FRIDAY 24 FEBRUARY 2017
Issue 104
INSIDE THIS ISSUE... Comment Student politics is irrelevant and out of touch p. 11
Features Cultural ‘Appreciation’? p. 18
Lifestyle
Sport
Naples: On a Shoestring p. 21
Jazmin Sawyers: from The Voice to the sandpit p. 45
ONCE,TWICE, THREE TIMES ONLY ONE LADY CANDIDATES INSIDE!
Only one female Presidential candidate for third consecutive year Josh Peachey Editor All of the SU election applications have been received and Forge Press can reveal that, for the third year in a row, there is only one female candidate for SU President. A grand total of 40 people applied for the paid roles across eight different positions: President, Welfare Officer, Development Officer, Sports Officer, Women’s Officer, Activities Officer, Education Officer and International Officer. All positions offer a salary of £18,940. Despite the highest total number of candidate applications in the last three years, 27 last year and 35 in 2015, this is the third consecutive year where there has been only one female candidate for the role of President. According to an analysis of the seven Presidential candidate’s manifestos...
...continued on page 5
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NEWS
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Forge Press Editorial Team Editor
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Anna Gillies
Deputy Editors editor@forgetoday.com Dan West Hallam Roffey Managing Editor Freyja Gillard Head of Online
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Caro Kyllmann
Head of News Lisa Latham News
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Josh Peachey Hope Cunningham Rachael Bunyan
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here’s an exciting reveal in this week’s Forge Press, inside every issue is a booklet with all the candidates running for positions in this year’s officer elections. Alongside the guide, we’ve done our own analysis of the nominees, with a who’s who guide to all the Presidential Candidates. The elections have created a real buzz across Forge Media, with our friends at Forge TV and Forge Radio working alongside us to bring you the best election coverage we possibly can. On March 1 and March 2 we are holding Forge Debates, our chance, with your help and questions, to scrutinise
the candidates running for each position and really find out what they have planned should they become your representatives. Then on the Election Day, March 9, there will be live coverage of the evening with punditry and analysis, then on March 10 the election special of Forge Press will be available from the SU with a breakdown of all the results, words from the winners and photos from the night - you don’t want to miss out! Alongside the election content, we have our usual array of amazing articles for your enjoyment. One of our team went to review the controversial film Fifty Shades
Editorial
Darker (and gave it five stars I might add), while Joe from Lifestyle has given us his recipe for the perfect pizza. As a man who is passionate about pizza, I’m anticipating good things with this one. Speaking of the team, we were given the opportunity to vote on an issue that has been a big deal amongst students: the NSS Boycott. As a student paper, written entirely by students, we were allowed to vote on whether we wanted to campaign for the boycott, against, or to remain neutral. We voted to campaign for the boycott, and as a result I would urge all final year students not to fill out the NSS. Our front page story from our last
issue documented the conflict between the University’s position and the position of the SU, and we feel strongly that the NSS is an opportunity to oppose the Teaching Excellence Framework and as a result protest against the rise in tuition fees. On a final note, I’ve been seriously impressed with Spotify’s Throwback Thursday playlist recently. It changes every week and this week’s offering was a boost to morale in the Media Hub on print day, check it out and you won’t be disappointed!
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Will Morgan Michael Chilton Features
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Jess Davis Ellena Rowlin Laura Mullan
Coffee Break
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James Pendlington Lifestyle
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Joseph McKay Florence Mooney Sport
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Sheena Sidhu Ed McCosh Hugh Dickinson Music
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Harry Chambers Emma Williams Games
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Hallam’s
Happenings What not to miss over the following fortnight, curated by our very own Deputy Editor, Hallam Roffey
LGBT+ History Month It’s been a few weeks of sucessful events, campaigns and socials, but LGBT+ History Month will climax, appropriately, with Climax at the Students’ Union tonight. 24 February. 23:00. SU.
Forge Debates As 42 candidates compete for eight SU officer positions, you can expect fierce agreement, a whole lotta amity, and non-stop praise. Drink for every red square, every mention of free printing and every time TEF or the NSS comes up. Live coverage and punditry from Forge TV. 1 and 2 March. 19:00 - 21:00. Fusion, SU.
Bummit Ticket Sale Ends Home of jeans, wild forests, ice-blue waters, sandy beaches and some of the fastest internet speeds in the world. Bummit are heading to Riga, the ‘Paris of the North’, in Latvia. Make sure you get your ticket now! Ticket sale ends 3 March. £75 (£250 sponsorship).
St. David’s Day Quiz Home of male voice choirs, leeks and llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch. Not home of vowels. St. David’s Day is coming up and so the Welsh Society are having a quiz. We wont mention the rugby. 16 - 21 1 March. 19:00-22:00. Raynor Lounge.
SEX There’s a sex festival coming to Sheffield! No, put your trousers back on, it’s not that kind of festival. Theatre Delicatessen are putting on a month of sex-themed theatre, film and discussions. Arts have more details over on page 29, go check it out! 1 March - 1 April. The Moor.
Forge Radio Taster Session Want to be the next Nick Grimshaw but you’re not mildy irritating, self indulgent and you don’t have ridiculous hair? Well don’t worry, none of these things are necessary. Forge Radio are holding a session for everyone who wants to try their hand at student radio. 24 February. 14:00-16:00. Media Hub.
Film Unit Pick Hunt for the Wilderpeople. 24 February.
Give it a Go Pick 24 Hour Filmmaking challenge. 3 and 4 March.
Ashfaq Emritte Nick Burke Arts
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Matt Wickens Laura Mulvey Screen
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Luke Baldwin Beth Andralojc
Copy Editors Harriet Hales Harry Gold Kimberley John Shaun Thomas Katharine Swindells Tom West Holly Overton Molly Kerkham Jessica Green
Want to get involved or got a story to share? We always welcome writers, photographers and artists to join us here at Forge Press. Come and pay us a visit in the Media Hub situated in the Students’ Union or email our editor at editor@forgetoday. com
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“Where there are issues, the Sheffield way is to tackle these head on.” Rachael Bunyan News Editor Sheffield has shown resilience and continues to recover and grow in recent years in response to external factors such as the economic crash in 2008 and will remain to do so in light of the recent EU referendum, according to the State of Sheffield 2017 report. Sheffield must continue to tackle issues such as inequality and air quality, and it must cooperate with partners in order to maximise growth, the report has suggested. The report identifies areas in which Sheffield has thrived and highlights the shared challenges and opportunities facing the city and the future priorities that the City must pursue. It also sets out recommendations for partners in the city on how to fulfil the ambition of maximising the city’s potential. The focus of the report is on six key areas namely: Vibrant Economy, A Youthful City, An
Ageing Friendly City?, A Fair and Just City, The City Ecosystem, and Democracy and Engagement. Each area has been written by an expert in that field. Key findings of the report include an improvement in some national health indicators and high levels of volunteering among residents. Sheffield has also made good progress in recent years in education, skills and opportunities for young people with more than 92% of Sheffield’s 16 and 17 year olds now engaged in full-time education, training or apprenticeships, which has excelled well above the national and Core City average, according to the 2017 report. According to the report, in the last five years Sheffield has seen a number of further improvements such as a growing population with an increase in young and elderly people; an increase in jobs and a greater variety of ethnic cultures and heritages. The recent EU referendum and
other changes in the global order point to a period of new challenges that the city of Sheffield must address, according to the report. For the first time, the 2017 report has been written by a team of authors, and “is the only report that brings together information on developments in Sheffield to reflect on city-wide issues and trends” according to University of Sheffield Professor Gordon Dabinett, a coauthor of the report. Chair of Sheffield City Partnership Board, Lord Blunkett of Brightside & Hillsborough, said: “There is a lot to celebrate, as well as clear areas to work on. But the great thing about this city is that it is endeavouring to avoid the danger of burying its head in the sand. Where there are issues, the Sheffield way is to tackle these head on. “The lesson both past and present is that despite the enormity of the problems we face, it is possible to make real improvement if we work together. Not just joined up
NEWS
thinking but practical action to achieve change.” The 2017 report provides a “platform for building a grounded approach to achieving ambitions, whilst maintaining a willingness to face up to and accept facts and to counter the current trend for rejecting unpalatable truths and evidence-based research,” according to Sir David Blunkett.
In Brief... Primark removes ‘fantastically offensive’ t-shirt The Chief Executive of Primark has been made to apologise and remove an “explicit” men’s t-shirt from its clothing range after a customer and his wife complained while visiting The Moor branch in Sheffield. The t-shirt features the slogan “eeny meeny miny moe” and a picture of a bloodied baseball bat wrapped in barbed wire, a design inspired by the final episode of the sixth series of The Walking Dead. The couple argued that the phrase has historically racist connotations. The shopper Mr Lucraft called the t-shift “fantastically offensive” and said: “It is directly threatening of a racist assault, and if I were black and were faced by a wearer I would know just where I stood.”
Let’s talk about (geriatric) sex The sexual health of people over 50 should not be overlooked by healthcare professionals, according to a new study published in the Journal of Sexual Health Research. The research was conducted by the University of Sheffield, University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan. It found a positive correlation between kissing, fondling and petting and overall levels of subjective wellbeing in both men and women aged 50-79. Dr Sharron Hinchliff from the University of Sheffield’s School of Nursing and Midwifery asserts that improvements should be made in approaching sexual difficulties to meet the needs of the ageing population.
Josh Peachey News Editor A death occurred at The Harley on Sunday 12 February and emergency services were called to the restaurant. Staff at The Harley announced the death on a social media post. Details of the death have not been officially released by South Yorkshire Police but they are not treating it as suspicious. The Facebook post from the venue owners said that it was suicide. The post read: “It is our sad duty to report that this morning we tragically lost a life to suicide in the Harley. “We have been dreading this day for years as we have watched the vulnerable in society lose their support. Our thoughts are with the family.” An inquest is expected to be opened this week.
Wellbeing cafe to become weekly event Lisa Latham Head of News
Estranged students supported by uni The University of Sheffield pledges support for students estranged from their families as part of a signed initiative launched by the charity Stand Alone. The University is committed to providing finance, accommodation, access and transition and mental health and wellbeing. Designated staff will provide information, advice and support on the finance available to students, while specialist staff will help students secure year-long accommodation. As part of the pledge, Sheffield is also working with schools and colleges to help young people estranged from their families apply to university.
Suspected suicide at The Harley
Teenager nightclub
injured in
A 17-year-old was assaulted in the Area nightclub in Burgess Street, Sheffield city centre, on Sunday February 5. According to the South Yorkshire Police the attacker was a white male with brown hair in his early twenties, around 6ft 2in tall and of a stocky build. The teen has suffered injuries to the mouth and face following the altercation that was reported to have occurred around 1.10am. A South Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “Police in Sheffield are appealing for witnesses following a reported assault at Area nightclub, Burgess Street, Sheffield.” There has been no update to date and police continue to search for the attacker.
Sheffield Students’ Union ‘Wellbeing Café’ will now be open every Monday at 6-8pm in the View Deli Café. The key concept of the café is to promote sustainability and wellbeing for students, offering a Pay As You Feel meal made entirely of food that would have otherwise been wasted. The café was set up by SU Development Officer Michael Kind and SU Wellbeing Officer Anna Mullaney, and provides mindfulness activities, games and books to combat isolation, mental ill-health and homesickness. The three trial events held last term and two weekly events this term were each attended in excess of 100 people. Michael Kind, SU Development Officer said “We’re delighted that the Wellbeing Cafe is proving popular enough to warrant being weekly. It means that more people can use the space for their wellbeing and that we can continue to foster a sense of community among those attending, while taking people out of a food system premised on waste meal-by-meal!”
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Two pints of lager and a fat bag of coke T Anonymous Bartender Student
he underbelly of the hospitality sector is teeming with alcoholism and substance abuse, with many bartenders, kitchen porters and front of house teams hiding behind the motto of ‘work hard, play hard’, in order to justify shovelling coke up their noses in the staff toilets.
The traditional post-shift pint and a pill
In 2007, UK trade magazine, Caterer released the “be aware” campaign which aimed to shed light on alcohol and drug misuse among hospitality workers. Results showed what anyone who has ever had to make a Sex on the Beach for a fingernail-tapping, spoilt housewife would know; 97% of hospitality employees believed alcohol and drug consumption to be a problem in the industry and 40% had witnessed illegal drug consumption from other employees whilst on shift.
Stress is no doubt one of the leading factors in the hospitality industry’s spike of substance abuse. With shifts for some stretching until 3 or 4 o’clock in the morning, the appeal of ‘a few pints after work’ is clear, and the constant partying environment exposes workers to a world of relentless drug taking. There have been many times where I have found myself sneaking out for a spliff on breaks after facing off with EDL obsessed skin heads, or sharing baggies in the kitchen with red-faced chefs. Once it became clear how the stress of this industry has moulded my own substance habits, it became easier to notice the employees around me barely conceiving their own drug and alcohol addictions. A friend becomes a coke-head nervously dusting away crystals on her nostrils in between pints, I pick up weed to fuel the manager’s dependency mid-shift, and at the end of Saturday night shifts
we divide up the anonymous powders between us, confiscated off chanting dickheads in polo necks. Obviously this is not true of everyone, there are a few sick and twisted people who work soberly but they are the exception that proves the rule. The most worrying part of this rife and frankly dangerous misuse of substances is the lack of support in the industry for those who suffer from this continuous capitalist machine, which churns in profit and spits out addictions and mental health problems. Management suffer from a cycle of abuse which is perpetuated by shitty customers and results in employee drug intake. And if they are all too integrated in the sub culture of hospitality and drug usage, who is there to guide the younger and more impressionable employees?
Labour shifty over Corbyn’s nifty Article 50 Corbyn is whipping the Labour Party into shape, not destroying it
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Elizabeth Day Journalism Student
he week in which MPs finally voted to trigger article 50, in its third and final reading, gave the clichéd phrase “a week is a long time in politics” a new meaning.
With 494 MPs backing Article 50 and yet more resignations from the Shadow Cabinet, it was nothing short of a landslide victory for the government. In Corbyn’s use of a three-line whip on MPs to trigger article 50, Labour was again painted as being the chaotic and confused left. For me, one thing is clear; Corbyn had no choice but to back Article 50. Clive Lewis resigned as Shadow Business Secretary, because he could not vote for the bill that he thought would ultimately harm his Norwich constituency. In his own words, “I promised my constituents I would be “Norwich’s voice in Westminster, not Westminster’s voice in Norwich”. Such a contentious piece of legislation naturally compromised MPs that represent Remain voting constituencies. But
for once, the Labour leadership was clear. Every Labour MP was ordered to back Article 50. Therefore, the resignation of one of Corbyn’s key allies, Clive Lewis, was not an indicator of Corbyn’s divisive leadership but rather the opposite. The very imposition of the three-line whip, whereby MPs are instructed to vote in a certain way or face serious repercussions, highlighted Corbyn’s commitment to Labour – they will not be damned by history and remembered as the party that tried to block the people’s will. The recent resignations from the Shadow Cabinet were therefore not a sign of weak leadership, but rather a nod to the emotive, sensitive and complex issue of Brexit. More simply put, any vote against the triggering of Article 50 is a sucker-punch in the face of democracy. While I was a proud remain voter, for all the reasons that Labour highlighted (the socio-economic contribution migrants make, the gender equality laws enshrined in EU regulations and the right to work and study) I am not so blind that I can overlook the political suicide that voting against Article 50
would be for the Labour party. To vote against the bill in the hope of showing your commitment to the EU is nonsensical, it would simply prove to those already disenfranchised, that even after a public vote, politicians will still not listen to the people. If Labour is to stand any chance in a general election, they need to win back traditional labour consistencies such as Sheffield, who overwhelmingly voted to leave. This means honouring the Brexit vote. Not delaying proceedings and fobbing off the public. But backing the bill does not mean taking Brexit lying down. Rather, supporting the bill enables Labour to clearly focus their energy on holding the government to account on the state of our economy, the security of jobs, living standards and the rights of EU workers in the UK, post Brexit. Labour needs to be looking out for those who are most vulnerable at the hands of the Brexiteers. The three-line whip was hardly that. Instead of a lashing from the Labour leadership to the parliamentary party – it was a simple, obvious, pragmatic directive. There was no
Daddy Corbyn emerges from a cabinet meeting
alternative. Labour’s opposition to the bill would have played into May’s fascist-shaking hand, by complying with the Conservative narrative that Labour is out of touch. Sadly, the rebellion highlighted Labour’s inability to work collectively as an efficient opposition. Or maybe the parliamentary party’s contempt for the leadership just started to shine through again, as it did last summer.
Whatever the case, despite the public attention drawn to the obvious divisions within Labour, the decision to back the government’s Article 50 bill was a no-brainer. Opposition to the bill would have labelled Labour undemocratic and hammered the final nail into Labour’s electability coffin.
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COMMENT DEBATES
THE PULP-PIT The soapbox of the common people “Do you give a shit about student politics?” “It’s important to be heard, if there were no student politicians who would represent us?” - Billy Gladwell, 1st year
The Free University of Sheffield takes on the hegemonies of entrenched cheese tunes
Student politics is irrelevant and out of touch
Luke and Michael engage in the political process, whether they like it or not
I
ARGUING FOR Luke Baldwin Screen Editor
sometimes forget just how tempting the student bubble can be. I like to think I’m quite a cynical, sceptical person but after spending time in both Forge and SU Council, I have to say that even I have succumbed to it. It’s only after spending time with people outside the sphere of influence you realise just how little any of it really matters. Ask most students who the officers are and I’d be surprised if they could name the roles let alone the people.
So why do people bother taking part in it? Well, that’s simple: it’s nice in the bubble. You’re accepted, you can make friends and if you play your cards right you might even move up the hierarchy and land a cushty role in the upper echelons. I’ve seen it countless times: student starts uni, having been fairly unpopular or just straight up unhappy during their time at high school, with the opportunity to start fresh in a whole new city. So they completely change who they are to fit into this niche circle and maybe feel like someone
actually likes them for a few years. Problem with being part of this monumental circle jerk is that anyone on the outside comes across as an inconsiderate knob. It’s no wonder that only people who succeed and thrive in the bubble are the ones who don’t challenge it. The alternative, and arguably worse, reason people get involved is to further their own career and build a CV, and let’s be honest: these sheep-le aren’t exactly going to revolutionise student politics. They’re far more likely to do their stint then move on to greener (much more well paid) pastures. Now don’t get me wrong - there are those who genuinely care about their work, but even they can’t fight the status quo because if they did they wouldn’t be in position to make change. And on the rare occasion that student politics does result in real, credible change, it only remains at a local level. The only way students will have a real voice is if everyone gets on board, having more actual fucking humans in charge might be a good start to winning them over.
ARGUING AGAINST Michael Chilton Comment Editor
T
he student political movement, broadly speaking, has stalled. When we have an NUS President devoting an inordinate amount of time to comment, and subsequently apologise over issues so distant to student politics they are literally on a different continent it shouldn’t surprise us when people question student politics as a viable and useful force for good.
It is certainly the trendy position to take on this debate, and it very much completes the jaded youth aesthetic we are all so desperate to achieve. We have a student political movement dominated by the same left wing groups that through their own ineptitude and self-righteousness have allowed the populist right to once again emerge, or even worse the boring beige lefties, too meek to embrace either a Blairite or a more hard-line position. It is worth changing the focus however, because even if student politics can be inefficient it is still an important platform for how students are seen by the
rest of society. That is why, even reluctantly, you should care and engage in student politics. If the majority of students don’t engage in student politics, we are left with fringe groups who are so self-obsessed that they fail us in every respect and do nothing but discredit students as a whole. The bottom line is representing
“The bottom line is representing students on the political scene is not an enjoyable experience” students on the political scene is not an enjoyable experience. With our relatively small influence and power as well as divergent beliefs and ideals the likelihood of making substantial progress alone is slim. However, someone has to do it, and I would rather it be someone who isn’t an embarrassment to the entire student population.
