Issue 38 // Friday October 7 2011
The independent student newspaper of the University of Sheffield. est 1946 // www.forgetoday.com
ARTS
Dan Evans on bringing Othello to The Crucible Fuse p.5
PR stunt by stripping boss
WIN PLUG TICKETS We have two pairs of tickets to all gigs at Plug for the rest of the academic year. Fuse p.2
Tom Geddes Comment
COMMENT Is sexism a feminist’s nightmare or just a bit of a laugh? Hannah Frost talks chocolate cake and sanitary towels in response to Corp’s latest ad campaign. p.9
SPORT
The Sheffield Steelers wipe the floor with their opponents the Hull Stringrays and the Fife Flyers. Full report p.28
MUSIC We caught up with hiphop sensation Wretch 32. Find out why he’ll never be on The Jeremy Kyle Show. Fuse, p.4
Charity warned over ‘Q-jump’ card
Martial arts charity continues to sell tickets despite some club deals not being finalised. them on the concourse as they did not have the Nicholas Carding required permit. A martial arts charity selling queue jump tickets A representative for the charity said: “We to Sheffield nightclubs has misled students after approached some of the city centre nightclubs and venues said the deal was yet to be confirmed. they agreed to the ‘Q-jump’ tickets. Shimeijurasan Martial Arts Club, operating “We stopped selling them when the Union said under the name Fight 4 Life, who claim to be we needed a special licence to sell on the concourse. “closely associated” with the University of Sheffield, Perhaps we did things too quickly.” emailed societies to advertise £5 ‘Q-jump’ tickets for The tickets were supposed to be valid between Embrace, Viper Rooms, Basement, FWD, DQ, and September 26 and October 9, but after contacting Vodka Revolution. several of the nightclubs, Forge Press found that However, the Union warned students not to buy some clubs had not yet agreed to the deal. the tickets, and the group was asked to stop selling Continued on p.5
News: Film Unit: best in country p.2 Corp’s sex flyer controversy
p.3
Students are increasingly in need of more money. Becoming a stripper gets you more money. The revelations made to BBC Radio Sheffield this week by the vicepresident of a leading UK stripjoint are hardly groundbreaking. “With rising student fees, they know they can come in and earn the money they need to survive”. As they can with Bar One or Tesco. Students can get a job, and yes, stripping is a job. Remarkable. Yet the national press are all over this story like the dancers they show such concern for, gifting said gentleman the attention, reaction and publicity this move was intended to create. Articles are plastered with the company’s name, pictures of its ‘clubs’ and exactly what to expect when entering one of these ‘institutions’. The hype makes quite an appealing case for the work; Jilly from Sheffield really values her job. If my pair were pert enough for such work, I’d probably join her. But if there’s one industry that needs no further enticement, it’s probably the sex industry. Anyone who desires it knows exactly where to find it; and those who do not probably don’t require its services anyway. Why are the media drowning it in attention? This is not news. These clubs have been running for decades; the values they represent are now embedded in society. Love them or hate them, they’re not going anywhere. While advising students to take up employment in these joints is not ideal by any stretch of the imagination, Mr. Vice-President is merely putting one and one together. He knows the debates that will arise, he knows the disgust most commentators will show him but he also knows he’ll get more student ‘dancers’ as a result. A dirty trick, but that is his business after all. Slagging off these ‘centres of entertainment’ may fill writers with an inner sense of moral superiority, but it plays right into the hands of said clubs. If the media is truly disgusted by these ‘new’ comments, ignore them. Don’t aid their plight through mindless publicity.
ACS reveal deposits taken p.5
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FORGE PRESS Friday October 7 2011
NEWS UNIVERSITY
Forge in Brief Uni Lecturer asks to be disqualified from driving
Film Unit is Best Film Student Society for the second year
A University of Sheffield lecturer asked to be disqualified from driving for speeding rather than receive penalty points on his licence. Dr Tennore Ramesh, of the University’s Neurology department was charged for speeding on Halifax Road, near Wadsley Bridge in July 2010. The lecturer has held a UK driving licence for less than two years and had previously received three penalty points. Under the rules for new drivers, anyone accumulating more than six points after passing their test has their licence revoked and must retake their test. The University of Sheffield did not wish to comment on the story. Daniel Harris
French lecturer dies A lecturer at the University of Sheffield died on Friday September 16. Dr Pascal Mercier was a reader of the Department of French and had worked at the University for 13 years. He was cremated on Wednesday September 21. Joanne Butcher
Sheffield parks are honoured Sheffield has enhanced its reputation as England’s greenest city after picking up four new Green Flag awards for its parks. The Keep Britain Tidy group require winning entries to be welcoming, and emphasises the value of support from the local community. These awards highlight the transformation that Sheffield has been through in the last 30 years with the city working hard to eradicate its “Steel City” nickname. Helena Colville
Photo: Ivor Hutchinson
Tom Rosebury Film Unit was honoured with the Best Student Society award at the British Federation of Film Societies in London for the second consecutive year. Despite facing a debt of £4,500 as recently as two years ago, Film Unit recovered and now runs a successful programme. The society shows affordable films for students in the University of Sheffield Students’ Union every weekend, and has recently expanded its work to include special charity screenings. The special screenings include showings on National Women’s Day and shows to raise money for the Japanese Tsunami appeal. The society faced fierce competition from Warwick
Student Cinema, Exeter University Campus Cinema and Edinburgh University Film Society but once again came on top and won the award of the night. Film Unit Chair Richard Clesham was very proud to win the award for the second year running. He said: “Everyone involved in Film Unit from the committee to our projectionists and house staff work incredibly hard to deliver the best cinema experience we can. “Last year was Film Unit’s most successful for several years. “For a couple of years previously we had been struggling financially; particularly during the Union building works. “In order to address that, we
Media Hub, Union of Students, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TG 0114 2228646 // forgepress@forgetoday.com
Editor Matt Burgess Deputy Editor Nicole Hernandez Froio Managing Editor Mikey Smith WEB EDITOR Ben Williams News news@forgetoday.com Nicholas Carding Katie Davies Nicole Hernandez Froio
Photo: Ivan Leiman Photography
Film Unit Chair Richard Clesham receives the award from actor Togo Iogwa in London.
Comment comment@forgetoday.com Hannah Frost Tom Geddes LETTERS letters@forgetoday.com Holly Wilkinson Arts arts@forgetoday.com Tim Wood Rowan Ramsden fuse editors fuse@forgetoday.com James Garrett Lauren Kelly
Features features@forgetoday.com Lauren Clarke Rebecca Cooke Jonathan Robinson Lifestyle and travel lifestyle@forgetoday.com Ina Fischer Fay Guest Hannah Pearson Sport sport@forgetoday.com Jack Burnett Adam Hancock Anthony Hart
made a few dramatic changes to our programming. “We also sought to increase our involvement with other societies and organisations within the university and outside. “It was an absolute joy to accept the award at the Conference at the Institut Francais. “It was a real honour to be invited to participate in the conference.” Not only does Film Unit plan to keep showing movies, but they also hope to keep working with the local community as much as they can. Raising money for new projection equipment is also high on this year’s agenda. “With the changing nature of the film industry and the slow adoption of digital technology,
Film Unit needs to update from the old 35mm film we use at the moment,” said Cleshman. “So over the next year or two we’re going to be trying to raise the funds to purchase a brand new digital cinema projector. “It will allow us to diversify even further as well as keep us at the forefront of cinema exhibition.” Activities Officer Nabil Alizai was delighted with the result of the night. He said: “The Students’ Union is very proud of Film Unit and it’s incredible offer to our students. ”I’m very excited to see what they have in store for this year. “I have high hopes that their top position at the British Federation of Film Societies Awards will continue for years to come.”
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Music music@forgetoday.com Sam Bolton Coral Williamson Games games@forgetoday.com Arnold Bennett Ellen Jurczak Screen screen@forgetoday.com Tom Fletcher Tom Wardak picture editor Adam Harley
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Forge Press is published by the Union of Students. Views expressed are not necessarily those of the University, the Union or the editorial team. In the first instance all complaints should be addressed to the Managing Editor, although a formal procedure exists.
FORGE PRESS Friday October 7 2011
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UNIVERSITY NEWS
Corporation nightclub offends staff and students with sexualized campaign flyers Katie Davies and Jennifer Whittington
A Sheffield nightclub was forced to halt one of its promotions campaigns after flyers sparked controversy amongst staff and students. The leaflets, advertising a Freshers’ Week event at the Corporation nightclub in the city centre showed a male figure, sporting a seemingly hand drawn penis, pulling up a woman’s skirt. The figure of the woman also had hand drawn breasts. The flyer promoted a ‘Mr Wet Speedo competition,’ a ‘Miss Wet T-Shirt competition,’ and displayed an image of a Buckin’ Bronco in the shape of a penis, which was accompanied by the message: ‘Ladies... wanna ride some cock?’ Corporation pulled the advertising campaign after University of Sheffield Students’ Union Officers sent letters of complaint to both the club and the council, saying that the number of complaints they had received forced them to take action. Women’s Officer Sarah Charlesworth only noticed the alarming flyers because staff and students told her they were concerned. She said: “I wouldn’t have even heard about the flyers if staff and students hadn’t complained - I heard several complaints and so did all the other officers. “I didn’t expect much back - I didn’t expect them to cancel it. But it was inappropriate to stereotype our students. “I’ve been to Corp before; a lot of people have experienced Corp. But this was completely too far. “It was just horrific - and that they think that all students will want to go to something like this is insulting.” Corporation nightclub was unwilling to comment on the situation at the time Forge Press
Critics of the campaign say it encourages sexual harrassment. went to print. perpetuates sexual harassment. The club management pointed We also feel that the text on the out that the promotion for the back of the flyer is sexist and night had been carried out by an inappropriate. outside company. “The activities you will be Students’ Union Officers felt having at your club night exploit that the image broke advertising both men and women as sexual law by promoting sexual objects, therefore making it harassment – a criminal offence. both acceptable and profitable The letter of complaint sent to to exploit their bodies as a the club read: “The image that commodity. is used on the front of the flyer “Suggesting that it is a necessity for students to be engaging in sexual activity in freshers’ week is not a welcoming and inclusive message to our new students and does not reflect well on the city.” It was also argued that the image was inappropriate to be seen by any children who may be on campus and that the flyer
No refunds after student gym closure Nicholas Carding No refunds will be given to members of S10 health when the gym at Goodwin closes in December 2011 and January 2012 to undergo refurbishment. Last year, students were left disappointed after they were refunded a mere £15, despite many joining for a year to use only the swimming pool. Refunds could only be collected up to September 1 2011, but students were not notified of this in advance. A University of Sheffield spokesperson said: “The customers had at least three months to apply for a refund, and at most, they had nine months. “The University felt that this was a reasonable amount of time and therefore we will not be issuing further refunds.” In the contract new members
of S10 health have to sign, it is stipulated that “no refunds will be issued due to the gym and pool being unavailable, even if the closures exceed 30 consecutive days.” Second year International History and International Politics student Alisha Rouse said: “It’s completely taking advantage of students whose only option is to join this gym, both because of location and price.” “The contract gave you no choice at all, it was a very ‘like it or lump it’ offering.” A University of Sheffield spokesperson said: “The University will not be issuing refunds for the period of refurbishment during December and January. The gym receives a very low footfall during the Christmas vacation period and therefore we will be keeping disruption to a minimum.
“We recognise that any disruption is not ideal for members, but to complete a project on the scale we are planning is impossible to do without closing for a period of time. We apologize to customers who will be inconvenienced during this period.” Goodwin Sports Centre has already been the subject of heavy refurbishment with the swimming pool being closed off to members throughout most of the last academic year. Despite this, S10 Health warn that “the pool may be unavailable for a period from April 2012 due to new refurbishment.” The football and hockey pitches adjacent to Goodwin are also undergoing heavy refurbishment, impacting on pitch bookings and clubs’ training sessions, while the University is developing a brand new rugby pitch.
was damaging to the Students’ Union’s work with the local community. Students’ Union Welfare Officer Matthew Denton said students could make their own decisions over the event, but was concerned students were forced to see the material. He said: “These flyers were handed out on our campus which they are not allowed to do - so students did not get a choice whether to see this material or not. “In fact, the students I have subsequently spoken to about this really wished they had not seen it. “We would never say that students could not go on the night
out, but we followed up on what the students who came to us said, and their concerns that the flyer was completely inappropriate and not inclusive. “This flyer was targeted because we had numerous complaints the days they were distributed. “As student representatives we felt as a team we should do something about it.” The event still took place, despite the advertisement being pulled.
Offensive or funny? Hannah Frost is torn between rage and laughter, read more on p.9
1 in 10 male students admit to never making a cup of tea Rachel Frodsham One in 10 male students have never made a cup of tea or coffee, a survey has found. The research, undertaken by Currys, turned up a number of surprising facts, including that nearly half of students can’t afford to buy new kitchen equipment forcing more students to turn to takeaway meals. A third of the 2000 students surveyed rely on takeaways for half of their meals, with one in 10 only ever eating fast food due to badly equipped accommodation. Nearly half of the students admitted to experiencing kitchen disasters, with 60 per cent of students admitting to burn food regularly. A further 15 per cent however also admitting to having set
something in the kitchen on fire. One in four students’ houses are said to lack basic kitchen equipment, while the kettle and toaster were voted the most important kitchen items. The research also found that some students were testing their culinary ingenuity by using kettles as egg and pasta boilers, irons used as toasters, and toasters to cook a range of food, such as sausages and fish fingers.
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FORGE PRESS Friday October 7 2011
NEWS LOCAL
Greek police ‘stood smoking’ as Sheffield schoolboy was left to die
Police continue hunt for the murderers of Hallam student
Jodie Gadd
Nicole Froio
An inquiry has been launched after a Sheffield student allegedly lay dying while police stood smoking nearby. An eyewitness recently revealed that Greek police officers simply looked on as 17-year-old Matthew Cryer died from a head injury on the Greek holiday island Zante in 2008. Cryer, who grew up in Frecheville and Killamarsh, was on his first holiday without his parents when he died at the foot of the stairs of the Cocktails and Dreams nightclub in Laganas, Zante. Greek authorities say he choked on his own vomit after falling down the steep flight of stairs. However, a UK post mortem examination showed he died from a head injury which could not have been caused from the fall. Cryer’s body was covered in bruises and he had sustained 20 separate injuries. After hearing a witness statement from Swedish tourist Linda Bergland, who claims she saw Matthew being beaten up by the nightclub’s bouncers and thrown down the steps, a Coroner has ruled the killing as unlawful. Ms Bergland told Interpol officers: “They just stood there smoking while watching his death. “Several times people rushed to them, asked for first aid help, and asked where the ambulance was, but they got no response. “The club personnel did not help him, and the ambulance came after 50 or 60 minutes. “If the police and ambulance had reacted immediately he might have had a chance but it was obvious to us all that they didn’t care.” Mum Joanne Cryer told the Sheffield Star: “We heard accounts like this at the inquest. “One girl said she had pleaded with the police to take her statement after she saw how badly Matthew had been beaten up by the bouncers, but they refused.” This witness account is part of a bundle of evidence which has been submitted to the new investigating magistrate in Zante. Matthew’s parents David and Joanne Cryer have campaigned for justice since his death more than three years ago. Charity events for the Justice for Matt campaign have been held across Sheffield. The family were able to place a bench by Matthew’s grave on what would have been his 21st birthday.
