Gair Rhydd 1046 - 2 March 2015

gair rhydd

Monday March 2nd 2015 | freeword | Issue 1046

Claire Blakeway elected Students’ Union President

Non-students “able to vote” in SU elections

Michael O’ConnellDavidson

Gair Rhydd can exclusively reveal that in this year’s student elections, non-students were able to vote. Further, we can confirm that this is not the first time this has been the case; sources report that the vulnerability in the voting system that allowed graduates to has persisted in at least one previous vote organised by the Cardiff Students’ Union.

Students’ Union representatives have since confirmed these claims.

This publication received an anonymous tip at approximately 12pm on February 27th that previous students were able to vote in the 2015 Cardiff University Students’ Union elections.

Gair Rhydd verified this claim, instructing previous students to at-

tempt to log in to cardiffstudents. com and attempt to cast votes. It was established that it was indeed possible to vote, provided voters had a username and password from the university. If your password had expired since graduation, then it could be reset through the university website SIMS.

One individual successfully voted to re-open nominations (R.O.N) for all positions, while others simply confirmed that it was possible to login and fill out voting forms. The students union confirmed that they had “identified a number of individuals [who] were able to vote” that were ineligible to do so.

As those who assisted our investigation only successfully submitted one vote, the fact that there were

multiple votes on the system is proof that not only were non-students able to influence the results, but that former students independent of this newspaper and the university had actively attempted to prejudice the results before the Students’ Union had completed its investigation.

James Clarke and Tom Tollefsen, who were both candidates in this election, spoke to Gair Rhydd shortly after the initial findings of the investigation were published.

Tollefsen said that he believed that the ability for non-students to vote presented some candidates with a “massively unfair advantage”, particularly those that had enjoyed long academic careers at the university, as they were likely to know a large number of former students.

In this week’s issue: Cardiff Conservative Richard Hopkin speaks to politics, the price of redefining Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and a complete summary of last week’s campaign activity Continued on page

Clarke concurred, and added that once candidates became aware of this flaw, “everybody started making calls.”

When the union made contact with candidates informing them that non-student votes would not be counted, a Gair Rhydd reporter overheard one sabbatical officer candidate saying to a member of their campaign team that they needed to “call off the army,” referring to previous students they had enlisted to vote for them.

In response to these findings, a Students’ Union representative released the following statement: ‘On Friday 27th February, we received reports that there were instances of non-students being able to vote in the Students’ Union elections.

THE FREE WORD

EDITOR

Michael O’Connell-Davidson

GAIR RHYDD CO-ORDINATOR

Elaine Morgan

NEWS

Georgia Hamer

Katie Evans

Alexander Norton

Anna Lewis

ADVICE

Kirsty Fardell

COMMENT

Anne Porter

Gareth Evans

Olivier van den Bent-Kelly

COLUMNIST

Jason Roberts

POLITICS

Carwyn Williams

Lauren Boyd

Rhiannon Tapp

SCIENCE

Shanna Hamilton

Meryon Roderick

SOCIETIES

Hannah Sterritt

PARK LIFE

Tim Nagle

TAF-OD

Steffan Bryn Jones

Morgan Owen

SPORT

David Hooson

Rory Benson

Joe Atkinson

PRODUCTION EDITORS

Sum Sze Tam

David Hooson

EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS

Jack Boyce

Grace Phelps

DIGITAL EDITORS

Jordan Adams

Gregory McChesney

SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR

Maria Mellor

Email the editor: editor@gairrhydd.com Tweet us: @gairrhydd Online at: gairrhydd.com

What #ElectionsCSU meant to us

I just witnessed my final series of elections as a constituent of Cardiff Students’ Union, and I’m not entirely sure how I feel about that. To be honest, I’d come to loathe elections over the past two years; I was on a campaign team in first year, and we lost at the final stage. Last year, student media was embroiled in some fairly intolerable drama which overshadowed what should have been a noble process. But this year so much was different that it doesn’t feel like an annualised event, but something new entirely.

For first year students or those otherwise new to the process, it’s hard to fully communicate how this election differed from those in the past. Te contrast is just that great.

Tere were small changes you could see in the campaigners themselves. Campaign teams were much smaller and less in-your-face as they had been in previous years. Instead, nominees clustered together and approached people in groups. And candidates focused much more on multimedia campaigns than they did in previous years; in the past, videos were an afterthought. Indeed, one video from last year didn’t even have the candidate in question in it. At all. Can you imagine that? It was so meta that I’m not even sure I didn’t just dream the whole thing up.

Gimmicks and tactics were much cleaner, and I think that’s to everybody’s credit. Te fact that in previous years people being pushed into dropping out and others being disqualified was normal wasn’t just bad for the candidates, but it was bad for our democracy. It was about how loud and forceful you could be, and I think that really put voters off. It certainly put me off

But I think a massive difference was that this year, Gair Rhydd joined the fray. As our leader and previous editorials have made clear, Gair Rhydd has been relegated to a spectator in previous years. Tis is partially because a sabbatical officer has been in charge of the publication, thoroughly hamstringing our ability to report on the elections; how can somebody who has been involved in the electoral process act as a spectator? Could you imagine Ed Miliband leaving politics to edit Te Times? Moreover, how can one of the Union’s directors be expected to impartially cover the people who’re taking over from them?

Equally, our web presence has sucked. Nobody really understood how to use our website, and I think that’s because no editor I have met truly understood how important the internet was. We were stuck in

the past; our readership moved online, and we kept pumping out issues and leaving them at drop points in the hope that somebody - anybody - would pick them up.

Tere are a whole host of other reasons, though, and I think one of them has been trust. Cardiff Student Media has been, at times, lazy and unscrupulous. People have wondered what Gair Rhydd is good for, and to be honest, I can’t blame them. Why would you trust anything, when you don’t understand why it’s there or why it exists?

Recently, I read an essay by Peter Oborne (a very senior journalist) on why he left Te Telegraph. He described his previous employer as a part of the UK’s civic architecture; an important, considered voice that caters to a politically and intellectually active part of the population. While it might not be a part of the population that everybody agrees with, Telegraph readers are part of the democratic system that ultimately defines how this nation operates.

Te Students’ Union has its own democratic system, and it has its own civic architecture. Until now, I don’t really think we’ve been a part of that. How could we, when we spent so much time on the sidelines? We did not offer information that might empower people until it was too late for anybody to act on it. Indeed, elections coverage that is released after elections is not really coverage at all.

Our competitors in previous years (I use this term loosely, as I do not believe we sufficiently competed with anybody) include “Electwit”, a Batman-esque anonymous blog that was passed between various students and was used to scrutinise election candidates and their manifestos. I do not want to linger on Electwit for very long, but before these elections started, people speculated on whether or not the blog would return. For whatever reason, it did not.

Let’s say Electwit remained dormant, as was the case, and we didn’t offer any coverage until after the polls had closed as was the case in previous years. In that hypothetical reality, there would be no media that offered a perspective on the democratic process other than the manifestos released by candidates. Tat’s unthinkable, bad for the system, and it’s almost the situation we had. To draw some sort of analogy, imagine a General Election where the only information voters were provided came from the major political parties. What sort of democracy would that be? It is painful for me to say this, but I think that at

some point in the past, we had lost our place in the Students’ Union’s civic architecture. Gair Rhydd, in the 70’s, was “edited by anarchy” and devoted to politics that put students first. It was not just the free word - it was the beating heart of Cardiff University’s student population. When did that change?

I love this publication, and I believe that we can do good work for our readers and the wider student body. But for some time now, it strikes me as the case that we were a publication without a purpose. I thank those readers who have stayed loyal to us over the previous years, because I’m not sure why anybody would bother actively reading a publication that had no driving force, nor any reason to be.

Te reason I can make such an admission is because the past week has granted us perspective. I think it’s also proven that we are on our way to regaining our position within the civic architecture of the students union, if we haven’t already.

Te revelations on the front page of this newspaper - a story that we broke first digitally - would simply not have became clear without strong journalistic inquiry. It is not currently known whether or not the circumstances we have outlined were present in previous elections, and it never will be known. In years prior there was nobody sufficiently interested in asking questions, nor was there any platform where any answers might have been heard. Tis year, that changed. We must stay this course. We must fight for our position within the consciousness of the Cardiff University student, and we must work to maintain our position within the civic architecture of the Students’ Union. Te reasons for doing so are simply too great to ignore: what we can offer the student body isn’t only important, it’s essential.

My team understands that. I truly believe that our work over the past week has communicated that understanding. We’ve been in early in the morning and we’ve been the last to leave each evening, and at no point did we forget the reason we were here: we were here for our readers, and to fulfil our civic duty as a newspaper and as a journalistic entity.

I think that’s why I’m sort of sad this will be my last election week at Cardiff University: because I won’t be able to see what good this publication will do in years to come. But if the current team has no legacy other than the sea change we’ve been a part of over the last week... Well, that’s fine by me.

- MOCD

At Gair Rhydd we take seriously our responsibility to maintain the highest possible standards. Sometimes, because of deadline pressures, we may make some mistakes. If you believe we have fallen below the standards we seek to uphold, please email editor@gairrhydd.com. You can view our Ethical Policy Statement and Complaints Procedure at cardiffstudentmedia.co.uk/complaints

Opinions expressed in editorials are not reflective of Cardiff Students’ Union, who act as the publisher of Gair Rhydd in legal terms, and should not be considered official communications or the organisation’s stance. Gair Rhydd is a post office registered newspaper.

So, what’s next?

Tis year’s not over yet! I worry that I’m starting to sound like a sabbatical officer (heaven forbid), but while the number of issues I have left to edit is rapidly dwindling, there’s also loads of amazing content we’ve got lined up over the next couple of months.

First off, there’s Varsity. Have you enjoyed our live blogs? Well, I hope so, because we’ll be doing those for this year’s Welsh Varsity. I have so much faith in the three Horse-sons of the Sportocalypse (that’s Hooson, Atkinson and Benson), that this is going to be one of our best years ever.

We’re going to put together a supplement for Varsity, bringing together the team’s collective design and editorial experience into one publication-within-apublication. Now, I don’t know terribly much about sport but I do know a little bit about design, and every now and again, I can even fix typos. I think the biggest sporting event of the year will be in good hands.

