whole festivals can sell just off their name. Whilst it was originally speculated to be releasing this year, the announcement of headlining across Europe pretty much guarantees this. So get ready for Sheffield’s finest sons to dominate this summer’s music.

Wet Leg have been making big waves in the indie scene, and their debut album should be a proper good’un. After dropping the sensational ear-worm of a single ‘Chaise Lounge’ and the unashamedly sensual ‘Wet Dream’, the duo are ready to hit the stardom and the much wider audience that they deserve. The release of the self-titled album should cement their current fans, and gain them many more as they tour it and hit the festival circuit this summer, including a homecoming performance at the Isle of Wight festival. So join the Wet Leg bandwagon before they take off and go absolutely interstellar.

Arctic Monkeys

Wet Leg

Image credits: Tramlines Festival 2021/Fanatic & Wikimedia Commons; Get Together - Squid performing at the Wide Awake Festival, credit Paul Hudson via Flickr

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Forge Press

Music Wrong Answers Only The Streets Mike Skinner's back with more instantly quotable lines than a viral TikTok. It's The Streets at their unique, niche best

Fresh tracks

Jackie Down The Line Fontaines D.C. There's something purely intoxicating about this track. Just give it a listen and you'll know why. Do do do do, la la la la.

KEEP IT UP Rex Orange County It's 2022 and Rex Orange County is still giving us sad poetry over stylishly delivered chords. Huge 2019 vibes here

How to make the most of music in the gym Alec Malkin gives us the low down on how to soundtrack your workout

F

or some 2022 marks the start of their exercise journey, while for others it signifies a continuation or development of their routines. Regardless, a fresh year provides a great opportunity to step back and assess your approach to exercise - and for both the beginner and the most experienced, a perfect playlist can be key to powering through. Here are some points to bear in mind when curating your playlists: 3)

1)

Multiple Playlists

It would be optimistic to think of there being just the one perfect playlist. After all, walking into the gym at 7am on a Monday and at 3pm on a Saturday are likely to call for different tunes. As well as thinking about songs that will keep your energy high on good days, also consider what genre or music artist will be the most successful at coaxing you down to business on a low day, and then save them specifically for those harder sessions.

Be Aware of Song Lengths

Another consideration is the length of the songs you listen to. Some people may prefer shorter songs, finding that the frequent change in tracks keeps them on their toes. It can also give somewhat of a mirage effect, making it seem like more time (music) has passed before fatigue hits. On the other hand, some may find the constant changes distracting, and prefer longer songs instead.

5)

Let Yourself Be Inspired

Whether you prefer audiobooks or music, a lot of inspiration can be drawn from these creative pools.

It could be the specific words, the person behind the music, or just a beautifully chaotic drum solo.

Regardless, if you can identify when that magic kicks in and what has offset it, let yourself come back to it or seek out similar things.

2)

BPM for Cardio

The type of workout could also have an impact on your playlist selection. For example, when it comes to cardio activities, such as running, cycling, or the stepper, BPM playlists are game changers.

Listening to a collection of songs with a set number of beats per minute helps you to maintain your pace, as your cadence naturally tries to match the beats of the music. Even better, there are plenty of pre-made playlists on streaming services such as Spotify. Simply search ‘BPM’ and, with a bit of trial and error, you can find the perfect

4)

Anything Goes!

Don’t think you need to stick to what other people you know listen to. If you suspect that classical, country, or opera is just the thing you need to push through, go for it! Aside from music, you may find an audiobook or podcast more enjoyable for focusing on longer or less-intense workouts.

6) Gym-Only Songs Select a playlist of songs which are going to become ‘gym-only’ songs. By this, I mean these songs are only to be played while working out. It may help you to build up an association, that, when these songs come on, it’s time to get your grind on. This is unlikely to be everyone’s cup of tea, but nonetheless could be helpful to some.

Like with most activities, maintaining interest is crucial, and an easy way to achieve this is through variety. This doesn’t just need to be through what you listen to though; it can be in the type of exercises you do, the people you exercise with, or even what you wear. At the end of the day, it’s important to remember that what might work for someone else might not necessarily work for you, and that’s ok!

(Alll pictures credit: Pexels)

Monday 7th February 2022

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Opinion: Mj Rodriguez - A name to remember Alec Malkin

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j Rodriguez made history earlier this year by winning Best Television Actress in a Drama Series and, as such, becoming the first ever transgender person to win a Golden Globe in the award ceremony’s 78-year history.

This was a phenomenal accolade for her personally, and also a significant ‘win’ for the trans community.

Hailing from Newark, New Jersey, to parents of African American and Puerto Rican descent, Rodriguez’s passion

Mj Rodriguez in Pose Credit: TheMovieDB

for acting started young. By the age of 11, she knew that her future lay in the arts, and she became serious in her pursuit of it, attending the New Jersey Performing Arts Centre. Her career flourished with her role as Angel in an off-Broadway production of Rent. A hiatus followed this success, in which she focused on transitioning. Her re-emergence into the acting world was a difficult time

in her life and in an article

by Deadline, she credited her mother’s influence to her maintaining hope. Only weeks later, this persistence paid off when she was cast as Blanca Evangelista in the ground-breaking show, Pose.

