Matt Burgess

Hundreds of new students have missed out on University accommodation after a surge in applicants left the University unable to provide beds for all those coming to Sheffield.

Students coming to the city for the first time have been forced to find homes in privately owned accommodation, including rented houses, rather than living in student halls.

The number includes many international students, who have had to pay for hotels until they can find a home.

Those who were not given places to live through the University system were told by an e-mail sent just two weeks before the students were due to move to Sheffield.

Unsuccessful students were told their applications had been passed onto propertywithUS, the University’s private sector housing organisation, and that they should apply for privately owned accommodation through

the online house hunter. Many students left without

a place to live posted messages on the official Students’ Union Facebook page for freshers’ week to show their disapproval.

Fresher Sophie Levene simply wrote: “Homeless in Sheffield,” while Martin Bottemley said: “Don’t worry, we’re setting up a camping area, you might want to bring a tent.”

All first year students who accept a firm place at the University are guaranteed accommodation provided by the Union. Those coming through clearing or accepting their insurance choices are not guaranteed accommodation.

Jacqui Cameron Head of Marketing and Communications at Accommodation and Commercial Services (ACS), who are responsible for University housing, said the majority of students that come to Sheffield do fit into the accommodation guarantee and live in University owned accommodation.

However, sources have told

Forge Press that Sheffield Hallam University may have accepted more than 1000 students they cannot provide accommodation for.

This may have led to private residences such as city centre accommodation Opal one, Opal two and Opal three filling all their rooms.

One fresher, who did not want to be named, said: “With so many things to think of before starting Uni, I didn’t contemplate the main worry being finding a roof to put over my head with such little notice.

“Many people still aren’t excited about freshers’ [week] whilst worrying over finding accommodation and are upset for missing such an iconic part of first year – the halls experience – meeting people in large numbers, the security and inclusive bills.

“Some Freshers’ events even focus solely on socialising with those in your halls by going to your bar.”

Continued on Page 3

Issue 37 // Friday September 16 2011 The independent student newspaper of the University of Sheffield. est 1946 // www.forgetoday.com

We live in a not-so-united Kingdom when it comes to tuition fees

4International students forced to pay for hotels as they search across the city to find a home

4Hundereds of freshers turned away from student halls as rooms are filled

Win2x pairs of tickets to all gigs at the Students’ Union

Fuse pg 16

‘Homeless’Features:Ayup duckA-Z of Yorkshiredialect pg12-13

Sport: Faux brings home Euro gold pg 26

Music:Brooklyn’s Clap Your Hands, Say Yeah Fuse pg 6-7

Games:Ice breaker games for your new flatmates Fuse p 5

Bottled water ban pg. 3 Why Sheffield didn’t riot pg. 4-5 Degree classing may change pg. 7News:

Scottish students have long been the envy of their English counterparts on account of the free tuition they receive at university,

while, last year England saw violent student protests in response to the hike in tuition fees.

As English students, we have no need of a passport to get into Scotland, and if we become ill when we get there we can be treated in NHS hospitals, just as if we

were at home.In the Olympics, Team

GB will be made up of English, Scottish and Welsh athletes, and many English tennis fans will have been cheering Scot Andy Murray on at the American Open.

Unfortunately for English students, this is where the

solidarity ends. This week, the University of Edinburgh announced that it will charge English students £9,000 per year, while maintaining free tuition for Scottish students.

This, combined with the fact that in Scotland students study for four

years, makes the cost of a degree north of the border a whopping £36,000.

England subsidises the tuition fees of Scottish students, amongst other things: all Scottish citizens get free prescriptions, while here in England we have to pay £7.40 per prescription-

it is seriously disturbing to wonder how much that may be costing us.

Now, many English students may be wondering how that is fair.

Why should we subsidise Scotland while feeling the pinch ourselves?

Continued on page 10

Fay GuestComment

Endcliffe

City

Ranmoor

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FULL

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NEWS2 www.forgetoday.com // news@forgetoday.com FORGE PRESS Friday September 16 2011

LOCAL

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ForgE iN BriEF

Only 14 per cent of uni students prioritise studying

Less than one in five first-year students prioritise studies over social activities, a survey has found.

According to Studentbeans.co.uk, just 14% of Freshers students’ rate work as more important than social activity.

The survey also found that 79% of third-years prioritise studying over going out.

Brogan Campbell

Cost of student rent rises

Rent for Sheffield students has risen to an average £63.04 a week, according to new research.

Despite the 3 per cent rise in prices, the city still remains below the nationwide figure of £67.11.

Across the UK, rent is cheapest in Middleborough, at a weekly average of £43.68, while students living in London pay the highest for accommodation at a staggering £108.03.

Ben Sadek

Reporters up for top awards

Two university reporters have been nominated for national journalism awards.

The Guardian Student Media Awards shortlisted Michael Smith for Best Reporter and Thomas Hocking for feature writer of the year.

The 45 finalists were chosen from 648 applications.

Matt Burgress

Out with the old: Bar One opens its doors after summer refurb

A brighter, fresher look: the old Bar One (left) compared to the new Bar One after it had a makeover during the summer including a brand new menu

Harriet Collier

The all new Bar One has been unveiled in the University of Sheffield’s Students’ Union.

The bar has undergone an extensive revamp over the summer including all new furniture, lighting and conservatory.

The work, which cost more than £450,000, lasted over a month.

It followed feedback saying the bar was in need of renovation.

The bar was last refurbished in 2006 and many felt it had become dated.

Students were also able to follow the bar’s revamp on Twitter and Facebook page as the bar was transformed.

Students Union Commercial

Operations Manager, Graeme Wood said, “We have attempted to make the new look Bar One more bright and fresh for daytime use.

“We are confident that the change will not mean losing any of the appeal to the night time audience.

“We have taken the time to develop spaces for socialising in small groups.

“However, we also wanted to create space for informal meetings of groups, clubs and societies.”

For the first time, the bar offers a table service menu between 12pm and

8pm each day. The new pub style menu

includes burgers, salads and sandwiches, as well as desserts and sharing platters.

The night time takeaway service hasn’t been scrapped however, and will still be open after 8pm with the menu offering the traditional late night favouritesi including burgers, fish and chips and pizza slices.

An all new cocktail menu adds to the selection of drinks.

A new conservatory has also been added, leading out into the beer garden.

The refurbishment

has also included a new entertainment system and both the Raynor Lounge and pool room have undergone a face lift.

Students’ Union Finance Officer, Harry Horton said, “Students’ feedback has been incorporated into the design of the new bar.

“We’re confident that students will love the new design of their ever loyal friend, Bar One.”

The official relaunch will be taking place on September 28.

EditORMatt Burgess

dEPuty EditOR Nicole Hernandez Froio

MAnAGinG EditOR Mikey Smith

WEB EditOR Ben Williams

nEWSnews@forgetoday.comNicholas CardingKatie DaviesNicole Hernandez Froio

COMMEnt comment@forgetoday.com Hannah Frost Tom Geddes

LEttERSletters@forgetoday.comHolly Wilkinson

ARtS arts@forgetoday.com Tim WoodRowan Ramsden

FuSE EditORS fuse@forgetoday.com James Garrett Lauren Kelly

FEAtuRESfeatures@forgetoday.com Lauren ClarkeRebecca Cooke Jonathan RobinsonLiFEStyLE And tRAvEL lifestyle@forgetoday.com Ina FischerFay GuestHannah Pearson

SPORt sport@forgetoday.com Jack BurnettAdam HancockAnthony Hart

MuSiC music@forgetoday.com Sam Bolton Coral Williamson

GAMES games@forgetoday.com Arnold BennettEllen Jurczak

SCREEn screen@forgetoday.com Tom FletcherTom Wardak

PiCtuRE EditOR Adam Harley

Local man hit by tram dies A man has died after being hit by a tram while crossing Netherthorpe Road.

The tram was heading towards the Brookhill rounabout.

The tram drvier, a 38-year old woman, was unharmed

Katie Davies

What’s on your mind?Comment on this article online: www.forgetoday.com

Michael Smith

Forge Press is published by the Union of Students. Views expressed are not necessarily those of the University, the Union or the editorial team. In the first instance all complaints should be addressed to the Managing Editor, although a formal procedure exists.

Forge Press is printed on 100% recycled paper

NEWSFORGE PRESS Friday September 16 2011 www.forgetoday.com // news@forgetoday.com 3

UNIVERSITY

Students’ Union looks to plugging their finances as date is set for bottle water banNicholas Carding

A ban on selling bottled water in Student Union shops is now set to be enforced in March 2012.

The new policy is a result of a referendum carried out during last semester’s student elections.

Students campaigning for the ban, who were backed by the Students’ Union, won the referendum by a margin of 16.6 per cent.

The union will now be selling reusable bottles and installing water fountains around the building as the ban comes into effect.

Last year, it was estimated students bought 60,000 bottles of water which earned the union £25,000.

All the profit was invested straight back into the organisation to help societies, activities, and general welfare.

Critics say the financial support of these services may have to be cut as it is not clear exactly how the union will make up the difference when they lose the £25,000 generated by the bottled water sales.

The topic was hotly debated before the elections, with those in favour arguing that bottled water is 500 times more expensive than tap water, as well as having significant impact on the environment.

But sceptics said it would impede on their freedom of choice as well as risked losing the union large amounts of money.

Finance Officer Harry Horton maintained that the bottled water ban will benefit the union.

Horton, who is leading the project, said: “We aim to have at least 14 water points in the building by March 2012, and we estimate that the average student can make a saving of £100 per academic year by not buying bottled water.”

“We are confident that as a result of the changes, students will come to the building more often to use the new system, which will be of great benefit to our commercial outlets.

“This is why water fountains will be installed in the Union Shop and New Leaf.”

Money down the drain: critics fear the union will be unable to recover their losses after the ban.

Leeds University were the first university in the country to ban the sale of bottled water in 2008.

Their students’ union however, maintains the losses can be made up.

Communications and Internal officer at Leeds Students’ Union, Mark Sewards said: “The initial loss from the project was around £25,000 and there was a financial impact, but we met it.”

Horton said: “I think in the long run, the replacing of bottled water with more water fountains could be a commercial advantage for us as students feel more engaged with the

organisation. This is such a symbolic issue that will affect such a large number of students.”

The Students’ Union has recently promoted a host of environmentally friendly projects such as the Student Switch Off competition and the removal of the Interval Garden patio heaters.

Their commitment saw them achieve a Gold Standard Award for Green initiatives from the National Green Impact Students’ Union Programme.

To see the locations of the union’s new water fountains, visit the Forge Press website at forgetoday.com.

l Britain consumes 3bn litres of bottled water per year.

l Typically, bottled water retails at up to 500 times more than the price of tap water.

l In 2007, it was estimated that 13bn plastic bottles of water were sold in the UK of which only 3bn were recycled.

l The UK bottled water industry is worth roughly £2bn per year.

l Around 162g of oil and seven litres of water are required to manufacture a single one litre bottle.

l It takes 450 years for a plastic bottle in landfill to start to disintergrate.

l It’s estimated that 17 million barrels of oil are used in the production of water bottles annually. That’s enough to fill a million cars for a year.

Bottled water: the facts

Nicole Froio

Being environmentally

friendly and banning water bottles will make a massive financial hole

in our Students’ Union’s pocket, causing a loss of £25,000.

That’s a big sum of money but if we’re saving the planet, won’t it all be worth it?

There isn’t a question as to whether this is making a difference.

By reducing plastic consumption we are reducing pollution in the environment.

But the financial hole needs to be filled and I don’t think just selling refillable water bottles will cut it.

Apparently, the union is also saving you £100 a year. This is a sum of money the union expects you to spend with other stuff in their shops - and you will be seduced to these shops by the water fountains.

At least, that’s how it seems the union is planning to fill the void.

Water is indeed a human right and saving the environment is a great goal for our union, but the plan to recover the money lost seems far-fetched.

Water fountains won’t make union shops into holiday destinations where students randomly spend their money, although that would be nice.

If all students start drinking water from the fountains, we save the world. But if the students start buying other drinks - which will undoubtedly give the union the money it lost by banning water bottles - aren’t we back to square one, using plastic bottles once again?

Analysis

Freshers left homeless in Sheffield Uni first in country to adopt new human rights policyKatie Davies

The University of Sheffield has become the first university in the UK to sign a new human rights agreement pledging an end to the abuse of workers.

The Workers’ Rights Consortium (WRC) protects the rights of factory workers by monitoring conditions, investigating abuse and helping workers to set up trade unions.

“By joining the WRC, the factories that supply Sheffield and Sheffield Students’ Union will get monitored for workers’ rights abuses” said Jim Cranshaw of People and Planet, an organisation which campaigns for student action against world poverty.

“The workers will get trained in the University of Sheffield

Code of Conduct that they are covered by, and told that if their employers violate their rights, they can complain to the WRC and the WRC can investigate.

“This is about making a difference to problems like forced over time, child labour, forced abortions for women, physical attacks on workers, and death threats for people who try to form trade unions.

“It is not just a small thing.”“Students are often wearing

the clothes that are made in sweatshops,” said Cranshaw.

“Most students want these abuses to end but don’t know what to do about them.

“By getting their university to join the WRC, they now can take a step towards supporting workers’ rights.”

Matt Burgress

Continued from front page.

ACS have put on extra assistance for those who have not been able to live in University accommodation, with those affected receiving some of the benefits normally reserved for those in ACS owned accommodation.

Those in private houses will have access to the community activities that are normally reserved for those in the student residences, including some residential mentor support.

“We’ve actually gone over and beyond what we would normally do for students in private accommodation,” said Cameron. “we would never normally do it for those in private homes.”

The unsuccessful students were also given the option to

attend house-hunting sessions in Sheffield.

Students’ Union Welfare Officer Mat Denton said: “There are around 450 students affected by the university accommodation shortage.

The University, with help from the students’ union, are running events to help find the affected students private accommodation so that they have somewhere to live before they move to Sheffield.”

Denton said the priority of the Students’ Union would be to make sure new students in private accommodation feel included in the student community.

Sheffield is not the only city in the UK to suffer from a shortage of beds for new students.

Aberystwyth University installed bunk beds into some of their student accommodation after the Welsh university

received a record number of student applications.

A spokesperson for the University said: “The University of Sheffield has met its accommodation guarantee for UK/EU and international students for the coming year.

“The University has worked incredibly hard to meet the accommodation needs of its students as its accommodation has been extremely popular this year with UK and overseas students.

“There are a number of students that are not covered by our guarantee and didn’t manage to secure university accommodation,.

However, we have been providing a wide range of support to help these students find rooms locally in private accommodation and we are confident they will do so.”

NEWS4 www.forgetoday.com // news@forgetoday.com FORGE PRESS Friday September 16 2011

LOCAL

Why Sheffield avoided the riotsNicholas Carding

David Blunkett MP praised Sheffield’s community spirit and said the city was “united” which resulted in the city staying riot-free.

The MP for Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough told Forge Press: “I think there is still a remaining sense of belonging, a sense of identity, which binds people together.”

“This stops people destroying their own area and looting their own community shops.”

“Sheffield has been described as the biggest village in England, and I take that as a compliment.

“It means people feel more part of the identity of the city than with their immediate locality, so it’s not a series of villages.”