“Anyone involved in student politics is more interested in representing a small group of people rather than the student body. I don’t vote.” - Sean Harris, 3rd year “Student politics is about as useful as a jelly dildo” - Jannette Muir, Masters “It’s really easy as a student to criticise anyone who puts the effort in, or who cares about anything. But, without the small group of people who care enought to try, we’d have far less than we do now.” - Tom McCain, 3rd year “All they do is get in your bloody way, millions of placards everywhere, and they’re all trying to be the same boring pisswater guys you see on TV. It’s a bit sad” - Lys Bowmer, 2nd year “I don’t give a shit, but I would give a shit if any of them actually managed to get free printing. Instread of just promising it and then spending their 18k on red squares and cardboard for protest signs” - Katie Boyle, 3rd year
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Stop making white people the lead in foreign films
“We have to stop perpetuating the racist myth that only a white man can save the world.”
T
Cheryl Tee Journalism Student
wentieth century cinema was anything but a liberal bastion.
Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1953) saw American actor Mickey Rooney with taped eyelids and a dreadful, sibilant accent, in one of the most outrageous displays of yellowface in Hollywood history. Peter Pan (1953) fuelled stereotypes of Native Americans with its offensive depictions of the Piccaninny tribe. Musical Swing Time (1936), starring dynamic duo Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, involved leading man Astaire appearing in blackface in a bid to evoke the African-American tap dancer Bill Robinson. For the most part, these bigoted caricatures have faded from the big screen. Yet racism still haunts the film industry; it just got better at hiding itself. But every so often, it rears its ugly, unwelcome head in the form of whitewashing. Whitewashing happens when a character of an ethnic background is represented by a white male or female. Either a white actor or actress is cast in place of a historically ethnic person, or an ethnic character is adapted from a book as white. Upcoming feature Ghost in the Shell is one that is guilty of whitewashing its earlier
incarnations. Originally released as a Japanese manga, the film explores ambitious themes of identity and control in a futuristic world through the eyes of Major Motoko Kusanagi, a crimefighting cyborg based in Tokyo. Scarlett Johansson bagged the coveted role of Major – which might be great news for her, but not for the legions of Asian actresses struggling to make it in Hollywood. Fans of the cult film have lobbied for Rinko Kikuchi – the first Japanese female to receive an Oscar nod in 57 years with Alejandro Iñárritu’s Babel – as a possible replacement for Johansson. Kikuchi proved her capacity as a crowd-puller in the 2013 sci-fi franchise Pacific Rim, and is set to reprise her role in its sequel next year. A close second would be Chiaki Kuriyama of Kill Bill fame, in which she played Gogo Yubari, a Yakuza bodyguard with a penchant for coldblooded murder. Both ladies have the acting and action chops to rival Johansson’s performance in Captain America: The Winter Soldier or Lucy. Yet rather than pick either of these women –
or any other English-speaking Japanese actress, for that matter – the role eventually went to a white woman. Casting Johansson not only deprives a Japanese actress from the opportunity to break into the elusive Hollywood inner circle, but completely erases a Japanese body from existence.
That’s more than just a financial gambit; that’s going to leave a lasting mark on societal attitudes about Asian capabilities. In director Zhang Yimou’s
fantasy epic The Great Wall, Matt Damon plays a British mercenary who saves the Chinese from monsters laying siege on the Wall. Basically, he embodies the tired trope of a white saviour rescuing people of colour – something the industry should have gotten rid of a long time ago. Amidst the maelstrom of criticism that greeted the film, Fresh Off the Boat star Constance Wu stood out for her vitriolic tirade of Hollywood’s take on stories about other ethnicities. “We have to stop perpetuating the racist myth that only a white man can save the world. […] We don’t need salvation. We like our colour and our culture and our own strengths and our own stories,” said the TaiwaneseAmerican. I understand why studios are so adamant on being a part of this culturally insensitive practice. Damon’s bankable. So is Johansson. They’re top dogs in a cut-throat industry. Hollywood seems to have this misconstrued myth that white, A-list actors guarantee a better box-office take worldwide. But to poke holes in this
fallacious argument, films like Pan – where Rooney Mara played the Native American Tiger Lily – and Aloha – which saw Emma Stone play a part-Asian character – were box-office bombs. In that same year, Star Wars: The Force Awakens cast John Boyega as its male lead, while Furious 7 had an ensemble cast full of actors of colour. Yet these films were two of the biggest hits in 2015. As it turns out, the glitzy glamour of an A-lister wasn’t quite enough to cover up the flaws of a mediocre narrative. But all cynicism aside, what really caused these films’ failure was the brash, public antiwhitewashing movements that followed. Anti-whitewashing sentiment seems to be catching on, taking bolder and more overt action rather than grumbling itself out in the confines of theatre seats. At the next bad casting call, studios might just decide that it isn’t worth the bad publicity and critical panning to bill yet another white actor. But until that day arrives, we need to keep up the pressure on filmmakers directly or otherwise involved in whitewashing. We need to maintain a deluge of sensible and grounded commentary. Eventually the onus falls on us to put whitewashing away for good. Let’s make it happen.
President Jóhannesson is bae T
James Mcnulty Forensic Science Student
he President of Iceland is the kind of politician we all deserve. Last week, in a talk with school children, he announced his unequivocal hatred for pineapple pizzastating that he is “fundamentally opposed” to the idea of tropical fruit as a topping. Previous to this pineapple hating incident he has: refused a pay rise, donated 10 per cent of his salary to charity and become
the first President in the world to march in a Gay Pride parade. Don’t get me wrong, I love
<3
pineapple on pizza. I love how the burst of tropical flavor cuts the heaviness of the cheese in my mouth, how the flavor combination takes me back to early childhood parties catered by sticks of pineapple and cheese. But, with this major personal difference aside, President Guðni Th. Jóhannesson is the exact kind of politician we need in this warped age of post-modern politics. The cynic inside all of us wants to view simple people politics like this as just another electoral gambit by a man who
wants to hold onto power, like any politician who would appear on Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis, but this is the exact kind of populism we need in the era of the beer-swillingracist politician. Someone whose only pretense is their normality. Someone who picks up pizza on his way home from being the executive of the Icelandic government. Someone who acknowledges their subjectivity and doesn’t pretend to be better than that. Jóhannesson hates pineapple on pizza, but has the self-critical
maturity to go on to say: “I like pineapples, just not on pizza. I do not have the power to make laws which forbid people to put pineapples on their pizza. I am glad that I do not hold such power. Presidents should not have unlimited power. I would not want to hold this position if I could pass laws forbidding that which I don´t like. I would not want to live in such a country. For pizzas, I recommend seafood.” All world leaders should be more like Guðni Th. Jóhannesson.
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U wot m8?
Matt explains why freedom of speech involves exclusivity as well as inclusivity
W
Matt Wickens Arts Editor
elcome, fellow student, to the Orwellian nightmare that is the university we both attend.
You and I walk through the IC and the SU, frightened that should we make a passing remark that is anti-gay or that promotes rape culture, we might be found to be in trouble for it. We lie awake in the depths of the night, dreaming of a university experience in which the Sun was sold in the Students’ Union or in which we could chat with friends about how the woman’s place was in the home. Truly, we are in the middle of a dark oppression: not of the body, but of the mind. This is, of course, a steaming pile of bullshit. However, according to the Free Speech University Rankings (FSUR), Sheffield University in 2017 creates an atmosphere that is hostile to free speech. Why? Because the university has a zero tolerance policy on harassment and bullying which includes bans against racist behaviour; because the university expelled a social care worker as they thought he was no longer fit to practice social care as he posted an anti-gay post on Facebook stating that homosexuality was an ‘abomination’; because the Student’s Union has a zero tolerance policy to sexual harassment; because classist chants have been banned at sports matches; because the
Union boycotts the Sun and because of the 2014 decision of the SU council to ban Julie Bindel. This combination of rankings has landed the university a red ranking, the worst of all the rankings, along with 73 other universities. Naturally, any decent Sheffield
“Policies that seek to protect individual rights from harassment and bullying allow those who may feel intimidated from speaking to have a voice” student is going to be surprised that the creation of a culture that is inclusive and supportive to all university members, regardless of their race, gender or sexuality is the creation of a ‘hostile’ environment which fails to promote free speech. If anything, policies that seek to protect individual rights from harassment and bullying allow those who may feel intimidated from speaking to have a voice and enrich Sheffield’s campus life. Of course, there have been decisions taken by the Students Union in the past which were and still are controversial, such as the banning of Julie Bindel in 2014. Although I personally agreed with the ban, it’s right that we have an atmosphere in which that decision can be reviewed, argued
about and debated. However, that debate only emerges from points of mutual dialogue held in open spaces and not through the othering of opposing views as ‘red’ or ‘amber’ or ‘green’. However, FSUR is simply reprehensible as it bastardises the genuine campaigns for free speech which have happened in this country and abroad. The 21st century world is littered with examples of clampdowns on freedoms of speech: of a Saudi blogger lashed 50 times and being indefinitely detained for encouraging reform online; for a young Russian man facing five years in prison for playing Pokémon Go in a church; of newspapers critical of President Erdogan being closed by the Turkish state. These are deeply troubling examples of where citizens have had their rights curtailed by the state. To pretend that policies that have zero tolerance to sexual harassment or bullying can be compared to the actions of these authoritarian regimes is simply sick. As a final note, FSUR is backed by funding from the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust. If you feel as strongly about the labelling of Sheffield as an institution that is hostile to free speech, then I’d encourage you to email the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust at info@jrrt.org.uk to encourage them to review their funding of this organisation.
COMMENT
The army can get the fuck off campus Andrew Zahorodny English Literature Student
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he army is like an old school rugby club in many ways; promoting the same entrenched masculine values of heterosexual ritual behavior and sexuallycharged bravado within its locker rooms, except the sport is slightly more high risk and all of the fixtures are away games.
While this is a reductive and frankly misogynistic depiction of these social institutions, the similarities between the traditional phallocentric image of rugby clubs and of the army are apparently endless: “members” of both are afforded an extra sense of dignity within society and both end each play with a strike from above, whether it’s from a drone or a dropkick. The army, like the rugby club, are fond of setting up stalls near the SU in an attempt to entice impressionable freshers and, for me as with the rugby society, an encounter with one of these promotional drives always results in a desire to kill myself. Obviously, this could all just be the result of a successful tactical marketing ploy; after all a death wish is an employable personality trait when it comes to modern warfare. What bothers me most, as a part of the left-leaning student majority, about the army’s encroachment on our place of learning is that there is a fundamental opposition between the University’s inclusive ideology and the justification of violence which is innate to the army. Universities, particularly the University of Sheffield, have historically been centres of progressive thought – something which is seemingly at odds with the archaic militaristic policies carried out by our armed services. Our university is an establishment which welcomes diversity, promotes globalization and ultimately supports peace. Are these tenets not directly
opposed by the group of jarheads camped half a klick south of the Students‘ Union? As I write this article I can feel a hoard of rabid servicemen rising from the tens of thousands of Forge Press readers, baying for my blood, their bayonets swaying with the inarticulate rage of the triggered individual. I hear the click-clack of furious comments being typed in defence of freedom of speech, in opposition of censorship, arguing that I have no right to criticize the superiority of the men and women who sacrifice their individual agency to join the army. Normally I would be inclined to agree with these comments in many respects, I understand that freedom of speech is the grounding centre of any democracy. However, our Students’ Union has a history of suppressing particular speakers for their controversial views. So how can we be silent on a group who have a few hundred years’ worth of controversial actions? As the second semester flies by and exams continue approaching, many final years find themselves in a dissociative state, their waking hours split between panic and hysteria. In this frame of mind, they walk past the union looking frantically for something to pull them away from this purgatory of grad schemes and deadlines. “Join the army!” appears on the horizon, a banner symbolizing hope and consistency within a sea of uncertainty. You smile as the fear of a failing grade dissipates and you spread your arms, walking into the tent ready to be indoctrinated, “tell me about the officer training program”. It is easy to imagine the army as a welcoming presence, especially when compared to the sheer terror of university assessments. Yet, it is important to remember the words of Father Lavelle from the 2014 film Calvary: “I’ve always felt there’s something inherently psychotic about joining the army in peace time”.
A pair of cadets relaxing after ‘Dronestriking Civilians 101’
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FEATURES
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an
I Pride
nterview with
Josh Taylor interviewed Pride Agbor, an asylum seeker who fled Cameroon to settle in Sheffield.
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A
FEATURES
fter his father and friend were killed and his life threatened, Pride Mbi Agbor, 35, was forced to leave his native country of Cameroon. He came to Sheffield to seek asylum, where he has been for the past five years. Agbor was born in Beua in Southern Cameroon, a region which was colonised by the British and the French in 1922. For the past few decades Cameroon has been divided by language, tensions have been high between the Englishspeaking South and the French-speaking government of Paul Biya. This has led to protesters being attacked, police brutality and the French language being imposed on societies in the regions that oppose the Government, all in order to unify the country under one language. Just last November teachers and lawyers organised a strike against the French language being used in English speaking schools and courts, only to be arrested by police forces. Agbor explains: “It’s a very painful thing to see that people are oppressed when they go out to demonstrate.” To stand up against these attacks Agbor joined his father, Teacher Mbi, at the Southern Cameroon National Council (a non-violent organisation fighting for the rights of English-speaking Cameroonians). Both Agbor and his father raised awareness of the group by handing out flyers and demonstrating peacefully. Tragically, this demonstration resulted in Agbor’s friend Ngu Herbet being shot and killed. “That remained on my conscience for a long time because I had
been asking him for ages to join and on his first day he was shot,” Agbor said. Agbor was repeatedly harassed and threatened as the Government outlawed the Southern Cameroon National Council and sought to arrest every member it could find. He began to fear for his life and fled to England. Just after arriving however, he learned his father had been killed by police in Cameroon; shortly after this he applied for asylum. Understandably, this was a difficult decision for Agbor, as he explained: “When my dad died it took me a while before I claimed asylum because I really asked myself if I wanted to go through with this - you have to come to terms with yourself.” Agbor, like many other migrants, entered into an interviewing process with the Home Office, where the Government department begins to review your application. This starts with a one hour screening interview and if successful leads to another. However the second interview is extremely difficult and can take multiple hours to complete as the Home Office decides whether or not the applicant can take refuge in the UK. This process has been hard for Agbor and he has had multiple applications refused over the past five years, with the most recent rejection coming in February of this year. He now has to reapply or risk being sent back to Cameroon. The Home Office has advised British citizens against travelling to regions of Cameroon due to protests and presence of the terrorist group Boko Haram. “I feel at times it is harsh and the judgement that they give is not always fair but I don’t blame them for it, it is
their job.” Life isn’t easy for Agbor and other migrants. They are accommodated for, but given just £36.95 a week to live on and are forbidden to work in the UK. This means that Agbor cannot use his diploma in Computer Engineering which he earned in Cameroon. He believes the Government should make use of the skills migrants bring. “I’ve met a lot of asylum seekers who were professors and doctors and nurses and to me it’s a waste, especially where there is lack of staff. The Government should try and use them.” To fill the free time, Agbor volunteers at local charities within Sheffield such as Assist which provides housing to deprived asylum seekers, and The City of Sanctuary which aims to create a safe haven for migrants. Being so heavily invested in the migrant community, Agbor has developed fears that weren’t helped by President Trump’s travel ban. “My fear is that one day a law will be passed in England that forces all asylum seekers and refugees to go back to their own country.” However Agbor was happy to see the people of Sheffield protest against the newly elected president’s ban. “It was a relief to see there is people who will stand up, I was happy to see people protesting, it was reassuring.” When asked how asylum seekers and refugees could feel more welcome and safe in Sheffield, Agbor simply responded: “Smiling or being kind to an asylum seeker means a lot. You will find out that they, too, are lovely people.”
Cameroon in more detail... The population of Cameroon is around 22 million. The average life expectancy is 57.5 old. After World War I, the League of Nations gave the French a mandate over 80 per cent of the area and the British 20 per cent adjacent to Nigeria. It has a President and a Prime Minister. However while the Prime Minister is officially appointed to be the head of government, the President retains most of the power and can fire the Prime Minister if they want. In May 2014, in the wake of the Chibok schoolgirl kidnapping, Presidents Paul Biya of Cameroon and Idriss Déby of Chad announced they were waging war on Boko Haram, and deployed troops to the Nigerian border.
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FEATURES
Look who’s talking.
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Most University students will have experienced public speaking. IT’s Pretty Daunting right? But why are we afraid of it, and more importantly, how do we overcome this fear? Adam May explores.
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Your legs are restless and your palms are sweating. Your heart is thumping quicker and quicker as you step onto the podium. You wipe your hands on your trousers. What should be a straightforward, two-minute speech suddenly feels like a lifedefining moment. You’re prepared. You know you are, you have the notes in front of you. It’s all bullet pointed, clear and concise, yet as you place your sheet of A4 on the lectern your hands are quivering. The words appear to fall from the page, one by one. Why is public speaking so darn scary? Conversations are an integral part of everyday life, it’s how we relay our emotions and thoughts to other people, how we ask for information and how we interact on a basic social level. Yet as soon as you magnify your audience tenfold, sometimes even less, it feels like a mammoth task. It’s one of the largest social phobias, with 6 percent of Americans reportedly having a speech anxiety problem. For most university students, the phrase ‘We’re presenting next week’ sends shockwaves. It’s bad enough when there’s nothing riding on your public speaking skills, it’s even worse when, as many university students will know, presentations amount to a big percentage of your grade. The days of simply reading off a PowerPoint are long gone. Perhaps in a university
“Your hands are quivering. The words appear to fall from the page one by one...”
environment, the fear surrounding public speaking is borne out of your doubt that no one actually gives a damn about what you’re saying. Your coursemates may be bored which makes the presenter feel daft if they’re engrossed in their subject and are reeling fact after fact. It’s a sad reality but, unfortunately, it’s what it often feels like. Who honestly wants to put themselves in a situation where they know people won’t really pay attention? Find me one, I dare you. It also doesn’t help when you have to follow someone that does a bloody Prezi presentation. At my secondary school in Essex I was Head Boy, so public speaking was commonplace. I wouldn’t say that I have a fear of public speaking, or ‘glossophobia’ to give it its official name, but you certainly can’t wing it. Trust me. I know from first-hand experience. A Christmas speech delivered to a group of around 200 15-year-olds. No big deal, right? Easy. Just say a few words at the end of term. No one will really give a tuppence about what I have to say because they don’t want to be here. That all may be true, but that doesn’t mean that preparation can be given the boot. Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple, would practice for weeks on end before delivering a 90-minute presentation about his new product launch. There’s no substitute for that and, when I got up to stand in front of the hall, I faltered. Words wouldn’t flow. I hadn’t yet decided what the hell I was going to talk about. Come to think of it, what was I doing? I started rambling, trying to remember what charity events had occurred throughout the year, how much money was raised, and what other events were coming up in the calendar. No one really knew if what I was saying was true or otherwise, yet my lack of conviction made it a recipe for disaster. I had made a similar error a couple months previously at an awards night held at Anglia Ruskin University. I was scribbling extra notes on a postcard-sized piece of paper as I was being invited to the stage. Do you think I could read what I’d written as the spotlight shone from the back of a room that was littered with students and parents? Of course not. There weren’t as many ‘erms’ and ‘umms’ in that speech as there was in the
Christmas catastrophe. But I was suitably informed shortly afterwards that I was waving my hands about far too much. I don’t remember that, but that’s because I was so focused on remembering the contents of my speech. My hand gestures and body language had a mind of their own. Overcompensating is a natural defence mechanism, trying to shunt the focus away from what I was saying and instead place all eyes on my physical presence. It didn’t work. Don’t try it. Preparation certainly makes presentations more engaging, though, and I believe my speeches that followed were improved. Slightly. I have, however, gained a newfound respect for university lecturers since arriving in Sheffield last September. While some indeed may just read off PowerPoint and be unable to enlarge the screen on YouTube, they will not be thrown off by a hungover fresher stumbling in 20-minutes late and fiddling about with the zip on their coat. No, they steam through as if nothing ever happened, undeterred by the interruption. That takes a certain degree of focus and knowing your content inside out. Preparation makes speaking in front of people easier because you naturally forget facts if you lack familiarity with them and fail to have an understanding of the wider context and why what you’re saying is relevant. Preparation can only take you so far though. For some people those pre-match nerves may never fully be overcome. Yet experiencing how the talk will go will stand you in good stead for the most part. It’s surprising how much easier that makes it. Familiarity, after all, is what most people seek. How many of you have photos from home pinned up in your uni rooms, or kept particular notes from significant others or even have a favourite top you wear? It makes you feel like you’ve been there and done it before and that comfort-zone, no matter how little it may seem to someone else, can be a real game changer. Of course, if you drill it into your brain that you’ll be wearing certain clothes only to spill your pre-speech coffee over you, or you’re asked to stand in a slightly different spot because of a crowded stage, it can throw you majorly. Both have happened to me. It does, however, show how integral the concept of familiarity can be. Being centre of attention in that environment is an uncomfortable prospect for many. While you may never feel completely comfortable speaking in crowds or in front of uni seminar groups, don’t be the one to duck under the table as soon as your lecturer asks “So who wants to go first?” Public speaking can actually be (sort of) enjoyable. It’s extraordinarily rewarding once you finish your presentation, provided you’re proud of your masterpiece monologue. Tackle it head on, know your subject area, try and prepare for the unexpected and believe that people are interested in what you have to say, and you may surprise yourself.