It was for this exceptional performance that she earned a Golden Globe, one of the most esteemed awards internationally.

A strong, astute, and loving house mother, in the ballroom scene of late ’80s and early ‘90s New York, Blanca quickly Credit: TheMovieDB becomes the glue that holds together a community of queer individuals. The show depicts the ballroom culture that originated in the city, an underground African-American and Latin American LGBTQ+ subculture. It follows an eclectic mix of characters as they compete against other houses in balls, and battle to get by in the outside world amidst the devastating AIDs epidemic. Rodriguez is captivating throughout, leading rich, dramatic scenes and effortlessly revealing Blanca’s multitude of layers as the episodes and seasons progress. The versatility of scenes would put pressure on even the most accomplished of actresses, but alas every scene is navigated ohso beautifully, and you do not doubt for a second that this is Blanca you see in front of you, not Mj Rodriguez.

It quickly becomes impossible to imagine anyone else in this role.

Alongside Rodriguez’s formidable acting, the show is noteworthy of its own accord. With the largest transgender cast ever to appear in a scripted TV series, and fronted by actors and actresses of colour including Indya Moore, Billy Porter, and Dominique Jackson, Pose is frank in its portrayal of authentic trans and queer communities

of the time. While trans characters are not an entirely new concept to the film and TV industry, these roles have been dominated by cisgender actors, often sensationalising and misrepresenting them. The trans characters we are used to seeing on screen were created by cis people, for the entertainment of cis people.

I point this out, because there is something so deeply perverse about seeing society, the same society that holds such contempt for you, looking to profit from your own inescapable lived experiences. As such, after a stream of cisgender actors receiving and winning award nominations for their depictions of trans people and stories, it was a distinctly bittersweet moment to see a trans person so greatly rewarded for a role that represents the community, after all these years.

The importance of representation is undeniable but, as a topic of conversation, it seems to be increasingly spurned, but this discourse still needs to be had. Representation is not a taboo word. In fact, it is far to the contrary. Discourse around representation offers opportunities to broaden human understanding, improve equality, celebrate people, and progress. It is by looking to both the past and the future, that we can truly locate where we find ourselves at the present. There are so many nameless and faceless trans predecessors who were

Credit: Marcus Ferreira and TheMovieDB

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In recognising the significance of Mj Rodriguez’s Golden Globe Award win, we are remembering the history that could have been but never was, as well as igniting optimism for the brighter future that is still to come. never given the opportunity to act, let alone to shine. In recognising the significance of Mj Rodriguez’s Golden Globe award win, we are remembering the history that could have been but never was, as well as igniting optimism for the brighter future that is still to come.

It is not just loyal viewers of the show who have felt the magnitude of Rodriguez’s success though. Liam Gillin, a trans man working in the film industry said: “I don’t watch Pose, but I’m glad we are getting the recognition”.

That said, Rodriguez herself has stressed that her win should be celebrated first and foremost, as a personal achievement. She said in a Guardian interview: “I just want people to see me as a performer. An actress. …

I would love it if my transness was not always the leading cause of why I am celebrated. … That’s what I wish, but I also know the world.” For someone with such outstanding abilities and work ethic, she deserves nothing less.

Her enthralling performances throughout Pose will always be a key part of her career but I, for one, cannot wait to see what the future has in store for her.

With the release of her first single ‘Something to Say’ last year, and a starring role in an upcoming comedy series, one thing is for sure – this is not the last we will hear of Mj Rodriguez.

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Boiling Point- “Gritty, raw and realistic”- Review

Credit: TheMovieDB

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Oliver Morgan (he/him)

rumbs, what a film!

They say that ‘too many cooks spoil the broth’ – but that’s what makes Boiling Point so darn good.

It catches the essence of what it’s like to work in the service industry. If you never have, wowzers, you can now witness what you missed out on. As the swan looks graceful above the water, it’s certainly pushing hard below the surface.

Undeniably, this film ages you. Rushing between the zones of the restaurant very much in a Crystal Maze style, you get utterly lost as the drama unfurls itself in front of your very eyes. Small screen or in the cinema, you quickly forget you’re meant to be enjoying the experience. As an outsider, viewing their intertwining stories from the comfort of your armchair, the politics

utterly captivates you.

But that’s the point – and that’s what makes this film so genuinely clever and addicting to watch.

Modern life is full of complications, we all know that, but what’s magic is when you think about these characters’ destinies.

Emulated (almost too) perfectly, the political dynamics of friendships, relationships, and bottledup emotions reveal themselves as paths cross and necessity demands. How the producers captured the politics of life with such raw intensity is beyond my

“

Whilst the pressure is insane and the nerves are certainly shredded, this film is a cut above the rest – but not in the way you’d expect.

remit, but on screen, it seems unequivocally effortless.

Doubtlessly, Boiling Point is hugely engrossing. For me, there’s just one reason for that: no jump cuts. To the viewer, the fact that it was produced in just one take is almost an afterthought as you float between rooms and characters. For those who remember 1917, this film takes what they did to a whole other level. Indeed, it is only once you have processed the intense performance that you even begin to consider how well-oiled the machine must have been behind-the-scenes. Oh, to have been a fly-on-the-wall during that hour and a half!