“Other large cities like Liverpool and Manchester who saw rioting are more spread out beyond the traditional boundaries.”

“There is a sense that we genuinely care about each other.

“So that neighbourliness has

been retained and it is much more difficult for people to whip up self destruction and anti-social behaviour if the peer group pressure, the norms of a civilised society is moving towards the opposite direction.”

Blunkett maintains that the biggest challenge now facing us is to find out how to maintain the strong links Sheffield’s inhabitants have to their communities, in order to keep the city safe and secure.

He said: “I think that’s why we’ve got to look at what is the

We ask Sheffield: Why do you think the city missed the riots?

Katie Davies

The rioting, looting and arson that engulfed many English cities last August thankfully left Sheffield untouched.

David Blunkett MP believes our shops and streets escaped due to community spirit.

But what really binds us more than any other city? It’s true that we are a smaller city than Birmingham or London – but cities such as Nottingham

also experienced unrest.Geography lecturer

Carl Lee, tells us socio-demographics were the main reason we escaped violence.

David Cameron tells us that the riots weren’t about poverty. But if Sheffield’s riot free status is down to the fact that the city’s most deprived estates were far away from the city centre, is that really true? The rich and powerful do not have a stronger sense of morals than the rest of us – didn’t the MPs expenses scandal prove that? So why weren’t the people living in

the more affluent areas near the city centre grabbing some free gear?

You can only assume that they could afford to walk into JB Sports and buy as many trainers as they want, without having to throw a brick through the window first.

Why anyone – rich or poor – thinks a widescreen telly would make them that little bit happier is another question, but I don’t think it’s a simple question of ‘broken families’ that some ministers lament.

We can never be sure our cities will always stay secure and stable.

When the family and friends of Mark Duggan held a vigil. they never could have imagined what would follow.

This time, Sheffield stayed safe. There could be any number of reasons why- in reality, it was probably a mix of all of those theories, just like the riots themselves.

Until we can identify and solve these underlying problems however, we can never promise Sheffield will always be safe.

Analysis

glue that holds a major urban area together.”

“We need to get people to feel that they have a future, and that they have something to give, getting people to feel that by giving of themselves they’ll get something back.

“That’s a two way street, you get something out of it by giving. You can only really hold a civilised society together if people are prepared to chip in.”

Blunkett has called for a new National Volunteering Programme (NVP) to create activities for young people who are neither being educated nor working to give them a sense of purpose.

He said: “If you work closely with young people and their families you can give them a sense of worth and a sense of value by actually engaging them with somebody else.”

“It’s the first connection that’s crucial; if somebody suddenly realises that they’re valued and what they’re doing is valuable it changes their self esteem and how they think about themselves.

“It’s all about confidence building.”

Blunkett also attacked the ways the courts saying the sentences had not been consistent across the country.

“Some of the sentences were warranted and some were over the top. I think they’ll probably find that on appeal those will be adjusted. It was a mixture with inconsistencies across the different areas of the country.” Photo: Brecon Radio

Photo: BD News

Photo: UK Parliament

Richard Thomas, English PHD student

“The city is a more cohesive community than other big cities. There is still a huge gap between the rich and the poor in Sheffield, but it is less apparent than in other cities.”

Sharon Kelly, ACS

“The community wouldn’t stand for it in Sheffield. I was worried something would happen here, but the parents just wouldn’t allow it; we’ve got more sense than that.”

Tim Winward, History and Politics student

“I think the riots were very student-based, there were less students in Sheffield over the summer, so less trouble could have happened.”

Jiali Luo, MA Translation Studies

“Sheffield has an environment that doesn’t have much trouble. It has a good police force and is a friendly city, as well as being small so big movements were never going to happen.”

Esther Mcloughlin, Zoology student

“It’s not that people in Sheffield are more apathetic. The spending cuts were managed better here, so the area wasn’t hit as badly. The community here would see riots as counter-intuitive.

NEWSFORGE PRESS Friday September 16 2011 www.forgetoday.com // news@forgetoday.com 5

LOCAL

Why Sheffield avoided the riots

We ask Sheffield: Why do you think the city missed the riots?

Nicholas Carding

The make-up of any city’s population plays a key part in how it acts and behaves. Geography lecturer at Sheffield College Carl Lee believes Sheffield’s socio-demographics was a large factor in ensuring there were no riots in the city.

He told Forge Press: “The poor and marginalised within the city have a tendency to live on large social housing estates, many scattered and suburban.”

“Looters especially like proximity in order to get away with loot. But what is worth looting in supposedly dodgy areas such as Arbourthorne or Southey Green?

“There is no Footlocker or Primark there.”

“Even the city centre has a low retail cachet, unlike Manchester, and is a hell of difficult place to get your loot away from.”

“It also has to be considered that Sheffield has a relatively stable population, and not a lot of residential churn. This means conviviality and communality are higher than some other urban areas and thus disturbance less.”

When asked what areas of Sheffield were most likely to see riots, Lee said: “I guess the most obvious choice is Ecclesall Road if looting is the motive - lots of escape routes into social housing and low income housing in Sharrow and Broomhall at the city end, and most importantly, stuff to loot.”

“If I was the police I might think Spital Hill in Burngreave, and down into Wicker Lane, but although this area is poor, it is fragmented. Also there is not much to loot in Castle Market and the shops down there.”

“However if it is sheer rage and rioting for the sake of it then Spital Hill is probably a likely area where trouble erupts.”

Lee stressed that Sheffield is less likely to experience ethnic conflicts between different cultures because the city has a lower than average residential segregation.

He said: “There are fewer different ethnicities and cultures in Sheffield than most urban areas- it is a white city compared

to Bradford for example.”“The Pakistani community

are very unlikely to riot as they have invested heavily in small businesses in poor areas and this is increasingly true of other migrant communities such as Bangladeshi and Yemeni as well.”

“Perceived or real injustices and racism might provoke defensive disorder, but conflict is rare although not unknown.”

Lee also said Sheffield was fairly safe city for students but warned about an expected rise in the next two months with new students arriving and moving into privately rented houses.

“Students are perceived as a potential criminal target because they tend to have high value, portable goods and have a tendency to be a bit careless with them.

“Opportunistic acquisitive crime is quite high in the typical student areas.”

Hillsborough documents to be released after House of Commons debateNicole Froio

The Cabinet Office is to release long-awaited Hillsborough files after an online petition calling for them reached 100,000 signatures last month.

The documents relate to how Margaret Thatcher’s cabinet acted after the disaster that occurred at 1989 Hillsborough football stadium.

Overcrowding in the Leppings Lane stand led to the deaths 96 Liverpool fans on April 15.

As the petition has now reached 100,000 signatures, the subject must be debated in the House of Commons.

The petition follows a ruling by Information Commissioner Christopher Graham that the papers should be released.

But the Government is appealing against the ruling, saying the confidential papers should be released first to the relatives of the 96 people killed in the disaster.

Relatives of the dead and injured want to know exactly what passed in Margaret Thatcher's cabinet in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy.

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish, who used twitter to urge people to sign the petition, was the leader of the campaign.

Liverpool Walton MP Steve Rotherham has also persuaded people to sign the petition.

A Cabinet Office spokesman said: "The Government has confirmed its commitment to full transparency about the Hillsborough disaster through full public disclosure.”

"All papers had previously been shared with the Hillsborough Independent Panel. The Government is happy for all the papers to be released as soon as the panel so decides, in consultation with the families.”

"We expect them to be shared with the Hillsborough families first and then to the wider public."

The government is still appealing the Information Commissioner's decision, which is what triggered the petition.

There are no issues with actually releasing the files but the government insists that the relatives of the dead and the injured must see them before the wider public, which was not what the Commissioner ruled.

A debate about the release in the Commons is still to come in October but the e-petition is still online and available to be signed.

The families and friends have waited more than 20 years for an answer to how their loved ones died, but no verdict has ever been reached.

What’s on your mind?Comment on this article online: www.forgetoday.com

Chaos as Sheffield faces Hurricane Katia

Photo: Roy Wilson

Katie Davies

Fierce gales and high speed winds has spread chaos across the city as the tail end of Hurricane Katia made itself felt across the north of the UK.

So far, one man in Durham has died due to the winds battering the country.

Wind speeds have hit more than 80pm in certain areas.

The strongest storm to hit the UK in 15 years sent roof tiles and trees crashing into the streets, including one tree which hit a bus.

The tree was uprooted and crashed down on top of the single decker bus as it travelled along Hanover Way, Broomhall.

No passengers were on board and neither the driver or his colleague, who was on board at the time, were injured.

In Broomhill, next to the Students’ Union, a tree was blown over outside Weston Park Museum on Western Bank.

Sheffield Council’s tree team attended a total of 46 emergency call-outs on Tuesday alone.

A Sheffield Council spokeswoman said workmen will attend any report of a fallen tree or branch obstructing a highway.

A tree in Woodseats damaged by the wind. The tree, which gave its name to the Big Tree pub next door, will now have to be cut down for health and safety reasons.

Matthew McKay,Law student

“It didn’t happen in Sheffield because there are less bad areas, Nick Clegg has kept Sheffield as a positive place. Cities where the riots happened were more urban, less green.”

Sarah Bailey, Staff

“The people of Sheffield are more relaxed than other cities, there’s a different social makeup and not as much deprivation. It’s a happy countryside environment, not a stressful urban one.”

l A total of 2,987 people were arrested as a result of the riots throughout the country

l More people were arresred in London than anywhere else, with 1,802 arrests

l Gloucester police were faced with the smallest number of arrests - just three

l Not only did Sheffield avoid the riots - but no arrests were made in South Yorkshire at all

l 41 percent of those arrested

lived in the 10 per cent most deprived places in England

l An 11-year old boy was the youngest person to be arrested during the riots

l While a 70-year old man was the oldest

l Three quarters of rioters in court has previous offences

l No one knows the exact cost of the riots - but it’s estimated to be more than £100 millon

UK Riots: the facts

Photo: Feggy Art

Photo: Roy Wilson

NEWS6 www.forgetoday.com // news@forgetoday.com FORGE PRESS Friday September 16 2011

UNIVERSITY

Top comedy award is no laughing matterNicholas Carding

A post-graduate at the University of Sheffield has scooped second place in the Chortle Student Comedian of the Year competition.

Glenn Moore, 22, from Croydon, South London, performed his seven-minute stand up show in front of 200 people in August.

Previous finalists include Simon Bird from The Inbetweeners and BBC Radio 1’s Tom Deacon.

Moore, who is doing an MA in Broadcast Journalism said: “I just entered for a bit of fun.

“I knew that the Chortle first round would be in Sheffield Students’ Union, and then I ended up in the semis before inexplicably getting through to the final. It was really unexpected.”

The finals were held at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The Chortle competition has been held since 2004. Moore netted a £250 prize as well as an invaluable leg up in the industry.

“I thought the final was too big for me and so I didn’t look at it in a competitive way,” said Moore.

“I thought the other acts were lot more accomplished than mine so I decided just to enjoy the occasion.

“I knew that this would probably be one of the biggest audiences I’ll ever perform for.

“To come second was massively unexpected, but it was really nice.”

Although Moore admits he was

nervous before taking to the stage, he found his jitters disappearing as he began his act.

He said: “It was horrible though, it was such a big audience, and because they were sitting quite far away from me in a huge venue, you couldn’t hear many reactions.

“I thought I struggled to get the crowd going and to this day I don’t know if I only got complete silence from the audience because that’s what it sounded like from the stage.

“I had no idea how it had gone when I finished.”

Moore’s performance background spans over many years when as a child he wanted to be an actor.

His love of performing stand-up however, only started recently.

“I’d been doing drama from a young age, and then I joined The Shrimps comedy troupe in my second year here at University.

I worked with them steadily since my 3rd year, and finally started doing stand-up in my 4th year.”

“Prior to the Edinburgh Fringe, I had only done about ten gigs.

“A lot of the other finalists had done about 50-60 shows.”

Despite Moore’s evident success, he doesn’t find himself funny and doesn’t rate his material much.

He said: “I don’t’ really find myself funny at all to be honest.

“I wouldn’t pay money to see me and I certainly wouldn’t enjoy it.”

Moore is living a hectic life

with a full-time job at Hallam FM as well as putting the finishing touches to his degree.

Although he is enjoying life as a

journalist, he intends to continue entertaining people as a hobby.

“Right now I’m focused on journalism,” he said.

“But if it all falls through or I stop enjoying journalism, I might take a risk and go for comedy, who knows?”

Glenn Moore, runner up of the Chortle Student Comedian Awards.

Alisha Rouse

The University of Sheffield and the London College of Fashion have launched a unique project to make clothes more environmentally friendly.

Field of Jeans is a project from Catalytic Clothing, an initiative aiming to explore how textiles can be used as an environmentally relevant source of air purification.

The unlikely collaboration was on display in the Peace Gardens throughout last week.

Members of the public donated thirty pairs of jeans which have been treated with a substance to break down toxins in the air and mounted onto wooden canes in

the gardens. The work is part of the

universities’ ‘Project Sunshine’ which plans to unify academics and scientists of differing disciplines to overcome the biggest environmental problems facing the modern world - by using the power of the Sun.

The group behind the unusual concept, Catalytic Clothing, is a joint venture between scientist Professor Ryan and Professor Helen Storey OBE of the London College of Fashion.

Professor Storey said: “It’s a collaborative and public experiment between fashion and science, a beautifully radical new concept which endeavours to purify the air we breathe.”

A Field of Jeans: when science and fashion unite

King Arthur pledges to fight againKatie Davies

Druid activists could soon be taking to the streets of Sheffield as they protest against the university’s treatment of ancient human remains.

Druid King Arthur Pendragon is leading the fight to stop the University of Sheffield researchers examining more than 40 cremated bodies found at Stonehenge in 2008.

The remains, named ‘The Guardians of Stonehenge’ are thought to be more than 5,000 years old.

Pendragon lost his first appeal to the High Court in August, where he asked for the bones to be immediately re-buried.

To many druids - followers of druidery, a religion that venerates nature and respect for the ancestors - Stonehenge is

considered a sacred place.“I can tell you categorically

that the fight most certainly is not over and we will continue to campaign for the return of ‘The Guardians’ until they are safely re-interred at Stonehenge,” said Pendragon.

“As for where we choose to base any such action or actions - non-violent, of course - I know of at least two museums and a certain University Department in the North of England that spring to mind immediately as legitimate targets.”

The 57-year old former soldier, who changed his name by deed poll, has now launched an e-petition campaigning to have the remains re-buried.

If the petition reaches more than 100,000 signatures, it could trigger a debate in the House of Commons.

A University of Sheffield spokesman said: “Human remains are an important part of the record of our shared past. They should be treated with respect and the benefit of the research is balanced w i t h any ethical concerns that may be caused by excavations.”

King Arthur Pendragon at the Summer Solsice at Stonghenge.

Sheffield fails to qualify for University Challenge David Parker

Sheffield students will have to wait another year to see their University Challenge team in action after they failed to qualify for this year’s series.

Last year’s team reached the semi-final, where they were knocked out by the University of York.

Team member James Gilliland, a second year history student, said: “I was disappointed, because

it was going on for that long you kind of felt that something was happening and that you were in with a chance of qualifying.