Tere’s also the General Election, which is a tremendously important moment not just for this news-

paper, but for the country of Wales and the United Kingdom as a state.

Te continued narrative of devolution in Wales and the other constituent parts of the United Kingdom are difficult for me to appreciate. As a southern Englishman, I hadn’t truly been exposed to politics outside of the Westminster bubble before I came to Wales. And I confess that at times, I’ve missed the mark as an editor and let some poor errors slip through the gaps.

A humourous example of this was when we simply referred to Jeremy Hunt (who had instigated a policy matter that was being applied across the U.K.) as the “Health Secretary,” which he is - but in Westminster, not in Wales. Once we realised our error (and, to be fair, it’s quite a complicated matter to represent pictorially), I think we were all pretty embarrassed.

We’re stronger now. Earlier in the year, I don’t think anybody on this team had the ability to iron out the kinks in our understanding; Jeremy Hunt made the front cover, and was credited solely as the “Health

Secretary.” While he was the instigator of the policy issue we were reporting on (NHS fees for international students), and while it was set to be implemented across the UK wide by the Home Office, he’s not the Health Secretary west of the border - within the boundaries of the country in which we live.

We’re smarter now, and I think we’re well equipped to handle one of the defining moments of the decade. I hope we handle it well. We’ve covered one election very well indeed, and I believe that we’ll be able to cover the next one with a deft enough hand that we’ll do it justice. Sure, the General Election takes place on a much greater scale than the Students’ Union elections. But at the very least there’ll be less people dressed up in stupid fucking outfits.

Please continue to submit us feedback (we get a lot of it, mostly on social media). It helps us grow as a publication, and we’ve still got plenty of growing to do before the election and before Varsity. And we’re always looking for help - so get in touch.

Joe Atkinson

Campus In Brief

In case you didn’t notice, student election campaigning took place last week, with voting figures slightly down on last year’s as polls closed on Friday. You can read full results coverage in Gair Rhydd News, who reported on the event day-by-day for the first time, breaking stories ranging from candidates dropping out to graduates being able to vote.

Meanwhile students criticised Cardiff University for the lateness of examination results. Some are still waiting to learn the fate of their autumn semester modules, which obviously third year students in particular need to know in order to be able to fully prepare for their final semester assignments and exams.

Cardiff University received a £13million boost in research funding from the EU, with 26 of the university’s research projects that are of “benefit to science and society” benefitting from the donation. Te funds are being provided by the European Commission’s Horizon 2020 programme that is in its first year of operations.

A competition to design a new £80million student union building was re-launched last week after the initial procedure came under scrutiny. Te contest was criticised for having just one architect on its panel and failing to guarantee participant anonymity.

Te building, expected to be completed by 2020, will be connected to the current SU on Park Place, with plans also in place to develop the current union.

A poll undertaken by research at Cardiff University in concordance with its Wales Governance Centre found that despite years of EU funding to some of the most economically deprived areas of the country, only 17% of people in Wales believe that the nation benefits from Britain’s membership of the European Union. Te poll also found that 60% of people were in favour of staying in the EU.

NATIONAL

Prime Minister David Cameron called the Conservatives the “party of Wales” at the Tory

party conference in Cardiff. Cameron, whose party garnered 26.1% of the Welsh vote in 2010, said that the Tories were helping to turn the Welsh economy around and delivering “real devolution” to the nation after announcing a ‘St David’s Day agreement’ aimed at giving more power to the National Assembly.

To the joy of political satirists everywhere, John Prescott returned to frontline politics with the remit of being Labour leader Ed Miliband’s ‘personal adviser with specific responsibility for climate change’.

Sources close to the party however claimed that the Blair-era deputy prime minister has been drafted back from the political fringes to “bash heads together”.

As if the return of Prescott wasn’t appealing enough, Miliband then attempted to increase his party’s youth vote by vowing to slash tuition fees from a maximum of £9000 to £6000

Rounding up the General Election news, Green Party leader Natalie Bennett apologised to her fellow party members after giving what she described as an “excruciating” interview on LBC radio. Bennett claimed to have had a “mind blank” as she struggled to explain how her party would be able to budget for their planned funding in social housing projects.

Austerity Britain reached a new low as Orange Wednesdays were phased out of existence at cinemas nationwide. Te scheme, which offered two-for-one movie tickets for those on the Orange mobile network on a Wednesday, will undoubtedly be consigned to one of those ’24 things you’ll only remember if you’re a nineties kid’ clickbait articles.

Te husband of Oscar-winning actress Emma Tompson announced that he and his wife would henceforth refuse to pay their taxes until those involved in the HSBC Swiss banking scandal were put behind bars. “I’m not paying a penny more until those evil bastards go to prison” said Greg Wise, before adding: “we’ll go to prison if necessary”.

INTERNATIONAL

Te British man and IS poster boy dubbed ‘Jihadi John’ by the popular press was revealed to be 26-year-old Mohammed Emwazi, who was born in Kuwait but grew up in west London from the age of six onwards. Failing to spot the multiple levels of irony, the Daily Star as a response seemed to urge their readers to “find him and kill him” on their front page.

In the rather shady world of Russian politics, the opposition leader and staunch critic of President Vladimir Putin was shot and killed near the Kremlin in scenes described as a drive-by shooting. Boris Nemstov was a former deputy Prime Minister and was due to deliver a rally against his opponent two days before his death.

Te 2022 football World Cup in Qatar looks increasingly likely to take place in the winter months due to the extreme heat during summer in the MiddleEastern country. A number of national leagues have voiced their concerns about the plans, including the financial juggernaut of the Premier League, which feels a winter World Cup would prove a hindrance to scheduling.

Eddie Redmayne maintained his meteoric rise to the Hollywood A-list as he claimed the best actor Oscar at the 87th Academy Awards. Te actor, who starred in the Stephen Hawking biopic Te Teory of Everything, adds to his BAFTA award picked up earlier in February, while Julianne Moore also completed the same double with the best actress award.

Twitter exploded twice in one week, first as a 56-year-old woman hit her head after falling down a flight of stairs, and second when a picture of a dress kept changing colours because of magic or something like that. Te latter managed to take some of the spotlight away from Madonna’s cape-aided tumble at the Brit awards. Elsewhere in the world of showbusiness Leonard Nimoy, the actor best known for playing Spock in the Star Trek series, passed away at the age of 83.

Pictured: Leonard Nimoy, who passed away last week, aged 83

4 NEWS

Students’ Union Election results announced

Shock result: six females elected into seven full-time sabbatical officer roles and

Claire Blakeway becomes first ever Heath student Union President

Georgia Hamer

Anna Lewis

Claire Blakeway was named as the new Students’ Union President, recieving 61 per cent of votes cast

The Cardiff Students’ Union Election results were announced on Saturday, revealing that six out of the seven sabbatical roles will be filled by women - in a reversal of last year’s election outcome.

After five long days of campaigning, candidates, Union staff and supporters gathered in Y Plas to hear the results.

Current VP Heath Park, Claire Blakeway, was named as the new Students’ Union President, receiving 61 per cent of votes cast. Blakeway received the highest number of votes of any candidate the elections. She led with 3,061 votes, whilst her only competitor - current VP Societies, Barney Willis’ - received only 1,799.

Only 148 votes were cast to R.O.N, a request to Re-open Nominations.

In her acceptance speech, Blakeway said: “I really really can’t believe this”. She went on to note that she is the first Heath Park student to be elected a President and thanked her boyfriend and housemates, before wishing everyone a great evening

and exiting the stage.

Speaking to Gair Rhydd after the announcement, she said: “I’m shocked to have won. I really didn’t expect it. I thought Barney would have the edge as VP Societies as he knows more people through that role than I do through being VP Heath Park.”

“I’m chuffed to be the first Heath student to be elected President, I think that is great for Heath Park representation.”

“It’s going to take a while to sink in.”

Te position of VP Welfare was the most hotly contested in this years’ elections. Following tough competition from eleven competitors in 12 tense rounds of voting, Kate Delaney was voted in as VP Welfare. Delaney received 1,104 votes in the final round of voting and Nadine Dahan followed with 903 votes. Tom Davies was eliminated in the penultimate round with 736 votes.

Dahan led on first preference votes in the first round but the transferrable voting system saw Delaney take

the lead as other candidates were eliminated one by one at each round of voting.

Delaney was very emotional as she approached the stage. In her acceptance speech she said: “I don’t know what to say right now I can barely breathe”, she congratulated Dahan before leaving the stage, announcing: “I’m going to go because I can’t talk”.

Speaking to Gair Rhydd later in the evening, she said: “Nadine is absolutely fantastic, I walked in here today prepared to lose to her – she was such an amazing competitor.”

“ Te fact it was even votes at one point! I had no idea what was going on.”

Te newly introduced, full-time, VP Postgraduate Students position was taken by Katie Kelly in a landslide victory. Te first round of voting saw Kelly receive 1,786 of the 3,010 votes. Tom Tollefsen followed in second and MJ Melissen finished in third.

Kelly was unable to attend the event as she was away representing Team Cardiff in the DanceSport na-

tionals with fellow candidates Sophie Timbers and Bryn Griffiths. We were unable to approach her for comment. Only two candidates ran for VP Sports and AU President and Sam Parsons came out victorious with 58 per cent of votes. Parsons’ received 2161 votes and his competitor Steph Pugh received 1,461.

Parsons thanked his competition and the support he had over the week, saying: “ Tis means a lot to me. I just want to thank everyone for voting, thanks guys.”

Sophie Timbers was elected VP Education, despite her controversial policy to close Blackwell’s in the Students’ Union. Olivier van den BenKelly came in second, with 1,576 votes compared to Timbers’ 1,791. Will McLoughlin was eliminated in the penultimate round of voting with 958 votes.

Timbers, as previously mentioned, is also a member of Cardiff ’s DanceSport team and was unable to attend the event as she was away competing alongside elected VP Postgraduate Students, Katie Kelly.