Police are hunting for possible suspects after the fatal stabbing of a 24-year-old Sheffield Hallam student. Mubarak Ali, from Headford Grove, Broomhall, had just finished his degree before he was murdered in broad daylight. Ali was attacked as he took his little brother for a hair cut and stood waiting outside the barber’s. He was found with multiple stab wounds in Crowther Place in the Mount Pleasant Park area of Sheffield at around 12.45pm on Friday, September 30. He died in hospital later that day. Door to door enquiries and forensic testing are now taking place at the crime scene. In a statement, Mubarak’s family urged the public to help with the investigation. They said: “Our family is devastated at the loss of Mubarak who we lovingly call Yahya. “Words cannot express our sense of loss. “He was our shining star who had the gift of lighting up a room just with his smile. “Every single young boy in this community looked up to him. “He had just finished his degree at university and now will not get the opportunity to attend his graduation. “He was a loved and cherished young man and very well
Matthew Cryer
respected. “He was a loving son, grandson and nephew and a wonderful brother. “He would stop and speak to everyone in the community; they all knew and liked him. “Mubarak was brutally murdered in broad daylight. “If anyone has any information about Mubarak’s death, we would like them to come forward to the police.” A 24-year-old man was arrested in connection with the murder on October 3. He was released on bail pending further enquiries. Police have now held meetings with the Ali family and the wider community to reassure them that everything possible was being done. Witnesses, anyone with information or anyone who was in the London Road area of Sheffield at around 12.30pm on Friday should call South Yorkshire Police on 0114 2202020 and quote incident number 520 of September 30. Anyone with information can also ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
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Students to meet with city leaders for talks
Mubarak Ali
Charity budgets slashed by more than £450,000 Jack Bilsborough
Photo: Jacob Warner Rob Dillon Officers from the University of Sheffield’s Students’ Union are to meet with Sheffield City Council in an attempt to create closer links between students and the wider community. The Students' Union will host the meeting on October 13, with Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Sheffield Central MP Paul Blomfield both invited. Clegg’s Sheffield Hallam constituency includes a large student population. Councillors representing other student areas will attend the meeting. According to Welfare Officer Matthew Denton, the meeting is an opportunity to forge strong bonds between the Students' Union, the council and the wider city. Denton said: “Students are an
important part of city life and need to be thought about – the University of Sheffield Students' Union has 50,000 members. “We contribute hugely to the city. “We could achieve a lot by working closely with the council.” One issue on the Student Officers' agenda is the hosting of regular surgeries held between political representatives and students within the Students' Union building. Denton hopes these surgeries can become key to improving students' access to local authorities. He said: “A greater understanding between both sides would be extremely beneficial. “It would help to minimise potential problems at the earliest possible stage.”
Labour-led Sheffield City Council has announced plans to cut budgets for voluntary and community groups by an estimated £450,000 over the next two years. If the plan is approved, Sheffield’s voluntary and informal care sector would lose 17.5 per cent of its overall funding. Labour councillors are planning to vote in favour of the scheme at a Cabinet meeting in late September. However, consultation with the public will not take place until mid-October – a month after the decision has made. The financial setbacks also coincide with the creation of a new ‘Voluntary Sector Grants Fund’ whereby voluntary groups are required to apply for funding – a different scheme to the one
already in place. Liberal Democrat councillors are objecting to the budget cuts on the grounds that local voluntary groups should be consulted first before any formal decision can be made. Leader of the Liberal Democrats in Sheffield City Council, Cllr Shaffaq Mohammed, said: “Liberal Democrats are objecting to this high-handed approach, and calling for any decision to be made only after consultation, rather than before it. “The thousands of affected groups and individuals who benefit from voluntary work should be able to have their say first.” It is estimated that 84,469 individuals and 3,180 groups benefitted from the Sheffield’s voluntary and community groups in the last year.
No chop for Sheffield chopper Amy Ritson South Yorkshire Police will now keep its own helicopter instead of signing up to a new national scheme. Police had previously announced the helicopter would be axed as a money saving measure. The decision was overruled after warnings that the planned National Police Air Service, which is due to launch in April 2012, could mean a trebling of response times. The police authority said it would now have to consider
implications to the budget as a result of its decision to keep the force's own helicopter. Earlier reports claimed the removal of the force’s helicopter service would save £668,000 per year. But Charles Perryman, chairman of South Yorkshire Police Authority, said: “The balance of risk was that we were better off with our own helicopter based in South Yorkshire.” This decision makes South Yorkshire the first police force in England to opt out of the scheme.
FORGE PRESS Friday October 7 2011
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UNIVERSITY NEWS
Uni doubles amount taken from accommodation deposits to £92k Olivia Michaud Comment
Opal 2 residents were given full refunds for the second consecutive year. Nicole Froio Almost £92,000 was retained from University accommodation deposits last year, while Opal 2 residents were fully refunded, Forge Press has discovered. A Freedom of Information request revealed that £91,918.57 was kept from students to pay for damages and any additional cleaning requirements. Students pay a deposit of £150 when moving into University accommodation to pay for damages that might occur during the year. This year’s amount of unreturned deposits has almost doubled from last year, when more than £56,000 was retained from students. By contrast, Opal 2 residents were not charged for any damaged property in their accommodation for the second consecutive year and were returned their full deposits.
The system which accounts for damages in these flats was different from the rest, although that has changed this year. An Accommodation and Commercial Services (ACS) spokesperson said: “The cost isn’t just for the item but also includes labour, materials, delivery and VAT. “It is therefore not appropriate to compare the costs directly to what you would expect to buy yourself on the high street. “The replacement items also have to match the rest of the accommodation in terms of style, make and quality, as well as being items that we can maintain in future.” Students who lived in Derwent apartments in Endcliffe Village suffered the most, with the retention of £12,261.82 from students’ deposits, whilst Froggatt apartments residents lost out on £10,160.68. According to Opal 2, their
Photo: Nurul Liyana Yeo inventory system is to be updated this year to match the rest of ACS. The spokesperson said: “In terms of Opal 2, this current year they are now using the same online inventory system and inspection process that we use for all other. “University accommodation, which in previous years has not been available to them, and will make them consistent with our other properties in terms of subsequent damage charging.” Residents of Oakhome Road and Crewe Flats and Red Lane in Endcliffe Village were also fully refunded. Opal 2 declined to comment.
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We students are tight for money, obviously. We want our accommodation deposits back after moving out of halls as fast as possible. We don’t want the university to hold on to these deposits. After all, they constitute a vital part of our going-out budget. Back in September, nearly a month ago, one of my new housemates announced: “Thirty-five pence – that’s what I’ve just got back from my accommodation deposit.” Of course, he added: “And that’s all thanks to my former flatmates – not my fault!” But isn’t this equal division amongst those who lived in the flat quite justified? They all shared the same flat after all, didn’t they? They could have taken care of the space together and ensured they left everything in the state they found it in. First-year students starting at the University of Sheffield are provided with a decent, clean and tolerable environment to live in, if nothing more. So isn’t it fair that a deposit should be taken off us to make sure the next lot of Fresher’s don’t end up living in a dump with the previous tenants’ vomit still on the corridor carpet, stains on walls and broken lamps and desk chairs? After every academic year, many - if not all - flats have to be repainted, refreshed and maintained. Even in October, the question surrounding deposits is still causing much outrage and upset. Let us imagine that the funding of repair jobs could also be taken off us in a different way. Would we prefer the university to include an “accommodation fee” in our already significant study fees, for example? Honestly? I think not.
Forge in Brief Sheffield graduate to cycle across South America A University of Sheffield graduate will cycle across South America next year. Amateur cyclist Keith Ruffles, is aiming to cycle 25,000 km through ten countries in less than a year. Ruffles, who completed a postgraduate course in Broadcast Journalism, says he will donate any money made from the trip to ‘worthy causes.’ Matt Discombe
University owned museum set to close doors for good The university owned Traditional Heritage Museum is set to close permenantly due to a funding shortfall. The museum, which is situated on Ecclesall Road, lets visitors walk through a series of displays, including replicas of historic Sheffield shops. However, the university have decided the museum will have to close as it can no longer afford to maintain the building. The museum has been closed since Febraury. Katie Davies
University scientists invent glowing bandages for soldiers Scientists at the University of Sheffield have created a bandage which glows when put on an infected wound. The research was part-funded by the Ministry of Defence as the bandage can help injured soldiers on a battlefield as well as treating chronic conditions like ulcers. Professor Sheila MacNeil, of the University of Sheffield, said: “If you know you’ve got an infection it’s going to change how you treat your soldiers and patients at home.” Scientists hope the gel will revolutionise the detection of bacterial infections with the bandage potentially detecting infected wounds in a few hours. Project leader Dr Steve Rimmer said: “The availability of these gels would help clinicians and wound care nurses to make decisions about wound management.” Joseph Leigh
Students mislead over charity ‘Q-jump’ tickets Nicholas Carding Continued from p.1 A spokesman for DQ said: “So far we wouldn’t allow anyone to use the tickets because we haven’t seen them yet and confirmed their validity. “We’ve had contact with this charity and agreed to the scheme. They said someone from their charity was going to come and show us the tickets, but no one has come yet.” The card also offered queue jump for venues with free admission and few entry queues. A spokesman for Vodka Revolution said: “We agreed with the charity that they could use our logo for the cause, but made it clear that we couldn’t give them any drinks offers or queue jumps. “We don’t normally encounter
queues anyway because we have them twice about this.” a free entry policy.” However, on Wednesday Forge The Union sent out an email Press discovered that Fight 4 to all societies warning them to Life were still selling the invalid ignore the email and to tell Union tickets on University premises staff if they received further despite being banned from doing emails from the group. so. Activities Officer Nabil Alizai Shimeijurasan Martial Arts said: “The reason these people Club, which is based in the contact Devonshire societies Quarter, is is because registered societies with the are active Charities and open Commission to new although ideas. It’s the name always Fight 4 exciting Life does for them not appear to offer in their members The invalid ticket sold to students. registration. new things. Further confusion has been “They have been told that they caused as the same name is used have no permission to collect on for a charity ball event run by our premises. We have warned Cancer Research UK.
Fight 4 Life, which aims to work with children living in disadvantaged areas was founded in August and is described as a “spin-off” of the martial arts group on its website. Jaromir Kvetoun, of Shimeijurasan Martial Arts Club said: “We were not trying to do anything dodgy, but we should probably not have acted so quickly. “But I also believe that the University reacted too quickly, even if they were acting in good faith to protect their students.” Emma Damien-Grint, of RAG said: “RAG have agreed to support Fight 4 Life with their fund-raising in the future. Constitutionally RAG exists to support all students who want to raise funds, and Jaromir has accepted that they will conform to RAG’s best practice and policy in future.”
Corrections and clarifications
At the time the last issue went to print, Sheffield Hallam University had not responded to claims made in the article ‘Homeless in Sheffield.’ However, a Sheffield Hallam University spokesperson said: “This allegation is completely unfounded. Sheffield Hallam University has successfully housed all first year students who do not live within commuting distance of the University, despite an increased demand for places. “The vast majority have been housed in University allocated residences, with a small proportion given specific support and guidance to find places in the private sector. “New spaces are continuing to emerge and we are proactively contacting local students that want accommodation as vacancies become available.”
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LETTERS
Have your say
Email: letters@forgetoday.com Write: Forge Press, Union of Students, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TG Please include your name, course and year of study. We reserve the right to edit letters for clarity and space.
International exchange
Laziness trumping life
I have read your article in the latest edition of Forge Press on “The real cost of studying abroad”.
I am writing to express my utter dismay at the ignorance and laziness displayed in one of your articles in the 16th September issue of Forge Press entitled, “I’d rather watch Come Dine With Me in my pants.” What Alisha Rouse completely disregards is the fact that whilst she is fortunate enough to have a sparse but not impossible budget without working, the same is not true for everyone. I myself have a job, and would describe myself as very happy, and certainly
Dear Forge Press,
I feel that I must write to correct what I believe are some inaccuracies. I am responsible for the management of the two main exchanges schemes across the University and I want to ensure that our students have the best and up to date information about the opportunities available to them. You mention a student called Kara O’Neil from Politics studying at the University of California in your feature. No University of Sheffield student of this name has, or is currently, participating in an exchange, and I wonder if this feature actually relates to a student from another university? Furthermore, we don’t have an exchange agreement with the University of California any longer. When we did, the financial
guarantee, although high, was around £15,000 rather than the £40,000 quoted.
Students sometimes do encounter challenging situations while they are abroad but the majority of Sheffield students return and say that it’s been the best thing they have ever done. The International Exchanges Unit manages the main exchanges, Erasmus and Study Abroad, across the University and we are one of the institutions in the UK sending the largest numbers of students to Europe. Numbers of students participating in the world-wide Study Abroad Programme have also increased over the last few years. We are proud of our exchange programmes and the benefits they give to our students in terms of employability skills and global agility.
Interested students can find out about the opportunity to spend part of their degree abroad at our annual Study Abroad and Erasmus Fair. This year it will be held on 2nd November from 1.00 to 3.00pm in Firth Court and students can get information about available partner institutions, financial implications, and how to apply for housing. Students who have been abroad will be there as well as those from our partner institutions. Each academic department has an Erasmus and Study Abroad Advisor who helps students to select the right number and level of modules and they, together with the International Exchanges Unit, are also available while students are abroad to help with any queries that they may have. Dörte Stevenson Head of International Exchanges Unit
Editor: The student in question does not study at the University of Sheffield and it was not specified that she has. Letter published at the request of Dörte Stevenson.
Dear Forge Press,
not “100% less satisfied” than your writer. I work reasonable hours alongside my best friends and find that my life has been enriched by having a job. Through my colleagues and friends I have discovered new societies, been encouraged to try new things, and generally had my horizons thoroughly broadened, and this is without even having to mention the obvious benefits of the pay packet. As a student, I also have to say that I find it healthy to have somewhere to be where I cannot write an essay or read a journal. I spend a lot of my time
doing my university work and the various extra curricular activities that I undertake, and it is all too easy to get completely snowed under. In a very strange way, my part time job is my break, my foray into real life away from the pressures of being a student. Working keeps me grounded, and this in itself is a valuable addition to my CV. I am extremely satisfied with the job I have, and I find it quite sad that your writer clearly has her mind closed to all the possibilities a job can bring. Anonymous
Championing students Dear Forge Press, I was disappointed to read your recent article ‘Students’ Union looks to plugging their finances as date is set for bottle water ban’. It would be great if Forge Press was the champion of students, and could celebrate a decision they’ve made which is far ahead of the times. Other Students’ Unions, City Councils and even whole countries are thinking about replacing bottled water, and our own Students here at Sheffield are a shining example to them, leading the way.
Students here have made a real difference in the fight to save our planet, and rather than supporting that you decide to criticise its possible financial impact. Suggesting that societies, sports clubs and welfare funding will have to be cut is the type of scaremongering that wouldn’t be out of place in the Daily Mail. The suggestion that the Students’ Union backed the group of students who campaigned for the policy is also a worrying misunderstanding. The Students’ Union is a completely student-led organisation, and has democracy at its core. The
organisation has never and will never take sides on a referendum; we are completely led by our members. One can only conclude that your confusion was down to a dehydrated team of journalists. I hope Forge Press will make better use of the Students’ Union’s free water supplies in the future to stay hydrated, keep sharp and avoid further such errors. Yours sincerely, Harry Horton Students’ Union Finance Officer
Missing bag found again
I'm writing to say a massive thank you to the student who found my handbag on Sydney Road on October 4 and handed it in to the Students’ Union Welcome Desk. The bag was stolen from my boyfriend's house when we left the door unlocked. Although all the valuable
stuff was gone, I can't tell you how grateful I am to have my 'low value' personal items back, particularly my diary and keys. It means a huge amount to me that someone took the trouble to hand it in. Unfortunately he didn't leave his details with the union staff so I can't thank
him properly, but hopefully he will see this and know he's made my day. Thank you (and lock your doors - we will never make that mistake again!). Rosie Taylor Marketing Officer The Department of Politics
Your comments on www.forgetoday.com to: ‘The real cost of $tudying abroad’ This is an extraordinary example of a bad experience on a year abroad, but in no way can it be a representation of most experiences. The ‘real’ cost can be a million pounds if you want to make it that, or it can be cheap as chips, if you do your research and start early to find accommodation. It all depends on where you study or
Review: Shark Night 3D
"Hey Samuel, I have not seen this film yet and after this review I will not be doing. This depiction of the film is epic, very epic and I wanted to ask if you have done any more reviews, as I would love to read some more of your enthralling publishings. With the style of writing it is apparent to me that you are a politician?
work, how much prep you do, and how well you manage the books, but I think the whole basis of this piece is to create an alternative, pessimistic perception of the year abroad. It’s an interesting story, but it’s aim as a piece of journalism is completely cynical. Andrew Your general moaning throughout the text and perceived lack of happiness at life itself, leads me to believe you are. However, your frosty words are like ecstasy to me and would hope you continue to write, I do not think I could live without your poisoned tongue. Greatest regards, Lars Jurgen.”
