Forge Press #161 - Freshers 2022

Forge Press

Is university drinking culture a problem for students?

How are students coping with the cost of living crisis?

Hollie Taylor (she/her)

Prices for food, rent and energy bills have all increased significantly making it difficult for many students to get by with just their maintenance loan.

Food prices have increased by 10.4% between June 2021 and June 2022, and a survey from the National Union of Students (NUS) found the number of students who have turned to food banks has doubled since January.

The government has tried to counteract this by increasing students’ maintenance loans by 2.3%. However, for most this is not enough to catch up with the increasing living cost.

The increasing prices have also affected the mental health of many students with a survey from the NUS resulting in 92% of students agreeing that it has had an impact on their mental health.

According to the NUS the price of student accommodation has increased by 61%, and

Nationwide Building Society found that two thirds of current students are struggling to pay or had already fallen behind on their rent.

This rise in costs has deterred many from university, making it a less appealing prospect to a quarter of prospective students, according to a OnePoll survey.

One resource for assistance with prices is through a government energy grant specifically for students which gives students £400 off their energy bills. This equates to around £66 saved each month.

Many universities have hardship funds available for struggling students. At the University of Sheffield, registered students facing unforeseen costs who have received their first instalment of student funding are eligible to apply for Financial Support.

Fresher-friendly guide to the Sheffield arts scene

University of Sheffield responds to death of Queen Elizabeth II

Ayesha Parwani (she/her)

The University of Sheffield has extended its "deepest sympathies and condolences to the Royal Family" following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

The Union Jack at Firth Court was lowered to halfmast following the news.

Staff and students of

the University of all ages were seen gathering inside Porter’s Lodge last week to sign the book of condolences, which will remain there until September 20th at 6pm.

This book is expected to be sent to the Royal Family in the near future.

In a statement, the University said: "Her Majesty

holds a special place in our University history and affections, having paid royal visits to the University of Sheffield in 1954 and 2010."

The Lying-in-State of the Queen began last Wednesday.

The University will screen the state funeral today in the SU Studio on Level 2.

The Queen meeting staff and students at the University in

FORGE PRESS EDITORIAL TEAM

Editor-in-Chief Chloe Aslett

Deputy Editor Reiss Mason

Deputy Editor Hollie Taylor

Head of Socials and Advertising Joel Hooke

Inclusions & Welfare Officer Eva Pears

Head of Photography Shruthi Selvarajan

Head of Design Thomas Cather

Head of News Connor Ost

News Editor Ayesha Parwani

News Editor Ciara Hay

Features Editor Erin Mansell

Features Editor Josh Thory-Rao

Opinion Editor Lia Freeman

Opinion Editor Ollie Inman

Science & Tech Editor Isabel Butterworth

Lifestyle Editor Emily Duff

Lifestyle Editor Hannah Scott

Acting Break Editor Joel Hooke

Arts & Theatre Editor Lucy Riddell

Music Editor Alice Fletcher

Music Editor Charlie Sweeney

Screen Editor Connor Bragger

Screen Editor Ruby Watson

Games Editor Carla Biteanu

Games Editor Nicole Calogero

Head of Sport Jemma Snowdon

Sport Editor Tommy Gorman

Sport Editor Sam Quine

Multimedia Editor Charlotte Beever

Multimedia Editor Ayesha Parwani

Deputy Head of Advertising Tia Xiourouppas

Website Manager Vacant

News Reporters x5 Vacant

News Editor x1 Vacant

Arts and Theatre Editor x1 Vacant

Science and Tech Editor x1 Vacant Break Editors x2 Vacant

Secretary/Social Secretary Vacant

Social Media Assistants x2 Vacant

Letter from the Editor

Hello, welcome, and welcome back to Sheffield!

The next few weeks are going to be hectic, whether that’s for new students throwing themselves into university life, or for returning students who are trying to work out if they still have the energy for Fresher’s week…

I’m both excited for, and slightly jealous of, all the first years who are about to get started. All of university is a chaotic and shaping experience, but that first few months - awkwardly getting to know the total strangers who are now your housemates, and spending half your loan on takeawayis a brilliant time to look back on for many.

It’s certainly not perfect for everyone, and if you’re not feeling sure about how you’ll navigate things, there are plenty of resources at the university and around the city to help you out, including the University Health Service, the Student Mental Health Counselling and Therapies Service, and Nightline. There is a lot more information about this on the SU website, along with wider health and wellbeing help, and other resources such as money and housing advice, which has arguably never been more widely needed.

We’re really proud of what we’ve put together for the first issue of the year, especially over the

summer when lots of us were working, having a bit of a break from uni, and weren’t even in Sheffield. The whole committee has done amazingly and thrown themselves into the roles, so I hope you enjoy what they’ve done, and maybe even learn a thing or two.

Find out our writer’s top tips and stories about their own start at university, the value of taking time abroad during university, and the arts and music spots across Sheffield you wouldn’t want to miss.

If you fancy getting involved at any level, all the details are at the bottom right of this page. Also, as you can see on the left, we’ve got a few vacant positions to fill over the next few weeks. Find our contact details, all the content from this paper, and more at forgepress.org

Here’s to a great start to the year - enjoy freshers week (whether that means drinking until you drop or making the most of the peace before term starts), and make sure to follow us on all our socials to keep up to date with all things uni, and all things Forge Press.

Take care!

Chloe Aslett Editor-in-Chief

The

Head of Photography, Sheffield

NEWS

Student renting may undergo major changes in proposed government

The

Photography,

outdoor

Selvarajan, on the

that Freshers shouldn’t miss out

As the months inch towards autumn and the sun shies away from our skies, now would be the time to chase the sunset. There is not a better place than to experience dawn at Sheffield’s Bole Hills. The site previously used to smelt lead in open air has now become

a breathing space for the community. Get comfortable on any of the large layered

that face the skyline,

watch as the orange-red sun leisurely descends into the green hilltops. Truly a

where nature meets

NEWS

UoS twins with Ukrainian university

OPINION

The ups and downs of Freshers week

FEATURES

What makes Sheffield a great student city?

Page

SCIENCE & TECH

Atlantropa: The 90-yearold plan to drain the Mediterranean Sea

ARTS & THEATRE

Is the UK exam system destroying passion for literature?

MUSIC

We Can’t Lose Leadmill: What the venue means to students

Page

View

Shruthi Selvarajan

University of Sheffield partners with Ukrainian University where fighting took place

Ayesha Parwani (she/her)

The University of Sheffield has twinned with Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute (KPI) in a bid to support students and staff affected by the war in Ukraine.

KPI is one of Ukraine’s largest and oldest

universities, renowned for engineering teaching and research, however, its staff, students, and day-today operations have been significantly affected by the war.

In the first days of the invasion, fighting took place close to the university and even inside the campus. A

large number of KPI students became soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, volunteers of territorial defence units, as well as volunteer organisations.

Vice-director for International Relations at KPI, Professor Sergii Sydoreno said: "The decision is not only humanitarian, but it also has a significant political dimension in the context of the incredible amount of Britain's assistance to Ukraine in this war."

The University of Sheffield is donating £20,000 to rebuild air raid shelters on KPI’s campus, providing access to essential equipment, and resources, and launching research collaborations and staff exchanges.

One underground nightclub, beneath student accomodation, has now been turned into shelter (left).

KPI is listed in the

Tank announces reopening - just weeks after announcing closure

Hollie Taylor (she/her)

Tank announced that they have made major renovations in an effort to make the nightclub “fresh, exciting and unmissable” after struggling during the pandemic.

The beloved Sheffield club announced their reopening just a couple of weeks after announcing they would close.

In a Facebook statement, Tank described their decision for closing the venue stating: “Our Industry right now is the hardest we have ever known it.

The bottom line is the cost of running a venue is not

sustainable for a lot of club and pub owners.”

The statement continued by stating how despite hard times they did not want to increase their prices.

However, after the mass of messages from fans they decided to reopen the nightclub.

Tank announced that the subway theme they once had is now gone, and revealed they had put in a bigger dance floor, better DJ booths, new bars, and air conditioning.

QS World University rankings - one of only four Ukrainian universities in the prestigious league table - but its day-to-day operations have been significantly disrupted by the conflict.

Since 24 February, twelve students have died as a result of the conflict. More than 1,600 KPI students and more than 500 academics have now left Ukraine, leaving many homeless.

The University of Sheffield said its offer was designed “to help KPI, its staff, and students survive in the short term and also thrive in the longer-term so they can help to rebuild their country following the invasion”.

Sheffield is donating key IT and laboratory equipment, including high performance computers, that are essential for maintaining teaching and research in Kyiv and sharing its library facilities.

Dr Malcolm Butler, Director of Global

Engagement at the University of Sheffield, said: "It's essential that we help staff and students at Ukrainian universities with the short-term assistance they urgently need now, but also build long lasting ties through collaboration and exchange, so we can help them to rebuild their education system and their country once the war is over."

Academic departments at the University of Sheffield are willing to host visiting scholars from Kyiv to help drive new research and collaborations between the two institutions.

The University of Sheffield’s English Language Teaching Centre is helping staff and students at KPI learn English to help transition into the joint collaboration of academics.

UK responds to flooding in Pakistan

Josh Thory-Rao (he/him)

Thousands of people have died in what Pakistan's Prime Minister has called "the worst flooding in the history of the country" over the last few months.

Resulting from unusually heavy monsoon rainfall since June and glacial melting in the northern parts of the country, almost 1,400 people have lost their lives in what is now one of the world’s most serious humanitarian situations.

Over 33 million people have been affected by the flooding, which at its peak saw over one third of the country's land area hit, devastating crops and leading to food shortages.

Responding to the

crisis, The University of Sheffield’s International and Community Officer Anna Fedotova said: “Our thoughts are with our students, and their friends and families, who may have been affected by the flash floods in Pakistan.

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres landed in Pakistan on September 9 to assess the situation and gear the UN into drive to aid the flooded nation, appealing for “massive” global support for Pakistan at this time.

He said he had never seen climate carnage on this scale, and said: "Wealthier countries are morally responsible for helping developing countries like Pakistan to recover from

disasters like this.”

According to Al Jazeera, Pakistan is responsible for less than 1 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Liz Truss, while she was Foreign Secretary, pledged £15 million of aid from the UK.

The Red Cross and Islamic Relief UK are both involved in the Disasters Emergency Committee’s Pakistan Appeal, an initiative which raised £13.5 million in just its first two days, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Students affected by this story can contact the Student's Union Student Advice Centre at any time if they need support by emailing advice@sheffield.

Sheffield rumoured to be in top two to host Eurovision

Tia Xiourouppas (she/her), Chloe Aslett (she/her)

Sheffield and Liverpool are reportedly the two final cities, from a confirmed shortlist of seven, to be contending to host Eurovision next year.

The current official shortlist also includes Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester, and Newcastle.

A council insider said: "We have heard rumours that the final shortlist seems to be between Sheffield and Liverpool. It would be great for it to be Sheffield considering the city's musical heritage and culture, as well as the fact that we are twinned with Donetsk."

Whilst Ukraine did win Eurovision this year, the UK will be hosting it in 2023 due to ongoing tensions in Ukraine.

The UK and BBC are keen to acknowledge and respect Ukraine's culture, music, and influence in their presentation of Eurovision.

Sheffield councillor Ben Miskell said: “We’ve got a large and developing Ukrainian community in Sheffield and hundreds of families have taken in refugees.

“We want to use the opportunity to demonstrate that shared heritage because, really, this Eurovision should be Ukraine’s.”

Both the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam have recently twinned with universities in Kyiv to help support staff and students who have been affected by the war in Ukraine.

The event could bring thousands of pounds of tourism revenue into the community, strengthening not just Sheffielders, but the Ukrainian community which lies inside of it.

Student renting may undergo major changes in proposed government plans

Joel Hooke (he/him)

Fixed length contracts which are used by the majority of student landlords and letting agencies may be disbanded, creating new advantages for student renters.

The Government’s proposed changes to the private rented sector mean that contracts with a fixed length (most commonly nine or twelve months for students) would be replaced with more flexible agreements that have no end date.

The possibility of getting rid of the commonplace Assured Shorthold Tenancies (ASTs) is outlined in 'A fairer private rented sector' White Paper.

Renters would be able to walk away from a tenancy agreement at any time, needing to provide two months notice to the landlord. They also would have the choice to stay beyond the 12 month period usually used for students.

Henry Cowling, a student renter in Sheffield, said:

“The proposed changes could really be a positive thing for student tenants. It would allow for more flexibility, especially when circumstances can affect tenancies.

“I myself have experienced a housemate dropping out of uni which caused problems with regards to replacing them and ensuring the rent was still split equally.

“If the proposed changes had been in place then we could have left our current house agreement to find ourselves a smaller property rather than trying to find a replacement tenant which was tough to do.”

Additionally, it could benefit those that want to move out early over summer to avoid paying rent for an empty property.

There are, however, concerns over the logistics of the new tenancy structure.

Ben Beadle, CEO of the National Residential Landlords Association, giving evidence to the Housing select committee, said: “The

actual concern is that a sector that works quite well where students know that properties will be available to them, just won’t be ready.

“Truth be told, the student market is very cyclical, we’re not looking for security of tenure. Students move on from one year to the next and then they go out to the Private Rented Sector. They need the confidence that the property will be there, and these proposals do not do that. It will decimate the [student rental] sector.”

Mr Beadle, a student landlord himself, called for an exception like that being provided to Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (such as Endcliffe student village) that means they are able to provide ASTs to students. However, the Government has doubleddown on the plans so far.

Changes could still be made as the bill is in one of the earliest stages of the law making process.

'Billy Big Balls' set to replace Players on West Street

Charlotte Beever (she/her)

Players Bar on West Street has shut its doors after 14 years.

The Bar announced its closing through a Facebook post to its over 16,000 followers on 19 August, saying: "We’ve had an amazing time and some of the BEST NIGHTS with all of you!!"

People have been reminiscing on their nights

out at Players by commenting on the announcement on the bar's Facebook page.

One commenter said: "Really friendly people. I will miss this place during my visits to Sheffield. Rising costs mostly energy - it's just the start. A lot more will fold. Sad times. Feel for the people's jobs."

But not all have had such a positive experience at

Players, with it being rated 132 of 142 of Nightlife venues in Sheffield on Tripadvisor.

Renovation is underway to turn this prime location in the hospitality hotspot of the city into 'Billy Big Balls', a ball pit and beer pong bar which is set to open early this week.

Liz Truss: What students need to know about the new PM

Early Life

When she was of school age, Ms Truss’ family moved to Leeds where she attended Roundhay, a state secondary school. She then returned to Oxford to read Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Merton College, graduating in 1996.

During her time at university, she supported the legalisation of cannabis and the abolition of the monarchy, a fact we have recently been reminded of all thanks to a particular viral clip.

It was this same year that Ms Truss joined the Conservative party.

Pre-Parliament

For four years after, she worked for Shell as an accountant, followed by five years at Cable & Wireless where she became economic director, proving her ability to climb the ladder.

In the 2001 and 2005 general elections, Truss contested two Labour safe seats in West Yorkshire, both of which she lost. In 2009, however, David Cameron selected her for the South West Norfolk seat which she won and has held since.

What does Truss believe in?

In the past, Ms Truss has voted in favour of raising undergrad tuition fee caps, pushing them up to £9k in 2010, and voting against scrapping tuition fees in 2017, according to TheyWorkForYou.com.

Lower taxes are on the new Prime Minister’s current hit-list – she wants to scrap a planned rise in corporation tax that was supposed to increase from 19% to 25% in 2023 – and, in the past, she has voted against mansion tax and a banker’s bonus tax.

Some of Truss’ key pledges from her leadership campaign included getting more mental health support available in schools, though she also wants schools to provide single sex toilets.

During the final round of inter-party panels, when asked if trans women are women, Truss said: “No,” unexpected by some considering that she has never voted against samesex marriage.