“

Dahan led on first preference votes [...] but the transferrable voting system saw Delaney take the lead

(Far

Steffan BrynJones, Raviina Vijayandan, Katey Beggan, Hannah Sterritt, Claire Blakeway, Sam Parsons and Rachael Melhuish

(Top right) Kate Delaney elected VP Welfare

(Bottom right)

Hannah Sterritt, elected VP Societies

(Photographer: Greg McChesney)

Katey Beggan was named VP Heath Park Campus after receiving a staggering 1706 votes. Runner-up Chloe Richards received 448 votes and George Powney was eliminated in the penultimate round with 411 votes.

Beggan thanked her campaign team and her competition for making her “step up her game”.

In an interview with Xpress after the results ceremony she said she was “exhausted” but would be celebrating shortly after with a “bottle of champagne”.

Hannah Sterritt was elected VP Societies, receiving 200 votes more than her fellow competitor Claire Wisener in the final stage of the voting. James Ledward was eliminated in the penultimate round with with 725 votes.

Sterritt, who approached the stage in an evident state of shock, said: “ Tank you so much! Everyone’s been so nice this week, it’s been ridiculous.”

Speaking to Gair Rhydd later that evening, she added: “I’ve been on the radio, I’ve been on the TV…someone got me some champagne – is this my life now?”

Te successful part-time campaign officers were also announced at the event. All candidates in these positions undertake the role in tandem with their university studies.

Running uncontested, Raviina Vijayanandam was appointed Black

and Ethnics Minority Officer, securing the highest number of votes for a part-time officer position with 2,460 votes.

Daniel Tucker was elected as Ethical and Environmental Officer, receiving 1,328 votes to Sam Jenkins’ 1,116.

Grace Piddington was named International Students Officer with 1,229 votes cast in her favour. Sara Al Sayed followed in the final round with 785 votes.

Te LGBT+ Open position was awarded to Jack Meldrum, who ran uncontested and received 1,942 votes.Ellie Utley was named the first LGBT+ Women’s Officer with 2,172 votes.

Students with Disabilities Officer was won by Diana Isajeva in a landslide result. Isajeva received 1,601 votes – her only competitor, Sam Pritchard, followed with 773 votes.

Steffan Bryn Jones, current Welsh Language Officer, received 2,251 votes and was re-elected into the part-time position. Tis comes shortly after Bryn Jones launched a petition to hold a referendum calling for the position to be made into a full-time sabbatical role.

Rachael Melhuish was elected Women’s Officer, winning by 116 votes. Melhuish received 1,089 votes in the final round and runner up Leah Hibbs received 973.

As no candidates ran for the position of for Mature Student Officer,

the position remains open.

Ahmed Laakam, Leah Hibbs and Jennifer were all appointed positions as NUS Wales Delegates, having received the highest number of votes of the five candidates running.

Following tension on social media earlier in the week between the two candidates standing for Student Senate Chair, current VP Sports & AU President Bryn Griffiths came out victorious. Griffiths received 1,420 votes and Jennifer Owen received 920 votes.

After all the results were announced, successful candidates were invited to gather on the stage to celebrate their role on the newly elected officer team for the academic year 2015/2016.

Prior to these announcements, a series of awards were given to candidates to commend their efforts over the five-day campaign period. SU President, Elliot Howells, took to the stage to congratulate all the candidates on their campaign efforts.

He commented that everything this year had run very “smoothly” in comparison to previous years – aside from the nine discounted votes cast by students who had already graduated from Cardiff University.

Faraz Alauddin, current VP Welfare, took over proceedings to begin the announcement of the candidates’ awards. Te ‘Duracell Bunny Award’ for the candidate who maintained

high spirits and energy all week went to Nick Rothera.

Te ‘Steven Spielberg Award’ for best campaign video was awarded to Eliza Walwyn-Jones. WalwynJones took to the stage to try and pay thanks for her housemates despite still having lost her voice.

Kate Delaney received the ‘Richard Branson Award’ for the most innovative campaign. Te ‘Zuckerberg Award’ for the candidate who used social media most effectively was given to Jennifer Owen.

In her acceptance speech, Owen joked that her fellow competitor Bryn Griffiths “might disagree”.

Te ‘Glee Award’ for the best musical performance went to Olivier van dent Bent-Kelly for his parody of Iggy Azalea’s ‘Fancy’. Special mentions were given to Claire Blakeway, Hannah Sterritt and Tom Davies.

Te ‘Gift of the Gab Award’ for the candidate who focused the most on discussing their policies with students went to Will McLoughlin for his clear vision of “what he wanted to achieve”.

Sarah Johnson was given the ‘Sidekick Award’ for her dedicated support in Katey Beggan’s campaign. Lastly, the ‘Candidates’ Candidate’ award went to Nadine Dahan for the support she gave fellow candidates throughout the week. Special mentions went to Barney Willis, Claire Blakeway, Bryn Griffiths and MJ Melissen.

“

I’ve been on the radio, I’ve been on the TV… someone got me some champagne –is this my life now?

Hannah Sterritt, VP Societies Elect

Pictured:

left image, from left to right)

ELECTION S CAMPAIGN WEEK 2015

Followed our liveblog? Here’s a summary of this week’s reporting

Day 1: Monday

Pictured:

Left: Candidates (L-R) Olivier van den Bent-Kelly, Claire Blakeway, Hannah Sterritt and Daniyal Khan

Middle: Candidates (L-R) Claire Blakeway, Beth Innes, Sam Cook, Laura Knight and Joe Perrins

Elections kicked off at 9am on Monday morning when voting opened and candidates were officially allowed to start campaigning.

Te day begun with hail and the first and only drop-out of the campaign period - Matt Jenkins who was running for VP Education.

In a statement posted on Facebook, Jenkins revealed that he had chosen to go on to pursue a Master’s degree next year rather than taking a sabbatical year. Tis left six candidates remaining in the race for VP Education. In the post he also offered his support to fellow candidate Olivier van den Bent-Kelly.

Te votes began pouring in and by one 1pm a few hundred students had already cast votes. Candidates reported to be exhausted after staying up late to perfect their campaign material.

James Ledward (VP Societies) commented – 5 hours in to the campaign period – that he “wished it was 5pm on Friday”.

Will McLoughlin (VP Education) said that he felt “massively unprepared”, adding that there was some confusion amongst candidates over the £30 budget that candidates are given for campaign materials; “it isn’t clear what’s actually included in that.”

Missed our live blog? Go to gairrhydd.com/news/ to read this year’s multimedia elections coverage as it happened

Heath students’ poor voter turnout last year as a reason not to put the time in campaigning there. Students began expressing their disdain at the election period. Tird year JOMEC student, Sophie Lodge, described candidates as “acting like desperate charity workers”.

Kate Delaney (VP Welfare) said that campaigning was “going up and down”, adding: “it’s hard to know where to go and what balance to strike between starting conversations and handing out flyers.”

Tensions ran high between presidential candidates and colleagues Barney Willis and Claire Blakeway

Te majority of candidates were either on reading week or had taken the week off of lectures to campaign. Felicity Holmes-Mackie (VP Education), who claimed she wanted to “put the cat amongst the pigeons” with her policies, did not follow this trend. She said: “It’s hard balancing uni work and campaigning. I’m planning to attend lectures this week, I have dissertation work due and I’m applying for a masters degree at the moment too.”

Tensions began to run high between presidential candidates and co-workers – Barney Willis and Claire Blakeway.

In an interview with Gair Rhydd, Willis said that he “did not believe everything in Claire’s manifesto is achievable”, adding that: “there is a tendency to promise the heavens”.

In response to criticisms that her policies are ‘unrealistic’, Blakeway said: “People say that but this year I had some – what people would call unachievable manifesto points […] I organised the first ever Medics Varsity. I was told that was not going to happen but it did.”

Tensions came to a head later in the afternoon in an Xpress radio interview when Willis alleged that Claire was not a natural in argument and debate and would not be able to stand up to sustained criticism. Blakeway also accused Barney of being disorganised and not motivated enough to be SU President.

Day 2: Tuesday

A select few showed little interest, citing Heath students’ poor voter turnout last year as a reason not to put the time in campaigning there

Te majority of candidates headed down to the Heath Park campus during the afternoon. However, a select few expressed little interest, citing

they had chosen not to run in the elections with a gimmick.

Pritchard said: “I think students themselves are fed up of people running around in costumes”, adding: “decisions should be based on what people do”.

In contrast, Joe Perrins (VP Societies) supported the use of gimmicks, saying: “ Tere’s no pressure to dress up but it’s important for people to stand out. At the end of the day it’s all about having fun – however people want to express that should be down to them.”

Eliza Walwyn-Jones (VP Welfare) added that she found it “easier to engage and talk to people in costume”.

Later on in the day our reporters caught up with Steph Pugh, VP Sports and AU President candidate. As with the presidency, there were only two candidates running for the position. Pugh said that this made her feel “quite lucky” in that it “gave her a better chance of winning”. Last year seven people ran for the role and Pugh thinks this may have put some students off of running.

At the other end of the spectrum, the position of VP Welfare had 12 candidates running for the position. In reference to this, Dom Dicks (VP Welfare), said: “With so many people, you’ve just got to run your own race”.

Sam Cook (VP Welfare) expressed a similar sentiment, saying: “I don’t know many of the other candidates or what they’re about so I’m not really thinking about them.”

Laura Knight (VP Welfare) noted that the majority of candidates running for the position had very similar policies, largely concerning sexual and mental health, adding that: “It’s all about making yourself stand out”.

Some students she’d spoken to had even mistaken the student election for the General Election

Dicks noted that third years were relatively disinterested in the elections whereas first years were “surprisingly enthusiastic” in contrast.

Tis view was also resonated by Livi Gilbert (VP Education) and Kate Delaney (VP Welfare). Gilbert said, “It’s hard to get [third years] to care. Speaking to fresher’s is quite refreshing, they are much more willing to listen because this is new to them.”

Delaney added that she had “spent a lot of time trying to explain what elections actually are”.

Rachael Melhuish (Women’s Officer) said that some students she’d spoken to had even mistaken the student elections for the General Election.

Some of the candidates noted that lecturers were becoming increasingly frustrated by large numbers of campaigners trying to enter lecturers.