FORGE PRESS Friday October 7 2011
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Debate: Will putting nutritional information on fast food make a difference?
Revealing all will You won’t see me give us more getting in a flap choice in our diet about food labels Amelia Jones
Every day we are bombarded with the news that (rather appropriately) the obesity problem is getting bigger and more baneful. That there is a ‘national emergency’ with our regards to healthy eating.
‘These new labels will inform people who struggle’ It has become a dangerous fiasco of people slowly gambling their lives away because they are unaware of the lack of nutrition in their diets. That is why we need nutritional information on our favourite foods. So, I walk into my local supermarket for some lunch. I pick up a scrumptious looking BLT. I look at the packaging, and realise that the nutritional information states on the front of the package that there are ‘20 grams of fat’ in this sandwich which I’m considering buying. As it so usefully states, that’s one third of my daily allowance, just in this sandwich. So, thanks to food labels, I can’t help but pick the healthier alternative of a low fat chicken and salad sandwich.
It’s given me the choice. Before, no one really had any idea what we gorging on when we would buy that sweet and sour sauce for our ‘oh so healthy stir fry’ at the end of the day. For the first time food producers are actually telling us what nutritional ‘goodies‘ and ‘baddies’ they are putting into our foods, which is something to be celebrated. People are actually beginning to understand what they are eating people are trying to eat healthily and lose weight. These new labels will inform people who struggle to be healthy of how much they need a day of certain nutrients, vitamins, fats, salts and sugars: which is nearly all of us. I’m not in any way suggesting that nutritional information should be placed on apples or broccoli, and that we should become ridiculously obsessive about everything that we eat. But don’t the food producers deserve some recognition for actually taking responsibility? They are also making the conscious effort to not put the saltiest and sugariest cheap ingredients in our foods. This we would have found before in nearly all our products before this breakthrough. But most surprisingly of all they are actually trying to put healthier and even ethical ingredients into the food they sell us. At least to some extent we know what
we are paying for. Of course, the argument goes that nutritional information is on our foods because of the obsessive culture we have with weight. Some will argue that we have become obsessed with extremes, and that the producers are fuelling this. We don’t want to end up obese so we try our best to end up the slimmest way we can be, because that is only ‘socially acceptable.’ But these problems have been here for many years, we need to stop blaming the food companies and look at ourselves and the rest of society that have also contributed. Nutritional information doesn’t stop you from eating; it helps you be aware of what you consume. The fact is, its gives us choice in what we eat.
Taking stock of the situation: Food labels get a good roasting
Alisha Rouse
Fast food outlets - the ones where the employees appear to deep fat fry everything, even their own hair - have been forced to display nutritional information on their packaging. Thanks to the Department of Health’s new Public Health Responsibility Deal you can say hello to a bizarre new world where apparently the general populace aren’t aware that a Big Mac probably isn’t that good for you. The reasoning behind the agreement is to aid the obesity crisis - a huge problem amongst the young, and a growing i s s u e for older generations - by making the nutritional values more noticeable and therefore accessible. Apparently if we see adding sweet and sour sauce to our fries will result in the consumption of 45 extra calories, we will desist from doing so. Once you have stepped into a fast food chain, any sane person is aware of the standard of food they
are about to consume; they want a hangover burger at any cost to their flabby bits. As a 20 year old female, I am unconsciously yet unstoppably concerned with what I eat. Nutritional information in supermarkets is fairly useful in assessing what you’re shovelling into your body, and I am guilty of making sure that the margarine I am buying has 0.5% less fat per gram than the one next to it. Yet, the next day I am almost sure to wander into Aslan’s at 2am, order a large magherita and spill half out of it down my dress. I am perfectly aware that this activity will probably result in the horrid experience whereby someone at least 20 years my senior offers me their seat on the bus for my ‘food baby’ and I. I have chosen to eat this pizza, in perfect knowledge of the healthier options available to me. However, you mustn’t forget the other side of the spectrum. Making it a government priority to ensure we are what the Department of Health deems “average” by the very inconsistent standards of Body Mass Index (BMI) sends out a negative message to those young people with distorted ideas about their bodies: that they should standardise their weight and what they eat.
You can bombard people with nutritional information if you would like, but the obvious point remains: people are generally aware what food is good or bad for them. When you consider the actual purpose of this move, it becomes more obvious that at it’s core it is a feeble attempt to announce with a satisfied, Etonian grin, “Hey! We’re the Government, we sincerely care if you’re fat!” without offering an effective, practical or long-lasting solution to the problem. Certainly, something needs to be done about the obesity crisis, with it costing the NHS approximately £4 billion a year and a widespread increase in cases of heart problems.
‘People are generally aware of what food is good for them’
However, the education process does not need to start on the packaging of these products; by then it’s too late. The education needs to begin in schools and in the home, to establish life-long healthy eating habits. By the time you casually wander into McDonalds to have a satisfying lunch for the fourth time that week, you’re a lost cause.
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Student Finance: Poor in every sense of the word Sam Bolton September 26 was a glorious day for students everywhere as they saw their struggling bank accounts briefly squirm out of the red to show, for the first time in months, a positive figure. Now, if you’re anything like me student loan day isn’t as fun as it should be. Those 1000 or so pounds that have found their way into my account are already accounted for. They aren’t beer tokens, as I’m sure the government would be happy to hear, but neither are they food tokens, or travel tokens, or even book tokens. No, I spend absolutely bugger all of my maintenance loan on any of the educational necessities that it’s intended for. Every single penny (and then another £100) goes on my rent. Just my rent. Not gas, not electricity, not broadband. Just rent. And to be clear, I’ve asked around and my
rent isn’t particularly steep. I don’t intend to come across greedy, but it seems to me that the Government doesn’t appreciate the financial requirements of current students. So, with every loan payment I need to top it up just to keep a roof over my head. Easier said than done. In order to ensure I could actually afford textbooks and maintain some description of a social life for my final year, I worked between 30 and 45 hours a week over the summer. All that did was allow me to crawl out of my overdraft. I absolutely despise asking my parents for help, every time I speak to them about money I get a lump in my throat and I don’t expect them to help me because as far as I’m concerned I moved out two years ago. Besides, I’m the third student they’ve had to support through the increasingly expensive educational system. Is the number of children taken into account when calculating the maintenance loan? Not to my knowledge. At the end of my second year I took a job, I worked in a bar on Division Street and,
actually, I loved it; I met some awesome people, learned to make cocktails and managed to avoid starving at the end of term, but getting home at four o’clock two or three days a week is not conducive to good studying. I also missed out socially whilst I was working, and I don’t expect Student Finance to pay for me to indulge in three too many mojitos (that’s why I worked every hour I could for the three months I was at home). It would just be nice to not need a £1500 overdraft to keep me warm in the winter. It’s for these reasons that the Student Finance system is in place. So why is it I still have to worry about money on a weekly basis? Anyway, these frustrations built up last week and erupted in a scathingly sarcastic attack on Student Finance England on Twitter, which I may have tagged them in. Their reply? “Hi Sam. We don’t create the loan amounts we just pay them. The rates are set to us by government.” Great.
Look out for Sam on West Street Image: galawebdesign/Flickr
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D.A.R.T.S. Forge Press takes its satirical aim
Did you know... Sheffield played host to the biggest air guitar ensemble in the world. The event, held at Sheffield Arena in 2008, must have struck a chord with music lovers, with 1,261 participants turning out to show their love for the art. With such a large number of air guitarists in one place, organisers were worried about potential disturbances. However they needn’t have fretted; the event went ahead without any major riffs.
Switching the TV off is harder in reality
True Tesco Value
How better to celebrate the opening of West Street’s new Tesco than by taking inspiration from Oxford’s Mr Murray Fed up of food shopping with his wife, Mr Murray took matters into his own hands to liven up the shopping experience. His antics apparently include: leaving a trail of tomato juice on the floor, leading to the feminine products aisle; whilst appearing to shop for kitchen knives in the kitchenware section, asking an assistant whether they knew where the antidepressants were sold; and taking a box of 24 condoms and inserting them into random shoppers’ trollies whilst they weren’t looking. Our personal favourite, however, is his final act, and the one which brought about his final warning from the store manager. Mr. Murray entered a clothes fitting room, locked the door, waited a good five minutes, then shouted very loudly: ‘There is no toilet paper in here.’ What a joker.
Website of the week: animalsbeingdicks.com The perfect essay-time distraction. From violent kangaroos to incredibly cheeky monkeys, Animals Being Dicks does exactly what it says on the tin.
Got an opinion on the topics discussed this fortnight? Contact letters@ forgetoday.com
Debate poll We asked: Should students work a part time job while studying at university? 63% voted yes - working gives you the money to be independent and gives you new opportunities 37% voted no - studies should take priority, and working kills your social life
TOWIE: The Only Way Is Egotism.
Image: The Queen’s Hall/Flickr
Amy Ritson I’d be the first to put my hands up and admit to being a diehard X Factor fan. When the nights draw in, and the cold winter nights bring with them a whole new batch of hopefuls with a handful of talent and a truck full of sob stories, my life is put on hold for a couple of hours each Saturday evening. To use one of the show’s many clichés, I don’t like it; I love it. But has it gone too far? In recent years, television seems to have been invaded by an army of bleach blonde, fake-boobed reality TV stars, desperate for a chance at fame. Just a flick through a television guide shows that; whatever time of day, you will be able to find some form of reality TV to fill your screen. If that fails, there are always the box sets of pretty much every show MTV has ever produced to fall back on. It is now possible to spend your entire day sat on the sofa watching other people live their lives. A decade ago, any desire to
do that would have been widely considered weird and, quite frankly, stalkerish. Then along came Big Brother, and suddenly it seemed perfectly normal to sit all day and watch strangers who you’d never met interact with each other. Reality TV seems to have the entertainment factor that has everyone hooked. There’s something quite exciting about watching other people, especially when their lives are so different to our own. For one hour, we can be at a club in L.A. with Lauren and Audrina, or performing on stage in front of the entire nation, all without leaving the comfort of our own sofa.
‘Television seems to have been invaded by bleach blonde, fake boobed reality TV stars’
Then, of course, there’s the other side. As much as all of us would deny it, I’m sure there is something pretty comforting about watching someone fall to pieces on television, if only because it gives you the chance to say, “Well, at least I’m not that bad!”
Why else do we take so much pleasure in watching the terrible auditions of X Factor, or Mark and Lauren’s “relationship” crumble to pieces on The Only Way is Essex? The whole nation seems to be a little bit too enthralled in the misfortunes of others. But what I really don’t understand is why anyone would be on the other side of the camera. Take the Geordie Shore cast; surely any sane person would not want potentially millions of people seeing them get so drunk that they vomit, sleep with a randomer and flash their boobs. My drunken antics are definitely not as bad as theirs, but even the thought of a normal night at the Union being broadcast to the nation makes me cringe, if only for what my grandmother would say. I think it’s here that lies the main issue I have with reality TV; the people who the cameras follow. I fail to understand why they let themselves be filmed, and I fail to understand why people get so obsessed over them. The biggest crime of reality TV isn’t the mind numbing programmes it produces or the fact it takes up valuable broadcasting time from other, more original and interesting programmes. It’s the way it gives a platform to desperate attention seekers, allowing them to develop their celebrity status and, along with it, their egos and sense of self worth. If any evidence of this was needed, the line up for the most recent Celebrity Big Brother should be sufficient enough. The final four; Kerry Katona, Jedward, Amy Childs and Paddy Doherty were all products of previous reality TV shows. That seems to be an actual career now; live your life long enough in front of a camera, and you’ll become well known enough to go on celebrity versions of reality shows. It’s created a generation of reality TV “celebrities” who get bigger and bigger the more we watch them. It does seem to be a bit of a vicious cycle, and I hope it’s one we get out of soon. Because as much as trashy reality TV is my guilty pleasure, I would sacrifice it all if it meant for once, I could pick up a copy of Heat that doesn’t have a cast member of The Only Way is Essex on the front cover.
Liberation is a worthy cause Simon Pilkington Military engagements are as expensive as they are bloody. The protracted campaign in Libya provides a striking example, with new research by a respected defence analyst putting the cost to the UK as high as £1.75bn. That seems garishly incongruous with our present ‘age of austerity’. Taxpayers are entitled to ask why the government is splashing-out on high-tech weaponry in Libya while services at home are stripped of resources. Would not the £1.75bn been better spent on saving some of the 490,000 public sector jobs that are likely to be lost through cuts? Could we have not used the money to cancel out the £940m being cut from university funding this academic year? Such questions count for little. Cameron’s government
abounds with ideologies intent willingness to butcher his own. on rolling back the public Atrocities outside Libya give sector; non-involvement in further weight to the cause of Libya would not have resulted intervention. In the mid-1990s in more money being available Serb nationalists were able to for services such as education. unleash appalling genocide on The campaign has been Bosnian Muslims as a result of funded through an ‘emergency’ international inaction. Treasury stash that the The UN’s current floundering Chancellor no doubt dreamt of over Syria leaves President keeping for a pre-election tax- Assad’s regime a free hand cut. to ratchet up the death toll So it is simplistic to see in its brutal crackdown on the Libya campaign as a protestors. case of ‘guns versus butter’. The cowboy adventurism of Nonetheless, the cost comes Bush and Blair of course shows back to taxpayers. Is the cause worthy or their cash? In principle, yes. The citizens of Benghazi who rose up in against Gaddafi would clearly have been brutally suppressed without Nato’s campaign to protect civilians. The scale of the slaughter that would have occurred without intervention cannot be determined, but the recent finding of a mass grave in Tripoli, containing some 1,270 bodies, provides a A choice grim reminder of Gaddafi’s between bombs and degrees?
how intervention can result in as much turmoil as inaction. Nonetheless, where intervention is based on humanitarian grounds, as it has mostly appeared to be in Libya, then it is the right policy when diplomacy alone cannot prevent a catastrophic loss of life. Nations with humanitarian beliefs must be prepared to translate them into action when necessary. It may be cheaper for Britain in the short-term to retreat into uncaring isolationism or Swissstyle neutrality, but the world’s stage already finds dubious states such as China cast in prominent roles; withdrawing to the wings will only enhance their sway. The cost of an active foreign policy is high; in Libya it has proved eye-wateringly so. Yet the alternative is leaving the innocent to be killed and the world to be shaped in ways we may not want. The ultimate cost of that is beyond imaginable.
FORGE PRESS Friday October 7 2011
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Sex equality? No thanks
Hannah Frost
Shock, horror and outrage ahoy, students across the University are up in arms about the blatant sexism seen around the Students’ Union during the first few weeks of this semester. When bars, clubs and societies are so desperately crying for attention from the drunken masses, it’s no surprise that they’ve resorted to crude and simplistic advertising. Who needs subtlety and nuance when your flyer screams, “Ladies…wanna ride some cock?” Oh Corp, how we love you and your enormous bucking bronco of a phallus. Meanwhile, we’ve also all been categorically separated into ‘people who wear Old Spice’ and ‘people who wear sanitary towels’ groups, based not on preference but on genitals.