Drama can only be good when you forget that they are acting – and that was certainly the case here. From the big-name protagonists of Andy (Stephen Graham), Carly (Vinette Robinson), and Beth (Alice Feetham), to the chefs, service staff, and diners in the background, there is a lot to digest.

Andy’s goose is cooked,

Carly is on her way out, and Beth is faking it until she makes it: and oof, how we have all felt like that sometimes.

Whilst the pressure is insane and the nerves are certainly shredded, this film is a cut above the rest – but not in the way you’d expect. This is not a big-budget greenscreen drama, and it is certainly not set in an exotic location either; it’s the little moments which make Boiling Point stick in your mind. Notably, the dynamic between the up-and-coming pastry chef Jamie (Stephen McMillan) and his senior Emily (Hannah Walters) still gives me shivers to this day – and I’m not afraid to say I went through the emotions with them.

Aside from the moments of intimacy, imagine being told false promises which never get acted on. Consider being that person who everyone relies on but never pulls through. Think about being at the bottom of the career ladder, with no way of knowing if you’re doing

right from wrong. We have all been there, and that’s why Boiling Point makes you think. Making you reflect on your own life is surely the most impactful message to take away from any piece of art you consume.

During each intimate glimpse into the lives of the characters, they become more complicated. You never consider the real reason behind Andy’s commitment issues. You never think about the feelings of the hardiest people. You never realise that life is a web of problems and solutions… until it’s too late. For me, the film will make me think twice about the food that magically appears when I am ‘treating myself’ at my local eatery, and appreciate what we often take for granted.

It’s gritty. It’s raw. It’s like real life… And that’s exactly why you need to see it. Be prepared for tears, high blood pressure and shredded nerves, but it will be totally worth your time.

Monday 7th February 2022

Film Review

Encanto

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Chloe Aslett (she/her) isney has always expertly included subtle messages that strike adult viewers as much as, if not more, than their young audiences, and Encanto is no exception. The Madrigal family and their home are, as the title suggests, magical their powers, which include Luisa’s superhuman strength (Jessica Darrow), Dolores’ ability to hear a pin drop from a mile away (Adassa),

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and the unmentionable Bruno’s power of prophecy (John Leguizamo) - rely on the constantly lit candle in their home. It falls to our protagonist Mirabel (Stephanie Beatriz), the only member of the family with no gift, to seal the cracks and keep the fire burning, both literally and figuratively.

Many of the positive elements of Encanto were somewhat predictable, including a captivating soundtrack and beautiful animation of the Colombian surroundings, thanks to Disney’s and Lin Manuel Miranda’s glowing repertoires. After Antonio (Ravi Cabot-Conyers), the youngest in the family, comes of age and discovers

his gift to communicate with animals, he traverses a colourful and meticulously detailed jungle scene which creates an escapism for the viewer that could make any adult feel like a kid again.

That said, it is the unique elements of Encanto in comparison to the tens of other Disney films that make it stand out. Seeing the plot unravel from the perspective of the nongifted, seemingly “weaker” Mirabel is a refreshing change from the heroes and heroines that we are used to. The struggle she faces is not living up to the high expectations that people hold for a princess, but rather the opposite - trying to prove herself as capable and helpful to a family who seem to have no faith in her.

To us, she does not seem like a burden, but rather seems hardworking and determined when the odds are stacked against her. This resonates with audiences young and old more than any royal or magical lead would.

The diverse looks and personalities of the family, specifically Mirabel and her two sisters Luisa and Isabela

(Diane Guerrero), has been another big talking point of the film. It highlights a shift in audience preferences from traditionally pretty, petite, perfect characters like Isabela, to those who are refreshing, and certainly more representative. In this case, it is the tough, superhardworking, yet anxious Luisa that has resonated with audiences. According to Inside The Magic, Animators had to “fight tooth and nail” to depict her with a bigger and more muscular build, and thank goodness they did. Luisa is exactly what young girls need to see, and this combined with the diverse personalities of all the characters and the South American setting, it is a promising turn for Disney in terms of representation and diversity.

The Colombian backdrop allows for another particularly unique element

LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) and Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka), again take centre stage as they team up in the fourth series to drive John Kreese (Martin Kove) out of the valley. In a story that seems familiar: can the two work together?

When you have a film series as good as The Karate Kid, viewers are curious to know what happens to certain characters once they grow up. This is especially true given the absence of Johnny Lawrence after the first film, as well as the absence of all previous characters except Mr Miyagi (Pat Morita) in the fourth.

This is part of the appeal of Cobra Kai, the sequel series to the original films, as a whole. Not only does it play out mainly from Johnny’s perspective, but it shows us where

Johnny and Daniel end up over 30 years after the original film. It is perhaps what one would expect.

