Forge Press - December Edition - 04/12/2023

Sport

Opinion

Music

Does English football have a worrying gambling problem?

Has student housing gotten better or worse?

Our contributors picks for best album of the year...

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Forge Press MONDAY 4th DECEMBER 2023

Students raise over £65K for Movember Robin Hibbs (he/him) Students at the University of Sheffield have raised over £67,000 for Movember, smashing their initial goal and last year's record.

The total raised this year, surpassed the university’s initial target of £50,000 and then extended target of £65,000.

To raise money for the charity, students have been growing moustaches, ‘moving for Movember’, and fundraising in their own challenges.

Last year, the university raised £49,978.

Movember is a charity that raises awareness for men’s mental health, suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer.

On the leaderboard, the Sheffield University Cricket Club are currently the team who have so far managed to raise the most money at £18,606.

Harry Tuvey, one of this year's Movember ambassadors said: “It’s an absolute delight to have smashed our £50,000 and £65,000 targets and now push onto over £67,000.”

“We are incredibly proud and thankful to everyone who has got involved! Every effort, little or large, has played a massive part in the university’s fantastic effort this Movember.”

“The leaderboards don’t close until the 11th of December, so there is still more than enough time to get involved.”

For more information visit uk.movember.com.

THE UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER

FORGEPRESS.ORG

"Over my dead body"

• EXCLUSIVE: Education Vice President denies claims that new school restructure is an attempt to quietly close unpopular courses

George Devo The university’s Vice President of Education, Mary Vincent, has reassured students studying “unfashionable” degrees that their course will not be closed as a result of the institution's new restructure.

This comes after some critics of the University’s new project turned, in Vincent’s view, “rather conspiratorial”.

It was suggested that the proposed mergers of

individual departments into fewer, larger schools would allow for a less public way of axing less popular courses.

Speaking anonymously to Forge Press, a member of staff at the University backed the theory.

“It makes sense. After the closure of archaeology, there was a massive PR nightmare [for the University]”.

He agrees that in the new structure, you could perform a similar closure with less publicity. Instead of axing an entire subject-focused,

individual department, it would be seen as “just a programme” shutting down.

In an exclusive interview with Forge, Vincent quickly dismissed this accusation.

She said: “The University has an absolute commitment to retain all the disciplines we currently teach, so we will not be closing things surreptitiously.

Speaking personally, over my dead body [will those courses close]."

Full story inside

Scan me to get involved

02

Forge Press

Letter From The Editor Hello everyone,

FORGE PRESS EDITORIAL TEAM ALL CONTACT DETAILS AT FORGEPRESS.ORG Editor-in-Chief Charlie Fenton Deputy Editor Shakthi Thyagarajan Deputy Editor Hannah Auld Head of Socials & Advertising Chloe Scofield Inclusions & Welfare Officer Caillin McDaid Head of Design Hannah Hodgetts Head of Photography Gana Ming Secretary/Social Secretary Rebbeca Symns-Rowley Head of News George Devo News Editor Amelie Cox News Editor Luke Hand News Editor Holly Openshaw News Reporter Robin Hibbs Feature Editor Alex Simpson Feature Editor Dimitra Koutouzi Opinion Editor Maximilian Jenz Opinion Editor Elodie Soal Science & Tech Editor Charlotte Clowes Science & Tech Editor Rebecca Dawes Break Editor Freya Ingram Lifestyle Editor Emily Duff Lifestyle Editor Simone Chuah Arts & Theatre Editor Lucy Riddell Arts & Theatre Editor Sophie Layton Music Editor Joey Grindrod Music Editor Aimie Gillan Screen Editor Charlie Wright Screen Editor Livia Gregor Games Editor Ornella Bressan Games Editor Aaron Byrne Head of Sport Katy Roberts Sport Editor Adam Hulme-Thomas Sport Editor Lewis Railton Multimedia Editor Benedict Hobbs Deputy Head of Advertising Katie Swain Social Media Assistant Mae Campbell Social Media Assistant Madison Rolfe Website Manager Gana Ming

Forge Press is brought to you alongside Forge Media.

Interested in TV or Radio?

Scan the QR code on our front page!

As semester one draws to a close, I think it’s only fair to stop for a moment and look back at the previous 10 weeks. There has been lots that has happened within that time frame.

You should be proud for how far you have come, but if it ever does get too much the university is always one web search or phone call away.

As Editor-in-Chief of our esteemed student newspaper, it is to my delight we present you with our final issue of the year. Inside you will find a vast variety of content. We really hope you enjoy.

The big item on agenda in this issue is our fiery exclusive interview with Professor Mary Vincent tackling the “conspiracy” that smaller courses will be closed with the new school restructure.

My top picks for this month, alongside the exclusive, are sport’s opinion piece covering football’s gambling issue, music’s ‘albums of the year’, and science and tech’s ‘the science of hangovers’.

Society Spotlight can also be found within but this time sitting within the features section.

We would also like to say a huge thankyou to all the contributors who have written for Forge this semester. You have done a grand job. Thank you for getting involved and we hope you continue writing next semester!

On another note, we now have four new newspaper bins around campus where you can pick up a copy.

You can find three within The Wave building located at the reception, the café, and next to the journalism department. We also have installed one at the Diamond café too.

Do check us out on social media @forgepress on all platforms.

From me and the team over at forge press, enjoy your well-deserved winter break.

All the best,

Charlie Fenton Editor-in-Chief

Monday 4 December 2023

03

!"#$

Students campaign to win rights for refugees Page 7 $*+"!*",-,'"*.

The Science of Hangovers – How to survive the holiday period Page 13 %"&'()"$ Turning away from technology: The comeback of vinyl and CDs Page 11 /+%"$'0/" Reducing Festive Fashion Waste, Regardless of Your Budget Page 16 $*)""!

The BIG picture Picture taken of a merry-go-round at the Sheffield Christmas markets by Varun Gangalam in collaboration with the Photography Society.

Saltburn review: Depravity at its finest, though a little smug "Crowds of people are silhouetted in front of the merry-go-round in the Christmas Market. None of my friends share this opinion with me, but I have always loved how early it gets dark around this time of year. It makes cities feel more lively since people are still outside going about their days with some added festive energy."

- Varun Follow our social media for more opportunities to get your picture printed on Forge Press in our next edition!

Page 26 1&2"$ Let’s Build A Zoo: Indie Review

Page 29 $34)' Goodwin gym is better than ever before

Page 30 Front page image credit: BMT/Marshall Mateer Siu Ho Tung

04

Forge Press

News

EXCLUSIVE: University's Vice President for Education rejects claim that new restructure is attempt to quietly close unpopular courses George Devo

T

he University’s Vice-President for Education, Mary Vicent, has reassured students studying, in her words, “unfashionable” degrees that their course will not be closed as a result of the institution's new restructure.

This comes after some critics of the University’s new project turned, in Vincent’s view, “rather conspiratorial”.

With it being suggested that the proposed mergers of individual departments into fewer, larger schools would allow for a less public way of axing less popular courses.

Speaking anonymously to Forge Press, a member of staff at the University backed the theory: “It makes sense. After the closure of archaeology, there was a massive PR nightmare [for the University]”.

He agrees that in the new structure, you could perform a similar closure with less publicity. Instead of axing an entire subject-focused, individual department, it would be seen as “just a programme” shutting down.

In an exclusive interview with Forge, Vincent quickly dismissed this accusation.

She said: “The University has an absolute commitment to retain all the disciplines

we currently teach, so we will not be closing courses surreptitiously.

Speaking personally, over my dead body [will those courses close]. We’re a Russell Group institution, we teach a wide range of disciplines.”

She also questions the logic of her critics, noting that the less popular subjects are often “really cheap”, because “you can teach them in a room with a piece of chalk.”

“Of course we want people to come here to study chemical engineering and medicine, but they cost an awful lot of money to teach.

So why would we close subjects that it takes very little money to teach? It’s mad.”

"

We will not be closing courses surreptitiously The University is currently made of forty-two separate departments, who each have administrative responsibility for the teaching of their subject. The proposed restructure would see multiple similar disciplines fit into, and be managed by, the same school.

The shift will be completed in phases over the next two years, and finished in time for the start of the 2025/26

Credit: Forge Press

academic year.

Vincent argues these changes will improve how the University functions and will deliver a better service for students.

She describes the current model as a “patchwork” system, which is “an impediment on delivering a consistently excellent student experience.”

In her view, the current system leads to students studying in smaller departments and those on joint-honours courses not receiving the same level of service from the University as their peers.

She observes that departments “vary greatly” in size - the largest having 2,821 students and the smallest only 82 - meaning there are varying “levels of resources” between them, leading to some students missing out on the same services that are provided in the larger departments.

“I have always found that uncomfortable. Students all pay the same fee and study at the same university. They should have an equitable experience.”

"

I can absolutely say we will listen to and take onboard all academic feedback.

As for joint-honours students, they are “receiving the same service, delivered in different ways under different names under two departments. That’s difficult.”

She believes academics will also benefit as “you will get more synergies between departments, as there will be more mingling and intermixing.”

The proposals, drawn up by the University Executive Board (UEB), are currently undergoing a consultation period that began in early October. The UEB will ask the University’s Senate - the academic authority of the institution - to vote through

Credit: University website

the plans in mid-December.

This timeline has further angered some critics, with Sheffield’s branch of the UCU - the University and College Union which represents all higher education staff - stating that the plans are “being pursued with a reckless degree of haste”, arguing that the consultation process should be more exhaustive.

In response, Vincent notes that the University is a “huge institution”, so involving all parties from the start of the planning process would have simply taken too long.

She references the old joke about problem solving in higher education: “If you have three-thousand academics, you have threethousand experts and three-thousand different opinions.”

She admits this is “obviously a caricature”, but states that a longer, more exhaustive consultation with every academic at Sheffield would result in “a lot of different ideas about what should happen”.

The University management’s approach of internally drawing up a set of proposals, then later sharing them for consultation allowed for “making headway faster”.

She is keen to stress the importance of the consultation process for the

UEB, and that they are not trying to force these changes through.

“I can absolutely say we will listen to and take onboard all academic feedback.

The proposal is undergoing engagement and consultation, there will be some changes to the recommendations that go to the senate. I’m absolutely sure of that.”

She stresses there is “an awful lot of work going on” to reach an agreeable outcome.

The President of the Students’ Union, Lily Byrne, emphasised the importance of students in the restructure.

“We are working to ensure that student voice is embedded across the entire University and at the heart of the restructure, regardless of the outcome.

We want to support and encourage students' to get involved and contribute in any way they can, whether that be through our Academic or Liberation forums, or Student Staff Committees.

Your past experiences, opinions, questions, and suggestions should be taken into consideration every step of the way.”

More information about the changes and the project's future can be found on the university website.

Monday 4 December 2023

05

News

Neck guards made mandatory in Student protestors warned over behaviour university ice hockey following Wave stunt

Katy Roberts (she/her)

F

ollowing the death of Adam Johnson, ice hockey safety measures including neck and mouth guards will be made compulsory for players at universities across Britain.

The changes, announced in early November by the British Universities Ice Hockey Association (BUIHA), legally came into effect on 1 December 2023.

The delay is included to allow time for clubs to purchase any new equipment they require.

In an online statement, the association said: “The BUIHA is currently in the process of working with clubs to ensure that the expedited deadline can be met. We have procured a small number of neck guards and are in the process of searching markets overseas to increase our provision.

“In addition, the BUIHA Support Team will again be reaching out in the coming days both to offer additional help on supporting clubs with welfare direction and to

Javier Tucker (he/him)

Credit: Sheffield Varsity Facebook ensure the above information is received and understood.”

In addition to the guards, players will have to wear a visor that covers at least half of their faces.

The regulations apply to both competitions and training.

For students at the University of Sheffield, this means that next year’s Varsity will feature mandatory neck guards in the iconic ice hockey fixture for the first time.

The new regulations come shortly after Nottingham Panthers player Adam Johnson was killed on 28 October, after his neck was cut by an ice skate at Sheffield Utilita Arena.

Sheffield coroner Tanyka Rawden released a

prevention of future deaths report earlier this week, in which she expressed her concern that neck guards are not mandatory for over18s under International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) regulations.

Addressing the report to Ice Hockey UK and the EIHA, she stated: “In my opinion there is a risk that future deaths will occur unless action is taken.

“In due course the inquest will consider whether the use of a neck guard or protector could have prevented Mr Johnson’s death.

“At this stage in my investigation however, I am sufficiently concerned that deaths may occur in the future if neck guards or protectors are not worn."

The University of Sheffield has released a statement warning students of the potential action they could face if they misbehave at protests.

It comes after proPalestine students occupied The Wave in protest of the university’s ties with companies in the arms trade.

They also called for an immediate ceasefire in the Israel/Gaza conflict.

The statement from the university said: “We want to remind our students of the behaviour expectations

around protests and that racism, antisemitism, islamophobia or support for proscribed organisations are against the law.”

“We understand the issue surrounding the conflict in Israel/Gaza but it affects many different groups of people – including our students, staff, and alumni.”

“We encourage students with concerns to seek support from university support services.”

Information on behaviour expectations can be found on the university website, as can support services if you've been affected by the conflict.

Credit: Murphy Walton

SU’s Our Shop and Bar One “forced” into raising prices by up to 77% since 2020 Robin Hibbs (he/him) Prices in the Students’ Union have increased after facing a cost price spike over the past three years.

Since 2020, meal deal prices in the Students’ Union ‘Our Shop’ have gone up as much as £1 and pints in Bar One have risen by up to 80p.

Anna Campbell, the Activities and Development Officer at the Students’ Union, said cost price increases have forced the SU to increase retail prices across their outlets, but they are constantly trying to negotiate improved deals with suppliers.

She added: “It’s tricky, but we do what we can to balance offering good value with generating money to

reinvest. Every penny spent in our outlets funds support, activity, and facilities for students.”

"

It's a fine balancing act between offering value for students and maintaining a margin Our Shop’s Tiffin meal deal now costs £4.50 instead of its previous £3.50 price tag, and their ‘Sandwich King’ meal deal has gone up from £3.00 to £3.50.

The Bakery Deal, which includes a hot drink and pastry, has increased from £2.00 to £3.00.

Richard Wain, the outlet

manager of Our Shop, said the store has “worked hard” to keep prices the same where possible but has been “forced” to raise some due to these cost price increases.

He added: “It's a fine balancing act between trying to offer value for students and maintaining a margin to enable the budgeted bottom line contribution back into the SU.” Since 2020, ‘Our Shop’ has had the cost price of their sandwiches go up by as much as 31 percent. The average cost price of milk has gone up by 77%.

The price of drinks in Bar One have also increased since 2020, some as much as £1 a pint, yet some are cheaper than in years.