Initially a Remainer, Ms Truss tweeted in 2016: “I am backing remain as I believe it is in Britain’s economic interest and means we can focus on vital economic and social reform at home.”

Recently, however, at a Tory leadership husting,

she remarked that she was “pretty much on the fence” about the referendum. She said: “I was concerned about some of the disruption; the fact is that disruption didn’t happen.” contrary to a report by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) in March.

The OBR told Bloomberg UK that a “less trade intensive economy” created by Brexit meant that the nation “missed out on much of the recovery in global trade”.

This is not the only thing Truss has U-turned on, though.

She was born to parents whom she has described as “to the left of Labour”, and, in university, was president of the Oxford University Liberal Democrats.

During the Tory leadership campaign her changes to promised policies made headlines as she pledged billions of pounds of “immediate support” to help with energy bills, after previously insisting there would be “no handouts”.

Since, she has followed through with this pledge, unveiling plans for a £2,500 energy bill freeze until 2024, in response to an Ofgem announcement that the energy price cap will rise to £3,549.

Hopefully students won’t feel too much of the brunt of the energy crisis, but after recent reports that UniHomes are increasing the prices of their student bills packages, Truss may face calls to provide further financial support for students.

Who is in Truss’ Cabinet?

Often you can tell a PM’s intentions by their cabinet choices, and Truss seems to be playing the defensive, keeping in many loyalists while reserving a few magnanimous seats in the junior ministerial ranks for Sunak supporters Mark Spencer, Victoria Prentis, and Robert Jenrick.

Some controversial names have fallen out of the cabinet including the ex-Justice Secretary Dominic Raab, exHome Secretary Priti Patel, and ex-Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries.

However, Truss’ cabinet

Justice Secretary and

Chancellor

Chief Secretary to the

Trade Secretary

Foreign Secretary

is not without controversy itself, bringing into question her priorities. The pro-fracking, climatedenying Jacob Rees-Mogg has been put in charge of cutting UK carbon emissions as Business and Energy Secretary; the anti-gay marriage, anti-euthanasia Suella Braverman has been made Home Secretary; and Kit Malthouse took position as the fifth Education Secretary in a year, which has received harsh criticism from the opposition.

Six out of the 23 members of Truss’ cabinet were state educated (including Truss herself), which is not representative of the 93% of Britons who go to state schools. Additionally, only five of the full cabinet represent north of England and Scottish constituencies.

Reiss

Liz Truss’

David Cameron

Theresa May Boris Johnson

Secretary

Can pay? We’ll keep taking awaythe age-old conflict between landlord and student tenant

Hiwan Mulugeta (she/her)

Freshly 18, , you and your new friends of about three months get together and you start thinking about where to live next year. You start calling up letting agencies and going to viewings, but school never prepared you for this.

Don’t expect your whole deposit back.

Don’t expect them to be nice all year.

Just you wait for the unannounced visits.

Myself and my fellow students have joked about the idea that landlords simply dislike student tenants, and often try to get away with what they can. To dispute this would be futile. If we are talking probability, a student is a lot less likely to have the same informed opinions and knowledge as a first-time buyer, so often landlords bank on this pattern of naivety, and overstep.

A common situation is you get a visit from your landlord with no warning. Despite the reason that may be given for

this- maybe they wanted to have a quick look at the paint on the stairwell- they are not allowed to do this. Under the Housing Act 1988, landlords must give at least 24 hours’ notice before they visit so if this happens to you, they really are overstepping. They might own the property, but it is your home for that year and if they are to enter, they must give you legal notice.

“

Students talk about mean landlords and tedious issues we must sort out, so it is not that we are completely oblivious to the renting culture - so why does this still happen?

As students we are preoccupied with a plethora of other things to deal with;

a new city, making friends, a new course, and being away from home. From my own experiences, I know that sometimes it is easier to give in to a persistent landlord, than to open disputes about £35 you got wrongfully charged for an alreadybroken oven.

The remedy for these issues shouldn’t be court action, and equally the culture shouldn’t be that landlords can get away with this kind of thing. So, what can we as students look out for to minimise the problems we have with our landlords? The biggest thing is awareness and here are my top three tips.

1. Deposits

I am guilty of making constant jokes with my friends about our deposits becoming ‘the mystery money’: Dropped a grape on the floor? Tidy it up quickly or you will lose your deposit!

But did you know that all deposits must be protected in a tenancy deposit scheme, and you can request a certificate of this from your

landlord. This means that your money is protected, and you can get it back granted that no terms of your contract have been breached.

One great way to ensure the return of your deposit is to take photos of everything when you move in: the walls, the furniture, and every room. This way you have a reference photo in case any unreasonable charges get brought up. You are well within your rights to dispute any charges you don’t feel have a basis, but make sure you are aware of the terms of your contract and what can lead to parts of your deposit legally being held.

2. Who does what?

We all know that student living is hardly glamorous, but being aware of who - tenant or landlord - is responsible for what, is vital in ensuring reasonable living standards.

A 2022 student accommodation survey by Save the Student showed that 30% of students struggle with lack of water or heating, along with other alarming statistics regarding a lack of smoke alarms and feeling unsafe in the property.

This should not be the case. Landlords owe a duty of care to both the property they own and their tenants. Make sure you press for any issues to be attended to as soon as you can.

A good rule of thumb is that if you have not caused it, the landlord is likely to be responsible for sorting it.

3. To include bills or not to include bills, that is the question

Something I was unsure about until the end of my second year was what we do about bills. UniHomes is a popular provider of bills packages which means that the figure you sign on for in your housing contract is inclusive of all bills and rent, saving you from having to calculate bills separately at the end of the month. But if you and your housemates are happy to crunch the numbers yourself, then you can save a bit of money by sorting out your own bills.

Opinion

Erin McCarthy, a thirdyear politics student, said: “I wish I knew that sorting bills myself was an option. It is a bit more complicated but it’s worth it in the end.”

The choice of whether to include bills is a matter of personal preference, just make sure you communicate with your landlord on what you want to do.

Being aware of your rights as a student tenant is the best thing you can do to protect your own interests. The best thing we can do to deal with landlords who might assume that we are naïve, is to be aware of our role and theirs, to ensure we take informed action to challenge any issues.

Here are a few more of your tenancy rights!

• No full scale deco rating or wall paint ing without written permission from your landlord.

• Your landlord is obliged to keep your deposit in a government-backed tenenacy deposit protection scheme to protect your money.

• On every floor of the property there must be at least one smoke alarm - you must check they all are working.

• Agree on an inventory with your landlord or letting agent - take photos of everything!

• The amount of your deposit agreed be tween you and your landlord must be re turned within 10 days of the tenancy ending.

Being aware of your rights as a student tenant is the best thing you can do to protect your own interests.

Credit: Ollie Inman

Opinion

New ground to conquer: a summer in Denmark

Becca Symns-Rowley (she/her)

Before I came to university, the idea of spending three weeks studying in a foreign country at the end of my first year seemed pretty far-fetched –but when July rolled around, and I found myself standing with an oversized suitcase at the gates of Manchester Airport, it began to suddenly feel quite real.

This summer, I spent just under a month in Denmark, studying archaeology at Aarhus University. Before I started university, I applied for the Global Summer Experience Scholarship at Sheffield and was lucky enough to be awarded a place, which meant that the university would pay for me to fly out and study at a summer school abroad.

Aarhus is a beautiful city. Youthful, vibrant, and full of historic charm, it boasts a famous Viking heritage and is home to the second largest university in Denmark. Having such a big student population means there is loads to do in the city; there’s plenty of bars and clubs,

but there’s also a sense of extraordinary history, with a number of museums and art galleries that we spent days exploring.

The people I met at the summer school were incredible. People from all over the world got involved at the university, ranging as far as Canada, Singapore, and Australia, to as close to home as Manchester and Birmingham. Having these connections not only across

the country but all over the world is amazing - the opportunities that it can provide for whatever career I go into will be hugely beneficial. And hey, it’s nice to have a sofa to crash on in each continent.

During my time at the summer school, I was

enrolled on an intensive ten-day course studying Viking archaeology. This was a brand-new subject area for me – I study English at Sheffield – and so I was thrown right into the deep end. I wanted to take advantage of being in one of the most historic towns in Denmark, so why not study the history hands on? I was lucky enough to work with some of the leading lecturers and researchers in the field. As someone with no experience in the subject, it was very impressive –almost intimidating – to be able to handle precious artefacts and scientific equipment. Imagine forty students, wide-eyed yet simultaneously exhausted from the 6am start, wandering around rooms filled with swords, helmets and skeletons that looked like they had seen better days, around 1000 years ago. Studying at a summer school benefitted me hugely in in several ways. Firstly, it vastly improved my academic skills. Of course, studying at university for a year has taught me a lot, but learning a lot over a short, intense period of time really showed

what I’m capable of. Before I went to Denmark, I used to dread the idea of standing up in front of the class and doing a presentation. Now, having had to present to the class every few days during the summer school, I feel much more confident in myself. As well as this, my time management has turned a corner. Writing a onethousand word essay every three days wasn’t exactly what I had signed up for, but now writing a two-thousand word one at Christmas for my degree doesn’t sound so bad. All in all, this experience was really valuable for my academic development, and I learned skills that I will definitely take with me to the end of my degree and beyond.

The trip also benefited me on a personal level. Being on my own in a foreign country is without a doubt one of the most intimidating things I’ve ever done. Even though it was only for three weeks, I loved it. Talking to people from every type of background you could imagine, and immersing myself in a culture I was unfamiliar with and a language I don’t understand, massively improved my confidence. From jumping into the ice-cold sea at 7am before lectures, to downing Danish pints in a tiny pub with a bunch of international students, I can safely say that

although I had no idea what to expect, I had the best time there.

If I could give this year’s freshers any advice, it would be to grab every opportunity you can and get outside your comfort zone. University is all about trying new things and putting yourself out there. For me, living in a different country for three weeks wasn’t even on my radar when I was thinking about going to university, and now – a year later –I’m considering studying abroad for a whole year. My advice would be to research scholarships and, if you can, look into study abroad options for your course.

That being said, you don’t have to fly across the continent to have a productive term or summer. Join a new society. Explore a new place. Learn a language. Look into doing some work experience or an internship. There are so many ways to make the most out of your summer, even if that’s just sitting in the park with your mates and having a good time. Personally, spending three weeks in Denmark was one of the most exciting opportunities I’ve been lucky enough to experience. If I could change anything, it’s that I would go back and tell myself not to worry – it was going to be the highlight of my summer.

My advice would be to research scholarships and, if you can, look into study abroad options for your course.

“

Credit: Nick Karvounis via Unsplash

The ups (and importantly) downs of freshers week

was spent awkwardly sitting around our ten person dining table playing drinking games and getting to know one another. Minus one guy who missed out after a drink too many, the nine of us ventured down to West Street. Freshers week can be unexpectedly intimidating and another aspect of it that isn’t discussed is the reliance on alcohol to get yourself through it. This isn’t helped by cheap drink prices at student club nights. Mixing alcohol with nervous friendmaking is dangerous, if you ask many students about their freshers week, they may not even remember it!

Every year, Sheffield Freshers week welcomes thousands of school leavers as they leave home for the very first time, to embark on a new adventure. For many students hearing “you’ll have the best week of your life” from older friends, or watching film and tv depictions of the initial burst of freedom the start of university brings, has created a narrative that freshers week is solely for drinking, dancing and worrying about nothing else. New students will arrive in Sheffield anticipating the most exciting, carefree week of their lives because whilst growing up, hearing other peoples stories and experiences of freshers week has curated a ‘fun only’, onesided expectation.

Freshers week is seen as a rite of passage for those entering higher education, but there are many elements of the week that are not talked about. Plenty of people don’t enjoy drinking but feel pressured to partake in order to make friends, so is a week focused solely on

partying an inclusive way to welcome every single student?

Leaving home is a huge life event, and it’s not easy. As the culture of UK freshers is so focused on having a good time only, experiencing moments of feeling anything other than happiness are often brushed under the carpet. The established narrative of freshers week does not currently acknowledge the difficulties of settling into university, such as how to cope with the pressure students feel to make new friends, and how intimidating it is to socialise with a group of strangers on the very same day as saying goodbye to the family that just dropped you off.

I wish someone told me when I moved to university that it is okay to find living in a new flat with brand new friends strange, instead of just great fun. As much as I enjoyed going out for the first time in Sheffield and exploring the city, I wish I knew that it is okay to feel a little bit lost, and that this is completely normal; it takes longer than a week to feel at home. Freshers aren’t told that it’s okay to have fun, and find the week difficult or a bit too much at the same

time. This can consequently cause feelings of guilt and confusion of why aren’t they fully enjoying it like their newfound friends seem to be.

My advice to any fresher

A study by the National Union of Students found that peer pressure is still seen as an issue for students –70% of students think that others drink alcohol to fit in with their peers, but survey respondents feel that this is more of an issue for other students then themselves, with 41% saying they never feel like their friends expect them to drink.

Especially for those who don’t enjoy drinking, freshers week can be a cause of dread. It can be an alienating environment for those who would rather not go clubbing. The experience of students who prefer different social activities is often disregarded as they would rather not participate in bonding activities with students around them such as club nights or sports initiations.

inclusive for different types of socialising, so everyone can be involved. Where in Sheffield freshers week is there time and money invested for those who can not bond over alcohol? I can name very few evening activities not centered around drinking culture. Ultimately the one-sided narrative surrounding freshers’ weeks in our country needs to be addressed, so freshers are more aware of the challenges the week can cause for so many. If the mindset students have approaching freshers week is changed, the amount of anxiety new students feel can be eased. Freshers week could be a lot less overwhelming if new students understand that it’s normal to feel a range of emotions and expect to experience different feelings rather than solely enjoying it. The relationship between freshers week and alcohol is clearly more of a reliance than a choice for many, and creating an environment at the start of adulthood that encourages drinking to relieve social anxiety is an unhealthy way to welcome school leavers to university. It can set a dangerous precedent for drinking habits later in life.

starting this September is to talk to the people around you about how you are feeling and ask them how they are finding it, this could help spread the understanding amongst freshers that it’s okay if you aren’t fully enjoying yourself. If you aren’t loving the first week, or are finding the prospect of bonding with newly made friends stressful, don’t panic.

It takes a few weeks for things to feel more natural and to feel comfortable with such a big change.

My first night in Sheffield

Student unions up and down the country have a responsibility to help make freshers week more

Eilidh Mitchell (she/her)

I wish someone told me when I moved to university that it is okay to find living in a new flat with brand new friends strange instead of just great fun.

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Credit: Long Truong via Unsplash

What makes Sheffield a good student city? Daniel Hunt gives us a tour...

Daniel Hunt (he/him)

Chances are that if you’re reading this article you have made the decision to study in Sheffield, and rest assured, you’ve made a great decision. When looking for a place to live and study, aside from your course, a major factor is the quality of life in your chosen university city.

No matter what you’re looking for, you’re sure to find it in Sheffield. Despite being renowned for its industrial heritage, Sheffield is also the greenest city in the UK, boasting over 80 public parks, as well as the Peak District on its doorstep. It also has great nightlife with a range of lively pubs, bars and nightclubs to suit all tastes, from indie music or comedy nights at Leadmill, to raves at Hope Works, to student-filled Pop Tarts at the Students’ Union.

The city has an immense sporting pedigree and has recently been coined ‘the home of football’. It is home to two well-established names in English football, Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United, as well as the Crucible Theatre which hosts the World Snooker Championship.

The Students’ Union is at the heart of student life in Sheffield and has been ranked the number one Student Union in the

country for the last fourteen years. The SU offers over 350 societies and sports clubs, as well as a number of outlets where you can relax and catch up with friends.

can get to know how the SU works. It helps to unite students from around the world.

“You can also apply to get a mentor who helps you during your first year which is a really good thing if you’re intimidated by the first year of uni, which obviously many international students are.