“I didn’t tell a lot of people I was going to be on the show, in case we didn’t get picked.”

Students chosen to represent the University have to get through a tough selection process that whittles down 70 to 80 universities to just 24.

The team were given a paper test for the first preliminary round,

where the whole team worked together on the questions.

They were asked to go to the production company’s studios to be interviewed for the second preliminary round.

Gilliland said: “We went over to Manchester to Granada Studios where we were interviewed.

“We didn’t know what to expect really, but we were confident.

“I am going to reapply for the team and hope we have better luck.”

Photo: Jack Gilbert/Photosoc

Alisha Rouse

The University of Sheffield is looking to scrap the traditional grading of degrees in favour of a more American model.

The University Education Board (UEB) has been in discussions with six other universities, including five other Russell Group members, to propose alternatives to the current 200-year old degree-classification system.

The proposed change is a move towards the North American Grade Point Average (GPA) model.

A spokesman for the University told Forge Press that the change would “ensure UK graduates are best-placed to compete in an increasingly global marketplace.”

The current system has been described by a spokesman for the committee as not fit for purpose in the age of a competitive international job market.

Jon Narcoss, Education Officer for the University of Sheffield has welcomed the discussion.

He said: “Any system which gives a greater representation of how someone has achieved at university can only be a good thing.”

The seven universities involved in the discussions have claimed the move would increase the global acknowledgement of UK undergraduate degrees, by ensuring degree classifications show a greater scale of achievement as opposed to the

rigid limits of current grade boundaries.

The discussions are part of a larger move to reassess university teaching and assessment.

University College London have already announced their intention to pilot the scheme in 2012, with internal discussions at the University of Sheffield beginning over the coming year.

NEWSFORGE PRESS Friday Semtember 16 2011 www.forgetoday.com // news@forgetoday.com 7

UNIVERSITY

ForgE iN BriEF

City loses police helicopter

South Yorkshire Police is set to lose its own dedicated police helicopter service.

The helicopter, which was based in Sheffield, will be grounded from January 2013 after 10 years service, saving £668,000 a year.

The county will now be served from posts in West Yorkshire, Humberside and Derbyshire with a twenty minute response time, which is double the current time.

Joshua McClean

Commuting harder for women

Commuting to work hits women harder than men mentally, says research.

The University of Sheffield’s Dr. Jenifer Roberts explained to the Guardian: “We know that women, especially those with children, are more likely to add daily errandsto their commute.”

“These time constraints and the reduced flexibility that comes with them, make commuting stressful in a way that it wouldn’t be otherwise.”

Verity Sleeman

Pupils adopt beauty spot

Students from Sheffield Volunteering helped Year 12 students from across South Yorkshire to renovate and clean up Lynwood Gardens, one of Sheffield’s most loved beauty spots.

The pupils were part of the Access to Dental Occupation- Practice and Tutoring (ADOPT) programme.

Max Goldbart

Uni timetable to change

The university timetable is to be changed for the new year.

All lectures will now begin on the hour and finish at ten to, allowing for ten minutes to travel between lectures.

In an e-mail, Cics stated that the change was because they the old system could be “confusing.”

Katie Davies

Ex-student cycles round world

A former University of Sheffield student has set off on a round-the-world cycling adventure.

James Hirst, 24, a graduate in Geography in 2008, aims to raise £20,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support through this wholly self-funded trip.

For updates, route details and to donate, head to:

www.therideround.com.

Doug Beasley

Photo: Victoria Ling

Students suppport city charity centre Uni on top for student satisfactionBen Sadek

The University of Sheffield has been placed in the top ten for student satisfaction by this year’s national student survey.

The University boasts an overall 90 per cent satisfaction rate, compared to the national 83 per cent.

Subjects including Biology, Biophysics, Biochemistry and Business Studies all rated 100 per cent satisfaction.

Among the most unsatisfied were Music and Performing Arts students, scoring 72 per cent and 74 per cent respectively.

Now in its seventh year, the survey focuses on seven key areas. Factors such as assessment, teaching, feedback, personal development and resources all contribute.

Pro-Vice Chancellor Paul White said: “These results are testament to the fantastic learning community we have built.”

David Parker

A local mental health charity has been given a boost after receiving over £7,000 from Sheffield Raising and Giving (RAG).

Autism Plus, which is based in South Yorkshire, helps people with autism, mental health conditions and learning difficulties.

RAG raised the funds through Treasure Hunt Europe, a fund raising event which sees students travel across Europe on a minimal budget.

The charity hopes to use the money to develop Sheffield’s Coleridge Resource Centre– an education and learning centre which provides a range of activities and day care facilities for people with autism.

A new sensory room is currently being developed, with a set of African drums and a large gong high on the wish list.

Fund raiser Melanie Russell, 27, said that musical instruments provide a unique experience for

people with autism that helps them develop their senses

She said: “Musical instruments will help support their development and help them get a better quality of life. “Everyone’s really excited about the prospect of developing the centre.

“We knew about RAG and we decided to apply because we have got a centre in Sheffield that needed support.

“We hope to be involved with Sheffield RAG again.”

RAG Chair Stephanie Drummond said they try to support causes or charities that tackle pressing issues.

She said: “We chose to support Autism Plus as it is a local South Yorkshire charity that provides support for people with autistic spectrum disorders, learning disabilities and mental health difficulties.”

Uni looks to change degreesUniversity of Sheffield begins consultation to ditch traditonal degree grades in favour of a more American points system

Max Goldbart

Our current method of grading has been in place as long as people can remember and a great deal of backing would be needed to push through this new system.

The change towards the American grading system has been described by a spokesman as leading to ‘ensure UK graduates are best placed to compete

in an increasingly global marketplace’.

This develops an argument that our degrees can become more competitive internationally but simply begs the question of the real need to jump on the bandwagon of other western countries.

But this should be a question of making sure students have the best chance out in the real world, not an issue of we are giving up British traditions.

After all, we still don’t have the euro and there’s no sign

of us suddenly switching to driving on the right-hand side of the road

The fact that a person can gain the same result if they get 69 per cent as supposed to 60 per cent is surely a flaw in the system as it is a massive margin.

However the job market has changed vastly since the days when only a minor percentage of the country even went to University.

Now having a degree simply isn’t enough, with certain companies only offering interviews to

graduates who attain a 2:1 or above.

Anyone wanting to move into a specific line of work who’d just missed out on a 2:1 would suddenly find themselves in a very difficult position – and that is where the GPA model would come in.

With fees rocketing, students will feel they want their hard work rewarded with a grade which best reflects their ability and allows employers to judge them with far more accuracy.

Photo: Brunel University

Autism Plus user Stephen Bratley Photo: Autism Plus

Analysis

Honours-degree system:

Translates overall performance into a classification. such as a first.

UK students graduate with a first, upper second, lower second, or third.

Students averaging 60 and 69 will still receive the same degree.

Grade Point Average (GPA):

Grade is calculated by finding the average of course marks, though weightings are used to place more value on advanced modules.

GPA awards are given as a two-digit decimal number between zero and four.

GPA gives a numerical value for a student’s academic achievements over a period of time.

Grade Point Average: the facts

LETTERS8 www.forgetoday.com // letters@forgetoday.com FORGE PRESS Friday September 16 2011

Have your say Email: letters@forgetoday.com Write: Forge Press, Union of Students, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TGPlease include your name, course and year of study.We reserve the right to edit letters for clarity and space.

Uni maintains its excellenceDear Forge,

The University of Sheffield has a reputation for excellence. It’s been ranked 13th nationally, andthe top university in Yorkshire by the Sunday Times University Guide 2012.

Its commitment to providing an excellent student experience has been recognised in its shortlisting for three awards at the Times Higher Education Awards 2011, including, most notably, for ‘University of the Year’!

The University has worked hard to carve out its own space within a vibrant and competitivesector.

The Universities

commitment to widening participation has played an important role in defining the University of Sheffield as an accessible Russell Group University.

Sheffield has worked hard to position itself as a civic university with responsibilities to Sheffield’s communities.Alongside ‘University of the Year,’ Sheffield was also shortlisted for ‘Widening Participation Initiative of the Year’ and the award for ‘Outstanding Support for Early Career Researchers’.

Crucial to the Universities success, is its commitment to the student experience. The Students’ Union plays a central role in the delivery of this experience with around 70 percent of students

being a member of a club or society. The Students’ Union is both a representative structure, asocial hub, a gateway to activities, and a source of impartial advice.

The University clearly recognises the value of the Students’ Union in providing an outstandingstudent experience, evident in its continued support and funding. We’re lucky to enjoy a good relationship with the University. We don’t always agree, understandably, but we are bothcommitted to working together to further the student experience in Sheffield.

Thom ArnoldStudents’ Union President

Should travellers be imprisoned immediately for living on land they don’t own?

Zhu HeLandscape StudiesPost Graduate

Eoghan GannonInternational StudiesMasters

No, we definitely should not. Imprisoning them is not the way to deal with the problem, which is dealt with badly in Ireland too. There should be local compromises made, it would be better way to deal with the problem as it has been a way of life for hundreds of years. A compromise definitely needs to be reached.

Kelvin CantyPhilosophyThird Year

I think people who travel about live differently. What to do with them depends on what kind of people they are, some aren’t permanent travellers and only want to see, maybe, a beautiful landscape or a different culture. Each situation should be looked at individually, so no I don’t think they should.

No, I think people should be trying to help them find somewhere to live. The government and locals shouldn’t be trying to hurt them or prosecute them, but instead be offering help. These people need homes and not hassle, if there was affordable housing then maybe this problem wouldn’t be so widespread.

Say hELLo!TO FORGE MEDIA.

www.forgetoday.com

Forge Media welcome meeting

Monday September 26

Dainton LT 1 5.30pm

Whether you’re a budding journalist, broadcaster, photographer, presenter, graphic designer, camera operator, radio producer, director, web developer, podcaster, artist or out-and-out media mogul, you’ve come to the right place.

Forge Media is made up of Forge Radio, Forge TV, Forge Press and ForgeToday.com. You don’t need any prior experience to get involved and we’re always on the lookout for new contributors throughout the year.

To find out more, come along to our welcome meeting or email: contribute@forgetoday.com

FORGE PRESS Friday September 16 2011 www.forgetoday.com // comment@forgetoday.com 9

COMMENT

When I started my job at university last year I had the same fears as every other student who has to manage their work life balance.

Will it affect my studies? How will I work around lectures? And what about my social life? Little did I know that it would lead to some of my favourite university memories.

There are obvious benefits to having a job while studying at university; the main one being money. Students are renowned for being penniless, so the extra cash is certainly useful.

Living on your own at university is an opportunity for you to become more independent and learn to manage your money. Having a job gives you a greater understanding of the value of money, and the importance of careful saving and budgeting.

It also means you don’t have to worry about how you are going to pay for the basic necessities.

I have found that my

wages allow me to enjoy my time at university without the pressure of finding money for rent. I am thankful that I have never had to face the embarrassment of asking my parents for money to bail me out of my overdraft or cover those unpaid bills.

When you earn your own money you can treat yourself to new clothes or big nights out without worrying it will break the bank. When I go shopping or out for dinner with the girls I know I can afford it. There is no heart-stopping moment of panic about the effect my splurge will have on my weekly budget.

Having a job at university also offers the chance to meet new people. It is a great opportunity to socialise with both students and local residents who you wouldn’t usually meet. I now have friends from different courses and year groups, all with their own interests.

You may even find that having a job can enhance your social life, as you spend time with your new work-mates. My new friends and I have organised meals out and nights in town as part of our work socials. This gives us the chance to get to know each other and have fun outside of our working environment.

The main concern many people have about having a job while at university is how they will manage it around their studies. However, in my experience,

many employers are happy to adjust your working hours to your academic schedule.

Learning to balance your working hours with academic commitments can be a great lesson in organisation. You have to learn to make better use of your time, and you are more grateful when you have free time to relax.

As another year begins, I find myself looking forward to getting back to work. I would encourage all students who are considering working while they study to go ahead with it.

I sincerely believe that my university e x p e r i e n c e wouldn’t have been half as e n j o y a b l e without my new friends and the nights out my wages have helped to fund.

I’d rather watch Come Dine With Me in my pantsMy weekly university budget is roughly £30. I have eight contact hours per week. I watch a lot of Come Dine With Me.

With said £30 I manage to purchase all of the compulsory items: noodles, bagels and frozen waffles, dental hygiene products, and those “only when I‘m drunk” cigarettes.

Admittedly, a life with a university job would involve activities of a far higher calibre. You may even be able to venture outside of Primark and purchase shoes costing more than 10 pounds.

However, this is not the ideal of university life. It

is the only time in your life

w h e r e y o u r o n l y d u t y is to

remember to log out of Facebook and complete an essay in under a month.

A recent study, conducted by myself and involving very little evidence, suggests that those with part-time jobs at university are 100 per cent less satisfied than me.

Not only are you severely limiting pyjama time, but you risk your work affecting not only your studies but your social life.

Employers know that students are generally strapped for cash, and can use this information as economic leverage to get you to work ridiculous hours and perform horrendous tasks. No. Hopefully not like that.

If you have a 20-hour a week contract, your boss is unlikely to be sympathetic of either your deadlines or social life; they’re generally more concerned as to whether you are present to clean the staff toilet.

Additionally, many first years come to university aiming to get a job as soon

as possible to fund their degrees, but will find themselves missing out on important opportunities to meet new people.

Yes, you make friends at your new job, but generally

they could be living a totally different lifestyle from yourself, leaving you with far less in common than you have with those people in your flat you haven’t seen in two weeks.

The first few weeks at university are essential in establishing friendship groups and coming to terms with your academic independence away from the prying eyes of sixth form teachers. Extra pressure upon this change could be detrimental to how the next three years of your life play out.

This argument understandably sounds very juvenile, in fact any argument that protests “not having a job” as the superior option will always sound juvenile.

However, this is the last time you can get away with it. It’s not an argument for sitting around in your trackies shouting profanities at Jeremy Kyle all day, it’s an argument for letting yourself enjoy this last bit of freedom before your real journey into adulthood begins. University is the last time you’ll get away with stumbling home at 8am in a sequined leotard.

Get a loan. Get an overdraft. Get two. Enjoy student life and worry about it when you’re stuck in an office for the next 40 years of your life, playing solitaire and dying inside.

Working gave me new friends andindependence

Debate: Should students work a part time job while studying at university?

HannahSummersfield

Every year the last week of September brings excitement to the nation. Teenagers and proper adults alike are filled with trepidation as they leave for university,

Truth be told I was not exactly sure what I was doing when I filled out the Ucas form, and it was not something I thought a great deal about at the time.

However my head was soon filled with endless comments from teachers about how, if successful, I was about to embark on the best years of my life and gain qualifications that would be essential to gaining a good career.

True enough, my two years at University so far have blessed me with meeting great friends, and I have undoubtedly had a brilliant time. It is fair to say I do not regret filling out that Ucas form and

drafting the obligatory personal statement several times until it almost resembled a seedy advert for my services. However, in my youthful naivety I had absolutely no idea of the flip side.

To be fair to the University of Sheffield there were plenty of extracurricular activities that I found available to me, and these are something that I would encourage all of this year’s freshers to get involved in, as I have found things that I would never have had the chance to do outside of university.