‘Take away gender associations and it’ll end up like a children’s party bag’
The Students’ Union, in all its wisdom, handed out gender-specific goodie bags, containing basically the same sort of thing a distant aunt would get you for Christmas. One step into the Freshers’ Fair and – bam! – your downstairs lips are doing all the talking on your behalf. Don’t you hate it when that happens? My inner feminist wants to care. Really, truly, in all her equalityloving wisdom, she does. She more or less thinks men and women should be paid the same, but she also thinks that if women can get nine months off work, paid, for having a baby, men should be able to do the same thing during a major transition in their lives, like buying a sports car after turning 40. In a similar vein of rationality, she wants to get all riled about prescribed gender roles and sexualisation, but, well, there are bigger problems. People who get offended by a body lotion sample are the same sort of people who think that women shouldn’t ever, under any circumstances, be objectified – even if they did spend 20 minutes doing ‘the skinny jean lunge’ to make their arse look as perky as Lucy Pinder’s
Deodorant? Check. Shower gel? Check. Now where did I put that sanitary towel... jumper bunnies. While I’m not sure I enjoy the thought of the Union taking an interest in my monthly cycle, it’s hard to work out how these “goodie bags” could be any other way. Cease handing a specific bag to a specific gender, and you’ll create a free-for-all that would see a lot of drunken lads sticking sanitary towels to windows and young ladies smelling like a 13-year-old boy after receiving a large haul of Lynx on his birthday. Neither of those are particularly desirable: I’m all for nicking the boyfriend’s deodorant in desperation when mine’s run out, but you won’t find me fighting over whatever scent is supposedly attracting the ladies that month. Take away gender associations and it’ll end up like a children’s party bag, all Parma Violets, balloons and a slice of caterpillar cake. At best it’ll resemble one of those delightful bags of goodies that doctors give you, full to bursting of multi-coloured condoms that make your penis look either gangrenous or like it belongs to Papa Smurf. Maybe a one-for-all bag of good stuff containing a bit of Smurfulation is exactly what we do need – or at least, that’s what Corporation would have us believe with their flyer. Featuring crudely-drawn genitals and an invitation to a ‘Mr Wet Speedos’ competition, subtle it is most certainly not. But let’s face it, they’ve kind of got a point. There are plenty of people at university who think the morning after pill and a trip to a GUM clinic is as much part of a night out as the 4am kebab. For a lot of students, Freshers’ Week is a competition for the most
Editorials Union Council is a futile idea
Students’ Unions are the foundations and building blocks for many of their knowledge and experiences of democracy but they’re too easily hijacked for personal gain. The prime example of this is the Students’ Union Council. It’s run by students to make decisions for students (that old cliché) and I’m sure most of the people studying here haven’t got a clue what it is or what it can even do. During two years in Sheffield I’ve never heard the phrase “I’m going to speak to my Union councillor about my (invent problem of interest here)”. This is probably down to the lack of knowledge on the issue or, more likely, that people don’t care and have better things to do. I challenge you to go to a Union Council meeting and not be more interested in the free tea and biscuits than the drab procedure fulfilling agenda. My other issue is that most of the students that are elected to represent ‘you’ are doing it to fill their CVs. Having attended all but one meeting last year, while
notches on a bedpost. So, it might be a little risqué and a touch too in-your-face for some people, but with the trend of promiscuity considered, it’s hard to get in a rage about it all. While other clubs country-wide employ the old nudgenudge wink-wink of play-on words, it all means the same thing. All Corp have done in producing this immature and overtly sexual flyer is acknowledge the elephant in the room, to come out and say, “You’re all looking for a drunken and ultimately unsatisfying shag: we can help you out there and make a joke of it to boot.”
‘Oh Corp, how we love you and your enormous bucking bronco of a phallus’
Helping people have disappointing personal relations is basically the job of nightclubs, along with doling out enough cheap alcohol that no-one has to remember said bump-and-grind in the morning. If you want to get angry about sexism, there are far worse devils in the world than a pack of sanitary towels. If you’re in a position where that is the worse instance of sexism you’ve encountered, well, you’re in a pretty good place. Sometimes, it’s worth looking past the little aggravations – whether that’s a penis joke or tube of concealer – to look at the bigger picture and see your life with a little bit of humour. And if you just desperately want to emulate the Old Spice guy, go for it, regardless of gender.
The traveller issue: let’s just move on Rebecca Juster The proposal to evict the 400 travellers at Dale Farm in Basildon has, needless to say, caused great controversy. Opinion on the Roma people remains radically divided. Instead of looking at the question merely from a legal perspective, shouldn’t we be defending the travellers’ right to a basic home? In a democratic society that prides itself on a great standard of care, we must question why this certain minority is being left out. Many of Britain’s Roma community lead very separate lives to the rest of society, something which inevitably causes tensions. The residents who want the travellers evicted do have a point: they are settled illegally and the country’s laws need to be respected. Yet sometimes we need to go beyond a planning permission slip and start to consider that these travellers as part of our society. Instead they are alienated. When a burglary or crime takes place somewhere near a settlement, you often hear the response: ‘It was probably the gypsies.’ This lack of trust possibly stems from the fact that the Roma people have a different culture and tradition. The question remains: why in our society do people continue to criticise those who do not lead completely conventional lives? It appears that the criticism of the travellers is another example of Britain’s alienation of the poorer in society. Personally, after seeing the shocking behaviour of some of the bankers and its colossal impact on society, I cannot see how people can still get so worked up by the travellers at Dale Farm. Some of them may not pay tax, something which
is totally unacceptable, but it’s not like the ruling classes are clean on that front either. The bankers effectively stole the country’s money through the bail-out. Another example of this country’s double standards in favour of the rich. Everybody sneered at ‘My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding’, which appeared to mainly mock the lifestyle of travellers. Admittedly those meringue dresses are not to everyone’s taste, yet neither was Princess Bea’s hat at the Royal Wedding.
‘Shouldn’t we be defending the right to a basic home?’
Although there were a few chuckles at ‘The Pretzel’, most did not feel the need to look upon her with the same disgust simply for displaying some extravagance as gypsies have been. Let’s face it, we all sat around watching the Gypsy Wedding on our television screens with our supper and became so engrossed by this completely different lifestyle and culture. It is obviously not for everybody, but we have to question why were we so preoccupied? Maybe it is because we are dissatisfied with our own lives. This community fighting to save Dale Farm seems united. Families that may not be classically conventional stand outside the court chanting, all with the same goal in mind. If people are so happy with their own lives, why are they desperate to take a scrapyard of caravans from people who simply want a home for their children? I think we should leave Dale Farm to those who have lived there for ten years and start moving on - pardon the pun - to more serious issues. They are humans too, after all.
working for Forge Press - not because I’m interested as a student - I can safely say that most of the elected 40-50 don’t say a word in any meetings. Let alone bring or raise any issues. I once sat through a genuine 45 minute discussion on whether pizza should be sold in Interval. No wonder no students ever turn up to watch meetings. The meetings are dominated by a select few who either want to be Sabbatical Officers or are involved in other committees and are there to promote their own views. Of the small percentage of people that do speak at the meetings and bring policies it is usually for their own agenda and their own opinion. Not the views of the people that elected them into their position. Oh, and I didn’t mention that they get paid as well.... £200 per year for attending fortnightly Union Council meetings and Council Forum meetings (don’t ask). Sometimes it is very easy to feel like those that are there are more interested in their CVs than the students. Or they enjoy the post-Council Interval trips for the aforementioned pizzas a little too much. Matt Burgess
Forge Press Editor, Media Hub, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TG, forgepress@forgetoday.com
It’s not all big fat gypsy weddings. Image: anxiousgeek/Flickr
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FEATURES
E IS FOR
EXHAUSTED
Life for a student parent is often hectic and stressful, we speak to a full-time mum about her daily routine and the help she receives Words: Hannah Roberts Art: Jonathan Robinson
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hilst the average student f i n d s it hard enough juggling lectures, attending seminars and recovering from Corp visits, some face a much bigger dilemma. Student parents need to organise and take care of not just their own lives, but their children’s as well. Research by Student Services last year indicated that the University of Sheffield has approximately 1,000 student parents – 5% of our student population – all of whom gain access to support. But what are the problems faced by student parents, and does the University provide enough assistance and advice? Simply finding enough hours in the day to study can be a problem for most student parents. Louise Wilkie, a 36-year-old mother-of-two reading Philosophy at the University of Sheffield, admits that combining studying with raising her children Neve, seven, and Isobel, five, has been difficult. Managing a family is demanding and reading Philosophy requires 100% focus,” explains Louise. Maintaining the balance between parenting and studying means that Louise is forced to study at less than desirable hours. “What tends to happen is that I study either very early in the morning before breakfast or late at night after the children’s bedtime, and also at weekends. This can be difficult because it means I don’t get much time to relax. There have also been times when the work was so hard that my confidence took a knock,” she says. Compromise is an essential aspect of life as a student parent, whose floor is more likely to be strewn with baby bottles than beer bottles. “I do still try to spend as much time with my family as possible but some things do have to give. So I don’t watch much TV, I don’t iron, and sometimes we just have to live in a very messy house!” Louise says that the long holidays give her an opportunity to catch up, and it helps having a husband who knows his way around a washing machine. For student parents, managing their time is always difficult, but it can be even harder to manage their finances. On top of tuition fees,
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Sometimes we just have to live in a very messy house Louise Wilkie, 36, Philosophy student and mum-of-two
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accommodation and living costs, parents also have to find money for the things that come with raising children such as clothing, food and child care – all this without the income of a full-time job. As a result, grants and bursaries are often the lifeline needed for student parents to fund their degree. Louise says that she received a small bursary from the University, which helped towards her studies. Students are automatically assessed by the University when they apply, and are offered bursaries based on income and outreach schemes. The government also provides grants specifically for student parents, such as the incomebased Parents’ Learning Allowance, which offers up to £1,508 a year to cover course costs. Lone student parents, or families where both parents are students, can also apply for the Special Support Grant. Even with these grants, the financial situation of a student parent is often tough, and will be made even more so for those entering university in 2012, when the fee rise comes into effect. A good deal of a student parents’ income will be spent on accommodation. The University of Sheffield provides some housing for families – all the properties are within 1.5 miles of campus and close to schools and shops. Unfortunately, demand usually outstrips supply, but the University’s PropretywithUS service is available to help find private accommodation. When most students move to university for the first time, many struggle with the most basic chores. But students like Louise also have children who rely on them to perform a myriad of tasks - anything from sterilising bottles to helping dress a nine-year-old as Henry VIII for a school history project. Therefore, the typical student parent is likely to have dressed their child, made packed lunches, checked over homework and finished the school run before the rest of us have even risen from our unwashed duvets. With so many demands on their time, access to childcare is obviously key. Like many parents, Louise has help from her family. “Fortunately, my husband is supportive and understanding, and we have help with the children from our parents.” Grandparents are becoming
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I study either very early in the morning before breakfast or late at night Louise Wilkie, 36, Philosophy student and mum-of-two
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FEATURES increasingly important, with one in three working mothers asking grandparents to help with child care. However, most student parents will have to pay for child care for at least some of the time. The income-based Child Care Grant can help, as it covers up to 85% of child care costs for students on their first full-time higher education course. Students can also take advantage of the nursery jointly ran by the University and the Students’ Union, which has subsidised places and also runs play schemes during the school holidays. In addition, emotional support is also important for student parents. Louise appreciated the activities provided by the University in Freshers’ Week, such as mature students and family days, since they offered her family the opportunity to get to know the university before the course began. Events which provide a sense of community to student parents are essential, and help to build a support network. And the support continues once lectures begin. “In terms of the Philosophy department my experience is that they have been extremely supportive. I have even taken my children along to lectures a couple of times. When my children were ill close to an essay deadline last semester, I was granted an extension on my course work. I have been very settled at Sheffield,” says Louise. While Louise cannot fault the support she has received from the University, Rachel Steyne, last year’s Women’s Officer, feels some aspects need to improve. Rachel has been actively campaigning for student parents, and her research has found timetables are often released too late to allow parents to make suitable child-care arrangements. She points toward the University of Sheffield’s ‘Our Commitment’ agreement, which states that ‘Lecture timetables will normally be made available to students at least three weeks before the start of each semester’ – however, Rachel feels this is rarely the case. She also feels that the University lacks child-friendly facilities such as “lecture hall seats being difficult to use if you’re pregnant.” However, student parenthood is not all hardship, and overall, Louise’s experiences have been rewarding. “I have definitely become more confident in my academic ability as the course has progressed, something which I am sure rubs off on the children.” Louise is proud that her course has helped her to instil an inquisitive attitude in her children. “As with all skills you have as a parent you tend to want to pass them on to your children in some way. My children are not ready for Plato yet but they are certainly learning to challenge me! “If they can learn to think for themselves, be confident to ask questions, and understand other points of view, I think this can be extremely valuable for them as little learners.” And what would Louise’s final words of advice be to parents who are thinking of attending university? “I have been very fortunate to have had the support from my family throughout, which for me has been indispensable. My advice is that it is not going to be easy, but if you know that your children are being looked after, you can deal with everything else.” Louise’s words emphasise how important it is that all student parents receive the support they deserve. For them, it is imperative that the University provides services to make life less challenging than it needs be. After all, some of us have more than just hangovers to nurse.
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Bite Back!
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FEATURES
Forge Press unearths some hard truths about the nature of eating disorders and how they can affect students... Words: Katie Davies Art: Rebecca Cooke
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FEATURES
A
fifth of anorexia sufferers will die prematurely from their illness, either as their organs fail or as they take their own lives, research has found. Anorexia can affect anyone, anywhere and students are in just as much danger of developing a problem. “I couldn’t remember a time when it hadn’t been there,” says Amy* one sufferer who battled her eating disorder while studying at the University of Sheffield. “It was that fluttery, sinking feeling in my chest when I felt like I had no control at all over my body, my eating, my life,” she says. “In the weeks leading up to my Year 11 prom, I was terrified of getting too fat for my silky blue dress and I considered starving myself for a few days. “I accepted that horrible feeling and assumed it was going to be there for the rest of my life. It only got worse when I went to university.” Like Amy, many victims start out thinking they can control an eating disorder for short-term gain, but the problem can soon escalate out of control and affect practically every aspect of a person’s life. According to the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence, roughly 1.6 million people in the UK are affected by an eating disorder – and for sufferers, the student lifestyle of highly pressured examinations and social events can become a living hell. Help is at hand in the form of BiteBack, an eating disorder support group especially for students. “We feel it’s important to have a group specifically for students,” says Saima Younis, a community development worker for South Yorkshire Eating Disorders Association. “Some of the issues faced by students in particular, such as exam and course work pressure and sharing accommodation with other students, are different to others,” says Saima. Run by trained volunteers, the groups are based around listening and offering support and information to anyone who wants to share their experiences. All the sessions and drop in appointments with nurses at the University Health Service are open to anyone who wants to come forward and confront their eating problem. “It’s easier for people to talk about eating disorders with other sufferers,” says Saima. “They can better understand what each other are going through, they may have encountered similar situations and experienced similar emotions.” Often, the symptoms of eating disorders are hidden away, made up of violently obsessive thoughts and feelings. These symptoms can include, but are not limited to; depression; isolation; mood swings and visible skin problems. However, some sufferers do not show any outward signs of having an eating disorder, which makes anorexia particularly hard to recognise in some people. It can be a challenge for nonsufferers to even comprehend the extent of the problem, making it only more difficult to spot the problem. While the existence of conditions such as anorexia and bulimia may be well known, they also only affect half of sufferers. “To the outsider I looked completely normal,” says Amy. “I was getting good marks at uni, I had a
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I felt like I had no control at all over my body, my eating, my life Amy, Former student anorexia sufferer
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fabulous social life and I had a laugh with my friends. “But I was paranoid about what people thought about me and decided people would like me more if I was a stone or so slimmer. “At Tesco, I’d spend ages checking the calories on the back of the packets. Walking down the street, I’d check myself in any reflective surface I passed to make sure my tummy wasn’t too big. “Then after dinner I’d shut myself in the kitchen and, as quietly as I could, I’d eat anything I could get my hands on until I felt repulsive. “The next morning I’d step on the scales and cry hysterically. I’d come up with a ridiculous plan to make me lose half a stone in a week and have broken every rule by tea time because I was starving.” Things reached a climax as Amy sat her final year exams when she finally spoke to her GP. “I’m not the kind of girl who likes to think I’ve had therapy but I guess that’s what I had,” she says. “I had a regular one-hour session with a nurse. We’d talk, I’d cry sometimes and then we’d talk a bit more. She told me I had the symptoms of EDNOS – Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified. “It’s when a person has a combination of eating disorder difficulties and, although it’s less well-recognised than other types of eating disorder, the problem can be serious.” Discussing underlying causes formed a vital part of Amy’s recovery. While eating disorders can affect anyone of any race, age or gender – 11 per cent of those with anorexia are male – there are often similar underlying traits amongst sufferers, such having unrealistic expectations of themselves or reading a lot of conflicting messages about food, weight and desirable body shape. Amy used the University Health Service throughout her recovery, a struggle lasting a year. “One day something just clicked,” she says. “It was like I was able to look at myself properly for the first time – everything just fell into place. “I started to relax, and in turn my eating habits relaxed. I’m by no means perfect, but who is? I reckon even Cheryl Cole has a bit of cellulite on that fabulous bottom of hers.” Amy is just one of the success stories - many however are still suffering in silence. “Fear is still seen as the main reason why many sufferers feel that they can’t speak out,” says Saima. “Initially it can be difficult for people to pluck up the courage to come to the group, but once they have been to a session and see that it is a non-judgmental group where everyone can relate to each other they feel less isolated.” “Thankfully, eating disorders seem to be a little better understood today, but any disorder can be overlooked unless the person suffering recognizes that they need support and are willing to seek that support.” Amy has now left university and is living life free of her eating disorder. “I look back now at photos of me in my blue silky dress at Year 11 prom and wonder what the fuss was about,” she says. “I want to tell my 15-year-old self that I should stop fretting and to just enjoy myself and that one day I will look back and realise how beautiful I was.” *Name has been changed on request **BiteBack hold informal sessions in the Council Chambers, Octagon, on the last Monday of every month. Next session: 5pm, October 31.
