Residents' access barred at Sheffield station

Sheffield station, ‘The Golden Gate’ to the city, stood illuminated in all its £35million regenerated glory last night, as protestors gathered to voice their opposition against plans to install ticket barriers at the station.

In October this year East Midlands Trains announced their plans to install 13 barriers at the station, eight in the front hall and five at the back.

Tim Shoveller, managing director of East Midlands Trains, the company which runs the station, says the barriers are needed to prevent loss of revenue, due to fare dodging.

But Sheffield residents, lecturers, and students who regularly use the station as an access route from their homes, work, schools and colleges to the rest of the city, are strongly opposed to the plans.

Residents Against Station Closure, one of the groups set up to oppose the plans, organised the protest outside the station last night. One of their placards read ‘Don’t cut off our safe path through the station’.

Terry Gallagher, secretary for the RASC, said that the only other route into the town centre from the other side of the station is a dilapidated old bridge, which is dimly lit, full of rubbish and graffiti and very difficult for wheelchair users and pushchairs to access.

Sheffield City Council voted unanimously against the ‘gating’ plans on September 3rd. They also have an online vote on their website, where you can register your views on the proposed barriers.

Mr Shoveller, of EMT, said: "I'm sorry for all the frustration this has caused, which was never our intention. We have listened to and worked with people concerned about the matter to develop solutions, and want to move on."

EMT have suggested giving residents and other people who regularly use the bridge ‘Smart Cards’, which would allow them 5minutes to pass through the station, as well as allowing elderly, disabled or people with young children free passage across the bridge without a smart card or ticket.

Out of the 100 questions and concerns raised by residents, EMT have only agreed to answer up to a maximum of 10. Member of the RASC Ellie Lockley, a student at Sheffield Hallam University, fears the technology is a “speculative idea that has not been fully thought through.”

She said: “If they have not got the capacity to think this proposal through to ensure it is workable before they install barriers they will not have the capacity to set up and maintain the pass system.

“Sheffield has far less crime than other comparative cities across England and if they want to reduce fare dodging then they should simply employ more ticket masters.”

Alice Carder

Celebrated historian returns for sell-out crowds

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On Tuesday, December 2, leading historian and academic, Sir Ian Kershaw, delivered a much anticipated talk to a packed University House as part of The Exchange programme of lectures.

Widely regarded as one of the world's foremost experts on Nazism and Hitler, Kershaw's willingness to return to Hitler for this talk came as something of a surprise, him having vowed never again to lecture on the subject ten years ago in 1998.

Organised jointly between the History and Politics Societies, the sell-out event drew a wide audience from both University students and staff,as well as from members of the local community and beyond.

Kershaw gave a wide-ranging and engaging talk that covered the entire span of Hitler's political career, from his lowly beginnings as a Vienna down-and-out, through his meteoric rise to power on the wave of economic depression in theearly 1930s, to his eventual suicide in 1945.

Kershaw then received anumberof questions from the floor. Afterwards, the debate continued in the Interval bar, with drinks and a buffet. Kershaw described his return to the University as a "pleasure".

After studying at Liverpool and Oxford, Kershaw has enjoyed a prolific career, holding professorships at the Universities of Manchester, Ruhr and Nottingham before joining the University of Sheffield's Department of History in 1989, in the capacity of Professor of Modern History. He has recently retired.

Kershaw has written a number of influential books on Hitler and The Third Reich, his most recent publication being a single-volume version of his renowned biography of Adolf Hitler, entitled Hitler. He was also involved with the BAFTA-winning BBC Television series, 'The Nazis: A Warning from History', BBC2's 'War of the Century', and the BBC's 'Timewatch' programmes on 'Operation Sealion', where he acted as historical advisor.

He was knighted in 2002 for Services to History.

Begun in 2007, The Exchange programme is still in its infancy but aims to open minds and generate a forum for discussion and debate amongst the University community through attracting prestigious political and public figures to the Students' Union. Previous high profile speakers at Exchange events have included Alistair Campbell, celebrated sociologist and adviser to Gordon Brown, Anthony Giddens, and University of Sheffield graduate and former Home Secretary, David Blunkett.