Also, having the chance to live in a new city and be among people from around the world is something that I think is unique as an experience, while a good degree will render me far better off in the job market.

This other side of university is something that, handily, I either did not experience at all until my second year, or simply did not notice as a fresher.

To an 18-year-old sixth former a six hour timetable may well sound like heaven. However it left me feeling ripped off, as

I was experiencing a far inferior amount of contact time than I believe my £3000 warrants. To put it simply I feel that I have learned relatively little about my course. I do realise university requires a lot of independent learning, and was acutely aware of this before I came.

I did not, however, realise that the feedback for an essay worth 33 per cent of my module grade would be squeezed into four lines, and that I would have to squeeze myself into the few hours of office time many of my tutors have.

Some of my tutors have been extremely helpful in their feedback and in prepping me for essays or exams, but they do seem very much in the minority. Some of the academic staff seem to treat their students as a hindrance to their apparently more important work. It is most notable that the few modules I have excelled at were the ones that I covered in A Level courses.

Come next year I will, touch wood, graduate with a degree, with prospects and experiences I could not have had without

university. However I still cannot help feel a tad ripped off. In the frantic period of applying I was guilty of believing all the

hype, it may be something I regret.

Simon Meechan

To vote and give your view, tweet @ForgeComment or visit www.forgetoday.com/comment

University hype: are we barking up the wrong tree?

‘You are more grateful when you have free time to relax’

‘When I go out for dinner with the girls I know I can afford it’ ‘Those with jobs

are 100 per cent less satisfied than me’

Maybe uni isn’t the dog’s bollocksImage: Kathi Karpiel/Flickr

AlishaRouse

Without a job you’ll always being playing ketchup

Andrew Tromans

Free Schools come at a high price

This month 24 free schools opened their gates for the first time. The free school is the brainchild of Education Minister, Michael Gove.

Intended to bring more “freedom” and “choice” to the education sector, the schools cut the state’s influence in the classroom.

The defining feature of the free school is that anyone can bid to create one – from unhappy teachers or parents through to potentially corruptive religious sects. With free schools enjoying greater freedom over the curriculum, it is feared students may be subjected to bias preaching. Furthermore, the staff at these schools do not need to be qualified teachers. The ramifications are alarming.

Gove has attempted to allay such fears by suggesting that applicant groups will be heavily vetted and Ofsted inspections will root out any attempts to promote extreme views in the classroom.

Education is a necessity, yet successive governments since the 1980s have treated it as if it were a market place.

Governments of all colours have been unable to resist tinkering with the system. During the last two decades 100 acts of parliament have been passed and 82 strategies have been announced, all on education and children’s services.

Free schools will bring

the boldest reform yet, worsening a British education system that has long been considered to suffer strong class divides.

Only those well off enough to dedicate the time and effort needed to create a free school will do so, using tax money to create an institution tailored to the needs of their fortunate, middle class subjects.

Parents on lower incomes will not have the time or resources to set up schools, and will have to see their children experience the perils of a state education system burdened by crippling cuts. This divide has already become apparent, with the majority of the trial schools located in the richer south.

Education is one of the few areas where collectivism still exists in 21st century Britain. Around 93 per cent of children are still educated in the state sector and have the opportunity to learn in roughly similar ways; it preserves equality of opportunity. Free schools, however, will create winners and losers.

I am not suggesting that a ‘one size fits all’ education system is an appropriate way to create equality; where possible we need to tailor education programmes to individuals’ needs. The state has the capacity to do this, small interest groups do not.

‘Governments have treated education as a market place’ University: growing up, getting out

of your hometown, escaping your parents’ clutches, starting afresh, discovering new places. Not in my case.

The first year of my degree was spent living in my parents’ house, travelling on the same bus route that I’d taken to get to school for the previous seven years of my life, and hanging out with the same friends I’d hung out with since sixth form.

A year of that was enough to convince me that I’d made a mistake, and I’ve now safely escaped to the comfort of a student house with friends from Uni.

The decision to stay at home for my degree probably should have been one that I put more thought into; in truth, it was a mess of changing my mind about degree courses, going through Ucas twice (not a fun experience), and eventually applying only to Sheffield and Leeds, at which point I discovered that Leeds is a very ugly city and I didn’t really want to live there. So Sheffield it was.

Not moving out was an easier decision: I looked at halls, saw

the prices, and backed away immediately.

Thus began my surreal first year. Freshers’ Week was a kind of living hell: I would travel in from home, wander around and go to the various huge meetings and stand in queues, and then go home again at the end of the day.

Despite efforts to get to know people, everybody else was busy making friends with and going out with their flatmates, and as I wasn’t in a flat, I wasn’t privy to those plans.

In an effort to rectify the situation, and because I was afraid of not getting to know anybody, I threw myself into societies, and promptly burnt out after committing myself to things nine evenings per week – I should have seen the flaw in that plan.

Other odd things made me feel out of sync with uni life in those first few weeks. For example, because I wasn’t in halls, I wasn’t given an internet username and password.

I was however able to make

myself immediately popular with my knowledge of Sheffield, although I was caught unawares by the fact that I’d never spent any time around the university, and so when it came to giving directions around campus I was just as clueless as any of the other freshers.

However, once term got going properly things started to look up: I met friends on my course and began actually enjoying university life.

There was still something weird about going back to my parents’ house every night though, and within the first couple of months I knew that if I wanted to retain my sanity and any semblance of a good relationship with my mum and dad, I’d have to move out for second and third year.

Whilst I was enjoying the fact that there was always decent food in the house if I wanted it, the long commute to uni and the awkward questions that were raised when it was discovered that I was sleeping rather than attending lectures, propelled me to leave.

I’m now enjoying life in my new house and feel like a ‘proper’ student for the first time, probably even more so than most students! Having my house in the same city as my parents’ house means that I don’t have to spend the bulk of the holidays at home.

In fact, this would be impossible as my dad has kindly decided to fill my old room with boxes, and I therefore have nowhere to sleep. Rather, I get to enjoy the independence of living away from home all year round now, with the added bonus that if I really feel in need of a massive Sunday roast, I can just pop home.

To students living at home: don’t despair, make friends, and just accept the fact that it might take longer for you to feel at home at uni. Whilst not living in halls may be detrimental to your social life at first, it’s not forever – just get stuck in.

Don’t judge those who do live with parents - there may be a whole heap of reasons behind it. Anyway, we have warm houses that contain real food. That can only be a bonus, right?

The first week at university can be a terrifying prospect – you have to make friends, understand the local dialect and eat your weight in toasties all in one week.

You must also maintain the careful balance between sex god/goddess and dirty slag and perfect the art of cutting short a phone call with the parents. It’s all hard work, but don’t worry, Telegraph journalist Rosie Millard has got your back.

Apparently, all you need to survive Freshers’ is a trunk, a really big teapot and as many pretentious items as you can fit into your teeny room in halls, because if you’re not throwing up onto Egyptian cotton you’re just not doing it right.

Millard’s advice for the beginning of university

COMMENT10 www.forgetoday.com // comment@forgetoday.com FORGE PRESS Friday September 16 2011

Paying rents beats living with them

Debate poll

We asked: Are you addicted to your smartphone?

59% voted no, it’s a handy tool but not a lifestyle essential

41% voted yes, I’d be lost without it

MiriamDobson

More Harlem than Hogwartsis about as middle class as it can get, and totally unrealistic.

A number of the suggestions include making alterations that would be expensive, difficult or guaranteed to stop you getting your deposit back.

Meanwhile, the idea of packing a trunk is all very romantic, and would indeed double up as a comfortable perch for your “new chums”, but let’s be realistic. It’s university, not Hogwarts, so you can send home those Defence Against the Dark Arts books for a start – they won’t help you resist anyone’s charm after a few Jagerbombs.

And then, if you harp on about your gap year from dawn ‘til dusk, you won’t come across as really interesting and full of worldly knowledge. You’ll just be seen as a bit of a prat.

The problem is, Millard has taken all those reports of students dining on smoked

salmon too seriously. Most of us are still

munching cold baked beans for breakfast and aren’t really that fussed about the dull mustard-yellow curtains in our bedrooms.

There just isn’t the money to have a guitar as “a brilliant accessory” or buy catering-sized teapots.

Here’s what you really need for Freshers’ Week: short skirts, alcohol and pain medication so strong that it could knock out an elephant, and therefore can just about tackle the

co lossa l

hangover you’ll have after five days on the lash.

There’s one thing that will replace all the giant teapots and artsy-fartsy posters. Please, make sure that at all times you carry a personality. You don’t need antique stuffed badgers, board games or cushions made by Bulgarian artisans if you’ve got a smile and a bit

of friendliness.

A classic student dinner Image: Matt Kemberling/Flickr

Hannah Frost

Living at home can make it hard to let go of ties Image: drburtoni/Flickr

‘The first year was spent travelling on the same bus route I’d taken to school’

Continued from page 1It seems grossly unfair

that we are paying for a section of what is essentially the same country to have a better standard of living than us.

This is all the more bitter when it emerges that while English MPs cannot vote on matters only affecting Scotland, Scottish MPs can vote on matters than only affect England.

The whole thing leaves

a rather nasty taste in the mouth, particularly as there have been noises made in Scotland for many years about independence.

No doubt many of those currently struggling with the rising cost of living, as well as many people who are going to university or have children that will be, must be wondering why they pay their taxes only to watch others reap the benefits.

COMMENTFORGE PRESS Friday September 16 2011 www.forgetoday.com // comment@forgetoday.com 11

Editorials

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Whether you want to write, photograph, draw, or edit there are loads of opportunities to get involved whatever your interests are. The newspaper covers a variety of different sections including news, comment, sports, letters, features, lifestyle, music, screen, games and arts.

Anyone can contribute to the newspaper: you don’t have to be a journalism student or have any experience, just an enthusiasm for student media. You can also contribute as much as you like, whether you want to write one article on a particular issue, become a regular contributor, or even become the editor.

Forge Media is by far the best thing I have been part of since coming to university. Getting involved in committees and societies that interest you puts you with like-minded people who can become some of the best friends you will have at uni, even more so than those you are shoved with when you first arrive.

To get involved sign up to any of the Forge Media stalls at the activities fair in the Octagon on Thursday September 22, or email contribute@forgetoday.com

Older, but just as fresh

So, it’s that time of year again. Hordes of screaming teenagers descend on Steel City to drink, dance, and sleep their way through seven days of utter chaos.

Aside from the inevitable obstacles in starting your new life - finding new friends, falling out with them, figuring out how to use the washing machine – you will hopefully have one of the best weeks of your life, surrounded by thousands of your peers and enjoying every minute of your new-found freedom.

However, there is another side to the story that’s often overlooked – the ‘mature’ students.

Speaking purely in terms of demographics, I happen to be one of those. I started my University career

last September at 23, and if you fall into the same age bracket as I do, you might be apprehensive about Freshers’ Week for one reason or another.

Maybe you’re concerned those few extra years will mean you have little

or no common ground with your fellow freshers; that you’ll feel like a bit of an outsider.

You might find yourself taking a long look in the mirror and thinking ‘Am I too old for all this?’ The answer in short, is no. But you may have to work a bit harder at having a good time.

Personally speaking, last year’s Freshers’ Week was pretty disastrous for me, due to an all-round case of unbelievably bad timing. There were many problems beyond my control – financial strife and a seemingly omnipresent ex not the least of them. All problems I could have chosen to take in stride.

However, instead of giving myself a pep talk and staying positive, I stuck my head in the sand for the rest of the intro period. This is the last thing you want to do. You’ll only end up feeling more detached and unhappy as time goes on, unless you snap out of it.

Even if your start to university life doesn’t go as planned, don’t let it get you down. You deserve to have a good time. Freshers’ week isn’t the be-all and end-all of your social life at university, but it’s a damn good start, and if you’re not careful you can end up feeling as though you’ve missed the boat.

Of course, letting your hair down will be harder for some than others. Those extra few years of partying under the belt could leave you with an air of cynicism.

But at the end of the day, you’ve just got to bite the bullet. After all, that’s how we grow. Besides, these kinds of events are casting as wide a net as possible. It would be dismissive and downright patronising of me to suggest that every new student will be psyched to see Ollie from Made in Chelsea in the flesh.

In fact, that might just be what brings you and your mates-to-be closer together. You may find yourself in The Harley with a new younger friend bonding over a mutual hatred of all things celebrity. The point is, you’ve got to get out there and give it a go.

Although it can be overwhelming, Freshers’ Week can be a great experience if you want it to be. Everyone is in the same boat - in high spirits, looking to meet new people, looking for a good time.

In a society as repressed and awkward as ours, that’s not an opportunity you should let go to waste.

And let’s face it – regardless of age, we all need a good bit of debauchery every now and then.

Forge Press takes its satirical aimD.A.R.T.S.

Alex Holbourn

Sheffield hosts some of the coolest world records, according to the Guinness Book of Records.

Andrew Ross created the fastest ever litre of ice cream at a University of Sheffield event in 2010.

It took 10.34 seconds to create using liquid nitrogen. It beat competition from all around the UK.

No details have been released as to what flavour of the ice cream in question was; best guesses so far include Rum & Racing, Choco(not)late or Sprint Choc Chip. No?

A man who creams in 10 seconds? I’m not impressed.

Setting the record straight

You know how it goes: you’re quite innocently flying through time and space, saving and wiping out species at your leisure and over a cup of coffee you realise you’ve got some serious problems in your life. Your best friend’s a pregnant-elsewhere clone and you just had a conversation in baby language with your future wife.

Dr Who Problems is kind of the Dear Deirdre of Tumblr, and comes complete with a Tardis cursor, which makes even the most serious nerd happy. Of course, it’s difficult to take it seriously when the man is question is not just Matt Smith, but a Time Lord.

- Tweeted this week by Students’ Union Welfare Officer, Matthew Denton.

Quote of the issue:

“Concerned at residential mentors definition of bullying and harassment. Appaz pinning someone down and drawing on them

is ok.”

Mature students are often here just to have as good a time as the rest of us Image: Neil Moralee/Flickr

‘You might find yourself thinking ‘am I too old for this?’ The answer in short is no’

‘Freshers’ Week isn’t the be-all and end-all of you social life, but it’s a start’

Website of the week: Dr Who problemsdoctorwhoproblems.tumblr.com

One quick thank you Finally, thanks to last year’s team for the fantastic work that was achieved during the year. Many of the Forge Press team have moved onto bigger and better things: two members are now working on the Daily Mail, one has been freelancing at the Guardian, some are working on local newspapers, others in PR and some have moved onto study journalism degrees in London. Well done to you all,

University time is so much more than mere studyHello and on behalf of Forge Media let me welcome you to the University of Sheffield and to the first issue of Forge Press for this academic year.

Many of you will be new to Sheffield and you may find moving to the city daunting, but let me assure you, before the end of Freshers’ Week Sheffield will feel like home.

The Steel City is a diverse and vibrant place to live with something for everyone.

From the Crucible theatre to Don Valley Stadium to the many amazing pieces of architecture around the city, Sheffield is has it all. And all of this is set amongst the greenery that Sheffield is renowned for.