Johnny is a deadbeat father and alcoholic, Daniel owns and runs a successful car dealership. It certainly fuels the stereotype that supposed bullies like Johnny peak in high school. Although, can you really call losing your girlfriend and then getting crane-kicked in the face ‘peaking’? Furthermore, younger viewers who are not automatically drawn in by the nostalgia of the original films will be entertained by the new group of high schoolers, who themselves learn karate from Johnny and Daniel as they learned it from Kreese and Miyagi. Overall, the concept is fresh,intriguing, and executed brilliantly.

The theme of moral ambiguity is a central one to Cobra Kai. Unless you’re Barney Stinson, Johnny Lawrence was one of the bad guys in the original movie.

Yet seeing his backstory and viewing events through his perspective in the show, we

see a mature, different side to the same character.

For example, in the first series Johnny mentors Miguel (Xolo Mariduena) Credit: TheMovieDB so that Miguel can stand up to his bullies, as who do bad are capable Miyagi taught Daniel to in of becoming good, given The Karate Kid. This moral the right support or freed ambiguity is continued from the wrong influences. throughout season 4. Tori Johnny Lawrence shows (Peyton List), a member us that, as do countless of Cobra Kai, is one of others in the show. the ‘bad guys’, but as the The build up to the audience learns more of All Valley tournament, her circumstances and sees the development of the her potential to be good, aforementioned nuanced we resent the unforgiving character arcs, and the attitude that Daniel’s return of a certain someone daughter Sam (Mary Mouser) from The Karate Kid 3 takes towards her. Eli (Jacob (hint: it’s not Mike Barnes) Bertrand), who was bullied all merit mention for the in season one and became recent season, but the a Cobra Kai bully himself, main aspect worth praising continues his own journey is its contribution to the back to the light and to his high standard and brilliant true friends. The intrigue of concept of the Cobra Kai Cobra Kai is that there are project as a whole. no binary characters; many

Credit: TheMovieDB

Netflix Review

Cobra Kai

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Josh Thory-Rao (he/him) s with the second, the end of the third season of Cobra Kai set the stage very obviously for a follow up, made potential alliances clear, and even made the end goal of the series - the venerated all-valley karate tournament - something we knew was coming. Daniel

Credit: TheMovieDB

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Escapism that could make any adult feel like a kid again.

of the film to exist: the absence of a villain. We learn relatively quickly that Bruno is not, in reality, at fault for any of the family’s issues.

Abuela, the grandmother and matriarch, seems to subject the family to undue pressure and expectations of perfection throughout, and at times did seem close to villainous. It takes us longer to learn about her motivations, the “unknown forces” that resulted in the death of her husband, and shaped her determination to keep the family together and maintain a perfect front at all times. In this sense, we see a very real, culturally specific parallel drawn between the film and real life - arguably, the closest thing to a genuine “villain” is not Abuela or any other character, but is rather the resultant generational trauma of the colonisation that has the characters speaking Spanish today.

Encanto reflects the realities of many, and it is that, that makes it such a rich tale that will undoubtedly resonate with audiences of all ages, across the globe.

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Games

The games we’re excited to play in 2022 Tom Butt (he/him) and Reiss Mason (he/him)

With so many incredible games set for release this year, we can only pray that our wallets can handle the burden. Still, it’s a better use of our money than buying NFTs. to be an exciting twist on FPS’ like Back 4 Blood, with unique character abilities.

Dying Light 2: Stay Human February 4, 2022 The first Dying Light game was a gem that didn’t receive the attention it was due. Its modern take on parkour-based gameplay at the Covidaddled end of days presented a fresh blend of genres and the fact that its campaign (which wasn’t groundbreaking by any means) had optional co-op made it a mustplay for me and a friend during lockdown. Its sequel promises a branching narrative where your choices matter, multiple factions to join or oppose, a story worth your time, and terrifying night zombies evolved from the original concept.

Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope 2022 Moving on to a second sequel I’m stoked to see: Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope! This is another game where the first entry is worthy of far more attention than it garnered at the time, taking a tightly turned turn-based tactical combat system and handing it over to the people responsible for Mario: the marketable, untouchable face of gaming.

And yet it works surprisingly well, which I can only hope translates to the new entry featuring new characters and a switched up movement system no longer reliant on the trappings of the grid.

Breath of the Wild 2 2022 I didn’t really catch the Breath of the Wild hype until a couple years in, but having now dedicated a measly 50 hours to Hyrulian masterchef-ing, I realise I would be a fool to miss out on the sequel’s momentous release. Teased during the finale of Nintendo’s E3 2021 show was a massive increase in verticality (with floating islands reminiscent of that old Minecraft Aether mod), some kind of timemanipulation tool, and green goopy ability allowing Link to move through walls. So much is up for speculation, and that’s what will make this release worthy of celebration.