Joe Oliver, a second year history student at the University and involved in the coordinating of the event, stressed the importance of Kershaw's lecture. He said, "In years to come, people will view this era of Sir Ian's career as the period in which he shifted greater emphasis to the irreplaceable nature of Hitler in the functioning of the Third Reich."

Phil Woods

Mental Health awareness campaign

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This week the Union of Students marked Mental Health Week, raising awareness of a topic many students consider a taboo.

Organised by the Welfare Committee, Sports Committee and Mental Health Matters, the one-week campaign aimed to educate students on different disorders related to anxiety, stress and depression. It also set out the services that are available to students throughout the University.

Following a series of social campaigns organised in the Union, such as Disability Awareness Week and LGBT Campaign Week, Mental Health Week focused on the balance between physical exercise and psychological well-being.

Natalie Hibbs from the Welfare Committee said: "We are focusing specifically on anxiety, stress and depression this week - encouraging students to talk to one another about how they are feeling, to eat a healthy diet, and to get plenty of physical exercise to improve their mental well-being.

"Also, we will be running a follow-up campaign in the second semester alongside the Shrimps group, who will be doing a special performance to raise money for MIND."

This week's campaign included exercise in front of the Union and a Relaxation Day, as well as information on where students can ask for help.

The week provided students with an opportunity to write down what worries them on a 'Stress Level' board and discover that other people share their anxieties.

Though mental health is usually something most people feel uncomfortable talking about, one out of four suffers from a mental health problem. Away from friends, home and family and pressed by deadlines, lack of sleep and poor diet, it comes as no surprise that a students' psyche is under constant threat. The fact that fellow students often have no knowledge or understanding of the problem only makes matters worse.

The organisers of the campaign aim to reduce the stigma that surrounds mental health problems while offering advice to students.

There is plenty of help for stressed-out students. The University Health Service and the University Counselling Service both provide services for students. The Mental Health Matters organisation also provides drop-in sessions for students, friends and family to find information and share their experiences.

The Skills for Life programme organises workshops which concentrate on different mental health issues – exam insecurities, revision problems, sleep deprivation, peer pressure and disappointment.

Mina Kasherova

Student sexual health initiatives

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Students are being urged to get themselves checked for Chlamydia by the University Health Service as part of a new national initiative.

More than one in 10 people aged between 15 and 24 who are tested has the sexually-transmitted disease, according to recent figures. In line with the national Chlamydia screening programme, students now have access to free checks from pharmacies linked to the University Health Service.

Area Support Pharmacist Ravi Mohan, of Welldricks pharmacy on Glossop Road, says all students should take advantage of the programme.

He said: "Since we have had all the testing kits here we have been saying to students 'get yourselves tested', but I am concerned they are not taking up our advice.

"Even if you are in a relationship it doesn't mean you are fooling around as it can stay there for some time."

He also warned that full sexual contact is not needed to contract Chlamydia, as it can even find its way into the body through the eyes.

Chlamydia is the most common sexually-transmitted bacterial in the UK and despite being largely symptomless, can cause infertility among females. The disease can also lead to Pelvic Inflammatory Disease and ectopic pregnancy – a condition where the baby forms outside of the womb. If contracted by men, it can lower the fertility of their sperm whilst also causing swelling to the testicles.

Mr. Mohan said the test is a simple procedure which involves giving a small urine sample.

"Appointments do not need to be made before hand and it will only take ten minutes to fill out a form," he said.

The pharmacy is also raising awareness about the effects flu can have on students over the winter period. Recent statistics show that 18,000 people die each year from flu-related illness, with an additional 30,000 hospital admissions.

Mr. Mohan said: "There are over a million GP consultations relating to flu each year that could be avoided if people got the jab.

"Flu can especially affect younger people with other conditions like asthma or diabetes.