“In my two years in Sheffield I could always count on help from the SU, the University or the people I have met here.”

said: “You can find many places to live for reasonable prices. I’d say Sheffield is definitely seems more affordable for international students in comparison to other English universities”

best things about Sheffield is the community feel that it has. As soon as I moved to Sheffield everyone was so welcoming and friendly and I felt at home straight away.

“Plus, everything is within walking distance, you only have to walk a few minutes down the road to get to university, to go to your friend’s houses or to explore the city centre.”

The steel city is, above all, a student city.

Sheffield is different to many universities in that it is a city university, rather than an enclosed campus.

For Magda Käppler, an international student studying international and European law, the Students’ Union helped her settle into life in Sheffield. She says, “during freshers week you

Another major factor that makes Sheffield a great student city is that it is more affordable than other large cities across the UK. In 2022, the Natwest Student Living Index ranked Sheffield the 3rd most affordable student city in the UK.

For Magda, this was one of the biggest appeals of studying in Sheffield. She

Sheffield and the Student’s Union also have plenty of part-time job opportunities for students to help fund their studies. Recent journalism graduate Emily Pollock says, “I really enjoyed working at the SU, and enjoying what it has to offer, from Coffee Revolution to the Foundry nightclub.

The University of Sheffield has students from over 120 countries, making it a diverse and multicultural student body. This contributes to a vibrant city and means you’ll always be bumping into other students who share your interests.

Emily added, “One of the

Sean Emery, an MA History student, says “having a split campus has probably been the biggest difference here, allowing me to explore the city of Sheffield more while going to university.”

For these reasons and many more, you’re not alone in making the decision to study in the Steel City. Sheffield has a student population of 60,000, around a tenth of the overall population. The steel city, and the green city is above all, a student city.

What history has the Queen made?

Jemma Snowden (she/her)

On 8th September, Buckingham Palace announced the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. In light of the Queen’s death, Forge Press takes a look back in time at the significance of her reign in British and international History.

Officially crowned in 1953 at Westminster Abbey, 16 months after the death of her father King George VI on 6 February 1952, Queen Elizabeth II ruled for 70 years. The length of her reign makes Elizabeth II the longest-running monarch in British History and the second longest-ruling monarch recorded of any monarch of a sovereign nation.

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The Queen’s 70 year reign makes her Britain’s longest serving monarch

Queen Elizabeth began making history from the very start of her rule as hers was

the only British coronation to be fully televised. It was also the first major world event to be broadcasted internationally.

Her parents did not allow television cameras inside Westminster Abbey for their coronation.

During Queen Elizabeth II’s reign, she became the first reigning monarch of Australia and New Zealand to visit those nations and

“ Rest assured, you’ve made a great decision. Whatever you’re looking for, you’re sure to find it in Sheffield.

“

was the most widely travelled head of state.

Her rule coincided with the offices of 15 Prime Ministers in the United Kingdom including Winston Churchill and Harold Wilson, 16 if one counts welcoming Truss. The Queen also saw 13 American presidents move in to the White House during her reign, who included John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan; a 14th, Harry S. Truman, was already there when she became Queen. Each world leader is remembered for their involvement in

individual world events, while Queen Elizabeth reigned through all of them.

decolonisation in the 1960s and 1970s and the growth of the Commonwealth from 7 nations initially to the present number of 56. She has been sovereign of 32 independent countries across her reign, but was head of just 15 at the time of her death.

While the popularity of the monarchy has wavered at times, Queen Elizabeth played a key part in modernising Britain’s oldest constitutional institution.

to Australia and New Zealand in 1970.

Her reign witnessed the acceleration of

The Queen invented the ‘royal walkabout’ on her tour

Looking to the future, the new King Charles III, as he has been officially named, is already in the record books for being the oldest heir apparent in British History to be crowned. The eyes of the public are on the new King, watching to see where his reign leads and what history he makes.

Is university drinking culture a problem for students?

Iremember first year, I remember first year, in the depths of lockdown, there was a time when

a couple of friends celebrated their eleventh straight day of drinking alcohol. After a few sessions it seemed to become a challenge to see how many days in a row they could handle, or it might have simply become hair of the dog.

Fast-forward to second year, and this attitude towards drinking had abated somewhat among many peers, but was still heavily woven into university life as a whole. I knew drinking was part of the culture in England when I arrived here as an international student, but I was not prepared for the way heavy alcohol consumption is normalised and celebrated in most activities. From the regular socials hosted by societies to bar crawls and nights out, sports events and celebrations, and barbeques in the summer, it seemed like the cans were being cracked at every occasion.

However, as prevalent as it may appear, not everyone drinks and not every activity at university is fuelled by Smirnoff. There are people who accompany their friends on nights out and do not drink. Others have groups of like-minded friends who engage in sober festivities. Additionally, the abundance of delicious restaurants and

parks in the city and the nearby Peak District are regularly taken advantage of by drinkers and non-drinkers alike. Sheffield offers something for everyone, and the drinking culture is only one part of the university.

Student Experiences with Drinking Culture. Individual students have varying attitudes towards drinking focused environments. Additionally, the experiences students enter university with differ wildly as they leave school and gain a new kind of independence. As secondyear philosophy student Aurelia Kojro notes, “It’s definitely different from school because students have more freedom so are a lot more reckless [or] irresponsible with their drinking, or how often they go out.” Even though there are other options in Sheffield, Aurelia touches on the commonness of drinking and how some may feel like they are missing out if they do not partake. Many social activities sponsored by clubs and societies, like Foundry club nights and bar crawls, take place later at night and most people who attend, drink.

Aurelia also says she has experienced pressure to drink. There can be issues with peer pressure at university, and this pressure is not always obvious. It can take the form of celebrating those who drink to unsafe

levels, blackout, or throw up. For example, saying “That’s a sign of a good night!” in response to someone saying they blacked out can be quite common. Even the existence of the culture itself can be a pressure, as students find ways to fit in amongst their peers.

Others say they do not feel pressure. Nazeer Oyeleye, a second-year civil engineering student who doesn’t drink for religious reasons, says he has never experienced pressure even though he regularly goes out with people who drink. “I’ve had many people ask me to

“

One can take a page from Nazeer’s book and have a soft drink.

try some alcohol,” Nazeer says, “before I have to explain that I’m a Muslim

and it’s not for me.” He has a positive attitude towards the lifestyle, and thinks “the drinking culture is loads of fun at uni,” and is able to enjoy nights out and the pub even when he opts for soft drinks instead.

So how can we deal with peer pressure? Going out and drinking offers an entertaining environment for many students. However, for people who do feel pressure and do not want to drink, there are plenty of ways to decline. Nobody owes others justification for not drinking. Simply saying “no thank you” suffices.

One can take a page from Nazeer’s book and have a soft drink, or suggest a sober activity instead. It helps some to find other people who have a similar attitude towards alcohol. With over 350 societies at the University, there are groups that focus on other interests.

Finally, in a culture that often celebrates heavy drinking, an often overlooked option is

that you can opt for a single drink, instead of several. The advice Aurelia offers to freshers is to only drink if you want to. While friends can be made through drinking, she wisely notes that “friends that you only go out with and drink with aren’t really proper friendships. It’s better to invest in more sober activities in order to make more meaningful friendships that’ll last for life.”

Whatever the case may

be in your social circles, real mates are those who respect their friends’ personal decisions to not drink. Like Nazeer has found, lots of students will be respectful, understanding and accommodating no matter if they drink or not. Another consideration is that throughout the years, people’s attitudes can shift drastically. It is okay to change your mind about drinking. Remember the friend who drank for eleven days in a row? Now, they hardly partake at all.

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Her Majesty’s reign overlapped the tenure of 16 Prime Ministers and 14 US Presidents

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Real mates are those that respect their friends’ personal decisions to not drink.

How can students help with the cost of living crisis?

By Ethan Curtis (he/him)

The United Kingdom is in crisis and the coming winter is projected to plunge an extra three million into poverty across the country. Crisis, a charity which tackles homelessness, has said that up to 1.7 million people are at risk. It has forecast that rent, energy and food will amount to 133% of their monthly income – a simply impossible figure, with its chief executive saying that the situation could not be more desperate.

These issues are of course nationwide, but closer to home analysis by Friends of the Earth has shown that 76 out of 345 neighbourhoods in Sheffield are at the highest level of risk of financial hardship when the price cap rises next month. Sheffield was a city at the heart of the industrial revolution, and whilst steel mills and coal mines may no longer dominate the landscape, the working-class roots are still very much ingrained in the city once nicknamed the People’s Republic of South Yorkshire.

There are many campaigns and political movements which are rapidly growing, looking to tackle the root causes of the current problems. The most prominent of these are the Don’t Pay UK campaign and the Enough is Enough campaign.

these commenting that this has been as a result of the aforementioned Don’t Pay UK campaign. Meanwhile, ‘Enough is Enough’ have recently held rallies in London, Manchester and Liverpool in an attempt to ‘help turn anger into action’, which have included speeches from Mick Lynch and Andy Burnham.

These campaigns are hugely important in ensuring the problems we’re facing this winter don’t become established and normalised in society.

This winter is still going to be a struggle for many across the area, and students are one group doing what they can to help. This may be through getting involved on the ground with the dozens of fantastic projects which are trying to help the most vulnerable in our society get through the winter with fuel, food and dignity.

There are lots of different opportunities to volunteer through the University, and three additional ways listed below in which you can help with the cost of living crisis.

the nature of food and fuel, it is almost certain that there will be a significant increase to the two million people who already rely on food banks. Food banks rely on the generosity of the local community donating either food or their time to ensure nobody goes without. The S6 Foodbank currently feeds over 1200 people a week via 11 sites across the city.

For those wanting to donate food the following items are deemed as urgently needed: tinned fruit, toiletries, UHT milk, tinned vegetables and rice.

Donating these items couldn’t be easier no matter where in the city you live.  Where to donate: Endcliffe/Ranmoor –Tesco’s in Crosspool and Broomhall, and Sainsburys in Broomhall all contain food donation points.  Crookesmoor – Sainsburys/ Co-op in Crookes or Beanies in Crookesmoor also have donation points.

City Centre – Tesco on West Street has a donation point.

A recent study suggests that more than 1.7 million households are planning to cancel their direct debits for October, with a majority of

1. Donate food

There has been much talk of people choosing between heating and eating - due to

2. Volunteer

With the growing unaffordability of heating a home there is a likelihood that many people will look

to spend the daytime in free public buildings in an attempt to save money on heating and stay warm. One such sector expecting to see an increase in visitors is local museums, and keeping these open throughout the day is going to be an important lifeline to many people struggling.

Furthermore, Sheffield Museums run a variety of family activity sessions which not only provide an alternative to being at home but also provide an engaging extracurricular education for local children. A lot of the work done in museums is done by volunteers and there are a number of different roles available. For more information about these and to get involved contact volunteering@ sheffieldmuseums.org.uk.

You can also volunteer for the previously mentioned S6 Foodbank. A volunteer application form can be found under the heading Give Help on their website. There are a wide variety of roles including, but not limited to: stock sorting, packing food parcels, food parcel delivery driver and supporting a Foodbank session.

3. Fundraise

Of course, places like the S6 Foodbank need goods, they need volunteers, but what they also need is cash. Just like households they also have energy bills to pay and these are operating costs which are going to rise significantly in the winter.

Between April 2021 and March 2022, food banks in the Trussell Trust’s UK wide network distributed over 2.1 million to people in crisis, with 832,000 of these going to children.

Food banks are just one example of a community service which is providing essential support to vulnerable people due to the failure of the government to adequately provide for these people. Whilst we all hope for a future where there isn’t a void to fill and people have access to the basics, right now these community led and funded projects are for many people their only hope at successfully surviving this winter. Therefore, it is imperative that we, as a university, step up to raise what we can in this time of need for so many of the local community. The students of the University of Sheffield must do all we can to helpwhether that’s donating food, money or time.

As students in this city we all have a social responsibility to try and help those who are struggling. Many people in Sheffield want to help but can only offer their evenings and weekends, whereas students are likely to have more flexible timings available to offer, which is invaluable to these organisations.

Vulnerable people should never be in this terrifying situation and it is important to recognise the root causes of this crisis, and fight for real social and political change. Any campaign for change starts with directly offering help to those who this winter will be hungry, cold and desperate.

“ Vulnerable people should never be in this terrifying situation

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Rainbow-washing: The exploitation of Pride month

Every June our social media pages, as well as shop windows, are filled with pride flags.

At a first glance, it sends a message of positivity, one that embraces the diversity of society and celebrates the LGBTQ+ community. However, delve deeper and you might find a more problematic narrativeone that exploits the very community it ‘celebrates’.

Rainbow washing - a term that was popularised in recent years, refers to businesses or organisations that simply slap a rainbow on campaigns with the aim to look progressive but put very minimal effort into helping the LGBTQ+ community, or advocating for our rights.

Over the past few years, more and more LGBTQ+ activists have spoken out about the problems of ‘rainbow washing’, arguing that companies should not be profiting from marginalised groups, especially at a time of celebration.

Oliver Jackson, who identifies as a bisexual male, said: “It really annoys me, especially looking back at what started pride.

“I hate that people protesting the right to just exist is now a marketing ploy.

“It helps [the companies] seem progressive to consumers without any actual progress being made.”

The anger continues to grow throughout the LGBTQ+ communities when some of these companies who use pride as a marketing tool also then donate to anti-LGBTQ+ campaigns,

and are accused of having discriminatory and unsafe working environments for members of the community.

Louie Taylor, who identifies as a non-binary pansexual, describes this as being ‘hypocritical’, using the LGBTQ+ community as pawns in a box-ticking activity. For Louie, if these companies actually donated profits to LGBTQ+ communities, as well as actively campaigning for the rights of LGBTQ+ members, then they would be more inclined to support said companies.

Emily Clayton, who identifies as a demisexual lesbian, further develops on this point. When asked about which companies she found problematic relating to pride month, she said: “Corporations like Disney promote pride and sell rainbow merch in June while funding homophobic and transphobic politicians.”

Disney donated at least $100,000 to Ron DeSantis, a Florida governor who enthusiastically supported what critics call “Don’t Say Gay” legislation, banning teachers from answering questions about sexuality or gender identity from students. The company initially came under fire for refusing to directly condemn the bill, but later shifted its position. For Emily, this is deeply problematic and unethical.

Another complaint amongst the LGBTQ+ community is when companies start selling ‘pride’ themed products, which are normally priced far higher than the nonpride alternatives.

When asked about the rainbow-washing of products, Louie said: “If for example a company actually donated 100% of sales of a rainbow-themed product to LGBT charities, then I’d support it, but companies should never rainbow wash their products during June just to boost sales, especially when those rainbow products are most expensive.”

And yet, when looking at the statistics surrounding the profiting from pride month, only sixty-two percent of companies donate money to LGBTQ+ causes (Reboot Onlinee). And even then, this does not indicate how much of the pride products’ profits are actually donated.

For Emily, she feels that some companies “see a rainbow in June as a marketing ploy to rake in a load of extra cash.” Yet it is much more than that. The pride rainbow is symbolic of the fight that the LGBTQ+ community has had to endure in order to overcome the societal discrimination that has been placed upon them. It is a massive injustice for companies to then use this symbol to exploit these communities and make a profit.

However for Emily, not

all companies’ marketing of pride has been problematic. When asked about whether she could name any companies that she thought had a good pride campaign, she said that three, in particular, stood out: H&M - due to their diversity within their adverts and their donations to LGBTQ+ charities, Lego - who although released a pride set, work with organisations to make their workplaces inclusive and safe for LGBTQ+ workers, and Skittles - their bride skittles are all white with the slogan ‘only one rainbow matters’, commissioning LGBTQ+ artists for the packaging, and donating the proceeds to LGBTQ+ charities.

However, despite some companies receiving a positive reaction from the LGBTQ+ communities, some completely missed the memo.

For Oliver, the Burger King advert was one that provided great amusement for him during pride month, completely misrepresenting same-sex couples with the use of their ‘top’ and ‘bottom’ buns. This misrepresentation, while being amusing for some, is also deeply problematic. The misinformation of certain

adverts and campaigns only adds to the preconceptions and stigmas already associated with the LGBTQ+ community.