Redfall September 2022 Games involving vampires were once a staple of the video game industry, with such bloodthirsty main courses as the Castlevania series and recent floundered attempts to revive enthusiasm in a once-coveted genre with Vampyr, not quite igniting a comeback. Nonetheless, Bethesda’s Arkane Studios, under the ownership of Microsoft and launching day one on Game Pass, are attempting to fill that void with their vampire survival, hunt-based co-op game Redfall. These guys made Prey, the Dishonored series, and the critically acclaimed Deathloop. Redfall is primed

Starfield November 11, 2022 Starfield is Bethesda’s first original IP in 28 years. Yes, a quarter of a century has passed since the creation of Elder Scrolls. This hopefully tells us the game will be extremely ambitious as Bethesda seek to try something different. Again, this will launch day one on Game Pass, meaning anyone with a subscription will be able to jump in straight away. As the name suggests, Starfield will take place in space and promises players will be able to explore and discover whether there is life beyond our world. Of course, elements of Elder Scrolls’ storytelling style will be prevalent, but I suspect this will take inspiration from Bioware’s Mass Effect series.

The first huge RPG from Bethesda since Fallout 4 and Prey promises to take us 300 years into the future, and hopefully set new precedents in RPG storytelling.

The Witcher 3 Next Gen April - June 2022 CD Projekt Red are promising big things this year – hopefully they can live up to their promises this time – with a Cyberpunk 2077 Next Gen upgrade and a Witcher 3 one in the works.

Given the disappointment underpinning Cyberpunk,

and Witcher 3 genuinely being one of the greatest titles of all time (I‘ll die on the better-than-Skyrim hill), this is an update I can’t wait for. Though not a new game, the time since launch (2015) suggests it will be more than just an upscaled resolution. Here’s hoping we get improvements to load times, draw distances, rendering, and graphical effects in the environment.

Also, it wouldn’t hurt to add back in the kinks and damage done to armour which was originally removed to improve performance. It’s also to include content inspired by the Netflix series, and hopefully includes the DLC packs for new players as an incentive for the upgrade.

Nonetheless, raytracing alone is enough for me to reimmerse myself in this world.

Elden Ring February 25, 2022 If you love Game of Thrones, forgot the final season, and enjoy the Soulsborne series, have I got news for you. Elden Ring, first announced in 2019, marries the writing of George R.R. Martin with Hidetaka Miyazaki’s own, coming off the back of the critically acclaimed Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.

This game will encourage exploration and combat with linear storytelling that opens up as the game begins, eventually leading to more player choice and customisation in how your abilities stack up. Essentially, it’s Dark Souls, in an open world. And whilst I’m terrible at Souls-style games, I’m still excited, especially since Miyazaki said he expects

more people to finish it than his other games. Maybe this will be the first souls-like I complete.

Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga April 5, 2022 Ok, so I really wasn’t excited by Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga when it was first announced. I, like many, expected another compilation of what we’ve already played. But now, after seeing the latest gameplay overview, I’ve changed my mind. The entire collection of all 9 movies, with content from the TV shows added, has been reworked from the ground up. As a Lego game it’ll continue to charm and bring great couch co-op to many.

Yet, this time, they’re adding skill trees and allowing more free roam than ever before, including in space. There will be more character classes and styles of play than ever before, whilst ensuring we all get a well-deserved nostalgia hit. And yes, they will allow us to play it in mumble mode without speech, as was the case in the original Lego games.

Images: Dying Light 2: Stay Human - Techland; Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope - Nintendo; Breath of the Wild 2 - Nintendo; Redfall - Arkane Studios; Starfield - Bethesda; The Witcher 3 CD Projekt Red; Elden Ring - FromSoftware; Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga Warner Bros Interactive Fresh OSTs Images: Halo Infinite - 343 Industries; Hades - Supergiant Games; Hollow Knight - Team Cherry

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Games

Fresh OSTs

Halo Infinite Everyone knows how good Halo soundtracks are, and Infinite is no exception. It’s the perfect soundtrack for studying or getting lost in an orchestral atmosphere.

Hades Feeling like you need a rockin’ energy boost? Want to get everyone but the metal-heads to leave your halloween party? Well have I got the OST for you...

Hollow Knight Somber, peaceful, and introspective - Hollow Knight’s soundtrack is one of its many perfections upon the metroidvania formula.

A love letter to games strategy guides

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Reiss Mason (he/him) t’s a funny thing, this internet we’ve ended up with. It has made the once astounding compilations of knowledge and secrets found within the pages of strategy guides entirely redundant. If you want to know where to find the galaxy sword in Stardew Valley nowadays, you’re a single google away from gratification, a worthwhile departure from the many minutes it could take flipping through pages upon pages of mostly useless noise.

From the beginning, her demise was certain. As it goes with all technology, improvements snowball until you can’t remember why you ever bothered

with the original. First, people would host guides on their own domains, whipping up a quick .txt guide to a niche moment of a game they found particularly difficult.

Then came the forums, or more accurately, then came Game FAQs. People from everywhere and anywhere could post a guide – more often than not a simple list of instructions – to any game. This overtook the physical guide in terms of accessibility, but it only hinted at what was to come.

Next came the monopolisation of the industry. Companies such as IGN realised they, too, could publish gaming walkthroughs and have a sizeable audience in

tow. And, of course, they pummelled Prima Books deeper into the grounds

of niche fandom. Oh, and Fandom is suddenly here too, returning the people’s

voice to them with an added air of authority similar to Wikipedia, an ever-expanding, bloated anomaly of knowledge roping everything together into one unified hive, even if only unified by association.