Make sure you have an amazing first week here and be sure to make the most of it because it’ll be over before you know it.

Try something new while you are here, it won’t be long until you’re in the Octagon graduating.

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on first hearing.But for locals, this Sheffield dialect

is a culture in itself. Full of many neologisms and divergences from standard English, it is rich in culture and steeped in Northern tradition.

Just a receptive ear can calculate its working class roots, for example ‘Abbut’ has the rough meaning of ‘Aye (yes) but...’

Of course, many areas and cities in Britain retain a degree of language variance, but the Sheffield dialect is one of the most historic varieties of English, with roots in older languages such as Old English and Old Norse.

It is important to note its traditions are steeped in history and not just a barrage of modern slang - some of the more quirky words that are attached to the Sheffield dialect can even be traced back to the Viking occupation of Britain.

Therefore to any new student, Sheffield talk can be a challenging communication barrier. Wherever you go in the city, it is likely you will come across a myriad of different sounds, accents and vocabularies. The dialect you hear may even vary from street to street.

“The Sheffield dialect is one of the most historic varieties of English

”

The cracks and crevices of Sheffield hold many secrets, but those of us with keen eyesight may have spotted several unusual steel carvings in the

city on our travels. Take a closer look and you might just notice that these metal fragments detail the words of a mysterious dialect, engraved as part of an attempt to preserve it.

Designer James Titterton is the man responsible for the unique steel work that can be found across pavements, walls and buildings in Sheffield.

As part of his work, Titterton aimed to preserve Sheffield’s dialect in the very fabric of the city, something he says came about after becoming intrigued by the variety of tongues still evident in Britain today.

His strange choice of phrases, such as “Ah teld thee to wesh ti face an’ all tha’s done is gi’ it a lick,” and “Flippin’ early, tha made me jump,” presents a problem as most newcomers to the City of Steel might find the local twang difficult to grasp

AYUP DUCK!

Do you know what a dee-dar is? Ever wondered why locals call you a duck? Forge Press discovers the origins and

quirks of Sheffield’s historic dialect.

Words & Art: Jonathan Robinson

THE A-Z GUIDE OF SHEFFIELD TALK

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So what are the main features of the affectionately named Sheffieldish? And how can you watch out for them?

•Firstly, many shortenings can be heard in Sheffield and Yorkshire, with the most famous being the reduction of the definite article to form a ‘t’ attachment e.g. ‘downt pub.’

This is usually pronounced with a brief pause between both sounds, and is usually at the mercy of comedians and actors aiming to create a stereotypical Northern accent – for reference just watch an episode of Emmerdale or listen to Anne Hathaway’s recent struggle to adapt a Yorkshire accent for her latest film One Day!

•The Sheffield pronunciation of the sound th usually tends to diverge towards the sound of d – this is most evident in archaic second person pronouns such as dee (thee) and da (thou). Interestingly, this is the reason why Sheffielders are commonly nicknamed dee das by the people of nearby towns.

•Next, contractions ending with the negative n’t are sometimes shortened to single-syllable words e.g. mun’t (mustn’t) and dun’t’ (doesn’t). Also, nouns describing units of weight, height and value sometimes omit plural markers e.g. forty pound.

•Pronoun mumble jumble is another key indicator of the dialect with native Sheffielders replacing our and my with us and me respectively e.g. ‘We must give us names,’ and ‘I forgot me purse.’

•Finally, watch out for locals calling you a duck in place of love (they don’t mean any offence, honest), the meaning of daft as unintelligent as opposed to silly, the common greeting of ‘nah then’ (now then) and the historic Viking verb laik, meaning to play.

In recent times, the Sheffield accent and dialect has though been heard on a national level, even if it is often confused with other generic Northern accents due to its parody on working class status.

Take the 1997 film The Full Monty. Set in Sheffield but featuring actors born outside the region, the film includes mixed attempts at Yorkshire and Derbyshire accents (some more successful than others), although Scottish lead actor Robert Carlyle is well known for his effort to master the common traits of both accents.

Despite this, the idea that dialects and accents are disappearing in Britain is debated. Some argue over time a form of accent levelling is occurring, where irregularities are ironed out due to an influx in social media, wider travel and a universal pop culture.

A comparative study by the British Library found the dialects and accents heard in conversations by North Yorkshire citizens between 1950 and 1999 to have diluted in strength, with features from different regions merging to create a more generalised version.

However, others remain optimistic about the level of local diversity. A recent university project, Sheffield Voices Across Time, is hoping to shed more light on the representations of the Sheffield dialect.

Sheffield talk contains many adapatations from standard English, here are a few documented in dialect dictionaries, written texts and folklore:

Abbut // Yes but

Adder say // I dare say

Bastin // Beating

Beleeda // An exclamation

Berrin // Burying, funderal

Blunt // Brass

Breet // Bright

Brussen // Full up, stuffed

Bun // Bound

Dobbs // Money

Dun // Do

Duck // Love

Een // Eyes

Eightfoot // Ginnel, footpath

Entra // Entrance

Ganzy // Jumper, sweater

Goit // A narrow stream

Guzzle // Drink to excess

Heit // Eat

Hettn // Eaten

TEST YOURSELFHopena // Halfpenny

Jannak // As it should be

Jaram // Order

Lig // Lay

Nebbut // No but

Neet // Night

Nesh // Poor spirited, cold

No’ther // Neither

Reik // Reach

Reit // Right

Sap // Ale

Snap // Food, meal

Soft // Silly

Spice // Confectionary, sweets

Swat // Throw with force

Thro it in fair // Throw it in the fire

Togger // A game of football

Tomma // Bread

Wack // Share

Wick // Alive

Yitten // Scared

Yo’rt // You are the

Yo’st // You shall

“Some argue over time a form of accent levelling is occurring, where irregularities are ironed out

”

ADVERTISEMENT14 FORGE PRESS Friday September 16 2011 www.forgetoday.com

ADVERTISEMENTFORGE PRESS Friday May 20 2011 www.forgetoday.com 15

16 www.forgetoday.com // features@forgetoday.com FORGE PRESS Friday Sept 16 2011

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The real cost of$tudyingabroadForge Press investigates the challenges some students face before, during and after their foreign adventures...

Words & Art: Rebecca CookeUniversity of California –Los Angeles (UCLA) to broaden her academic and interpersonal skills.

“Mostly I wanted to get some experience in international politics, and being very interested in American politics I wanted to develop my understanding of it. But I also wanted the other stuff you expect with studying abroad like a bit of the L.A lifestyle and to meet local people.”

Kara’s first taste of the L.A lifestyle she coveted was handed to her in the form of a £17,000 bill for student accommodation, - a shared room with two bunk beds and a communal bathroom.

“At first I thought it was a mistake, I mean nearly twenty grand for a shared room? That’s practically a deposit for a house in England!” Says Kara, “I really started to worry about privacy. I think in England having your own room is just something that students completely take for granted, I just cannot imagine having virtually no privacy to study, sleep, make phone calls or do anything for a whole year!”

Further to this, before attaining her VISA, Kara had to provide evidence to the American Embassy that she had a guarantor able to provide her with £40,000 if necessary, something which after six months of planning her study, she feared may prevent her from entering the country at all.

“Once I had successfully applied for my VISA, which turned out be very stressful, I then had another disappointment from UCLA. I hadn’t managed to get of the modules I selected for study and actually it turned out, after spending so much money to broaden my political views

I’m forced to repeat some modules I did last year because they were the only ones left.” This is because whilst foreign exchange students at UCLA select classes they wish to take, they are only given ones that are not filled by home or returning students. This can result in repeating work, and even doing something completely unrelated to a student’s preferred course much like in Kara’s case.

For the past few weeks Kara has been preparing to leave for orientation, ahead of her departure she says “I think I definitely over looked a lot of things about studying abroad when I first applied looking back, although I’m still excited to go I just hope that it is worth all the financial stress and all the worry. I think above all I just hope that I learn something new!”

Another kind of studying abroad, popular amongst medical students is the Medical Elective Placement. This is a chance for fourth year medical students to put all their medical knowledge into practice in a completely different environment for a period of four to six weeks.

“Nearly twenty grand for a shared room? That’s practically a house deposit in England!

”

Mid-September each year marks the a n n u a l p i l g r i m a g e of millions of students worldwide to

their chosen universities. For some this means moving away from their homes for the first time, perhaps to a different city, or maybe even further afield. For a bold few, this September will be the beginning of a transatlantic venture to study abroad in completely different landscapes and cultures.

Studying abroad has long been hailed as an exciting and rewarding experience for those who dare to embark upon such an adventure and it is no secret that it’s something which boosts a graduate’s employability. But is it a wholly fulfilling endeavour? The common pitfalls and tribulations of studying abroad are often masked by its intrinsically positive affiliations, but its end result may damage more than just your bank balance as Politics student Kara O’Neil discovered.

“I was totally shocked at how cheap studying in L.A seemed at first,” confesses Kara. “I’d always wanted to study in America and doing a foreign exchange just seemed like the perfect opportunity, when I applied for it last year. I was told that tuition fees for a year in L.A would be just $900 which is practically a third of what we pay in England so I went for it.”

During her second year 20-year-old Kara was filled with more drive ambition and determination to undertake her year abroad at the

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Many soon-to-be-doctors use this as an opportunity to give back to less advantaged countries by undertaking their elective in countries such as Kenya, Uganda and Cambodia - which is exactly what Sara Cooke did.

Sara planned to spend five weeks in Kenya working with two different hospitals in Nairobi and Siaya. She thought she would be getting quality and monitored experience of life as a doctor in a third-world country with the added bonus of adapting to and learning from a new culture, but all was not as she had expected.

“When I first arrived in Kenya I was shocked by how absolutely poverty stricken the place seemed. I didn’t expect to be living in a house with no running water, no electricity and the bare minimal food supply. I paid a lot of money, nearly £2,500 to do my elective so I think I just expected something a little more,” says Sara.

Although Sara accepted the living conditions, she was provided with as part of the Kenyan culture, her real shock and disappointment came

when she arrived at the hospital for her placement. “The hospital was nothing like I expected or was told to expect. It was just a dusty, unsanitary building with maybe five staff doctors who barely spoke to me and no medical procedures which I didn’t recognise.”

Sara began to worry that her time in Kenya may be not as gratifying as she hoped when she found herself struggling to live and work without the most basic safety provisions, something which she has no prior warning about.

“I started to feel like there had been a complete disregard for my safety from the company that organised my placement. Aside from the constant worry that I might be exposed to a virus at the hospital, just getting to and from the placement was a completely stressful nightmare.”

She says, “I was told that I would be able to get a bus to and from work, which it turned out was a matatus. That’s basically an old van all beaten and dilapidated. They don’t have seat belts or tyres filled with air and most don’t even have working doors.

“I’d unknowingly sacrificed my safety and ultimately my health for my elective.

”

They looked like they belonged on a scrap heap.”

Sara’s worst fears were realised when she fell ill during her time at Siaya hospital and was confined to her room for six days for fears she may have malaria or yellow fever.

“I couldn’t help but feel like I’d unknowingly sacrificed my safety and ultimately my health for my elective. I believe I picked up a bug from the hospital because it was so unclean. There wasn’t even hand sanitizer to use between treating patients,” she remembers.

Since arriving back in the UK Sara has continually suffered with exhaustion and flu-like symptoms as a result of her illness in Kenya.

For many, this September will undoubtedly bring treasured memories and new experiences of studying in a foreign country, but perhaps not without a price. When asked what advice Sara would give to any students looking to study abroad she smiles wryly and replies: “There is a reason why studying abroad is an experience and not a lifestyle, remember that.”

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Forge Press chats to University of Sheffield alumni about their experiences and memories of university life.

Words: Lauren ClarkeArt: Jonathan Robinson

Where are they now?

It’s hard to know what will happen when we leave university. Will we be living the dream or the nightmare? Will we be sunning ourselves somewhere exotic, enjoying the millions we’ve made, or

slaving away at a Tesco checkout, paying off the dreaded student debt after we spent all our money on beer, instead of attending lectures?

Whatever happens, many of us will have fond memories of our time at university and our experiences here will hopefully help us move on to bigger and better things. Here are the experiences of six alumni that attended the University of Sheffield and how their time here shaped their lives.

David Blunkett attended the University of Sheffield between 1969-72 and studied Political Theory and Institutions. He is now the MP for Sheffield Brightside.

“I came into the university at the age of 22, because it took me six years going to evening class (and persuading my employer to let me have a day a week at college) to get the qualifications, which I had not had access to at school.

“My best memories are actually of the tutorials and debates. It was an extremely lively time, challenging and exhilarating,” he says.

David Blunkett was elected to Sheffield City Council just before the end of his first year at university.

“I was engaged in a parallel commitment to study on the one hand, and to engage in formal politics on the other,” he says

“Clearly the whole experience of being at university, obtaining a good honours degree and the fact that it provided me with a foundation of both political philosophy and an understanding of institutions, was crucial, both to the work I did as a Councillor and subsequently as a Cabinet Minister.”

Sir Harry Kroto studied Chemistry as an undergraduate between 1958-61 and then completed a PhD in the Spectroscopy of Free Radicals from 1961–4. He won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1996, following his work as a leading researcher in molecular chemistry.

Speaking about his time at Sheffield, he said that there are “too many good memories to pick out one.”

“I was in Crewe Hall when it was a ‘hall’ rather than a block of flats and did not have to make my own meals - we were very privileged at the time but of course many fewer were able to go to University then,” he says.

“I was art editor of Arrows, the Student Magazine, which allowed me to explore my main interest - graphic art. During my time, I also created numerous screen-printed posters for Arrows and various events, and won the Sunday Times Book jacket design competition in 1963-4.”

As well as this, Sir Harry played tennis for the University and became President of the Athletics Council. He also occasionally played guitar and “sang just well enough to play the odd song in one of the folk clubs.”

He also painted murals to decorate the hall for the Crewe Hall Balls and met his wife at Sheffield.

“My time at Sheffield made all the difference allowing me to make

long term friends that I have to this day. I had a great time with many opportunities to do a wide range of extramural things,” says Sir Harry.

“I think the economic situation has become such that students today cannot have the same experience in the halls which enabled me to work hard and burn the candle at both ends on extramural activities,” he adds.

RT HON. DAVID BLUNKETT

SIR HARRY KROTO

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John O’Leary is a well-respected journalist and is the former editor of the Times education supplement. He regularly returns to the University and has attended many of the alumni reunions.

“I took a politics degree between 1970 and 1973 and was President of the Union in 1973-4. Although I enjoyed the course, my favourite memories are of editing Darts, the predecessor of Forge Press,” he says.

While at the union, he helped to reverse a planned mid-year rise in hall fees.

“I was a member of the selection committee for a new Vice-Chancellor - not something you can imagine happening now,” he adds.

“I’m sure there were things I disliked about the University (apart from the weather) but they were far outweighed by the good points.”

The University was about a quarter of its present size when I was there, so it is inevitably a bit more impersonal. I’m in a reasonable position to judge because my son recently took the same degree as me. He got a bit less in the way of contact hours but still enjoyed it.

“Editing the paper undoubtedly helped to get me a start in journalism and I still use some of the contacts I made through NUS. I also met my wife at the university, so it has helped shape more than just my career.”