For example, Rosie’s

Raspberry Cider has been replaced by Liley’s Mango cider, which is £1 more expensive, and Strongbow Dark Fruits has been replaced

by Thatcher’s Fusion, which is 80p more expensive.

Guinness, Carling, Black and Gold Ale, and bottled Kopparberg and Peroni, are also now all 50p more

expensive.

However, BrewDog Punk IPA has been replaced by BrewDog Wingman IPA, which is 75p cheaper - and Orchard Thieves has been replaced by Thatcher’s Gold, saving 70p. The price of Amstel in Bar One has even gone down by a penny since 2020, from £3.00 to £2.99.

Credit: SU website

06

Forge Press

News

University of Sheffield told student to “watch videos” to help deal with sexual assault trauma Gana Ming (she/her)

A

20-year-old female student, whose name was lifted due to legal consideration, was told by her university to watch prerecorded trauma-dealing videos and that going to the police wouldn’t result in any action after being sexually assaulted.

The female student from the University of Sheffield was inappropriately touched by an alleged ‘friend’ of hers in January 2023.

The victim met the perpetrator, a 26-year-old man, through a Students’ Union society.

The event occurred at his apartment after the man offered to walk the girl back home after a night out with a group of friends.

Once there, he offered a back massage as he told her he did this with all his friends.

She trusted him as she thought they were friends until the 26-year-old started touching her inappropriately from her bottom and tried to undress her.

Recalling the event the student said: “I was scared and I just thought if I am

asleep, he wouldn’t do anything because I am unconscious, that would be sexual assault, I thought that would make him stop, but it didn’t.

“He knew I was unconscious. I was awake for the whole time and shaking in fear, I could feel his breath on my neck, it was so terrifying.”

"

There should be more support, you can't just hang me out to dry.

The female student contacted the University for help and support after three weeks.

During her session, she said the University’s Student Welfare Team told her: “You can report it to the police if it makes you feel better but realistically, there is almost no chance that anything would happen to him.”

The victim said: “I understand that they wanted me to set my expectations low but the consistency of them emphasising it won’t make any changes, suggesting me not to report it and think realistically made me feel like nothing could be

done for me to be safe and I would never get myself back.

“I was hopeless, thinking I had to keep living in fear of seeing him, I was so frustrated and angry that I resorted to self-harm.”

The Welfare team at the University of Sheffield told her to try the following methods: • Download the SafeZone App • Report to the police • Talk to the Faculty Wellbeing Advisor (with only three advisors in the entire social science faculty) • Contact the Student Mental Health, Counselling and Therapies Service (It is required to take five steps before an appointment) • Watch an online prerecorded learning retreat on YouTube called 'How do we heal from Trauma?'

• Talk to a University Health Service GP “My problem with them is that you have someone who is severely depressed because of sexual assault, and telling her to sign up a form and be on a waiting list is ridiculous,” said the female student.

Credit: Pixabay After waiting for almost a month, the 20-year-old finally talked to her Faculty Wellbeing advisor, who was really helpful, according to her.

She said: “There should be more staff to take care of students’ wellbeing, and there should be more support, you can’t just hang me out to dry.”

In a comment from the University of Sheffield, they said: “The safety of our students is very important to us and we are committed to making our University a safe place to study, work and live.

“We take a victim-led approach to sexual assault cases and ensure that all students have access to appropriate support, which

includes listening to what action the victim wants us to take.

“Receiving feedback from our students is important in helping us ensure our services are meeting their needs and expectations and we encourage our students to let us know if they have any concerns to help us improve.”

The 20-year-old said: “I feel I am over it now, but I fear for other people, who tried to get support and never got any, all these girls who have to deal with this by themselves.”

If you are affected by the issue raised in this article, or need wider support, you can contact the SAMARITANS any time, at 116 123.

Most red meat to stop being sold in Students' Union following Council vote George Devo The sale of most red meat in the Students’ Union (SU) has been banned as part of the drive for greater sustainability by the SU Council.

The Council, the body which decides policy for the SU, approved the move on the 9th November, with 28 members voting in favour, 11 against and 1 abstaining.

The ban applies to all red meats except pork, meaning student favourites like steak

and cornish pasties will eventually stop being sold by Union outlets.

Council approval means the SU is required to work towards the policy, but there’s no exact deadline for it coming into effect.

The SU’s welfare and sustainability officer, Jo Campling, argues the move is necessary due to the environmental consequences of red meat production: “There are a vast number of studies showing the range

of negative impacts that red meat has on the environment - from it taking 100 times more land to produce beef or lamb compared to a plant based caloric equivalent to emissions from livestock contributing between 12% and 18% to the global greenhouse gas emissions.

Adding: “The university has already stopped selling all red meat and I feel that we need to follow suit to keep to the ethical and sustainable policies the Students Union holds.”

The Council’s decision was not without controversy, with the debate preceding

the vote involving a number of dissenting voices.

"

student favourites like steak and cornish pasties will eventually stop being sold

Chukwunwike Edozie, the Law Department’s Councillor, opposed the move and explained his reasoning in comments to Forge: "I stand opposed to this policy not to disregard environmental action but

for the principle that active change for the better should be achieved through the willingness of the people, rather than the force of a ruler which only lasts as long as those rulers do.

He continued, “For our jobs are not to dictate the people's actions but rather to guide them in the direction of self-betterment and provide the necessary services towards this endeavour."

The SU Council holds monthly meetings which any student is allowed to attend.

Minutes recorded for the meetings can be accessed on the SU website.

Monday 4 December 2023

07

News

Students set to begin campaign for reguees' rights George Devo

A

group of students are embarking on a new, city-wide campaign to win greater rights for asylum seekers living in Sheffield.

They are split into two teams both fighting for different measures to be taken; the Lift The Ban and Free Travel Passes action groups. The former lobbying for asylum seekers to be allowed to work whilst their claims are processed and the latter for subsidised transport.

"

We're raising awareness of the reality of the situation for these people Organised in partnership with local charity ‘City of Sanctuary’, the project is part of the Student Union’s ‘ChangeLab’ scheme, which

provides students with the opportunity to lead community campaigns.

Set to begin in January, they’ve spent the Autumn term organising and devising strategy.

Maddie, a second-year History student, and Maeve, a first-year sociology student, are leading the Free Travel Passes group, and have a programme of postexam-season events lined up to raise awareness for their cause - anything from petitions and marches to giveaways and bake sales.

Maddie initially doubted whether cheaper transport was “really what these communities need”, but talking to refugees themselves converted her: “There was a lady whose three children were all put in separate schools in three different corners of Sheffield.

Often she had to choose between feeding them and sending them to school."

She notes this situation "wouldn't have happened" with free travel passes.

Maeve believes part of

Students invovled in the ChangeLab project their role is to challenge assumptions about this community.

She said: “I think many people have the misconception of refugees as drains on the state. However, they are forced into this position because they are not allowed to work.

“Part of what we’re working on is raising awareness of the reality of the situation for these people.”

Leading the Lift the Ban group, Liticia, a fourth year economics and Spanish student and Sofiya, in her third year of law, are preparing for a thorough, region-wide lobbying campaign.

University called on to make study space accessible George Devo The Students’ Union Council has called on the university to make all study spaces accessible for disabled students.

In their November council meeting, they voted for a motion which made clear their dissatisfaction with the current accessibility of campus’ study spaces: “Many disabled students, particularly autistic students, may find the sensory environment of existing study spaces difficult."

The Council identified a “lack of accessible study space” at the University, which, they believe, could “prevent some disabled students from studying on campus and impact their academic performance and wellbeing”.

Where possible they have

Their focus will be on interacting with local business, faith groups and the City’s influential figures; attempting to actively engage them in the campaign.

Liticia states that her drive comes from personal experience, being, herself, an immigrant from northern Italy: “I came to the UK six years ago and we struggled with integration, so I can relate to what asylum seekers and refugees are going through.”

Sofiya, whose parents both immigrated to Britain - her mother and father from Zambia and Barbados respectively - is similarly motivated:

Sheffield's new £99m ‘The Wave’ building officially opened Murphy Walton (he/him)

Credit: University of Sheffield Wesbite called for buildings to be modified so that all study areas can include enclosed sensory rooms. Where it isn’t they ask for libraries to make ear defenders and screen glare protectors available at request for disabled students.

In response, the University stressed their “on-going commitment to ensure our campus is inclusive and accessible for all”.

“The University Library service currently offers a

range of private and group assisted study spaces across campus bookable to those students, but we are always open to hearing feedback so we can work to ensure that our services are meeting student needs and expectations.

“We encourage our students with specific needs to get in touch with us through our Disability and Dyslexia Support Service, or the ‘AccessAble - UOS’ app."

“Growing up I witnessed my family and community going through similar struggles [to refugees].

Coming to the UK as a migrant and dealing with the legal, political and general stigma from people outside our community."

Anna Campbell, the SU’s Activities and Development Officer, praised the scheme in comments to Forge: “ChangeLab is an amazing opportunity for students to volunteer on projects that drive social change.

It’s a great way for students to broaden their understanding of the challenges facing their local community.”

The University of Sheffield’s £99m awardwinning Wave building received the grand formal opening, earlier this week.

The new home of the social sciences was opened via a cakecutting by guest speaker, Will Hutton, President of the Academy of Social Sciences.

The cake was baked by alumni and 2018 Bake Off winner Rahul Mandal.

Keith Lilley, former Director of Estates and Facilities Management, at the University of Sheffield, said: “The Wave is more than just a building for the university.

“The Wave is our first net

zero building as we work towards the whole University reaching this important milestone.”

Students have been able to use its stateof-the-art, multipurpose facilities since December of last year.

Laura Armitage, Faculty Estates & Infrastructure Manager at the University of Sheffield, said: “Colleagues at HLM Architects have understood and captured the ambitions of the Faculty and the Academic mission with pride and awareness for the impacts of the building on the legacy of the University and the wider city region.”

08

Forge Press

Opinion

Student housing: My house is crap, what about yours?

Timothy Meyer (he/him)

I

t’s that time of the year again: festivities happen, people come together, and joy is everywhere. No, not Christmas, but student house-hunting season.

Around now, non-final year students are looking for a home for their next year in Sheffield, and if you’re in that position and haven’t yet, you really should be. I’ve joined in: foolishly having decided to move in with eight other people next year, we’ve been looking high and low for a property that meets all of our demands (within so many walks from certain buildings, with so many bathrooms, bedrooms of a certain size, and so on) and organise it across nine people. I’ve seen the other side of the coin, helping out some friends that haven’t managed to find anyone beyond their group of two, and are struggling to find student housing at a reasonable rate - with differing expectations of reasonable. While browsing through a near-endless, and yet surprisingly limited, catalogue of properties you get a wide variety of quality: from the swanky newbuild

flats around Netherthorpe Road tram stop, to the much older run of converted houses in and around Crookesmoor, there should be something for everyone, at least before you look at the prices.

Students are big money: latest figures put UK university student counts at around 2 million, and each one of those needs a house - although not a house each.

As such, there’s plenty of money flowing into student housing, and plenty of money to be made from students, and you would think that student housing would have improved. Many areas in Sheffield have undergone, or perhaps suffered, studentification: the process where an area becomes more tailored towards students.

Studentification isn’t just to do with the physical properties, although that’s a big part, but also impacts the wider area, from what the local shops sell to local services like schools and GPs. With this process, you would’ve thought that student housing should be improving.

As one geography lecturer

jokes, even the simple fact of en-suite bathrooms has improved the university halls experience massively, although that’s not something many students, including myself, have. And while you would think that student housing has improved, the absolute state of some of the properties I’ve visited would make you change your mind.

Putting aside the mild filth that’s more the tenants than the wider trend - househunting and viewing has taught me that still today a lot of students are expected to live in cramped, almost overcrowded, conditions.

These are conditions that I think would be considered on the edge of acceptable if the tenants were families rather than students.

Still today, developers see students as tenants with lower requirements than non-students. In 2021, The Guardian reported on the University of California’s “Cube”, a windowless student housing block, with little natural light or ventilation for potential tenants. Conditions were comparable to the Industrial Revolution’s tenement

blocks and back-to-back houses, I believe no such proposal would get planning permission if the tenants weren’t students. Closer to home, although a decade ago, UCL’s New Hall student housing won the Carbuncle Cup, the architectural failure award for “prison-like” conditions, again reported

by The Guardian. The local authority, Islington Borough Council, did deny planning permission, a decision that was later overruled. The Planning Inspector said that the poor quality of the rooms was acceptable, as “the main use of the rooms is sleeping”, with day activities happening elsewhere at university. Personally, I find this ridiculous: are students’ homes only used for sleeping with the expectation of vacating during the day?

Would it be acceptable for a family home to have no natural light, as the occupiers should be busy from 9-to5 anyway? That sounds ridiculous: so why student housing is given a lower standard to be considered acceptable is a mystery.

All part of the ‘student experience’, I’m sure.

In fairness, these halls are bad enough to have made national - or international news, and most housing is a lot better. In the brief for this piece, I was told to talk about how student housing in Sheffield, in particular, is improving or deteriorating.

The emergence of swanky new developments all across the city tell me that student housing is getting better.

With increasing competition for students, standards will inevitably rise. This is good news: student housing standards fall well below that of non-student homes, so there’s no shortage of room for improvement. Although one has to be careful about just looking at the developments at face-value and making a judgement just on that. Many students live in converted terraces, and no glass-clad skyscraper is going to remove the mold off Victorian bricks.

My personal search for properties continues at speed, fully aware that the longer we leave it the less suitable properties are available, racing our fellow students to the best deal in the best location.

Monday 4 December 2023

09

Opinion

Zoom fare is a distraction from real public transport issues Jason Kambites (he/him)

F

or a student living in Endcliffe who makes two bus journeys each day, the Zoom fare increase represents an extra £147 over a 15-week semester - just shy of one week's rent.

That’s certainly a significant sum, but there is one problem with this analogy: living in Endcliffe myself, I know very few regular bus users - the service is so utterly farcical it is barely worth the 80p fare, let alone £1.50.

The first problem is reliability. At the busiest times, there are around nine buses per hour between the city and Ranmoor. That should mean the next bus is never more than 7 minutes away, but in reality, it’s common to see two or three buses following each other and then a gap of 20 to 25 minutes, or even longer once you throw inevitable delays and cancellations into the mix. This can be caused by a bus catching up with the one ahead in traffic. In well-designed systems, one driver is instructed to stop for a short time to even out the service. But this rarely seems to happen in Sheffield – in fact, some services are actually scheduled to be like this.

"

A few stops do have

information screens, but the times displayed often bear no resemblance to what is actually happening. Apps can be more accurate , as long as you don't mind having to check every bus company

This problem is exacerbated by the lack of good service information.