And where did that leave my beloved? In the dirt.

Websites can monetise with ads, meaning every click is a paycheck even if the original creator never sees a penny of that, but printed guides were abandoned by all but the undeterred, though even they may only buy a strategy guide in print for the novelty.

A novelty that was never lost. Owning a game’s guide, even the useless ones (looking at you, free

“guide” I got with Breath of the Wild) is a wondrous thing that brings a game to life - brings a game into your life. As a child I would crack open the holy book to look for one cheat code and get lost for hours scanning pictures and natty titbits of information about the game’s creation and secrets. It was like reading a sacred tome, arming me with knowledge for an intrepid expedition into the unknown.

So, thank you, strategy guides, whatever form you may take. Even if my first love was a physical copy of Metal Gear Solid: UNAUTHORIZED, and my rebound was GameXplain’s video guides for New Super Mario Bros 2, I will love you with every atom of my soul.

Microsoft buys Activision Blizzard

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Tom Butt (he/him) t’s official. Microsoft just bought Activision Blizzard. How much did they pay, you ask? a huge $68.7 billion. To put that into perspective, when Microsoft bought Bethesda not so long ago, they paid a now measly $7.5 billion.

This also comes freshly off recent acquisitions that ‘trumped’ the Bethesda deal with Take-Two Interactive (they own Rockstar)’s acquisition of Zynga for $12.7 billion.

However, the deal still needs to go through all legal avenues and won’t be finalised until 2023.

Once the deal closes, Microsoft will end up owning much loved (typically PlayStation) franchises like Crash Bandicoot and Spyro and there are calls for concern

for these communities, however, given Microsoft’s track record of releasing games on PC and through their cloud services, there should be workarounds (and maybe the rumoured Xbox TV stick can help with that).

The most notable Xbox gain here though is certainly Call of Duty, arguably one of the biggest gaming franchises in existence. But don’t worry just yet- Phil Spencer, head of Xbox has laid claims that he intends to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation. Yeah,

it’s not too clear and he probably has to keep quiet due to legal reasons. Sony have indicated though that they have existing agreements with Activision and Xbox has agreed to honour them, for the time being.

In total, Microsoft will end up acquiring Blizzard Entertainment, King, Radical Entertainment, Treyarch, Raven, High Moon, Beenox, SledgeHammer Games, Infinity Ward, Demonware, Toys For Bob, Activision Shanghai, Solid State Studios and Digital Legends. Xbox Game Studios will then go from 23 studios to 34. This means more exclusives and more importantly, more Game Pass games.

This also means Xbox will own Candy Crush, Crash Bandicoot, Diablo, Guitar Hero, Hearthstone,

Overwatch, Skylanders, Spyro, StarCraft, World of Warcraft, Warcraft and more unused properties.

There will no doubt be plenty of announcements to come in the next year; hopefully, this includes a new Guitar Hero and

the departure of troubled Activision CEO Bobby Kotick.

How do the competition respond, then? Well as I write this piece, PlayStation have just announced they are acquiring Bungie, the original creators of Halo

and Destiny for $3.6 billion.

Although, this acquisition seems to suggest all of Bungie’s work will remain on multiple platforms, including future titles (maybe PlayStation will receive exclusive content).

PlayStation fans are also calling for Sony to do more and acquire Square Enix (behind Hitman, Deus Ex, and Tomb Raider), Capcom (produce Dead Rising and Street Fighter) and Bandai Namco (Tekken).

Nonetheless, it’ll be interesting to see how PlayStation respond, maybe by even launching their own, already-rumoured, Game Pass type service so they can begin to cut through Xbox’s current acquisition streak - I’d certainly welcome it.

Images: Perfect Dark Official Strategy Guide - Prima Books; CoD Vanguard Activision

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Sport

Sport Thoughts: How Premier League stars are using their platforms for social change Anastasia Christodoulou (she/her) In early January, Arsenal Football Club demonstrated their continued support for the anti-knife crime movement by collaborating with Adidas to launch their ‘No More Red’ campaign.

In 2021, London saw the highest number of teenage murders in a year since records began, the majority of which involved knife attacks.

‘No More Red’ seeks to reverse this upward trend in attacks and forms part of a long-term commitment made by the club to tackle the root causes of youth violence while also providing safe spaces and more opportunities for young people.

In their FA cup tie against Nottingham Forest on 9th January, Arsenal played in an all-white kit for the first time to help publicise the campaign.

Former Arsenal player, Ian Wright, showed his support for the movement and presented the ten shirts worn during the Nottingham Forest game to organisations working within the community to address the issues raised.

Football players have often come under scrutiny whenever they discuss or get involved with any political issues. For example, in December, Gary Linekar received abuse on Twitter for calling out Boris Johnson over the parties he attended while lockdown measures were in place across the country.

Marcus Rashford, Manchester United forward, has also received

criticism for his ongoing efforts to make sure children who receive free school meals are fed over the holidays and has frequently been told to “stick to football.”

Issues like feeding hungry children and tackling knife crime are not, or at least should not be, issues they are issues of humanity.