Sir Hans Kornberg is a biochemist and was elected to the Royal Society in 1965. He also received the Colworth Medal of the Biomedical Society that same year and in 1978 was knighted for his services to science.

He studied Chemistry as an undergraduate at the University of Sheffield, and then completed a PhD in Biochemistry in 1953 and a Honorary Doctorate in 1979.

He says his favourite memories

of the University of Sheffield are life in Crewe Hall, editing Darts and Twikker, as well as the great social life.

“I started as a junior lab assistant to Professor Krebs (a biochemist and physician, who lectured at the University of Sheffield), who inspired and guided my subsequent career. At the age of 83, I am still engaged in hands on research and teaching, following Krebs’ example.”

Sir Richard Roberts studied Chemistry as an undergraduate at the University of Sheffield between 1962-5, and then undertook a PhD between 1965-68. He was the winner of the Nobel Prize for Medicine and Physiology in 1993.

“It is difficult to pick one good memory – I have many. During the second year of my PhD, I had already accumulated most of the results I needed for my PhD so I would spend a lot of time in the main library browsing for interesting science.

“It was there that I spent many very happy hours reading about molecular biology. After reading The Thread of Life by John Kendrew, I realized that molecular biology was what I wanted to study. This began a passion that I still have today.

“For me, my time at Sheffield really set the stage for my future career. I discovered molecular biology, received an excellent training in basic chemistry, thanks to a wonderful post-doc, Kazu Kurosawa, who was my lab mate and also learned that was a lot more to life than just science. Now I am quite actively involved in several aspects of University life through my role on the scientific advisory board of the Krebs Institute, and my work with the University of Sheffield in America.”

He says the only thing he disliked about the university was that the courses required a lot of memorization. “I have never had a particularly good memory so I much preferred courses that required understanding the material rather than simply memorizing stuff and regurgitating it for exams.”

Joanne Harris is a leading British author who wrote the well-known ‘Chocolat,’ which was made into an Oscar nominated film, starring Johnny Depp and Juliette Binoche. Joanne did her PGCE at the University of Sheffield, after studying Modern and Medieval Languages at St Catharine’s College, Cambridge.

“I have known the University for a long time because both of my parents had done MAs in the Modern Languages department and as a child I had been there often and knew a lot of the staff,” she says.

“My earliest memory was aged about six riding the paternoster in the Arts Tower. It was a mysterious and rather scary machine but I was fascinated by it and would stand watching it for hours while my parents got books out of the library.

“There is a marvellous new library now, which has improved facilities enormously. I think the friendly spirit of the university is intact but the campus has expanded and improved to a tremendous extent.”

She adds, “I enjoyed my PGCE very much and spent 15 happy years in teaching after I left. I have fond memories of my fellow students and of the staff.

“Recently the University awarded me an honorary doctorate which means, among other things, that I have plenty of opportunities to go back and see how things are changing.”

JOHN O’LEARY

SIR HANS KORNBERG

SIR RICHARD ROBERTS

JOANNE HARRIS

20 www.forgetoday.com // lifestyle@forgetoday.com Friday September 16 2011 FORGE PRESS

Lifestyle & TravelFashionFood & DrinkHealth & FitnessTravel Sex & RelationshipsTechnology

This freshers’ fortnight... Meet your Lifestyle and Travel Editors!

A new year is starting and there are three brand new Lifestyle and Travel Editors.

Welcome to Sheffield!

START Go to the hardware store and stock up on

all the things you didn’t know you’d need.

(Remember to buy a doorstop!)

Savour the last chance to have things bought for you and go

food shopping with your parents.

Get to know your new flatmates over a

cup of tea.

Haven’t unpacked yet? Shame on you!

Get yourself organised before

lectures start.

Go to your subject welcome meeting.

Go to the Freshers’ Fair and stock up on free food, discounts

and flyers to decorate your new home.

Sign up for societies and sports clubs at the Activities Fair.

(Don’t forget to visit the Forge Media

stand!)

Pick up a free Give-it-a-Go booklet from

the Union and try out something new.

With all the meetings and fairs going on, don’t forget to have fun with your new-

found friends.

Get a good night’s sleep for your first

day of classes.

Forgotten anything? Socialise the Yorkshire wayFill your fridge Plan ahead

Apparently you’re here to work?We all love free stuffDon’t leave it too late

Get involved

Broaden your horizons

Time with your new BFFs

Survived Freshers’?

FORGE PRESS Friday September 16 2011 www.forgetoday.com // lifestyle@forgetoday.com 21

Fay

Fay is in her third year of English, loves all things Forge and spent her summer at a marine conservation project in Mauritius.

Hannah

Hannah is in her third year studying Journalism and spent her summer writing for magazines and sightseeing in London.

Ina

A second year Journalism and Hispanic Studies student, Ina is happy to return to Sheffield after a summer of traveling and working at Berlin Fashion Week.

Welcome to Sheffield!

Artwork: Jonathan Robinson

Your top threePlaces to eat:

1. Rise @ The Hallamshire: On West Street, they offer a range of huge, mouth-watering pizzas with great 2-for-1 deals.2. El Toro: This Spanish tapas restaurant in the centre of Broomhill serves great food for great prices and has an incred-ible display of cupcakes, which are hard to resist.3. Revolución de Cuba: On Mappin Street, tasty Mexican food, amazing cocktails and a brilliant atmosphere.

Places to shop:

1. Rare and Racy: A haven for fans of vintage records and books on Devonshire Street. You won’t leave empty-handed.2. Division Street: A favourite with celebrities, this street is lined with individual, high-quality vintage shops.3. Meadowhall: All your high street and designer favourites in one place. Meadowhall is also home to a range of restaurants and cinema.

Nights out:

1. Plug: Thursday night is student night at Plug. It has been voted Sheffield’s best nightclub two years running and hosts concerts by popular indie and alternative bands.2. The Harley: Open until the small hours and conveniently located right next to uni. Expect gin, music and excellent burg-ers for those late-night munchies.3. Propaganda: Indie and pop music every Friday night at the O2 Academy, often with celebrity DJs. Bags of fun.

Places to go for a quiet drink:

1. The Fox and Duck: Situated right in the heart of Broomhill, this pub is actually owned by the Students’ Union. Here you can bring your own food and relax in a traditional-style pub.2. The Cavendish: On West Street, The Cav is a quintessential student pub and shows football and rugby on weekends.3. Division Street: Full of sophisticated bars if you want to add a touch of class to your evening. Bungalows and Bears has great live music!

Parks:

1. Endcliffe Park: This green space at the end of Ecclesall Road has something for everyone: be it wildlife, peace and quiet or a BBQ with friends.2. Botanical Gardens: Perfect for relaxing amongst the green-ery or enjoying your lunch in a peaceful environment.3.Weston Park: Ideally placed opposite the Union for lunch or a post-lectures break.

Places to explore:

1. The Peak District: Just a few miles from Sheffield, the per-fect escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. Hop on a bus or keep an eye out for university trips.2. Cultural Sheffield: Head towards the train station to soak up culture in the form of theatres, galleries and museums.3. Ecclesall Road: Although sometimes considered ‘Hallam territory’, Eccy Road offers quirky, individual shops, supermar-kets, restaurants, cafés and bars.

Plan your Freshers’ Week and buy tickets from the Box Office. Popular nights sell

out fast!

Read your registration pack and jot down important meetings and dates

for the upcoming week.

Get your personal supply of fancy dress and drinks in for the busy days to come.

Don’t miss your time slot to sign up for first

year modules.

Register at the university and with

the University Health Service...

...but bring food and drink to survive the

long queues at Good-win Sports Centre.

Buy some posters from the welcome stalls to decorate your new room.

Plan ahead Don’t lose track of things

Start nesting

Priorities, priorities...

Get organised

Most importantly:

Prepare for a long wait.

Get involved

It’s easy to slip into a rut during Freshers’: sleep, eat, party, repeat. But don’t forget to make the most of your lecture-free time and try something new. Burlesque dancing? A trip to the Peak District? DJ-ing? The possibilities are endless and you are guaranteed to meet like-minded people. For a full list of events and activities, pick up a free Give-it-a-Go booklet from the Students’ Union.

Freshers’ Fair

Exploit this like there’s no tomorrow. You might not think you need the wooden spatulas they give out but you’ll be surprised. More importantly, there will be free pizza and lots of vouchers that can help you survive on your new student budget. Also, you’ll be given thousands of fliers that you can use to decorate your flat.

Learn to budget

Don’t set yourself a budget for the week because you’ll be stressing over how much you’re allowed to spend on a pub lunch or a night out. Instead, divide your weekly budget into chunks and stick to them or have a monthly plan. Allow yourself to spend a bit more during Freshers’ Week than you would on average; you will anyway so you might as well avoid the guilty conscience.

Phone-o-rama

Get a spankin’ new iPhone as a reward for those incredible A-level results? Well, don’t take it on a night out as there’s a high chance you’ll lose it, judging from the amount of ‘Need Numbers!’ groups that pop up on Facebook. If you can’t part from your technological sidekick, copy the most important numbers before going out and you will have one less thing to worry about when you wake up in the morning.

Don’t forget your friends

It may sound unrealistic now since you’ve been texting them non-stop, but once you get settled in with your flat mates and course friends it’s easy to lose touch with your friends from home. Remember to make an effort because not only could you lose some great friendships, but when you go home for the holidays it’s nice to have friends waiting for you.

Nowhere to go

Starting university can be a scary experience and many people find themselves missing home and feeling lonely in Freshers’ Week. There is help on hand though from the university’s counselling service or the anonymous listening service Nightline (0114 222 8787). The Student Services Information Desk (SSiD) also offers advice and support on a variety of topics including financial and exam worries. Remember there is always someone willing to listen including course representatives, course tutors and residential mentors.

Lifestyle & Travel22 www.forgetoday.com // lifestyle@forgetoday.com FORGE PRESS Friday September 16 2011

Foreign Correspondent

Student life

My first week abroad

I was so naïve when I embarked on my first Freshers’ Week.

I had only ever been truly, embarrassingly hammered on one night out (a friend’s 18th, although I swear it was the calamari and not the 20 shots of tequila).

So I was very unprepared for my Freshers’ Week - water fights with the boys, strangers climbing through our windows and so many fancy dress costumes.

Freshers’ Week 2008 was the beginning of my university life (wow I sound old)!

I started off sober, dignity intact at Pop Tarts, when we went looking for our flatmate who had fallen asleep in the toilet but had then moved to a park

bench. Upon returning

to the flat we were greeted by a ginger boy asleep on a chair propping open the door - we still see him from time to time.

Our neighbour then climbed up two floors and through our window, stole some orange juice and walked out.

The rest of the week was just as crazy.

We saw our flatmate (sadly moved out, or not so sadly) bring four men home, go into the kitchen, grab a cucumber and run back to her bedroom... I haven’t eaten cucumber since.

By the last day of Freshers’, I had been discovered asleep in a corridor dressed as a school girl, thrown in puddles by my neighbours, stolen all

my flatmates’ booze and got refused entry to the Union.

One thing Freshers’ taught me is to always prepare your fancy dress; the more outrageous the better.

It’s always fun and attracts attention and, from experience, people seem to be less intimidated by fancy dress.

It can be a great conversation starter when meeting new people.

Now three years later, I am about to begin my fourth and final Freshers’ Week.

Seeing myself as a bit of a pro, I do not feel I’ve outgrown a week of acting like a complete drunken lout.

Come to think of it, I seem to be getting worse.

Brogan Campbell

My Freshers ’ Week

My first week in Nice is drawing to a close and what a week it has been.

I arrived last week after getting back from Beirut. After a busy summer and the build-up to coming here, when I finally arrived, for the first time in months, I had nothing to do. Well not for a few days anyway, as my friend from Sheffield wasn’t arriving until the weekend.

So here I was, standing in my apartment in Nice with no friends, no life, and nothing important to do. There was only one remedy – the beach.

And what a remedy it was. I had been so busy before coming here that I had completely forgotten the human body can’t function without sleep. I slept solidly on the beach for two days.

A bottle of sun cream and fifty gallons of water later, I decided that I should start sorting my life out, if not just to buy some more water and sun cream. Massive mistake!

I thought it would be wise to get a phone and let my parents know I’d arrived safely (yes, three days

after arriving – it’s fun to keep them guessing).

Insisting on speaking French didn’t go down so well. Turns out I actually don’t understand French. Somehow with my fluent Franglais I managed to sign myself into a 12-month contract (I’m only here for 10 months) at £40 a month. Well-done Patrick!

I also realised that I’m pretty good at spending money I don’t have. I am working here and earning a phenomenal 400€ per month (not so phenomenal actually… it will buy me a Disaronno and diet coke and about a week’s rent).

I need to sort out the Erasmus grant and the CAF (housing allowance from the government) because if I’m ever going to afford the yacht in Monaco I’m eyeing up, I’m going to have to start making some money.

I’m pretty worried that my French is not going to be fluent by the end of the year, which is awkward since the main aim of the year abroad is to gain fluency in French.

Since it’s such a tourist area, whenever I speak to anyone in French they just respond in English.

I think when I was organising my year abroad, I just cared about being in the sun for a year...which quite frankly is biting me in the arse right now because it’s raining! I am taking it personally. How can it rain on the Riviera?

I suppose, however, that the odd rainy day here or there will do just nicely to write my journals for university.

We are being marked in a new way this year, which basically involves blogging our lives in French. I think it will be tough because my French is really bad.

I know I’m making it sound like I hate it here, but I’m actually having the time of my life!

It’s an amazing place and the people are gorgeous too. I am determined to find myself a wife (or a girlfriend at least).

I went to an English/Irish/Australian bar called Wayne’s last night and it was amazing. I’m

guessing it’s just the watering hole that all the foreigners go to.

It might take some time but I think I will become quite the local.

Patrick Thornley

Patrick soaking up the sun in France

Much of the anticipation about Freshers’ Week comes from the excitement of living on your own for the first time, making new friends and finding your way around town.

For me, coming to university also meant hopping on a plane and moving to a country I only knew from movies and indie rock albums.

I couldn’t just take the next train home or visit my friends at nearby universities; everyone I knew was an expensive flight away.

I decided to jump in at the deep end and spend Freshers’ Week not only going out and forming drunken friendships, but also exhausting the vast range of

activities offered by the Students’ Union, Endcliffe community and university clubs.

I went running with the Athletics Club and joined on a full membership because the people I met were very friendly and welcoming.

I took a free trip to the Millennium Gallery and discovered the Winter Garden, a great place to relax and indulge in cupcakes.

I tried knitting, DJ-ing and was taught how to pour shapes into the froth of a café latte.

I learned how to step outside my personal boundaries, drop my inhibitions and approach strangers without turning bright red.

I ended up making

a handful of friends before I even set up a British bank account or bought a mobile phone.

Freshers’ Week left me not only with a series of bad hangovers and a memory card of unsightly photos, but also with a new perspective on socialising.

Yes, alcohol brings people together. But so do common interests and sharing new experiences together.

Needless to say, I’m still friends with the people I met on a PhotoSoc treasure hunt around Sheffield. Those girls I talked to in the toilets at ROAR? Can’t even remember their names...