A few stops do have information screens, but the times displayed often bear no resemblance to what is actually happening.

Apps can be more accurate, as long as you don’t mind having to check every bus company one-by-one. And this leads us to the crux of the problem: fragmentation.

Sheffield has no single public transport network, it has several disparate ones run by different private companies.

The symptoms of this aren’t hard to see – just look at the timetable for route 120, with frequent examples of buses from competing companies within a few minutes of each other, followed by a long gap. Even the ticketing system is a confusing and

disjointed mess, that would take a whole article of its own to properly explain.

(An illustration of how nonsensical it gets: for journeys where there is a choice between tram and bus, trams are always more expensive, discouraging people from choosing the cleaner, more energy efficient option).

There is a public body, the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA); they are lumbered with the unenviable task of maintaining some sort of coordination between the half-dozen different transport operators in Sheffield, despite no power to set fares, timetables or quality standards. This means that, no matter what the SYMCA may wish to do to improve the service, the operators hold all the cards: they are free to

operate however they like.

So the first priority for public transport in Sheffield should be to end this disorganised patchwork, integrating all bus and tram services into a single network, with sensible timetables and fares, controlled by a public body that can properly be held accountable.

We haven’t even discussed how painfully slow bus journeys are. Heavy traffic is a clear culprit here, so speeding up buses will require reducing the number of cars on the road. This leads to another important conclusion: encouraging people onto public transport involves making it not only more convenient to take the bus, but also less convenient to drive. There are many ways this could be done, and designing a suitable scheme is well beyond my expertise, but it is something

that should be investigated.

Journeys are also slowed down by the fact that almost every passenger has to pay the driver as they board; if this could be avoided, long buses with many doors could be used, speeding up the process of getting passengers on and off and reducing time spent at stops. In this area, the best public transport systems in continental Europe should provide plenty of inspiration.

Fare increases are clearly disappointing, but as someone who is passionate about good quality public transport, I know it is important to choose my battles wisely. What is needed, first and foremost, is a single, competent network that people actually want to use. Once that’s sorted, perhaps I will join your calls for the return of the 80p fare.

10

Forge Press

Opinion

Christmas without Christ: In a secular world, does the holiday do little more than worship consumerism?

Jonathan Owen (he/him)

T

he Christmas adverts is a British institution.

Every year we turn on the television and sit back as we are entertained, we are humoured- as we are brought to tears by reminders of joys gone by and reminders of what truly matters in this world. Now imagine my shock when I watched the M&S Christmas advert and felt… disgusted!

The tradition of gift giving was at one point a deeply symbolic act. Giving gifts at Christmas originated as a reminder of the gifts that Jesus was given in the nativity story and more generally as a reminder of the gift to the world that Jesus is believed to have

on gifts alone during the Christmas season. Another survey found that 39% of people dip into their savings during the Christmas period and a shocking 1 in 5 Brits fund these gifts by getting themselves into debt. And for what good?

What’s the cause of this

Boots advert for example; a little girl goes halfway round the world, giving away useless tat in the process to complete strangers, in order to give Santa a gift he’ll probably never use. Let’s be real, how many bath sets do we all end up throwing away each year?

"

I watched the M&S

Christmas advert and felt… disgusted!

It wasn’t by anything that morally egregious or that I have any objection to the advert itself. It was just one particular line that irked me.

“It’s what inside that counts, the present that is”.

Something within that line triggered a deep discomfort inside of me. It made me feel that the entire holiday of Christmas had been hijacked by corporate greed and that we had been brainwashed into living beyond our means once every year for the sake of tradition. It made me feel that what was once a meaningful holiday has become little more than an

"

"

Stop buying that Lynx Africa set for the weird 3rd cousin you don’t even like

1 in 5 Brits fund these gifts by getting themselves into debt.

And for what good? opportunity for corporations to make themselves wealthy and to provoke a deep feeling of worthlessness and insecurity to those who can’t afford to give or celebrate the holiday in the same way that they usually can.

and who we give to. I’m sick and tired of the expectation to buy and give for the sake of it. Surely it is time to use Christmas for good?

So, my dear readers, this Christmas I implore you to give thoughtfully. Think carefully about who you most want to show your love and appreciation to and buy them something that you think will uplift them, bring them joy and will help demonstrate to them that you care. Stop buying that Lynx Africa set for the weird 3rd cousin you don’t even like and start giving to charity instead. So stop giving for the sake of giving, give gifts to someone who really needs the joy in their life- even if it’s a stranger!

Spend your money in your local community, stop allowing corporations to hijack Christmas! Instead of buying your mum some perfume (that she’ll most likely never use) from Boots, why don’t you buy her an ornament from a local artist.

She’d likely appreciate it much more, and let’s be real, who needs your money the most? Let Christmas be an opportunity to make your local community thrive and flourish.

and start giving to brought in the Christian faith. However, it seems to me that this tradition has gone too far. What started as a nice symbolic gesture to show our love and appreciation for one another and encourage kindness has evolved into a costly societal obligation that results in an estimated 23 million pieces of tat ending up in landfill each year. According to a YouGov poll, the average Brit spends around £300

needless excess spending?

Well, it’s simple, the Christmas advert. Through carefully crafted pieces of art that tug on your heartstrings, corporations have convinced us that in order to demonstrate our love to those we care about, we need to give them (the corporation) money we don’t have. They’ve convinced us that our Christmas will never be as good as the last if we don’t out-spend it. Take the

Now, this is not me saying “bah humbug”, or I hate Christmas. Far from it. I love Christmas! It’s an excuse to watch films that I love, reflect on memories gone by and remember the loved ones who are no longer here to celebrate it with me. For me, Christmas is a calling for us to be kinder, to show love to other people and (stay with me) to give. The thing is, we need to start focusing on how we give, why we give,

charity instead.

Little changes we make to how we celebrate can make a world of difference in restoring the meaning of Christmas. Let’s make Christmas the celebration of light through the darkness that it once was. Let’s make Christmas Christmassy again!

Credit: Wikimedia Commons

12

Forge Press

Features

Cosplaying "poor": How come people now prefer charity shops over high brand clothing Rebecca Symns-Rowley (she/her)

H

istorically, thrifting, or charity shopping as it’s more often known as in the UK, has usually been associated with the working class. It served as an opportunity for people with less money to buy second hand clothes at an affordable price. Now, second hand shopping has become an expensive hobby, with vintage stores hiking up prices of used branded clothing to make a profit.

Sheffield boasts an interesting retail scene, with numerous vintage stores and even more charity shops. The city is home to over 60,000 students, and this year it was ranked in the top 10 most affordable cities for students

by NatWest. Despite this, the cost of living crisis has hit many students hard, and our student loans are simply not going as far as they used to.

With rent and bills taking up much of our budgets, it’s no surprise that students are having to look for various ways of trying to save money when they can. For many, that means ditching the overpriced fast fashion and looking in charity shops for discounted clothing.

Angus, a third year engineering student, spoke about why he prefers

"

It’s an affordable way to get new clothes, especially considering the rising costs of everything right now second-hand shopping over buying new: “It’s an affordable way to get new clothes, especially considering the rising costs of everything right now.”

He also commented on the concerning alternatives of fast fashion: “The only other clothes that are of a similar price are found in places like Primark or using Shein, which have dubious ethical practices.”

Fast fashion has become a growing problem over the last few decades. The fashion industry itself contributes 10% of all carbon emissions, making the entire production process an environmental nightmare.

This year, Oxfam encouraged shoppers to join their Second Hand September campaign, where the aim was for people to

donate any clothes they do not wear over the course of the month. In a study run by the charity, they suggested that shopping second-hand for clothes would reduce carbon emissions equivalent to 261,000 flights from Heathrow to Athens.

Considering this, perhaps the reason people are turning to secondhand stores is that we are becoming more environmentally conscious.

Students and young people are part of a generation that is eco-centred and cares about the future of the planet. Second-hand shopping allows people to express their fashion choices in an environmentally friendly way.

For others, the beauty of thrifting is that it avoids the monochromatic style that can be found in mainstream stores. Randomised donations mean that charity shops have become a lottery of securing a one-off find that no one else will have.

“You end up with more unique and interesting clothes,” said Florence, a third year biochemistry student. “You can find stuff that you would never find in a normal shop.”

The University of Sheffield was ranked in the top 10 of UK universities for action on sustainability this year in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, showing that sustainability is clearly at its core. The same can be said for the University’s Fashion Society, founded by Emily Duff.

“When I started Fashion Society, sustainability was always at our core,” Emily said. “Fashion Society runs under the belief that shopping secondhand should be accessible for everyone and that’s one of the brilliant things about Sheffield’s scene. You can go to Division Street and head into Savage Sister to scout some mega designer pieces or head into Scope and bag some bargains.”

Whilst the charity shops

may provide some bargains, the same cannot be said for the vintage stores that hike up the prices of used branded clothing.

Thrifting is no longer an inclusive activity; old jeans and jumpers now carry a heavy price tag that exclude

"

I think vintage stores advertise as being very 90’s or 2000’s, and as very anti-establishment, so I think students come in to go against the grain of the mainstream people looking for cheap secondhand goods.

Whilst there may have previously been a financial motive for shopping secondhand, most vintage stores now lure in their customer base through an aesthetic of cool and quirky fashion that cannot be found elsewhere.

Hamza, who previously worked for a popular vintage store chain in Sheffield, commented on the demographic he would see day-to-day: “Students were our main focus and occupied most of our customer base,”

he said. “I think vintage stores advertise as being very 90’s or 2000’s, and as very anti-establishment, so I think students come in to go against the grain of the mainstream.”

For students, thrifting holds two purposes: getting a bargain in a charity shop, or spending your loan on an item that stands out from the crowd. Whilst thrifting was once looked down upon, it is now largely considered one of the main forms of shopping, with apps like Vinted and Depop offering clothes at a discounted price as an online alternative to scavenging through shops in the city.

Obviously, this has its benefits: the environmental impact of second-hand shopping limits the catastrophic effects of fast fashion and massproduction. Whilst the economic impact may be beneficial for charities and independent vintage stores, it could be argued that the shopper is the one now out of pocket, as prices increase for used items that thirty years ago, would have been dirt cheap. Overall, thrifting serves as a creative way to find interesting throwaways and investment pieces, but regardless, the changing face of thrifting continues to have its ups and downs.

Monday 4 December 2023

13

SOCIETY SPOTLIGHT

Features

The section where we shine a light on the best and quirkiest University of Sheffield has to offer...

Caillin McDaid (he/him)

What is your main appeal?

F

Having fun with hacking, trying to problem solve. As well as the educational and career benefits it can have.

irst up this week we spoke to James Lawford, president of the Student Ethical Hacking Society.

How would you describe the society in a sentence?

Understanding security by learning how to break things.

What can someone expect from the society?

We mainly run weekly sessions, each on a different topic. So far, throughout most of our sessions, it’s only committee members; however, if someone does come to us with a particular passion of theirs to present on, we will get someone to work with them [and run a session]. Occasionally we go for drinks after to socialise.

O

ur second society for this edition is Bake Society. President Janani Siva told us all about it.

Are you open to people not studying Computer Science or no knowledge of hacking?

What can people look forward to?

I think we will do another Give It A Go [in second semester] because I think that helps a lot of people, especially in our society. I think

We try and make it as open to all courses and walks of life as possible.

We were founded by a biology student in 2018, so we try to carry that forward.

What sets you apart from Computer Science?

It’s the focus on security.

Which I think is becoming more and more relevant.

We really dial into what you need to consider in security when you’re making things, how do you break into things, what’s secure and what’s not secure, and how to make sure things are secure.

the size of our society, our tickets sell out super quickly.

We are always doing extra events to get as many people baking as possible and aim to do socials at least once a month.

people can feel very intimidated by the technical nature of it. It will be very beginnerfriendly, even more so than the normal sessions and will allow people to get a flavour of what we do.

In terms of upcoming

A great way to destress by baking as a group!

What type of events do you typically run?

Any upcoming events you are excited about?

The main type of events we run are baking in a local church kitchen. Some of our recent ones include lemon tart and biscoff blondies! We also have done things like pumpkin carvings where you bake with the guts and bake-off viewings to mix it up a bit!

I’m really looking forward to our gingerbread house decorating event. It was lots of fun last year, and it was lovely to see everyone’s creations! This year we are going to make this event even bigger, so I imagine I will look very strange buying 30 gingerbread houses!

How frequently do you host sessions/socials?

When did you first join Bake Soc?

We have weekly baking events, however, due to

Credit - James Lawford

access point I put physically in the room. It’s fun to do, obviously but shows how the wifi security works but also shows them how important it is to have a good password, do updates and have relatively modern hardware because it highlights how easy these things are to hack.

What’s your favourite session of the year been?

I joined because I was interested in security and hacking, both personally and professionally. It’s a massively growing industry, it’s needed more and more.

University is a great place to learn about that. Our department [computer science] doesn’t really cover it that much.

I really enjoyed the wifi hacking session. I thought it was really good because it’s very applicable to everyone’s lives because everyone at home has a wifi access point. We went through the stages of how you hack [wifi]. We got, I think, nearly all but one or two people who left early to crack the password. So everyone not only learned about the process, but went through the steps of cracking the password and

Why did you first join the society?

Membership - £4 per year Social media - @_shefesh (Instagram)

Favourite session/social this year?

My favourite event this year would have to be our bake-at-home bread event.

This was a great way to encourage our members to try something that many of them had not done before. It was really fun to be able to teach people a new skill!

How would you describe the society in a sentence?

sessions, there is nothing concrete planned, but there’s always great guest talks that often require very little knowledge. Previous guest talks include DS Damian Speare from Yorkshire & Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit talking about policing in the digital ae, and Mike Jones, a reformed ex-anonymous hacker talking about Radio Frequency.

I first joined the Bake Society committee on a

Credit - James Lawford whim in first year when they were looking for firstyear reps. It was such a great decision. I stayed on the committee in second year and loved to see how it developed. I got to meet lots of wonderful people, and the committee was so welcoming.

What made you want to become president?

I have always loved organising things and was excited to have a chance to bring new ideas to the society by being president.

I was particularly looking forward to trying new ways of running events to get as many members baking as possible Bake Society is such a wholesome society, and I can’t wait to see what we do next semester.

Membership - £3 per semester Social media - @ bakesocsheff (Instagram)

14

Forge Press

Science & Tech

The Science of Hangovers - Surviving the holiday period Becca Dawes (she/her)

T

he holiday season is here. Despite promising you’d take it easy, ‘one drink’ on Christmas Eve can swiftly turn into more than a few embarrassing selfies with Aunt Maureen and a banging headache in the morning.

For many of us, the winter break means roast dinner, plenty of gravy, lots of booze – and the consequences that come with it. So, how do we survive the holiday period?