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FEATURES
CULTURAL
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‘APPRECIATION’?
Jessica Trueman explores the rise of religious and cultural inclusion in the fashion industry.
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t’s hard not to notice the substantial rise of cultural items such as hijabs, abayas and bindis taking place in the fashion industry. In recent years, we have seen the rise of culture and religion representation within the fashion industry, with brands such as Topshop selling cultural items including bindis, and most recently Debenhams announcing that they will be the first British department store to sell a range of clothing, including hijabs and abayas, that is specifically targeted towards Muslim women. For many, this highlights that the fashion industry is finally starting to appreciate and cater for people of different races, cultures and religions. However, others are criticising the industry and people within it for taking trends too far, bringing up the issue of cultural appropriation. Is the fashion industry actually moving forward, or is it taking advantage of cultures and religions for
their own benefit? Cultural and religious items first started to become popular at the same time celebrities started to wear them at music festivals. Vanessa Hudgens, Kendall Jenner and Selena Gomez were all spotted wearing bindis at the popular American music festival, Coachella. This instantly started a trend and consequently saw brands like Topshop fill their shelves with them and other cultural and religious items. Some will say that it is simply festival-wear, but others would argue that they’re taking advantage of items that are important in certain cultures and religions and find using them as fashion statements offensive. What is concerning is that these people continue
to take items and looks from different groups, make them their own, and forget about the people that they may have offended. A prime example of this comes from the Kardashian family. They have been accused of cultural appropriation and have offended millions with their posts online, by making their outfits inspired by cultural and religious groups look like costumes, a fashion statement, or ‘new look’. What is even more shocking to the people that they have offended is, that most of the time, they don’t think that they have done anything wrong. Probably the most talked about is Kylie Jenner who is often scrutinised for appropriating the culture of others with the many looks she shares on social media. She has been seen with dreadlocks, cornrows and has even been accused of putting on a blackface for a photoshoot. What made matters worse is that magazines and the media described
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FEATURES her looks as ‘new’, ‘edgy’ and ‘bold’. Not only did this offend many people of different cultures and groups, it also brought up a bigger issue of the use of power by celebrities. Kylie is clearly aware of her influence over her millions of followers and fanbase. Whilst she draws their attention to her hairstyles, she doesn’t use her reach to show support for minority groups and in particular has been blasted for not openly supporting black Americans and movements such as #BlackLivesMatter. Her power could’ve made a huge difference if she had shown any support for the social and political issues that these groups are facing on a daily basis, but instead decided to focus on making her own brand more appealing. However, whilst some are accused of appropriation, we mustn’t ignore the importance in growth of representation. Importantly, New York Fashion Week recently saw a more diverse range of shows, designers and models than ever, with cultures and religions from all over the world being appreciated, and given the attention they deserved. This most recent New York Fashion Week was definitely one to remember - the week saw the celebration of different cultures, religions and groups in their shows, models and collections. Perhaps most notably, Kanye West’s Yeezy Season 5 show during the week included Halima Aden, a Muslim model who is committed to wearing a hijab. She most definitely made an impact, as well as challenged the Fashion Week norm.
This wasn’t the only focus on diversity during the week, as Muslim designer Anniesa Hasibuan, who had already made history last year by being the first designer to showcase a collection that included hijabs, again impressed everyone with her beautiful collection. Powerfully, all of the models that walked in the show were all immigrants, making her a name in the industry not only for her designs, but also her emphasis on the importance of diversity in fashion. Diversity in the fashion industry goes beyond Fashion Week. Dolce and Gabbana and the aforementioned Debenhams have both recently announced collections that are aimed specifically at Muslim women. These collections have been highly praised, as Muslim women are finally starting to have more choice in the colours, fabrics and prints from mainstream retailers and designers. Undoubtedly there are many issues with representation and beauty standards within the fashion industry, but recent years have shown us that there is some hope for a brighter future. Stereotypes are being challenged, Fashion Week has shown us that brands and lines are recognising that they are there for people of all different backgrounds. But we can’t assume that just because the fashion industry is starting to become more open to diversity, that all the issues with cultural appropriation are solved. The hope is that by the fashion industry opening up to the rest of the world in a representative way, everyone will perhaps be able see the difference between representation and appropriation.
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LIFESTYLE Pancake Day delicacies! FEATURE
Lifestyle Editor Florence Mooney explores the best pancake toppings for Pancake Day
N
ext Tuesday, 28 February, is the best Tuesday of the year – it’s Pancake Day. Traditionally known as Shrove Tuesday, marking the day before the beginning of Lent in the Christian calendar, Shrove Tuesday was a time to use up ingredients lying around before the fasting of lent. With the basic ingredients of eggs, milk and flour, pancakes would be the dish to make. As British society has become more secular, the religious aspects of Shrove Tuesday have diminished slightly, but the opportunity to feast on pancakes is not to be missed! The basis of pancakes leaves much room for experimentation when it comes to the realm of toppings, so whether you want a sugar fix or a hearty savoury meal, here are a few worth trying! But first, just in case making the pancakes causes problems, mix these ingredients together: 100g plain flour 300ml milk 2 eggs Then pour into a frying pan for perfect pancakes!
Lemon and Sugar The classic. What a Chanel jacket is to the fashion world, lemon and sugar is to the pancake world. This perfect mix of sweet and sour will tantalise those taste buds and never let you down. For the best effect, avoid bottled lemon juice and instead opt for a fresh lemon.
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LIFESTYLE DISCOVERS
Nutella and Banana This topping is another classic of the pancake world. A power couple to rival Jay-Z and Beyoncé. No one (accept maybe those with nut allergies) can resist Nutella and its creamy textures, but when it is joined by slices of banana it gets even better. For just one beautiful moment, you are able to deceive yourself into thinking this could actually be healthy.
Golden Syrup Perfect for those with the sweetest of teeth. This sugar overload is too much for some, but if you fancy a sickly challenge this is the topping for you. Golden syrup pancakes are best eaten with a knife and fork, rather than just your hands, as the syrup is guaranteed to go everywhere!
Jam This is a less common, but equally enjoyable topping for sweet pancakes. No one can deny the joy jam sandwiches brought them as a child, so why not bring this back for Pancake Day?
Ham and Cheese Simple but always satisfying and beautifully versatile. There are so many options, from a simple chedder and slices ham to brie and roasted ham. Even mozzarella and chorizo. So many options…
Bacon and Eggs If you’re going for a breakfast pancake, what better filling than the ultimate breakfast food? Easier on the stomach than an entire Full English, but still with the best parts of a good fry up. Alternatively, this version of a cooked breakfast can be
modified depending on what your favourite ingredients are – sausage and egg, beans and mushrooms, hash browns and ketchup…
vegetarians. Cook the spinach and mix it in with the ricotta before spreading it across your pancake for the most delicious results.
Ricotta and Spinach
Mushroom and Tomato
Probably a slightly healthier option than a meat feast, this savoury pancake dish is perfect for
Another topping perfect for vegetarians. Grilled mushrooms and tomatoes can be mixed in a
HELENA VENABLES
Lifestyle’s regular section exploring the University of Sheffield’s Best Student Ink.
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his is the first tattoo I got, in June of 2015. I had just gone through a nasty break-up and was having a bit of an identity crisis about who I was and what I wanted. I always wanted a tattoo, so I thought this would be a good time to get one, so I just went for it. The tattoo represents female empowerment, as I hold very strong feminist values. I love how it shows both the symbol for women and the raised fist, representing strength in women. I also love the raised fist, as it shows a strident defiance tofthe patriarchy. As women’s rights have been questioned and opposed recently, especially due to the rise of Trump, this tattoo has become even more important to me. I think it is especially important at the moment to stand up for what you believe in, which is what this tattoo shows. Do you want to be featured? Fire us an email! press.lifestyle@ forgetoday.com
creamy sauce to provide both a delicious and filling meal. If you want to go the extra mile, adding in grilled halloumi can make this delicious filling even better!
TATTOO CORNER
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LIFESTYLE Naples: On a Shoestring
LIFESTYLE LOVES
TRAVEL
By Florence Mooney
Lifestyle contributor Dan Rawley shares his highlights from this beautiful Italian city .
London Fashion Week has just ended and Milan Fashion Week is just about to begin, so keep your eyes peeled for all the hottest trends for Autumn/Winter 2017
T
he capital of southern Italy’s Campania region, Naples is a bustling metropolis which offers a very different experience to other popular destinations nearby such as Rome and Sorrento. Indeed, Naples falls in the happy medium of being accessible to tourists without being touristy; it still requires effort to make your way around the city, and refreshingly visitors are largely left to their own devices. As one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world, Naples offers a blend of coastal views and history. with the entire city centre listed as a World Heritage Site. Transport is easy, with the main train and metro station as well as bus services all being found in Piazza Garibaldi, one of the city’s many large squares. It is a useful base with cheap accommodation nearby, and although the surrounding area might not be one of Naples’ most aesthetically pleasing, its practicality makes up for it. The impressive modern metro provides connections to nearly all parts of the city and is easy to use. Charmingly, tickets are still bought from the tiny tobacconist shops inside or near the metro stations. Unsurprisingly, the seafront is one of the more popular destinations. Castel Nuovo, a medieval fortress right next to the Municipio metro stop offers good views of Naples’ port, one of the busiest in the world. From there, the popular winding coastal road Via Caracciolo e Lungomare stretches for a couple of miles, taking in the marina, green
FASHION
parks and rows of restaurants on the seafront. Neapolitans take great pride in their food and the city is famous for its pizza, made using tomatoes from the volcanic plains near Mount Vesuvius. Tiny stands selling slices can be found on every street corner, but for a more authentic experience take the Funicular – a cable car that runs up the steep hills from the seafront – to the markets at Montesanto, a sleepy village high in the hillside. There colourful fruit stalls compete with fishmongers, racks of cheap clothes and shoe shops. The Italian novelist Franco Di Mare has described Naples as “wonderful from a distance, but when seen close up […] fragmentary, indefinable, and coarse”. That’s a bit harsh, but it’s hard not to agree with the sentiment of the first part
when seeing amazing panoramas of the city from high up in the Castel Sant’Elmo. Easily accessible using the Funicular, the castle features a handy lift to the top and only charges a few euros for entrance. Day trips to the world-famous ancient cities of Herculaneum and Pompeii from Naples are easy: both sites have their own stops on the hour-long Naples-Sorrento train. A less orthodox attraction is the Sulfatara volcano in Pozzuoli, just outside Naples. The volcano is dormant but still emits jets of steam – well worth a visit if you can stand the egg-like stench. Naples has attracted an unwanted reputation as a dangerous city for tourists, populated by pickpockets, but this is unwarranted, even in the supposedly rougher areas. That said, the city is still plagued by the Camorra, a Mafia-style syndicate
active across the Campania region but particularly Naples since the 16th century. Bizarrely, in the sort of thing that would only happen in Italy, the Camorra has in recent years taken over the city’s rubbish collection, with predictably disastrous consequences – chemicals dumped at the side of the road and mass burning of rubbish, causing huge pollution. It’s just another piece of the fascinating story that makes this city so complex, a vibrant patchwork of different communities. There’s more to be seen than can be done in a week, but spending a day in each neighbourhood – each completely distinct from the last – is a good approach.
FOOD Next weekend (3 and 4 of March) sees the return of Peddler Night Market to Kelham Island. With an amzing array of street food, craft beers, cocktails and more, there will be dishes for everybody! It’s free entry, so be sure to head down.
TRAVEL BBC 6 Music have just annocunced that their annual festival is heading to Glasgow this year at the end of March. Why not head up to this thriving Scottish city to see names such as Father John Misty, Belle & Sebestian and Depche Mode.
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For four individual pizza bases (adjust quantities as required): • 500g Strong White Flour (the higher the gluten content the better) • 1 sachet (7g) of instant yeast • 300ml tepid water • 15g table salt For toppings: • Tinned Tomatoes • Mozzarella (preferably fresh) • Fresh Basil • Olive Oil • + Whatever else you feel like
Alright, here’s the 411 folks. Any old Tom, Dick or Harry can throw together a pizza and whack it in the ol’ conventional oven and hey, it’ll probably look and taste like pizza. Nothing more, nothing less: nothing special. What makes a restaurant, café, or even a takeaway pizza taste better? Years of craftsmanship? Good quality fresh ingredients? A talent and burning passion for cooking? Yes to all. But what else? They’ve got better ovens. The breakneck speed at which a pizza can be baked can vastly affect the texture of the dough: the crispy yet doughy texture, the viscosity of the sauce, the flavour of the toppings... The oven is key. Whilst this traditional italian recipe is more than fit for a pizza oven, this recipe will aim to replicate the method with a simple grill and frying pan. Making the dough Chuck the flour into a reasonably large mixing bowl, make a well in the centre, pour the water into it, and throw the yeast in as well. Generally faff around with it using your hands until it comes together as something resembling a dough. It might also be worth throwing the salt in at some point along this pizza journey, and some olive oil if you’re feelin’ fancy. Once it’s all come together, tip it out onto a floured surface and knead it for around 10-15 minutes until it’s nice and stretchy. (If you aren’t in the know for the whole kneading shindig, you just press, stretch out and generally hurt your arms messing around with dough on the table for a bit to #work all that gluten.) Put it back in the bowl and cover it with a tea towel. Leave it to rest for 10 minutes. Go have some fun. When your 10 minutes of fun are up, take it out of the bowl, give it a quick knead for good luck, and divide it into four portions. Cover ‘em up in a sealed container and leave them to proove. You should ideally leave them anywhere for 8-24 hours, although you can probably use them after about an hour if you’re impatient.
TIP: Before the excitement of step three, make sure you’ve got everything ready to go, because shit gets real pretty quickly. Making a base Making a pizza base from a ball of dough isn’t an exact science. The general idea (unless you fancy spinning it around on your finger) is to place it onto a surface dusted with flour, and go around pressing it with your fingertips from the centre outwards until it expands into a thin disk. This process mainly involves lots of pushing it around, flipping it over, and pushing it around again. Lots of trial and error. If it rips, patch it up. Keep at it. Making a sauce Although just pouring the tomatoes straight onto the base from the tin will more than suffice, the pizza will be much better with a smooth flavourful sauce. There is no specific method to this, just so long as you stick with the general formula of blender, tinned tomatoes, salt, pepper, and herbs, you should end up with something good. Keep adjusting your recipe and tasting it regularly. Basil and garlic are particularly good additions, although you could really use anything you want; add some anchovies for a salty twist or throw in some chili for a spicy flava. Or just leave it plain. You do you, man. The base is also a great vehicle for garlic butter, should you fancy a garlic pizza bread. Have you got a recipe of epic proportions that simply must be shared?
Get a nice sized frying pan on the heat and up to an searing hot temperature, and get the grill heated up to full whack.
Assembly You’ve got your base. You’ve got your sauce. You’ve got your toppings. This is the moment you’ve been waiting for. With the frying pan on full heat, get your pizza base into it. Do not put any oil in the pan - we’re goin’ in dry. You’ve got to move quickly at this point, so get the suace spread nicely across the base, rip pieces of mozzarella onto it, add some fresh basil, grate over some parmesan, add a drizzle of olive oil, and put on any other toppings as you desire. By this point the base should already be pretty cooked. Loosen it up with a spatula (but keep it in the pan) and place the frying pan under the grill. (BUT NOT THE PLASTIC HANDLE!) Keep an eye on it. When the crust is risen and the cheese is bubbling, remove it from the grill, and serve it hot. You’ve done it. You’re off the starting line on your very own pizza journey. - Joseph Mackay
Hit us up at press.lifestyle@forgetoday. com
Forge Press claims no repsonsiblity for any kitchen accidents/fires/deaths that occur due to following the method in this pizza recipe.
24 FORGE PRESS
FRIDAY 24 FEBRUARY 2017
LIFESTYLE Post-Valentine’s romantic getaways
press.lifestyle@forgetoday.com
TRAVEL
Carly Roberts and Laura McGuinness share their top picks for escape destinations, perfect for you and your other half without breaking the bank.
V
alentine’s day may be over and done with for the year, but that doesn’t mean all romance should completely go out of the window. Ideal for a romantic midMarch weekend away or even a week off during the Easter holidays, escape the hectic life of essays and lectures and relax in the beautiful countryside. We give you the details of three perfect countryside locations in the United Kingdom for those couples looking for a peaceful trip away.
Ireland Looking to escape the industrial Steel City for the peaceful countryside? Branch out to the west of Ireland, Westport in County Mayo. Here you can relax in your own idyllic seafront cottage, take time to explore the countryside and experience the local pubs.
Or fancy something a little more lively? Head into Westport town and immerse yourself in the mighty Irish culture. Eat some hearty Irish stew in The Clock Tavern, dance to live Ceilidh music at Matt Molloy’s pub, whilst drinking a pint of Guinness of course. Fill your days by exploring the stunning local beaches such as Bertra and Olde Head, which are just two of the many picturesque locations. Take long strolls along the strand or even partake in water sports if you are feeling adventurous. Climb the sacred mountain Croagh Patrick for a birdseye view of this beautiful country. Or if you’re not feeling the 764 metre climb, you can still visit the famous landmark and have a cup of coffee in the café instead with much less energy required. Book your flights in advance to Knock Airport for as little as £29 and bag yourself a cozy cottage that suits your budget. The Holiday Lettings website (http:// www.holidaylettings.co.uk/) has numerous cottages starting from just £28 a night.
Northumberland Northumberland is a secluded
escape from the hustle and bustle of working life. It’s a place that doesn’t spring to mind at first, but is a sublime retreat for you and your partner to unwind. The county of Northumberland offers copious serene walks along the long stretch of sandy beaches, and a variety of traditional cottages for that rural feeling. Home to the ancient kings of Northumbria, Bamburgh Castle sits on the coast of Bamburgh overlooking the shoreline. This glorious building is renowned for offering couples a snippet of history. Or, if you’re more of a hiker, the famous Hadrian’s Wall which runs between NewcastleUpon-Tyne and Carlisle offers breathtaking panoramic views for all weather occasions. Cottages in the quaint village of Belford, which is only an hour away from Newcastle and a close distance to Berwick-on-Tweed’s train station, range from just £50 per night.
dominated by 4x4s, the county of Gloucestershire in particular has a lot to offer to couples, old and new. Situated in the remote village of Great Rissington is a 300 year old eatery and inn with a contemporary feel. The Lamb Inn offers fine dining and a comfortable overnight stay in the heart of England. Take a small trip to a neighbouring village, Bourtonon-the-Water, famous for its
Cotswolds A typically English setting that covers almost five counties, the Cotswolds has a lot to offer with its rolling hills and attractive views. From open log fire pubs to roads
Picture House socialising FOOD
Lifestyle contributor Joshua Astley ventures down to Abbeydale road and into the basement of the old picture house...