Ina Fischer

Lifestyle & Travel

FORGE PRESS Friday September 16 2011 www.forgetoday.com//lifestyle@forgetoday.com 23

Freshers’ Week when you are...Single... In a relationship...

I came to uni thinking Fresh-ers’ Week would be like my holiday to Kavos. I could go out every night, make friends with everyone I meet and recover by doing very little during the day. If I could han-dle one week in Kavos, sans the boyfriend, of course I could handle Freshers’ Week.

On the surface Freshers’ can be like that- a lot of alco-hol, partying and sleeping off the night before. But what I hadn’t fully realised was that when combined with adjust-ing to life away from home, making new friendships and getting to know a new city, it was much harder.

Thankfully for all us long-distance relationship people, there is the genius inven-tion of Skype. It made the distance seem much smaller and it’s great to be able to talk about your day face-to-face. This was great in Freshers’ as we were able to chat about new friends and

nights out and the general Freshers’ experience. It is possible to Skype too much, which I’ll admit I did do, and would have done better to limit it more.

On nights out, it was hard for me to talk to guys without stringing them along

by being too friendly. It is so easy to fall into flirting as a way to make friends with people of the opposite sex but my general rule is: if you wouldn’t act that way with your boyfriend or girl-friend there, you probably

shouldn’t be doing it. Sounds corny but mutual

trust is also key. Don’t waste your Freshers’ worrying about what your other half is doing.

There were people ques-tioning why I was staying taken during Freshers’: “it’s uni, don’t you want to be able to have fun?”

I found there was an espe-cially mixed reaction (some-times even with a wince) to the news he lived on the opposite side of the country. But it doesn’t matter what Dave from A2 thinks about your relationship prospects. The important thing is what you think.

Most importantly, take time to build yourself a life here. Enjoy making new friends and finding new places to go so that you can share them when they visit. If you two ever leave your bedroom that is...

Beth Surgenor

Freshers’ Week brings a mul-titude of sexually charged events for the student singleton. We’re talking school disco, sexy beach party, school disco UV paint edition; basically anything which involves wearing not very much and gyrating in the room you were earlier registering in.

Much like school discos, there is the standard feeling of pressure to end the night ‘slow dancing’ with someone (in my mind it’s to Flying Without Wings, in Fresh-ers’ Week it will be to Ke$ha breathing heavily).

Whether you’re single and up for it, or single and scared, Freshers’ Week in all its nervous glory bears end-less possibilities.

Freshers’ Week is a nerve-wracking time and it’s sometimes easy to forget the positive aspects of being single. One of the biggest pros of being single in Fresh-

ers’ is that you are free to do whatever you want.

You will also have the ben-efit of not being one of those people who has to quickly inform people about their other half giving the impres-sion you believe everyone is hitting on you. However

if everyone is hitting on you (yay!) you have the freedom to decide what to do about it.

If you’re on a night out and you’re considering going home with someone, remember this, when you live in student accommoda-tion, I can guarantee you will see that person again. You

may not know it and you can cling onto the hope that they may not know it.

Also with regards to your new flatmates, whilst the im-mediate walk of shame may be short and easy, remember you will have to face them every day for a year, ulti-mately making it the longest walk of shame ever.

There is a phenomenon at the start of every new university year called ‘black October’. A time in which previously coupled up peo-ple find themselves single, their partners struggling with long distance/sexual orientation/finding them-selves.

I mention this as both a warning to those for whom ‘black October’ has come early, and a heads-up for the more seasoned singleton. If you’ve got your eye on some-one in Freshers’ who’s taken, it may not be for long.

Laura Kay

Schmoozing with film stars

This is the story of how I went on work experience

and got to interview a film star. I went to my dream

publication - The Independent. Excited is a bit of an

understatement. I couldn’t wait to learn from pro-

fessional journalists! The placement wasn’t fun or

eye-opening. I had to go over to the journalists and

ask them if they needed me to do anything, but after

pitching what must have been a hundred stories to the

editors, I published my first blog.

When I got back home to Brazil, Tom Felton was

coming to town to divulge the new Harry Potter

movie. I arranged to go to the little première they had

arranged for the Harry Potter films where I would be

able to interview him. By the end of the event, he had

come and gone and I wasn’t

able to speak to him. No

interview, no story.

When I was leaving, Tom’s

PR people told me I should

go to his hotel in the morn-

ing to speak to him. Hurrah!

Tom was staying in the posh-

est hotel in the city. He came

in and I was so happy when I

got to speak to him.

So work experience is

what you make of it, Getting

noticed was difficult but

something stuck and that’s

what matters. Nicole Froio

An American road trip!I was lucky enough

this summer to tag along with my boy-friend and his family

on a road trip down the Californian coast and across to Las Vegas. Having never ven-

tured out of Europe before, I think saying I was excited would

be an understatement! First, San Francisco. We were typical tourists for

a few days, visiting the abandoned prison island of

Alcatraz. The experience of eating dinner on the roof

of Macy’s in Union Square was pretty special too.

Next, all six of us continued down the Californian

coast. We arrived in Santa Barbara, which I loved!

There was a great atmosphere everywhere I went

in the US and everyone was so friendly, which was

really uplifting.The following day we got up at 5am to drive to the

most exciting destination of our trip – Las Vegas. We

ventured out into the bright neon lights; the Vegas

strip really is amazing at night. To be honest, I still

can’t believe I went to the States and experienced so

much. Anyone who has the opportunity to go, take it,

you won’t be disappointed.

Annabel Barton

A taste of the OrientLike most undergraduates my first thought when it came to summer was “right, what am I actually going to do for the next few months?” Whilst the option of 12-hour Call of Duty sessions immedi-ately sprang to mind I realised that I had to do something vaguely productive. I also knew I wanted to travel.

Ultimately, I decided upon an inter-national internship in Qingdao, China, whereby I could combine travel with some work experience and I haven’t regretted that decision for a second! Qingdao is such an incredible city! It combines the cosmopolitanism of Bei-

jing and Shanghai with a more laidback lifestyle that revolves around the beach.

The place itself is near spotless with perfectly clean sea air and, as a former German colony and currently booming port city, offers a combination of his-torical European architecture and sleek glass skyscrapers to rival any in Canary Wharf.

I found my internship to be really rewarding. I felt like I was making a real contribution, with my internship com-pany, Intern China, entrusting me to be independent and proactive.

I had the opportunity to stay with a Chinese family but, for me, that was too big a leap so I decided upon a shared apartment, which was great. Everybody was around the same age so we had a brilliant social life and it was easy to make friends from all over the world.

I would definitely recommend an in-ternship in China to anyone, try Qingdao!

Ben Rigby

San Francisco’sGolden Gate Bridge

Qingdao City

Summer dreams...

Photo: Angela Mabray/Flickr

Photo: Jean Sebastien Roy/Flickr

Here at Lifestyle, we’re missing every-thing about summer - the free time, the sunshine and the adventures. So we thought we’d savour summer by finding out about your exciting summer times.

Festival funIn the past, having saved enough money to attend

a music festival with my friends was usually the

highlight of my summer. This year, however, my

music-loving, party-addicted self was catapulted

into a state of absolute bliss. Five festivals in three

months, with plenty of time to travel around in

between. Although ‘Garance’, Europe’s biggest reg-

gae festival, was not my cup of tea, the experience

was unlike any I’d ever had before: France felt like

Jamaica. My favourite festival was MELT! in Germany.

The line-up included acts such as Nicolas Jaar, José

Gonzales, Cold War Kids, Boys Noize, Metronomy,

Robyn and The Drums. Perhaps due to the vast

amount of Scandinavian festival-goers, everyone in

the audience was intimidatingly fashionable. Good-

looking guys and bangin’ tunes, I approve.Ina Fischer

Nicole’s press pass

Photo: Vernon Fowler/Flickr

Girl in the Union: “It’s more disturbing than the girl I worked with over the summer referring to sex as dip.”

In Interval Bar:Girl: We were sat as a group watching girls do gyrate on the TV for a hour.Guy: Well I didn’t think one of them was very professional.Guy 2: She didn’t know how to use the phone either.

At the Train Station:Guy: I’ve got another one for your mum.Guy 2: Oh, she’ll enjoy that.

FORGE PRESS Friday September 16 2011 www.forgetoday.com 24

PUZZLES & HUMOUR

Coffee Breakoverheard

in sheffield

omg, Have you seen...?

1 - Review: The Inbetweeners Movie 2 - Is a traditional Uni degree better than one from Hallam? - Yes3 - Soldiers’ sexual exploits publish in ‘Slag Mag’4 - Ditched abroad: why language departments need to shape up5 - Graduates paif £15,000 to be social workers6 - Album Review Ganglians - Still Living7 - NUS Conference 2012 to be held in Sheffield8 - Former Sheffield graduate and lecturer dies9 - Snog, Marry, Avoid?10 - Sheffield rated in top ten for student satisfaction

Visit forgetoday.com to keep up to date with all aspects of Forge Media, from articles and podcasts to listen-again shows and video content.

mosT PoPuLaR weB ConTenT

BoRed?

No work, hungover without much to do?

Spend the time brainstorming new excuses for late essays, and if you get stuck then this informative and lengthy list can provide some funny, if not entirely believable, excuses for you. Beware, use The Excuse with caution. Whilst some lecturers may applaud your ingenious and wily ways, other just get pissed off and penalise you.

Visit: http://madtbone.tripod.com/school.htm

,

see iT:Marvel at the luck

Everyone knows that when a bike takes on a pickup, the bike loses.

One exceptionally lucky man collided with a pickup truck, flew and cartwheeled through the air to land unharmed on the road. He looks more upset about his bike than about the fact he survived. For an amazing, but shocking survival video then watch this.

YouTube Search: Man miraculously survives after bike crashes into truck

Gamer Commute

Ever wished you could do that hand brake turn?

Commuting to work just became a whole lot more fun. If you have ever played GTA or Halo then imagine travelling like that to work. Mayhem would ensue, but you would feel invincible for just 20 minutes a day.

YouTube Search: Gamer commute

Coffee BReak’s foLLow fRiday

THis foRTnigHT’s PuzzLe: a kenken

#ff @DepressedDarthFor hilarious tweets involving

storm troopers, depressed Darth and massively inappropriate, very politically incorrect statements follow the rogue dark lord.

Tweets like: ‘I’m getting sick of playing angry birds, I think today I’ll explode planets with the Death Star’

youTuBe iT:

Random Fact:One punishment for an adulterous wife in medieval France was to make her chase a chicken through town naked.

Coffee Break’s Word of the Fortnight:

Pulchritudinous (adj.) - physically beautiful; comely.(Origin: 1910-1915, Americanism ; from Latin pulchritudin- (stem of pulchritudo)

THe ReaL news THis foRTnigHT:moose Pie-eyed on CideR

The morning after: throbbing head, embarassing memories and the chaotic mess you’ve created.

The animal kingdom has also discovered the delights and downfalls of binge-drinking.

A Swedish moose became stuck in a tree after becoming inebriated on fermented apples.

The poor creature gorged himself on apples that had started to ferment and somehow became entangled

in the tree.The batty moose became

so stuck that all four legs were off the ground, and the fire crew had to cut down the whole tree in order to free the alcoholic.

After his dramatic night out, the moose followed the classic hangover cure and fell asleep next to a large body of water.

Apparently though the local fire services are used to this bizarre event, moose in Sweden often overindulge on fermented apples.

THe sTRange news THis foRTnigHT:moRe THan oRganiC

A young Cambodian boy has taken organic milk to the next step, why wait for the milk to be bottled?

Tha Sophat, a 20-month-year-old boy from the Siem Reap region of Cambodia, mimicked his grandparents new born calves by sharing their mother’s teats.

Um Oeung, the boy’s grandfather, says that the boy began suckling from the cow in July, and despite repeated attempts to stop him they have finally given up.

Apparently the boy protested, in typical small child style and so the doting grandparents gave in to him.

Little Tha Sophat now feasts on the cow’s udders up to twice a day. Um

Oeung says that he is happy for it continue but does worry about the boy’s health.

His parents have moved to Thailand to try and find work, as Cambodia suffers from massive unemployment, so he lives with his grandparents on their small farm.

Despite the obvious, slightly - read massively - repulsive negatives of such milk drinking, it must be admitted that Tha Sophat is probably drinking the most organic white stuff in the world.

U n p a s t e u r i z e d , unbottled, and fresh. No, it won’t catch on, the most we can do is try to find a positive.

Scrutineering Anthony Hart

‘Rooney Rule’ heading for UK?

SPORTFORGE PRESS Friday September 16 2011 www.forgetoday.com // sport@forgetoday.com 25

Mike Tomlin is one of many black managers to have competed in the Superbowl Photo: AxsDeny/Flickr

It is a news story that to some extent has slipped under the radar in the last week; US lawyer Cyrus Mehn was in

London to convince English football authorities to adopt the “Rooney Rule.”

This isn’t an attempt to govern hair transplants, but in fact an American National Football League (NFL) rule established in 2003, named after Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney, that requires NFL teams to interview at least one black or ethnic minority candidate in the decision process of all head coach or senior football operations roles.

Now it is easy to understand why there are people who would back such a move on this side of the Atlantic. Currently, there are only two black managers in English league football, out of 92 clubs, Chris Hughton at Championship side Birmingham City, and Chris Powell at League One Charlton Athletic.

Compare that to the NFL, where there are currently eight head coaches and five general managers (similar to a director of football). Seven of the last ten teams to compete in the last five Super Bowls have had a minority boss at the helm.

But would adopting the Rooney Rule in the UK achieve similar results, and is there any need to introduce it? I think at this point it’s worth looking at the demographics of each country.

The US has a non-white population of 34% at the last count. In the UK it’s significantly lower (around the 15% mark). Furthermore, only 2% of the population is black. Therefore you could argue that two managers in the league is representative of the population.

Another argument is the

perceived low number of black and minority managers is the legacy of a not too distant past.

It was only in the late 1970’s that a black player first started a game for England, and for a while there was a myth that black players couldn’t be trusted in roles of responsibility.

Nowadays 25% of Football League players are black, and several black or mixed race players have worn the captain’s armband in the Premier League - off the top of my head alone I can name Zat Knight, Nigel Reo-

Coker, Rio Ferdinand, Patrick Vieira and Ledley King.

The FA and other administrative bodies in English football have seen the need to increase the number of ethnic minority coaches, and I think a combination of those two factors will mean that eventually there will be coaches and managers to choose from.

I also have confidence that these days, football clubs are sensible enough to look beyond skin colour or ethnic background when picking a manager. After

all, the England team is managed by an Italian, Manchester City are owned by a group from the Middle East, while Birmingham, Cardiff and Leicester are all owned by Far East consortia.

The Rooney Rule would only require clubs to interview a minority candidate.

If they were really intent on not appointing a minority manager, the interview would be merely a sham.

That wouldn’t be fair on the candidate either as it would essentially be a waste of their

time.Likewise, if a contingent of

black managers came into football overnight and all did poorly, that would do more harm than good.

The success of Chris Hughton has shown that black coaches can be successful and, if they are good enough, they will be appointed in time.

After all, the vast majority of fans won’t care who the manager is, as long as the team is successful.