Beth Innes (VP Education) said: “If 10 people are gong in at once and trying to speak for a minute it takes up a lot of their time”.

There was a “silent understanding” this year amongst candidates that no one planned on going out every night

Day two saw a great improvement in the weather and no further drop-outs. Spirits were still running high amongst candidates, however, Katey Beggan (VP Heath) and Nadine Dahan (VP Welfare) commented that an increasing number of students “don’t want to talk” and are “fed up with elections already”.

Te controversy surrounding election gimmicks prevailed. Campaign officers Sam Jenkins (Ethical and Environmental Officer), Sam Pritchard (Students with Disabilities Officer) and Leah Hibbs (Women’s Officer) spoke to Gair Rhydd about why

By the evening candidates were beginning to head home. Tis years tactics differed from previous years in which campaigning was an all-day, all-night affair. Faraz Allaudin was one of the candidates to break this trend last year, being one of the only candidates to campaign only during daylight hours.

Tom Davies (VP Welfare) said he felt that there was a “silent understanding” this year amongst candidates that no one planned on going out every night. Instead candidates were focusing their attention on ensuring they were up early every day to campaign.

Day 3: Wednesday

Te third day of campaigning was generally quieter. Many candidates headed home during the afternoon, claiming that they felt a bit “lost”, given that it was so quiet on campus.

Students expressed their concerns over the way the Union’s online voting statistics were being handled. Student Emrhys Pickup raised concerns that students who identify as neither male nor female weren’t being represented properly in statistics. Te statistics shown on the website only included male and female voters.

In reference to last year’s voting statistics, Pickup said: “Only one voted from the ‘not known’ category, whereas I know for a fact more than one non-binary person voted. So many people are clearly being misgendered and underrepresented.”

Elliot Howells, SU President, later responded saying: ‘Te output of that data is ‘male’ ‘female’ and ‘other’.

‘Given these graphics represent the numbers by percentage, it takes a fairly sizable number to display any sort of section of the graph.’

‘As a result, any gender other than ‘Male’ or ‘Female’ isn’t displayed as the demographic is so small. We are currently working with those students affected to gauge what the best route forward is.’

Te voting statistics also highlighted a low number of votes cast for the position of VP Postgraduate Students. In response to this, MJ Melissen, who was running for the position, acknowledged that the role is new this year and so a low voter turnout is to be expected.

She believes that this year will pave the way for postgraduates’ invested interest in the Students’ Union

However, she believes that this year will pave the way for postgraduates invested interest in the Students’ Union, leading to a higher voter turnout in the coming years.

Later in the day our reporters spoke to Sophie Timbers (VP Education) about her controversial policy to remove Blackwell’s from the Students’ Union.

Timbers remarked that the bookshop takes up much needed space adding that she had spoken to a number of students who “find it hard [to get the books they need]”.

With regards to whether or not the policy is achievable, Timbers added: “I think when you have the contacts, it’s possible.”

“Tese are all ideas, you work out how to do them when you’re in the position.”

As tensions continued to run high between the two candidates running for SU President, Sam Parsons expressed his views on also running against only one other person for the position of VP Sports and AU President. Parsons said that is it certainly

“a different experience from other candidates running against a lot of people”, “I know exactly who I’m running against”.

Campaigning ended earlier than other days, with many candidates reporting to have headed home for a nap before attending Union club night ‘YOLO’.

Jake Smith (VP Welfare) was not one of these candidates. Speaking to Gair Rhydd, he said that he had chosen not to attend the event because it is not something he would usually do and he believes it’s important to stay true to yourself.

Day 4: Thursday Day 5: Friday

Te fatigue of campaign week was setting in by the penultimate day, with many candidates reporting to be feeling a little worse for wear after going out the night before.

Joe Perrins (VP Societies) and Livi Gilbert (VP Education) spoke to Gair Rhydd in the morning saying that they felt they had to go to Union night ‘YOLO’ to “keep up appearances”, adding that it’s a “good photo opportunity and an opportunity to get recognised.”

Candidates begun expressing concerns over the number of students who had voted; Gilbert said it was “upsetting” since candidates had “put a lot of work in”

Candidates begun expressing concerns over the number of students who had voted; Gilbert said it was “upsetting” since candidates had “put a lot of work in”. She attributed the low number of votes to the poor weather and the fact that a number of students were on reading week.

Jess Davies (VP Welfare) said that she would not tire of campaigning and would still be “out in force” on Friday. She said that she believed that many students would vote on the last day and would be more likely to vote for candidates who are still pushing their manifestos to the end.

Following contact with the producers of the show on Wednesday, VP Education candidate, Olivier van den Bent-Kelly, was interviewed live on Scott Mill’s BBC Radio 1 show.

Van den Bent-Kelly’s campaign video – a parody of Iggy Azalea’s ‘Fancy’ – was played live on air and Scott Mill’s remarked: “no offence but you don’t really sound like a rapper.”

Van den Bent-Kelly reported that although generally people loved his video, others found it “really cringey” and suggested he “sack [his] backing singers”.

In contrast to van den Bent-Kelly’s campaign, Dan Tucker expressed that he was pleased to see candidates “doing the gimmick-free thing.”

In addition to this, Tucker said he had been avoiding “spamming” Facebook as he was very weary of “cramming [his campaign] down peoples throats”.

Competition appeared to be heating up on the fifth and final day of campaigning; Bryn Griffiths controversially posted on Facebook “Vote Bryn Griffiths for Student Senate Chair – I’ve got the right experience to foster lively debate, have been a Vice President of the SU this year and a club President previously… And I don’t spam”. Te post was accompanied by a screenshot of notifications from posts by his only competitor, Jennifer Owen, on group pages.

Owen’s responded to the post mocking Bryn for his campaign gimmick last year and remarking: “I don’t rely on cheap gimmicks […] my experience has been hard gained through national projects not limited to university.”

Business lecturers reportedly refused candidates from lectures and threatened them with disciplinary action.

A Cardiff University spokesperson explained that whilst the University is ‘fully supportive of the Students’ Union elections and understands the importance of fully representing the ‘student body’, ‘students standing for elections are encouraged to check with lecturers ahead of campaign activities’.

Tensions were also running high as it was revealed by Gair Rhydd that students who have graduated from Cardiff University were still able to vote in the elections.

On finding out this information, a number of candidates reportedly began trying to canvas votes from friends who have graduated.

Tensions were also running high as it was revealed by Gair Rhydd that students who have graduated from Cardiff University were still able to vote

In response, the Union sent out a text to all candidates reassuring them that any votes cast by graduates would be discounted.

As campaigns drew to a close, candidates gathered in the Students’ Union to begin the countdown to 5pm when voting closed.

Candidates expressed their relief but also generally held a positive view to the week. Olivier van den Bent-Kelly (VP Education) said that it had been “one of the best weeks of his life”.

Felicity Holmes-Mackie (VP Education) was even keen to relive the experience, and said: “I wish I could do it again since now I know how I could have improved.”

Te candidates seem to have developed a close relationship over the week, Laura Knight said: “I’m going to miss the candidates. Hopefully we can all plan a night out together next week.”

At the end of the day, candidates gathered to celebrate the end of the campaign period. Tere appeared even to be no bad blood between presidential candidates, Barney Willis and Claire Blakeway as they were seen posing for a photo together as they cut the candidates cake.

Pictured:

Left: (L-R) Rachael Melhuish, Livi Gilbert, Kate Delaney, Sam Cook, Claire Blakeway, Leah Hibbs and Sam Pritchard.

Middle: (L-R) Claire Blakeway, Sam Cook, James Clarke, Laura Knight, MJ Melissen, Joe Perrins, Eliza Walwyn-Jones and Steph Pugh

Right: Candidates celebrating the end of campaigning. (You didn’t think we were going to name all of these, did you?)

Chief

Georgia Hamer

Reporters

Katie Evans, Anna Lewis, Sum Sze Tam, Maria Mellor and Jordan Adams

Social Media

Maria Mellor and Georgia Hamer

Digital Support and Web Design

Jordan Adams

Photography Georgia Hamer, Anna Lewis and Greg McChesney

Page design and sub-editing Georgia Hamer, Katie Evans, Anna Lewis and Sum Sze Tam

With thanks to Alex Norton, for keeping his eye on the world outside of the Union and covering the rest of news

The voting statistics: In

Note: Because Cardiff Students’ Union uses STV, the data we are displaying is how many votes each candidate had before they were either eliminated or lost.

SU President

Blakeway’s manifesto pledges to introduce a dentist on campus and lobby the Univeristy to build a student theatre on campus. Blakeway’s policies also plan to lobby letting agencies to reduce summer ¬rental fees, improve transport links throughout campus and extent all library opening times to 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

VP Education

Sophie Timbers

Timbers’ polices include removing Blackwell’s from the Students’ Union and replacing it with Amazon Locker. Other policies including refurbishing the Great Hall in the Union, opening to ASSL Library to 24 hours and making exam feedback compulsory. Timbers’ plans to create a cycle and pedestrian path to connect Cathays and Heath campuses.

VP Welfare

VP Sports

Delaney’s policies include creating a housing charter between tenants, landlords and letting agents to improve the quality of student rented accommodation. She aslo plans to introduce a ‘library comforts’ scheme providing napping spaces and hot water dispenses. Other policies promise to improve the University’s sexual health clinic and encourage conversation about mental health in the Union.

In a stark change from last year, Sam is the only man on the officer team. Parsons’ manifesto policies feature introducing appropriate entry points in all sports for all levels and reducing the personal financial costs of students engaging in sport, including gym membership. He also promises to provide reward schemes for clubs as an incentive to increase annual membership.

VP Societies

Sterritt aims to provide alternative careers fairs, providing opportunities related to the skills learnt whilst in societies. Her policies also include creating collaborations with the Fringe Festival and Go Global and work with other societies to build bigger events. Sterritt promises to start cost-effective Union tours and secure a vehicle hire contract to overcome the oversubscription of current fleets.