Why do we get hangovers?

Before talking about how to deal with hangovers, it’s important to understand what causes them.

1. Alcohol acts as a poison.

Harsh but true: when you drink, enzymes in your body break down alcohol to form acetaldehyde, a poison and a carcinogen. The body eliminates it quickly, although some people have genetic makeup resulting in slower breakdown of this toxin (this is particularly common in people of East Asian origin, causing the ‘Asian flush’, a flushed complexion and increased adverse effects of alcohol).

The slower the breakdown, the worse you feel.

2. Dark alcoholic drinks contain congeners.

Holiday favourites like red wine, whisky, and brandy contain congeners: compounds that typically darken beverages, these intensify flavour but worsen hangover symptoms by competing with ethanol during the breakdown process, impeding alcohol breakdown speed.

3. Alcohol affects your brain.

Two vital neurotransmitters are glutamate and gammaaminobutyric acid (GABA).

You can think of glutamate as the ‘on-switch’ and GABA as the ‘off-switch’ for your brain. Drinking alcohol stimulates GABA, initially making you feel relaxed, but soon switching off areas of the brain responsible for judgement, inhibition and, eventually, consciousness. Alcohol also inhibits glutamate receptors, turning off the ‘on-switch’ and making it harder for the brain to store memories.

4. Alcohol harms the gut.

Alcohol can eliminate organic matter, hence why

alcohol-based gels and sanitisers are extensively used. Predictably, pouring alcohol into your digestive system damages the gut lining, resulting in localised inflammation, nausea, and vomiting – and triggers widespread inflammation, leading to symptoms such as headaches and confusion.

How to prevent and ‘cure’ a hangover: The foolproof way to evade the consequences of drinking is, predictably, not to drink. However, in the improbable scenario that you do, here are some tips: Before drinking: Line your stomach – you’ve heard it before, but this has a scientific basis; protecting the gut lining can decrease the effects of alcohol such as nausea.

While drinking: Pace yourself – it takes around an hour to metabolise one unit of alcohol. The slower you drink, the better your body handles the alcohol in your system.

Avoid drinks heavy in congeners (usually dark drinks) – stick to clear drinks such as white wine and clear spirits.

Drink water – dehydration is a major contributing factor to a hangover.

Before bed: More water – keep a large bottle of water by your bed to avoid the 5 am trip to the kitchen.

Take antacids if you are prone to reflux.

The day after: Yet again – drink more water. Dehydration caused by alcohol is a major factor in your hangover.

Have a high-protein, vitamin-rich breakfast – research has shown that alcohol prevents your body from absorbing certain amino acids as well.

Resupplying your body with these amino acids by eating a protein-rich meal can help with the recovery period. Alcohol consumption generally decreases the effectiveness of vitamins in your body, so eating fruit and veg or taking a vitamin supplement can quickly help to speed up recuperation.

What to avoid the day after: Extensive research has shown that the following hangover ‘remedies’ are nothing but popular myths: Coffee – while coffee

may wake you up, it also increases dehydration.

Sweating it out – excessive exercise can cause (you guessed it) dehydration. If you do feel up to exercising, ensure you drink plenty of fluids.

A greasy fry-up – while some evidence suggests that greasy food slows the absorption of alcohol inW the blood, this can only be effective before drinking alcohol. Eating greasy food the morning after can upset the digestive system when it’s at its most sensitive, making the hangover worse.

However, psychologically this might help – so you wouldn’t be blamed for trying this one anyway.

Hopefully this hangover guide will help you out this festive season – and if not, there’s always next year, right?

Credit: Unsplash

How does seasonal foliage affect our mental health?

Larissa Kirby

A

s the seasons change and the cold creeps in, we have an urge to hibernate and hide away. The colder, darker months can cast a shadow on our mental health; but have we stopped to consider the beauty of the evolving landscape? As an avid autumn lover, I can’t help but romanticise Sheffield's changing colours, especially around Weston Park. Not only does it create the perfect backdrop for spooky season Instagram posts, but new studies have found that the annual shift in colours can have a huge impact on our mental health.

According to Jason Brunt PhD, assistant psychology professor at Biola University, these autumnal changes are a signal for our brains.

They trigger the same psychological response as listening to a steady hum of background noise, then hearing a sudden boom.

Our reaction is a simple adaptation to change as the yellows, reds and browns take over our tree lines, contrasting the former bright green hues. This contrast makes us place great significance in this event and the regularity of the change every year increases its importance in our minds. However, the importance can lead to increased anxiety, worries and negative thoughts.

The impact of seasons on our mental health is also something we can use to our advantage. There are many excellent methods of using the new autumnal landscape to practise mindfulness and better your well-being.

While taking an autumn

walk, experts recommend focusing on the changing colours and contrast and considering from one tree to the next, which has fewer leaves? Which has brighter leaves? All of these questions are great at drawing your attention to the natural beauty, and away from any stress or anxiety you may be experiencing.

An autumn stroll can be a great stress reliever as it redirects the brain’s attention, reversing the fight or flight response in our brains. Dr Michelle Harris, from William James College, explained: “When you’re walking and focusing on the changing leaves, you’re no longer cuing your brain to run or fight.” Relieving this survival technique allows for a calmer mindset.

The changing of seasons triggers a psychological response, which can greatly

impact mental health in one of two ways. Both responses result from “anchoring” - when judgements and decisions are influenced by a reference point that's often unrelated. This sparks an emotional response in us as we relive feelings from the anchor. For example, when you find an old perfume, the scent brings back vivid memories from when you wore it, as they are “anchored” by the scent.

The same can be seen in the changing of seasons, specifically in the colour change of leaves. When the colours change and catch our eye, old feelings from autumn's past arise.

Therefore changes in mental health depend on an individual’s previous experiences with autumn.

If you have had a bad experience during autumn before, such as losing a loved

Credit: Unsplash one, you are more likely to subconsciously associate negative feelings with this period. The reverse benefits us; childhood memories of seeing our first fireworks can lift our mood in autumn.

We can’t control the impact of anchoring, but autumn is a perfect opportunity to use changing stimuli to your advantage. Knowing why we feel certain emotions is the first step to overcoming negative ones and embracing positive change. If that doesn’t work, you can always rely on a pumpkin-spice latte and the relief that Christmas is just around the corner.

16

Forge Press

Lifestyle

Don't be a Scrooge, here's how to get into the festive mood Simone Chuah (she/her)

T

ime has flown and it’s already December.

It’s time to usher in the Christmas festivities, talk about Christmas plans and the exciting Christmas decorations. With winter markets open and festive goodies being stocked in supermarkets, are there some of us who feel Christmas is only the week of the 25th?

There are two kinds of people in this world. First, the kind who welcome Christmas with open arms (swiftly moving on from Halloween once we hit Nov 1st) - and, secondly, the kind who insist it is always too early for Christmas.

As somebody who is the former, I always have people tell me to wait to get festive. Nevertheless, my spirit never waivers. In fact, walking into shops after Halloween and seeing the Christmas snacks and treats lining the shelves made my day. With the festive season fast approaching and my insistence on it never being too early for Christmas, here are some things to get you in the Christmas mood: From the classic Christmas chocolate boxes, think Celebrations and Heroes, to minced pies and more modern snacks like Maltester reindeers, there is an endless selection of Christmas goodies to lift our spirits and make our stomachs happy.

Credit: Pexels

I don’t mind if they’re justanother excuse for us to eat too much around the holidays.

While Celebrations, Heroes, Quality Street and Roses are the UK’s four most popular Christmas chocolate boxes, every year sees debates on which is best - but I will let you decide this one for yourself.

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Christmas is a

special time of year to spend with your friends and family

Minced pies are a dessert I tried for the first time after coming to the UK as an international student. And I was pleasantly surprised that there was no minced meat in this dessert.

Similarly, Christmas puddings are a classic British dessert around this time, but tend to not appeal to younger generations. Marzipan is its only redeeming ingredient.

If you’re all about the seasonal spices, gingerbread can finally make a comeback

into our lives too. Baking cute gingerbread men, and their houses if you’re a better baker than me, is a perfect rainy-day activity to do with your flatmates.

Something you will never go wrong with is a classic hot chocolate, topping it off with peppermint candy canes and whipped cream for the ultimate cosy vibes.

Another way to get into the festive spirit is to put on classic Christmas songs. Some albums on repeat every winter are: Christmas by Michael Buble, Merry Christmas by Mariah Carey, and Christmas

by Bing Crosby. I am not

embarrassed to admit, I listen to songs in my Christmas

playlist throughout the year, so I’m kind of an expert.

Christmas films are also a great way to put yourself in the mood.

Top picks to get yourself excited for the holiday break are Home Alone, Elf, The Grinch, and, for the RomCom lovers, Love Actually and The Holiday.

Christmas is a special time of year to spend with your

friends and family. A time to exchange gifts and cards with people you love.

A time of love and hope, something we especially need at the moment. A time to celebrate the year that has passed. It is, therefore, never too early to get in the Christmas spirit and to make these positive vibes last as long as possible.

Reducing festive fashion waste, regardless of your budget Emily Duff (she/her)

I

n a world driven by trends, it's alarming that an estimated 7 million people are set to purchase singleuse festive clothing this year, resulting in approximately 154 million kg of carbon emissions. As we immerse ourselves in the holiday spirit, it's crucial to consider alternatives that not only showcase style but also promote sustainability.

Credit: Pexels

Shopping Preloved Online One eco-conscious alternative is exploring preloved fashion platforms like Vinted. Beyond being a budget-friendly option, Vinted offers a treasure trove of fashion items, from unique pieces you can’t find anywhere to pieces from popular fast fashion brands like Pretty Little Thing, Asos, and BooHoo. By opting for preloved garments, you sidestep direct contributions to arguably unethical and environmentally unsustainable brands.

Shopping Preloved InStore For those who prefer an inperson shopping experience, delving into secondhand options in physical stores opens up a world of possibilities.

Charity shops boast bargain finds, and will have a festive section already set up so it's easy to find your next party look!

Alternatively, vintage stores are home to unique pieces, if finding a one-of-a-kind is your jam. Even designerspecific secondhand shops, although a bit pricier, offer timeless garments that contribute to a more sustainable wardrobe.

The perfect choice for a designer find is Sheffield’s

local brand Savage Sister, which can be found on Division Street - but also has a Depop site.

Credit: Pexels

Borrowing or Trading In the spirit of shared festivities, consider borrowing clothes from friends.

Often, holiday outfits are worn just once, making it a perfect opportunity to swap looks with friends. Wear it to your event, then trade it with someone you know - because the outfit becomes new to them!

This not only adds variety to your wardrobe but also minimises the environmental impact of single-use garments.

SU swap shop is a good choice...

Monday 4 December 2023

17

Lifestyle

How to make your room cosy for the festive season Maisie Dodd (she/her)

A

s the days get darker and we go outside less, it is more important to have a cosy room to spend the time in.

Your room is a personal space and should be a haven catered to you, which means cosiness looks different for everyone. To achieve this, the place to start is finding your style.

For me, the antique and vintage look is very comforting, but I also love nature, so I have tried to bring these aspects into my room. I used a green and natural-toned colour scheme with plants and small pots from antique shops, to make me feel cosy.

Sometimes it can be overwhelming to see blank, empty walls, which is why

I have created this list of my key tips to break things down, meaning getting your perfect winter wonderland doesn’t cause more stress than it removes.

Lighting Rather than using a main overhead light, it is by far more cosy to use smaller warm ones such as lamps, fairy lights and candles to create atmosphere.

Textures A soft rug and bedding that makes you want to leap into it increases comfort.

Think cotton duvets for extra warmth but topped with velvet throws for added je ne sais quois. A cosy room is about feel and practicality, as well as the look.

Declutter A tidy room is a cosy room.

Too much mess can be stressful to see and can also take away from all the effort you put into decorating.

Tidying and taking care of your room is also a way to practise self-care and take pride in your space, add trays to dump random objects and make sure you have good storage so that tidying doesn’t become an everyday burden.

Photos and mementos To add a personal touch, it is nice to have pictures of friends and family on the wall - especially if you feel homesick. You could also try putting souvenirs or trinkets on shelves to remind you of happy memories on a daily basis.

Seasonal decorations It can be fun to add seasonal accessories to your room to keep things interesting. Around this time of year, maybe some tiny Christmas trees or snowflake bunting could add festive cheer? However, make sure the ornaments fit in with the rest of the room. It’s no good making sure you tidy just to have your festive decorations add more clutter - they should add a finishing touch rather than the main focus.

Create a Corner By isolating a corner and focusing on making it separate from your desk and bed, it can help break up the room and create variety. alcoves to create inviting spaces too.

Photo: Pexels

A Student Wellbeing Advisor’s advice on dealing with shorter days this winter Simone Chuah (she/her)

A

s the days get darker and shorter during the cold winter months, it is important to recognise when this takes a toll on our mental health and mood.

Often during the festive season many find themselves ironically experiencing Seasonal Affective Depression (SAD), a type of depression that specifically occurs due to our reduced exposure to daylight.

While it is often temporary, it can be a very isolating experience that should not be overlooked. Speaking with Fiona J Murray, she shared more on what SAD actually is and provided some muchneeded advice on how to deal with it.

Fiona is a Student Wellbeing Advisor for the

University of Sheffield’s Student Wellbeing Service, particularly in the Faculty of Social Sciences, and has a lot of experience and insight to offer. Her advice on dealing with SAD and low moods can be really helpful during the darker days.

What is Seasonal Affective Disorder?

Seasonal Affective Disorder, also known as SAD or winter depression, is a subtype of depression that generally tends to form seasonal patterns. This is where people experience the symptoms in the colder months and an alleviation of these symptoms in the summer months.

What are signs/symptoms of SAD? The symptoms are similar to those of clinical depression:

1. Low mood 2. A lack of motivation 3. Sleep patterns being affected (sleeping more than usual) Because of the time of year, people experience a change in appetite in terms of usual depression. For SAD, a lot of people tend to experience carvings of carbohydrateheavy food or have a larger appetite generally.

Why do shorter days cause a toll on our mental health?

1. The part of our brain called the Hypothalamus.

Research has shown that during the shorter days when we are exposed to less sunlight, there are changes in the hypothalamus, where a lot of our hormonal changes come from.

2. Our circadian rhythm Our bodies generally work on a circadian rhythm, something that is largely

driven by natural light.

This dictates when we get higher cortisol levels. If our exposure to natural light changes and we are exposed to less, this will mess up our circadian rhythm and people feel more exhausted than usual.

How can we deal with the shorter days during winter?

1. Keeping up a good routine throughout the year The importance of our circadian rhythm is that it likes routines. Even on shorter days when you may be tempted to sleep in, it can be helpful to keep the same routine throughout the year.