For people like Louie, hiring workers from the LGBTQ+ community, and creating a positive and inclusive workspace free from discrimination is a much better way to celebrate pride.

If you are looking for merchandise to wear at pride events, Emily recommends shopping at smaller LGBTQ+ owned stores, directly supporting the people that pride affects the most.

It appears that companies are neglecting what the people of the LGBTQ+ community truly want. Not apps in rainbow colours, or exclusive pride-themed items that cost more than the non-pride alternative. We want equality, companies to not donate profits to antiLGBTQ+ campaigns, and to take responsibility in their marketing.

Until companies truly listen to what the community wants, pride month marketing will remain exploitative and problematic for those that they are claiming to celebrate.

Megan Ainsworth (she/her)

Photo credit: Flickr

Atlantropa: the 90 year old pan to drain the Mediterranean Sea

Luc Dewulf

War in Ukraine, climate

catastrophe and mass migration are what we inherit from our ancestors today. Tomorrow, we as students will be the engineers, policymakers and leaders, shaping the world to make it a better place.

Yet, we can learn from the past to mould our ideas for the future. One such historical plan was to drain the Mediterranean Sea in an attempt to quench our thirst for land, food, and energy. It still merits a closer look almost a century after it was proposed – and might inspire us for a better version of it.

It all started in 1927 with a striking Eureka moment: The Mediterranean Sea has not always been filled with azure coloured sea water, but instead got flooded after the latest ice age only 50,000 years ago, resulting in the blue Mediterranean basin as we know it today, indistinguishable from other oceans. Although theories for the formation of this water body between Europe and Africa are still contested, it remains a proven fact that its largest inflow is the Atlantic Ocean – a monstrous 88,000 meter cubed of water unpretentiously enter the Mediterranean Sea through the strait of Gibraltar every second. A quantity comparable to 35 Olympic swimming pools or 12 Niagara Falls. For Herman Sörgel (1885-1952), a Munich-based architect, this was the solution to Europe’s growing energy crisis, which he termed ‘Atlantropa’.

94 years forward, not a single sketch of his plans has been realised, yet

energy, land, and food security remain one of the world’s biggest unresolved issues, not least for Europe and Africa. Fortunately, Sörgel left us with a legacy of half a dozen math-heavy books that describe the vision of this macroengineering project to the minutest micro-detail, with a mockingly weak consideration of geopolitical and socioeconomic hurdles.

If a 360-meter tall and 14-kilometres long dam between Morocco and Gibraltar was built, requiring two square kilometres of filling material, the Mediterranean Sea would be isolated from its main water source, leaving only rivers as main tributaries. Evaporation by the sun would then naturally drain this gigantic lake by about one meter annually, eventually generating new land about twice the size of the UK.

Given that for an average UK diet 0.3 hectare of agricultural land are required per capita , the reclaimed seabed would have the potential to feed an additional 87 million people, and

if Sörgel’s plan was carried through there would even be enough energy to irrigate parts of the Sahara.

At 200 meters below the current sea level the water cycle could then be reequilibrated by allowing the inflow from the Atlantic again, generating 150 Gigawatt hydropower from the

Gibraltar dam. Using latest BP statistics, this amount would be enough to completely replace Europe’s and Africa’s combined 1085 Terawatt-hours electricity

produced from oil and coal in 2019, severely boosting climate change ambitions in those regions.

With all those benefits it is not without reason he gave one of his books the title ‘Atlantropa ABC. Power, Land, Bread’. The only catch: time projection for completion is an eye-watering 250 years. However utopian Sörgel appears to us about a multigenerational intercontinental infrastructure project, he still was realistic about the adverse effects at the same gigantesque scale. Removing the water from the Mediterranean Sea would effect a global sea level rise of up to one meter and leave saltier water behind, while the absence of underwater currents exchanging with the Atlantic would perturb the Gulf Stream resulting in a possibly warmer climate on the European peninsula. His calculations even predicted that the resulting uneven distribution of mass on the earth’s surface would marginally tilt the earth’s rotational axis and thereby its orbital trajectory in the Solar System.

Atlantropa can also not be seen in isolation from

the geopolitical tensions at that time. While Europe’s majority feared most the American superpower, a minority also warned of Asia’s rise and hence saw a unification between Europe and Africa as a necessity to counteract emerging continents. But neocolonialism for the ulterior motive of resource exploitation and raw materials procurement remains ethically questionable, and leaves migration flows and wealth disparities unaddressed. Sörgel’s oversized lifelong dream for Europe and Africa’s joint future never became reality. A contemporary writer described him ‘to be one of those creative minds who break themselves away from a civic life by the power of their thoughts’. Finding answers to global issues requires our generation to break free from conventions and pioneer into untouched technical, political, and economic territories – but with a moral philosophy. Draining the Mediterranean Sea could have been a step in this direction. If it had come to life, it would have likely changed the course of history.

Scientists change blood group of kidney

Isabel Butterworth (She/her)

Scientists at Cambridge university have managed to change the blood group of a kidney, something that could change the field of kidney transplants and donations in an astronomical way.

Kidneys can only be transplanted to people with the same blood group as the donor. For example, someone with B blood type can only donate an organ to someone with a B blood type, not to someone with AB blood type. The only exception is Owhich is a universal donor, meaning it can be accepted by any blood group.

For years, ethnic minority groups have faced severe difficulty in finding kidney donors that match.

There is a large disparity within black and minority ethnic groups between the number of donors and the amount of people who are in need of a kidney donation. Only 9% of minority communities are donors, whereas 33% of the waiting list for kidney donations consists of these very communities.

This problem may finally be solved due to researchers altering the blood group of a donor kidney from blood group B to blood group O. This was done using enzymes which altered the blood at a molecular level, removing the blood markers of the B group, changing it to an O group kidney.

As expected, more scientific research has to be done to ensure this is a safe and successful idea, but it is a huge step forward for inclusion within this industry and for science itself.

Sheffield engineering students reach final of international Mars Rover competition

Chloe Aslett (She/her)

Agroup of University of Sheffield engineers are the only team in the country to have reached the final of an international competition to build a mars rover.

The student-led team ‘MarsWorks’ passed the design report stage of the Anatolian Rover Challenge, and competed in Istanbul against 13 other teams from around the world last month, finishing in 10th position.

The team were names the

biggest improvement of the competition, as well as best use of social media.

Anna Pawinska, project leader and operations subteam leader, said: “It’s an incredible achievement for us seeing as the project stood still for the past two years, due to Covid. We’re honoured to be the only UK team.”

The team started the academic year with just four members, and now has five sub-teams each with a sub-team leader, and has completely redesigned the rover they built in 2020.

Ms Pawinska added: “It’s an honour to represent the

University of Sheffield in an international arena.”

MarsWorks have recently founded the Sheffield Space Initiative society, to bring together all space-oriented student-led projects at the university.

The development sub-team also built a smaller version of the rover, for school visits and outreach activities to encourage young people across the region to consider a career in engineering.

Reuben Mitchell, Development sub-team Leader and co-project leader, said before the final: “There have been many students

Monkeypox: misconceptions debunked

Thomas Gorman (he/him)

As the world began to ease its way out of the coronavirus pandemic in 2021 and 2022, scientists became globally aware of a new disease with the potential to reach epidemic status. Given the way misinformation is routinely spread throughout social media and word of mouth in this day and age, the World Health Organisation (WHO) have clarified their position on monkeypox.

Firstly, the WHO says that monkeypox is a self-limited disease with symptoms usually being present for a duration of 2-4 weeks. The infection can be divided into two periods of incubation. The invasion period tends to last for up to five days and is the time of the most intense symptoms, whereas the skin eruption period usually begins with three days of the fever appearing.

Monkeypox has a mortality rate in recent times of 3-6% and is transmitted similarly to COVID-19, through close contact with infected persons or with contaminated surfaces.

Human monkeypox was first identified in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo and since then, most cases have been reported in central and west Africa. However, in recent years the virus has been detected in non-endemic countries such as the United Kingdom and United States. Studies are ongoing in an attempt to fully understand the transition patterns and sources of infection. Vaccines developed during the smallpox epidemic of the 1970s and early 1980s have provided a degree of protection against monkeypox, whilst a new vaccine has been approved

for prevention of the virus.

An antiviral agent developed for smallpox treatment has also been authorised for the treatment for monkeypox.

Symptoms usually include the emergence of a fever, rash and/or swollen lymph nodes - making its clinical presentation very similar to smallpox. However, the WHO has determined that monkeypox is less contagious and also causes less severe illness in the majority of cases.

If you feel you may be suffering from a case of monkeypox, dial 111 and speak to a medical operator before taking further action.

who have sacrificed their spare time this year to work on designing, manufacturing and programming the rover.

“It’s been an honour to

lead the team this year and I’m already looking forward to improving the design next year based on the performance in Istanbul.”

Droughts around the world uncover ancient gems

Dinosaur footprints in Texas, a ghost village in northwestern

Spain, and a sunken WW2 warship in Serbia have returned to the surface.

Even a Spanish Stonehenge dating back to 5,000 BC reemerged when the water of the Valdecañas reservoir began to recede.

Stones with markings from hundreds of years ago have resurfaced in Germany and neighbouring countries. These markings were etched and made during periods of severe drought, seeming to be a warning for future generations.

It gives us a fascinating insight into the past and this is undoubtedly exciting for many historians.

Nevertheless, are these discoveries a reason for celebration? Not a plot from the next sci-fi thriller but a reality coming true

across different parts of the world, be it in Texas or the Spanish-Portuguese border. Since 2000, the frequency and duration of droughts have increased severely, per the UN.

This is the reality of a changing climate across the Earth, human activities are drying up the planet, and the planet, in return, is taking us back to history.

Droughts occur due to low rainfall for a long amount of time, and are being further exacerbated by changes in the climate and temperatures of the oceans.

With large corporations still not listening to climate change experts and scientists from around the globe, these problems are continuing to worsen.

Devastatingly, the number of people dying from thirst and hunger are ever increasing, due to droughts and the subsequent change in relationship between land

Yashika Kapoor

Confessions of a third-year student

Hiwan Mulugeta (she/her)

In first year, I felt like three years would last forever.

I read articles and watched every YouTube video I could find for tips on moving to University. Now, going into my final year, my constant love/hate relationship with my degree has become a core personality trait for me and my commitment to Wednesday night socials should win awards.

Basically, I feel like I am now well versed in all things uni and so here comes a series of things I wish I could tell first-year me.

1Making friends is a three-year event, not a one-week special.

Infamous and highly anticipated, freshers week carries its own set of expectations. With my expectations at maximum capacity, I went into my freshers week ready to make friends for life, fall in love with University life, and for everything to fit into place. Though my socially distanced freshers had its moments, I didn’t feel settled, nor did I feel like I was making best friends. To my first-year self, and to every fresher, I would like to stress that making friends is a three-year event, not a one-week special.

Think about all the people in your life that you call a

friend. Now tell me, can you give me a step-by-step timeline on how and exactly when you became friends with each of these people?

The odds are that you can’t recount every detail of the history of all your friendships but frankly, that is how it should be.

It’s the same at University.

Friendships will bloom and you will settle in. Just give it time. Freshers week probably won’t be the best week of your life and it would be concerning if it was; you don’t know anyone, you may also be in a new city, you are studying at a whole new level, you now manage your own finances… And so much more.

With so many things to figure out, how could this possibly be the best week of your university life?

2You’re better off without the wristbands.

Now that we have established that your life will not peak during freshers’ week, here is one way it could - the wristbands. You will see many social media posts and messages advertising these freshers events for which you can buy wristbands and you may think this is a good purchase.

Let me tell you now, it’s not.

As far as freshers goes, the one thing you can count on is uncertainty. You don’t

know the people at your uni, and you also don’t know what you will feel like doing or which events are good. This is reason enough to refrain from buying the dreaded wristbands which end up being a waste of money - Every. Single. Time.

I got told this as a fresher and I chose to ignore the advice. That is now money I will never get back and while it may not seem much money to waste, the waste is avoidable. Your lovely new student loan is something you will want to keep safe.

3Budget, but actually budget.

When people tell you to budget, they mean it.

I have learnt the hard way that figuring out a weekly budget actually does mean figuring out a weekly budget; not spending it all in the first two days of the week then reluctantly transferring money out of your savings to pay for a takeaway. Sadly, this is not budgeting.

It is not fun to later figure out that, yes money will come back, but in the form of 40-hour work weeks at a summer job wishing you could see the money you were working for. But, instead, it all goes towards paying off your overdraft. It sucks (speaking from personal experience, unfortunately).

One of the best habits to get into as a fresher is

money management. Figure out how much money you have for the semester breakdowns as per your loan drops and calculate all your outgoings: food, rent, bills, memberships etc. Then sort out how much money you have spare for nonessentials, whatever they may be, and stick to it.

If money management means setting a limit on your card or only taking cash when you go out, figure out a system that works for you.

4You will suffer the LinkedIn ‘scaries’ and career fear.

Studying for a degree inevitably comes with thoughts about your future working life and sometimes this can be very overwhelming.

First-year me delved into the world of Linkedin and for those of you who are unfamiliar with this platform it is the Instagram of the working world and the go to social media for chronic overachievers.

Many University students will have a Linkedin profile as it is a great way to network, learn about different careers, and generally keep up to date with what’s going on in different companies. It is a useful tool for students and adults alike.

However, the danger comes when a career anxious student opens this app and is overwhelmed by the constant flood of achievement posts and internship reviews. This is

not a dig at Linkedin. Rather it is a warning to the feelings that the app, and the career talk at University, may evoke. Sometimes, it just seems like everyone around you is succeeding at everything they try, and you are getting nowhere.

But, did you know, it is fine to be at University and not have a clue about what you are going to do? That is kind of the point. You absolutely can and should take this time to figure out what you want to do and to explore potential career paths and avenues - there will be so many opportunities available to you.

Or, if you are finding that your course is interesting but maybe not something you want to pursue after you graduate, that’s fine too. This just one path you found is not for you, and that’s okay. Though it may look like everyone around you has their life sorted out, it doesn’t mean that they actually do.

In a nutshell, this thirdyear uni student confesses that University is great. However, it is not all ups without any downs. As a fresher, reminding yourself that you have three years to find your friends for life and think about career paths can be very reassuring. The goal is to look back fondly on those three years, so try to enjoy yourself (just don’t put yourself in debt by doing so) because the time flies by so quickly.

Freshers vs Now: How far I've come since first year

Megan Ainsworth (she/her)

When people first join university, they picture their life

to be like those depicted in the movies - making loads of friends, having the perfect work and social life balance, and genuinely living a picturesque life.

I certainly had those preconceptions.

I had taken a year out to resit my A-levels just so I could get into the University of Sheffield, so my expectations were really high and I was so excited to join.

However, I actually really struggled during the first year. This was not helped by the fact that I was a covid fresher - and pretty much everything in Sheffield was either shut, or restricted to the rule of 6 people per table (which for a flat of ten people, was far from ideal).

In actual fact, during the second week of University I had to have a meeting with my personal tutor because I was thinking about dropping out.

Struggling so much with imposter syndrome during the first year of University, particularly in the first semester, hit me hard. I was in lectures with people who seemed to be experts at the subject topics we were discussing - mentioning words and theories that I had never even heard of before. It was honestly really tough. Especially with resitting my A-levels, I was surrounded by people who got into the University their first try so I felt like I was less worthy of being on the course. It was not until I got my first assessment back from one of my modules, and read some of the feedback, that I thought I deserved to be here.

I also found myself being really socially withdrawn from my flat. I really struggled with overthinking

- I was constantly thinking that my flatmates disliked me, or were irritated by me and that was a really hard headspace to get out of. I’d always been a bubbly, talkative person, but I found myself not wanting to say anything out of fear of being judged. In reality, that was just me overanalysing and, in hindsight, I wish I would have got more involved within the flat. I still speak to my flatmates from first year and very quickly came to the realisation that they did, in fact, like me, but at the time it was something that was the cause of a lot of worry, and also a lot of stress.