Kate Delaney

Hannah Sterritt

Sam Parsons

Claire Blakeway

Campaign officers:

Black & Ethnic Minorities Officer

Ravina Vijayanandam

Ethical & Environmental Officer

Daniel Tucker

International Students Officer

Grace Piddington

Below, you’ll find a summary of each candidate who secured a full-time position, and their manifesto policies in detail

VP Heath Park Campus VP Postgraduate Students

Katey Beggan Katie Kelly

Beggan’s policies include improved placement planning for Heath Park students.

She also pledges to increase the availability for core textbooks, provide childcare facilities at the Heath and push for more social space. On health, she wants Heath gym memberships to be made available on a monthly basis in order to increase accessibility. Beggan is also keen to bridge the divide between healthcare disciplines in the Heath and the rest of the university.

Katie Kelly promises to work with the University to review and improve existing provision of scholarships before the introduction of new government loans. Her policies also include increasing financial incentives for returning Cardiff students and obtaining fair pay for postgraduate tutors. Kelly plans to campaign to ensure schools purchase full access to online journals and ensure prompt feedback following assessments.

LGBT + Officer

Jack Meldrum

LGBT Women

Ellie Utley

Students with Disabilities Officer

Diana Isajeva

Welsh Language Officer

Steffan Bryn Jones

Women’s Officer

Rachael Melhuish

Representatives:

Student Senate Chair

Bryn Griffiths

NUS Wales Delegates

Leah Hibbs

Ahmed Laajam

Jennifer Owen

STV Voting: Explained

A Single Transferable Vote or (STV) is a form of proportional representation which uses preferential voting in multi-member constituencies. STV allows the transfer of a vote from your first preference candidate to your second if your first preference candidate does not stand a chance of election. Making full use of almost every vote, STV contrasts with other voting systems like FPP (First Past the Post), where only a small number of votes contribute to the final result.

Within the Students’ Union elections, this can be seen in the ‘order of preference voting’. Each voter chooses their primary candidate and puts the remaining candidates in the order of personal preference. If no viable candidates remain, No Further Preference (NFP) can be chosen, while Re-Open Nominations (RON) is available for those who wish not to choose any candidates. Once counted, the candidate who has received the least votes is eliminated, with any first preference votes for this candidate transferred to their second preference votes to their second preference candidate, with the process

A sabbatical officer, commonly known as a ‘Sabb’, is an elected representative of the Student’s Union in categories such as Education, Welfare, LGBT+ and Students with Disabilities. Each Sabb is a student that has taken a year away from their studies in order to fulfil these roles, and each works within the Students’ Union in an attempt to improve the overall student experience via communication with other university employees and the student body. In order to secure their role as a Sabbatical Officer, each candidate outlines several objectives within their manifesto that they would attempt to achieve in their year as elected officer, and campaigns intensively during the week in which the student body can vote. Typically clad in a costume and some sort of pun-based campaign slogan, candidates frequently give shout-outs during lectures and stand

General Election candidates tackle gender inequality

Alexander Norton

Just 23% of Wales’ MPs are female

An event at Cardiff University’s Main Building saw a number of election rivals pitted against one another over issues affecting women.

The event was organised by the National Union of Students in conjunction with ‘Chwarae Teg’, a charity which dedicates itself to providing career opportunities, skills and development to women in Wales.

The two-and-a-half hour debate was held between four parliamentary candidates for Cardiff Central – Jo Stevens (Labour), Martin Pollard (Plaid Cymru), Chris von Ruhland (Green) and Anthony Raybould (UKIP).

They were also joined by Blaenau Gwent candidate Tracey West (Conservative) and Assembly Member Eluned Parrott (Liberal Democrat), who represents South Wales Central.

Despite the fact that the evening was nominally centred around women’s issues, talk soon turned to economic matters – and doing admirably well to stick to message,

West was quick to bring up the “long-term economic plan”.

However, her party’s austerity programme was taken apart by Labour’s Stevens, who suggested that taxes (particularly income tax) and benefit cuts had disproportionately affected women financially.

The discussion of economic matters led to a debate over the living wage – the implementation of which was supported by West and UKIP candidate Raybould.

Plaid Cymru’s Martin Pollard went further, suggesting that the ‘Party of Wales’ would bring the living wage in line with the minimum wage by 2020 – but such a strategy was questioned by the Green’s von Ruhland, who suggested that it may act as a disincentive to employers.

This was not a theory that Labour candidate Stevens subscribed to, emphasising that the state could counteract any such negative consequences by offering more lucrative public contracts.

There was also a debate over the role of low pay and zero hours con-

Continued from front page

tracts for women, within the economy as a whole but particularly for workers in the care sector.

All six panellists did at least agree that a lack of pay equality between men and women performing many of the same jobs was unacceptable, and something that needed to be addressed as a matter of urgency.

Liberal Democrat AM Eluned Parrott got the session back on track by insisting that there needed to be a deeper understanding of why fewer women entered business, going on to insist that “anything short of equality is not equal”.

This led to a heated discussion of the prominence of bullying and abuse against women, not only in the workplace but in politics, as it was revealed that just 23 per cent of Wales’ MPs are female, meaning there is a wider lack of representation of women’s issues in national politics.

UKIP in particular came in for criticism for their lack of female membership, whilst there was also a frank exchange regarding the ac-

tions of Liberal Democrat peer Lord Rennard, who was suspended from the party last year amidst accusations of sexual harassment.

There was further discussion over the importance of education with regards to healthy relationships, with a general consensus that further awareness was needed but there was disagreement over what form this should take.

Plaid’s Pollard placed an emphasis on the acceptability of discussing LGBT+ issues in schools, whilst UKIP’s Raybould opposed teaching children as young as five the topic for fear that lessons might contain content unsuitable for pupils of their age group.

The event generated a great deal of discussion on social network Twitter, under the hashtag ‘#cthustings’.

Chwarae Teg’s Christine O’Byrne, chair for the evening, used the medium to describe the event as “a great night” and extended her thanks to the panellists, organisers and guests in attendance.

Cont’d: Non-students “able to vote” in SU elections

‘In investigating this issue, we identified that a number of individuals were able to vote who were not eligible to. Tis stems from a change in the way the Students’ Union authenticated data from the University which was changed on 18th August 2014.’

‘During this election we have been able to identify and confirm the student status of all ballots cast, and have removed 9 votes cast by nonstudents. As a result, we and our Returning Officer are confident in the integrity of the election and the count process will proceed shortly.’

‘Tis issue may have had an impact upon elections held by the Students’ Union since this date, including the By-Elections of October 2014. We will continue to investigate this issue

with regard to By-Elections.’

Since the change that is believed to have caused this problem was implemented on 18th August 2014, there are no plans to investigate elections results from before this date.

But our findings have cast significant doubt on previous election results – some of which were decided by razor-thin margins.

A recent example was the election of Elliot Howells as VP Societies and Campaigns by a 15-vote margin two years ago.

Gair Rhydd comment editor Gareth Evans said of the revelations: “I’m finding it hard to believe this or something similar hasn’t happened before. It seems likely to me that people simply didn’t know about

loopholes like this.”

While there is no evidence that problems of this nature have affected the results of previous elections, there was also very little media attention given to the elections in previous years. Historically, our journalistic activity was almost entirely limited to post-election commentary.

Commenting on our investigation, Sophie Davis, chair of the Student Publication Association, said: “Tis has highlighted a clear need for strong, independent student publications.”

“Situations like this could be better prevented by Students’ Unions embracing journalistic freedoms and committing themselves to a free press. I believe this can, and should, be achieved.”

Pictured: Christine O’Byrne, Chairwoman of Chwarae Teg (Source: Chwarae Teg)

Alexander Norton

Cardi ff student tells of sectioning nightmare

Amature student has revealed to Gair Rhydd details of eighteen turbulent years as a mental health patient.

Wesley Gerrard, 37, is currently studying Translation at Cardiff University’s School of Modern Languages – but for nearly two decades his academic career has been disrupted by a series of detainments.

Gerrard claimed that his extensive experiences with the system have been far from positive and provoked him to set up the campaign site ‘endofterror.org’. Te site aims to raise awareness of his experiences - but this in itself has brought him problems.

“As soon as I started publishing stories on ‘endofterror’, I’ve had major police involvement. I came to realise it was dangerous to publish this sort of thing,” he said.

In all, the part-time DJ claimed to have been sectioned under the Mental Health Act on “fifteen to twenty” occasions.

He claimed that his encounters with mental health services started

when he was studying for an undergraduate degree in Geography at University College London in 1997.

“I ran into some trouble in London and when I came home, my parents forced me to go to an outpatient appointment.

“Since then I haven’t really progressed or gotten out of the system.”

He said that he was discouraged from undertaking further education by the fact that they “wouldn’t let me out of hospital to complete my exams [and] sectioned me whilst I was preparing my dissertation”.

Despite this, he re-entered higher education with the Cardiff Centre for Lifelong Learning in around 2008, and subsequently progressed to undertake a full degree.

However, he still had encounters with mental health authorities – until an academic “would not accept me pulling out of classes and put me in touch with disability advisor.”

“ Tey said: ‘enough is enough, we’re not going to have this student’s life ruined anymore’. It made me very happy knowing I was going to get

some protection from Cardiff University.”

Te University’s intervention reportedly caused the mental health authorities to “lay off me”, and despite averaging a sectioning a year he came to an agreement with mental health authorities “not to disrupt his studies for three years”.

However, over the festive period he once again found himself incarcerated at St. Caldcot’s Hospital –and was accused by the authorities of having delusions over his status as a Cardiff University student.

“I tried getting hold of student support but they were away on Christmas break, something my tutor was not happy about,” Gerrard said.

“In the end I managed to get a phone call through, and said ‘I’m in an emergency situation, can you implement the emergency plan to help me out?’”

“ Tey didn’t do anything they’d agreed to. I felt really betrayed by Student Support and Cardiff University,” he claimed.

He alleged that despite showing of-

ficial ID, it fell to a number of Cardiff University students on placement to confirm his identity.

He subsequently won a tribunal against the National Health Service relating to his treatment over the Christmas period.

He claimed that although his personal tutor continues to be “really supportive”, he was disappointed that “there was nothing directly from the University.”

Gerrard made a number of claims regarding his treatment that we are unable to publish here, but continues to detail his experiences on endofterror.org.