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FEATURES
FESTIVAL
FEVER
As another season of summer festivals comes to a close, we ask whether festivals are getting too expensive and if they are still worth it Words: Hannah Roberts Pictures: Fay Kendall
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t sounds strange, but for many students, summer just isn’t summer without at least one weekend smothered in mud, ears ringing, and indoor plumbing a distant memory. Festivals offer heady escapism with the music and people you love. But as the festival market grows cluttered, many festivals are failing to sell out, and ticket prices continue to rise. Is it really worth it? Most festival tickets leave you around £200 out of pocket, a massive price increase of 58% since 2006 – and that’s before you’ve even reached the festival. Once you get there, the temptations of hats shaped like monkey heads and worryingly pink burgers are likely to make you reach for your wallet again – particularly if your judgment has been impaired by warm beer at £4 a pint. However, the ticket price starts to sound more reasonable when you tot up the number of bands you are likely to see: anywhere from five to ten a day, depending how fast you’re prepared to run around site. Festivals are also a great way to catch headliners that you otherwise
might not get the chance to see – those who attended Glastonbury this year could see Coldplay, U2, Beyoncé and Radiohead at a price of £190, whilst seeing all four acts individually would cost more. Getting to the festival is another drain on the budget, but can be made cheaper by taking public transport. Coaches directly to the festival site are often provided, and according to The National Student website you can save up to 90% on train travel by booking in advance and using a 16-25 rail card. There are also ways to save whilst at a festival. If you’re a drinker, taking your own alcohol is a must – make sure you decant it into plastic bottles so that you follow safety regulations and don’t have your glass bottles confiscated. Festival food is also notoriously overpriced and of wildly varied quality, so it’s best to take at least some food with you. It’s a good idea to pack snacks such as crisps and cereal bars to give you that vital energy boost to see one more gig – and perhaps some fruit to ward off scurvy. It is possible to find cheap and even free festival food. If you ever go to Glastonbury, visit the Hare
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It’s on the way out. We’ve probably got another three or four years Michael Eavis, Glastonbury Founder
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Krishnas, who will serve food for free, but they appreciate a small donation. Of course, the cheapest way to experience a festival is to work for one. There are a wide variety of roles available, from stewarding to litter-picking, all of which offer a free ticket (some offer a wage on top). Lillie Chapman, a third year University of Sheffield English student, worked at Glastonbury Festival and the Thames Festival this summer, and says the job is “ideal for students, with a very nice wage packet”. Although working obviously means you won’t be able to see all the bands you’d like, Lillie explains, “With a festival like Glastonbury I don’t feel like I’m losing out on too much – it’s a 24 hour festival! There’s plenty to do and see all the time.” As well as being a great moneysaver, she says the job is good fun. “The work environment isn’t typical – you are working with relaxed and like-minded people.” Despite the various moneysaving options, Glastonbury founder Michael Eavis sees a bleak future ahead for his festival. He told The Times, “It’s on t h e
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FEATURES
way out. We’ve probably got another three or four years.” Eavis seems to have been spooked by other festivals’ low ticket sales this year, explaining that: “Partly it’s economics, but there is a feeling that people have seen it all before.” However, Eavis’ comments are overly pessimistic. He says that Glastonbury only sells out because of the huge headliners it attracts – yet festival-goers must pay their deposit for Glastonbury tickets in October, way before the headline acts are announced and even longer before acts lower down the bill are revealed. Yes, Glastonbury trades on its reputation for strong headliners, but the main draw for customers is the ‘festival experience’ – a unique atmosphere of freedom and community, where festival-goers are bonded by their mutual love for music and their uncharacteristic lack of restraint. Just as the merest hint of sunshine prompts Brits who were bundled up in coats the day before to strip down to stylish socks-and-sandals combos, so do festivals inspire us to forget our stiff upper lips and become warm, friendly and spontaneous. Although the widespread drug and alcohol use at festivals does play some part in this (where else but a festival could you see the same confused, pilled-up bloke dressed as Santa two years in a row?), it is undeniable that festivals offer something more than the opportunity to drink at 10am without a call to AA. Lucy Morris, a student Biomedical Science student at the University of Sheffield who experienced her
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I love festivals because when you’re there you feel like you’re in a different world Lucy Morris, Biomedical Science student
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first festival this year, explains the appeal. “I love festivals because when you’re there you feel like you’re in a different world where it doesn’t matter what you look like or how you smell!” she says. So for many, the most important way in which a festival could improve is not necessarily to spend hundreds of thousands booking big acts, but instead to cultivate a unique atmosphere that gives that otherworldly sense of escapism. Glastonbury may have left behind its days of free milk for all, but its legacy remains a big attraction. The sheer size of Glastonbury doesn’t hurt either – whether you want to spend your time raving in the Dance Village, sampling vegan pizza in Greenfields, or discovering new acts at the Park Stage, there’s something for everyone. Glastonbury’s status as not only a music festival, but an art and culture festival, also helps it to stand out. This year the entrance to the Park area was lined with six foot tall wooden flowers and featured a sand-sculpture of a foetus titled ‘Sandalism’. The art really shines in the nightlife areas, which are curated by theatre companies so that clubbing becomes an art-form in itself. The experience of stumbling across something completely unique, and often completely by accident, sets Glastonbury apart from other festivals of its size. Of course, if Glastonbury is too mainstream for you, there’s a plethora of niche festivals on offer. Choosing a smaller festival offers the chance to see acts before they make
it big, and often helps to cut costs. Standon Calling in Hertfordshire started out as a BBQ with a few friends, but has grown into an intimate festival complete with swimming pool, priced at £120 for weekend tickets and £50 for day tickets. This year guests had the chance to see Battles and Hercules & Love Affair. Closer to home, the Y-Not Festival can be found in Matlock, Derbyshire, just a few miles from Sheffield. Tickets are just £65 for the whole weekend, and the festival this year boasted an vast line-up including Feeder, Maximo Park, Art Brut and Wolf Gang – all playing in the stunning setting of the Peak District. According to the organisers, the bands camp alongside the crowds, so you could end up singing campfire songs with Noah and the Whale whilst watching the sun disappear behind the Peaks. Although their price is only likely to increase, festivals that continue to offer priceless memories and experiences will always be worth it. Who could put a value on watching a band you’ve loved your entire life headline the sun-kissed Pyramid Stage to a crowd of thousands, or discovering your new favourite act in a tiny tent with just a handful of people? Emily Rowan, a gap-year student speaking from Bestival, her seventh festival of the summer, sums it up: “I love the music. I love the banter. Festivals are the best place in the world!” And although you might not get round to seeing seven festivals next summer, just one could be the highlight of your holiday.
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Fashion Food & Drink Health & Fitness Travel Sex & Relationships Technology
FORGE PRESS Friday October 7 2011
This fortnight... We’re loving...
New fangled gadgets - nifty items that we just can’t seem to go without.
FOUR OF THE BEST
pound shops
STONE THE CROWS Charity shops have changed - no more musty Hawaiian shirts and tacky knickknacks, now you’ll find large selections of well-organised clothes. Most now have clothes conveniently grouped by colour and a very good selection.
At the top of the Moor, Stone the Crows looks like a furniture store, but hidden at the back is a large fancy dress section. The emphasis is on the gothic, with complete outfits from £15. A good choice in Scary Tarts season!
filibuster and booth
Real treasure troves. Pound shops have a permanent supply of kids toys for would-be cowboys and policemen, and constantly rotating stock means a snowman at Space is possible. If ROAR has sold out, you’ll also find decorations for your house party.
Opposite Devonshire Green, Filibuster & Booth is a real Aladdin’s cave. Or Edwardian TKMaxx. Vintage doesn’t necessarily mean cheap, but with walls of jewellery, you can come away with an authentic touch to your outfit. Richard Alderman
Managing your money
Freshers’ week is over, and the cash you thought you had seems to have transformed itself into random ticket stubs and receipts. Lucky your student loan has just gone in, eh?
Make sure you don’t end up as a hungry, penniless hermit. Follow our money saving tips and make that cash last. Let’s start with nights out, with an obvious way to save simply being to go out a bit less. Figure out when and where the best and cheapest nights are, and never go out on a Saturday. A simple example shows why. On a Thursday night at Players, you can nab yourself three Jägerbombs for a fiver. Compare this to Saturday, when £7 gets you just two. Trust the maths. When you do go out, grab cash before you go, and leave your bank card at home, which avoids the risk of crazy, drunken withdrawals and limits your spending. Essential. There are also tonnes of ways to cut spending on food. Firstly, avoid shopping when you’re hungry. Otherwise, you’re guaranteed to come home with the entire Tesco bakery section, eight kilos of meat, and a cavernously empty wallet. Try shopping towards closing time when fresh foods will be reduced, and don’t be a brand snob – supermarket
own brands usually taste just as good. Shop around, keep an eye out for good deals, and try to stick to what you need. When it comes to lunch times, by taking lunch into university you can also save yourself a bomb. If you buy food in town or university every day, you could end up spending as much as £20. With a bit of imagination and effort you can not only have a tasty lunch, but save yourself a lot of money too. For evenings when you’re feeling a bit lazy, however, there are plenty of places you can go in Sheffield to get a decent meal for under £10. Websites like vouchercodes.co.uk offer loads of brilliant restaurant deals. Just don’t be caught out on drinks; try sticking with tap water after you’ve had a couple of beers or glasses of wine. If you’re paying for a date, though, avoid this tip or risk looking like a complete scrooge. Being cheap definitely has its place. Even if you don’t fancy a night on the lash, there’s no reason why you should have to stay in and stare wistfully out at the world outside. You can easily get some other entertainment on the cheap. Bit of a film junkie? You don’t have to pay full price to get your fix. Make use of Orange Wednesdays, where you can get two Odeon tickets
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iPhone 4S
‘Books’
Xbox Live TV
Apple have now unveiled the iPhone 4S, a substantial update of the iPhone 4. On general sale on October 14, possibly something for your Christmas wish list!
The Kindle, the iPad, the Sony Reader, you get the picture. Tablets enabling you to carry all of your books around in one slim virtual case. You can even ‘turn’ the pages. Neat.
Not a gadget you can actually buy. In fact, if you have an Xbox Live console, this service will be available for activation this Christmas. Seems like these days, your Xbox really can do everything.
Self Defence
Having always been interested in learning the techniques of self-defence, I found the Give It A Go class perfectly suited to me. The class began with an introduction from the professional martial arts teacher who was also an ex-soldier - the perfect combination?! Somewhat surprisingly out of about 25 students, the girls significantly outnumbered the boys. Nevertheless, two professionals basically taught us some self-defence techniques that we could use if we were ever faced with a threatening situation. We started off with discussions about general implements, such as keys, that could be used in defence in an emergency. The fine art of punching was then taught, showing us ways of defending ourselves
effectively and quickly, which could help a victim to escape. Various other techniques and effective strategies were demonstrated to us, which enabled us to feel prepared and not helpless when we are out on our own. Obviously, everything we were taught was not to encourage us to be violent, quite the opposite. It was just to teach us that if we are caught up in a bad situation, we are not as weak and helpless as we might feel. Despite receiving a few bumps and bruises from practicing the techniques, overall I really enjoyed the experience and would definitely recommend it to anyone even remotely interested in learning some self-defence skills. After attending the class I believe that it is beneficial for everyone to have some basic selfdefence skills, as many students are away from home for the first time in a strange city or even a strange country. It’s not about learning to be violent or anything to do with aggression. It’s about recognising that, unfortunately, not everyone out there is friendly and, sadly, many people do not feel safe walking around the area in which they live. If learning self-defence can make someone feel safer without being aggressive, then it must be a positive. Hopefully, I will never have to use the skills I acquired but it makes me feel safer to know I could defend myself if needed. Therefore, I am glad that the Give It A Go programme provided this opportunity for students. Amanda Cave
for the price of one. Additionally, the Student Union’s Film Unit show three films a week in the Union Auditorium at the bargain price of £2.50 per person. Similar deals apply to theatre: Sheffield theatres offer tickets to students with a valid student card at a £2.50 discount, with selected performances just five pounds if you’re aged between 16-25. There are a few other ways you can shave down your everyday spending. Do a bit of walking to save money on bus fares and make sure to take advantage of student discount; it’s surprising the variety of places it’s offered. An obvious way to help with making your cash last is adding to the cash you already have - sacrifice a bit of that slacking time and get a part time job. It’s a great way to ensure that you have enough to fund your everyday expenditures, especially for those of us who use our maintenance loans to cover our rent and bills. It’s also a great way to meet new people. Make sure you find a student friendly employer though. Check out the Careers Vacancy Service to see if you can find something that would suit you. Finally, try not to go mad with spending and attempt to prioritise what you think you need to buy. Remember that while the odd treat doesn’t hurt, if you’re sacrificing food for Jack Wills something is definitely, definitely going wrong.
Coming to university is all about broadening your horizons and trying new things. WIth so many Give It A Go activities on offer in Sheffield, with something for everyone, here at Lifestyle we thought we’d, well, give them a go.
How to make your money last Sophie Allen
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Would you Give It A Go?