2. Taking supplements like vitamin D When we are experiencing less natural light, vitamin D concentrations in our body are less.

3. Light therapy SAD lamps have UV rays

which mirror those that we get from the sun can be helpful for our circadian rhythm.

4. Consider re-prioritising doing nice things for yourself.

It may be a difficult period for academic studies but recognising your low moods affect this may be helpful to be more proactive in doing nice things for yourself.

What are the contacts/ resources available if students need to seek help?

1. Talk to your GP The UHS has a really good team who understand the additional pressures students are under. You can start to have conversations about if medication will be helpful for or talking therapies.

2. Talking to somebody.

At the university, there are many different resources available. Check out the university website for more.

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Forge Press

Break

A guide to managing exam stress Freya Ingram (She/Her)

I

t’s the time of year when many of you are receiving your exam dates for the beginning of 2024. This can trigger feelings of panic and stress.

Remember that this is normal and not necessarily a bad thing. Experiencing stress shows you are aware of the importance of your performance and can push you to start preparing.

However, balance is a very important factor to bear in mind when it comes to exam preparation. Focusing too much on your upcoming exams can make you feel overwhelmed and lead to burnout. However, ignoring your upcoming exams can lead to last minute panics and feeling underprepared on the day. Here are some things to think about which can help manage the workload.

Planning and preparation It’s important to be realistic about what you can do without overworking yourself. Create a timetable that works around you rather than you having to work around it. There are lots of different revision methods out there so try and start early so you can find out what works best for you.

Starting early will also give you time to relax in between studying as well as make you feel more prepared and less overwhelmed because this extra time will allow you to break content down more over the coming weeks.

Little and often tends to be effective when it comes to memory recall so remember to keep coming back to your work, even if it's just half an hour out of your day.

Your surrounding environment Having a dedicated environment for work can make it much easier to focus.

This could just be a specific space in your house, a friend or family member's house, or a university building.

Just make sure it’s clean, organised and clear of any unwanted distractions.

Challenge mental negativity It’s easy to catastrophize in these situations, especially when things start going wrong. When this happens try to take a step back and think rationally. For example “what is the worst case scenario here?” or think about what advice you would give to a friend in this situation.

Peer support Talking to other people on your course can help you feel less alone during this period. Activities like group study sessions enable you to support each other with revision whilst preventing this isolation.

Social life Remember that you don’t need to completely sacrifice your social life when preparing for exam season.

You shouldn’t feel guilty for enjoying yourself, especially over the Christmas break.

Just make sure that you balance work and play. You can do this by having preplanned rest days and study days.

Credit: Pexels

Credit: Pexels

Opinion: Are love and relationships over romanticised at Christmas?

Ellie Bettsworth (She/Her)

T

he short answer to this is yes.

For this we can blame Hollywood and those PDA couples who seem to be drunk off the Christmas spirit. From Christmas rom coms to social media posts on what constitutes a ‘proper’ Christmas, there becomes this pressure to have a significant other to share certain activities with. Whether that is a hand to hold at an ice rink, or someone to make a gingerbread house with.

There is an underlying pressure to create a Christmas that is coherent with Andy William’s famous song ‘It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year’.

Being single at Christmas sucks. Social media bombards you with photos of couples sharing magical moments whilst you are

faced with family members asking the dreaded question of how your romantic life is going. Romantic love is heavily associated with Christmas. There are a multitude of films that have the same ending in which Christmas time makes everyone fall in love. For instance, in the film The Holiday, two single women are hell bent on removing themselves from any male attention, but still manage to fall head over heels for guys since it's Christmas.

Or, in Love Actually, where there are ten separate scenarios that all manage to end in some sort of romance because, again, it's Christmas!

What Hollywood fails to romanticise is the beauty of platonic relationships at Christmas. For you can complete the ‘must-do’ couple activities with your best friends. In fact, platonic love and relationships are

not romanticised enough.

Christmas is the ideal opportunity to substantiate the love you have for those closest to you. So, sharing these supposed ‘romantic’ activities with friends may be the solution

to feeling extremely single at Christmas.

However, let’s not gloss over how problematic over-romanticism can be for those struggling with seasonal depression. It's darker quicker, it's colder,

motivation to do anything lessens, pessimism grows, the end of semester assessments start, and people can easily begin to spiral. Over-romanticising love and affection is easier to do from your own room.

Couples thrive off the juxtaposition of it being cold outside, but themselves feeling warm on the inside since they are in love.

Those who do not experience this can end up just feeling cold.

Humans tend to selfdisrupt to combat, and perpetuate, the loneliness that is caused at Christmas time. By this logic, overromanticising Christmas becomes the problem.

What is not given justice is the pressure couples feel during Christmas time.

There is an expectation to be happy and unified during Christmas, yet this is not the case. From a student's perspective, money is always

tight, so when trying to make Christmas the best time of year there are many financial walls that prevent buying your significant other the perfect gift or treating them at Sheffield’s Christmas Market. Maybe next year we can have the Yorkshire Pudding wrap.

The over-romanticised Christmas costs too much for an average person, so the expectations of a perfect Christmas will never be fulfilled.

All in all, yes, love and relationships are overromanticised. This is a problem, regardless of how great the films are that exploit this. There are ways around this, such as ignoring the fact you are single and focusing on your friends and family members. For those that are not single, the best advice is to remove expectations of romance during Christmas and just enjoy every moment.

Monday 4 December 2023

19

Break

Festive food and drink

Did you know?

B

usiness waste UK found that over 1 in 7 British consumers buy more food than they need at Christmas time. For example, approximately 11.3 million potatoes end up wasted alongside 9.8 million cups of gravy (enough to fill an olympic swimming pool!).

So be sure to think before you buy and make the most of the leftover sandwiches.

TURKEY BRUSSELS SPROUT MULLED WINE CRANBERRY SAUCE GINGERBREAD PIGS IN BLANKETS BUCKS FIZZ SNOWBALL STUFFING

Credit: Pexels

A student guide to finding the best Christmas gift bargains Freya Ingram (she/her)

W

Easy

2 4 6 8 9 1 5 9 2 7 9 7 1 3 2 5 8 5 7 2 3 9 8 1 9 Hard

ith the festive season upon us, I’m sure many of you are starting to think about all those Christmas presents you need to buy and how you’re going to afford them. Here is a handy list of shops (online and in-person) that offer student discounts and a variety of gift options for every budget.

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(the nearest branch being Meadowhall) and has a great home and gift section with lots of quirky and unique options in addition to its classic vintage fashion brands such as BDG and iets frans.

ASOS offers a 10% student discount which you can access through either the UNiDAYS or Student Beans apps. This online fashion retailer offers a variety of brands including the likes of Nike, collusion, motel rocks, converse and many more!

In addition to this, they also have a handy gift section with a variety of stocking fillers.

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Top Tip: Make sure you’re signed up to the UNiDAYS and Student Beans apps if you’re not already, and always have your student card on you for good measure. Some shops may ask for a UNiDAYS or Student Beans ID so double check your accounts are verified and up to date.

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Expert

Beauty Bay is an online beauty retailer offering a 10% student discount all year round through Student Beans as well as a variety of seasonal offers limited to students. Just a few of their brands include BaByliss, Bondi Sands, Clinique and NYX.

7 4 9 6Debenhams: Despite its

Boots; be sure to sign up for a boots advantage card as you will receive a 10% student discount in addition to a range of useful vouchers, points and offers.

All you need to do is link your advantage card to a valid Student Beans ID. Boots has a great Christmas shop with a variety of crowd pleasing gift sets for every budget. Also keep an eye out for their half price and 3 for 2 offers at this time of year.

8 2 4 2 8 9 3 8 5 2 Urban Outfitters offer a 10% student discount 6 3 both online and in-store Cardzone (Meadowhall) offers an all year round 10% student discount so it’s a great place to get started on your Christmas cards.

Look Fantastic is an online hair and beauty retailer that offers several student discounts all year round accessible on both UNiDAYS and Student Beans. With over 660 brands on offer from Benefit to Olaplex, there is something for everyone.

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closing in 2021, Debenhams still continues to trade online. Their Christmas gift section remains wide and varied including different food and drinks sets from hot sauces to coffee as well as a range of hampers, games and much more. You can access several student discount codes through Student Beans and UNiDAYS.

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Good Luck!

20

Forge Press

Arts & Theatre

Did you know? these six

famous creatives went to Sheffield Lucy Riddell (she/her)

T

he University of Sheffield definitely does not want for famous alumni, including BBC News presenter Dan Walker and Olympic athletics champion Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill.

But our university has also produced a whole host of creatives with whose work you may or may not be familiar. You might know some of these famous faces already, or you might be learning about someone new. Either way, read on to find out which popular creatives had their humble beginnings studying at the University of Sheffield.

MUNYA CHAWAWA The British-Zimbabwean comedian graduated in 2014, earning a BSc degree in

psychology. A rising star in the British comedy circuit, Chawawa is best known for his parody news sketches and his posh drill artist alter-ego ‘Unknown P.’ As a student, Chawawa was heavily involved with Forge Radio and TV, as well as playing for the ‘Sheffield Sabres’ American Football club.

LUCY PREBBLE A graduate of English Literature, Prebble is an award-winning playwright and co-created the hit television series I Hate Suzie with close friend Billie Piper. She is also a co-executive producer and writer on the HBO drama series Succession. During her time studying at Sheffield, Prebble won the PMA Most Promising Playwright Award for her short play Liquid.

PETER CHEESEMAN Cheeseman studied BA English Literature, History and Latin at Sheffield back in the 1950s. Along with stage director Stephen Joseph, Cheeseman converted a former cinema into the Victoria Theatre, which was the first ever ‘theatre in the round.’ He continued to work as artistic director until his retirement in 1998.

Cheeseman found Sheffield a great place to practise his directing skills while at university.

TIM KEY A jack-of-all-creativetrades and regular performer at the Edinburgh Festival

Fringe, Key studied Russian at Sheffield, before embarking on a career as a comedian, poet, actor, screenwriter and radio personality. Key’s episode on the acclaimed comedy podcast Off Menu with James Acaster and Ed Gamble is definitely worth a listen - he mentions the Paternoster lift and Crookes Chippy!

DAME HILARY MANTEL The two-time Booker Prize winner graduated as a Bachelor of Jurisprudence in 1973. Soon after, she began her career as a writer, ultimately writing fourteen books, including her memoir Giving Up the Ghost. Her novel Wolf Hall and its sequel Bring Up the Bodies have

sold over 5 million copies worldwide. At university, Mantel was a member of the Young Communist League.

EDDIE IZZARD One of Britain’s most famous comedians, actors and writers, Izzard is a drama graduate from the University of Sheffield. Her credits are extensive, but she has perhaps been most well-known recently for her campaign last year to become Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Sheffield Central. She came second to Abtisam Mohamed, but nonetheless dazzled students with her photoshoot outside the Arts Tower in a stunning pink suit.

Exhibition review

Portraiture and the Human Figure at Graves Gallery Rory Lofthouse (he/him)

E

ntering the exhibition you are met by an open room with its walls covered in a scattering of artworks of different sizes and dimensions. Most notably, they are presented in numerous different frames ranging from ornate and golden to simple wood to none at all, giving an instant insight into the variety of art displayed.

There are also a handful of pedestals for statues and sculptures.

This exhibition presents an artistic fascination with people, and ‘invites visitors to think

about the complexities of portraiture.’

It is a collection of portraits spanning different times, cultures, mediums, artists and, most crucially, sitters.

The creation of such a diverse exhibition which exclusively displays portraits shows audiences the breadth of the artform.

grouped as there are clear sections on working class people, reflections on death and self-portraits.

Other groups of artworks seem completely random. This layout leads to simple sketches placed next to fine art portraits next to photography next to a super-sized California driving license.

One of the most interesting aspects of this exhibition is how the artworks are grouped.

They are not sorted by time period, style or cultural origin.

Some parts of the exhibition seem to be loosely

It is the proximity and collection of this variety of mediums, styles and subjects that is the real strength of this exhibition.

It allows the audience to ask questions about portraiture that they may

not have considered otherwise. We are made to wonder about the different emotions depicted, why the artists chose the subjects they did and what they aimed to portray about the people in their portraits. When we look at artistic studies and simple sketches in the same exhibition as carefully detailed royal portraits, we can better appreciate the variety of purposes of portraiture, and the contrasting intentions of artists and sitters.

A similar effect is achieved by the juxtaposition of art depicting upper class

and working class people r e s p e c t i v e l y .

However, I found the cluster of selfportraits by far the most interesting part of the exhibition. From such a seemingly simple thing as drawing oneself emerges a large variety of style, emotion and composition that speaks directly to how the artists view and wish to present themselves. It is this that I believe most effectively displays the emotion, intention and variety of portraiture.

Rating: Image credit: Graves Gallery.

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Monday 4th December 2023

Arts & Theatre

2023’s Most Popular Reads

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Athena Liu, struggling author June steals

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success is threatened by her crime, and

new life in America, he speaks to readers in

talons? The dragons, or her fellow students?

there’s little she won’t do to keep her secret

his own words

SUPAS Review

This is Panto!

I

Ellie Tomlin (she/her)

Songs for a New World

(Oh no it isn’t!)

Charlie Wright (he/him)

went into SUPAS’s Songs for a New World expecting a musical, but I honestly don’t think I can class what I saw as simply a musical.

CJ Simon as director and Bethany Oaten as musical director have managed to adapt SUPAS’s first ‘theatrical song cycle’ (yes, I did Google that). It is an impressive feat and feels professional almost immediately when you see the band perform alongside the performers. I can’t really say this play has a plot as it’s better suited to being described as a performance of numerous songs, all linked by the theme of “decision”. Though not every part of this play worked for me, it is hard to deny how interesting and complex this piece of theatre is.

All four cast members, who each had a tremendous amount of work to do throughout this play, got a moment to shine and deservedly so. It’s impossible to deny that each performer gave their all to each song, and given how many there were, that is a triumph in itself.

Maddie Carling (Woman 1)

has an exceptional voice and was able to hit amazing notes, whilst Coby Brown (Man 2) had an undeniable charm to each of their roles.

Both Carling and Brown had a lot of time onstage together and produced some beautiful moments, though I would have loved to see more variety in their roles (an issue with the source material I’m sure)!

Alice Bell was exceptional as Man 1, leading the first act.

The power of her voice and the clear fun she had with each role was outstanding, I just would have loved to see more of her in the second act.

Though every actor was brilliant, I cannot deny that Katie Weller as Woman 2 stole the show for me. She was a constant delight to watch, able to make me laugh one second and feel sympathy the next. Her performances of ‘Just One Step’ and ‘Surabaya-Santa’ were the peaks of the show and her energy throughout was undeniably contagious.