C
ocktails? Ping pong? Live music? Board games? Pizza? If this sounds like your idea of heaven it might be worth considering a trip to the little known gem ‘Picture House Social’. Situated at the far end of Abbeydale Road, most students will never venture this far away from the centre of Sheffield, except maybe for State of Sheffield week (or whatever it’s called in your discipline). However, I’m going to try and convince you that this place might be worth the trek. It’s around a 40 min walk from the town centre so a taxi is probably your best bet, or if you’re lucky enough to have a car there is free parking all around. However, this will hamper you from having one of the many alcoholic drinks available so I’d think twice
before offering to give your pals a lift. The building itself is a 1920’s picture house which has been converted into a bar in the main room and a pizza place in the second room. The Picture House also hosts gigs in the ballroom. On a side note, some people have recently bought the old cinema and are doing it up so watch this space! It looks as though there’s going to be plenty more going on at this venue in the near future! As well as the amazing cocktails and the authentic Italian pizzas, there are also a range of board games. I confess to being the Scrabble king myself, but I will also dabble in Articulate. Finally, if all this wasn’t enough, there is also a table tennis room providing a quick 30-minute break from drinking.
Tips Food: The Pizzas are incredible! Go on a Monday its 2-4-1 pizzas and free ping pong. The nduja pizza is my personal favourite with the triple cooked potatoes which are also a must.
picturesque high street and low arched stone bridges, which the river Wildrush flows beneath. This is the perfect treat for you and your other half to wind down after a long week of lectures and deadlines. Rooms at The Lamb Inn, for a limited time only range from £59 and above Sunday – Friday. This deal includes bed and breakfast within the month of February.
Drinks: The cocktail menu varies frequently so there is always a nice new one to try. They also have a large selection of craft beers that are about £3.50 a pint. I always try a different one each time I go, so
LIFESTYLE REVIEWS
trial and error is probably the best way to find your favourite. Music: As well as having live gigs, the picture house also has its own DJ sets and nights. My personal favourite being Showboat on
Thursday. Run by Sheffield artist Tom Newell who plays an eclectic mix of soul and funk vinyls. I would also recommend Plenty Vibes on a Saturday night.
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FRIDAY 16 SEPTEMBER 2016
GAMES
press.games@forgetoday.com
Setting gaming Sophie Maxwell explores how Night School Studio’s indie hit Oxenfree is changing what it means to be a game
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ith virtual reality still dominating the main headlines in gaming, some developers are choosing to explore a different kind of immersion via Augmented Reality. It promises unique gaming experiences, but will we be able to effectively mesh games into the real world rather than simply making the virtual seem more real? Released in early 2016, Oxenfree is a small but mighty indie adventure game from Night School Studio, about a mysterious island and the seriously creepy stuff that goes on there. The game has forged a path for a real life community adventure, based online and also physically in Washington State. Our protagonist is Alex, a teenage girl who brings her new step-brother Jonas to a beach party. The island is home to an abandoned military fort, a sunken submarine and scary urban legends about its sole inhabitant, an old woman who has just recently passed away. Among the group of friends, tensions run high as personal tragedies are revealed and discussed. Ghosts seem to be everywhere, and as night falls on Edwards Island the player must decide how to behave and what to say to navigate the troubles ahead. Relationships between the characters are a significant aspect of the story, since each character has a well-developed background and personality, not to mention a few juicy secrets. In conversation, the player has three options of responses to join in the conversation, which are successfully unpredictable in outcome. Logically, being mean to someone will have a negative effect on how they treat you later on and can change the course of the game, but sometimes a seemingly neutral response can upset those around you too. There’s always the option to stay silent, which merits its own responses. As the beach party devolves into a mission to survive the night, the characters’ personal fears and traumas must be dealt with appropriately. The narrative is thus woven with social quandaries and encourages the player to forge friendships for mutual support and happiness rather than purely to progress the story. Alex has a disposable analogue radio on hand, which functions like a museum guide, allowing the
characters to tune into information points on the island. Edwards Island has strong historical ties, having also been home to Portuguese and Spanish settlers, before becoming home to the mining industry, a military base and finally a tourist centre. Each association suggests turbulence and unrest, with the violence of colonialism followed by a disturbing military cover-up, and finally the exploitation of industry and consumer capitalism. The island itself is isolated and appears timeless, featuring strange items such as a parked car (although the island is uninhabited) and an abandoned graveyard. Oxenfree’s Augmented Reality elements emerged after players used hidden codes in the in-game radio transmissions to find a real-world equivalent of Edwards Island at Bainbridge Island, WA. Bainbridge is also home to a decommissioned military base, Fort Ward (adapted into Fort Milner in the game). Players travelled to the island, uncovering mysterious transmissions by using their phones as radios. They were able to track the location of an object containing a music box and some Oxenfree-related items, which was then gifted to one of the primary AR players. In drawing creative connections between reality and fiction, Night School Studio have implemented a new way for Augmented Reality to redefine gaming as a fully immersive and social pastime. There are constant suggestions of loss and loneliness throughout the game, enforced by the characters’ inability to return to the mainland. The story can be seen as a reflection of the trials we face in society, with the characters’ relationships (and survival) dependent upon the player’s moral choices. Oxenfree encourages us to make decisions
regarding loyalty and forgiveness, and forces us to face the consequences of our actions in every case. There is a strong moral compass to the game, which is sadly a feature oft-neglected in gaming. The future of positive morality in a VR-lead gaming world seems as-yet unclear. Night School Studio’s follow-up release is Mr. Robot, a hacking-based mobile game based upon the show of the same name, featuring the tagline “steal, cheat and lie your way through this hi-tech narrative drama”, suggesting that doing good deeds and interacting with other (real) humans might be a future objective. In light of the dominant themes in Oxenfree, the Augmented Reality feature was the perfect add-on, allowing the game’s fans to interact with one another in a collaborative effort, as well as transposing elements of the gameplay such as code-breaking and radio-tuning onto a real-world location. Pokemon Go is perhaps the closest thing to Oxenfree’s AR experienced on a wide scale, and that too is already looked back on with nostalgia as a brief fad. If AR is short lived, let’s make the most out of it, and start making some morally sound, socially supportive games that we can enjoy alone at home and together out in the wilds too.
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FRIDAY 16 SEPTEMBER 2016
GAMES
SWITCHING DIRECTION Is Nintendo systematically righting the missteps of the Wii U?
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t’s been a long time since Nintendo was on top. Even longer in technology years, which run roughly in sync with dog years. Recent attempts to innovate a medium seemingly hell-bent on conformity with the likes of the Wii U have proven costly and fruitless, with rumours once abound of the company’s development shifting from the living room to focus solely upon the handheld market. Of course, these fears were put to bed upon the announcement of the Nintendo Switch late last year. In comically dogged Nintendo fashion, the company has stuck to its original vision for the Wii U, creating the machine that consumer technology simply wouldn’t allow five years ago. It’s easy to forget that the aesthetic design of a new console is one of the last internal decisions to be made before a public reveal. Firms must work with technology that will no longer be new by the time the console launches. To be fair, this lag between developed and current technology has been shrinking, largely thanks to the efficient manner in which modern companies roll out products worldwide. Either way, the Wii U was a half-realised vision, based upon yesteryear’s tech: able to stream a game to a portable second screen, but no more than gnat’s hair away from the console itself; able to experience using only the gamepad, but on a subhigh definition screen surrounded by an amorphous blob of cumbersome plastic. Yes, these were missteps. And yet despite recent history, there is growing confidence that Nintendo is making the correct decisions, many of which the consumer will only ever see the indirect results of. A good example of this is the price of development kits.
Dev kits are console units that allow developers to create content for the platform. Usually they are unable to play games, only running them for creation purposes. Often, companies will receive large numbers of dev kits. But what of the indie developers? This is the genre that can provide a relentless stream of quality content to fill the gaps between bigger triple-A releases, and so the cheaper the kits the larger the creator pool. Tellingly, the Wii U’s dev kit debuted at roughly $5,000, an exorbitant fee by any standard. Fast forward four years and the Switch’s kit by comparison is just ¥50,000, roughly $500. This aggressive pricing strategy represents an incredible shift in direction from Nintendo, pushing the console into the hands of as many creative minds as possible. More encouraging still is the shift to a well-known hardware pairing inside the system. The Switch runs on a portability-focused Tegra Nvidia GPU and an ARM CPU. While that is a thoroughly confusing sentence for most, this translates more simply to a far more accessible development experience that shares common ground with similarly high-end systems. A telling example of the effect a developerfriendly kit has is Capcom, whose proprietary MT Framework game engine was ported onto Switch in two months. While this might seem a standard length of time to adapt to a new system, the 3DS took 16 months by comparison, and the Wii U 15. That is a massive reduction in preparation time for developers. Saved time equals saved money, and so the potential profits of creating content for the Switch are that much higher. Of course, we as consumers have already witnessed signs that Nintendo is learning. Their Super Bowl commercial, a slot between the third and fourth quarters speculated at costing $5 million, was by all accounts well-received and set a precedent for a revitalised company unafraid to spend big to generate interest. This same 30-second ad has found its way to preceding YouTube videos, too. Already photos are surfacing online of GameStop (the US’ all-conquering equivalent to GAME) storefronts bedecked with Switch products. This prime spot in a popular store is, again, not without cost. It isn’t just the scale of marketing that has increased, but the quality of it too. Right off the bat, the Switch is a product that, far more than the Wii U ever could, sells itself. To this end, the Super Bowl commercial was Nintendo’s one shot at selling the console pre-launch. Thankfully, once the rousing sound of Imagine Dragons had died down and the tears had been wiped from our collective faces, there was absolutely no doubt what the functionality of the console was, as well as its target audience: everyone. Recent advertisements have ranged from showing gamers
playing on the toilet to cooking in the kitchen and playing on the train or bus. This is a marketing strategy with a clear sales pitch, perhaps the most exciting divergence from Nintendo’s patchy marketing history. There are other promises made by Nintendo, such as the alleged glut of third party developers already developing content for the Switch. While it might be easy to become enveloped in an all-consuming hype that promises Wii-levels of success for the console, this is something that cannot be proven to consumers until it becomes reality. Though Ubisoft are said to have confirmed ‘strong’ support for the future, and Bethesda’s Todd Howard has commended Nintendo as a “very good partner” throughout the development of Skyrim for Switch, this is simply conjecture. The signs are encouraging, but the realm of facts is where we must remain for now. One thing is for sure, though. It isn’t just Nintendo’s loyal following that benefit from the release of the Switch. The entire medium benefits. There may come a time when hardware ceases to innovate, when gaming as a hobby has reached its critical mass and instead advances via PCstyle incremental improvements and modular expansion to a base gaming unit. Until that time, it is essential that the hobby remains accessible, inclusive and transparent. No gaming company embodies these tenets more than Nintendo. As Shigeru Miyamoto recently reaffirmed, “We should only use money to create fun… what we as business owners look forward to is not increasing our company, but expanding our work”. The future of fun is bright once again.
Nick Burke
28 FORGE PRESS
FRIDAY 24 FEBRUARY 2017
GAMES
FOR HONOR ««««
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Richard Priday Contributor
n a world populated only by knights, Vikings and samurai, the conflict never ends. Ubisoft’s For Honor places you in this strange land of permanent war, where you must pick a side and defend your people. It’s an intriguingly bizarre universe that allows you at last to answer the ancient questions of ‘who would win in a fight between…’ with some kind of accuracy. You begin with the story mode, which takes you through the events that lead to the most recent war whilst also teaching you the
mechanics. Then after that, you can play any of the multiplayer modes, including a traditional duel, variations of Team Deathmatch, and the command point based Dominion. There are some long load times before matches, and some of the modes are quieter than others, but multiplayer is no doubt the best way to experience For Honor. The combat system is daunting at first, as its system of stances and directions of attack are fairly unique. However, it is easy to get to grips with the four different classes and their roles through the story, allowing you to move on to more complex moves quickly. These include fighting game style link combos, guard breaking moves
and parrying. The AI enemies in the story don’t need a lot of skill to overcome, but when you play online, the mind games between you and your opponent are as compelling as a round of Street Fighter. Graphically, For Honor looks pretty good. Clad in leather and metal, you fight through giant castles, forests full of ancient temples and snowy peaks. The frame rate seemed to take a dive if there was a large amount of action going on, which could be solved on PC at least by downgrading the fancier parts of the graphics like dynamic reflections. Sadly, there are many of Ubisoft’s now traditional microtransactions. To show your sense of style, you
can unlock new pieces for your armour and weapons, which also alter your basic stats too. You can buy almost everything in the game for in-game currency, but you can buy extra with real money of course. There is also a season pass with new fighters and cosmetic items which costs another £30. The items improve and also decrease your performance in certain areas, meaning that there is no risk of paying players being put at too great an advantage. There are many games involving swordplay in some fashion, but despite the issues outlined above, For Honor is one of the best. Part fighting game, part action-RPG, the learning curve is a satisfying steepness. You can level up your
characters both playing against AI and real people, so the value for money is good no matter how you play. The amount you could spend on all the extras is a little bold of Ubisoft, especially as they are given for the most part at random. On the whole though, it’s a very interesting multiplayer experience, and certainly one to keep your eye on.
“An intriguingly bizzare universe...”
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FRIDAY 24 FEBRUARY 2017
ARTS
press.arts@forgetoday.com
LET’S TALK ABOUT SEX. O
pening this March, the Delicatessen is spending an entire month talking about sex. With theatre shows, cabaret
nights, burlesque events and even a musical-all they will facilitate a very open artistic chat about a topic that’s still taboo. This is an opportunity for audiences to look at the way we talk about relationships, masturbation and sex in 21st century Sheffield.
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he festival promises performances such as the award winning musical Buzz, looking at the taboo subject of female
masturbation; Alphabet, a romcom exploring modern masculinity via Snapchat; and a revival of the famous Vagina Monologues on the evening of International Women’s Day. The festival coincides with She Fest, a city wide festival to mark International Women’s Day.
The Vagina Monologues • 8 March • 7:30pm
Miscast • 16-18 March • 7:30pm
It’s over 20 years since The Vagina Monologues had its premiere on Broadway, and it’s still as pertinent as ever. This production includes responses from women in contemporary Sheffield.
What happens if we mess about gender roles from our most well-known musicals? Miscast, from student led Colla Voce Theatre, experiments with our expectations under the pressures of being a teenager.
Alphabet • 1-3 March • 8:30pm
All performances held at The Moor Delicatessen, 17 The Moor, S1 4PF (a 15 minute walk from the university campus).
In the world of Snapchat, thrusting Hollywood film stars and dark online porn, how do young men understand masculinity? Alphabet grapples with the question.
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FRIDAY 24 FEBRUARY 2017
ARTS THEATRE
The Growing Pains of the Mantle Family Living Room
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Ingrid Johnson Arts Contributor
rump.Brexit.That mysterious smell? We all have things that we don’t really want to talk about. In the case of the Mantle family, it’s the inevitable death of a grandparent and a tumour growing on their living room floor. Threshold Theatre Company’s hour long play, written by Katie Coen, offers a clever and comical exploration of family relationships and communication in times when it’s not always easy. The family
INTERVIEW
Dan Gillespie Sells and Tom McRae
I
Andrew Burdett Arts Contributor
sit down to coffee in a café nextdoor to The Crucible, where Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is being staged. The new musical, three years in the making, marks the stage-writing debut for friends Dan Gillespie Sells and Tom MacRae. “We both got pretty confident in our respective careers” says Dan, best-known as the frontman of The Feeling: “This is new for us.” Tom (whose credits include scripts for Doctor Who) agrees: “We are complete outsiders. If we were still 21, we’d be so convinced this was going to happen, because when you’re 21 you just believe. But now we’re older we didn’t really know [if it would work]. And then it all did.” Looming over the theatre are the Park Hill flats. A recent redevelopment of the 1960s estate has added bright colourful cladding to the monotone concrete walls. This seems especially relatable to a show where a splash of vibrancy comes to enliven the “ordinary”, the everyday. Jamie, the title character,
Photo by Johan Persson.
can’t spend more than five minutes in each other’s company, they fight over molehills as though they were mountains and follow a pattern of not talking about their problems. Although over the course of an hour the incessant bickering can get tiring to listen to, the comedic relief of awkward silences and humorous comebacks complemented the tension and laughter from the audience rang clearly throughout the night.
“This play reminds us to sit down and talk.” The entire show was tied together by a very clear, consistent underlying theme: out of sight, out of mind. But does covering up our problems ever help in the long run? Coen gives us something to think about, as all the issues the family have been sweeping under the
illuminates his community when, as an openly gay 16-year-old, he decides to reveal his drag queen persona at his Year 11 school prom. “We’ve got a character who’s an effeminate boy, who’s cool with it” says Dan. Tom adds: “He couldn’t hide it if he wanted to, so there’s no closet to be in.” Surprisingly, the inspiration came from the real-life story of Jamie Campbell, as told in a 2011 BBC Three documentary. Imaginatively the writers have named their own character ‘Jamie New’, which seems to be something of a working title that stuck. Either way, Dan explains that it
“There is no closet for him to hide in.” was important that there was some separation between the ‘real’ Jamie and their own version. The writers deliberately avoided meeting their muse until the show was “basically finished” in October. I ask if it was awkward to come face-to-face. “It wasn’t awkward at all,” says Dan. “It was amazing. I think he wasn’t expecting it to be as big a deal as it is. It’s a big show.” Tom continues: “We have this great big show with a big cast, and a big set, and a big staging, and a proper budget. And Jamie just went: ‘Wow… this is my life, and it’s going to be out there.’”
rug begin to manifest themselves as a giant tumour emerging from the floorboards. The stressful dynamics of the Mantle family shine a light on the struggles of modern relationships. In an age of escapism, where technology has us hiding in our rooms and binging on TV programs, this play offers us a reminder that sitting down to talk about the things that matter is still
an important part of being human. Unlike the family, Coen doesn’t hesitate to bring this issue into the open. It’s alluded to in the witty dialogue, the stage set, and the secrets the family are keeping from each other (not to mention from their cheery next-door neighbour, who contrasts hilariously with the family with her bubbly demeanour and love of cats).
dreams. You could say that he’s got it too easy, and having an absent father at home and a bully at school (whose most creative insult is to call him gay) is simply not enough of a hurdle to give the story the drama it needs. However, it’s good that Jamie’s Josie Le Vay sexuality is simply stated rather Inclusions Officer than used as a plot line and that he is surrounded by accepting people. amie is about to sit his final It is all too often that LGBT+ GCSE exams. According to stories are coated in tragedy, so it’s his careers test, he’s destined refreshing to see productions that to be a fork-lift truck driver, but have a positive outlook and more there’s only one thing he’s got his depth to them than simply making sights set on, and that’s drag. anything LGBT+ a societal taboo. Based on the true story of Jamie Everybody is talking about Campbell, the subject of the BBC Jamie, but there is far more to documentary Jamie: Drag Queen this production than him. The at 16, composer Dan Gillespie Sells relationship between Jamie (frontman for The Feeling) and and his best friend Pritti (Lucie lyricist/writer Tom MacRae traded Shorthouse) is something Durham for Sheffield and created really special to behold and is a captivating and empowering fundamental to the development of coming-of-age musical. both characters. It’s great “LGBT+ stories are that Pritti too often coated in i s n ’ t tragedy.” j u s t
MUSICAL THEATRE
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie
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Jamie New, played by John McCrea, is as flamboyant and sassy as you can get. His personality and energy barely fit within the confines of his small Sheffield home, where he pirouettes to deliver brown sauce to his single mother. But there’s one thing he certainly does suit, and that’s his 16th birthday present - bright red platform heels straight off the shelves of Meadowhall, which he plans to wear, alongside a dress, to his year 11 prom. Jamie has a network of support around him, with his mum, best friend and even the man who owns the drag shop encouraging him to follow his
All six actors delivered an impressive performance with excellent energy. Though there were minor issues popping up throughout the performance, such as dialogue being hard to hear at times, focusing too much on this would be nitpicking an otherwise excellent show. Coen is clearly a talented playwright and I look forward to her next production.
there to complement Jamie, but that she gets her own story too, including a heartfelt solo number. The star comic performance came from Mina Anwar who
“It’s ambitious, it’s bold, and it’s bloody well done.” played Lee, Jamie’s mum’s best friend. With tie-dye t-shirts, interesting dance moves, the strongest Sheffield accent there is and full of the most outrageous comments, she had the audience in hysterics. But Lee’s clowning around on stage did not take away from the depth of her character, acting as a caring, loyal, secondmother to Jamie. Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is a fantastic production. It’s ambitious, it’s bold, and it’s bloody well done. At the end of the world premier performance, the real Jamie (as drag queen Fifi la True) and his mum climbed up on stage, hugging the cast as the audience applauded making it clear what a homage the musical played to their true story.