A Cardiff University Student Support spokesperson said that “quite obviously we can’t comment on individual cases, even if the student has opted to speak to you”.

“In such situations it is our aim to ensure that Cardiff University students continue to have access to the facilities here which are designed to aide them with whichever problems they might be experiencing,” they added.

BBC’s Tird Degree comes to Cardiff Uni

I felt really betrayed by Student Support and Cardiff University

Alexander Norton

Radio 4 quiz show ‘ Te 3rd Degree’ came to Cardiff University on Friday, 20th February for the first time in its five season run.

Te programme, which is hosted by ‘ Te Now Show’ presenter and comedian Steve Punt, was recorded in the Birt Acres Lecture Teatre in the Bute Building.

It’s not so often that the students come out on top, so that says something

Te quiz features three undergraduate students going up against academics in a battle of wits to discover which really knows their stuff

On this occasion, the panel featured Head of the School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies, Justin Lewis.

However, his presence wasn’t enough to overcome the three-man student panel – which, in the rarest of outcomes, came out on top against their academic peers.

One of the students on the panel, Daniel Heard, told Gair Rhydd: “We really pulled together. It was a fantastic team effort.”

“I have to thank [teammates] Jen-

Your

Alexander Norton

David Hooson

Snifer and Kane far making the whole experience that much better,” he added.

Recorded in front of a live studio audience attracted by the promise of free tickets, the students overcame the pressure of the situation as well as questions relating to the history of journalism and wider pop culture.

Host Steve Punt, one half of a comedy partnership with Hugh Dennis and known for his writing work on ‘Mock Te Week’ and ‘Would I Lie To You’, was eff usive in his praise.

“It’s not so often that the students come out on top, so that says something about the current crop here at Cardiff,” he said.

Te show was produced by David Tyler, perhaps best known for his work on political satire such as hit eighties puppet show ‘Spitting Image’.

Cardiff is set to feature as the fifth episode of the upcoming fifth series, although the BBC is yet to confirm the date on which it will air.

time’s up: students angered by exam mark delay

tudents at several of Cardiff University’s schools have been told that their January exam marks will be published far later than originally scheduled.

Under many course guidelines, exam marks are guaranteed to students within one month of taking an examination – but multiple schools have failed to adhere to this policy in the wake of the winter exam season.

“I had two exams in January and expected the results back around

three or four weeks later,” an International Relations and Politics student told Gair Rhydd.

“It’s been more like five or six and I’m a bit pissed off because I’d like to know what I need in my final term of university in order to average a 2:1.”

However, the issue is not restricted to undergraduates; Law diploma candidate Hannah Thomas confirmed that the problem exists at multiple levels.

“I was under the impression that

results would be released either last week or this week and so kept checking SIMS,” she said.

“Yesterday I had an email to say that the Law school would try to publish results on the week commencing 23rd March, which is over a two month turnaround.”

I appreciate it takes time to mark multiple papers but it leaves students in the dark, many of whom are worrying, whilst giving the impression that markers have other priorities.” Thomas concluded.

Whilst the issue appears to be widespread, students at the Cardiff School of History, Archaeology and Religion are reportedly amongst the worst hit by ongoing delays.

Vice President Education Rhys Jenkins told Gair Rhydd that he was aware of the issue.

“Whilst I’ve heard of these problems I’m not able to take much in the way of action unless complaints are presented through student reps, and I’ve had no such contact so far,” Jenkins commented.

Pictured: ‘Te 3rd Degree’ host and comedian Steve Punt

Amy Stoneman

Welcome to our Advice section, where we bring you tips for surviving Cardiff university life email us: advice@gairrhydd.com

Tinking about volunteering abroad but don’t know where to start?

Amy Stoneman discusses her experience of volunteering for UniversalGiving, and why you should do it too

Volunteering whilst seeing the world is something which a lot of people seem to be striving for, and who would blame them? It combines the perfect learning experience with getting to travel and see different cultures. Te experience itself is invaluable, as well as one of the most brave and exciting opportunities available to us. It creates all sorts of memories and experiences, especially as a young person, when you remove yourself from your comfort zone and enter a challenging situation. Tere are a profound number of disparities in the standards of living across the world.

Te main issue which holds people back from volunteering abroad is the difficulty in finding a legitimate organisation which will ensure that your money and time is being utilised in the best possible way. It often takes a lot of research, time and effort to organise, which can put people off. To cut out any unnecessary and long-winded research, I can recommend UniversalGiving as a non-profit organisation which ensures the best possible experience.

To give some background, I am

Pictured: A UnversalGiving project educating girls in eastern Congo

a Cardiff University student who is currently on a year abroad studying Sociology at San Francisco State University. As well as studying, I am also working as a marketing intern for an amazing organisation called UniversalGiving, which I am very excited to be part of.

Tere are hundreds of non-profit organisations in San Francisco which I could have applied for, but their uniqueness really stood out to me. Te main appeal was that 100% of any donation goes towards the cause. Tere were, of course, many other aspects which stood out as well - for example, it has an award-winning website that helps people pledge money and volunteer with the top-performing projects all over the world.

Te projects are located in a number places including Central America, Ghana, South America, Tailand, Uganda, Kenya, Philippines, Cameroon, Guatemala, Peru and Brazil. All of the projects are very sustainable which really proves that your money is being used wisely. Tey range from volunteering in an orphanage, working with elephants, to even constructing a health clinic. To take a look at all

the projects we offer, take a look here: www.universalgiving.org/lists/. Te process itself is very simple. UniversalGiving provides online resources to people who want to donate or volunteer, but are unsure of the best way to do it. Upon entering the site, you can look through a list of volunteering opportunities to discern which one suits you the best. You will then be directed to charities which have been vetted by UniversalGiving. Tey offer many services, so if volunteering isn’t what you want, you can alternatively raise funds for a cause by going to www.universalgiving.org/projects/.

If I had found UniversalGiving at the start of my research process, I know that the whole experience would

have been less time-consuming. In the summer of 2013, I travelled to Tailand for four weeks, one of which was spent volunteering. Te experience of volunteering was something which I really enjoyed; we worked in a school for a week taking care of the children and helping to build a new water system. It was clear that the place where we were working was extremely deprived, so to see our work making a difference was really touching. It was both upsetting and rewarding working in that kind of setting, and even though our work there was only short-lived, the impact of our work and time there was clearly visible on the children’s faces.

For me, this is what made it undoubtedly worthwhile. Volunteering

Visit the website at www. universalgiving.org

The organisation provides online resources to donate or volunteer

What do you think? Have your say: advice@ gairrhydd. com

Continued from the previous page

The Leadership style workshop awards a certificate and qualification upon completion

will teach you an array of skills and bring out your best qualities. So if volunteering abroad is something you are considering doing this summer, I can tell you that UniversalGiving is the perfect organisation which can make your volunteering adventure a success.

Find all the information you need about volunteering, raising for a cause, funding a project or even giving a gift. Visit the website where you can volunteer or donate internationally. To keep up to date with their latest projects have a look at their Facebook page or

follow theim on Twitter. If you want the inside on what it’s really like to volunteer the UniversalGiving team have set up a blog of their adventures at http://tinyurl.com/plcywha.

Volunteering abroad is a great way to make the most of your experience and fully integrate yourself into a society, in a way that will last beyond your time there. It is also a fun way to meet new people and to gain new skills that will stand out to future employers, so there are benefits for everyone.

Consider yourself a feminist?

Te events during Women’s Week will give you the opportunity to learn more and get involved in discussions

This year Cardiff Students’ Union is hosting its first ever Women’s Week as a way of celebrating and recognising the achievements and diversity of women, as well as the issues that affect women everywhere, particularly women students. Tey are hosting a variety of events from March 4th to 8th for those who consider themselves a feminist, as well as anyone who hasn’t thought much about women’s issues and gender equality before.

Te term ‘feminism’ seems to be largely misunderstood, with many people misinterpreting it to be a onesided, female-orientated movement rather than a way of promoting equality between men and women, ensuring they get equal treatment within society. Tese events are aimed at raising awareness of the inequalities currently faced by women and give people a way of discussing and understanding feminist issues.

Te events start with the Leadership Styles Workshop on 4th March from 5pm-7pm in the SU. Tis is a four-day long leadership course run by the Skills Development Service aimed at female students and delivered by female mentors.

Te course begins with a session on ‘Leadership Styles’ covering the roles and functions of leadership, the different types of leader and how to develop leadership qualities and characteristics.

Te second session runs on March 5th from 5pm until 7pm and is aiming to tackle ‘Leadership in Difficult Situations’, focusing on overcoming interpersonal challenges in a leader role as well as developing effective supervision as a way of helping smooth the transition from team member to team leader.

Te third session is on the 6th

March from 5pm-7pm for ‘Coaching Skills’ to help women to mentor, motivate and inspire others without harming their self-esteem. Sensitivity skills will also be worked on with techniques to show someone that every little effort is significant to a greater achievement. Te final day on 7th March from 10am-12pm will be a session on ‘Assertiveness for Leaders’ – an essential skill for leaders. It aims to improve confidence and teaches ways to give opinions in a firm but assertive way.

To sign up to the leadership course email SDS@cardiff.ac.uk. A certificate and qualification will be awarded upon completion, and if you are unable to attend all sessions during that week you can attend them at a later time outside of Women’s Week.

On 4th March from 6pm-8pm there

will be a discussion and screening on Cardiff Women in Science and Film. A network of STEM academics and postgraduates based at Cardiff University will host an event for undergraduates to show women’s contribution to science and technology, screening the BBC2 Documentary ‘ Te Genius of Marie Curie – the woman who lit up the world.’

On March 5th from 6pm-7.30pm there will be a ‘50:50 Parliament Talk on Gender Inequality in Parliament’ with Frances Scott, the leader of the 50:50 Parliament movement, talking about gender equality in Parliament. She will also be discussing why striving for equality and equal representation is so important. Te event is open to all and will be particularly interesting for those interested in politics.

A ‘Liberation Panel Talk’ will be

held on the 6th March from 7pm-9pm which aims to highlight the issues facing BME, LGBT+ and women with disabilities. Te panel speakers will be talking on how issues such as domestic violence affect these groups of women.