The latter of the two was my favourite for its pace, great direction and fun, minimalist set. However, after this number, Songs for a New

World struggled to find a similar energy for me.

I understand completely that the source material is at fault but the minimalist sets, simple direction and similar tones to each of the following songs began to meld them into one another, leaving me a bit musically fatigued by the end.

The nights are getting darker, the scarves are being dusted off and there’s mince pies on the shelves which can only mean one thing – it’s pantomime season! Now if you’re wondering what on Earth I’m getting so excited about, buckle up for my (fairly short) summary of the ageold British panto tradition.

Despite my criticisms, Songs for a New World felt very unique to any student play I have seen. The band brought a constant liveliness to the piece and really enhanced how special it was to see the actors give their all.

Not every song worked as well as the others and the direction could’ve used a little oomph now and then, but I am astonished at how well they were able to pull off this piece of theatre, and I’m intrigued to see where they could go next.

Believed to have been invented by mime artist John Rich in the 1720s, pantomimes have been entertaining people up and down the country, usually taking place on various dates between November and February each year. The storyline is (loosely!) based on a fairytale and there are many ‘must haves’ within a pantomime, making it unique from other theatrical art forms. Certain productions will have their own twist but here’s some of the most common features of a pantomime, regardless of whether it’s a professional or amateur production.

Rating:aaaaaaaaaa Songs for a New World played from November 23rd to 25th at the University Drama Studio. For future productions from SUPAS, see @supasshef on Instagram

Top – Maddie Carling as Woman 1 & Coby Brown as Man 2. Bottom – Alice Bell as Man 1 & Katie Weller as Woman 2

Dame - The dame is most often played by a male who dresses as a woman. They are very funny and use a lot of improvisation but essentially are usually the mother of the poor boy or a woman searching for love, having been married 100 times before... They are not to be

taken

seriously!

Principal Boy and Principal Girl – These are your two main characters, the prince and princess / Aladdin and Jasmine who mostly always end up married. But don’t get confused - the Principal Boy is more often than not played by a female. If this is the case they’ll probably be sporting a French plait, fish-net tights and knee high boots they’ll learn to walk in (believe me, we’ve all been there...)

Comedy duo - Think Ant and Dec, Dick and Dom, Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee. This pair can come in any form (guards, knights, waiters), but they’re always a silly pair trying to get involved but making people laugh instead.

From my experience, this is the funniest part to play.

Audience participation - When you watch a pantomime as a child, you’ll love the constant “it’s behind you!”, and “oh no it isn’t! (oh yes it is)”, the constant screaming and shouting, and the slapstick art of people falling over. When you’re an adult, the production changes and you hear a whole new perspective on jokes and innuendoes! This is the beauty of pantomime- it really is for the whole family!

Credit: Our Favourite Places

22

Forge Press

Arts & Theatre

In Conversation

West End Star Grace Mouat Sophie Layton (she/her)

W

i t h decorations in the shops and Christmas fast approaching, the festive season is coming to Sheffield’s theatres! Amongst the range of pantomimes and shows gracing our stages is White Christmas, a musical based on the 1954 film of the same name. With casting announced and rehearsals underway, I sat down with West End actress Grace Mouat, who will be playing Betty, to talk about the show and her career in the spotlight.

Grace Mouat was dance captain & swing of all queens in the first U.K. tour & original West End production of SIX, the first to do so. She has also starred in & Juliet, Legally Blonde, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, The Great British Bake Off Musical and 13 going on 30. She is also a member of the band SVN. Could you tell me a bit about the story of White Christmas?

White Christmas follows the story of Phil Davies and Bob Wallace who are in the war, and they then become Broadway stars. They are looking for a sister act and

find the wonderful Betty and Judy Haynes, who are played by me and the wonderful Natasha Mould, and there is some romance in the air (without giving too much away!). They end up finding themselves in an inn they weren’t meant to be in, well at least one of them didn’t think they were meant to be there, and they meet General Waverley, who they had worked with before.

They decide to put on a show in the barn, so it’s very show-within-a-show vibes, and there’s lots of comedy and romance, and friction let’s say, that gets resolved.

But it all comes together in the end – it’s one of those lovely, nostalgic Christmas stories that’s got something for all ages and different people within your family, so it’s perfect for everyone!

W h a t ’ s B e t t y ’ s character like and what can we expect to see from her in this show?

Ooh great question! Betty is very practical, she is quite reserved and sometimes quite insecure, and I think she goes on a really lovely journey in the show of finding who she is outside of her sisterhood and the act, and finding out what she really wants. She’s also very funny, it’s really lovely getting to play

Credit: West End Live

someone quite different from myself, in terms of she can be quite serious sometimes, and I’m not a serious person at all! But then as the show goes on, she really opens up and has a lovely story with Bob, and it’s kind of one of those love stories where the audience, for the whole show, are just wanting for them to get together and rooting for them but they just keep missing each other with miscommunications and things like that. And then by the end of it, it’s finally all resolved, and they finally get their happily ever after. She’s a lovely character and I think what I love the most are the songs I get to do. There’s an amazing song in Act 2 called ‘Love – You Didn’t Do Right by Me’, which is where Betty goes to the Regency Rooms in Manhattan and has this big “I’m a solo act” kind of moment, so I’m really excited for that one.

Are they all original songs, or a mix between original and things we’ve heard before?

Yeah, so it’s a beautiful score

by Irving Berlin. It’s mostly the same songs that are in the film, so there’ll be lots of recognisable tunes. For example, even though my nan hasn’t watched films for so long, I’ll sing her some of the songs and she’ll sing along,

s o s h e Credit: knows CentreStage some of them from premiere being standalone from February songs of that time anyway, to March. Do you have which is really lovely. And of anything lined up afterwards course, the absolute classic that you might want to ‘White Christmas’ is in there, share with Forge Press? so there’s some absolute bangers and it’s a beautiful I don’t actually, I’m trying to score to sing, as I’m sure the just be present and enjoy all whole company would agree. the things I’m doing. I’d love to do a solo concert again, When people walk out of The so stay tuned for that! But I Crucible having just seen think I’m trying to be present White Christmas, what is whilst I’m away from London, it you want them to feel? but I know the minute I’m back in London and January I think no one is going to be hits and the audition able to leave without feeling circuit comes around, it’s very festive, very nostalgic going to be back to it. Who and cosy. It’s basically like knows what’s around the a cup of warm mulled wine, corner, it’s very exciting! if mulled wine was a show.

It’s just a lovely, festive, Read the full interview on Christmassy, cosy, fuzzy the Forge Press website feeling. That’s what they’ll feel.

White Christmas is After you’ve done playing at The Crucible in White Christmas, you’ve Sheffield City Centre from announced that you’re going December 9th to January to be going alongside Jacob 13th. Tickets are available Fowler in the Before After at sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

Credit: Sheffield Theatres

Monday 4th December 2023

23

Music

Student-led record label celebrates first release Joey Grindrod (he/him)

O

ctagon Records, an independent record label run

by University of Sheffield students in conjunction with the University’s Music Department, has released its first two singles.

Initially set up in November 2022, Octagon Records is the only student-run record label in the UK. The label’s aim is to help student-artists to release music, assisting them with all elements of the process from recording to promotion.

Thanks to a ‘generous’ donation from University of Sheffield alumni, the label

has recently been able to purchase the equipment necessary to start recording and producing Sheffield students’ music projects.

Released on the 3rd of November, ‘Falling Down’, the debut single from singersongwriter duo Autumn of Nothing, marked Octagon Records’ first release. Consisting of Tom Dallimore and River Ciccone, Autumn of Nothing started playing together while in

their first year studying music at the University of Sheffield. Inspired by jazz and folk music, Autumn of Nothing bring together influences ranging from Nick Drake to Jacob Collier to create versatile, emotive, and compelling music.

Octagon's second single ‘See You Strange’ is the first solo release from multi-instrumentalist and University of Sheffield student Arthur Scrivener.

Released on the 24th of November, ‘See You Strange’ pairs a strong drum groove with synthesiser experimentation, fusing a range of different genres and ideas into one tune.

Octagon Records already run a weekly open mic night and are looking to book more gigs and events designed to shine a light on the musical talent on display in the University of Sheffield’s student body.

Neil McSweeney, a lecturer at the University of Sheffield who founded and supervises Octagon Records, said “It's been a joy to work with the Octagon Records team as they have got the label set up and begun to shape the contribution it will make to

the university community.

“Through my work setting up Hudson Records, I can appreciate the graft involved in getting to the point where you can actually start releasing music. I take my hat off to them.

“I'm sure this first schedule of releases is only the start of an exciting journey for the label and can't wait to find out what music projects might be possible when musicians and creatives across the university begin to make use of this valuable new resource.”

Octagon Records can be contacted at octagonrecords@sheffield. ac.uk or on Instagram @OctagonRecordsSheffield.

banter with the audience throughout the night and after ‘act one’ of their setlist concludes with their 2019 breakout ‘Glass Towns’, Boyle cools the audience down by sampling Cyndi Lauper’s ‘Girls Just Want To Have Fun’ on an acoustic guitar, plucking away by himself at first before being joined by the rest of the band for the beautiful ‘Hoping Maybe’.

Once the band allow the crowd to wipe their sweat away, they continue with ‘Aurora’ and ‘Valley One’. They bring the tempo of the gig up through Hometown which, while definitely inspired by the Manchester music scene of the 1990s, particularly Oasis, is brought to life

with its own unique clever lyricism and foot-stomping energy. It strikes me how difficult it is to do anything but watch on in awe (though the four gentlemen beside me tried to, as it felt like they did almost anything except watch the concert they had paid to attend).

Concluding the setlist with ‘Sarajevo’, potentially one of the only rock songs to discuss the events that began the First World War - including a very clever namedrop of AustroHungary - it struck me that I have now seen The K’s in four different venues arena, festival, theatre and now an intimate arena - and the band has not looked or

sounded out of place at any point. Every single time they have taken the stage, they have taken their audience almost under their spell, hypnotising them with a brand of rock and roll that many thought was dead after the last few Arctic Monkeys records.

If you hadn’t heard of The K’s, then make sure you buy their debut record - because they won’t stay in venues like The Leadmill for long; they seem destined to follow the footsteps of energetic guitar bands who have emerged from Liverpool and Manchester and move on to much bigger things.

Live Review: The K's @ The Leadmill Ryan Batty (he/him)

I

f you are an ardent supporter of the unsigned indie music scene then Earlestown’s The K’s won’t be an unfamiliar name to you. Last seen in Sheffield supporting The Reytons in their history-making gig at the Utilita Arena in September, they made their anticipated return on Wednesday evening at The Leadmill, headlining a stage that has hosted some of Britain’s finest guitar bands over its forty-plus year history.

If you aren’t necessarily up to date with unsigned indie bands then make sure you get to know The K’s.

Launching into their fifteensong setlist with the electric ‘Picture’, the band receive a level of energy from a soldout main stage audience that simply does not drop for the hour-and-a-bit that they are on stage. Immediately after the conclusion of their first track, they are serenaded with “Yorkshire!” chants from an adoring crowd and though they hail from west of the Pennines, they must have secretly enjoyed the

incredible atmosphere that The Leadmill commanded.

After the incredibly catchy ‘Got a Feeling’, they play the lead single from their soon-to-be-released debut LP I Wonder if The World Knows? entitled ‘Heart on my Sleeve’. When an audience is so familiar with the back catalogue that a band has curated for the best part of a decade, new releases may not go down as well. As the Leadmill audience bounce around to a song that was released to the world not ten hours earlier, it is evident that The K’s do not have this problem.

With their unique sound full of guitarist Ryan Breslin’s mesmerising riffs, tremendous bass playing from the returning Dexter Baker, superb drumming from Jordan Holden and the beautiful voice of lead vocalist Jamie Boyle, the band dream of fame on ‘TV’, describe drunken tales on ‘Chancer’ and the workingclass transition from childhood to adulthood on ‘Landmines’.

The K’s are charismatic; Baker, Boyle and Breslin all

24

Forge Press

Music

Forge Press Music's Albums of 2023

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s 2023 comes to an end, we're excited to share our contributors' picks for the best album of the year. From new artists bursting onto the scene to old favourites reminding us why we continue to listen, the Forge Music team have curated a list of the albums that made 2023 such a memorable year for music.

Join us in recapping the best albums released in the past twelve months and celebrating another year of music discovery.

In no particular order, the Forge Press Music albums of 2023 are as follows:

Healing Town - Iris Bilinksy Charlie Davies Healing Town is the emotional and raw third album from Iris Bilinsky, a young artist from Pennsylvania who released their first just two years prior.

Instrumentally, the album sounds as if it was a home recording project, similar to Bon Iver’s For Emma, Forever Ago. Both albums centre around alternatively-tuned acoustic guitars but Healing Town differs by including DIY percussion elements like an egg shaker, a tambourine, or the guitar itself being used as a drum. Strangely, the occasional kazoo reminds me of the brass elements found in some of Bon Iver’s tracks.

Bilinksy controls the album incredibly, seamlessly transitioning from the chaotic explosions of sounds at the end of the title track to the campfire-esque ‘Attack Dogs’. While the songwriting across the whole album is excellent, Bilinksy really flaunts their talent as a wordsmith on the album’s calmer tracks like ‘Attack

Dogs’ or the closer ‘Little Fires Everywhere’. Using this gift, Bilinksy deals with their struggles with mental health, family relationships, and selfidentity through songwriting that feels both targeted and random at the same time.

The Record - boygenius Tabitha Wilson The debut studio album from indie rock supergroup boygenius has taken the world by storm this year, receiving critical acclaim and leading to commercial success for the band, consisting of Julien Baker, Lucy Dacus, and Phoebe Bridgers.

Their first release since 2018, The Record combines the artists’ individual talent and creates an instant classic with the tracks feeling fresh yet timeless.

Highlights include the pensive, wistful ‘Emily I’m Sorry’, and the hauntingly sad ‘Letter To An Old Poet’.

The trio write with such intense emotion that at times their music almost feels hard to listen to, with their vulnerability feeling relatable yet distant.

The glorious ‘Not Strong Enough’ pairs sustained, sharp vocals with cathartic lyricism; the track ends with the trio belting “I don’t know why I am / The way I am”.

Credit must be given to Baker’s vocals in particular, with her heart-breaking, crackling crooning on ‘$20’ a highlight of the release.

As strong as they are as individual artists, The Record reaches new heights for Bridgers, Dacus, and Baker.

With the release of a further EP this year, ‘the rest’, fans are hopeful that even more new music could be on the way.

But Here We Are - Foo Fighters Tom Ford Foo Fighters return just after a year from the loss of drummer Taylor Hawkins with their 11th record and the best album of 2023, But Here We Are. Across ten tracks, Dave Grohl and the band pay tribute to both Hawkins and Grohl's mother Virginia, lamenting on their tragic loss and looking to the future.