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is playing at The Crucible until Saturday 25 February.
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Photo by Pamela Raith.
ARTS SOCIETIES
Reviewing The Sheffield Revue Matthew Prestage President of The Sheffield Revue
We caught up with everyone’s favourite stand-up and sketch society to find out what makes them tick.
MUSICAL THEATRE
Ghost
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Amelia Shaw Arts Contributor
uckily for us, the hit musical Ghost visited The Lyceum this month. Inspired by the 1990 film of the same name, the production made the audience both laugh and cry in a two-hour whirlwind of emotion. Including upbeat numbers such as “Here Right Now” and “I’m Outta Here” that contrast with much slower, powerful songs “With You” and “Unchained Melody” (originally by The Righteous Brothers), it really is a cleverly structured musical. The musical first premiered at the Manchester Opera House in 2011, and has been touring ever since. Long may it continue. The film featured Patrick Swayze,
“Oda’s hilariously sassy attitude lends interludes of comedy.” Demi Moore, Tony Goldwyn and Whoopi Goldberg, so the stage production certainly has great expectations to live up to. West End Star Carolyn Maitland as Molly Jensen and Hollyoaks actor Andy Moss as Sam Wheat definitely delivered.
The musical begins with a tragic encounter in which (spoiler alert) Sam is mugged and murdered, leaving his girlfriend Molly completely in despair. Having unfinished business on Earth – tacitly telling Molly of his love for her – Sam’s spirit is trapped in the real world, but without Molly or any of his friends being able to see or hear him. He’s not the only one with unfinished business, as Sam’s murderer also haunts Molly. Sam soon makes it his mission to save her and find out the truth of his death with the aid of psychic spiritualist Oda Mae Brown, the only person that can hear him. She becomes his saviour, enabling him to reconnect with Molly and bring his killer to justice. Oda owns the show, with her sassy attitude and hilarious character lending interludes of comedy to what can be a seriously gloomy story. Ghost certainly provides entertainment for all and is worth a watch. Here in Sheffield, its engaging story and overall accessibility created a buzz throughout the audience that was impossible not to see and feel. The only failing was that at times Moss’s vocals were a lot weaker than Maitland’s when clipped high notes were heard, and he sang through a seemingly very blocked nose. Yet, with horrible winter colds spreading all can be forgiven. Overall, Ghost was a delight; a timeless classic that can certainly be watched over, and over, again.
For the seventh year running, Sheffield Dance Society’s annual competition is taking over The Octagon from 9am-5pm on Sunday 26 February. Featuring 500 dancers of all styles and abilities from 15 universities across the country, this is an event not to be missed by dance fanatics and novices alike. Why not come along to see some talent, support your team and maybe even be inspired?
In a nutshell, what is The Revue all about? The Revue is all about providing a stage for the members to perform any sort of comedy they wish to try out. Usually this takes the form of stand-up acts or sketches, and there are no rules about what you can and cannot perform – providing it falls under the title of ‘comedy’ then we’re willing to give it a go. At the risk of sounding like my spiritual support group, we are there to provide an outlet for creativity and imagination. But above all we have fun. What are some of the different challenges involved with sketchwriting and stand-up? The biggest problem we all encounter at one stage or another is worrying that what we’re writing isn’t funny. When you spend so much time writing (the exact duration varies person to person based mainly on how much of a social life they have) it’s very easy to become desensitised and forget that what you’re writing is actually very amusing, you just don’t realise it because you are the one creating it. Additionally, in both sketch and stand-up writing, putting pen to paper and getting your thoughts down can be very tricky. The central idea may be hilarious, but padding it out and creating something that can be performed? That’s where it gets difficult. It’s a skill that comes with practice, not only imagining the core joke but being able to set it up and follow through with something else.
Is there a secret to losing your nerves and performing? This is perhaps the most common question asked of us: “How do you do it? How do you get up on stage and perform? How? I could never do that. How do you do that? Maybe I could do it. No, wait, I couldn’t. How? How do you do that? You made it look so easy! How? How? How?” Or something like that. The bottom line is, there is no secret. Imagining that the entire audience is naked, while amusing, isn’t the key to overcoming stage nerves. I’m afraid that they never go away, at least not in my experience. The only change that occurs is that you learn to ignore them. If you perform often enough, you begin training yourself to focus on the performance, on your words, on the audience, rather than how shaky your hands have suddenly become. Eventually, when going up on stage, you barely notice the nerves because you’ve grown so used to them. I don’t want to give the impression that this is easy to do – different people suffer to different degrees, and I have the utmost sympathy. However, as a final point, I would say that in my opinion many people who say they suffer from stage fright or nerves are building it up too much in their minds. If they made the leap, got up on stage and performed, be it comedy, dance or music, they may well find that being in the spotlight isn’t as bad as they thought. What elements make up a great sketch? Something we make a point of mentioning as often as we can is that there is no such thing as a bad sketch. Some are funnier than others, of course, but none are ‘bad’. Just different. That sounds like it’s been taken from a Year 6 teacher’s speech at the nativity rehearsals, but it’s true. To make a ‘great sketch’, all you have to do as the writer is, upon finishing the sketch, be pleased with it. If you look at what you’ve written and are totally satisfied with it, then that’s
all you can do. There is no secret formula for writing a good sketch. All the great sketches in the world of comedy have been different, because humour cannot be boiled down to a scientific method. That’s a bit of an inconclusive answer, and I apologise for it, but the truth is that all sketches are great if you believe you’ve put your best work into them. How can someone reading this get involved with The Revue? We have a Facebook page (@thesheffieldrevue) where we post details of any upcoming shows, and a Twitter account (also @thesheffieldrevue) which we regularly update. If you would like to get involved with the society, we hold workshops every Tuesday and Thursday (Tuesday is focused on writing, Thursday is more about performance) at 6.00pm. We meet in the Activities Zone. Anyone can get involved!
“Imagining the entire audience naked, while amusing, isn’t the key.” As a member of the society, do you have to perform onstage? Absolutely not. You can focus on the sketch-writing aspect if you don’t want to go onstage, or you can make sketch performance your speciality, and so on. Every member has a preference and there is no obligation to do anything in particular. It is completely up to you. Is what you do fun? Yes. Definitely. Will there be a show I can come and see soon? There will be! Keep an eye on the Facebook and Twitter pages. We’ll be announcing the dates of our first show very soon – it will be before the end of February. We hope to see you there!
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Kate Nash. Interview. with Ben Kempton
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ate Nash is quite the character. Her warm, bubbly nature makes her soothingly approachable and profoundly likeable, yet at the same time, she holds an electric aura about her which strikes of a brilliant sassy confidence. Nash has experienced the ferocious nature of the music industry first hand and she talks about how it has built her as an artist and as a person. Kate started her career on MySpace – an unknown ancient relic to many of us students - after being rejected from university and deciding that working at Nando’s wasn’t enough for her. Her music gained lots of attention and she was particularly liked by similar artist Lily Allen who put Kate on her best friends list. Made of Bricks was Kate’s first album in 2007, notable for the chart topping hit ‘Foundations’. She has since released two albums and is currently on tour.
MUSIC Feminist YouTube channel Girl Gang TV was Nash’s creation: “We wanted to create more space for women and promote females to be seen as equals and being able to do whatever they want to do and encourage that.” Nash’s sincere passion for feminism is boldly apparent, and she has good reason for it. “We [females] have to experience a lot of bullshit and a lot of sexism in the industry. I’ve had so much sexism from managers, publishers, the media, press, the industry and what women have to go through in the industry is so much more extreme.” There are also enormous “expectations and pressures” on females from the media. “Publishers get me to guarantee that I’m going to look and sound a certain way for the rest of my life”. Her confidence was consequently shattered. when the media described Kate as “fat and ugly” in the past. “The media just want girls to spin out of control. They want the Britney [Spears] 2007 effect for entertainment.” A change of tide has however been noticed by Nash, “A lot more feminists within the media say this is fucked up.” The British diva has learnt from her experiences
though and she offers advice to any girl hoping to get into the industry: “Have thick skin, be tough and build up your own confidence. Try and create your own network of people that is a safe environment, people that you trust and see you for who you are and support you and don’t try to put you in a box.” If there’s one piece of poetic advice that Kate would want any aspiring female musician to engrave into their character, it is “don’t give a fuck what people say about you.” Nash is releasing her EP Agenda in a couple of months on Record Store Day and is starring in the upcoming Netflix drama, Glow, about female wrestlers in the 1980s.
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An afternoon with
Laura Marling.
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n 10 March this year, folk singer-songwriter Laura Marling will release Semper Femina, her sixth studio album in just over nine years. At first, what you would expect from a commanding creative like Marling, who essentially manages every aspect of her career herself, does not line up with the woman who takes to the stage. She is a sweet, softly-spoken waif-like, dressed in an understated white shirt with her hair pulled back. She has a warmth and innocence about her which is undeniably charming; she tells the audience that if she wasn’t a musician she’d be a chef, and that she likes to cook vegan food - not because she is a vegan, but because that “usually impresses people.” She has a different voice which she adopts for her inner monologue, which snottily tells her she needs to get better at guitar. But, just as the women explored in her new album, Marling is incredibly multifaceted and comes across as wise and reflective as she is likeable. Semper Femina, Marling explains, began as an attempt to adopt the male gaze and take charge of the men’s perspective which commands the media and which society is accustomed to. She tells the audience enthusiastically of Austrian poet, “hopeless romantic” and “obsessive woman-fancier” Rainer Maria Rilke, whose life she researched whilst writing the libretto for an opera. It is his “misguided perception of femininity”, a result of being dressed as a girl until the age of eight, which inspired the album’s original concept. But Marling owns her learning curves and explains how the album soon shifted its focus to women’s perspective of femininity. As she puts it, expressing womanhood through the eyes of women turned out to be a much more unique and worthwhile practice in a creative market already saturated with male voices and perspectives of women. The album’s title is taken from the Latin poet Virgil, who wrote “varium et mutabile semper femina” meaning “woman is ever fickle and changeable”. Marling is interested not in disregarding ancient narratives but rather adapting them for her own art; she had the phrase which resonated with her “semper femina” (which translates roughly as “always woman”) tattooed on her at the age of twenty one. And so Marling does not shy away from the problematic ways in which womanhood has been previously presented. Instead, she boldly reclaims them through her songwriting. Marling’s address of womanhood is complex. She admits feeling pressured to adopt a firm stance on matters of feminism, but prefers to keep asking questions. This is something she does in her podcast Reversal of the Muse, in which she address the role of women in the music industry with celebrity guests such as Dolly Parton and girl group HAIM.. “Why aren’t there more women in recording studios?” she asks. Her goal, she proclaims, is to rectify the gender imbalance in the creative industries. In the future, she wants to create podcasts with even less of an ‘agenda’, so that she can truly delve into the complexities of the matter, and branch into other areas such as the role of women in TV and film. She has a keen interest in what she describes as “uncovering the origins of womanhood”, as spiritual, biological or something else entirely. But Marling is happy to admit the difficulty of the questions she raises, often it is their difficulty that is the point. Her focus is not on political labels or definitive answers but contributing to an ongoing conversation about the emotional and intellectual journey of womanhood.
Creatively, Marling is a powerhouse. As well as writing and co-producing the album through her own label, More Alarming Records, she self-directed the music video for single ‘Soothing’. She is visibly excited by the opportunities directing grants her; she claims it helps her give form to the “lucid dreaming quality” of her lyrical imagery, and allows her to portray symbolic value through the use of props and visuals. It’s something she is keen to do more of. Musically, she is in firm command of her creativity but acknowledges its slippery and baffling nature; talking about her previous album Short Movie, she claims that “creativity has a funny way of being ahead of you”, with the album expressing not past experience, but experience to come. Though largely independent, Marling cites fellow musician and producer Blake Mills (who has previously worked with John Legend and Alabama Shakes, amongst others) as a key component in the new album’s creation. Having worked with the same producer for all five previous records, Mills introduced her to new, innovative methods for creating music. She credits his “incredible tonal palette” and admits endearingly that his talent inspired her to improve her own guitar skills. Though laid-back by nature, her admiration for him shines through; in her words, “he’s a cool cat”. It is Marling’s individual experience, however, which ultimately forms the backbone of all her work. She reflects on her time spent in America, which inspired Short Movie: “I love America and find it very infuriating for the same reason; I love them because they give a lot of value to artists... it makes you feel good about yourself and your life choices [as a musician], but also it gives a very strange, over-the-top reverence to people who live fairly self-indulgent lives and demand to be called ‘artists’.” This is an internal struggle for Marling: is creating music “an indulgence or a compulsion?” Once again, she embraces her sense of confliction as fuel for her art, rather than a problem to be solved. She is, however, grateful for the freedom America granted her to express herself without the pressure to be doing something ‘more important’. And so whilst her original intention in the United States was to take a break from music, the country’s atmosphere compelled her to create the album - which can only be a good thing. As for Semper Femina, it is Marling’s own experiences of womanhood which ultimately set the album’s tone. For example, she acknowledges the challenges of touring alone: it is a huge “mental and physical exertion” which can be particularly frightening for women. During this time, she became aware of the restrictions placed on women who travel, and describes the innate sense of fear in the matter as an “affliction” which is “quite constricting.” Marling offers a glimpse into the new record, playing ‘Wild Fire’, ‘Nothing Not Nearly’ and ‘Nouel’. The performances are modest and no-frills, allowing her wistful voice and (newly improved) guitar work to take centre stage. Her lyrics portray a captivating sense of vulnerability whilst boldly taking charge of her own voice and image as a woman. Marling is not the “thousand artists’ muse” of Nouel but, undeniably, the artist in charge, and dedicated to portraying femininity in an honest, meaningful way, exploring its multifaceted nature and adamantly refusing to oversimplify it.
Claudia Downs
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The R
i C e s e ise of Chin
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David Craig discusses the boom of cinema produced in China, and what this means for the world of Screen.
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ince the early days of the the border. That number has rapidly commodities in China and their movies for worldwide consumption. film industry, the single most increased over the years, and will inclusion is part of an increasing China has been producing films for important market in terms of reach a new high of 38 films in effort by Hollywood to be more a long time, many of them hugely box office revenue has been North 2017. The more Hollywood films inclusive of Asian talent. successful in their native territory, America. seeing release in China, the closer but rarely have they gained success However, after holding a firm grip the country gets to dethroning It’s early days but in the West. That could all be set on that title for so long, another North America in terms of box office don’t be fooled: to change soon, as co-productions country is set to take it within the impact China is force to be between Hollywood studios and next few years: China. The Chinese Indeed, China has proven a crucial companies become more reckoned with in Chinese box office has proven crucial to market for several films which and more common, with the the film industry intention to make movies that the success of numerous movies could have been complete financial recently, and this has led to some disasters. The most recent example hit big in both China and North real changes in Hollywood practice. of this is last summer’s Warcraft: Indeed, the box office power America. One of the first signs of China’s The Beginning which, despite being shown by China has sped up the The idea has stumbled out of imminent dominance of the film a colossal flop in North America, process of increasing diversity the starting blocks so far, with one marketplace came in 2012, when still managed to breakeven thanks in Hollywood, which has long of the first major attempts being the country overtook Japan in box to a huge $220 million gross in been overdue. It is somewhat the aforementioned Warcraft, office takings, making it second China. Warcraft is almost seemed disheartening though that the which flopped hard in the USA only to North America. Shortly tailor-made for China, where the motives for this diversification last year. Next comes this month’s after, explicitly catering to Chinese videogame on which it is based has seem purely financial, rather The Great Wall, a film directed by audiences became commonplace; the biggest user-base. than stemming from a genuine Zhang Yimou with a cast consisting starting in 2013, when it was Additionally, the film had three desire for greater inclusion. This of both Chinese and American announced that Iron Man 3 would Chinese production companies is something which Chinese actors, although controversially have scenes shot exclusively for the behind it, making it one of the audiences have picked up on Matt Damon takes the lead role. Chinese version of the film. 2014’s first major American-Chinese co- themselves, criticising Hollywood Unfortunately, the film is shaping Transformers: Age of Extinction productions. for creating so-called “flower vase” up to be a repeat of the Warcraft went on to borrow this idea, going Another example occurred just roles for Asian talent, referencing situation, looking likely to flop in several steps further to include a couple of weeks ago, when xXx: characters that lack any depth or North America despite a strong major action sequences set in China Return of Xander Cage made more complexity and exist only to boost performance in China. that were included in the worldwide money in China in one weekend Chinese interest. It would be fair to say then, edit. Suffice to say, the film ended up than it did in an entire month of The solution to this may actually that China and Hollywood are making more money in China than release in North America. Credit for come from within China, as the still working out the nature of it did in any other single territory. this has gone to two cast members country aims to begin making Why is China worthy of so much specifically: Kris Wu (a Chinese its own more attention than any other singer and movie star) and Donnie international market? For the film Yen (a Hong Kong actor and industry, the country is an untapped martial artist). Both expository well of box office potential. It wasn’t are huge and the plotting with until 1994 that Hollywood films suitable for a threethe ‘The were even allowed an official cinema Nameless Order’ year-old. release in China, and after that Despite its many point the Government – a military regiment faults, the movie has a allowed only 10 defending the Great Wall of few things working for foreign films China against the Toa-Tie (think a cross it. The cinematography a year to REVIEW between a T-Rex and Orcs). cross These mythical creatures resurrect on is a visual spectacle « a 60-year schedule to teach the Chinese once you can actually the action. Navya Hebbar a lesson against greed by swarming their follow Though a collaboration Screen Contributor walls. If the wall falls China falls, if China falls, so will the world – you get the idea. between Chinese and roduced by Legendary Pictures, It’s hard to say if Matt Damon is American artists, most partnered with China Film playing a man too tired from having of it is executed under Group (the largest film company fought one too many battles, or if he Chinese command. Not in China) in 2013, The Great Wall is a can’t be arsed to do much. Tian Jing much is appealing, apart socio-political statement if ever there plays Commander Lin, the movies only from Matt Damon’s face. was one. Go watch this one if you female character with voice. It isn’t to do with any of the racism or need something to bash and The stars aren’t Willliam or Lin, whitewashing that it has been accused have spare pocket money but if though they take up considerable screen of. It is to do with the fact that it is the this is the future of cinema, then time. The story is being told through a first English-language production for god help us. collective, something that is different director Yimou Zhang and is the largest from the lone hero/genius that we are film shot entirely in China. Of course it used to. needed a channel to Hollywood. The only reason to watch this movie Cue Matt Damon’s William Garin who might be to admire the regiment of is saving the day. Though it is weird to disciplined military men dancing see him in an Asian period movie – it through war. They believe that victory is pretty obvious that he is not there is possible because of the sacrifices of to perpetrate white dominance. He is ordinary men like them. a mere strategic opening so the movie The $150m invested in this movie is could be sold in both Hollywood and all spent on panoramic camerawork that China. swoops about as much as the soldiers William and Pero (Pedro Pascal) are do. However it doesn’t work very well European mercenaries on the hunt for as an action thriller – the dialogue is too ‘black powder’. Somehow, they get stuck
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their budding relationship and how to make it a successful one, but they’re not giving up. Many Chinese companies have now established themselves firmly in the film business, most notably the Wanda Group who own the production company Legendary Pictures, as well as AMC Theatres in the USA and Odeon Cinemas here in the UK. Additionally, the Chinese Government plans to start building a $2 billion film studio in the city of Chongqing this year, as part of an attempt to convince Hollywood companies to move their productions to China. It’s early days right now, but don’t be fooled: China is a force to be reckoned with in the film industry, and is likely to only get stronger from here on out. Will Chongqing one day replace Hollywood as the film capital of the world? Perhaps not, but the idea isn’t as farfetched as it may seem.