I don’t think anyone ever talks about how difficult it can be to live with strangers - people who do not know a thing about you or your personality. However, my advice would be to try and relax because everyone is feeling the same as you - and it is definitely not worth stressing over. Just enjoy your time with them!

There was also the issue of Covid, which made it almost impossible for me to meet anyone outside of my flat. All of my lectures and seminars were held online, society events were held online; in-person interactions were hard to come by and even those few society ‘socials’ were very occasional. It actually felt quite isolating at times. But I did join women's rugby (SUWRFC) which is a society that means so much to me now.

Now, it wasn’t always doom and gloom within my first year. I made some amazing memories. One of my favourites is of the flat “pub” golf nights we used to have - decorating all of our bedrooms into themed rooms with various drinks for us all to try.

However, second year was when my University experience really changed - a lot of it due to my involvement within the rugby team. Without a doubt SUWRFC has been one of

the most amazing things about my University life. I have made such a fantastic group of friends, and have such an incredible support network within the club. Playing rugby also gets me out of the house, is a great way to alleviate any stress, and it is also just something that I love doing. In fact, I loved it so much that during second year I ran to be their Vice Club Captain - a role that I am very much looking forward to this year!

In terms of my imposter syndrome - that eventually eased during the end of first year. And after speaking to some of my course mates this year, a lot of them felt the same. So, in all honesty, if you ever feel like this, the chances are at least half of your fellow course mates feel the same and it is nothing to be ashamed of.

Furthermore, I have made some of the most amazing memories within my flat last year, and I am so excited to be living with them again this year. They will definitely be friends for life; they have helped me so much throughout the year and have been such a big comfort.

Sometimes University does not always go as expected but what I’ve learnt is: that’s okay! One thing I am really glad about is that I persevered. If I had dropped out like I wanted to in those first few weeks I would not have made the friends or created the memories that I have with me today, and that truly would have been a shame.

University has helped me grow in more ways than I could imagine, going from a quite socially anxious person, to someone who is constantly pushing their boundaries and embracing all of the opportunities that I am presented with.

So, although I found it difficult at first, things definitely got better, and I would not change my experience for the world.

Images: (On pg.19) "Liz Truss"Gareth Milner; "Baldwin Street" - kewl

ROAR, Foundry;

Break

Do NPCs live among us at uni?

Joel Hooke (he/him)

NPC is just an acronym for a “non-player character”. It is often used in video games but the term turned into a meme circa 2018.

The meme relates to people that appear human but display an inability to think objectively, whose movements appear scripted, as if they're programmed using Java. So let's go through some theories for life at the University of Sheffield.

1The IC staircase.

matter what time of year you go, exam season or the beginning of term, there is a constant flow of bots travelling the main staircase in the middle of the IC.

It's a bit like The Sims, the way they robotically go up level

after level. I don't think I've ever seen any of these NPCs sit down.

I believe that they spawn in down in the ground floor bathrooms and make their way up to despawn in the fourth floor toilets.

2Group project members. This type of assessment is already a logistical nightmare, add on top of that the name of someone who simply does not exist on your course. It's on the same level as going onto Call of Duty and playing on squad fill - you've never interacted before,

communication, and there's no team chemistry.

When trying to reach out to them, you're most likely faced with a social media presence similar to that of a lecturer on strike - it's not there.

3Freshers and accommodation group chats. This is an absolute hive of activity. From the person offering to do your assignment for a small fee with a guarantee to 'meet your professor's grading criteria and expectations' to those trying to get you to buy a freshers wristband.

4Forge Press writers. You've made it to the break sectioncongratulations! Who the hell are all these other writers? They actually don't exist outside of this newspaper - what real person would end up writing in this?

Am I the bot writing this?

I can assure you that all Forge writers are able to pass the reCAPTCHA "I am not a robot" test. In fact, shameless plug alert, you can become one of us. You can just join our Facebook group 'Forge Press Contributors'no commitment.

anonymous, told Forge Press: ”I still have nightmares about being attacked by thousands of peeling U-Cards.”

Charlie Sweeney (he/him)

In a move that has shocked the local University of Sheffield student population, Bar One has announced that it will be banning students from entering the bar, in a bid to rejuvenate its local reputation.

Bar One, despite often being mistaken merely as an elaborate entrance to Foundry, has been a staple of the student nightlife scene for many years.

However, recently, bar management have grown increasingly worried about the lack of non-student customers coming to the bar.

One manager, Pat Ernoster, 34, said: “Students seem to

be getting all their Sheffield knowledge from early Arctic Monkeys albums.

“We just feel that the students are ruining our reputation amongst the other Sheffield bars. Our customers just don’t get the Sheffield history and it really affects how we are viewed within the community. The West Street bars all make fun of us now.”

One incident repeatedly cited by the management as representative of the issue occurred in November of last year, during the weekly Bar One quiz night.

An answer concerning Tetley Ale and Stones Bitter was met with confusion by the largely-student audience, with one such

audience member asking the quiz master if they meant Camden Hells.

It’s not just the Bar One's local reputation that the students have been affecting.

Bar One staff have reportedly been calling in sick, due to the behaviour of the students. Bar management believe the students are presenting serious health concerns for their staff.

Their symptoms have included being sick to death of the number of orders for a VK Orange along with a thumping headache from students asking whether there are any Roar tickets on sale.

One ex-staff member, who has asked to remain

5

ROAR/Pop Tarts

photos. Leo, the photographer in Foundry, has photographed an inconceivable amount of NPCs.

In an attempt to retrieve your own photo, you have to scroll through bot after bot that undoubtedly only exist within the realms of foundry.

Let's not forget the shadylooking figure in the (far too small) smoking area that may offer you a little side quest. The shady looking figure offers you a transactionyour elf bar for their geek bar.

Another theory to be mentioned here is that the Foundry and Bar One workers just are botswhich saddens me to say as I am one of them myself and they're actually all nice people but to an outsider, I imagine we are. Like, who really has chosen to stay up to the ungodly hour of 4am and serve all the sports teams on their big Wednesday night out - but where would you be without them?

by the decision. Where will I meet my friends before Poppy-Ts now?”

Languages student, Dev Green, 19, expressed alarm at the decision. He said: “Whilst I have never actually had a drink in Bar One, I am shocked and disgusted

Wes Tonpark, 21, a geography student, said: “Bar One? Do you mean All Bar One? Wait, the Student’s Union has a bar? Since when?”

Bar One to ban students after reputation is ruined by patrons' Sheffield knowledge being limited to "early Arctic Monkeys albums"

What happened this Summer?

how long have you got?

Tommy Gorman (he/him)

Ialways enjoy the Summer. The opportunity to finally retire from the IC after a gruelling academic year is perennially greeted with a massive sigh. As we look ahead to another eight months of lecture theatres, pasta and nights in the Foundry - here are my highlights of a memorable few months.

June began with Queen Elizabeth II’s platinum jubilee, celebrated over four days. Whatever you think of the monarchy, having four days off work to enjoy (or ignore) the festivities was a nice touch from whoever organises these types of things. The ceremonies were not without humour, however.

Following the Queen’s

death, the state funeral is taking place today at Westminster Abbey after lying-in-state in Westminster Hall since 14 September.

In late June, we were treated to the first Glastonbury Festival since 2022. Musical icons such as Paul McCartney, Diana Ross and Kendrick Lamar descended on Worthy Farm for a spectacular three days of music. Billie Eilish was also there, but you can’t have everything, can you? It was amazing to see large social gatherings, such as our very own Tramlines Festival, dug back up from the 2019 time capsule.

July arrived with all hell breaking loose in Westminster - nothing new there then.

After three years of turbulent leadership, PM

Boris Johnson’s allies decided he was unfit for office after all and collectively threw the towel in.

A day later, Mr Johnson stood outside 10 Downing Street and announced his departure by, fittingly, quoting the Terminator.

The nation breathed an almighty sigh of relief.

In the last month, Conservative members have now voted in Liz Truss as the new Tory leader and therefore our new PM. News not well received by foreign cheese companies that export to the UK.

The seventh month would later greet us with a hot slap around the face as everyone tried to adapt to some ludicrous temperatures.

Unfortunately, 37° when you’re trying to go about daily life in Crookesmoor with every radio station playing Lizzo’s ‘About Damn Time’ and trying not to combust doesn't hit the same as when its that hot on a rooftop patio in Tenerife with a lager.

The end of the month saw the England Lionesses win the country’s first major senior football trophy since 1966.

Goals from Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly saw England defeat Germany 2-1 after extra time at Wembley in

front of 90,000 spectators and millions more across the land, including a hefty crowd on Devonshire Green.

More of the same in November wouldn’t go amiss.

In early August, the sixth series of Love Island drew to a conclusion with (*checks notes*) Davide and Ekin-su emerging as the victors.

Prior to this year, I’d never given it a go but in a bid to keep in touch with my girlfriend and 70% of my Twitter timeline I vowed to give it a chance this time. I didn’t quite manage all eight weeks but gave it a good go.

The remainder of the Summer mostly consisted of more sun, the return of the football season and our outgoing leader telling us to buy a new kettle to stave off the ongoing cost of living crisis.

Thanks, Boris. I’ll remember that when I’m eating three pot noodles per day in December because I’m too skint to afford pop tarts and a balanced diet. Least I’ll have that kettle, eh?

Contrary to what Sheffield students may think, the steepest road in the world is Baldwin Street in South New Zealand, not Conduit Road.

The road has a gradient of 34.8% meaning you'll climb 70 metres in just 350 metres of road.

Conduit Road's steepest section peaks

at a rather measly 13.1% gradient in comparison.

Baldwin Street lost its title in the Guiness Book of Records in 2019 to a road called Ffordd Pen Llech in North Wales, however after an appeal the record was given back to Baldwin street.

There is an annual race to the top of Baldwin Street.

Truss"Gareth Milner; "Baldwin Street" - kewl

Foundry;

Review

My Policeman - Bethan Roberts

Alicia Menday (she/her)

Set in a seemingly idyllic 1950s Brighton, Bethan Roberts’ My Policeman follows the story of school teacher Marion from teenager to a retired woman. Although the book opens with Marion’s narration, it switches between her perspective and Patrick’s, an art dealer who embodies poise and elegance on the exterior while harnessing secrets kept since youth. With time, readers learn how Marion and Patrick’s life intertwined thanks to their equal infatuation with the titular policeman, Tom.

Although My Policeman is in the romance genre, it is hard to see this book as just a love story. It could be better generalised as a heartbreakingly realistic life story, capturing the melancholy of reality when society is against you. Roberts intimately delves into the complex process of self-acceptance - whether that be recognising inner truths and feelings that are forcibly dismissed, or attempting to navigate a world determined to punish those who don’t subject themselves to societal expectations.

One of my favourite elements of the book was

Sheffield Theatres: What’s on?

Lucy Riddell (she/her)

Much Ado About Nothing

This pinnacle of Shakespearean comedy is brought to the modern stage, with each performance subtly integrating captioning, sign language and audio description. Get ready to be charmed by the young love of Claudio and Hero, and laugh at the timeless wit of their friends Beatrice and Benedick.

Running from 9th - 24th September at the Crucible.

The Little Mermaid

Northern Ballet brings to life the classic Hans Christian Andersen fairytale with live Celtic-inspired music performed by Northern Ballet Sinfonia. Don’t miss this heart-wrenchingly beautiful rendition of the original story we all know and love.

Accessible performances are available. Running from 22nd - 24th September at the Lyceum.

Bugsy Malone

This dazzling musical offering will transport audiences to prohibition era New York, where gangster bosses Fat Sam and Dandy Dan are sworn enemies. Young Bugsy Malone must fight for his priorities when he gets drawn into Fat Sam’s gang and away from his new love, Blousey Brown.

Accessible performances are available. Running from 27th September - 1st October at the Lyceum.

RUSH: A Joyous Jamaican Journey

Join actor and comedian John Simmit as he guides the audience through the history of Reggae, ska, calypso and more, performed live by the JA Reggae Band, as well as personal experiences of members of the Windrush Generation. Enjoy the likes of Bob Marley, Lord Kitchener, and all the Reggae classics.

Running from 7th - 8th October at the Lyceum.

the choice of the setting of Brighton. Despite the city setting, the Brighton atmosphere so truthfully translated by Roberts makes readers feel at home in its surroundings, while slowly learning the hidden truths and intimate spots of this seaside city used as an escape from the prejudicial eyes of a society ready to attack.

The dual perspective and flashback format also build the characters and allow you to understand Marion and Patrick on what feels like a personal level. Despite this, I did find it difficult to sympathise with Marion at times compared to Patrick; it seems as if Roberts has

deliberately made Marion a difficult-to-like character to make readers feel conflicted on how they perceive her. In comparison, the vivid reflection of Patrick’s elegant nature in his diary extracts made it difficult to not be fascinated by his work and thought process. Compared to Marion and Patrick, we do not hear directly from Tom. This choice also makes it hard to empathise with him or grow an emotional attachment to the character as a whole. Yet the internal debate readers may have on their judgement of the likability, or lack thereof, for each character produces a more realistic read.

This book has garnered

popularity due to the movie adaptation releasing this autumn. The casting choice for Tom as famous singer Harry Styles has created a buzz around this story. Despite this excitement, there can be no ignoring the power this book has had already, prior to its famous casting choices and blockbuster movie deal. My Policeman is a cyclically heartbreaking and continuously gut-wrenching work, exploring through the dual perspectives of Marion and Patrick how each moment of their lives foregrounded what we soon learn lies ahead for their futures.

Fairy Tale Stephen King

Fresh

Feature

The Sheffield arts scene: a freshers-friendly guide

Jaz Catlow (she/her)

Sheffield is brimming with things to do, but when you’ve just moved to the city, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer number of new places to go. That’s why I’ve narrowed down some of the best venues to visit if you’re interested in experiencing all that Sheffield has to offer regarding arts and theatre.

My current favourite art gallery, and a recent find of mine, is Fronteer Gallery in Castlegate. It’s a recently established, independently run gallery with two lovely owners, having opened in the cursed year that was 2020.

The gallery space is small, with one main room upstairs and a basement below, but it is well utilised and always packed with artwork. There are usually at least two exhibitions, which change monthly. The opening night showings are my favourite time to visit; there’s free wine, and all the artists attend to talk about their work. It’s also surrounded by an ever-changing display of graffiti and is conveniently located near the start of the Five Weirs Walk if you’d like to make a day of it.

Not far from Fronteer Gallery is a café and queersafe space called DINA. The café doubles as a gallery space and venue for a range of events, including queer poetry nights, drag shows, art exhibitions, multilingual open mic nights, Queer Writes nights and more! It also happens to be situated across from my favourite art shop, Fred Aldous, in case you need to pick up some art supplies on the way to one of their workshops.

Of course, we can’t discuss the Sheffield arts scene and not mention the independent Showroom Cinema. With £4.50 cinema tickets for under 27s, plus a fantastic range of films you won’t find anywhere else, what’s not to like? From anime summer specials to box office hits, there’s something for everyone. I’ve visited many times over the summer and seen a variety of films in different languages – Norwegian, Persian, Irish Gaelic and French – so it’s great for multicultural cinema.

And just around the corner from Showroom is Site Gallery, another small art gallery with an attached café. They change exhibitions regularly and display a wide range of international artists, specialising in moving images and performance art. The art continues outside too, as you’ll see some mosaics and one of my favourite pieces of street art in Sheffield – Jo Peel’s ‘Growing City’, combining living plants with cityscapes – just on the front door.

A more well-known location to visit is the Millennium Gallery. Situated inside the Winter Garden, it makes for a fun day out. Alongside their two permanent exhibitions, displaying a variety of metalworks and avian paintings, the gallery also shows several shorter-term exhibitions covering various topics and artists, with the occasional art workshop available too.