"Students who present their U-card to any University-linked pharmacy will receive a 20% discount on flu jabs, reducing the cost to £11.99."

Michael Hunter

Quiz for Amnesty

The School of English is challenging staff and students to look back over 2008, with a quiz in aid of Amnesty International, writes Amy Taylor.

The 2008 Year Quiz will test both acumen and memory with questions about events from the past 12 months. Entry can be on an individual or group basis for a total prize of £50.

The quiz will be available from the School of English website, www.shef.ac.uk/english/, from Monday, December 15. Donations from entrants are welcome.

Any enquiries to Nicky Hallett: n.a.hallett@sheffield.ac.uk.

Students plan 'Get Sleighed' bar crawl for hospice

A massive bar crawl has been organised to help raise money for community projects and St. Luke’s Hospice on Sunday, December 14.

The pub crawl has been organised by Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) who have been involved in around 20 projects already.

‘Get Sleighed’ is designed not only to raise money for St. Luke’s Hospice, which is the only hospice in the area, but also to fund a project in Africa during February next year.

The project, set to take place in Tanzania, will help farmers to create a self-sustaining business as well as building a business and IT school.

Two students who have organised the project are Helen Gammons and Emma Millard, both third year students in Management at the University of Sheffield.

They became involved in SIFE at the beginning of this year and regret not getting involved sooner. Emma said: "It’s nice seeing the work I’ve done help others."

Helen said: "I love business projects and these help so many people."

The idea behind SIFE is that they invest money into struggling businesses and therefore help them survive and develop.

The business then pays back the loan in instalments with interest at a much lower percentage than that of the banks.

Other projects have included re-housing for the homeless, which allowed homeless people to refurbish houses that they are living in. This not only gave them shelter, but allows them to apply for jobs as they have a fixed living address.

The pub crawl is set to begin at 7.30pm at Vodka Revolution on Sunday, where a raffle will take place using prizes donated by the bar, which is managed by Ian Boyles.

The route will then consist of Varsity, The Cavendish, Bia Hoi, Walkabout, RSVP and Embrace. Donations from other bars include £100 from Varsity and £500 from Embrace.

Tickets for the event can be bought from the Box Office or direct from Vodka Revolution, The Cavendish, RSVP, Varsity and Emma Millard on 07960453660 and Helen Gammons on 07745556028.

Also anyone interested in SIFE can go along to the meetings every Tuesday at 7pm in the Enterprise Zone next to St George’s Church or go to http://www.sheffieldsife.org/.

Chris McKay

Students in sweatshop protest

Members of the University of Sheffield’s Speak Society sat outside the Union on Tuesday and Wednesday this week to protest against the conditions of sweatshops.

Bundled up against the cold, students sewed clothes on the concourse from 12pm to 2pm to draw attention to their campaign.

Society members asked people to take part in their petition against sweatshop conditions by recording an mp3 file stating their support.

Speak groups across the country hope to record 24 hours of sound to present as an audio petition to the UK government and the European Commission.

The Sheffield group aimed to record an hour of speech over the two days. The audio petition was chosen as they are felt to get more notice than a traditional petition.

Speak does not want to deprive sweatshop workers of their jobs, but campaigns to improve their pay and working conditions.

Mikey Sandford, a third year Biblical Studies student and co-president of the University’s Speak Society, said: "Companies should have a responsibility for human rights and working environments.

"Companies won’t do it without laws – they will go on making a profit regardless."

His co-president Katie Wellbrook, a second year English Literature student, said: "People seem positive about the campaign. It’s an issue most people can relate to."

The UK-based Speak is part of the Trade Justice Movement, which is made up by around 50 groups campaigning for corporate responsibility.

"We wanted to show what working in a sweatshop really means – doing something very tedious in horrendous conditions for hours on end for very little pay," Wellbrook added.

NoSweat, another campaign group, will have two ex-sweatshop workers speaking at their event ‘We Make Your Clothes’ at 7pm on December 8, in the Octagon Centre Meeting Room Two.

Natalie Bowen