Places to buy fancy dress costumes CHARITY SHOPS
FORGE PRESS Friday October 7 2011
Make Up Applying make up isn’t just for girls, as more and more guys these days are investing in ‘guyliner’ or ‘manscara’ amongst other products available on the market. Even if applying make up isn’t a part of your daily routine, university inevitably means that at some point you will be invited to a fancy dress party, where make up can be essential. So whether you’re experimenting, a student at a fancy dress party or a make up addict, it’s always handy to know how to apply it correctly. After attending Give It A Go makeup lesson, led by Jackie Rodger - a professional health, beauty and makeup artist, we picked up these handy tips... lPrepare your skin by washing, cleansing and moisturising to build up a protective layer between your skin and the make up (especially important for oily skin). lFind a good foundation that matches your skin tone - the natural look is in this season. lIdentify your best features and enhance them; make up is there to accentuate features, not cover them up! lSharpen pencils before and after use to avoid infection. Clean make up
Salsa
Last Saturday I tried the salsa dance class organised by the Salsa Society in the Foundry & Fusion. It was an awesome dance experience in a very relaxed environment with a variety of people (I counted more than 35% boys). I didn’t have to worry about how to dress because casual clothes and any type of shoes (with or without heels) were good - comfort was paramount. The group was first divided into beginners and experts before the session began. Everybody stood in a circle with a partner, the teacher showed the move with his partner and explained it at the same time through a voice amplifier so that everybody could hear him. Then it was our turn, the music came on and we danced. It was very easy to follow, everybody could do it, but if someone was really in trouble with the steps the teacher came around to help them. After one hour there was a short break to have a drink, take some fresh air or keep practising as the music kept playing. For the second hour, advanced and Photos: LHG Creative Photography/Flickr beginner dancers were mixed together and we learnt a new combination of moves. It was a great way to improve as we often changed the person we danced with, switching from experienced dancers to partners with different dancing style. Dancing is also a brilliant form of exercise, you move around at a considerable rate and use muscles that you never would otherwise. If the gym isn’t for you, then dancing could well be an ideal way to improve your fitness. We could choose to dance very close to our partners or not, as long as you feel good you are probably on the right move. Salsa dance is all about moving your hips with the music in an enjoyable atmosphere with a partner, which is accessible to everybody. Lore Lambein
Quasar brushes with wet wipes (cheap ones will do). lAlways bear in mind that less is more. Unless of course it’s Halloween, in which case, go wild. l Begin with concealer (to cover blemishes, dark circles etc.) lApply foundation with a sponge, not your fingers. Start on your jaw line and blend upwards in a fanning motion. Once satisfied, move onto your eyes. l Using a brush, start off with a paler, natural colour to cover the whole lid. This works as a base. To lighten the eye, use this shade just underneath your bottom lash. lWorking from the outside in (we’ve been doing this wrong for years), gradually build up colour. lWorking from the outside in, apply eyeliner on your top lid (for a night-time look, you can colour the lower lid). lDon’t pump the wand of your mascara, this increases the risk of bacteria. When applying mascara, gradually turn the wand allowing your lashes to curl. lUse a lip pencil to lightly define the natural shape of your lips. lApply lipstick with a brush. Don’t smear directly onto lips. lUsing a brush, apply a minimum amount of blusher underneath the cheekbone and fan out. Best Buy: W7 coverstick with tea-tree oil. (When looked up online at cosmeticsforall.com it costs less than £2). Rebecca Holland & Anna Wallin
Whether it’s on your Xbox, Playstation or with a paintball gun, shooting your friends will never become boring. The only problem is finding a happy medium between square eyes and bruised testicles. Enter Quasar, Sheffield’s very own laser quest maze. For anyone unfamiliar with this; you gather an army of friends, gear up with some comically sized laser blasters and chase each other through a smoky maze to the sound of pounding space techno. Each player wears a harness with a sensor on the front and back. This is where you aim your blaster shots before heroically fleeing like Han Solo. Upon being hit, your sensor will vibrate and you must wait six seconds before rejoining the mayhem. It’s as simple as that. You cannot run out of lives and the only punishment for being hit is having to watch the smug face of your opponent. It is far less punishing than paintball and, therefore, much more universally involving. Quasar is certainly the more favoured, casual alternative to paintball or Airsoft. The guns are pinpoint accurate and the maze itself is as well designed as any Halo map. Photos: Laserfun Sheffield But, more importantly to a casual party-goer, being shot won’t leave you covered in bruises or pink paint, merely the stench of defeat. Of course, if you are an overly competitive Call of Duty player, and you think this lack of pain will remove the fear factor from the game, perhaps Laser Quest is a little too casual for you. After all, everybody loves to show off a battle scar. But you may well be surprised at how enveloping and downright entertaining the whole shebang is. The maze layout allows those with 007 delusions to sneak about and surprise opponents. So, while Quasar is accessible to all, running around like a crazed Stormtrooper will still see you shot and shamed very quickly, and there’s nothing more satisfying than a cheeky laser shot to your flatmate’s back. It’s great exercise, great for sociability and easy to take very seriously once you’re in the combat zone. It’s also great for ice breaker socials with new committee members or societies. Any nervous politeness you may have with each other soon disappears. With scenarios ranging from capture the base to a Battle Royale, all that’s missing is the creepy voice in your head yelling ‘killing spree!” Tom Fletcher
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Lifestyle & Travel
Travel
S kipping tow n
Affordable day trips out of Sheffield Keep the flame alive in long-distance loving I’m currently in my third year of university, and also in my third year of being in a long-distance relationship. “How?!” you may ask and, to be honest, I couldn’t tell you exactly. It takes a lot of work, but in my opinion none that isn’t worth it in the end. I wasn’t exactly thrilled when, over a year into my relationship, I had to move away to university, leaving him 150 miles away back home to do a gap year. I often freaked out, thinking how on earth we could stay together whilst being so far apart. When we did see each other, about once every fortnight, we always made the most of our time together. We’d go on cheap dates around Sheffield to make each visit different. Squashing up into a single bed in halls wasn’t a particular highlight of his visits, but you know what spooning can lead to... When he eventually went to university last year, he was only an hour’s train ride away, making it easier for us to visit each other. My top tip to travelling on a student budget: get a young persons’ railcard or split the cost of each journey. My boyfriend and I still alternate trips every weekend and the amount of money I save in travel is brilliant. My best advice to keep things fresh and prevent the passion from dying out is for both partners to get a Skype account. Pros – you get to actually see the other person when you speak to them. Also, it’s free. Cons – you aren’t actually physically together. However, think of your Skype sessions as mini dates; there are always ways you can spice things up a little. Granted, your partner will be even more excited when you next see each other. I also made an effort with my boyfriend’s flatmates, who I actually ended up becoming really good mates with, giving me even more reasons to go visit him. At this time of year you usually hear of the dreaded ‘Black October’, where fresher couples at separate universities break up. Staying apart for long lengths of time isn’t for everyone, but it’s always better to put in the effort for at least a few months, giving it a go. When at the end of the day it doesn’t work out, at least you tried. If both partners are equally willing to put in the time, effort and communication, then it is very likely that you will survive university together. Annabel Barton
Camille Crick Sheffield is a lovely city, sure. And many of us have little money to spare at the end of the month. So why spend time and money to venture outside the city boundaries during our relatively brief sojourns in Sheffield? Truth be told, there is in fact a wealth of affordable places you can visit without straining your student budget or wasting too much of that precious free time. Here at Lifestyle, we’ve put together a selection of some of the best the outskirts has to offer.
Peak District
Chatsworth House
A real cultural treat, the famous Chatsworth House stately home is just a bus ride away from Sheffield. Located in the Peak District, the house is the current home of the 12th Duke of Devonshire and houses an extensive art collection. Chatsworth also hosts a number of permanent and temporary exhibitions, as well as events and workshops. There is also the famous 105-acre garden to explore, complete with stunning water features and even a maze. The 214 bus goes from Sheffield Interchange straight to the house.
The famous Northern city is merely a 50 minute train ride away, and return tickets can be bought for under £10 if you own a railcard and book in advance. Fifth Avenue nightclub is a hugely popular destination for students, as it offers cheap drinks and indie music. Drum and bass fans are advised to check out Sankeys nightclub. If chart music is more your thing, then Tiger Tiger is great for a fun night out. The Deaf Institute is quite an unusual institution in Manchester. During the daytime, it’s a cozy café but at night time you’ll come across raging parties spread across two different floors. Whatever you like, you’re sure to find it in Manchester’s nightlife. Return to Manchester with a student railcard from £9.25 advance.
The All Saints Church dates from the 13th and 14th centuries, with some parts dating as far back as Saxon and Norman times. Another place of note is the Rutland Arms hotel, where Jane Austin is said to have stayed whilst writing Pride and Prejudice. To get to Bakewell, simply get on the 218 bus from Moorhead.
Bakewell
Looking to buy something special that no-one else will have? Leeds is full of independent shops and markets, as well as all the trusty high-street brands and designer labels. The city’s Corn Exchange is a great place to shop. Set in a beautiful grade I listed building, it’s home to a number of small boutique shops, so is perfect if you want to find something unique. For food-lovers, there’s Europe’s biggest food market, the Victorian Kirkgate Market, which just happens to be the birth place of M&S. The traders are friendly and really know their stuff, which makes for a shopping experience that is definitely more exciting than a trip to Tesco. Return to Leeds with student railcard from £13 advance.
Manchester It’s sometimes easy to forget, but just outside Sheffield lies the famous Peak District. With its network of footpaths and beautiful scenery, the area is perfect for long walks and hikes. If you’re feeling adventurous, a number of outdoor activities can be arranged. Mountain biking and rock climbing are available, or why not make the most of the area’s large reservoirs and try canoeing, hanggliding or paragliding. Trains from Sheffield from £4 with a student railcard.
Food
If you fancy a night away from Corporation’s quad vods and The Harley’s gin, Manchester is a great alternative clubbing destination.
Stressed out by city life? Why not relax in the picturesque town of Bakewell. The antithesis to the student experience of Sheffield, Bakewell is a great place if you want a sitdown with a cup of tea and a yummy Bakewell pudding. Afterwards, you can go for a walk along the pretty river Wye. Many parts of the town date back hundreds of years.
Leeds
Healthy food, straight from the microwave Elizabeth Jewell Meals made in the microwave tend to conjure up images of baked beans or packaged lasagnes that look and taste a bit like cardboard. Bearing that in mind, especially students living in self-catered halls are faced with a dilemma when trying to cook up dinner or a snack in their cupboard-sized pantries. No hob, no oven, no grill - is it possible to prepare a full, healthy meal from fresh ingedrients using just a microwave? One of the Lifestyle & Travel writers rose to the challenge. When faced with the task of conjuring up healthy meals with the help of an appliance I mainly use to heat up leftovers, inspiration didn’t exactly flow immediately. So, I did what any self-respecting student would do in a crisis. I phoned my mum. Surprisingly, she was full of ideas and as it turns out, you can actually microwave pretty much anything! Pasta, rice, vegetables and small
pieces of meat all fare pretty well so you can quickly and easily make a myriad of pasta dishes, risotto and curries. To cook pasta or rice, simply place the raw ingredients in a bowl, add twice as much water, and set the timer. Pasta will take between 3 and 5 minutes if cooked at full power, rice needs to be cooked at a lower heat so estimate around 10 minutes. Jacket potatoes made in the microwave take no time at all in comparison with the oven. Simply cut the potato in half, fill with your choice of toppings and set the timer for 7 - 12 minutes. You can even scramble or poach eggs - no need to go anywhere near a frying pan. Microwave meals can actually be much healthier than cooked or fried ones, as they rarely need oil. The best part is that you can simply set the timer and let the machine do its magic, while you mind your own business. The conclusion I’ve come to is that microwaves are really quite versatile. So say good-bye to unhealthy, store-bought ready-meals and get cookin’.
Spicy chicken fajitas (made entirely in the microwave)
1) Mix chunks of chicken breast with a splash of water, chilli powder, salt and pepper and cover with cling film. 2) Stick it in the microwave for 3-4 minutes, or until the chicken is completely cooked. 3) In a separate bowl, mix chopped peppers, onions, a little bit of olive oil and some herbs and microwave for 2-3 minutes. 4) Spread your low-fat microwaved goodies on a tortilla and add salsa, cheese, or guacamole. There you go - dinner cooked in less than 10 minutes.
FORGE PRESS Friday October 7 2011 www.forgetoday.com//lifestyle@forgetoday.com
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Lifestyle & Travel
Fashion
Your summer wardrobe restyled
Eleanor Corcoran That first ray of weak summer sun we see, peeking out from behind the grey clouds we’ve grown accustomed to over the long winter months, marks the beginning of the British summer. Banished are our opaque tights, thick jumpers and all-weather boots and out come our summer clothes. Sheer dresses, shorts, t-shirts and flimsy skirts reign supreme. Well, at least they do for about nine weeks and, as suddenly as it appeared, the summer is gone, leaving us with nothing but grey skies and memories. Now, this yearly cycle creates quite a wardrobe dilemma. We are left with a wardrobe bursting with unsuitable summer wear and, at the risk of catching pneumonia, no appropriate weather to wear it in. So it begs the question: how can you incorporate your summer clothes into your winter wardrobe? The eternally stylish French call the art of this dressing ‘twix season’,
which means ‘in between seasons’. It can be done! Winter fashion doesn’t have to mean baggy jumpers and hat-hair so you can cancel your one-way ticket to Hawaii and follow these tips instead to wearing your favourite summer clothes in autumn/winter. First of all, of course you still want to wear your favourite summer dress in winter. You spent the summer wearing it every other day and to take it away from you just at the sight of some clouds would be cruel. So, the secret to wearing that summer dress in winter is layering, specifically with jumpers. Throw on your favourite summer dress and add any winter jumper over the top - cable knit, woollen or cotton, knitted by your grandma, it really doesn’t matter. You could finish off the look by adding a skinny belt around the waist and thick tights. Androgyny is one of the biggest trends for autumn/winter and this look creates the perfect silhouette to pull it off. Invest in lots of tights (...and socks). Whether woolly, coloured, black or patterned, tights enable us to wear the clothes we wore all summer whilst keeping warm. They are brilliant under the sheer fabric
of many summer dresses and skirts. Add over-the-knee-socks or cute ankle socks and you’ve completed the look. Pair your favourite summer shorts or skirt with woolly tights, socks peeking out from boots and a jumper, and no one will know they were the same shorts you were wearing on the beach in Spain just a few short months ago. Plain long sleeved t-shirts and shirts are an essential in order to wear your summer wardrobe all year. Both girls and boys can layer shirts under their favourite summer tops to carry them through to winter. They are incredibly versatile and perfect worn under a vest top or t-shirt, as well as under summer dresses and tucked into skirts and shorts. Layering is always on trend for autumn/winter and boys can benefit from layering a summer t-shirt under a button-up shirt. If the weather is still defeating you, why not layer a a zip up hoodie or cardigan over both as well. The addition of boots to any outfit updates your
summer look in time for autumn/winter. Boys, pair your boots with rolled up jeans or chinos, if you dare show a little ankle. Girls, wear your boots with summer skirts and dresses, which also has the effect of toughening up the girliness of summer patterns. Finally, accessories. Never underestimate the importance of how you can update an outfit with additional accessories. Big knitted scarves and hats will contribute to keeping you warm even if you are only wearing a summer t-shirt. If you want to be super on-trend, you could indulge in faux fur collars and cuffs to accompany summer dresses and long sleeved t-shirts. Follow these tips and no longer will you curse your generously stocked summer wardrobe, as you rummage for something warm to wear. Photos: Francesca Menegaldo
Student event
Meadowhall student lock-in Over 15,000 students attended ‘the UK’s biggest shopping event ever’ on Thursday September 29th. Apart from exclusive shopping discounts, the lock-in promised live performances, fashion and makeover workshops and free giveaways. We went to Meadowhall to have a look...
so I bagged all the things I wanted by the time the masses descended on Meadowhall. It was a really cool event to have on our doorstep, but the crowds eventually got the better of me and I left quite early.” When we arrived at Meadowhall, we were overwhelmed by Joel Jessup, also at the University of Sheffield, agreed. “I the number of students queuing to receive their discount felt quite rushed the entire time, but there were good diswristband. count opportunities if you were willing to brave the crowd,” Over 15,000 students showed up for a night of shopping he said. and entertainment at the UK’s biggest ever student lock-in However, the evening was more than just an excuse for shopping event last week. a massive shopping spree. For one night, Meadowhall was More than 80 shops offered exclusive student discounts on alive with a party atmosphere as live music, dancers, games, the night, ranging from 10% to 30% off. competitions, fashion workshops and makeovers took As we squeezed our way into the centre it was difficult to place. decide where to head first. Many entertainers performed in aid of charity, including Music was blasting from all directions and people were Meadowhall’s Charity of the Year, Helen’s Trust. pushing, shoving and forming clusters around stalls offering Our favourite part of the evening had to be the mad hatfree goodies. When the rush of visitors hit its peak, queues ters’ tea party at Fancie. for the tills were so long they almost reached the shop exits. For £5 each, visitors could take a break from shopping Danielle Hunt, a second year student of the University and enjoy 30 minutes of all-you-can-eat baked goods, tea of Sheffield, said: “The lock-in was the perfect opportunity and coffee. for me to start updating my winter wardrobe. Some of my And if endless amounts of cake weren’t tempting enough, favourite stores started their 20% discount promotion early tea party participants got to dress up in Alice in Won-
Hannah Pearson & Ina Fischer
derland fancy dress and were seated at a table beautifully decorated down to the smallest detail. Other special events included makeovers at The Body Shop, local artists customising TOMS shoes at Office and a student scavenger hunt organised by Topshop. We also noticed everybody talking about Krispy Kreme doughnuts. To promote the opening of their shop at Meadowhall, they were giving away entire boxes of doughnuts during multiple flash mobs! As the night came to a close at 10pm, we saw few people leaving Meadowhall empty-handed. Gemma Noble, Communications Executive at Meadowhall, said the night was a huge success. “We wanted to mark the start of the new academic year with a grand gathering. We’re delighted to have welcomed so many students to the centre for the lock-in event and hope that they are delighted with the deals they managed to pick up. We are already planning for next year’s event.” For more photos, go to the Lifestyle section of www.forgetoday.com
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FORGE PRESS Friday October 7 2011 www.forgetoday.com
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PUZZLES & HUMOUR
PUZZLES & HUMOUR
Coffee Break overheard
On Devonshire Green: Girl 1: “Why can you always in sheffield tell that grandfathers used to be fit but not grannys?” Girl 2: “I don’t know, but I would definitely marry my grandfather.” Girl 1: “Oh definitely, when he was younger though. Obviously.” Flatmates in Crookes: Girl 1: “You are the poshest sourz drinker ever.” Girl 2: “Not really, it’s just the biggest glass I have.”