They should be beyond politics, as it is in everyone’s best interest to solve them.

But if people feel that the government are not taking enough action to combat social issues, it makes sense to look for other well-known figures, such as football stars, to use their platform for good.

With this in mind, we should be supporting these football players, like Marcus Rashford, instead of tearing them apart.

Well-recognised sports professionals have a duty

of care to the people who attend their games and wear their shirts.

They are in the public eye and have many young people look up to them.

So if their idols are using their platforms to support positive social change, this can help make a difference within local communities.

Their large followings on social media mean that they couldn’t be in a better position to get important messages across.

Marcus Rashford, Ian Wright, and all the other exemplary football stars who are doing their best to give back to their communities are some of the most outstanding public figures that the UK has, and I think we should treasure them.

Blades understated january window can still go a long way in the Championship Rahul Warrier (he/him) The January transfer window was an opportunity for Sheffield United to build on an up-and-down season that can still see them make the playoffs. A shaky start has since led to a run of six wins in the last eight games amidst a lengthy break to COVID suspensions. With an important run ahead, it was vital for the Blades to make the right additions to their squad but also trim the fat.

On paper, it feels like they have. A bloated attack has now been reduced, with the departures of Lys Mousset and Oliver Burke to Salernitana and Millwall. The Frenchman displayed promise in his debut season after a ten million move, with six goals in the Premier League, but has struggled to keep fit.

Despite three goals this season, he has played just under 600 minutes in the last one and a half years, and with an expiring contract, will have played his last game. Burke has also found it difficult to capture his early career promise and produce attacking returns despite being a willing member of the squad.

One other key departure was of the loanee Robin

Olsen, a keeper with European pedigree who found it difficult to adjust to the league and conceded 17 goals in 11 games. There were also departures for squad members Luke Freeman, Adlene Guedioura, Michael Verrips and youngsters Zak Brunt and Regan Slater.

The squad is now lean and balanced. Adam Davies arrived from Stoke on a sixmonth deal to provide Wes Foderingham competition in goal. Charlie Goode was the key addition from Brentford on loan. The 26-year-old centre-back has played less than he would like in the last two seasons but will now provide competition at the back.

Having kept hold of Morgan Gibbs-White on loan, crucial to their aspirations, they have also recalled Daniel Jebbison from Burton Albion after an injury to Rhian Brewster. Crucially, the Blades have cut a considerable amount in wages. It is certainly a positive for the club, who is now better off both on and off-field. They’re now better equipped in the run-in and will hope to make a late charge for the play-offs.

Credit: David Pickersgill, Wiki Commons

Monday 7 February 2022

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Sport

Report: Wednesday close in on play-offs after victory over Morecambe

Nelson Walker (he/him) Sheffield Wednesday closed in on the League One play-offs following a 2-0 victory over Morecambe at Hillsborough. Goals from George Byers and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing secured three points for The Owls which takes them to within four points of sixth-placed Oxford United.

The hosts made one change to the side which defeated Ipswich Town 1-0 at the weekend, with Byers coming in for Massimo Luongo at the base of midfield.

The first-half proved to be quite a disrupted contest as Wednesday’s new loan signing Harlee Dean sustained an injury in the sixth minute and needed to be replaced.

Morecambe’s goalkeeper Trevor Carson, another new loan signing, then succumbed to a similar fate and was replaced by Kyle Letheren in the 23rd minute.

It resulted in a disjointed opening thirty-five minutes with The Shrimps’ forward Cole Stockton having a stabbed effort saved by Bailey Peacock-Farrell following a defensive mixup. The best opportunity of the half fell to Wednesday’s Mendez-Laing who could

not convert from the centre of the box after a positive give-and-go with Florian Kamberi.

The first-half concluded with Wednesday building significant pressure as Marvin Johnson had a sweet cushioned volley ruled out for offside in the 41st minute.

The Owls were growing into the game and they picked off where they left in the second-half.

Josh Windass had a shot blocked in the centre of the goal before the pressure eventually tolled on Morecambe.

Byers received the ball outside the box in the 56th minute, was urged to shoot by the home crowd and he duly obliged, producing a stunning shot which rifled into the top-right corner leaving Letheren stranded.

Wednesday were in control of the game now and fashioned the better opportunities however they did have a scare when Morecambe twice had headers cleared off the line from close-range following an Adam Phillips free-kick in the 84th minute.

Mendez-Laing eased the home supporters’ nerves and sealed all three points for Wednesday when he fired home a deflected effort in stoppage-time.

Report: Marvin Johnson fires Wednesday to 1-0 win vs Ipswich Town with

Andrew McLean (he/him)

An early Marvin Johnson goal was enough to see Sheffield Wednesday claim all three points with an assured performance at Hillsborough.

Both wing-backs were directly involved in the winner. It was Nathaniel Mendez-Laing’s cross that allowed Johnson to slide home a volley in the sixth minute. Ipswich did not pose any particular threat throughout the game and Wednesday were able to see the game out without much pressure on their goal.

There was a setback for The Owls before a ball had even been kicked. Top scorer Lee Gregory was ruled out with a foot injury and was replaced by Florian Kamberi in one of four changes made

by Darren Moore from the 3-2 defeat by Oxford. There were also debuts for new signings Harlee Dean and Jordan Storey.