Across from the Winter Garden, right in the heart of the city centre, is Sheffield’s theatre quarter. It’s here that

The Marriage Portrait

Lyceum, the Crucible and the Tanya Moiseiwitsch Playhouse. While the Crucible is most well known as the location for the World Snooker Championships, there are also many performances to see, ranging from The Woman in Black to Cluedo, and even School of Rock. It’s worth stopping by the Central Library and Graves Gallery while you’re here too, as they’re just around the corner.

If you’re interested in finding out more about the history of Sheffield and its role in the industrial revolution, head down to Kelham Island Museum. They have replica steam engines at work, a hydraulic press, and an extensive tools collection. Learn about the Sheffield floods and see the steel city come to life in the industrial

quarter. While you’re here, there’s plenty more street art to enjoy and lots of great places to eat, such as Cutlery Works, Peddler Market, Church: Temple Of Fun and Piña.

My final recommendation is the newly opened (as of August this year) South Yorkshire Natural History Museum. I haven’t had the chance to visit yet myself, but it’s top on my to-do list. The dramatic opening ceremony can be viewed online, with a dinosaur claw being used to officially open the museum. If you’re interested in dinosaurs, fossils or geology, this is the place to go. And if you really like it, you can even volunteer at the museum.

visit that I couldn’t possibly fit all of them onto this list. But if you’re looking for other places to explore, you could try the National Emergency Services Museum, Bloc Projects outdoor billboards, Weston Park Museum or Fired Arts pottery painting café. Or you could even go on your own walking street art tour of Sheffield. And make sure to check out what’s on at the City Hall. Hopefully that’s enough places to explore while you start making friends and settling into your home for the next few years. Good luck, and enjoy your time in this wonderful city!

A teenaged boy discovers a beautiful yet perilous alternate universe, left in his care after the death of an old friend.

Maggie O’Farrell

In 1560s Florence, a young girl sits for her portrait and contemplates the duties of her marriage to a controlling Duke.

Foul Lady Fortune Chloe Gong

Two spies who can’t stand each other must pose as a married couple to investigate a spate of brutal killings in 1930s Shanghai.

Opinion

Is the UK exam system destroying passion for literature?

Lucy Riddell (she/her)

To my friends, it’s no secret that I love reading. To my parents, it was a strain on their purse strings. But there was a brief period when reading lost that spark for me, and with hindsight, I think that GCSEs were to blame.

I recall my GCSE English lessons with a feeling very far from fondness. The classroom (like Goldilocks’ stolen porridge) was consistently either too hot or too cold, my stomach always decided to grumble at the quietest moments, and the teaching style felt incredibly, incredibly dull. Now I must make it clear that I do not in any way blame my teachers; they were doing the best with what they had. But the strength of my love for literature was pushed to its limits during my GCSE years.

Instead of being encouraged to form our own opinions on the texts we studied, the structure of the UK examination system

meant that an excessively formulaic teaching method was favoured. As experts in the subject, our English teachers dictated to us what a specific rhyme pattern in Rudyard Kipling’s ‘If’ meant, or the exact connotation of the red feather in Curley’s wife’s shoe in Of Mice and Men. Because we were aiming to score marks by guessing what the Edexcel or AQA gods interpreted in a text, we had little opportunity to explore how literature made us, as individuals, think and feel. I especially remember one of the revision techniques most commonly suggested to us for essay questions: plan an introduction, three paragraphs and a conclusion for each possible question.

Whatever you do, don’t actually do any thinking in the exam! You simply don’t have time.

Whether this is a popular opinion or not, I wholeheartedly disagree with the concept of set mark

schemes when it comes to essays on literature. Good literature is designed to have a different effect on every person who encounters it. However, studentswhose youth would mean that, if encouraged, they could bring fresh ideas to the literary canon - are punished for deviating from the opinions of just a few adults working for an exam board. The UK’s quantitative examination system is impossible to reconcile with the idiosyncrasy of literary interpretation. And the rigid structure of the exam system leads to such dreary rote-learning of the arts, completely contrary to their essence as fluid and subjective. The pursuits of learning quotes off by heart and regurgitating forgettable statistics for ‘context marks’ are neither intellectually stimulating nor fun in any way.

GCSE students are at a pivotal stage in their life, when they start thinking

about what they want to do in the future but most still have all options available.

This is why I believe it is imperative that something is done to change the system.

There are so many different routes that teens of today can take for entertainment, and reading is falling to the bottom of the list. We can’t just blame Netflix and TikTok for stealing the youth’s attention - we have to address the fact that the current way of teaching the arts is one of the largest obstacles to reigniting young peoples’ passion for literature.

So what must be done?

I propose that open-book exams should be put into practice to do away with unnecessary quote-learning. Other exam sections should feature more unseen poems and prose or drama passages to test a student’s literary analysis skills, rather than their memory. And what I think is most important is that examiners ensure their

marking is far more open to individual interpretation than it is currently. Students should not be marked on whether their view of the meaning behind a particular figurative device is in accordance with that of an examiner. Instead, exam responses with merit should be considered those which coherently and efficiently support their own line of argument, no matter what the argument is. This style of assessment is employed to great effect at university level teaching, and somewhat also at A-Level, so why not for GCSEs?

Of course this issue is not the worst that the UK government currently faces, but it is pressing nonetheless. Something needs to be done, so that our country’s future generations don’t lose their love for literature entirely. After all, without readers, who will write?

Live Review: Richard Hawley at The Leadmill

Charlie Sweeney (He/Him)

Is there anyone as truly ‘Sheffield’ as Richard Hawley? Sure, he might not have had the worldwide success experienced by, say, Alex Turner, but if there is one man who truly embodies the spirit of the Steel City, it’s Richard Hawley. The man bleeds Hendo’s. He’s best mates with Pete McKee. He’s still a Wednesday fan. Richard Hawley is Sheffield.

So when he announced he would be doing what was originally a 2-day (but later, due to the insane popularity of the event, extended to a 4-day) residency at The Leadmill, the most holy of all Sheffield music venues, I knew it would be a gig I just couldn’t miss. Especially as Hawley promised to bring out a special guest each night.

Thankfully, I managed to get tickets to see him on Tuesday 9th August.

Providing support on the Tuesday was the fantastic Ed Cosens, who’s more wellknown as the guitarist from Reverend and the Makers. I must admit, before the gig I had no idea Cosens had ventured out on his own, but after his tremendous set I made sure to download his 2021 album ‘Fortunes

Favour’. Cosens’ performance was fantastic; on top of his usual talent for guitar, he really surprised me with just how good his voice is, sounding almost like a South Yorkshire Michael Stipe. With some incredibly beautiful lyrics, I was just really impressed with Ed Cosens in general. It was a really great performance.

Then, after a brief intermission, Richard Hawley took to the stage. Jumping in straight away with the brilliant ‘Off My Mind’, Hawley really demonstrated why he’s such a musical influence and idol to people like Alex Turner. The whole set was a wonderful mixture of rockabilly and ballads, and Hawley was absolutely in his element. After ‘Off My Mind’ came ‘Alone’, then ‘Further’. Interspersed between each song was Hawley’s interaction with the audience, with one memorable interaction being getting the band to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to a young fan who had just turned 18.

Throughout all the interactions he had with the crowd, and all the introductions he gave to each song, you could really see just how proud Richard Hawley is of being from Sheffield, and how much the city means to him. This was less a gig, and more a night of celebration for Sheffield.

Performing fan-favourites

‘Tonight The Streets Are Ours’ and ‘Coles Corner’ back-to-back, Hawley really demonstrated his talent as a performer, especially with the latter song. The raw lyrics and slow music created a feeling of melancholic beauty across the crowd. I really do think, despite his rockabilly sensibilities, this is when Hawley is at his best: slow, powerful songs which really portray his proficiency at songwriting. My only criticism of the whole performance is that there was only one song from the Coles Corner album.

Then came time for the ‘special guest’ which had

been advertised. The night before, Richard Hawley brought out Self Esteem herself, Rebecca Lucy Taylor. This only increased the excitement- who could it be?

It had to be someone famous from Sheffield right? Jon McClure? Phil Oakley?

It wasn’t either of them.

It was Jarvis Cocker.

I couldn’t believe it. What had promised to already be one of the most Sheffield nights in existence had just become even more Sheffield.

The crowd went mental, everyone was cheering and screaming and clapping as he walked on to the stage, embracing Richard and waving hello.

Jarvis, in his typical eloquent fashion, addressed the crowd, talking in support of The Leadmill:

“It’s more than this building and this stage, it’s something that’s grown over the years and it’s a feeling”. He continued, “they [the landlords] might own the bricks and mortar, but they don’t own the spirit of the Leadmill.”

Jarvis and Richard then began to play a song they had both written together “many moons ago”, but had never actually performed.

Hawley warned the crowd that “if it’s shit, don’t blame us!”. However, Hawley had nothing to worry about. The song, called ‘A Sunset’, was beautiful, showcasing both Sheffield legends at their

“

Hawley really demonstrated why he’s such a musical influence and idol to people like Alex Turner. The whole set was a wonderful mixture of rockabilly and ballads, and Hawley was absolutely in his element.

absolute musical best. Why it was never recorded or released remains a mystery to me, because the song was absolutely incredible. Afterward, Jarvis spoke about how the next song they were going to play was one that he and Richard “had spent many nights in The Leadmill

dancing too”, and with that they launched into a fantastic rendition of ‘White Light, White Heat’ by The Velvet Underground. Seeing the pair of them singing together was just so wonderful, and the cover was fantastic; Jarvis Cocker as Lou Reed is a concept I had never thought about in my head, but weirdly I feel is actually quite obvious. After finishing the song, Jarvis departed the stage, leaving Richard to finish the night off.

This was easily one of the best gigs I have ever been too. Without a shadow of the doubt. Richard Hawley is just incredible, and even if you are not a fan of his music I still think you’d be thoroughly entertained by his shows. And having Jarvis Cocker of all people make an appearance is just perfect.

Jarvis Cocker joined Richard Hawley on stage (Photo Credit: Charlie Sweeney)

Upcoming album releases:

People Parts Femur

Sheffield Spotlight #4:

A Guide To Sheffield's record stores

Sam Davidson (He/Him)

Sheffield’s bands and music venues are often talked about and are incredibly wellknown. For a city of its size, Sheffield is seemingly always punching above its weight musically speaking. However, what is never really talked about in Sheffield are the incredible record stores we have in the city. So we’ve put together this guide of some of the best in the city.

Record Collector (est. 1978)

However, regardless of it’s location, Record Collector is always worth a visit, as the selection of music on offer here really is superb, bolstered by a great second hand and discounted section that is updated regularly. It’s also worth pointing out that the CD side of the shop has masses of very well-priced music if you collect the smaller and more portable of the physical formats, as well as a DVD section for all your documentary and live music needs. In terms of Record Collector purchases that have blown me away, some highlights include Piano Magic’s ethereal classic Low Birth Weight and Global Communication’s ambient 76:14.

“

Where is it?

Record Collector is located at 223 Fulwood Road, in Broomhill. It is right next to the Subway, just opposite the Balti King. It is open 10am –5:45pm every day except Wednesday and Sunday.

My Thoughts

Record Collector is a staple of the Sheffield music scene, being the oldest surviving record shop in the city. It is undeniably the first place you should visit if you’re a fresher who has a passion for music. The fact that it is opposite the Morrison’s in Broomhill means that it’s incredibly easy to drop in and spend some time crate digging on the way back from a lecture or a quick shop.

Record Collector is a staple of the Sheffield music scene, being the oldest surviving record shop in the city. It is undeniably the first place you should visit if you're a fresher who has a passion for music.

Bear Tree Records (est. 2015)

along with in-store signings. Some of these recent gigs include Fontaines D.C. and Wet Leg, both of whom played at Foundry.

Music

Sister Wives Greater Place

Where is it?

Bear Tree records is nestled away within the Forum, the independent shopping arcade found on Division Street in the city centre. Found at the very back of the arcade, past the Common Room. Bear Tree is open from 11am til 3pm every day bar Sunday.

My Thoughts

From a customers perspective, Bear Tree is laid out extremely well. It is the place to go if you are looking for a comprehensive selection of reissues from a very wide range of genres and styles, especially those that are more experimental , although they do stock the vast majority of current releases. If you’re looking for new releases, Bear Tree is the place to go, as the owner Joe is an expert on all of the music he sells, and will always point you in the direction of something great that you’d otherwise never have heard. Whilst it might be a little lacking in it’s second-hand offerings, Bear Tree really is fantastic.

As well all this, Bear Tree also manages to organise intimate gigs with some fantastic artists, typically

Bear Tree is the place to go for vinyl reissues from a wide range of genres and styles, especially the more experiemental

Record Junkee

(est. 1994)

record stores, it is still easy to find some really great stuff.

On top of stocking all the new releases that you could want, Record Junkee also has a particularly extensive selection of electronic releases, making this arguably the place to go if you’re looking for some more obscure techno, house, IDM and beyond. The store also has one of the most comprehensive offerings of the more alternative branches of metal such as stoner, doom, and post-metal. This speaks to Record Junkee’s longstanding association with the Doomlines festival that is hosted by the neighbouring venue Network during Tramlines weekend each year.

Where is it?

Record Junkee is found on Earl Street, near The Moor. Located above Music Junkee, both shops are found opposite the Moor Indoor Market.

Record Junkee is open 9am – 5:30pm everyday but Sunday, where it is open 10am – 5pm.

My Thoughts

Record Junkee holds the unique position of being part-music shop, partrecord shop, and partgig venue, and somehow manages to excel at all of these. While it’s not the most streamlined of layouts when it comes to

“

Record Junkee is part-music shop, part-record shop and part-gig venue, and somehow manages to excel at all of these

The rest of Sam's guide, featuring his reviews of LP Records and Spinning Discs, can be found online at forgepress.org

The debut album from local Sheffield band Femur is set to be released Friday 30th September.

Sister Wives are one of the best bands operating in Sheffield, combining post-punk, folk, and the Welsh language.

“

#WeCantLoseLeadmill: What it means to us

Charlie Sweeney (He/Him)

Abi Ware (She/Her)

Callum Martin (He/Him)

Jake Love (He/Him)

Joey Grindrod (He/Him)

On the 31st March it was announced that The Leadmill was facing eviction. The potential closure of this historic Sheffield landmark was, obviously, met with a huge outcry of sadness, and there is currently a campaign to try and prevent the eviction of The Leadmill.

To show our support for The Leadmill, as well as to emphasise how important of a venue it is to so many, we asked a few contributors to share some words about this historic music venue:

Charlie Sweeney:

There is a tendency within music for us to mythologise certain venues. Places like the Cotton Club, CBGB and The Cavern have given birth to some of the greatest musical acts of all time. The Hacienda lives in immortalised infamy in the UK for its effect on the Madchester, Britpop, and dance scenes, and UK music in general. King Tuts WahWah Hut will forever be famous for being the place where Alan McGee decided to sign Oasis.

Music venues aren’t simply entertainment businesses, they form part of the cultural fabric of the cities, and the countries, in which they operate. The true value of a music venue is intangible; the emotional effect these places can have on a person is priceless. I know that when I’m in my seventies or eighties, I will still be wistfully thinking of seeing Father John Misty at the Brudenell in Leeds, or attending Birmingham’s iconic Hare & Hounds pub to see Irish folk group Lankum. Music venues mean far more than the events they put on and are worth far more than the price of admission.

No other music venue

truly captures this more than The Leadmill. It is so deeply ingrained in the cultural fabric of Sheffield that it may as well be the location of the City Hall. I have only been in Sheffield for two years and I have already had so many great nights at The Leadmill, and seen so many great gigs there, that I know I will always treasure it. Even before coming to Sheffield, I knew how important it was as a venue. The Human League, Cabaret Voltaire and Pulp all got their start at the Leadmill. Jarvis Cocker and Richard Hawley used to go to club nights there. It was the sight of Arctic Monkeys’ first big gig.