The strange news this fortnight: Hopeless Romance In the major north eastern city of Qingdao, in China, one romantic boyfriend baked his girlfriend a delicious muffin for her 22nd birthday, inside he hid the beautiful £500 gold necklace he’d spent hours picking out for her. He helped to throw a fantastic birthday party for her and then he presented her with the little muffin. However, the surprise didn’t go quite the way he had planned. Poor Xiao Li could only watch on helplessly as his girlfriend, Wang Xue, stuffed the whole muffin into her mouth in one bite. Xiao Li said “I thought it would show how much I love her and it would be a good joke too. But before I could say anything she’d swallowed it in one bite and I had to tell her the truth on the way to hospital.” The girl was rushed to
hospital, and after doctors had taken an x-ray it was decided that they would have to remove the necklace by performing an endoscopic surgery. They inserted a probe through the girl’s mouth, down her oesophagus and into her stomach; with the necklace located they used a telescopic pair of tweezers to carefully remove the it. The present was reportedly in perfect condition, if a little sticky and gooey. A seemingly happy ending to a dramatic birthday, well not quite; apparently Wang Xue hasn’t exactly forgiven the necklace for ruining her birthday celebrations. The hapless Xiao added ‘She got her necklace back eventually, but I’m not sure she will ever feel comfortable wearing it even though I spent hours cleaning it for her’. Romance may not be dead, but maybe gifts need
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a new health and safety warning: ‘Please do not insert into food’ or even a simple ‘ Not for human consumption’ would suffice.
With Holly Wilkinson The real news this fortnight: The Supersofa 2011
omg, Have you seen...? watch it:
Chav Hunting
3÷
3÷
5x
7+
The sport that no one (maybe everyone) wants to be incorporated into the 2012 Olympics. Chav hunting was created by a group of boys on one bored weekend. If only all our weekends could be so productive. If you want a laugh, and feel like you should be outside but the sun is quite simply an offense to your eyes, then look up Chav Hunting. They were also suspended school, but hey ho. YouTube Search: Chav Hunting
30x
8+
4-
4-
6+
1-
Ice Break’s ‘Add a motor to it’ series. The machine itself was constructed from a two seater sofa, a wooden coffee table, a fruit-filled bowl, coffee mug and book, along with the Suzuki engine. Five out of those six items are readily available at home, and if your father is going through his mid-life crisis then you may be able to source the engine too. Apparently, the coffee table is essential, Paul Mckinnon said; “It’s the oddest vehicle we’ve ever built. With race cars, you can use the aerodynamic body kit but with the couch it was a matter of just doing what we could. We tried to break the airflow with the coffee table.” Okay, so even if you could build (or be bothered to build) the SuperSofa the chances are it wouldn’t pass the MOT. Your mother would probably be pretty angry about the sofa, but maybe if you show such enthusiasm they’ll take pity on you and at least let you become a named driver on their car. Maybe.
The bane of a good night out, hangovers plague us all and really don’t help those endeavouring to actually get a degree. The likelihood of reaching lectures directly decreases with the amount of alcohol consumed, few will dispute this, but there is light (literally) at the end of the tunnel - the infamous hangover CURE. Everyone has their own version, some are weird, others scientific and some are just plain disgusting, but which actually work? Depending on your view on, or type of, hangover there are three main options open to you:
Kenken
2-
Most teenagers cannot afford to buy a fast car. They dream of supercars and rally cars but in reality are left with old bangers and washed up, smelly grandparents’ cars. However, there is another option: the SuperSofa. The latest SuperSofa was built by Paul McKinnon for Australian drinks maker Ice Break, and included a coffee table and fruit bowl. The driver, Glenn Suter, managed to get this bad boy up to 101mph, using a 1,400cc Suzuki superbike engine and in the process breaking the previous of record of 92mph. The previous record was held by Marek Turowski, an Englishman, in 2007. “I’m absolutely stoked to have been able to hit world record speeds with our couch,” Mr Suter said. “I could feel the sheer power of the motor under the lounge as I was driving it down the runway. And it’s a pretty great feeling.” This amazing record was set at Camden airport near Sydney, and televised on
The hangover cure
More Puzzles:
2÷
4x
2÷
5+
36x
60x
1. Bloody Mary – hair of the dog for the delay, vitamin C for the cure, and a bit of spice to wake you up for lectures.
Sudoku
2. Water – masses and masses of water. Before, during, after, in the morning, just lots of water all the time.
Random Fact of the Week:
3. Take-away – personally dubious of whether this actually works but it seems a firm favourite, so there must be some cure there.
The oldest known goldfish lived to 41 years of age. Its name was Fred.
4. Berocca – take with care, for some it is the miracle cure (vitamin C AND water), but for others it is the kiss of death….not recommended
This fortnight’s puzzle: A crossword
Across:
Down:
5. The bar/cafe situated next to Bar One (8) 6. 96 485.3415 coulombs = 1 _____ (7) 7. An art deco skyscraper in new york (8) 11. Current, cadence (4) 12. Tantamount, alike (9) 13. Immature, fresh (5) 15. Utensil, gadget (4) 16. Actualise, assemble, build up (8) 17. Closest planet to this solar system’s sun (7) 18. The act of providing or exchanging air (11) 19. Safeguard, barrier (6)
1. The greenest city in England (9) 2. Fissure, depression (6) 3. Enthusiasm, catalyst (6) 4. Query (8) 5. Appearance, portrait (5) 8. Surroundings, country (11) 9. Intelligent, vivid (6) 10. The French, Swissborn architect CharlesÉdouard Jeanneret (2,10) 14. Precise, common building material (8)
for a sensitive tummy! 5. Scrambled egg, cheese and bacon on toast – carbohydrates, dairy, and protein is gooooood! 6. Put a spoon in the freezer before you go out and the next morning place the cold spoon on your eyes. 7. it.out.
Sockdolager (n.) - A decisive reply, argument; something unusually large, heavy, etc; a heavy, finishing blow. (Origin: 1830s, America; Its probable components are sock, as in “striking a blow,” and doxology, “a fervent hymn to god.” Sockdolager is also possibly the last word Abraham Lincoln heard before he was assassinated.
definitely up there, the shock if nothing else will get you going. 10. The Prairie Oyster – possible the most disgusting cocktail ever concocted but it has stood the test of time so it reportedly works.
Trending Hot 1. The Only Way is Essex awarded a Bafta 2. MP’s wife steals kitten - not on!
3. Scotland knocked out of the World Cup 4. Blake Lively and Leornardo DeCaprio break up (they’re BOTH single!) 5. It is nearly , so nearly Halloween - masks and face paint at the ready.
Sauna – just sweat.
8. Orange Juice – a bit like Berocca but possible even worse for those of a more sensitive constitution. 9. Cold shower – it has many uses but this is
The folly of buying cheap shoes
You’re standing in the highstreet, Primark in front of you, Topshop to the right, and you are faced with the dilemma: cheap and cheerful, or expensive and durable? Women seem to face this problem slightly more often than men, but that’s probably based purely on the fact we need (yes, need) more shoes than them, but it remains a universal, unisex conundrum. We all do that little tot up in our heads: if ‘x’ pair costs only £’y’ but last just a week, is that cheaper in the long run than buying a pair for
£50 or £60? Then there are those middle range pairs, the problem just goes on and on and on. So what is the answer, how do we solve the riddle of the shoe? After extensive (sort of) research, and two weeks of freshers, the answer is slowly revealing itself – cheap and nasty really does mean cheap and nasty. After ploughing through four pairs of £4 pumps in two weeks, there is another option presenting itself: maybe pumps just aren’t up to the job? Those who wear boots out always seem to
Hard
Coffee Break’s Word of the Fortnight:
generally goes along the lines of “I’m never going to drink again”, “I wish I was dead” and “Why do I do this to myself?” More often than not just pisses off your flatmates beyond sympathy. The first and second options have more avenues available to you, and dramatically increase your chances of getting to the Mappin Building in time for that 9am. After centuries of hangovers the world over, certain remedies seem to be more resilient; and so for your delectation and use here are just a few of them:
The Useful news this fortnight:
Medium
Sudoku 2
1) Delay it, 2) Diminish it or 3) Accept it. Now the third choice basically involves lying around all day, watching random crap and complaining to all those within earshot. The complaining
Coffee Break’s Events of the Day: It’s Vladimir Putin’s 69th Birthday - whoop! More importantly though it is also Nagasaki Kunchi, which is the most famous festival in Nagasaki, Japan. The festival celebrates the autumn harvests, as well as the Suwa Shrine which was founded in an attempt to stop the spread of Christianity through Nagasaki and preserve their history and culture. The dragon dance forms an exciting and beautiful central point to the celebrations that last two days.
return home wearing them, rather than the dishevelled pair of pumps, or absurdly high stilettos, in hand; perhaps that is the problem. No, after a whole year of pumps surviving that simply can’t be the answer, it just can’t be. Conclusion? The answer to the parade of destroyed shoes is the fact that they only cost £4, and were made from cardboard in a Vietnamese sweat shop. Solution? Stop skimping on shoes and invest in a proper pair, with an actual sole and a life span of more than three nights out.
6. Sheffield’s Indian summer is at an end 7.The Simpsons might be cancelled... nooooo!
8. Jenna Rose - we do not need two Rebecca Blacks in the world 9. Bottled water debate - do not care anymore! 10. Bar bitches shoving flyers in our faces - just STOP.
Cold
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SPORT
Matchdebating
Debate: Should Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger be relieved of his duties?
Wenger’s style is a Manager not to thing of the past blame for trouble Oliver Turner
Arsene Wenger is one of the greatest Arsenal managers of all-time – that’s a fact. In only his second season at Arsenal in 1997-98, he stole the Premier League title away from Manchester United’s clutches as well as winning the FA Cup, before doing the double again in the 2001-02 season. This was followed by the “Invincibles” team of 200304, an FA Cup victory in 2005 and a Champions League Final in 2006.
“Wenger’s unwillingness to sign players is a joke” However, this highlights Arsenal’s six-year wait to win another trophy under Wenger, and over the past couple of seasons, I feel he has become out of touch with what the game has become. For that reason, I feel Wenger and Arsenal have to go their separate ways. One familiar criticism is his bemusing transfer policy. Maybe he is being held back by the archaic wage policies of the
board at Arsenal, but his unwillingness to sign key players to improve the side has become a joke over the past few seasons. The likes of Shay Given, Gary Cahill and Phil Jagielka have all been available and would have considerably strengthened areas where Arsenal are weakest and where they have failed to replace key players such as Tony Adams, or David Seaman, but Wenger has refused to stump up that extra bit of cash to obtain such signings. As a result, such frailties in the goalkeeper and centreback positions have cost them in many a game in recent years; in fact, their defeat in the Carling Cup final was due to a mixup between goalkeeper Szczesny and centre-back Laurent Koscielny. Furthermore, Wenger’s policy of bringing youth players straight into the fold is outdated, and this is detrimental to the squad’s performance and the players themselves. Could Alan Hansen’s criticism of Theo Walcott lacking a footballing brain be due to the pressure of playing top-flight football at such a young age for Arsenal? Manchester United have
Select BUCS fixtures
benefited from loaning the likes of Danny Welbeck and Tom Cleverley out to Championship and Premiership teams. Wenger thinks a handful of Emirates and Carling Cup games will do the trick, but unfortunately that is not the case. After a painful 2-1 away defeat to Tottenham, Wenger has now dragged his team further away from their rivals. On that note, he surely must leave Arsenal.
Men’s firsts v University of Hull firsts
Men’s firsts at University of Nottingham firsts
Men’s firsts at University of Leeds firsts
HOCKEY Men’s firsts at University of Leeds firsts
Women’s firsts at Leeds Met seconds
Women’s firsts at University of Leeds firsts NETBALL Women’s firsts V University of Hull firsts
Women’s firsts at Durham University firsts TABLE TENNIS Men’s firsts at Durham University firsts
RUGBY LEAGUE
Women’s firsts at Durham University firsts
Men’s firsts at University of Bradford firsts
TENNIS
RUGBY UNION
Men’s firsts v University of Leeds firsts
BASKETBALL
Men’s seconds v University of Leeds thirds
Men’s firsts v Leeds Met seconds
Men’s firsts v Leeds Met thirds
Women’s firsts at Liverpool JM firsts
Men’s seconds at Durham University thirds
Women’s firsts at University of Sunderland firsts
Women’s seconds v Leeds Met thirds
Women’s firsts at University of Birmingham firsts
Women’s hockey at Goodwin
Until the financial benefits of the stadium move really start to show, it’s highly unlikely Wenger can challenge for the title and highly unreasonable to expect him to. Fans have criticised Wenger’s opposition to splurging what little transfer funds are available to him on big-name signings. His record transfer fee is £15 million for Andrey Arshavin, equivalent to one of Fernando Torres’ clown feet. Wenger prefers to provide strength in depth by signing younger players, leaving Gooners SQUASH
Women’s seconds v University of Leeds seconds
Men’s firsts v University of Leeds firsts
“It is highly unreasonable to expect him to challenge for the title”
LACROSSE
Women’s firsts at Sheffield Hallam seconds
BADMINTON
Another season, another Premier League sack race. Out of his depth, tactically inept and failing to motivate dispirited players: charges levelled not only against doomed Blackburn boss Steve Kean, but also Arsene Wenger in his 15th season at Arsenal. Who says football fans are an ungrateful bunch? Not that past glories should guarantee a manager a job for life. However, given the financial constraints imposed on him in the recent past, for Wenger to have kept Arsenal in the top four in each and every one of those seasons is quite incredible. The necessary decision taken by the club to move to the Emirates Stadium means Arsenal have to endure a period of frugality before they can reap the rewards. T h e i r net spend on transfers over the last decade is around £50 million, which is not only £100 million less than Manchester
FOOTBALL
Men’s seconds at Newcastle University seconds
ALL FIXTURES WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 19
Jack Burnett
United and £450 million less than Chelsea, but also puts them behind the likes of Sunderland, Aston Villa and Stoke City in terms of transfer outlay. In an age when Roman Abramovich at Chelsea and the Middle Eastern owners at Manchester City have proven that money does buy success, to have kept Arsenal anywhere near the league’s big spenders must be seen as an achievement.