The goal was the first real action of the match.

Mendez-Laing was given the ball in a dangerous crossing during a Wednesday break.

His deep cross found fellow wingback Johnson sliding in at the back post and he

volleyed home six yards for his first goal of the season.

Kamberi was sent through on goal by a good long ball from Massismo Luongo. The striker miscontrolled when trying to cut back inside the defender and it was cleared for a corner from which Dean headed narrowly wide.

In the 39th minute, a good cross from Barry Bannan found Florian Kamberi within the six-yard box. The onloan striker managed to get the ball under control and set up Mendez-Laing who somehow fired wide from 12 yards when he really should have scored. The Wednesday wingback was in the thick of the action again a minute later, almost turning an Ipswich cross beyond his own goalkeeper.

The Owls created two chances in quick succession at the end of the first half. First, Kamberi forced Christian Walton into a good save at his near post. From the corner that followed, Sam Hutchinson directed a free header straight at the goalkeeper.

Wednesday continued to control proceedings in the opening stages of the second half. Good play down

the right saw Josh Windass have a powerful shot parried

by Walton. The resulting rebound was headed over by The Owl’s skipper Bannan.

Johnson came close to doubling both his and his team’s tallies in the 67th minute - dragging a shot from 12 yards just wide following a Kamberi cut back. Minutes later Bannan forced Walton into a magnificent save with a powerful strike from the edge of the box.

Ipswich were on the backfoot for most of the game but created their first decent chance of the second half in the 73rd minute.

Debutant Storey was forced to make an important block from Ipswich substitute Sone Aluko’s well hit shout within the penalty area.

In truth, the Tractormen never really looked like scoring despite dominating possession and the home side were able to see out the rest of the match quite comfortably. The Owls will hope to replicate this performance in mid week against Morecambe in order to continue to push for promotion.

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Forge Press

Sport

Cheerleading gains Olympic recognition Gina Kalsi (She/Her) Cheerleading is a team-based sport which encompasses stunts, gymnastics, jumps and dance. It was granted full International Olympic Recognition in July 2021 which was a victory for athletes around the world who fought for the sport to become more recognised.

However, behind the big bows and glitzy uniforms, cheerleading is a dangerous sport that has been estimated to cause 35,000 injuries a year in the U.S alone. Therefore, calls for regulating governing body of the sport are growing in the cheerleading community.

Whilst cheerleaders and coaches may have rejoiced in the news regarding its recognition, it begs the question of how this will take place and work in practice.

As cheerleading is popular around the globe and has

not been considered as ‘Olympic standard’ up until recently, there has been little universal regulation, which differs from other sports in the Olympics such as gymnastics.

Experienced cheerleading coach and athlete Megan Allsop said: “Being classed as an Olympic sport would require multiple people from a multitude of backgrounds with differing opinions on the sport to communicate and work together in harmony in order to make cheerleading work in the Olympics.

“To have the opportunity to experience cheerleading at an Olympic level, even to just say that I would have been to the Olympics, is one of my biggest dreams.

But as a member of the cheerleading community for nearly 12 years, to see the little progress that has been made in creating a singular governing body, I

would need to feel confident that we have got to a point of complete agreement on rules and regulations. This can never be achieved in my opinion.”

Although there is an International Cheer Union (ICU), their rules only apply at their events and not at others. For example class some event and competition providers something as illegal when the next one is perfectly fine with it.

Cheerleaders compete at different levels based on ability. The levels range from 1-7, however, it is a sport that can keep progressing and questions arise as to whether there could even be a level 8.

Cheerleading has been likened to gymnastics due to their similar skill sets, a sport that already has an Olympic governing body and is recognised worldwide. However, they differ as cheerleading only has one aspect of tumbling

(gymnastics) on sprung floor in the routine, whereas gymnastics as a sport encompasses many different disciplines with different apparatuses.

Cheerleading dates back to the late 1800s, where spectators from ‘Ivy League’ colleges in America would cheer and chant to the raise spirits of their team, encouraging them to be victorious and win games.

Cheerleading officially started when Johnny Campbell, a University of Minnesota student, jumped onto a pitch of a University of Minnesota American football game in 1898 and lead the crowd in a series of chants and cheers to raise the sense of togetherness and support. Minnesota won the game, and cheerleading was born. Campbell is recognised widely as being the first ‘official’ cheerleader.

Now, there are many different variations of

cheerleading, but one thing remains the same: it is no longer just a side-line activity.

Aiming to raise awareness of the stigmatisation of cheerleading, Sheffield Sabrecats Co-captain Liv Byrne said: “Cheer definitely comes with some naive stereotypes, with people thinking it is about how you look or your personality.

These things are far from the truth, and the sport is about strength, hard-work and dedication. I mean, how many people can hold someone above their head?”

It may be hard for cheerleading bodies to come together and agree, but based on the rich history of cheerleading and how far it has come, it’s Olympic potential should at least be considered.

Above Image - An American Cheer team competing. Credit: Unsplash