Leadmill, whether it’s a club night or a gig, is hard to turn down! So many of my nights have been spent waiting below that iconic red sign for ABBA-themed nights, and I have made so many friends there. I have also never felt unsafe in The Leadmill. The venue clearly goes to great lengths to guarantee the safety of its attendees, and its anti-spiking measures are really good. Even the bouncers are friendly.

The Leadmill is such an iconic landmark in Sheffield, especially for students, and it would be a real shame if future residents did not get the chance to enjoy it as much as I have.

Callum Martin:

The Leadmill is a truly unique place.

Playing The Leadmill is a rite of passage for any band worth their salt.

The Leadmill should be decorated solely in blue plaques just for the cultural relevance of the place. Alex Kapranos famously told the members of Arcade Fire that “playing The Leadmill is a rite of passage for any band worth their salt”. To allow The Leadmill to close would be to allow modern British music to lose one of its foundational cornerstones. I understand there may be economic factors behind the decision, but at a certain point we have to look beyond capitalistic endeavour and focus on cultural relevance. The Leadmill has been a huge part of my life already, and I am sure many others will relate to that; it is, very simply, too important to lose.

Abi Ware: The Leadmill was the first music venue I visited in Sheffield, two years ago, and it has been a frequent favourite of mine ever since. Always able to guarantee cheap drinks and good music, a night at the

When I first arrived in Sheffield as a naïve fresher, unaware of the gravitas of the venue, I heard the name come up in conversation for a flat night out. It was 2020 and everything was still all sitting only but hey, an ABBA night somewhere with a name as cool-sounding as “The Leadmill” seemed like just the thing to spice up a Thursday night that would otherwise be spent drinking in our flat.

then proceeded to spill out onto the cold Sheffield streets, stumbling our way back home and ducking into alleys to be sick. But the place had still made a lasting impression on us all.

It was the first place I’d been out to in Sheffield, and honestly very few can even begin to compare.

The Leadmill can cater to both the needs of a gig venue and those of a club so well and the people running it always seem to find such a good balance in its events management. I honestly can’t think of anywhere else in Sheffield that you can see an unknown indie band playing their first EP, followed later that week by a chart-topper playing their sell-out UK tour, all with a few cheesy club nights thrown inbetween those the two dates. Without The Leadmill, what’s left?

It’s another reminder that in the eyes of some, there is nothing sacred anymore. No place too renowned, no history too storied. Nothing can stop “progress’” march. But God, I just want to be able to see that sign blazing out, pass through the graffitied doors into a room so warm you can see the steam in the air, to be able to turn to a mate and say, “so £5 round then?”

Jake Love:

The Leadmill, to me, is more than just another venue. I had heard about The Leadmill long before I had even gone there. Growing up in Nottingham, the stories my dad had told me of his student days in Sheffield were always highlighted by his experiences at The Leadmill. The stories he would tell me about the bands seemed almost like myths to me, and when I went to my first gig there, I was not disappointed.

of my first proper year as a University of Sheffield student. The wooden floors, sticky from spilt Red Stripe, which have seen generations of dancing figures adorned with bucket hats and Oasis t-shirts is what makes The Leadmill a particularly special venue. The history and tradition of the venue will always exist no matter what.

The Leadmill is a cultural institution, it's the spirit of Sheffield in a building.

Joey Grindrod: British music has a proud history of fierce independence. Artists, venues, and record labels have proudly worn the label of ‘indie’ for as long as people have been making music on this island.

For me, the Leadmill epitomises this attitude of independence. The Leadmill has for decades served as a breeding ground for South Yorkshire’s up and coming musicians, producing local legends like Arctic Monkeys and Pulp, as well as luring bands from across the world to the streets of the Steel City. With a keen eye for talent, the Leadmill has played host to a plethora of artists that would go on to international superstardom, including Oasis, the White Stripes, the Strokes, and many, many more.

The Leadmill is a cultural institution, it’s the spirit of Sheffield in a building – two fingers to the establishment and an independent attitude that Sheffield’s music scene can’t afford to lose.

And it was about as entertaining as those sitdown night outs could be. We all got way too drunk, split across two tables, and

Standing in the queue with half-empty cans of beer on the ground, with the red neon lights reflecting off the wet pavement was an experience I was all too familiar with by the end

(Image Credit: Charlie Sweeney)

Screen

A guide to Sheffield’s cinemas

If you’re a fresher who loves catching a movie, you might want to know about the best cinemas in Sheffield. This guide gives you a run down of the cinemas worth visiting in your

Ruby Watson (she/her)

Showroom Cinema

This independent cinema, located on Paternoster Row near the train station, is my favourite cinema in the city. The Showroom has a great cafe/bar serving everything from brunch to specialty cocktails for really reasonable prices. It even hosts a free monthly film quiz and has some particularly good deals on cinema tickets for students with its Cine 26 programme. This is free to sign up for and as long as you are under the age of 26, making your cinema tickets only £4.50. It comes with other perks too, such as a free ticket on your birthday and money off food and drinks.

Curzon

The Sheffield branch of Curzon cinemas can be found on George Street, a stone’s throw from The Crucible. If you fancy a classy cinema experience complete with a summertime rooftop bar and a lobby serving drinks, then this is the cinema for you. Curzon even offers you the chance to be boujee on a budget with its under 25 membership that is free to join. With this membership you get peak tickets from £10 and off peak tickets from £5, not to mention 10% off food and drink and 20% off curzon home cinema rentals.

Film Unit

Film unit can be found in the Nelson Mandela Auditorium inside our very own Students Union. When you purchase tickets to one of the fab films shown there, you can get exclusive discounts for vendors such as Bar One and Coffee Revolution inside of the SU. On top of this, even once you have graduated, the Film Unit offers an alumni pass. This gives you 50% off a screening. They also offer hard of hearing screenings and autism friendly screenings in addition to wheelchair access.

The Light Cinema

Found in The Moor in Sheffield’s city centre is The Light. This cinema serves a variety of food and drinks from their diner, including Fratellis pizzas. The Light also has a Premiere scheme from £15.99 a month. This cost covers invites to exclusive members only screenings and events, 10% off food and cinema snacks, discount pricing on tickets, and their special Tuesday deal where you can bring a friend to watch a film for just £5 each.

Odeon Luxe

Odeon Luxe at Arundel Gate is fully equipped for all your cinema needs with Imax and Isense screens. Odeon have a ‘My Limitless’ scheme where, when you pay £14.99 per month, you gain special access to see films before they’ve been released, 10% off food and drink and, of course, you can watch as many films at Odeon as many times as you’d like.

Outdoor Cinema Sheffield

This travelling outdoor cinema is a little way out of the city centre, located at Beauchief Golf Club. Despite having a wealth of different food, drinks (including alcohol), and snacks, you are allowed to bring your own food in too. It has wheelchair access and toilet facilities. To find out about the next time the outdoor cinema is coming to Sheffield you can join its Facebook group for the latest news.

Fresh Movies

Film Review

Bullet Train - “Murder on the Orient Express on drugs”

Isabel Weeks Hankins (she/her)

Bullet Train is a film that desperately wants to emulate Quentin Tarantino but comes off as a version of the Murder on the Orient Express on drugs.

Adapted from the bestselling 2010 novel by Japanese author Kotaro Isaka, and directed and produced by David Leitch (John Wick), Bullet Train is a frantic high-speed journey of repetitious fight scenes, neon intertitles, quirky characters, and sudden flashbacks.

Brad Pitt stars as a contracted operative, known as Ladybug, who is typically hired by mysterious clients to

Film Review

perform shady jobs like assassinations. But after some soul searching and therapy to cleanse himself of his previous bloody missions Ladybug has returned to work, tasked with retrieving a briefcase on the train by his handler (Sandra Bullock). Ladybug just has to get off at the next stop with the briefcase. However, Ladybug has extremely bad luck. The train is full of assassins, fortified with guns, knives and samurai swords, all with intertwining missions of their own.

Pitt wears a juvenile bucket hat and blackbrimmed glasses as he skitters up and down the train like a lost puppy. His character’s clear anxiety about returning to work only seemed to be soothed by conversations with Bullock that I wish I could have fast-forwarded. Pitt’s name brings momentum

to the film but the other passengers were definitely the driving force.

Thankfully, Tangerine (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and Lemon (Brian Tyree Henry) are on board relieving the tediousness of Pitt’s Labrador-esque character. Taylor-Johnson is your typical suited and booted East-London geezer who looks as if he has been copy and pasted from any one of Guy Ritchie’s much more stylish and thrilling action films.

His brother-in-arms Henry, on the other hand, has more of an idiotic lovability about him. Lemon is a unique character with unique interests such as Thomas the Tank Engine. No, I am not joking. The children’s television and book series acts as Lemon’s guide on how to read people’s personality and character. A “Thomas” is an elite person but a “Diesel” is

a shady, slippery character. And surprise surprise, Bullet Train is full of Diesels.

The passenger list also includes Joey King (Prince), as what looks like your average school girl, who stood her own against the big names in the film. As the only woman of note, it was surprising to me when a Fiji water bottle floating between the cabins received more back story than the deserving King.

In films such as these, the action sequences usually pump life into the scenes redeeming it from the amateurish plotting. Leitch has shown he knows how to

direct chair gripping action sequences in Deadpool 2 and Atomic Blonde, but this time his expertise was left on the platform.

As the film went on, the gimmick of the train setting became a double-edged sword restricting the action sequences. Regardless of how many guns, knives, samurai swords, and even a rare venomous snake were introduced into the mix, they were unsuccessful at curing the predictability or resurrecting some excitement.

Nope - “Eerie reflection of the modern world”

Lois Daniel (she/her)

Jordan Peele’s third film Nope hit cinemas this summer with high expectations. Peele’s previous horrors Get Out and Us, marked the director as one of the most unique and successful filmmakers in Hollywood – and Nope did not disappoint.

The complex sci-fi thriller is nothing short of spectacular. Visually, the film is outstanding, as Peele shoots in IMAX for the first time allowing for an immersive cinematic experience. Not only this, Peele once again leaves the

viewer constantly reading between the lines, searching for deeper meaning in his work.

Just like Get Out and Us, Nope is a film which encourages the general public and critics alike to discuss and debate long after leaving the cinema. To me, the film is so impactful because its fictional horrors are an eerie reflection of the modern world.

Horse trainer OJ Haywood (Daniel Kaluuya) and his sister Emerald (Keke Palmer) are taunted by a mysterious, otherworldly being in the skies above their rural Californian ranch. Meanwhile, a local theme park owner Ricky Park (Steven Yeun) attempts to profit from this

alien phenomenon. But this is not your typical ‘little green man’ story.

Essentially, Nope is a film about capturing the impossible, taming a beast, and immortalising the spectacle.

Brimming with suspense, Nope is most successful in its portrayal of the unexpected. The film is an innovative approach to the sci-fi genre, reimagining the notion of the infamous UFO. Peele’s creative vision is impressively unpredictable, so I encourage cinemagoers to avoid spoilers – especially surrounding the UFO itself.

That being said, the cinematic portrayal of the UFO is more than worthy of its blockbuster status,

and worth being discussed. Cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema captures the sky and clouds in a way that creates awe and tension.

When paired with an impressive score (Michael Abels) and fierce sound design (Johnnie Burn), the viewer assumes there is always danger lurking behind the clouds. Thus, the extraterrestrial being is fleetingly captured roaming the sky in a way that is reminiscent of the shark stalking its prey in the waters of Amity Island in Steven Spielberg’s Jaws.

Much like in our beloved ‘predator’ classic, Nope’s protagonists OJ and Emerald team up to tame this beast, using their collective knowledge of horse training

to do so. Their method of capture? Immortalising the mystical creature in a singular photographic image and proving its undisputed existence by spreading this image worldwide.

Overall, the spellbinding thriller conjures a haunting message about modern society. It satirises our collective obsession with real-life tragedies; it criticises our innate desire to pick up your closest recording device and capture any shocking or rare incident; it questions our assumption that we are the superior species. Nope is a thought-provoking and thrilling journey that no one should miss out on.

Don’t Worry Darling Black Adam Halloween Ends

Credit: TheMovieDB

Review: The Mortuary Assistant

Carla Biteanu (She/her)

Wheeling a body out of cold storage, wiring its

jaw shut, and draining it of all the blood. These are just some of the embalming tasks you have to complete in new indie release The Mortuary Assistant

Although, you’ll have to make sure you avoid being possessed by the demonic presences lurking inside River Fields Mortuary.

A minor detail is that your boss, Raymond, decides to keep to himself until after he’s called you in for the night shift and it’s too late to hand in your notice and go home. Whilst surviving the shift of nightmares, you must embalm bodies and solve puzzles in order to banish the demons that are attempting to latch

developed by Darkstone Digital certainly delivers some very good scares. Whilst some are the typical light flickering, loud thud type, many are placed right when you’d least expect them and definitely caused me to jump more than I’d like to admit.

Following the checklist of embalming tasks you have to complete isn’t easy when ominous voices from the underworld suddenly start speaking to you, or a shadowy apparition begins chasing you down the hallways.

Throughout the game there are some occult style rituals you have to perform, this works as a type of puzzle mechanic throughout the game – you must spot the signs of demonic possession which can present themselves through the corpse, such as the body suddenly moving or grabbing you during an inspection. At times I did find the controls weren’t very smooth, in particular the gurney you have to use to wheel the bodies was difficult to move.

very engaging, while trying to work out which body to burn, it feels like you are working against the clock. By using a notepad and pen, Rebecca can scribble on a piece of paper and work out how close she is to possession.

Don’t expect to get used to it though, as there are different endings to unlock and you will face unique scares with each playthrough. So far I’ve only unlocked one of five endings but it has left me wanting to play more and work out all the secrets of River Fields.

While the puzzles, mysteries, and clues are well crafted, I did run into an issue when one of my letting strips set alight in a dimly lit area of the map and it was basically impossible to find the sigil.

Each playthrough does follow the same set of mechanics and tasks, so despite facing different scares, you do embalm the same bodies and complete the same tasks each time –this can become repetitive.

The top gaming spots in Sheffield revealed

Nicole Calogero (She/her)

Sheffield can be a fantastic student city, with an unrivalled nightlife and a diverse

musical tradition. However, the gaming culture is often an overlooked aspect. In fact, from gaming bars to the much-loved National Videogame Museum (NVM), Sheffield offers a handful of perfect gaming locations. Keep reading to discover your next favourite gaming spot in the Steel City.

Meltdown Sheffield Sheffield has countless hidden gems and Meltdown deserves more recognition. Equipped with gaming computers, consoles and a unique cocktail and mocktail selection, no matter the occasion Meltdown will never disappoint you. Their must-try drinks include the “Nagini Martini” and the “Virgin Pink Mojito”.

Meltdown is much more than a gaming bar, however. In fact, they often organise events including the unmissable emo and alternative music night ‘This Party Sucks’.

alongside offering better quality.There are two prices to choose from, either a solid £5 per hour or £20 for a monthly subscription. If you are a regular customer, getting a monthly subscription will save you a vast sum of money.

The atmosphere is relaxed and, overall, it’s a great place to go with friends or even by yourself.

The National Videogame Museum (NVM)

Conveniently located within walking distance of both Belong and Meltdown, the NVM is another unmissable location. Given its nature, this museum offers a more involved experience and, as a result, the entry ticket costs £11, but this price is justified because both “The Arcade” and

“The Lab” are two unique

themselves onto you.

You play as Rebecca who is introduced at the start of the game with a cutscene revealing her grandmother’s reluctance about her job at River Fields, a place which seems to have secrets of its own.

The point and click horror

Another of the puzzle mechanics relies on Rebecca lighting a letting strip and walking around River Fields; when in the right place, these will spontaneously set alight, revealing a sigil.

By using the 90’s-style computer database you can work out the name of the demon attempting to possess you.