Get involved with Forge MediaForge TV is Sheffield Union’s own student television station, broadcasting around the year at the union, in the

student villages and in the city, bringing you the most up to date student news, sport and entertainment videos!

Covering union events such as the Uni v Hallam Varsity, Union officer elections, Nights out at Sheffield Students’ Union, and all the latest gigs in the city, being part of Forge TV is a lot of fun!

There are lost of ways to get involved, you can help with editing, producing, promotions, sport and entertainment. Contact forgetv@forgetoday.com

Forge Press is the fortnightly independent student newspaper of the University of Sheffield. It has a readership of around 15,000 and is available from the Students’ Union, a range of locations across campus and the city.

The paper contains news, comment, features, travel and lifestyle, sport and the entertainments pullout Fuse.

You can write, photograph, edit, sub edit, or draw for the newspaper.

To get involved email: contribute@forgetoday.com

Forge Radio is Your University Soundtrack. We are Sheffield Students’ Union very own student radio station, broadcasting across campus and online 24/7.

However, if a show isn’t your thing, there are also loads of ways to get involved.

We know that talking isn’t for everyone, but this doesn’t mean you can’t get involved! Other sections of Forge Radio include music committee, news, sports, tech or production.

Somewhat like the result of a high speed collision between a newspaper, a TV and a radio (but much better looking) Forgetoday.com is the online home of student media at the Sheffield University Students Union.

Updated regularly with a smörgåsbord of content you’ll always be up to date with the latest gossip, news, reviews and sports tailored to students in Sheffield.

It has been a relatively good start to the season for Sheffield United. The Blades sit second in League One as they seek promotion back to the Championship at the first attempt. They had a perfect home league record prior to Tuesday

night, when a brace from Lee Novak helped promotion rivals and fellow Yorkshiremen Huddersfield clinch a 3-0 win at Bramall Lane.

Despite that setback, they occupy an automatic promotion place, partly helped by the fact it was their first league defeat of the season. On the road they have

SPORT

Mixed fortunes for Blades and Owls in League One

26 www.forgetoday.com // sport@forgetoday.com FORGE PRESS Friday September 16 2011

Anthony Hart

Sheffield Steelers have had an eventful summer. The club’s parent company, RinkCorp, went into administration, and the Elite League champions have also had to appoint a new coach, Ryan Finnerty. However on the ice it has been business as usual for the Steelers as they commenced the 2011/12 campaign with three straight victories.

They opened the season with a 2-1 win in Northern Ireland

against the Belfast Giants. Last Saturday they came out on top against Dundee in their first home game of the season, with wing Neil Clark scoring twice, and further goals from Mike Ramsey and Colt King. The following day they prevailed 6-2 at Hull, with Clark grabbing another brace. Unsurprisingly, the Steelers top the table at this early stage, and face the Cardiff Devils on Saturday. Cardiff were also owned by RinkCorp prior to this summer.

In other news, Jeff Legue has

taken over as club captain for the forseeable future, with regular skipper Jonathan Phillips sidelined for up to three months with a knee injury. An operation is required for a full recovery.

Legue said: "Its nice to be named Captain but I wish it had never happened and Jono was still here leading us.

“It is such a shame that he has been hurt again, the work he put in over the summer was incredible. For this to happen twice in 12 months is so unfair."

Steelers impress with flying start to season

Anthony Hart

Photo: Isriya Paireepairit

The Sheffield Eagles rugby league team still have hopes of silverware after starting their Championship playoff campaign with a victory.

The Eagles finished fourth in the regular season, which was enough to secure an elimination semi-final against Widnes, who will be returning to the Super League next year. Sheffield ran out 36-20 winners at Bramall Lane however, with a couple of tries each for Quentin Laulu-Togagae and Dane McDonald, and one from Misi Taulapapa, plus eight goals from Simon Brown.

The win takes the Eagles through to an elimination match against Halifax on Sunday, also at Bramall Lane. A further two wins would secure their place in the Grand Final

Eagles one step closer to Grand Final

Anthony Hart

Photo: Blades Sports Photography

won two and drawn two of their four games. Their Carling Cup run ended in the second round after a defeat against Premier League side Everton at Goodison Park, despite initially taking the lead. Although Danny Wilson has answered some of his critics and his team has made the start they needed if they are to bounce straight back.

Sheffield Wednesday's start to the season hasn't been quite as emphatic. Gary Megson has turned Hillsborough into a fortress, with a perfect home record in all competitions. However, his team sit tenth in the division after failing to win a single away fixture.

Tuesday proved to be the low point of the season so far as they were thumped 5-1 at freshly-promoted Stevenage. Megson has been criticised at times for employing a primitive style of play.

He also courted controversy during the Johnstone's Paint Trophy tie away at Bradford, a match they lost on penalties. Football League rules require a team to start six recognised first-team players. Megson obliged but then took three players off in the first 20 minutes, for no obvious fitness or tactical reasons. The Owls, however, remain tipped for at least a top six finish.

The Sheffield Sharks get their season under way exactly a fortnight today after a reasonably successful season last time out.

The Sharks won the British Basketball League (BBL) Cup for a second straight season with a 99-63 win over the Mersey Tigers at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, with Steve D'Agostino scoring 35 individual points to win the Most Valuable Player Award.

However the Sharks had to settle for second-best in last season's BBL Playoff Final after being defeated by the Mersey Tigers, ensuring revenge for the North-West club. That match was also staged in Birmingham and the Sharks lost out by just five points in a less than classic affair.

The Sharks will meet the Tigers once again in their second league game of the season. They travel to Merseyside on October 7th. Before that they open their campaign with a home game

against the Cheshire Jets on September 30th at the English Institute of Sport.

The Sharks have made signings over the summer, with Great Britain international guard and former club favourite Nate Reinkling returning to South Yorkshire after an earlier stint between 1999 and 2004, before playing on the continent, and then one season with the Mersey Tigers.

"We can offer Nate the right situation in this build up year, we have a great infrastructure medically, with support and a superb training venue," general manager Sarah Bckovic told the club website.”

The Sharks among others have also signed American Robert 'BJ' Jenkins after he graduated from Murray State University, and played for the Racers in NCAA college basketball stateside.

“I think he will do very well in the BBL and with the rest of the team will develop his leadership skills and help us improve on our success,” said player-coach Atiba Lyons.

Anthony Hart

Sharks optimistic ahead of new season

Photo: gr0don/Flickr

Rotherham United climbed to second in league two with a 3-1 victory over Dagenham and Redbridge thanks to a brace from inform striker Lewis Grabban.

Andy Scott’s team confidently outplayed their opponents who looked weary after a midweek 14-13 penalty shootout win again Leyton Orient in the Johnston’s Paint Trophy.

Two goals in ten minutes from Grabban, the first with his head and then a rightfooted finish inside the penalty area and a goal from Gareth Evans was enough to stop a lackluster Dagenham.

The match was the first time the two clubs have met since the Millers lost 3-2 in the League Two play-off final in 2010.

Danny Schofield was missing from the Rotherham lineup after being sent off in the teams 3-2 defeat to Swindon Town last weekend. The defeat was the first of the season for manager Andy Scott.

Within the first minute of the match Alex Revell hit the post of Chris Lewington’s goal with a header from inside the six-yard box.

Gareth Evans put the Millers in front in the ninth minute of the game when he converted a cross from Lewis Grabban.

Grabban held up the ball on the right hand side of the Dagenham defence before beating his man and sending a cross to the middle of the penalty area, which wasn’t dealt with by the Dagenham defence.

Evans picked up the ball just beyond the penalty spot and finished through the legs of Chris Lewington.

The lead only lasted a little more than 10 minutes with Dagenham growing more confident and putting more pressure on the Millers’ goal.

Daggers’ captain Scott Doe

SPORTFORGE PRESS Friday September 16 2011 www.forgetoday.com // sport@forgetoday.com 27

University of Sheffield triathlete Catherine Faux took European gold with a brilliant performance in Tampere, Finland.

The 23-year-old medicine student held off strong competition to triumph in the women’s 20-24 age group at the ETU Long Distance Triathlon European Championship, crossing the line in a time of 6 hours, 56 minutes and 23 seconds.

Her time was also good enough to earn the accolade of the fastest overall non-pro female athlete at the event, which took place in August.

Faux, who hails from Stamford, was delighted with her effort.

She said: “The race went really well, despite the fact I didn’t feel

fully prepared having not been able to train much the week before. Tampere is a brilliant place, and the lakes were just wonderful for swimming in.”

The gruelling course involved a 4km swim in Lake Pyhäjärvi, a 120km, six-lap bike course and finally a 30km run through the city’s landmarks, though the mild temperatures and reasonably flat terrain enabled the athletes to post some fast times.

Faux’s success took the medal tally of the GE Great Britain Age Group Team at the event to 11, including six golds.

It completes a grand summer for the Sheffield Tri Club member, who also took gold in the women’s Outlaw Triathlon in July.

In doing so, she set a new female course record in the Nottingham event’s second year, almost 23 minutes faster than the previous

year’s quickest.The win was all the more

impressive considering it was Faux’s first attempt at an iron-distance triathlon.

“I was really happy to win and wasn’t expecting it,” she said.

“I’d been trying to train as much as possible around university, so it was nice to see all the effort pay off.

“I’d never done an iron-distance before and was using a borrowed bike, so it was amazing to finish in first place.

“I’m definitely planning to take part in it again next year.”

Faux has also competed on the world stage, finishing 19th in the 20-24 age group at the 2010 ITU Triathlon World Championship Grand Final in Budapest, Hungary, in a time of 2:10:54.

European gold for Uni’s top triathleteSwim, bike and run: Faux races to top prize

Sport is quite important here at the Uniovesity of Sheffield.

The university has numerous sports clubs, ranging from Aikido to Water Polo and everything in between. Most clubs compete in competitions run by BUCS, the governing body of university sport in Britiain, and many of the clubs field teams in leagues where fixtures are played on most Wednesdays during term-time.

Sheffield has also hosted the last three BUCS Championships, where many teams, and indivisual competitors from around the country battle it out for national titles, with Trophy and Cup finals. These are usually held around mid-March.

And of course there are the annual Varsity competitions,

where University of Sheffield teams take on arch-rivals Sheffield Hallam University.

Winter Varsity, which usually consists of an ice-hockey game and a night of skiing and snowboarding, takes place in February.

Last year Uni dominated the ski and board events to avenge a late loss in the ice hockey and win 4-1.

The main Varsity event takes place over the course of one week in the spring, and is contested over numerous sports.

In the last two years it has culminated in the football finals, held at Hillsborough, the home of Sheffield Wednesday.

Uni has lost the last few Varsity Challenges by a narrow margin, and will be hoping to end a run of almost a decade without a victory.

Jack Burnett Jack Burnett

Rotherham cruise past a laclustre Dagenham side

A new year and a new Varsity chance

Matt Burgess

Andy Scott

headed in a corner taken and won by Gavin Tomlin, with his header clipping the underside of the bar.

Tomlinson should have given Dagenham the lead when a high ball from the defence bounced over the head of Cresswell. The Dagenham striker took the ball into the box was only to be denied by a smart save from the right hand of Logan.

United took control of the game after half an hour with the first of a ten minute double form Grabban. He slipped away from his marker at the near post to send a glancing header into the back of the net.

Grabban edged the Millers to a two goal advantage nine minutes later after Evans stole the ball from the Daggers’ defence near the corner flag and played the ball low into the feet of the striker.

He picked up the ball near the penalty spot, turned on his right foot and hit the ball into the net beyond the helpless Lewington.

Rotherhan began the second half dominating the play in the same way they had finished the first half. Rightback Dale Tonge skimmed the top of the bar with a right footed shot in the first minute of the second half.

In a largely uneventful second half where both teams seemed to look content with the half time result Dagenham had the better of the chances but never looked like putting the ball in the back of the net.

28 www.forgetoday.com // sport@forgetoday.com FORGE PRESS Friday September 16 2011

The University of Sheffield’s futsal team achieved an admirable 14th-place finish at July’s European Universities Futsal Championships in Tampere, Finland.

The team became the University’s first ever representatives at the European University Sports Association (EUSA) Championships and beat the tournament hosts to progress from a difficult group, but a defeat to finalists Malaga deprived them of a place in the top 12.

A further win against Oslo and losses to French teams Evry and Pantheon-Sorbonne meant Sheffield finished 14th from 24 entrants.

Their strong showing rounds off an excellent season for the futsal team, who qualified for the tournament after winning the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Championships in Sheffield and also trounced Hallam during Varsity.

Club captain Rich Ward felt his side gave a good account of themselves in Finland considering the comparative popularity of futsal in mainland Europe.

He said: “I’m very proud of our performance. To finish 14th in Europe, without having had weekly training and after taking on a lot of new players at the start of the year, is amazing.

“It shows the brilliant ability of our squad and how much they have practised in such a short period of time.

“We won BUCS against the odds and have competed against the champions of renowned futsal nations, so that says a lot about out team morale as well as ability.”

Ward’s side were quick to make their presence known, shocking hosts Tampere with a thrilling 5-4 win in their first game.

England international Olive Wheatly-O’Neill caught the eye with a stunning hat-trick, with Toluwa Sotonye and Jack Hands also getting on the score sheet.

But Sheffield were soon brought swiftly down to earth in their second game in as many days when heavy favourites SAPE Moscow eased to a 10-1 win.

That did not stop Sheffield from progressing from their group, and they then went on to reach the last 16 after a 4-2 victory against the Cyprus University of

Technology. However, eventual runners-

up University of Malaga – who lost the final to the University of Valencia – put paid to any hopes of further progress, giving their opponents a masterful lesson.

in tiki-taka in a resounding 7-0 victory.

An unfortunate 7-4 defeat, after taking a 3-1 lead, to Paris’s Pantheon-Sorbonne University – who included among their squad three French under-21 international players – was followed by a 4-2 win over NSSS Oslo.

Sheffield finally bowed out with a close-fought 7-5 defeat to the University of Evry, who took 13th place as a result.

Pleased though he was with his side’s tournament debut, Ward remained hopeful they could take further strides in the sport and was confident they could reach next year’s EUSA Championships in Cordoba, Spain.

He said: “This coming year, with a better training regime and trial process, I am sure the team will progress more – futsal at the moment is still very much in its early stages compared to most other sports clubs at university.

“The team is aiming to retain the BUCS title, which will not be easy as we have serious contenders in teams like Loughborough, Bath and Hallam. Then if we reach EUSA again, we want to finish in the top 10 in Europe.”

Futsal team fall short in Finland: 14th for Uni after French defeat

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The tournament held in Finland was eventually won by the Spanish University of Valencia beating their national counterparts the University of Malaga 4-2 in the final Photo: Eero Kaivola

Cheers all round as Uni celebrate BUCS success earlier this year. Photo: Marek Allen

Jack Burnett

GroupW 5-4 University of Tampere (Finland)

L 1-10 SAPE Moscow (Russia)

First eight finalsW 4-2 University o Technology (Cyprus)

Second eight finals L 0-7 University of Malaga (Spain)

Quarter final places 19-16 L 4-7 University Paris 1 PS (France)

Semi final place 13-16W 4-2 NSSS Oslo (Norway)

Final places 13-14L 5-7 University of Evry (France)

Uni’s results