Women’s firsts v Durham University thirds VOLLEYBALL Men’s firsts v University of Hull firsts
yearning for the days when Martin Keown could be seen nipping the ball away from a striker’s feet with an excellently timed prod of his walking stick. If Arsenal are experiencing a ‘crisis’ now, with injuries mounting up, how much worse would it have been had he spent all his money on one Torres, or one Tevez? Wenger is a stubborn man. Frustrating though this is for fans, this stubbornness often proves to be justified. When everyone told him he needed to buy a goalkeeper, he kept faith with Wojciech Szczesny, now maturing into one of the league’s top stoppers. People said you couldn’t play Barcelona at their own game, and though Arsenal eventually lost last season’s Champions League tie, they won at the Emirates and were unlucky not to at the Camp Nou. It shows how fickle some fans are that before last season’s untimely collapse, when Arsenal were challenging for four trophies, Wenger was being hailed as a genius. Arsenal have played seven games this season; Wenger has provided a dutiful and successful service for 15 years. Even if this season is a failure, has he not earned the time to turn things round?
Varsity Dates The dates for this year’s Varsity event have been announced. The annual event sees the University take on Hallam in numerous sports. Winter Varsity comprises ice hockey, skiing and snowboarding. The ice hockey will take place on Saturday February 11, while Sheffield Ski Village hosts the skiing and snowboarding events on Friday February 17. The remaining fixtures will be played over the course of a week between March 21 and March 28 at a range of venues, culminating in the football finals at Hillsborough. In last year’s event, Hallam took the Varsity trophy by a single point, winning 31-30.
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Sharks edge season opener British Basketball League Trophy Group 2
Sheffield Sharks Cheshire Jets
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Sam Brownsword
Nate Reinking nets for Sharks on his return to Sheffield. Right: Forward Mike Tuck was named MVP. Photos: MPhotography
Sheffield Sharks got their season off to a winning start after scraping a victory against Cheshire Jets in their opening BBL Trophy match. Despite trailing throughout the game’s early stages, Atiba Lyons’ side rallied to win by four points at the English Institute of Sport. After losing the league series to the same opponents last season, Sharks were determined to put in a winning, but also crowd pleasing performance. Jets were starting the season with five new signings, but this wasn’t evident as the away side controlled the early stages. One of those new signings, Adam Brown, controlled most of the first period, converting two out of three free throws. The 22-year-old rookie guard dictated the pace of the first period and was handed endless opportunities to launch attacks from the Sharks’ sloppy play. However, Sharks managed to end the first period on a high. Olu Babalola recovered from a sluggish start to convert from a mazy run and Zach Gachette scored two free throws to reduce the deficit to ten points. Jets continued to add points to the board in the second period, although the experienced Nate Reinking, starting his second spell with the Sharks, was forever trying to switch the momentum back towards the home side. His efforts were rewarded as
the Sharks started to get their teeth into the game; a four point cameo from coach Atiba Lyons forced Jets into a timeout with two minutes of the half remaining. Jets had been in control for most of the match but the Sharks took the lead for the first time early on in the third period, only to soon lose it as they struggled to cope with former University of Illinois player Bill Cole. The first-time professional top scored in his season opener with 19 points and proved to be prolific from outside the threepoint line. The Sharks saw the early stages of the final period as their opportunity to capitalise on a tiring Jets side. After getting on level terms, eventual MVP Mike Tuck scored a big three points to give the home outfit a five point cushion. Though the Sharks started to take control for the first time in the match, Adam Brown replied
to Tuck’s effort with a threepointer. For all his influential play at the right end, however, Brown arguably cost Jets the match; his loose pass was capitalised by Babalola, who then went on to score with an athletic shot as he fell away from the basket and send the Sharks on their way to a four-point victory. Head coach Atiba Lyons put the Sharks’ early lack of control down to nerves. He said: “I told the guys to relax as I think there was a lot of nerves and over-thinking. “It was good to get off to a first win and into that winning mentality. If you lose the first one it can be hard sometimes to get going.” The Sharks travelled to Cheshire two days later in another Trophy game and again won by the finest of margins, with Justin Dobbins the star as his 21 points and 21 rebounds helped the Sharks to an 86-84 win.
Paralympians pick Sheffield for 2012 preparations Graeme Benson There seems to be little that connects a social worker from Bratislava and a young actor from Tunbridge Wells. But both Jan Riapos, 43, and William Bayley, 23, represent their respective countries, Slovakia and Great Britain, as paralympic table tennis players. They are also both at the top in their game and yet admit there is no prestige. Riapos, president of the Slovak Paralympic Committee, is in Sheffield after it was announced the city would be used as a preParalympics training base for the Slovakian table tennis team, in addition to those of Great Britain and Slovenia. He was wheelchair-bound after a car accident in 1993. He had to give up his job as a social worker and support himself as a social work teacher instead. A modest man, he is unperturbed by most things. “I’m still the same person before the accident and now,” he says.
Beneath the calm appearance though, there is a fiercely competitive and focused spirit. He was the first winner of the table tennis Paralympics in the 1999 European Championships. “Between 1999 and 2011, I never lost a match in the single event. “After that, I went on to win gold in Athens 2004 in the single event, silver in the double, and gold again in Beijing 2008 at the team event, and was world champion in Korea, winning gold in the team event.” Now preparing for London 2012, he has received a small grant from the Slovak government but raises most of the money necessary to compete from sponsors and through business. He has also had to tour continuously in competitions around the world. In his other role as the president of the Slovak Paralympics committee, he works to improve facilities for disabled sports players in Slovakia. Paralympic table tennis is divided between wheelchair-
bound players who only play other wheelchair players – like Riapos – and those who have a disability but can stand, who play other standing players. William Bayley falls into the second category. He was born with arthrogroposis, a nonprogressive form of arthritis. “I don’t have movement in my hands and my legs are affected; I don’t have balance and balance is very important,” he says. Playing sport since he was eight, Bayley joined the Paralympics table tennis team for Kent at 18, and now trains six hours a day. At present, he is the number two Paralympics table tennis player in the world. He also won a place at drama school to train as an actor, and is the star of We’ve Got the Toaster, a low-budget comedy film. “I hope to go back to acting, but with London 2012 coming up, I had to make a decision and chose table tennis. “The public are starting to realise how difficult this sport is - it’s not a Mickey Mouse competition.”
William Bayley is the world’s number two paralympic table tennis player. Photo: Graeme Benson
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Cavers celebrate 50th anniversary Speleological society hold series of events and expeditions in landmark year
Joe Kinnaird The University of Sheffield’s caving club recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. The Sheffield University Speleological Society (SUSS) formed in 1961 with only a 35 foot ladder and 400 metres of rope amongst its possessions. However, the SUSS has grown to become well renowned in the caving world and its members have been involved in some major cave discoveries, both in the UK and around the world. In honour of the anniversary, SUSS held a commemorative weekend in Castleton which was attended by past and present members, some as old as 70 years of age. Throughout the weekend, the society hosted activities such as a Ceilidh, a hog roast and several caving trips. In addition, members enjoyed a musical entitled ‘Carry on Caving’ written and performed by fellow members. The SUSS also produced a 50th anniversary journal containing articles spanning across the decades of the club’s history. During the summer, the club spent time caving around the world. In June, current members departed for a week of caving in the French Pyrenees. The club’s aim was to complete the ‘Traverse of the Pierre St Martin’ – an infamous trip that
involves a 1000 metre descent and 11.5km horizontal caving through a mountain. Although the trip was very long and involved difficult tasks such as navigating across huge boulders and traversing across pools, all 13 members completed it and were out safely in less than 21 hours. The SUSS also spent a week canyoning in the Sierra de Guara in Spain. The exploration of the canyons offered stunning scenery and plenty of azure pools to jump into. On September 8 members of the SUSS travelled to China for a caving expedition. The expedition was based in small village of Tian Xing, five hours from the city of Chongqing. The aim of the expedition was to find a connection from the cave ‘People Go Down’ to an already known cave system called Dong Ba which is over 40 kilometres long and has eight entrances. The expedition was a truly international affair – with members from caving clubs in America, Russia and India. The process to install a connection was lengthy and trips lasted over 17 hours. Although data is still pending, a connection was made to ‘Dong Ba’ cave system, making the system now 45 kilometres long and with a total of nine entrances. For details of how to get involved with SUSS, visit www. shefcavers.org.uk
Chris Playfoot jumps into the Mascun Superior Gorge during the summer trip to Spain.
chances in the first half. Left back Lecsinel Jean-Francois was in impressive form and saw his early strike go just wide of the post. Shortly after this, Ched Evans had a header cleared off the line by Charlton captain Johnnie Jackson. United continued to keep the pressure on and Charlton keeper Ben Hamer was caught out by several good crosses into the box. The away side still posed a threat though, and Bradley Wright-Phillips was a constant danger. The home defence were
tested by several intelligent runs from the former Manchester City striker. The game was an entertaining affair in the unseasonably hot weather and the crowd of 20,743 was the Blades’ biggest attendance so far this season. As the second half got under way, Charlton gradually began to increase their possession and dominate the midfield battle. With just under half an hour left, the Addicks made a breakthrough. The impressive Wright-Phillips won a corner and before it was taken Charlton
Photo: Rosie Hadfield
United miss out on chance to go top Adam Hancock Sheffield United fell short in their top of the table clash with Charlton Athletic. Charlton came in to the game unbeaten this season and continued their fine form with a comfortable 2-0 victory at Bramall Lane. The face of the game was changed after two goals in two minutes from Yann Kermorgant and Bradley Wright-Phillips. The Blades started the game well and had the best of the
boss Chris Powell replaced Paul Hayes with French forward Yann Kermorgant. Kermorgant had only been on the field for a matter of seconds when he rose to win a powerful header, scoring with his very first touch. Powell was understandably delighted with the instant impact his substitute had made. United manager Danny Wilson was furious with his defence and his anger increased as Charlton grabbed a second from the restart. The ball was fed through to Wright-Phillips who was free
to run at Blades keeper Steve Simonsen, who managed to stop the first shot, but the rebound fell nicely for Wright-Phillips to tap in an easy second goal. Charlton were now well on top and Simonsen did well to palm over a powerful free kick from Kermorgant. Ched Evans had a late chance for the home side, but Charlton extended their lead at the top of League One. After the game, Chris Powell hailed his teams recent form. He said: “It was an outstanding result.”
Owls leapfrog Blades Anthony Hart
Kevin McDonald battles for the ball during United’s defeat to Charlton. Photo: Blades Sports Photography
Sheffield Wednesday climbed up to fourth in League One after three consecutive victories. The Owls had been struggling away from home but they finally recorded their first away win of the season on September 17. They came back from 2-1 at Yeovil to win 3-2, with Gary Madine hitting a winner in the 72nd minute. The following Saturday they continued their perfect home record with a 3-0 win over Exeter. James O’Connor opened the scoring before Madine, League One’s top scorer, added another two. They then went above local rivals Sheffield United at the weekend when they won 1-0 away
to Hartlepool United. Reda Johnson glanced in a long throw from Ben Marshall at the near post after 33 minutes. They had to hold on for their victory as they went 4-5-1 and endured several chances for Hartlepool to equalise, but the Owls held on. “We gave ourselves a good platform to go on, get the ball down and hopefully score one or two more,” Wednesday boss Gary Megson told the BBC. “We did get opportunities and didn’t take them and whilst it’s at 1-0 they sailed a lot of balls in straight and the goalkeepers played a lot of free-kicks down the middle of the park.” Wednesday’s next fixture is at home to Chesterfield tomorrow, before the small matter of the Steel City derby against United on October 16.
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Steelers up to second after double-header destruction
The Steelers currently sit second in the Elite League table, behind Northern Irish side Belfast Giants. Below: Jason Hewitt squares up to Steven McAlpine. Matthew Smith & Ben Williams The Steelers’ weekend of dominance in the Elite League continued despite a string of injuries as they won 5-0 over whipping boys Fife. Fife, who lost 7-2 at home to the Belfast Giants the previous night, have so far managed to find just one point from five games. Despite the weakened team, Steelers’ 26-year-old second string goaltender Geoff Woolhouse was given the chance to get some ice time. Fife’s Mike Hamilton shot a stinger at the Steelers goal early on which was blocked by the young goalie but otherwise it was to be a relatively quiet game for him. At the other end, Scotsman Blair Daly stopped a barrage of pucks in the Fife goal and earned the admiration of both sides as he sealed his end shut against impressive shots for much of the period. But at 15:17 Steelers’ Colt King stung a shot from the left circle into the net to make it 1-0. In the second period King made himself big again and managed to shut out a hailstorm of pucks for over a quarter of an hour. The barrage of shots continued until Ashley Tait smashed a shot high across him into the roof of the net. Shortly afterwards Jeff Legue darted in from the right and saw
the puck in for a third. In the final period Squires got his goal, scoring after a good skate by Mark Thomas along the boards. Minutes later it was 5-0 when Rod Sarich’s distance shot from the centre blue line found its way into the Fife rigging. After the goals the gloves started to come off. Steelers’ Jason Hewitt was boarded by Steven McAlpine behind the Fife net and squared up to him in the D. It was Hewitt who went to ground first in the scrap, but not before landing one or two big blows on the Scotsman. A few minutes later it was
Ashley Tait and Jamie Wilson who stayed back in the Fife end as they squared up but came to no hits. The Steelers had been rampant the previous night as they piled more misery on the winless Hull Stingrays with a 6-0 thrashing, in a practically perfect night on all areas of the rink, with goalie John De Caro making a remarkable 23 saves for his shutout, and two players scoring twice for the home team. Things were going well right from the off in front of a crowd of around 2,000; Mike Ramsey finished powerfully from the right, the puck flying in off the
post. Hull to their credit did not lie down and held the upper hand for the opening ten minutes, however the Steelers defence lived up to their name, restricting the visitors to shots from distance, although DeCaro did earn his pay with one excellent save. However, the Steelers were soon asserting their authority, with Birnstill and Tait looking dangerous, before the Arena erupted after 13 minutes; Esders made progress down the right and squared for Tait to bundle home. All Hull’s early pressure had evaporated, and heads dropped when three minutes before the interval two became three for Sheffield, as Neil Clark and Mark Thomas exchanged down the left, before Clark walloped home his 13th goal already this season. Hull offered only a spasmodic threat for the remainder of the game, as Sheffield confidently controlled the tempo, and the sight of two Stingray players tripping one another up – much to the merriment of most present – summed up their evening. It felt as if Sheffield could score any time they wanted, but it seemed they only did towards the end of the game; 15 from the end Tait got his second, a powerful finish from the centre of the Hull half. A fifth soon followed, as Clark showed excellent work to beat two men coming forward, before unselfishly feeding Ramsay for
Photos: Steelers Official
his second. Ramsay and Tait were both on hat-tricks and both missed chances, however it was Ryan Finnerty who put the icing on the cake in the final minute, a tap-in for Sheffield’s sixth. The weekend’s two home games, admittedly against weaker opposition, ended with two shut outs and 11 goals even with the string of players missing to injuries. Steelers will hope that such a satisfying weekend will set them up for Coventry this weekend, then the big one at home against the Nottingham Panthers on October 16.
Steelers fixtures Oct 8 - Coventry (H) Ice Sheffield, 7pm Oct 9 - Cardiff (A) Cardiff Arena, 6pm Oct 15 - Dundee (A) Dundee Ice Arena, 7pm Oct 16 - Nottingham (H) Motorpoint Arena, 5pm Oct 22 - Nottingham (A) National Ice Centre, 7pm