This aspect of the game is

Overall, The Mortuary Assistant is a must-play for horror fans. The amount of secrets hiding within lends itself a great deal of replayability. Paired with some truly gory and haunting imagery used throughout it creates an unsettling atmosphere right from the start.

Sheffield Belong gaming arenas

Located inside GAME at the bottom of the Moor, the Sheffield Belong gaming arena is quite a new addition but is quickly proving to be the next go-to destination for any serious gamer in the city.

The Belong arena (unlike Meltdown) is equipped with high-end gaming PCs allowing one to play a broader range of games

attractions. As suggested by the name “The Arcade” models itself on traditional gaming arcades, where a selection of both contemporary and retro games are available. Alternatively, “The Lab” offers an invaluable space where you can unleash your creativity and build your very own video game.

Fire Pit

Given its location on West Street, Fire Pit remains an all-time favourite party destination. However, unlike neighbouring venues such as Tiger Works, Fire Pit provides several PS5 consoles, where Fifa is often a popular choice. Something nearby to give your freshers night outs a twist!

“ Whilst surviving the shift of nightmares you must embalm bodies and solve puzzles

Steelrising

Fresh games

The best games for long distance friends and couples

Erin Mansell (She/her)

Over the past few years, we have all become far too familiar with spending time with loved ones via video calls. Yet, in the digital age, we are lucky to have access to technologies that connect us to family and friends remotely.

Whether you are in a longdistance relationship or have online friends in different countries, there is now a wealth of ways to spend time together online. Although, there is only so much time you can spend watching Netflix together - so here are a few of my favourite twoplayer games to play online:

1It Takes Two. It Takes Two follows the tale of an unhappily married couple who get turned into mini-dolls by a magic spell. The story embarks as the shrunken pair navigate their house, where they have to solve puzzles, battle animals, and work together to make their way back to their daughter Rose.

This action-adventure game is engaging throughout, one of my favourite things is that it includes elements that appeal to several different kinds of gamers, with an immersive story, adventure, battles, and hidden mini-games.

From gangster squirrels to a hoover on a rampage, the game includes several levels of varying themes, each with a boss battle at the end.

As someone who, if I’m honest, is not the best at video games, I found this to be accessible and fun

without being easy or intimidatingly difficult. It’s the perfect middle ground for any gamer. It was even awarded Game of the Year at the Game Awards last year.

At £34.99, it isn’t cheap, but the good news is only one of the two players needs to buy it. The other player can simply download the It Takes Two friends pass for free to access the game. If you’re someone who enjoys lighthearted adventure games, I would highly recommend It Takes Two.

2Stardew Valley This one may be slightly biased, as Stardew Valley has to be my favourite game of all time.

With the wholesome story, aesthetic design, and bizarre characters, I’ve been hooked ever since I first downloaded it. I had been playing it for months before realising there was even a co-op option.

The game is centred around a farmer who moves to a new town where they inherit their grandfather’s farm. You can spend your time farming, fishing, mining, or making friends in the town, which holds many secrets.

There is an endless wealth of things to do.

After over a hundred hours of playing, I am not even close to being bored.

Playing the co-op version only heightened the

experience for me, as the parts I was perhaps not so good at (fighting monsters in the caves) could be done as a team of two.

You can build a farm together, go on endless adventures and even get married.

At only £10.99, this game is absolutely worth every penny, although if you are going to play the co-op version, both of you will have to purchase the game before you can play together.

3A Way Out. From the same developer as It Takes Two, Hazelight Studios, A Way Out is another cooperative adventure game that had me hooked at every step. It’s definitely more intense and serious than It Takes

Two, but just as much fun. It follows a pair of prison inmates on a mission to escape. You can choose which character each of you will play as, and work together to escape prison and evade capture. The game is engaging, thrilling, and amusing. Although it takes a more serious tone, there are several mini games included to lighten up the gameplay. If you enjoy engaging gameplay intertwined with a story full of twists, this game might just suit you. Similarly to It Takes Two, only one person will need to buy the game for £24.99.

4Tick Tock: A Tale for Two. The best way to describe this game is short but sweet. With an

average playtime of just 2.5 hours, I can assure that you will be left wanting more. In order to solve the mystery of this eerie town, players must describe what they see to each other and combine their information to complete the puzzles. One thing that I love is the design. Inspired by Scandinavian fairy tales, the entire thing is hand drawn. Although slightly creepy, the graphics are weirdly calming. Tick Tock: A Tale for Two is slightly different to the others on the list, as it is focused on communication rather than gaming skill. If you are an avid puzzler like myself, I really do recommend this game, which is also extremely affordable at only £4.99.

Image credits: Playstation store, Nintendo, Hazelight Studios, Other Tales Interactive, Stardew Valley

The Last of Us Part 1 PC, PS5

A remake of the 2013 classic featuring improved gameplay and graphics.

PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC Set in Paris 1798, you must fight against King Louis XVI’s mechanical soilders and stop the bloodshed

Splatoon 3 Nintendo Switch Enter Splatsville for this third person shooter adventure game.

Sports society spotlight: Why you should join Walking Soc this semester

Tom Cracknell (he/him)

Interested in walking and hiking? Want to experience the beauty of our local area?

Want to meet a great group of people? Then the Sheffield University Walking Club (SUWC) is for you!

We run walks most Saturdays and Sundays throughout the University semesters. The walks will generally range from 6 to 13 miles and we try to have a range of easier and harder walks. Everyone is welcome to join us for a walk, whether you’re a member or not. We only ask that you turn up with sensible footwear and enough food and water to

see you through the day.

We also have both pub and non-alcoholic socials every Thursday at various places around Sheffield. Don’t worry if you’re too busy to come walking, you can still join us for these. There’s often a big turnout so it’s a great chance to meet lots of new people!

generally stay in a bunk barn or similar accommodation for a couple of nights. Our previous trips have been to the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales, North York Moors, and Snowdonia!

We will have stalls at both of the Activities Fairs (21st22nd September) and the Sports Fair (23rd September) so come along and meet us there!

We will be on hand to answer any questions you may have and explain more about the club.

If you’d like to receive updates from us or would like to find out more then head to our website, find us on Facebook (@ shefuniwalking) and Instagram (@suwc_official), or send us an email (suwc@ sheffield.ac.uk).

We look forward to meeting lots of new people

Sports Society

Spotlight: Travel to the Alps with SheffSki

A

s part of Forge Sport’s ‘club spotlight’ series, we are taking a closer look at the University of Sheffield’s Ski Club.

The Ski Club is the biggest sports club at the university.

Whether you are a complete beginner or seasoned pro, there is an opportunity for everyone to learn and improve their skills.

Members can learn to ski on real snow at the indoor snow dome Castleford Xscape.

The annual membership allows access to trips abroad, training sessions, socials, Snowsports England membership, national competitions, weekends away and exclusive

It is a great time to socialise, make friends and ski all day every

Last Easter the club organised a successful trip to Pas De La Casa in Andorra.

If you are still

Each year, the club hosts a varsity ski trip called ‘Ashes to Alps’ where members can enjoy a week of snow-covered slopes. at an alpine resort.

unsure whether SheffSki is the right club for you, you can meet the committee at the Activities Fair on 21st22nd September to ask any questions and find out more information. The club will also be at the Sports Fair on the 23rd September. Keep up to date with the Ski Club via their social media:

Facebook: @SheffSkiSheffield University Ski Club Instagram: @sheff_ski Or send them an email: skiclub@sheffield.ac.uk

We hold trips throughout the year. These are our ‘Fresher’s Trip’ in October, an Easter trip, and our summer trip which takes place at the end of the academic year

“

Jemma Snowdon on behalf of SheffSki (she/her)

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Boxing inter view: Bree Wright’s inspiring fighting journey

Tommy Gorman (he/him)

Bree Wright, 26, is Sheffield’s first-ever female professional boxer.

Far beyond that, however, she is a woman on a mission.

Born and bred in the Steel City, Wright’s journey to the professional boxing stage has been anything but straightforward, stumbling on her love of the sport by chance.

“I was a naughty kid, to be fair, always getting into trouble and never doing owt ‘reyt,” she says. “I got sent to this ‘naughty school’ called Spring Lane in Sheffield, and we used to go on days out. We went to this place called 393 and there was a boxing gym above it. People asked: ‘why don’t you come to the gym and box?’ and that was the first thing that challenged my negative thoughts and energy.”

Throughout her youth, Wright encountered bereavements and various mental health troubles that resulted in a prolonged absence from the ring for the

best part of a decade.

“I didn’t know what I was doing. I was literally on shut down mode for about eight years. I didn’t know what I wanted to do or what I wanted to be,” she added.

During this period, Wright busied herself through working various jobs, even being employed on the railways and, at one point, in an abattoir. Her return to boxing was inspired by watching the amazing resurgence of heavyweight Tyson Fury.

“He had everything, and his head still wasn’t alright. So I knew that it’s ok not to be alright and you can come back from [difficulties] whatever you’re doing,” she says. “He was massive, got drunk and did whatever else, and he came back from it and smashed it. I thought if someone like him can do it, then I definitely can.”

The Stradbroke-based welterweight now dedicates

her life to the sport, citing it as the key component that turned her life around.

“Boxing to me is everything now. I live and breathe boxing, it’s what saved me as a person so everything in my life now revolves around it. Nothing else matters. The only time I feel alive is within boxing.”

“I love the Blades and went to Bramall Lane from being young. I couldn’t get to all the games as I was getting older as I was doing my own thing with work or the gym – I even lived in Wales for a while,” she added. “When I saw that Kell Brook boxed there, I thought imagine, it would be unreal. For that fight, everything had its purpose in terms of the venue.”

Wright defeated Hungarian Klaudia Vigh at Bramall Lane – home of her beloved Sheffield United – through a technical knockout on 20 May 2022.

Two days after her impressive victory, the upand-coming fighter was back in her gym on The Manor, preparing with trusted coach Roger Sampson. Wright is under no illusions regarding the challenges ahead, but recognises the need to put everything into being a success. She leaves everything else to her management team, headed by Jamie Sheldon, whom she says give her the chance to succeed.

“You either go 100% or not at all, so for me it’s not about being motivated, it’s about being dedicated to being the best version of myself. I’m 26 and have been through all that. I’m not young anymore. I’ve had life lessons that people haven’t had at 40, so I know what I’ve got to do.”

For those facing adversity and contemplating giving up, Bree Wright has a simple message: “Tell yourself you can. Write it down. Talk to yourself – do anything you can – because you can do it. I know that I won the National Development title and have only had one fight but literally if I can do this small thing then you can.”

Bree Wright is set to announce her next fight soon, and you can follow her progress on Twitter (@ BreeWrightPro).

Boxing: Sheffield fighter wins Manchester box cup

harder.

A12-year-old boy from Sheffield who suffers from cystic fibrosis has won the Manchester Box Cup for his age.

Israel Price, who comes from a family of travellers in Woodhouse, is a triplet along with his brother Byrnie, who boxes as well, and his sister Scarlet, who also suffers from cystic fibrosis.

Israel fought at 36kg in the Manchester Box Cup and was victorious in both bouts meaning he won gold at the competition.

In the Cup, he fought two older fighters who didn’t suffer from the same condition and had a number of wins under their belt.

Judges at the event commented on how well Israel moved in the ring and praised his raw talent, noting how he looked like he didn’t suffer from cystic fibrosis.

Aside from having an excellent boxing ability and a sense of controlled aggression in the ring, Israel is said to be a cheeky, intelligent character who lights up the gym.

Every day from 5pm to 7pm, Israel trains at Woodhouse Boxing Club under his coaches Chris Smedley, Matt Smith and his father Byrnie Price.

Smedley said: “I look at him and think it is some sort of miracle. The things he does before a fight aside from making the weight are unbelievable as he is hooked up to breathing equipment sometimes, making it even

Smedley added: “He is a pleasure to work with every day due to his commitment and attitude and we even have a bit of banter as we call him a gorger which means non-traveller.

“Israel has aspirations of having a career in boxing and he definitely has the ability to win national championships.”

A huge inspiration for Israel is his supportive dad, who used to box himself before becoming one of the coaches at Woodhouse Boxing Club, offering guidance to his son.

Sam Quine (he/him)

He is a pleasure to work with every day due to his commitment and attitude

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Credit: One Empire Management

Credit: Chris Smedley

Nothing else matters. The only time I feel alive is within boxing

“ I was a naughty kid, to be fair, always getting into trouble and never

‘reyt

“

Guides: A Look at Sport in Sheffield

Sam Quine (he/him)

In Sheffield, sport has become embedded in the history of the city as well as local communities. From football and basketball to the more niche sports of diving and BMX, there is a viewing spectacle waiting for every type of sports fan.

Sheffield boasts two professional football sides in Sheffield Wednesday and United, which brings about a competitive rivalry between residents as they claim themselves to be an Owl or a Blade respectively. Despite being in different divisions, the two teams are performing well this season and a trip to either Hillsborough or Bramall lane to watch them play is a must-do.

The city is also a hotbed of grassroots football and the birthplace of the modern game. Founded in 1857, Sheffield FC is the world’s

oldest club. Just across the city, you’ll find Hallam FC playing at Sandygate – the oldest football stadium on Earth.

An example of one of these teams are the Sheffield Steelers who are a wellrenowned ice hockey team whose home games take place at the Utilita Arena Sheffield.

Fancy watching British basketball? Sheffield has that too in the form of the Sheffield Sharks Men’s team and Sheffield Hatters Women’s team who have both collected an enviable array of national titles.

Take a dip into Ponds Forge, the International Centre home to the City of Sheffield Diving Club which had representatives competing at the most recent Commonwealth Games.

Ponds Forge hosts regional, national and international diving competitions and is a world-class venue for swimming and many other sporting events

Or why not watch entire tournaments, including the legendary World Snooker championships hosted at the Crucible or the thrilling British Bouldering Championships on Devonshire Green.

The Peak District National Park is right on your doorstep meaning outdoor enthusiasts are in their element. Climbers flock to Sheffield for the excellent array of indoor climbing walls. From the Monsal Trail to picturesque reservoir loops, the nearby Peak District has tons of glorious routes to charm cyclists and walkers.

It’s also the perfect place to try something a bit different, including BMX, skateboarding, caving and rowing. This city is full of active and supportive people, keen to find new devotees for the sport they love.

The University also puts on its very own electrifying sporting event in the form of an annual Varsity. Every year, students from The University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam compete at venues across the city region for the coveted varsity trophy as well as bragging rights over their rivals.

There is a wide and diverse range of individual and team sports included in the events. Everything from road cycling, climbing and American football to the biggest ice hockey event outside of North America.

Sports Society

Spotlight: Get stuck in with the University Women’s Rugby Football Club

Our next entry in the club spotlight story is the University of Sheffield’s Women’s Rugby Club.

They are a very welcoming club - whether you are a complete rugby beginner or have been playing for years, there is a place in the team for you. The club also prides themselves in our inclusivity - welcoming players of all gender identities and backgrounds.

Credit: The University Of Sheffield

on a Wednesday, so there are many opportunities for people to play. Pre-season and development friendlies will be held in the next few months to introduce new players to the sport before the BUCS season begins.

Training sessions are designed to make sure that there is constant progress for the teams, but also the individual. It is a great way to stay active during term time, and a method of de-stressing as well as making friends.

The club also takes part in charity work. Later this month they will be participating in a 10k for Cancer Cavendish Care, a local charity offering specialist support and complementary therapies. There are lots more opportunities like this to be involved in!.

From pool Tuesdays, to Wednesday socials, or a Notty House pie after Sunday training, it is undeniable that the club has a strong social factor.

On the playing side, there is alot on offer. Their 1XV and 2XV team compete in BUCS

If you are interested you can meet the team at the Sports Fair, join their SUWRFC freshers page on Facebook and also come to their Give it a Go session on 24th September!

You can get in touch with the club through their emaill: rugby.union.womens@ sheffield.ac.uk

Credit: Chris Carr (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Megan Ainsworth (she/her)

There is nothing like seeing your club win in BUCS or Varsity and being proud of the community that you are in!