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Two jailed over Joana Burns MDMA death Ewan Somerville
Magid appoints Sheffield’s first poet laureate Ewan Somerville
(cont. from front page) ... for his music and poetry, and has a new book titled Safe Metamorphosis. Magid said: “Otis represents all that is great about Sheffield, he’s dynamic, skillful and radical. “Otis will without a shadow of a doubt help advance and enhance the already incredible arts and culture of the city.” Mensah said he was ‘surprised’ to be offered the two-year role, adding: “I found it interesting that an aspiring experimental, hip-hop artist could be considered for such a formal position.” Dubbing himself as a “young story-teller-rapper-poet”, he also said he hopes to break down the perception of poetry as “an elitist, whitewashed art form”. He added: “I believe poetry at its core is about communicating imperative messages of emotion.” Mensah has been widely congratulated on Twitter since the announcement, and will now embark on the unpaid role involving different commissions, workshops and events. “Sheffield has always had a rich poetry culture filled with fresh, innovative and contemporary pieces of work which has gained local, national and international recognition,” Magid added. “The appointment of Mensah is my commitment to champion the amazing talent and diversity of the city’s arts scene.”
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A judge has described the death from MDMA of Sheffield student Joana Burns as ‘a tragedy in every dimension’, as he sentenced two former Hallam students today. Burns, 22, died last year after taking the class A drug on a night out at The Tuesday Club to celebrate completing her Maths degree at Sheffield Hallam University. In an emotional recent video Mosca Burns, Joana’s mother, revealed that Joana’s sister committed suicide two months after her death. Jeremy Richardson QC sentenced
Joana’s friend and former student Katherine Lavin to six months, and bar worker Benjamin Williams to two and a half years. Sheffield Crown Court heard on 12 October how, in June 2017 Lavin, 21, bought ecstasy from Williams for a group of Sheffield Hallam friends, including Joana Burns, and they all took it willingly. The judge told her: “Quite how an intelligent young woman, as you are, could do such a foolish thing is almost beyond understanding. “This case is a tragedy in every dimension. You have wrecked your future.” Lavin, from Stockport, and Williams, of Melbourne Road,
Crookes, both admitted to supplying a controlled Class A drug. An inquest in May heard that Burns collapsed in the early hours after taking a second ‘bomb’, where pure ecstasy in powder form is wrapped in dissolvable paper, having also taken one before she arrived at The Foundry. Witnesses said she vomited the second ‘bomb’ immediately after having it, before having a seizure, collapsing near Glossop Road and being rushed to hospital where she passed away. A South Yorkshire Police report found that the friends each paid £7 for the drug. Following the death, Sheffield
City Council’s licensing committee ordered the SU to bring in 11 different conditions to tighten its drug policy, including sniffer dogs and ID scanners upon entry. Warning others against taking ecstasy, after the inquest Mosca Burns said: “I would prefer it if nobody took MDMA again because I don’t really think you can assess the risk.” “It’s not worth the risk.” Mosca Burns, from Alfreton, Derbyshire, also previously expressed her hope that Joana will be remembered as an inspiration for girls getting into maths, rather than as a victim of illegal drugs.
Spiderwalk is organised by Sheffield Raising and Giving committee. Image: Juliet Cookson
Spiderwalk charity hike returns to the Peak District Lucas Mentken
Volunteers will hike through the peaks at night to raise money for local charities as the Spiderwalk returns on Thursday 1 November. The event, which is run by the Students’ Union’s working committee Sheffield Raising and Giving (RAG), raised over £6,000 for various South Yorkshire charities last year. Participants will complete a 13mile walk through the Peak District after sunset with high visibility
jackets and maps provided. People are urged to bring their own torches to help them navigate the route and are encouraged not to rely on their smartphones, which should be brought fully charged nevertheless. Everyone who takes part in the walk is also asked to fundraise a minimum sponsorship of £30 before Monday 26 November. Funding packs featuring advice about different ways of raising money are available on the Sheffield RAG website.
This year, the raised money will go to Whirlow Hall Farm, who work with disadvantaged children which have disabilities or are at risk of exclusion. They provide them with supportive and educational experiences in a farm setting. The charity hike will also raise funds for Sheffield Volunteering and two other charities, one of which is chosen by students. The students who raised the most money last year will pick the second charity which needs to be in or around the Sheffield area.
Signing up to the Spiderwalk includes a free meal and hot drink as well as an entertainment program with live music and a bar in Whirlow Hall Farm, which acts as the halfway point. Qualified first-aiders and a steward safety car will be on standby on the night and an emergency hotline will be set up to help anyone who is lost or injured. Tickets are £8.80 per person and can be purchased online from the Sheffield Students’ Union ticket store.