Te final event for Women’s Week is the feminist-themed social on March 8th from 7pm-10pm which also coincides with International Women’s Day. Te Cardiff Women’s Association will be celebrating together, with purple as the theme, as this is the colour of the women’s movement.

To find out more about all the events during Women’s Week visit their page at http://tinyurl.com/ o3rkvtg or check out their Facebook events page at http://tinyurl.com/ oqp966m which gives details on each individual event.

Frances Scott, the leader of the 50:50 Parliament Movement, is talking about gender equality in parliament “

Women’s Week: Feminist themed social

8th March 7pm-10pm Venue TBC

See all the events at http://tinyurl. com/o3rkvtg

Pictured: Women’s Week banner

Kirsty Fardell

Pictured: A UniversalGiving team constructing a Health Clinic in Kenya

Cardiff University Students' Union will be hosting it's first ever Women's Week to celebrate and recognise the achievements, diversities and issues facing women students and women all over.

Events

Cardiff Women In Science

Film Screening & Discussion

04/2/15, 6pm-8pm, Room 4C, SU

Cardiff Women In Science, a network of STEM academics and postgraduates based at Cardiff University, is hosting its first event for undergraduates. Come along to this film night (film TBC) if you're interested in science and women's contribution to science and technology!

50:50 Parliament Talk on Gender Inequality in Parliament

05/2/15, 6pm-7.30pm, Beverton Lecture Theatre, Main Building

The General Election will be happening in May 2015! The co-founder of the 50:50 Parliament movement, Frances Scott, will be talking about why it's so important and relevant for EVERYONE to aim for gender equality and an equal representation of women in Parliament.

Liberation Panel Talk

06/3/15, 6pm- 8pm, Room 4D, SU

Different panel speakers will be talking on how issues such as domestic violence affect BME women, LGBT+ women and women with disabilities. An interesting talk for any one wanting to find out more about issues that minorities face.

Feminist Themed Social

08/3/15, 7pm - Venue TBC

To end a jam-packed Women's Week, the Cardiff Women's Association will be celebrating together. The theme is 'purple' as purple is the colour of the women's movement. Venue TBC.

Skills Development Service

Leadership Course for women to be delivered by a woman mentor:

The Skills Development Service will be running a 4 day long leadership course aimed at women students. Certificate and qualification upon completion. If you're unable to attend all sessions, you can attend sessions at other times outside of Women's Week:

Leadership Styles

04/2/15, 5pm- 7pm

Leadership In Difficult Situations

05/2/15, 5pm-7pm

Coaching Skills

06/2/15, 5pm-7pm

Assertiveness For Leaders

07/3/15, 10am-12pm

Team Briefings (e-learning format)

Events are open to all, whether you already consider yourself to be a feminist or have never thought much about women's issues and feminism before.

FOR: Caragh Medlicott

FOR & AGAINST

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION

Are affirmative action policies essential for equality, or just patronising gestures?

From the 4th to the 8th of March, the Students’ Union will be celebrating its first ever ‘Women’s Week’. Te aim is to honour and recognise the achievements of female students, as well as women worldwide. Whenever events such as this (for example Black History Month or Women’s History Month) occur, a fair amount of backlash can be anticipated.

a plethora of under-representations of race, class and LGBTQ+ folk, women are the largest underrepresented group. Positive action is usually introduced to tackle parliamentary shortcomings in representation. Its effectiveness is indisputable; Rwanda and Sweden are top in the world for representation of women in government and both employ the use of gender quotas.

DIt goes without saying that a good government should reflect the people it represents

On the most simplistic level, some people consider the dedication of time to one particular gender or race to be in itself unequal. However, these dedications are simply tools of addressing oppression, striving for equality through justice and representation, not ‘who has it worse’ competitions. To fully validate the holding of ‘Women’s Week’, we can simply look to inequalities in society. From the pay gap in the UK, to the under-representation of women in parliament, we can see that sexism is alive and well. Te grievances of women in society have become more exposed through social media. I’m sure many students have seen the videos capturing street harassment, the exposure of abusive YouTube stars such as Sam Pepper and the recent outrage that has been clogging up my timeline over the taxation of tampons and sanitary pads as luxury products. Te prevalence of gender inequality is at the forefront of students’ minds and the Union’s hosting of a ‘Women’s Week’ to reflect and recognise that is a brilliant step forward.

When talking about gender inequality in parliament, the issue of positive action quotas are often raised. It goes without saying that a good government should reflect the people it represents and while there is

However, considering women only make up roughly 20.4% of Members of Parliament worldwide and in the UK only 25% of serving ministers are women (1.2% for women from ethnic minorities), it seems fair to assume that a large number of qualified female candidates are missing out because of discrimination. It has been estimated that based on current progress we would have to wait more than 150 years before seeing an equal number of women and men elected to English local councils. Tis is also considering that representation of women in government is actually dragging, having increased by a mere 4.1% in the last 15 years. Both the Scottish Parliament and Welsh National Assembly have gender quotas in place and as such have drastically better female representation than England. Te reasons for the importance of women in Parliament may seem obvious but to make absolutely clear, when decisions that affect our country are being made – particularly those relating to women and women’s rights – it is crucial that women’s voices are heard. It is sad to think that we need gender quotas to see women represented in government, but until we reach a greater level of equality it is the best step forward to meet the representation necessary.

on’t get me wrong, I’m an advocate for women’s rights and I’m a feminist. I have witnessed sexism, been a victim of sexism and protected peers from sexism (I’m not some sort of super hero, I’ve just got a voice and I’m not afraid to use it). But there are many different ways to deal with the under representation of women, and positive action policies cannot be the only way to do so.

I’m interested in politics, and I am blessed to live in a country that has given me the right to be so. I can vote and speak in parliamentary debates (...just have to get myself to them). Women in other nations do not have this luxury - it is not possible for women to vote in the Vatican City, or in Saudi Arabia (although the latter will allow women to vote in local elections from this year). We should be grateful for the rights that we have been given, and utilise them - the Pankhursts would be turning in their graves if they knew how poor our voter turnout is.

There are other reasons for women to come into politics aside from positive action. Increased levels of education in the UK, where women have outnumbered men at higher education levels for many years now, show the power of women as a social group. We have voices and aren’t afraid to use them. While it is undisputable that women remain underrepresented in politics, they ARE a part of political institutions, making their voices heard.

Dr Paul Chaney, from the Cardiff University social sciences department, has written papers on the representation of women in politics. He argues that it does

not matter whether the number of women in politics increases, but instead what matters is who these women are. Which social groups do they represent? I don’t just want anyone representing me, I want women who I can identify with and who speak using common sense rather than attempt to use their gender to win a popularity contest.

Gender should not be seen as dividing politics in the way it does today. Yes, men and women have diferent voices and can speak on issues in unique ways, but we are inherently different. That is never going to change. We should be striving for equal rights, but if fewer women than men want to enter politics, we should accept that. Why are we so shocked at the idea of individuals wanting different careers? Female politicians are ridiculed. This works through the media ridiculing their outfits continously and the prime minister shouting ‘Calm down, dear’ across the House of Commons. But we must rise against that and not let it affect us. All year round. We don’t need a week to show the world how much we suffer as a social group.

My ex-housemate (male), asked why there isn’t a week for men in the Union. I argued that men don’t face the same discrimination as women do, but there are instances when men’s voices are not heard as they should be. Men face stigma from our society - they too are the victims of violence, for instance. However, ‘Women’s Week’ won’t be enough to ensure that women have equal rights, and positive action won’t ensure that women’s voices are heard equally in politics.

Yes, men and women have different voices and and can speak on issues in unique ways, but we are inherently different “ ”

AGAINST: Anne Porter

Pictured: Te Scottish cabinet is now gender equal (Source: Flickr)

Gwen Thomas

COMMENT

‘We’re not coming to steal your country’

A Romanian response to Channel 4’s latest controversial programme ‘ Te Romanians Are Coming’

Channel 4’s ‘The Romanians Are Coming’ is a documentary series that “seeks out the truth behind the headlines about immigration” – or so it says on their website.

What a load of crap. All it does is feed them, insinuating that the “wave” of Eastern European immigrants has indeed flooded Britain since January 2014. I am one of them; one of many Romanian students who have come to the UK surfing this alleged wave. Am I out of line by saying I have been deeply offended by this programme? No, I am not.

‘The Romanians Are Coming’ is misrepresenting an entire community, suggesting that most of us are uncultured and unintegrated into British society: desperate people seeking “shit” jobs, sleeping rough, or sly opportunists claiming benefits. It is denigrating.

The subjects are being looked down upon and caricatured as lesser humans, their stories presented as tragic. No wonder it is referred to as being a “spurious and Schadenfreudian pseudo-documentary” by the (British) producers of “Wild Carpathia” (a documentary series centred around the environmental

issues facing the Carpathian Mountains in Romania). This is but one of the outraged responses the “pseudodocumentary” has evoked.

The Romanian ambassador to Britain, Dr Ion Jinga, has issued a letter addressed to the executive producer of said programme, expressing his disappointment regarding the distorted, discriminating perspective it offers by only depicting isolated, negative aspects of the community. In their reply, the producers claimed that the documentary aims to reflect “the experience of Romanians from a variety of backgrounds”, their contributors being “portrayed with humanity and dignity”.

I have yet to see that! The trailer, the episode summaries – they strip us of any dignity! A man rides a horse on uneven ground, mounds of garbage in the background. One sleeps in a car park, another under a bridge. Many of them can’t speak English. Romania is presented as a dilapidated, third world country. Where do they mention the 4000 Romanian doctors working in the UK? What about the students, IT specialists, social workers, lawyers, businessmen? I am so outraged, I can hardly put it into words.

E“

Being trans is not a life of easy glitz and glamour. It is an everyday grapple with the world.

Channel 4 has been urged to cancel another programme, “Immigration Street”, which focuses on an area in Southampton where only 17% of the residents described themselves as being White British. These shows should aim to objectively present cultural diversity in Britain and dispel the prejudices immigrants still face. Instead, they do the exact opposite, by being outright xenophobic

and racist. I would like to believe that the majority of British people do not share Nigel Farage’s attitude toward immigrants. We are not “coming” to steal anyone’s jobs. We are all humans, stemming from different backgrounds, coexisting with UK nationals, enriching Britain’s culture. It is high time the media stopped portraying us as something we are not.