This is perfectly exemplified by the album’s second track ‘Under You’ on which Grohl considers his friendship with Hawkins in personal detail through lyrics such as “pictures of us sharing songs and cigarettes”. The importance of relationships is heavily emphasised on the song as Grohl cries out “there are times that I need someone”, a lyric that embodies a sense of loss but also an acceptance that sometimes help is needed in life.

The album reaches its climax with the ten-minutelong epic ‘The Teacher’ that pays tribute to Virginia Grohl through a documentation of the sense of being lost.

This is perfectly exemplified as Grohl sings “you showed me how to breathe you never showed me how to say goodbye”. The song ‘Show Me How’ demonstrates the foreward-looking message of the album, featuring a duet between Grohl and his daughter Violet.

But Here We Are is the ultimate statement of Foo Fighters, a band born of tragedy following the loss of Kurt Cobain, demonstrating their stoicism in the face of adversity and ability to build on tragedy yet look on to new horizons.

Stick Season (and we’ll all be here forever) - Noah Kahan Charlotte Colley “Pack up a car and put a hand on your heart, we ain't angry at you love, you're the greatest thing we've lost.” Kahan’s songs feel like a pocket of air as you're wading through the depths of life’s lessons, you too trying to make peace with them. They don't serve to camouflage pain but rather act as a friend that sits with you on the kerb until the early morning. Through the raw, authentic combination of the lyrics blended with folkish melodies, Kahan renders the harsh lessons of life something to dance to on Stick Season.

The album addresses the very real fears we all collectively hold within us, touching our imperfect souls that hold it together through life and creating a community of humans that love life regardless.

The songs themselves are incredibly relevant to our society and collective mindset, poking at the very messy vulnerability we often conceal, while the music takes a comfort in being openly unkempt seen on songs such as ‘your needs my needs’.

Stick Season is simply a humble collective of life experiences accompanied by a guitar that truly touches the soul.

This album is the perfect soundtrack to a life of figuring it out.

Gigi’s Recovery - The Murder Capital Henry Noble From the brutish and, at points, dismal nature of 2019’s When I Have Fears, The Murder Capital bounced back with a more alluring, contemplative record in the form of Gigi’s Recovery. Gone were the ferocious instrumentals and indignant vocals - instead, Gigi’s showed us tenderness and grace. ‘A Thousand Lives’ delivers a dreamy synth line intertwined with James McGovern’s words of boundless affection. On ‘Crying’, he fears that this love may not survive. ‘The Stars Will Leave Their Stage’ takes an abstract look at the fleeting nature of existence.

This theme of existence is a cyclical one on Gigi’s Recovery, clearly expressed through its mellow opening and closing tracks. ‘Only Good Things’, perfectly twee in its instrumentals, focuses on finding solace in a complex world. That all said, the signature heaviness of the band’s sound is far from lost. ‘Return My Head’ is snappy and bullish and the crescendos of ‘Ethel’ and ‘A Thousand Lives’ are stirring and raucous in equal measure.

Each track on Gigi’s Recovery is packed with the intrigue of a post-punk band carving a fresh identity.

Altogether, the record excitingly paints a portrait of the band in an elegant, romantic light.

26

Forge Press

Screen

Leeds International Film Festival: 'The Holdovers': “They are trapped together whether they want to be or not- like many families are at Christmas” Livia Gregor (She/Her)

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creened as part of the Leeds International Film Festival, ‘The Holdovers’, follows the emotional journey of a teacher and his pupil as they spend an unlikely Christmas together at a New England boarding school.

The film captivates the viewer. The audience at The Hyde Park Picture House, earlier this month, were both audibly amused and brought to tears which is refreshing in a world where people often seem disengaged with cinema. The warning to put phones away and keep quiet was simply not necessary.

Paul Giamatti, known for ‘The Truman Show’ and ‘Saving Private Ryan’ brings

charisma and peculiarity to the maverick, misfit Professor Paul Hunham.

Giamatti manages to portray Hunham as a multifaceted being rather than simply a cranky classics teacher or social outsider. He is both of these things but the character has a real depth which is one of the reasons the film is superb. What makes ‘The Holdovers’ so noteworthy is the interaction on screen between Hunham and troubled student Angus played by Domonic Sessa.

Both characters are lost and seem to see themselves reflected in the other. But that doesn’t prevent there being several scenes where both are at their wit's end with the other. They are trapped together whether they want to be or not-

like many families are at Christmas. After many a fraught afternoon together, Hunham and Angus begin to grow on each other.

Sessa depicts Angus as a troubled adolescent with a sympathetic side, searching for the parental attention he desperately wants. His problematic home life has led him to lack respect and trust for authority figures. He initially sees the professor as another adult who isn’t

on his side and Hunham has spent so many years alone that he has almost forgotten the importance of spending the Christmas season with anyone other than Plato and Socrates. Watching the unlikely friends heal each other’s wounds is truly heartwarming.

‘The Holdovers’ would not have been what it is without the poignant performance of Da'Vine Joy Randolph as bereaved mother Mary. Yet another lonely figure, Mary works as head chef in the kitchen and is spending Christmas at the school after her son’s death in the Vietnam War. Her life is a stark contrast to the privileged teachers and pupils as her son was called up after she couldn’t afford to send him to college.

Randolph, who gained recognition playing Oda Mae Brown in the Broadway version of 90s film ‘Ghost’, beautifully exhibits Mary’s rage at the cards she has been dealt as well as her quick-wittedness, inner strength and compassionate nature.

The film is not only set in the early 1970s but has a real vintage feel to it. It felt as if you were watching a returning classic, not something that had been created today. This gave the piece a real quality. Looking to the future, ‘The Holdovers’ will be released on the 19th of January and is certainly not one to miss!

Saltburn: "Depravity at its finest, though a little smug" Patrick Gregan (He/Him)

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t is a challenge to write a review saying you should see a film which features eroticisation of period blood, sensuous drinking of dirty bath water and the lead having sex with a young man’s grave, but here goes.

Emerald Fennell’s second feature film, 'Saltburn', offers a talented cast, gorgeous visuals and dialogue that stings like acid in the best way. The story follows Oliver Quick (played by Barry Keoghan), a mid 2000s Oxford student who doesn’t fit in with the regular students due to his tragic poverty-stricken life and Merseyside accent.

After befriending Felix Catton (Jacob Elordi of 'Euphoria' fame), the most popular of the upper-class nepo-babies, his life takes a dramatic turn when he is invited to stay at the Catton’s castle estate, the titular Saltburn. Once there, everything steadily spirals into obscenity and tragedy as the Catton’s new poverty project begins to burrow his way into the wealth and freedom provided by these oblivious elites.

Visually, a comparison with Hitchcock’s 1940 film 'Rebecca' can be made and aptly so as Saltburn does a wonderful job of highlighting the isolation and loneliness one might feel among people

who seem worlds apart from you. Linus Sandgren, the cinematographer, crafts shots that would challenge gallery paintings for their artistry. A recurring visual motif is that of reflection; in mirrors, water and immaculately polished tables, who we are is reflected back at us, but only the outward form. What we are inside deep down - can be hidden, especially when others love what you’re showing them too much to lose it.

Keoghan is perfect and while his character must do some horrendous crimes throughout the runtime, he makes each a believable action. The Cattons are a case study in craziness!

Rosamund Pike and Richard E. Grant act as the eccentric but empathetic heads of the family while Elordi and Alison Oliver as Venetia - in her film debut - make up the troublesome children such aristocrats must possess. Oliver’s Venetia was a highlight of the film; she infuses her character with an emotional fragility but pairs it with a razor-sharp tongue. Without giving too much away, her final scene is a masterclass as she exposes the wolf among the sheep. All that is needed is to keep the camera on her.

The biggest flaw is its predictable story. By the midpoint, the majority of audience members will

correctly guess the next hour of plot and settle into their seats to enjoy the inevitable conclusion. The film, however, is not aware of this and treats said conclusion as a shocking revelation.

A slightly smarter script might end on a question, leaving room for doubt and continued debate. Another re-write holds it back from the greatness it pursues.

Despite this, Saltburn is daring enough in its visuals and characters to be worth a watch. The extremity of its content will turn many away, but it dares you to take a sneaky peek through the door it leaves ajar.

Quick Christmas Quiz: Charles Wright (he/him)

1) Where were the McCallister family going to spend Christmas in 'Home Alone'?

2) Who plays Miles, Kate Winslet’s love interest in 'The Holiday'?

3) Which UK airport is mentioned at the beginning and end of 'Love Actually'?

4) What is the name of George Bailey’s guardian angel in 'It’s a Wonderful Life'?

5) Which Muppets play the Marley Brothers in 'A Muppets Christmas Carol'?

Image Credit: TMDB

Answers (No peeking): 1) Paris 2) Jack Black 3) Heathrow 4) Clarence 5) Statler and Waldorf

28

Forge Press

Games

Forge's Game of the Year: What's our favourite release of 2023?

Aaron Byrne (he/him)

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ow that 2023 is nearing its end, I’ve been stuck staring blankly at my monitor for about an hour trying to figure out what was TRULY my game of the year.

There were countless titles this year that could’ve snatched a spot as mi numero uno, but it’s been almost impossible for me to decide - especially with masterpieces like The Lord of the Rings: Gollum, and Skull Island: Rise of Kong both competing for that top place on my podium… (sarcasm there if you couldn’t tell).

Objectively, I’ve clocked about 170+ hours on Forza Motorsport since its launch in late October – making it my most played game of this 2023 – so on paper that should probably be it, right?

Well... not necessarily.

I loved Resident Evil 4, the Dead Space remake was remarkable, and I remember spending hours playing Hogwarts Legacy, too. But amidst all these heavyhitter AAAs, there was one game that I don’t think had NEARLY enough of the attention or recognition that it deserved when it launched back in May. Therefore, I’m gonna be annoying and quirky and pick an indie game 'cause I wanted to highlight it for its gorgeous art style, aweinspiring soundtrack and beautifully-moving story.

This game was Planet of Lana, which was a debut from Swedish developer Wishfully Studios.

To call this game a work of art would be an understatement as it’s one of those rare titles that you could screenshot at any moment – and, without any context, could assume that it’s a piece of digital art.

The story of Planet of Lana is gracefully told. You play as a young girl named Lana as she traverses through a planet with her feline companion Mui, in order to save her sister who’s been abducted during an invasion from alien AI machines.

The gameplay is similar to Limbo – where you solve puzzles while you travel through a two-dimensional world in (mostly) one, continuous direction.

It gives the game such great pacing, as you feel like you’re constantly advancing through the story – and whenever you enter into a new biome – you feel a real sense of satisfaction and progress.

But, what makes Planet of Lana special, is that it takes these

tropes, and decides to flip it all on its head towards the climax of the game – where you end up in what can only be described as a colourless, abstract, mind-scrambling void – which completely contrasts the gentle pallet of the majority of the game.

Its short and sweet, making it a delight to sit down and play in one-sitting. I

genuinely can’t recommend it enough, and with it being their first-ever release, it’s safe to say that whatever else Wishfully are hiding from us will be incredible.

Ornella Bressan (she/her)

W

ith the Games Awards 2023 hitting our streaming screens on December 8th, one game title will soon win the crown of being the Game of the Year... Baldur’s Gate 3, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of a Kingdom, Alan Wake 2, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Resident Evil 4 and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2.

If I had played Baldur’s Gate 3, there would have been a 99% chance of me going on a passionate rant of why I think it's the best game ever, paired up with the fact that many of my friends speak highly of it.

But since I didn't play it, my passionate rant will have to go towards a game you might've heard about online... Lethal Company.

I believe it will definitely receive a nomination next year since it came out so recently, but I can’t help but

say that it's one of the best games of 2023 because it truly shows that sometimes less is more.

With simplistic graphics and easy rules, Lethal Company is a game everyone should try out with their friends at least once.

It's an horror co-op game where your goal, as a loyal employee to The Company, is to venture into alien planets, loot as much as you can, and get out before midnight — all of this whilst trying to avoid dying to jumpscaring monsters.

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If you don't reach the quota, you get fired and floated out of the ship to meet your death.

Same goes if all group members die trying a day before the quota is due, since you lose all the loot you got the previous days.

What makes this game extra-fun is the option to play with your friends and the proximity voice chat.

If one of the group screams before dying from the giant spider, you best believe you'll hear an hilarious cut-off.

Most of the time that happens to be me as I get so paranoid to the point where I'll run ANYWHERE the second I see a monster coming at me. One time I met my death by accidentally jumping over the rail.

If you're more coldblooded, you'll see that with the right tools and momentum, you can actually kill the beasts.

I had the honour of having my first kill not even 24 hours ago from the time of writing this. A worm attacked my friend and I finally had a stop sign that I used as a weapon. Sadly, that led to not only killing the worm but two of my friends in the process, accidentally hitting him too many times.

At the same time, the friend who helped out was already in a critical condition so when the worm fell to the ground, it smushed him instantly.

With hidden lore in the game and hilarious characters who walk as if they literally have a stick up their bums, I adore this game, and you should too.

Monday 4th December 2023

29

Games

Fresh games

Headbangers

Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin

Super Mario RPG

PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One,

PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Windows

Switch

Switch, Windows

Wage a campaign of brutal conquest in

Assemble a group of unlikely heroes

Become a master headbanger in this new rhythm battle royale!

a realm-shattering fantasy real-time strategy game

and embark on a whimsical quest to repair the wish-granting Star Road

LET’S BUILD A ZOO: Be a god with your own moral compass Ornella Bressan (she/her)

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magine being able to build from scratch a classic, nice, pixelated zoo to be drawn to the dark side and slowly shift it into an animal-killing factory – don’t worry you’re not forced to join the dark side, but it is quite fun, that’s for sure.

From playing hours of My Cafe on my phone back in 2016, and keeping it in my heart as the best management game to exist, I was blown away by Let’s Build A Zoo and I can safely say that my lovely My Cafe has long been dethroned.

As a fiercely competitive Valorant player who just cannot seem to be able to keep that Diamond rank, there are times where I need some time off.

Enter Let’s Build A Zoo. Developed by indie company Springloaded, the game is pretty simple; you build your zoo from scratch and watch it grow to become the biggest and most profitable zoo in the world with a wild variety of organic and genetically modified animals.

Starting from the bottom, your job is to make your visitors happy by making your animals happy — if you want to.

There are two paths you can take in this game: the good or evil one.

With the good path, you essentially make all the right moral choices whilst taking good care of all your animals and employees.

But with the evil path, you pick all the morally wrong choices, such as not reporting the black market dealer to the police and actually buying an animal from ‘questionable sources’, or putting your dead animals

in the processor to gain money off their meat.