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irst and foremost on the E. L. James checklist of fantasies is sex, and its role in the film. In short, it’s improved a hell of a lot since its predecessor. Some of the many scenes involving various restraints and oils are even genuinely exciting, in an objective sort of way that doesn’t reflect whatsoever upon the writer of this piece. Even the soundtrack is excellent. Very little is tasteful, and almost all of it is raunchy. An honorary mention must go to the sound designers, who successfully matched the chorus of a particularly sultry number to the thrust of Jamie Dornan’s pelvis. Additionally, the film has a large handful of moments, both
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on purpose and accidental, that are actually hilarious. Some of the scripted moments come off with some real wit and humour, while the far, far greater number of unscripted moments are all the better for the actors’ clear levity within their roles. Yes, the overall quality of acting is pretty horrendous, but it is impossible to believe that anyone has actually taken their role seriously. In this weird and wonderful pocket universe of sexy melodrama and utterly implausible plot twists, this stance fits perfectly. Of course, it’s not only about what’s being said, but about who is saying it. If there’s little happening in the way of story, at least there’s something exceptional to look at onscreen. And Eric Johnson’s Jack Hyde is a truly exceptional man. Yes, he reveals himself to be a controlling creep with a weird fixation for Anna, but before that, at their very first meeting? Good god. That man is divine. Thrown into the mix with Dakota Johnson’s marvellous arse and Jamie Dornan, a man whose tragic and engrossing subplot of attempting to keep a shirt fixed over his racy rippling torso is the film’s true social commentary, and there is a recipe for endless enjoyment.
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ohn Wick: Chapter 2 is one of those rare sequels which vastly improves on its predecessor. It builds on the rather simplistic plot of the first movie in exciting ways, offering a fascinating exploration of the world in which these assassins operate. Indeed, the mythology of the John Wick universe feels surprisingly well-crafted, and this movie leaves plenty of room for more stories further down the line. Of course, the film’s greatest asset is its jaw-dropping action sequences. On countless previous occasions, films with action in abundance have proven to be boring and repetitive, but John Wick 2 dodges that common pitfall by orchestrating some of the most inventive set-pieces in recent memory. Director Chad Stahelski is a former stunt coordinator, and his knowledge of the craft is clear to see onscreen. Every fist-fight, gunfight and car chase in this movie is stunningly well choreographed and beautifully shot. The
««««« Ash Emritte Games Editor
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ell, slap me silly with a giant’s willy, the team behind The Lego Movie have once again turned what should on paper have been the unintelligible scribbles of a five year old, or the mad dance of a spider with diarrhea, into a film that is incredibly conscious of what it has to deliver: childlike enthusiasm, energy, and pure, unadulterated fun. Batman’s (Will Arnett) narration over the opening logos sets the tone of the film, a meta interpretation and celebration of the entirety of Batman, even the time he was George Clooney and had nipples . Jam-packed with references to the past, it would certainly be no hard feat to feel lost, but these are cleverly
integrated into the film with dual purposes. They don’t feel like references for references sake, but come as a menagerie of joy that entice from both young and old
innocent laughter that is so lacking as we move deeper into Trump’s presidency, Brexit, the new shape of Toblerones and
Chris Chibnall’s Doctor Who. This film is an assault on the many diverse facial, jaw, and throat muscles involved in laughter, including, but not limited to the levator labii superioris. Hark back to the scene in Predator when Blaine levels the entire jungle with his minigun for an analogy on how many zingers this film hurtles in your
action sequences brim with creativity, so much so that new concepts are thrown into the mix at a near-constant rate, which prevents the movie from getting stale at any point. Stunts are shockingly effective with certain moments sure to induce winces from the audience, but never does the violence become gratuitous or gleeful. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. There’s an undercurrent of sadness which runs through this film, and turns the character of John Wick into a genuinely sympathetic figure. Reeves does well portraying a man who takes no pleasure in his morbid profession, creating an action hero who is remarkably compelling. John Wick 2 feels just a tad bloated towards the end, but remains one of the best action films of recent years.
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general direction per minute. So much in fact, it is quite hard to catch them all, especially with the background being littered with a second layering of humour. The first two acts are so incredibly joke heavy, that when act three decides to slow down the rate of comedy in favour of some grade A feels, one can’t help but draw comparison to The Lego Movie, which pulled the breaks in its final 20 minutes. The subtlety of these major feels and totes emosh vibes the film sends out during its last act is non-existent, it’s obvious and in your face. But c’mon, this is a Lego movie. It should be going all out, shouting at you what to feel, when to laugh, zipping around like an inebriated bee desperately trying to get to the airport on time to profess its love to the one and only bee it could ever love. It should, and thankfully does. This movie is a delightful reminder to run amok with playfulness, and to let go of cynicism and embrace your inner child.
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he coming-of-age movie Moonlight follows a boy from Miami through three stages of his early life. Firstly, Little (Alex R. Hibbert) is introduced as a nine year old with a neglectful mum (Naomie Harris), who finds a father figure in drug dealer Juan (Mahershala Ali). The film then follows his self-discovery as teenager Chiron (Ashton Sanders), and lastly, young adult Black (Trevante Rhodes). Jenkins does a beautiful job of shooting the film. Using vibrant lighting, juxtaposing with harsh, unglamorous neighbourhoods perfectly captures the Miami heat and how beauty can be found anywhere if you look hard enough. It’s also extremely visceral as Jenkins places us right alongside Chiron with handheld cameras taking us as close to the experience as cinematically possible. There are some gorgeous early scenes where the focus is crystal clear but the background is hazy, like an old memory, particularly on Juan, giving an air of idyllic nostalgia towards Ali’s character. At its heart, this is a film about sexuality and becoming who you really are. It’s evocative, moving, funny and profound. Ticking along at its own speed, it’s as riveting as any other film you’ll see. An honest, grounded story about finding oneself, it is a truly stunning film. This is quite simply as pure as cinema gets.
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ilmed across two continents, Lion is the true story about a lost boy called Saroo (Sunny Pawar), who at no more than 5 years old falls asleep on a train and wakes up 1,600 miles from home days later. He joins the league of the homeless who need to fend themselves against perils while begging to stay alive before being adopted by Australian couple, Sue and John (Nicole Kidman and David Wenham). Based on the novel A Long Way Home (2014) by Saroo Brierley, the film traces his life as he ends up in Tasmania and becomes and adult (Saroo now played by Dev Patel). It is a modern day fairy tale reminiscent of Slumdog Millionaire. The movie tackles monumental themes: the question of identity and a child’s psyche. It is a physical and emotional journey at its heart that grapples with whether we can escape who we are truly are.All it lacks is a few more layers to make it a complete success. While emotionally wrenching, and all sorts of brilliant, the narrative doesn’t pack enough fuel to run through the entire two hours. Lion is a piece of reality for which cinema does justice. Orchestrated between expanses of Indian countryside and Tasmanian waters, it brings home Saroo’s story in the sweetest way possible. It is simultaneously vast yet
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y all accounts, Fences is a study of character. The narrative follows Troy Maxson (Denzel Washington) a 1950s binman bitter from a history of injustice and discrimination that forms the foundation from which all the stories drama that ensues. From the offset, Fences sets an agenda of subtle, almost trivial social issues, only to have them fester and materialise to have a much more offensive impact on the film’s plot by its more climactic stages and tell a truly impressive tragedy. Whilst the film’s name and plot focusing on a backgarden fence provide many metaphors for the film’s central themes of division and discrimination, it also serves as an unfortunate allegory for why the classic play fails to fully survive its transition from stage to screen. Wilson tells a story bursting with narrative that is ordinary in nature, but extraordinary in its representations of race, gender and more. Whilst the adaption remains rich with the narrative of the source material, transporting it to the screen has made it of scarce cinematic flare and a script frequently too heavy to comprehend in a film that overflows with conversation. For this, Fences ultimately fails at being an exceptional film and simply remains a great story.
The
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Gethin Morgan Screen Contributor
2017 Predictions Best Picture: La La Land Damien Chazelle’s love letter to Hollywood is right up Academy voters’ street thanks to its romance, spectacle and unabashed joy. Having swept at the Golden Globes, come out on top at the BAFTAs and received a record equalling number of Oscar nominations, there’s really nowhere else to put your money. Director: Damien Chazelle (La La Land) In recent years the Academy has opted to split the Best Picture and Director winners in order to share out the love. That’s unlikely to happen this time round, with the La La effect likely to guide Chazelle to glory. At 32, he’ll become the youngest ever winner of Best Director. Actress: Emma Stone (La La Land) Yes, that’s right, La La Land again. It may be boring but there’s a reason why this film has been so dominant during awards season. Wins at the Golden Globes, the Screen Actors Guild and the BAFTAs mean that Emma Stone is hot favourite. Natalie Portman and Isabelle Huppert are also contenders. Actor: Casey Affleck (Manchester by the Sea) A recent surge from screen legend Denzel Washington has made Best Actor perhaps the tastiest race of the ceremony. With Washington’s recent SAG win, he could very easily become the seventh person to win a third
acting Oscar. Affleck whilst surrounded with controversy has won everywhere else though, and will probably take home the Oscar too. Supporting Actress: Viola Davis (Fences) Probably the most nailed on winner amongst the acting awards, Denzel’s costar gives the kind of shouty, powerful performance the Academy adores. They’ll also be desperate to have a more diverse set of winners after last year’s #OscarsSoWhite furore. Supporting Actor: Mahershala Ali (Moonlight) Moonlight is one of the Academy’s darling films this year, but thanks to La La Land it’ll win almost nothing. This is their way of rewarding one of their favourite films. Ali’s emotional speech at the SAG Awards helped too, although watch out for Jeff Bridges, the veteran actor is supremely popular in the industry, and with his role in Hell or High Water, he could nick it on the night.
How to win an Oscar Campaign Many people don’t realise that your DiCaprios and your Streeps campaign just as much for an award as Donald Trump did to become the most powerful man in the free world. While the studios are sending screeners to Academy voters and promoting the film online, the stars are attending luncheons and ‘meet and greets’ with voters. Shaking hands and kissing babies can make the difference between a nomination and a win. Be ‘Overdue’ Also known as the ‘DiCaprio effect’, the Academy loves to reward an actor that has been overlooked for years. Let’s be honest, as good as The Revenant is, it wasn’t Leo’s best performance. Just look at The Wolf of Wall Street two years earlier. Another example is Al Pacino, who had eight nominations before finally winning for Scent of a Woman in 1993. Play a real life person Last year 12 out of 20 acting nominations were for roles portraying real life
characters. Three of the five best actress nominees this year are for performances portraying real people and the last four best actor winning roles are all historical figures. Take a transformative role Academy voters often find it hard to love a rich, beautiful movie-star. So when these stars ‘uglify’ themselves it often helps. See Matthew McConaughey in 2014 or Christian Bale in 2011, they both lost a lot of weight and took unattractive roles. So that’s the unbeatable formula for taking home the most prestigious award in showbiz. Remember, the Oscars really don’t mean anything at all. So don’t get hung up because 50 Shades Darker was snubbed this year. At the end of the day, I still love it and I’ll be staying up late to watch the ceremony on the 26th.
Gethin Morgan Screen Contributor
Be sure to check out forgetoday.com to read the full reviews, as well as our reviews of the other big Oscar nominees
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COFFEE BREAK
press.coffeebreak@forgetoday.com
WHOSE FLAGS ARE THESE? 1.
3.
5.
2.
4.
6.
CONNECTION GRID Connection 1
GUN
IRON
CARS
HAT
DOG
RATATOUILLE
RED
CRISS
SHREK
UP
GEAR
BATTLESHIP
GEORGE
MADAGASCAR
VICTORIA
BOOT
1
1
1
Cross
Connection 2 1 Connection 3
Connection 4
I've filled in one connection for you to explain how to play, best of luck!
NORTH KOREA QUIZ Completely unrelated to current events, hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a quiz on North Korea! 1. What is the capital of North Korea?
Did you know? The words screeched,
2. What is the name of it's current leader? 3. What was the name of his father?
scratched, scrounged, stretched,
4. And what was the name of his father?
straights and strengths are all the
5. What is the state's main ideology?
longest one syllable words in the
6. What is the name of the area around it's border with South Korea?
English language at 9 letters
7. Oh and finally, there was that thing in the news the other day about the alleged assasination of the older brother of the incumbent leader of North Korea, any clue on his name? (This just happened to be in the news, it didn't in any way, shape or form inspire me to make this quiz).
long
North Korea Quiz - 1. Pyongyang 2. Kim Jong-un 3. Kim Jong-il 4. Kim Il-sung 5. Juche/Socialism 6. Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) 7. Kim Jong-nam Connection grid - In any order: Top, Animated Films, Monopoly Pieces, Followed by 'cross' Flags - 1. Mauritius 2. Liechtenstein 3. Kazakhstan 4. Swaziland 5. Bolivia 6. Kiribati Answers
FORGE PRESS 43
FRIDAY 24 FEBRUARY 2017
COFFEE BREAK
SUDOKU Easy
Hard
Medium
A brief explanation...
CODEWORD
A codeword is similar to a crossword in that you need to find the missing words. The difference is that instead of clues you are given a few letters to start off with (in this case W, K, and F) and you then have to work out what the missing letters are. Note, the numbers are the same for each letter, so all 5's in the grid are the letter 'F' and so on. Good luck!
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CROSSWORD Across
Down
1. Made to feel at home (8)
2. Make intelligible (7)
6. Burnt remains (3)
3. Swindle (3)
9. Mature (5)
4. Wonder (6)
10. Heart of a nuclear power station (7) 5. Snags (9) 11. Open grassland (7)
6. Modify (5)
13. Crazy (5)
7. Tough (5)
14. High-kicking dance (6)
8. Cancer or Capricorn (6)
15. Pronounce not guilty (6)
12. Traditional sunday meal (5, 4)
19. Defile, sully (5)
16. Tense, repressed (7)
21. Italian rice dish (7)
17. Prickly plants (6)
22. High level ground (7)
18. In the vicinity (6)
23. Church instrument (5)
19. Yellow precious stone (5)
24. Animal collection (3)
20. Insect in its adult form (5)
25. Faithfulness (8)
23. Lubricant (3)
FORGE PRESS 45
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SportsThoughts.
SPORT
We have a rare treat for you this week, as Adam Bailey interviews singer, long jumper and ex-University of Sheffield student Jazmin Sawyers. British Cycling received an award nomination from Sport Industry Group, and Tim Adams couldn’t be more perplexed.
Controversy threatening to send British Cycling off track
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Tim Adams Sport Contributor
he inclusion of British Cycling in the shortlist for governing body of the year is a punchline. Sport Industry Group’s decision will make them a punchbag. Amongst the remarkable successes for Britain’s cyclists on the track over the past decade, a dark misty narrative is unfolding deep beneath the surface. British Cycling’s controversies stack up. Jess Varnish’s explosive accusation of sexism and bullying on former Technical Director Shane Sutton forced him to step down last year, although he denies all allegations. And then former boss of British Cycling and current Manager of Team Sky Sir Dave Brailsford appeared in front of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee over misinformation surrounding Sir Bradley Wiggin’s medical record. Never before has British Cycling been in this type of spotlight. The myriad of gold medal successes in Beijing, London and Rio put the sport on the map, but controversy off-track threatens to over-shadow
that success. The rise of Hoy, Pendleton, Wiggins the Kennys is testament to the passion from many coaches in the sport. It’s hard to draw one main criticism of British Cycling, but it’s this: it’s what we don’t know. When audiences watch road races, a time trial or a team sprint, due to stereotypes of cheating, many sitting at home may question a world record in the back of their minds. Lance Armstrong’s denial and subsequent admission of taking drugs such as EPO, to enhance his performance in his seven Tour de France title wins, engulfed the sport. Consistent success at such a high level of endurance racing for so long was initially celebrated, especially given that Armstrong’s recovery from cancer was so swift that it made his achievements even more special. Those who questioned the American cyclist’s records were accused of stirring up false gossip - what we might now call fake news. The Sunday Times were successfully sued for a £1m libel settlement by Armstrong in 2004 after journalist David Walsh had
his damning allegations published. In 2013 he was vindicated, and Armstrong was stripped of his seven titles. Allegations are not fact, but to nominate British Cycling as the governing body of the year is a bit far fetched when a large number of voices emerge to accuse the institution of sexism and bullying. Varnish is one of the most vocal. She accuses Sutton of saying “get on with having a baby” after leaving her out of the Rio 2016 selection, not distributing equipment equally among the squad and hindering the careers of female athletes after they had left the programme. Sutton denies all allegations, and an internal inquiry only upheld one out of nine charges, that he used the word ‘bitches’. Two remarks Sutton supposedly made, that he called Paralympic cyclists “gimps” and “wobblies” were not considered in the investigation. Victoria Pendleton and Nicole Cooke have also spoken out on sexism and bullying within the sport. A tough line qualification system for the Olympics created an uproar when Varnish and Katy Marchant failed to qualify after finishing fifth at the recent World
Championships. It’s certainly been a busy last two years for Brailsford. The timing of Wiggins’ use of TUEs for triamcinolone, a substance which has been abused in cycling before, just before the 2011 and 2012 Tours de France and the 2013 Giro d’Italia, has also raised ethical questions. TUEs have the approval of the UCI, cycling’s world governing body, and both Brailsford and
Wiggins deny wrongdoing. The publication of an independent review into British Cycling is ongoing. Nominating the organisation for governing body of the year before the release is dangerous. It gives the impression that sporting success is worthwhile at the expense of ethics off the track. Image: Wikimedia Commons
Jazmin Sawyers: from The Voice to the sandpit
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Adam Bailey Sport Contributor
hree weeks after appearing on ‘The Voice UK’, Jazmin Sawyers was back in Sheffield competing in the long jump at the recent British Athletics Indoor Team Trials. Although now a graduate of the University of Bristol, the long jumper started her studies at the University of Sheffield and it has been a whirlwind few months for the 22-year-old. Just a few days after finding out she had graduated from Bristol with a 2:1 in law, she won a silver medal at the European Championships. A month later she was competing at her first Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Away from sport, Sawyers is a keen singer-songwriter and last month she showcased her signing talent on ‘The Voice’, impressing
both viewers and the judges to become part of will.i.am’s team. Despite progressing through to the next round of the ITV talent show, there is absolutely no doubt over where Sawyers’ focus lies. When asked about what happens if she wins the singing competition and how it will affect her athletics career, Sawyers thought about it for all of a nano-second, before replying: “It won’t.” After all, she has been dividing her time over the last four years between her law degree and her athletics career and if there’s one thing law students will all agree on: law is a notoriously heavy subject. “There have been no changes to my training,” Sawyers told Forge Sport. “I have had a degree going on for the last four years that hasn’t interfered and this takes up less time than that. “This is something to do; I love it, music is a passion and it is nice to have something outside of athletics
to focus on.” Despite competing in front of
millions at the Rio Olympics last summer, Sawyers said singing on ‘The Voice’ is scarier than performing on the track as an athlete. “It’s the singing, because in the athletics stadium it is very straightforward; if I jump far then I do well. “Whereas, with the singing, people get to decide whether they like it or not.” Sawyers certainly didn’t disappoint with her rendition of Alessia Cara’s ‘Here’ with American singer and record producer will.i.am choosing to be her mentor. Her performance on ‘The Voice’ showed that she is an “all-rounder”, which, in the case of Sawyers, means a lot more than an athlete who excels at a second sport. Excelling at a variety of sports is true of Sawyers, however, as she used to be a heptathlete, before focusing on the long jump and in 2012 she won a silver medal in
the bobsleigh at the Winter Youth Olympics in Austria. But her all-round ability is highlighted not just within sport, but also on the stage as she shares her talent and passion for singing with the nation. There is no doubt that Sawyers is multi-talented and having competed at a Youth Winter Olympics, an Olympic Games and now starring on ‘The Voice’, what’s next for her? “I think I will leave it at that for now,” replies Sawyers. For now, the former Sheffield student’s eyes are set firmly on Olympic gold, while singing remains a passion that will see her compete in the next round of the singing competition over the next few weeks. Image: Sport Sheffield
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press.sport@forgetoday.com
Steelers beat Caps to stay in title hunt Josh Minchin Sport Contributor
Elite Ice Hockey League
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hird placed Sheffield Steelers were looking desperately to close the gap on league leaders Cardiff Devils, who were eight points ahead, but having played a game more. The Devils suffered a 7-4 loss in Nottingham on Tuesday evening, leaving the door ajar for the chasing pack. A win against bottom side Edinburgh would have left Paul Thompson’s side six behind with nine to play, but the Capitals have made the Steelers work for their previous victories – three goals
being the widest winning margin. Sheffield started well, having most of the play, yet they struggled to convert dominance into goals. Edinburgh always looked dangerous on the break too, missing a few clear-cut chances in the first period. It was Markus Nilsson who would break the deadlock in the 15th minute, with an excellent wrist-shot from range. Sheffield came racing out of the blocks in the second period too, with Nilsson adding another. The period could be named ‘The tale of two Goal Tenders’ – Ervins Mustukovs
Owls feel Bees’ sting Sam Straw Sport Contributor
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heffield Wednesday went down 2-1 to an out-of-form Brentford side in a shock defeat at Hillsborough. Brentford came into this game in poor form in the Championship, especially away from Griffin Park. However, the Bees did put Wednesday under some pressure in the opening minutes of the game.