Depending on which sides you take, you get exclusive furniture and perks through the Research Hub, which is the building that helps you receive more goodies as you grow by accumulating research points.

For example, when it comes to paying the bills, you can either be good and get environmentally friendly windmills for your electricity, or have a

machine that illegally uses the light coming from street lamps by stealing from the government and having the electricity for free.

There are honestly so many options you can do here.

The uniqueness of the game that I love the most is the complete freedom to decide the fate of your zoo, so if you want to mistreat your animals and ignore your visitors’ complaints, you can do it. Although that would mean having to deal with protesters, which you can get rid of with a few thousands dollars.

When I launched my first zoo, I wanted to take the evil path straight away, but due to a friend who was spectating me, I had to take the right path.

So I got my first bunnies, built an enclosure for them and actually took care of them. When the first critical choice appeared, which happens often, I had a lost Labrador. I could either keep it by disguising it as a lion and earn evil points, or pay $50 to advertise its

disappearance and find its owner and take good points.

Of course, I had to choose the latter.

As my zoo grew, I started trading my animals for new ones in a repeating cycle as well as getting a new science related building, the ‘CRISPR Splicer’, where I can only genetically modify two different species, and weird enough this option is neither good nor evil, so you get it regardless.

So if you’re a fan of management games or want to try a new one, I would definitely recommend this one.

Plus, if you end up being obsessed with it, you’ll be happy to know that the game has DLCs as well, so you could start a new chapter by building an aquarium or a dinosaur specific zoo - which I’m pretty sure I’ll end up adding to my Steam library.

All image credits: Springloaded

30

Forge Press

Sport

Opinion: English football has a concerning gambling problem Aiman Khalid

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etting firms have become part and parcel of modern day English football, from the day 21 years ago that Fulham became the first Premier League club to agree a front-of-shirt sponsorship with one, to 2023 where nine out of the 20 Premier League teams carry the name of a betting firm on their shirt. However, it goes much further than this; a 2020 study by the University of Stirling found that a gambling sponsor could be seen every 21 seconds of a Premier League match TV broadcast. Advertising hoardings, shirt sleeves, press conferences and even stadiums are littered with the names of betting firms, making it impossible to ignore them.

Despite this, for many fans this is a mere inconvenience or frustration. Their real problem is with the hypocrisy of governing bodies like the FA and the Premier League. They seem happy to profit off an industry worth over £100 billion globally per year, yet ban and ostracise players like Ivan Toney for having an addiction to the very thing they allow to be plastered almost everywhere within football, including on Toney’s shirt.

Young footballers are forced to endorse and work in an environment filled with betting products but are then punished for using them. Surely the nonsensical nature of this is clear.

It may simply come down to greed; whilst the PL is far and away the most lucrative league in Europe, in comparison there are only two other betting firm shirt sponsors in Europe’s top leagues. They don’t need the money, yet continue to associate themselves with something that Public

Health England estimates causes 409 suicides a year, out of the 68,000 problem gamblers in the UK. Steven Caulker being dropped from a potential TV appearance for Bet365 due to his previous positive work on gambling addiction highlights how betting firms appear to prey on the most vulnerable, as they often make their large amounts of profit from a small number of return users. It also sends a massively negative message to other problem gamblers and may make footballers think twice before asking for help or detailing their experiences to help others as Caulker referred to.

Rob Davies, a Guardian reporter and author, took this idea one step further by saying that betting companies actually target losing customers with VIP programmes offering perks such as football match tickets to keep them coming back for more. He also drew attention to just how much football betting itself has changed, from betting on results to suddenly being able to bet on in-game events such as the next bookings, corners and fouls, imitating casinos or rapid slot-machine play. The adverse effect that this has had cannot be quantified, but it is almost certain that this has contributed to many falling down the slippery slope of addiction.

On top of this, many explayers and managers

happily endorse betting firms, most famously Jose Mourinho and Peter Crouch with their work for PaddyPower. Young fans watching and falling in love with football not only cannot get away from gambling advertisements, but their heroes and idols are often associated with this, normalising it. Furthermore, betting firms appear to exploit the sense of community and camaraderie common amongst football fans (‘everyone’s doing it, it’s just a way to support your club’), undoubtedly contributing to the 55,000 children aged 11-16 who have gambling problems in the UK, according to the Gambling Commission. Many of these children may have been prompted to try it for the first time due to the sheer amount of times they see adverts for it.

The PL has stated that there will be no gambling sponsors on the front of shirts from the 2026/27 season onwards in what seems to be a change for the better. However, many see this merely as a token gesture as betting sponsors may continue to be heavily prevalent on shirt sleeves, LED advertising hoardings that are impossible to miss, and press conferences.

Furthermore, the EFL still has a record five-year partnership extension with Sky Bet as the League’s title partner which would take it to the end of the 2028/29 campaign.

English football’s governing bodies must do more for the aforementioned 68,000 problem gamblers in the UK. If the dominant involvement of betting sponsors in English football continues, this number will only go up.

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There is still a long way to go to eradicate this issue

Image Credit: Sport & Physical Activity, University of Sheffield

Review: Goodwin gym is better than ever before Becca Hampstead (she/her)

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fter a longawaited refurbishment, Goodwin finally reopened its doors for Sheffield gymgoers on 22 November.

Sporting all-new Technogym equipment and ambient lighting, the new gym exudes a much more modern and sophisticated environment to cater to everybody's fitness needs.

As a Goodwin member myself, I can attest to how much better the new designs make use of the available space than the previous equipment arrangement.

The downstairs area boasts impressive powerlifting equipment alongside a freeweight section, inclusive to all fitness levels. New equipment additions, such as the hack squat and T-bar row, undoubtedly excite the average gym member to adapt session plans. For any endurance enthusiasts, the multitude of brandnew cutting-edge cardio machines is most definitely an enticing upgrade.

My personal favourite technological feature is the easy-to-use touchscreen nature of the treadmills.

In consideration of

previous feedback, a muchneeded array of cable machines now dominate the upstairs floor, alongside straightforward, easily accessible pin-loaded equipment.

Nonetheless, potential newcomers should be aware of the current lack of matted areas, hampering their ability to complete floor workouts or stretch before training.

However, these will be relocated from the temporary studios over the upcoming weeks, so is yet to be a cause for concern.

Sport Sheffield is currently offering £175 student memberships for the entire academic year until 30 June 2024. If independent gym sessions aren't your thing, fear not, as Goodwin further offers a variety of structured classes within this superb deal; these range from brand-new virtual led spin workouts to instructor-led yoga classes, making this a fantastic offer for both returning and new student members.

Goodwin has unarguably exceeded itself with its revamped interior, and I would motivate others to come along to take a peek for themselves!

Rating:

Monday 4 December 2023

31

Sport

Spotlight: Judo Patrick Gregan (he/him)

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t the Sheffield University Kyu Tournament on 25 November, we got the chance to ask several competitors a few questions about their experience with judo.

What got you started in judo?

Laila, 19, University of Liverpool: “I did Krav Maga, but there wasn’t a team for that at uni so I tried out all the martial arts and something about judo just clicked.”

Elliott, 20, University of Sheffield: “I did it when I was a kid, then decided to give it a go when I came to uni and got massively hooked on it.”

Luke, 18, Durham University: “I used to do rugby and Gaelic football, but at uni I wanted to try something new so I started judo.”

Do you have a favourite throw?

Laila: “My go-to is osotootoshi, but the left handed version. They don’t expect it.”

Elliott: “Probably uchimata.”

Luke: “Whatever works. I don’t know the name of the one I used to win my fight. I just did it.”

How did you find taking part in SUKT? Laila: “It’s been amazing - everyone’s been so welcoming and nice. It’s so smoothly run too.”

Elliott: “It’s brilliant. I entered a weight category above which I’ve not done before and it was really nice to see the power and

excellent technique that everyone has.”

Luke: “I really enjoyed it.

It’s a really good beginners’ competition for those just getting started.”

Why should people try judo?

Laila: “Judo is whatever you make it. It’s completely tailored to what you want to do.”

Elliott: “There’s so many reasons to do it. It keeps you fit and once you think you’ve learned something, there’s so much further you can take it. There’s never one point where you’ve learned everything.”

Luke: “Everyone’s really welcoming and everyone’s

ready to learn. It’s like solving a puzzle with your mind and body.”

Judo Dictionary Krav Maga - a martial art that combines techniques from judo, karate, boxing and wrestling.

Osoto-otoshi - a foot technique throw that unbalances your opponent over the top of your leg and causes them to fall.

Uchi-mata - another foot technique throw that involves opening your opponent's feet, forcing them to lean forward before you hook their thigh and throw them to the floor.

January targets: Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday Will Atherton

L

ast season was an extremely successful one for both Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United. Both teams won promotion, with the Blades finishing second in the Championship after a strong campaign under manager Paul Heckingbottom. The Owls progressed through the League One playoffs, beating Peterborough on penalties following a miraculous comeback and then narrowly edging fellow South Yorkshire side Barnsley in the final.

However, despite last season’s success, both sides have struggled immensely this season. United find themselves 18th in the Premier League, managing only one win so far. Similarly, Sheffield Wednesday have only picked up six points to date and currently sit rock bottom of the Championship.

The January transfer window will now become the paramount focus of both clubs as they look to drag themselves away from the looming threat of relegation.

For Sheffield United, many issues so far this season have derived from the lack

of options upfront. Following the loss of Iliman Ndiaye in August, the Blades signed England U21 striker Cameron Archer from Aston Villa, for around £21 million.

While Archer has shown promise during his eight starts, scoring two goals, he has often been isolated and would benefit from a quality strike partner alongside him. Oli McBurnie, Rhian Brewster and Bénie Traore have all struggled to make an impact, and so bolstering options upfront would make sense for Heckingbottom’s side.

Some additional depth in goal may also help the Blades. Wes Foderingham has had a poor start to the season and some tough competition may help reignite his performances.

Second choice keeper Adam Davies has not started a league game in over six months and would be a poor replacement should Foderingham get injured or suspended.

Sheffield Wednesday have struggled in most aspects of their game since the start of the campaign, scoring the fewest goals and having the worst defensive stats in the division.

The Owls’ summer window

Image Credit: Sheffield Wednesday saw them bring in 12 fresh faces, five of which were loans. In defence they have struggled aerially, winning the lowest number of aerial duels in the league despite having physical players like Bambo Diaby at their disposal. Some quality in either the centre-half or full-back positions would do Wednesday no harm.

The Hillsborough faithful have also been crying out for a clinical striker in January after seeing their team score just 10 goals this season. The club will probably look for some fresh impetus in attack.

However, it is looking increasingly likely that Sheffield Wednesday will be under tight financial constraints during the January window. New manager Danny Rohl may look to utilise the loan market to improve his side, and some departures may be needed in order to balance the books.

Movember roundup Katy Roberts (she/her)

F

or the month of November, sports clubs and socities across the university challenged their members to grow out their facial hair and run

a minimum of 60km for charity.

The annual event raises awareness of male health issues, including prostate cancer, testicular cancer and high men's suicide rates.

University target → £65,000 Total money raised → £67,753 Total distance → 14,963.43km Members → 903 Teams → 78 Top-earning team → Sheffield University Cricket Club on £18,655 Top fundraiser → Harry Tuvey (SUCC) on £2,325

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Forge Press

Sport

A tribute to ice hockey's Adam Johnson

Image Credit: Nottingham Panthers Adam Hulme-Thomas

I

n the realm of ice hockey, certain players leave an indelible mark not only on the sport but also in the hearts of fans worldwide. Adam Johnson, a talented and spirited ice hockey player, recently left us aged just 29, leaving behind a legacy that will forever be etched in the annals of the game.

Adam Johnson's career was a testament to his unwavering dedication, skill, and love for the sport.

Born with a natural talent for handling the puck and an uncanny ability to navigate the rink with finesse, he quickly rose through the ranks, catching the attention of enthusiasts and professionals alike.

His journey from the local rinks to the grand arenas

mirrored the quintessential underdog story, captivating the imaginations of aspiring hockey players around the globe.

Throughout his career, Johnson donned the jersey of various teams, each time proving his mettle and contributing to the success of his squad. He made an impact at the Nottingham Panthers, Augsburger Panther, Malmo Redhawks and Pittsburgh Penguins just to name a few- loving tributes have been pouring in from everywhere.

The latter performed a touching ceremony in memory of Adam Johnson, with players for both the Pittsburgh Penguins and Anaheim Ducks gathering in a circle to pay tribute.

Fans then applauded in

Upcoming sports fixtures across Sheffield this winter

celebration of his career and players wore “AJ 47” stickers on their helmets.

His speed, agility, and remarkable goal-scoring prowess made him a force to be reckoned with on the ice.

But beyond the statistics and accolades, it was Johnson's infectious enthusiasm and sportsmanship that endeared him to teammates and opponents alike. His passion for the game was palpable, igniting the spirit of competition and camaraderie wherever he played.

Off the ice, Adam Johnson was more than just a skilled athlete. He was a loving son, a devoted partner, and a cherished friend.

His family was not only his support system but also his source of inspiration.

Johnson's journey was marked by the sacrifices and encouragement of those closest to him, and he never forgot to express his gratitude for their unwavering support.

His commitment to balancing the demands of a professional athlete's life with the responsibilities of family exemplified the depth of his character.

In the locker room, Johnson's influence extended beyond his onice performance. Known for his leadership qualities, he served as a mentor to younger players, imparting not only the technical aspects of the game but also the values of teamwork, resilience, and humility.

Teammates remember him not just as a skilled colleague

but as a friend who lifted their spirits in both victory and defeat.

The news of Adam Johnson's passing sent shockwaves through the hockey community, leaving fans and fellow players mourning the loss of a true sportsman. His absence on the ice will be deeply felt, but his legacy will continue to inspire generations of hockey enthusiasts. As the hockey world remembers Adam Johnson, it's not just the goals and victories that come to mind, but the infectious smile, the sportsmanship, and the love for the game that defined a remarkable athlete and an even more remarkable human being.

Sheffield United

Sheffield Wednesday

Ice hockey and rugby

Sheffield United Wed 6 Dec Liverpool 19:30

Sheff Wed QPR

Sat 16 Dec 15:00

Sheff Steelers Sat 9 Dec Guildford Flames 19:00

Sheffield United Brentford

Sat 9 Dec 15:00

Sheff Wed Cardiff City

Sat 23 Dec 15:00

Sheff Sharks Sun 10 Dec Cheshire Phoenix 15:00

Sheffield United Tue 26 Dec Luton Town 15:00

Sheff Wed Hull City

Mon 1 Jan 17:15

Sheffield United West Ham

Sheff Wed Coventry

Sat 20 Jan 15:00

Sun 21 Jan 14:00