The Bees got their first big chance of the game around 20 minutes in. Romaine Sawyers managed to get to a loose ball before Kieran Westwood but failed to convert an attempted lob from a tight angle. Almen Abdi was rewarded with another start after his superb goal at the weekend and tried his luck again from long range but his volley
made crucial stops to keep the Caps at bay, whilst Edinburgh’s Travis Fullerton gifted the Steelers an easy second period ride. John Armstrong made it three in the 25th minute, and Robert Dowd added another in the 39th after an excellent bit of skill to break from his own half. They weren’t howlers from Fullerton, but were shots that the
“They weren’t howlers but Moose would have saved with ease.” Image: Josh Minchin Moose would have saved with ease. Steelers dominated the third, but the Capitals scored two late goals which, despite a Steelers’ reply from Dowd, tainted a good night for Sheffield. Thompson will be pleased that his team got the job done and closed the gap, but as Levi Nelson
said after the game, chances were wasted which perhaps would have been punished by a better side. Mustuvkos was once again ‘the backbone’ of the Steelers’ defence, and Nelson described him as a ‘huge’ player in their bid for a third straight championship.
The Capitals looked good in places, and had the goalies been swapped it could have been a very different scoreline. Job done for the Sheffield Steelers, who now sit in second place trailing Cardiff Devils by just six points with nine to play.
was saved comfortably by Daniel Bentley. Despite Brentford’s early possession, the hosts started to up the tempo and create some chances of their own. Good work from Palmer created a double chance for Jordan Rhodes and then Abdi but neither could convert. Referee Darren Bond became an unpopular figure amongst the home support when he decided against awarding a penalty as Fernando Forestieri went down following a challenge from Harlee Dean. The boos became even more noticeable in the 35th minute of the game when Brentford took a 1-0 lead. John Egan’s header from a Ryan Wood free-kick looped up
over Westwood to deservedly put Brentford in front. The home crowd started to push their side up the field as they looked for an instant equaliser. This almost came five minutes before the break as Palmer’s cross was headed onto the crossbar by Rhodes.
get themselves back into the game. Substitute Callum McManaman made a positive impact and put a handful of enticing crosses into the area. However, the Brentford defence held firm and Bentley made a superb save to keep out Forestieri’s volley. Bentley kept the Argentine out again minutes later as he tipped over his free-kick. The home side continued to create chances with time running out. Rhodes had his header cleared off the line before substitute Steven Fletcher failed to convert the rebound amid a huge scramble in the area. Their best chance of the game came in injury time as Vincent Sasso missed an open goal following a rebound from Forestieri’s shot. Despite Bentley’s superb performance for the Bees, Forestieri was finally able to find the back of the net as his curling effort found the bottom corner to make it 2-1 and give Wednesday hope with just minutes to play. Substitute Sam Winnall had a chance to level the scores but could only head his effort straight at Bentley as Brentford claimed a very impressive victory. Carvahal, whose side face a huge clash against Leeds United on Saturday, said: “The referee in the first-half is a disaster. [He had a] very poor performance and made everybody nervous. “We played very pitifully in the first-half. We started very slow but I think it is probably about the few days between the games but we must play better.”
Image: Joe Bamford
“Carvalhal no doubt had some stern words to say to his team at half-time and it was his side who came out looking the brighter.” However, it didn’t take the away side long to resettle after their opener and they doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time as Dean headed home a corner to make it 2-0. Carvalhal no doubt had some stern words to say to his team at half-time and it was his side who came out looking the brighter. However, it was Brentford who almost got themselves further ahead as Jota’s deflected free-kick almost caught Westwood off guard. Brentford had a fantastic opportunity to kill the game with around 20 minutes to play. Sloppy play from Wednesday in midfield allowed Saywers to race through on goal before playing in Jota who failed to make the most of the chance. The hosts desperately tried to
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Sheffield FC knocked out amidst penalty furore Hugh Dickinson Sport Editor
FA Women’s Cup
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heffield FC Ladies exited the FA Cup at the fourth round stage for the second season running as their tie against Doncaster Rovers Belles was decided by a penalty that wasn’t. Referee Law Bik Chi, on a referee exchange programme from Hong Kong, became the centre of attention when she awarded a penalty kick against Sheffield for handball, despite the ball appearing to clearly strike a Doncaster arm. It was the first competitive meeting between the two sides who are just 20 miles apart, with the previous week’s WSL Spring Series fixture having been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. The first game of the season always takes time to get up and running, and this was no different. The two sides sparred in the
opening stages, with speculative shots sailing wide from both sides. Doncaster had the best of the opening opportunities as Courtney Sweetman-Kirk had time to shoot on the edge of the box and flashed her low effort just wide of Juliana Draycott’s right hand upright.
“After two minutes of arguing SweetmanKirk stepped up.”
It was then that lightning struck. As players from both sides slid in to claim the ball, it bounced up and struck the arm of the Doncaster player. ‘Handball’ shouted the home crowd. ‘Penalty’ said Law Bik
Chi, tapping her right hand so that the reason for the decision was in no doubt. The protests were extensive. Carla Ward was apoplectic, Sherry McCue received a yellow card for her remonstrations, and after two minutes of arguing Sweetman-Kirk stepped up to calmly roll the ball down the middle of the goal. Sheffield lost their heads and their discipline. McCue was fortunate not to receive a second yellow card for persistent fouling, and the chances, largely from free kicks, kept flowing. Sweetman-Kirk should have made it 2-0 just before half time as she ghosted past Ward but failed to convert the one-onone chance as Draycott stuck out a foot to keep her at bay. The second half was far more even. Sheffield were desperate to get back into the game and twice Sophie Jones might have done better from the left wing. Hannah Cain did the hard work from the right flank, got tackled by the penalty spot, and when Natasha Flint’s follow up was blocked, Jones had only Nicky Davies in goal to beat, but chose to shoot for the near post when the far was the better option. As Sheffield pushed for an
Tennis 1s edge past Beckett Tim Adams Sport Contributor
BUCS Tennis
University of Sheffield Men’s 1s
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Leeds Beckett University Men’s 4s
ohn McEnroe once said ‘I’ll let the racket do the talking’. Sheffield Men’s 1s probably had that in mind when they visited Leeds Beckett. Two weeks ago, unbeaten Beckett’s 4s trounced Sheffield’s 2s 12-0 and topped the Northern 2B table, but against Sheffield’s 1s they faced a much tougher challenge. When Tom Dyakowski and Joe Tingey, returning to the first team after a week out, won 6-4 6-4 the prospect of an unlikely straightforward win looked promising, but Alex Wood and Jack Hird agonisingly lost in a championship tie-break 6-2 2-6 10-6. Dyakowski had only lost one match this year, against Durham’s 4s in the first game of the season, but looked like he may suffer a second defeat after dropping the
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first set 6-3 in the first singles match. But a classy display of accurate baseline hitting forced his opponent into mistakes and he eventually rallied to win 3-6 6-1 6-3. Tingey’s return was welcome for the first team, with his pulsating 6-1 6-0 victory putting Sheffield 6-2 ahead. But Beckett closed the
gap to just two points when Wood suffered a heavy 6-1 6-2 defeat. Both sets of the last singles rubber were tight, but Hird managed to scrape through with a 6-4 7-6 win and complete a narrow 8-4 victory overall. The Women’s 1s suffered a 12-0 defeat to Durham 2s in the last 16 of the BUCS Tennis 2016-17 Trophy. Ashy Fletcher’s team was simply no match for Durham, having registered just two games in both doubles matches. Elsewhere the 2s sides had mixed fortunes; the men lost 12-0 away to York’s 1s, while the women obliterated York’s 2s at Graves to consolidate their position at the top of the Northern 3B League.
Image: Tim Adams
equaliser they became stretched at the back. Carla Ward blocked superbly from Sophie Barker to keep it at 1-0 but Doncaster looked the more likely to score the second goal of the game. Billie Murphy gave the ball away to Sweetman-Kirk in the area, and it looked like Christine Murray would wrap up the game, but she trod on the ball ten yards out and allowed Sheffield to scramble it
away. Draycott went up for a late corner, but Sheffield couldn’t force the game to extra time, and they’ll be left ruing a game that hinged on what can only be described as an awful penalty decision. Radio highlights and a full match replay are available at forgetoday. com/sport. Image: John Taff
Success for Sheffield darts sides
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Ed McCosh Sport Editor
he University of Sheffield Darts A leapfrogged rivals Sheffield Hallam into third place in the Northern Universities Darts League with victories over the University of Nottingham A and B. Sheffield B made strides towards their target of being the top B team in the league with one win and one defeat. Sheffield A recovered from an early setback to defeat Nottingham A 7-4, before cruising to an 8-3 win over Nottingham B. The visiting A team secured a 8-3 triumph over Sheffield B, but Matt Royle’s side recovered to defeat Nottingham B 7-4. The opening game did not start as stand-in Sheffield A captain Ed McCosh envisaged, with Nottingham A claiming three of the first four points on offer. McCosh and Oli Newall were able to keep their cool and win 2-1 after going one down in their doubles tie, before Brad Clowery and debutant Tim Close won by the
same scoreline to make it 2-3. Sheffield then dominated the singles ties; Tom Hogg and Matt Eardley got the hosts off to the perfect start with wins, and then after Nottingham made it 4-4 Clowery, Close and McCosh all prevailed to wrap up the three points. A superb singles performance also decided the tie between the B sides. Nottingham B raced into a 3-0 lead before Royle and Sarah Denholm reduced the deficit. Ellis Turner and Tim Adams put Sheffield within a point of their hosts, and the comeback was completed thanks to wins for Turner, Royle, George Francis, Jack Lewis and Tim Taylor. Sheffield A were rarely threatened by Nottingham B, going 7-1 up before losing two of the last three singles matches. They now sit six points behind joint-leaders Loughborough A and Nottingham Trent A. Despite defeat to Nottingham A, Sheffield B find themselves just three points adrift of Loughborough B, the highestplaced B team.
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BUCS roundup
Ed McCosh Sport Editor
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nother week, another tally of more wins than losses for the University of Sheffield BUCS sides. But it’s never all plain sailing, and this week saw mixed fortunes for the black and gold teams. But let’s focus on the successes: the Futsal Women’s 1s crushed Teeside University 1s 9-1 in the Trophy, while the Men’s 2s beat Newcastle 2s 9-1 and drew 2-2 with York 3s in a double-header. The three Men’s Squash sides were all in fine form too, claiming wins in all of their ties. The Football Men’s 4s kept their title hopes alive with a 1-0 home win over Teesside 2s and sit three points behind their opponents with a game in hand. The Netball 1s, 2s and 3s enjoyed home comforts, defeating Leeds Beckett 3s, Hull 1s and Huddersfield 1s respectively, the 1s winning by a margin of 26 points in a routine win. The Women’s Fencing 1s did not have such a comfortable ride against the University of Manchester 1s, but their class shone through in a 122-104 success. Lacrosse enjoyed a fine day at Goodwin - the Men’s 1s beat Newcastle University 9-1 (see right), while the Women’s 1s were even more convincing in a 17-6 thrashing of Northumbria University 1s. 2015 and 2016 Varsity heroes, the Women’s Hockey 3s, secured a 2-0 success away to York 2s, while the Men’s 2s defeated Durham 3s 3-1 at Goodwin. The Table Tennis Men’s 1s and 2s were in fine form also; the former beat Northumbria 1s 14-3, while Lancaster 1s fell 11-6 to the Men’s 2s. There were also wins for the Golf 1s, the Men’s Badminton 1s and the Men’s Tennis 1s and Women’s 2s (see page 47).
Star performers
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The Squash Men’s 1s defeated Manchester 1s 3-2 to seal promotion to the BUCS Premier Division, giving them the chance to compete with the best teams in the country in 2017/18.
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Lacrosse 1s thump Newcastle
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Adam Bailey Sport Contributor
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BUCS Lacrosse
University of Sheffield Men’s 1s Newcastle University Men’s 1s
he Lacrosse Men’s 1s progressed into the semifinals of the BUCS Trophy after a 9-1 victory over Newcastle University. The visitors arrived at Goodwin having won their last seven games and having already beaten the black and gold twice this season; but Sheffield produced their best performance of the season to reach the last-four of the national competition. Both sides struggled to find a way through their opponents’ defence in the opening exchanges of the match, but Sheffield broke the deadlock halfway through the first quarter. Ben Page-Laycock was being shielded by a Newcastle defender, but he still managed to
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find the net with his shot to give the hosts the edge after the opening 20 minutes. Alex Burley doubled the black and gold lead two minutes into the second quarter. Page-Laycock spun around a defender, before passing the ball to Burley. His pathway to goal looked blocked, but his shot found a way through the crowd of bodies and nestled in the top corner. The visitors pulled a goal back four minutes later as Connor Doyle capitalised on Sheffield being a man down. Defender Ben Scola was sent to the penalty box for a push in the back and, although Sheffield looked like they had killed the penalty, Doyle fired into the bottom right corner from distance
to cut the away side’s deficit to one. The next goal was going to be crucial and Sheffield ensured Newcastle didn’t build any momentum after Doyle’s strike. Page-Laycock restored Sheffield’s two goal lead, four minutes later, with his shot from the right finding the bottom left corner. Kei Ishizaka extended the black and gold lead less than a minute later with his shot on the turn giving Sheffield a 4-1 lead at the halfway stage. Sheffield’s two goals in quick succession put the hosts in the driving seat heading into the third quarter, but the black and gold were still not out of sight. However, when Page-Laycock completed his hat-trick, with a low driven shot to provide Sheffield with a four-goal cushion, the hosts could breathe easier. This was reflected in their play as they grew in confidence; one of the standout moments of the match was when black and gold captain Adam Jones produced a ‘Cruyff turn’ to win a duel with a Newcastle defender. Things got worse for the away side when excellent pressing play from Sheffield caught the
Newcastle goalkeeper out of his net. The goalkeeper looked to play his side out of danger, but instead he ran into trouble with Sheffield winning the ball. With the goalkeeper out of position, Max Champneys made no mistake scoring into the empty net to give Sheffield a 6-1 lead heading into the final quarter. Three goals in three minutes sealed the victory for Sheffield. Champneys scored his second goal from close-range, before a quickfire double from Page-Laycock took his goal tally to five and the black and gold’s total to nine. The 9-1 victory sees Sheffield reach the semi-finals of the BUCS Trophy where they will play either Glasgow or Edinburgh at Goodwin for a place in the final. Captain Adam Jones told Forge Sport: “That was by far the best game I have been involved in at uni, it was so much fun. We have put a lot of hard work in and we are starting to really ramp it up ahead of Varsity. We are going to just keep on getting better and I am really excited for what the next few weeks have in store.”
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FRIDAY 24 FEBRUARY 2017
NEWS politics watch
Ireland to oppose any ‘hard-border’ postBrexit Enda Kenny, Ireland’s Prime Minister, has stated how it is in the Republic’s best interests to avoid a post-Brexit “hard border”. According to the Guardian, Kenny said that Ireland would fight against any attempt to create a fortified frontier once the British Government triggers Article 50. Quoted in the story, he said: “The Irish Government will oppose a hard border, argue for free movement on this island, seek EU funding for cross-border projects and protect the rights of EU citizens, whether from North or South. But this requires the support of all strands of opinion if we are to succeed.”
Katy Perry’s BRIT awards Performance targets political leaders Wednesday’s BRIT awards brought together music artists to celebrate British talent but Katy Perry targetted the British Prime Minister’s relationship with the recently appointed President across the pond. The performance of her song with Skip Marley ‘Chained to the Rhythm’ featured dancers dressed as houses moving around the stage and two giant skeletons who were supposedly meant to represent Theresa May and Donald Trump. The skeleton effigies were dressed in the same outfits that the world leaders wore when they met at the White House last month and even held hands in a similar fashion.
Dab on ‘em Deputy In this week’s PMQs the Deputy Labour Leader Tom Watson stole the limelight by performing what can only be described as a well executed dab after Jeremy Corbyn delivered a blow about the NHS. The dance move, popular in American Hip Hop culture was rumoured to be a thing of the past after 2016 ended but now it has definitevely been put in the ground. There’s also a picture of the ITV Good Morning Britain panel all simultaneously dabbing...
Your Student Officer Candidates President
Education
SU Development
Welfare
Women’s
Sports
International Activities
Activities
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Once, Twice, Three times only one lady Josh Peachey News Editor
...continued from Front Page the most popular policies include making greater provisions for mental health issues, reducing extra costs for students by initiatives such as free black and white printing, and campaigning to ensure Brexit won’t cause discrimination or effect students. Other policies from presidential candidates include ensuring all lectures are recorded with one candidate even suggesting a food
van outside SU club nights. There have been five candidates for Activities Officer and the most popular policy focus was on the Participation Grant and encouraging societies to apply for it. Improving room bookings by putting the whole system online is also a popular idea. There are also five candidates going for the Development Officer role, a number of which support a more efficient use of the University’s spaces and providing food waste bins throughout the campus.
A push for more study spaces was mirrored in the aims of the Education Officer candidates. Out of the six candidates for this role, three of them are strongly opposed to the TEF programme and have said they will campaign against rising tuition fees. There are four policies in the Women’s Officer category that each have the backing of at least three candidates. These include better support for sexual assault and hate crime victims, better promotion of the Safety bus, campaigning for LGBT+ rights and free tampons
and sanitary towels in the SU. There are only two candidates going for the position of Welfare Officer and they both agree that mental health help and wellbeing should be promoted, that students should be given better housing support and that there should be safer routes to and from University buildings. Reducing stereotyping and improving integration between foreign students and English students are two of the policies highlighted by the four potential International Officers.
And now for the Sport. Out of the five candidates, the women are dominating with four entries. Four candidates are in favour of improving inclusivity amongst the sport societies. Candidates are also keen for there to be more ‘Give it a Go’ sessions and even a new system for gym membership to make it more affordable for students. Follow all the election coverage in Forge Press including the candidate debates happening on Wednesday and Thursday next week.
The Presidential Candidates Who’s running for the coveted role of SU President?
Daniel Wh
Harshil Hir ani
itehead
Sukayna N
Lewis Elliott
ajmudin
“I intend to use my keen spider senses to listen to students throughout the year, not just during elections, to ensure my policies are relevant and up to date.”
“I aim to organise the provision of subsidised sanitary products in the SU shop, increase after-dark security, improve student representation and campaign for the publication of University spending.”
“It is time for the union to ideologically change to reflect intellectual diversity and free thought. One way of doing this is to remove the pictures of both Malcolm X and Free Palestine posters from inside the Union.”
“I will focus on three key objectives: increasing accessibility to the Union, creating better provisions for mental health issues, and giving all students a stronger voice.”
Where you might know me from: Social Sec of Quidditch Society
Where you might know me from: Social Sec of Aerospace Society
Where you might know me from: Around the SU
Where you might know me from: Chair of Film Unit
Jeremy Heywood
Rish Kumar
Kieran Maxw
ell
“I believe in representation, transparency, realism and inclusivity.”
“I will build bridges not walls, prioritise mental health matters, promote equality and opportunity and champion sustainability and accessibility.”
“I’m running for President because I believe in a Students’ Union for all, that represents all students no matter what.”
Where you might know me from: Poppin’ the moves in Pop Tarts
Where you might know me from: Acting Chair of LGBT+ Committee
Where you might know me from: Co-chair of Sheffield Labour Students
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Man dies after Sheffield street shooting Chloe Simpkins News Contributor
•• A 23-year-old man was shot and killed on February 18. •• Police continue to search for suspects Sheffield local Aseel Al-Essasie, 23, has died after being shot on the streets of Upperthorpe. The incident occurred on Daniel Hill Terrace on Saturday 18 February. According to witnesses, Aseel was either inside or close to a black Mercedes car that he had recently been driving when he was shot in the chest. His relatives, who were gathered nearby for a family celebration, rushed to help him in the street. The victim was then taken to hospital and a large number of police attended the scene, including armed officers. A South Yorkshire Police
spokeswoman told The Independent: “At around 1.35pm police were called to Daniel Hill following reports that a man had been shot.” “The 23-year-old man was taken to Northern General Hospital with a suspected gunshot wound. He died a short time later.” “Police are currently investigating the incident and anyone who was in the area at the time, or has information about the incident is urged to contact police.” The area was sealed off for further investigation after the incident took place. It occurred on a busy road in broad daylight, only 200 yards from numerous shops and cafes. Family friend, Abdul Asker, told The Yorkshire Post: “We’re stunned by his sudden death, which is very sad news for the whole community here.” “Hopefully the people who did this will be brought to justice.” This was the second of two shootings this week following the incident last Monday evening which left a 25-year-old man
Image taken from The Sun seriously injured. The victim was shot in the chest on Butterthwaite Road, Shiregreen at around 7.30pm. He was rushed
to hospital and is now in a stable condition. No arrests have yet been made. If you have any information on
either of these incidents, call South Yorkshire Police on 101.
Volunteers needed to More student help salmon population accomodation... Jessica Green News Contributor
Josh Peachey News Editor Cleaners are casting out the net to catch new volunteers to help clear the River Don and allow the salmon population to return after 150 years. Over 100 people have already helped clear some of the rubbish dumped on the River Don over the last year but more volunteers are wanted to help tidy up the waterway and its banks. The purpose of the large cleanup operation is to create what will be known as the Don Valley Way Heritage Trail, which will stretch 29 miles between Sheffield and Doncaster. Fish passes, which almost resemble steps up the river, are being built to help the salmon navigate along the route and the Don Rivers Trust are hoping that the fish will soon be leaping upstream through Sheffield. The whole project is part of a
£1.4m three-year Lottery funded scheme by the Don Catchment Rivers Trust, which aims to improve the once heavily polluted river and attract more wildlife and walkers to follow its path. Rachel Walker, the trust’s community engagement officer, said that they have also been getting schoolchildren involved as ‘River Guardians’, who have created artwork to decorate the more neglected spots along the riverside.
Rachel told the Sheffield Star: “It’s not just about cleaning up the river. It’s about getting people to take pride in the Don and to stop dropping litter in the river.” According to the Yorkshire Post: “The River Don is an environmental success story. Back in the 1970s it was riddled with pollution and now fish are successfully breeding.” Upcoming clean-ups along the Don include litter picks in Doncaster on March 14 and 15, and in Rotherham on March 18.
Plans for a new student accommodation complex to be built near the Arts Tower have been approved. The 16-storey student block will house up to 250 students and include a gym, library, common room and cinema. Locate Developments now has permission from Sheffield City Council to knock down the Star and Garter pub along with a neighbouring restaurant on Winter Street, to make way for the new build. The plans have divided opinion within the student community. Third year Journalism student, Matthew Drew, 22, said: “Why not, I suppose? New developments are always going to cause friction but we need housing.” He added: “Maybe the Arts Tower won’t stand out as much if you’re looking at it with new flats in your view but that’s hardly the biggest disaster in the world.”
However, third year History and Politics student, Sarah Davidson, 21, said: “It sounds like a truly horrid idea.” She added: “To create such an eye sore near the Arts Tower could diminish its ability to stand out.” There were 38 letters of objection from members of the public, which included worries about overlooking and the impact it would have on the Arts Tower, a Grade 2 listed building. The Council have said that they expect students who lived in the accommodation to have no use for cars. As such the residents’ parking scheme currently in place in the area will not be made eligible to students.
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Schools to celebrate
LGBT+ History Month Elizabeth Day News Contributor
•• Sheffield’s educational institutions to become safe spaces for LGBT+ people. •• LGBT+ History Month events begin on Friday 24 February Sheffield City Council passed the motion to promote LGBT+ History Month within local schools, in a meeting on February 2. Sheffield’s educational institutions are now set to become safe spaces for all LGBT+ people, after the Council spoke of their moral obligation to LGBT+ issues. This initiative supports Jeremy Corbyn’s proposal for changes in the national curriculum, so it includes LGBT+ History Month and the education of other gay issues. Sheffield City Council also called for the government to issue a formal
apology to all gay men who were criminalised for being homosexual under restrictive sex laws. The idea to include LGBT+ History Month came from LGBT+ organisation ‘School’s Out’ which focuses on the issues LGBT people who work in education face. Throughout February, activities will be taking place all over the country to celebrate and raise awareness about LGBT+ issues. Recently, the government announced the Alan Turing bill, whereby thousands of gay and bisexual men would be posthumously pardoned for past sexual offences in England and Wales. This cleared 49,000 men of gross indecency crimes that do not apply today. Those who are alive who were also convicted of the same sexual offences will have to make an application for a pardon rather than automatically receiving a pardon. LGBT+ organisations in Sheffield are inviting people to join them to celebrate the month and the 50th anniversary of the
partial decriminalisation of male homosexuality in England and Wales, commencing on February 24. The Friends of Edward Carpenter (FOEC) group along with young people’s charity, The Sheena Amos Youth Trust (SAYiT) and Museums Sheffield, have organised events. Events will be held in the Millennium Gallery, Arundel Gate on Friday 24 and Saturday 25, and Hallam University HUBS, Paternoster Row on Sunday 26 February. The events start at the Millennium Gallery with a tea and cake reception hosted by MasterChef semi-finalist, Chris Hale. Rotherham born writer and author of the self-help manual, ‘How to be a Happy Homosexual’ Terry Sanderson will be signing copies of his latest memoir on the campaign in South Yorkshire during the 1970s for gay rights.
SU secures Saturday night late night bus student service Josh Peachey News Editor A new late night bus service has been launched to help students get home from the SU after PopTarts. From 12 March, First Buses will be running two late night services on a Saturday night into Sunday morning. SU President Dom Trendall suggested the initiative to Sheffield City Council and First
Buses, with the aim of providing a safe, cheap, and easy way for students to get home after a night out. Last November, students were asked to fill out a survey titled ‘Late Night Bus Service for Club Nights - where do you live?’ and after 500 responses, the SU secured the new service with First Buses. Speaking of the scheme, Dom
said, “This is another example of how the SU stands up for students and can have a real and tangible impact on their lives. Our proposal for a night bus was based on feedback from students, with a route that works for as many students as possible and with student safety in mind. Our lobbying around bus fares, routes and safety issues will mean that students now have another cheap and safe way to get home after a night out, and we hope to expand this further in the future.” The 952 service will run from the city centre, picking up outside the Students’ Union and running up to Endcliffe, Crookes, and Hillsborough. There will be a number of drop-off points along the way including Brocco Bank, Endcliffe Vale Road, Crookes Road and Walkley Lane. The service will pick up outside the Union at 2.35am and 3.35am. Normal fares will apply with student tickets at £1 and weekly and term tickets will also be valid.
NEWS
SCIENCE & TECH Creation of new species related to fragrance Jason Fotopoulos News Contributor Scent may be as important to new species development as natural section, a study has found. The18 year study by researchers from the University of Sheffield and Royal Holloway, University of London have discovered that scent plays an important role in the formation of new species. The formation of new species relies on the preservation of differences between current species. Over time, random mutations can result in an entirely new species. Natural selection was previously
thought to be responsible for this, however the new data suggests it is not the only factor. Using stick insects, whose survival relies on camouflage, the researchers studied how the insects distinguished between members of their own species and those of another. The stick insects mated only with members of their own species by identifying the scent created by chemicals on the skin. The scent is more similar amongst members of the same species,ensuring that populations remain genetically distinct and over time can form new species.
Sheffield medics benefit from community work Jason Fotopoulos News Contributor A new project led by the Dean of Medical Education at the University of Sheffield, Deborah MurdochEaton, gives medical students the opportunity to engage with the community. Through volunteering projects across the South Yorkshire region, students are able to develop skills that other parts of the course did not cover. From working on farms that help children with learning difficulties to boxing clubs that help deter children from getting caught up
in antisocial behaviour, the future doctors made wider reaching impacts than the individual level which they were used to. However, the benefit was not limited to the students. The charities and organisations also benefited from their work with some students designing and creating new resources for their placements such as websites or promotional videos. The project has highlighted the importance of social accountability not only of doctors but for everyone, and has shown the real potential of engaging with the community.
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The Night Sheffield Science and Kitchen to close Engineering Festival 2017 Lisa Latham Head of News Popular student party venue The Night Kitchen (TNK) will be permanently closing its doors after June 2017. The venue on Smithfield Street, originally the site of a cutlery factory, will be closed to make way for a redevelopment of the area. In a statement released on Facebook, TNK management said: “Today is a sad day. It’s a sad day as we must announce that after summer we will be putting our cooking utensils down, turning off the ovens and closing the kitchen for good. The Night Kitchen may not be perfect, it’s a little rough around the edges and things aren’t always the way they should be, but there’s one thing for sure and that is that it’s got character. Character and charm, coupled with the memories we have here will make it a sad place to see go.” The Night Kitchen has seen
“The team behind the madness have already begun laying plans for the next adventure...” three years of success and received recognition as a top UK night out and significant character in Sheffield’s nightlife on two separate occasions by The Guardian. It has hosted sets from a variety of genres and attracted artists such as Daniel Avery, Paranoid London, Jackmaster, DJ EZ, Helena Hauff, Nightmares on Wax, Slimzee, Plastician, Gilles Peterson and more. The venue will host its final events on Friday 9 and Saturday 10 June, and have invited musical artists including Off Me Nut Records to host the closing celebrations. Members of TNK management said: “It’s going to be emotional,
but it’s going to a wicked night. We’ll be bringing the core spirit of TNK alive, even more dark corners, winding corridors and hidden surprises for clubbers to get lost in at every turn, one for the history books.” Tickets to visit the venue before it closes are in high demand, with the first release tickets for the Friday event of the closing weekend selling out in under an hour and the first three releases for TNK’s 3rd Birthday on 18 March selling out in a day. However the team behind TNK are already planning future events, writing on Facebook that “the team behind the madness have already begun laying plans for the next adventure”. The venue, formerly the site of club night Dirty Little Secret, was created by charity organisations Party for the People and Creative Arts Development Space (CADS) in 2013. Owners attribute the success of TNK to the team that helped create it, and said to Forge Press: “We have to give a big thanks to all the friends we’ve made while doing what we do, the team behind the scenes, artists, promoters and of course the people who buy tickets and come to the events. Without all of them we wouldn’t of been able to create what we have.” The creators of TNK drew inspiration from a 1970 children’s book, In the Night Kitchen, by author and illustrator Maurice Sendak and enlisted the help of artist Joseph Adams to transform the space to a unique and creative environment. Sculptures and artistic pieces were created by various volunteer groups to create and maintain a theme of imagination and fantasy which thoroughly utilises the interlinking courtyards, corridors and club rooms within the venue.
Lisa Latham innovative exhibitions and worldHead of News leading research to the city. The festival’s launch event ‘The •• Festival launches on Incredible Unlikeliness of Being’ March 5 will be delivered on March 5 by scientist Professor Alice Roberts •• Events include tours, and will explore the evolutionary talks, exhibitions, history of humans. Further events activities and beer will include talks, exhibitions, hands-on activities, tours and even tasting beer tasting. The Sheffield Science and A key component of the Engineering Festival 2017 begins festival is its schools programme, in March with over 50 free public during which researchers from events taking place throughout the both universities and partner month. organisations will visit over 100 The University of Sheffield and schools in South Yorkshire and Sheffield Hallam have collaborated deliver over 200 free talks and with local museums, schools, activities to pupils. industry and commerce to bring The festival coincides with British
Science Week which will run from March 10 to 19, promoting the pursuit of scientific research and encouraging members of the public to engage with science. During the week, school children will be given the theme ‘Change’ and will be encouraged to consider changes from around the world, for example in climate, environment and energy use. It is also a chance for young people to consider the changes they can enact to have a positive impact on the future. The festival’s public programme has been given the theme ‘Making’, taking inspiration from Sheffield’s Year of Making 2016, which celebrated aspects of ‘making’ from advanced manufacturing to international art and design. Dr Katherine Rawlinson, one of Sheffield Hallam’s lead organisers, said: “This year’s festival is the biggest so far and we are very excited about the range of events open to everyone in Sheffield and the region. “Alice Roberts’ event is one of the early highlights of the festival and we hope that by the end of the festival, people of all ages and backgrounds will have learned or discovered something that fascinates them.” The festival is held every two years. In 2015, around 6,600 people attended the public programmes.
Sheffield one of the dirtiest places in the UK Hope Cunningham News Editor With 12,000 incidents of fly-tipping last year, Sheffield has been named one of the UK’s dirtiest places with City Council workers dealing with 33 cases of illegal dumping each day. The ITV study puts the city among the top 20 worst places in Britain for fly-tipping and also includes Leeds, Bradford and other Yorkshire cities. It was revealed last November, that Sheffield Council had issued just four penalty charge notice to fly-tippers under tough new laws. The Government also bought in new legislative power last summer
which allows councils to hand out fixed penalty notices for smallscale fly-tipping offences. In total, 18 fines for fly-tipping have been issued. Fly-tipping is the illegal deposit of waste on land and differs from littering in that it involves the removal of waste from premises where it was produced with the deliberate aim of disposing of it unlawfully. Fly-tipping is illegal and offenders can face unlimited fines and up to five years in jail if convicted in court. Many city councils are dealing with around 50 to 100 incidents a day and can spend £50 million on dealing with the problem. Allison Ogden-Newton of Keep
Britain Tidy said: “Fly-tipping is an epidemic. It’s reached crisis levels and something needs to be done about it.” “Local authorities are overwhelmed with instances of criminal fly-tipping and we need to address this urgently.”
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Students rally against rising fees Joe Davies News Contributor On Wednesday 15 February, students from the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam took to the streets to rally against the proposed rise in tuition fees for both universities. This is the latest in a series of collective student expressions of discontent with fee rises under the Teaching for Excellence Framework (TEF). The rally, organised by the Free University of Sheffield in partnership with Hallam Union, was attended by the former leader of the Green Party and candidate for Sheffield Central seat, Natalie Bennett. Speaking to Forge Press, she said: “I think the rally was an important step in building awareness of the potential damage being done by the Teaching Excellence Framework, which students have recognised is chiefly a mechanism for further raising our already sky-high tuition fees that are leaving students with three decades of debt that most will never pay back. “The Government justification for introducing it claimed that
Robots
students were dissatisfied with their courses, which significant numbers are. However they are dissatisfied with the value for money of their course, which is of course decided by the government. “The National Union of Students has recognised the trap, and rightly called for a boycott of the National Student Survey.” In a statement on Bennett’s personal site, she said members and supporters of Free University of Sheffield “agreed that students across Sheffield should be encouraged to sign the pledge to boycott the NSS”. This decision was made in line with calls from the NUS, as well
as the University of Sheffield Student Union’s ‘Shef Better Than TEF’ campaign, to boycott the National Student Survey. The aim of the boycott is to express students’ disagreement with the Government’s TEF legislation, and prevent it from gaining the data it needs to be implemented. Luke Renwick, SHSU Student Officer, told Forge that there were some issues raised at the rally about how the boycott may prevent students providing course feedback and damage relationships between Unions and Universities. Additionally, £3 goes to the student mental health charity “Student Minds” for every person that fills
out the survey. In response, Renwick said that students can give feedback via the course rep system and module evaluations, and that the Hallam Union will pay £1 for everyone who signs the pledge to boycott the survey. In regards to the issue of the Union’s relationship with the University, Renwick said that: “The University not listening to students’ concerns about the TEF in the first place shows that the relationship is not a true partnership. By taking boycott action, we are showing the University that we can still maintain relative autonomy, not be pushed over, and still represent the
Sheffield cancer cure research receives £4.5m investment Rachael Bunyan News Editor
•• £4.5m investment to provide innovations in treatment and care. •• Strategy to improve survival rates in Yorkshire patients by 2025 Patients suffering from cancer in Sheffield are set to benefit from a
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£4.5 million research programme investment from Yorkshire Cancer Research. The investment will provide the latest innovations in treatment and care for cancer patients and is expected to attract further investment in cancer research in Sheffield. Yorkshire Cancer Research, the UK largest regional medical research charity, will collaborate with the University of Sheffield
Professor Chris Newman, Dr Kathryn Scott, Dr Jonathan Wadsley and Rob Coleman, Professor of Medical Oncology
and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to improve cancer outcomes in the region by combining scientific and technological developments. The £4.5 million investment will fund the appointment of 10 of the country’s most promising researchers and cancer specialists to fight against cancer. The appointments will be made over the next three years and each research programme will run for five years. Robert Coleman, Professor of Medical Oncology at the University of Sheffield, is leading the programme. The focus is on four strategic areas of curing cancer which include focusing on improving early diagnosis; carrying out clinical trials; improving the health and wellbeing of patients; and improving the access to treatment in order to address health inequalities. Professor Coleman has said “This major investment by Yorkshire Cancer Research means that Sheffield can continue to pioneer new treatments to give cancer
patients a brighter future. “Cancer will affect one in two of us in our lifetime, but our ground breaking research means that patients in our region benefit from revolutionary treatments.” Professor Chris Newman, Faculty Director of Research at the University of Sheffield, said: “We are delighted to be entering into this major strategic partnership with Yorkshire Cancer Research. This generous funding will help us to attract the next generation of world class cancer researchers to Sheffield. “These new researchers will accelerate our programmes to develop and implement new treatments to benefit patients in our region but of course also more widely.” The investment is part of a 10 year strategy launched by Yorkshire Cancer Research to ensure 2,000 more people living in Yorkshire survive cancer every year by 2025.
New robots are to set ‘foot’ on the world’s pavements. Starship Technologies, an Estonian company, has created a suitcasesized robot which has six wheels, is able to travel up to 6kph and holds 10 kg of cargo. The robot navigates using cameras and ultrasonic sensors but for tricky manoeuvres such as crossing roads a remote can take control. It’s questionable whether this could make commuting more convenient or a nightmare in cities.
Partially-sighted people who like apps An iPhone app has been released called ‘Be My Eyes’ with the aim of helping blind people to ‘see’. The app makes a live video connection from a blind person’s iPhone to a sighted volunteer’s iPhone. The volunteer is then able to answer any questions the blind person has about everyday tasks such as knowing the expiry date of milk. Vicky, a user of the app has said that it has enabled her and her
Forge Follows the Fornight... Victims of Travel Ban A British Muslim school teacher travelling to New York last week as part of a school trip was denied entry to the United States. Juhel Miah, despite having valid visa documentation was removed from the plane by security personnel. This comes a week after the US appeals court had upheld a decision to suspend Donald Trump’s Muslim travel ban.
Lovestruck Britons Britons are losing around £40m a year to dating-site con artists according to The Economist. Six out of ten victims are women and two-thirds are between the ages of 40 and 69. Most of the fraudsters are part of organised gangs in West Africa or eastern Europe although few are identified or caught.
BAD WEEK FOR