Transgender life is a daily struggle: Bruce Jenner needs our support

very time I brave the murky depths of the ‘comments’ section below online articles, I end up losing patience, brain cells, and a flake of faith in humanity.

Unnecessary opinions fly around like confetti on New Year’s Eve after a bottle of Smirnoff, making a mess wherever they land and clinging for life under the sofa for weeks. No matter how mundane the stories are, no matter how little they touch our everyday lives, there’s always something said that, in true Smirnoff style, leaves a very bitter taste in the mouth.

A cat could save a baby from a burning house, and there’d be someone who would say that cats have a special place in hell, and this one was already halfway there. You must know what I’m on about. Drives me up the wall.

Anyway, this takes us to the topic at hand. I recently read that Bruce Jenner, Olympic gold medallist and step-father to the infamous Kardashian clan, wishes to undergo male-tofemale transition. Shut the front door. Hold the phone. Break the internet. Lock your windows. Surely this is the end of the world as we know it! Tis must be stopped. Tis is the new 2012 Mayan apocalypse. Tis is an outrage.

As someone who is currently un-

dergoing the same transition, please allow me to open a window (and not the comment section one) for those of you who aren’t privy to the trans life. Being trans is not a life of easy glitz and glamour. It is an every day grapple with the world. No matter how close you’ve shaved, no matter how tight you’ve bound your chest, no matter how high or low your voice is today, no matter how necessarily comfortable you might feel in the body you don’t want to be in, there is a fear.

An expectation of criticism that nothing can prepare you for. You try to put on a brave face and pretend that you can handle it, but you’re human. You feel, just like everyone else. You expect this criticism because we live in an age of free word. But there is no freedom to move in this network of negativity, and we are trapped enough already as it is. Our freedom is not always free.

Now, don’t get me wrong. Opinions are truly wonderful things, when expressed appropriately (and preferably with a dash of knowledge). But when I read the comments on the Bruce Jenner article, I almost had an aneurysm from the sheer ignorance exhibited. Some said that Jenner, once hailed an American hero, was now an American ‘shame’. Others feigned

concern for his teenage daughters, and the effect his decision would have on them.

We must remember that Bruce is in his sixties, and if it is true that he is transitioning, then surely he deserves the comfort that he has missed out on for so many years; a comfort that fame and a gold medal cannot give. And those who have absolutely nothing to do with Bruce, yet feel that his personal decision affects them, are deluded, and downplay Bruce’s agency in his own life.

I have a friend who is transitioning in her late sixties, and I know that she has lived a turbulent life torn between who she wanted to be, and who others thought she should be. She is still fighting now for her human right to peace, and the freedom to live her life as she pleases.

Te world we live in now has a great deal more opportunity for trans individuals, and I am eternally thankful that I did not experience the more troubled times. Bruce himself is old enough to have seen a different world, and that is why I fully understand why he has left his transition so late. But these comments are an ugly reminder of the hate and intolerance that lingers on today.

Bruce won’t be free from the glare

of paparazzi anytime soon. Nevertheless, I can only hope that he follows his heart and takes the rocky journey in his stride. He may have won a medal for running, but he shouldn’t have to run anymore. Tis is a hurdle that he is strong enough to overcome, and shouldn’t have to face a hollering crowd.

“

Where do they mention the 4000 Romanian Doctors working in the UK?

Andreea Luca

Pictured: Bucharest Airport, Margalit Francus (Source: Flickr)

Pictured: Bruce Jenner (Source: Flickr)

Why more men should be feminists

Men should be fighting for gender equality by recognising their privilege, and by listening to the voices of women

Gareth Evans

In recent weeks, the hashtag #sendeanlat (tell your story) has formed the basis of a mass Twitter protest across Turkey. Tis is in response to the violent and tragic death of twentyyear-old student Ozgecan Aslan, who was brutally killed for trying to stop a man raping her. According to reports, she pepper sprayed her attacker before he stabbed her and then beat her to death with an iron bar. It was a hideous and sickening crime that has rightly evoked outrage far beyond the Turkish borders.

Te ensuing protest is indicative of Turkey’s rising rate of sexual harassment and violence against women. Te hashtag itself has provoked a shocking deluge of tweets. However, the protest has also resulted in a pertinent response from some Turkish men who took to the streets of Istanbul in miniskirts. It was an act of solidarity with the victims of male oppression, harassment and assault, and one that posed an interesting question: where do men fit in the feminist movement?

Te short answer is, at the very back. If one can view the feminist movement as a moving car then it should undoubtedly be driven and directed by women. Men can sit in the rear seats as long as they don’t become ‘back-seat drivers’. After all, feminism is a movement built by women, for the advancement of women. Troughout history the most important advancements for women’s rights have been brought about by the tireless and admirable work of the very women who have been oppressed. It is vital that women continue to lead and shape the movement and remain at its forefront as long as the genders are unequal. Tis is absolutely the way it should be. Te irony of a man declar-

ing themselves a feminist and then attempting to take the lead is obvious. In fact, there is irony in the fact I am writing this article at all.

Tis is because there should be no need for me to suggest that men can, and should, actively support the pursuit of gender equality. Many women have been saying this all along. However, it is a dire reality that many men simply do not take the voices of women seriously enough. Te amount of vitriol that is thrown at ‘No More Page 3’ campaigners and other feminist voices, primarily on social media, is symptomatic of a churlish unwillingness to engage with their arguments.

If you can explain a women’s comments away by her desperation “for the D” and her “frigid” nature then there’s no need to debate with her. Tis appalling suppression of discussion must be fought through the continual promotion of female voices. As men, the only fair response is to listen, to learn, and to openly criticise those who avoid debate through these kind of ad hominems and sexist attacks.

Tis man-to-man criticism is one of the key roles men have in furthering the fight for women’s rights. By their very definition, a misogynistic bigot is unlikely to take the opinions of a woman in high regard. It is an ugly truth, of course, that a man articulating the same view as a woman will often be taken more seriously. However the systematic oppression of women across the globe is an ugly tapestry made up of many ugly truths such as this one. I spoke to the NUS National Women’s Officer, Susuana Antubam, who agrees that men should “challenge sexism within their peer groups and male-dominated spaces.” Although it may be difficult, and you

may fear abuse, if you are a man that opposes misogyny of any form then staying silent is not an option. Te criticism you may receive will be easily refuted and hardly measures up to the institutional insults women face day-to-day. Speak up, and don’t be afraid to do so.

But why should you speak up in the first place? Admittedly, for a man to criticise the views espoused by other men, men who will often be their peers, there needs to be a clear motivation to do so. Tis is what is lacking at present. Many men are simply ignorant to their position in a vastly dominant group and thus lack the knowledge and motivation to oppose sexism. Recognising one’s privilege is the first step in understanding the oppressed. It makes clear the often overlooked advantages we have and elucidates the disadvantages faced by those who are not as well-positioned.

Put simply then, as men, we are more likely to get the job. When we get the job, we’re more likely to earn more, we’re more likely to be taken seriously, and, if we have children, we’re more likely to keep the job full stop. Consequently, we’re more likely to ignore gender inequalities.

It is sadly true that some men think that benefits such as these give us little reason to resist this inequality. Tis is wrong, and such selfish thinking should be reserved for cabinet members and dusty libertarian philosophy. Of course, we are innately more interested in causes that affect us personally; yet it is the mark of a person to see injustice wherever it exists and to stand against it. As Antubam said to me, “Men should care about feminism because women and people should want to see the liberation of other people”. It really is that simple.

To stand against this inequality is the only moral course of action.

If, for whatever reason, this isn’t enough for you, then a further motivation to support the cause of gender equality is that it ultimately benefits both sexes. Tis is contrary to the well-travelled sound bite that ‘feminists seek equality by only fighting for women’ or some such nonsense. I asked Susuana Antubam why men should care about feminism and she immediately referenced the benefits to men, commenting that the “liberation of women benefits all genders as feminism challenges oppressive gender roles which can negatively impact the lives of everyone.”

Tere is little doubt that such narrowly defined gender roles are indeed damaging, and even shortening, the lives of many men. If we fail to conform to the expected standards of zealous masculinity then we risk the mocking wrath of our peers. Whether it is talking about our feelings, or not joining in with some objectifying joke, men occupy a hazardous space in which non-conformity can be socially fatal. Tis is partly why suicide is the biggest killer of men under 50. Talking freely and openly is a distant notion for many of us, and this is why we must support the fight for women’s rights. If we can oppose stifling gender norms together then both sexes will no doubt see positive change.

Tis is something to fight for. If we, as men, can begin to recognise our own privileges, and consequently promote and engage with the voices of women, then there will be gains for both sexes. It’s time to shed the stereotypes surrounding feminism and work towards this common goal because men, contrary to cliché, can and should be allies to the cause.

“Recognising one’s privilege is the first step in understanding the oppressed. It makes clear the often overlooked advantages that we have

Pictured: Women protest at the murder of student Ozgecan Aslan (Source: Flickr)

March

Stiff Little Fingers

08/03/15, £18.50 ADV

The Stranglers

10/03/15, £23 ADV

Sleaford Mods

10/03/15, £10 ADV

Halestorm

13/03/15, £15 ADV

Four Year Strong

24/03/15, £14 ADV

April

Lower Than Atlantis

09/04/15, £12 ADV

Limehouse Lizzy vs Livewire AC/DC

17/04/15, £20 ADV

May

Super Furry Animals

01/05/15, £30 ADV

Super Furry Animals

02/05/15, £30 ADV

Uriah Heep

07/05/15, £22 ADV

Hoobastank 15/05/15, £22 ADV

June

Young Guns

04/06/15, £12.50 ADV Peace

October

03/10/15, £15 ADV

JASON ROBERTS VS THE WORLD

Change, change, change.

Election week is in need of a revamp

Jason Roberts

It’s over. It’s finally over. After a week of piss-poor fancy dress, crazy promises and hijacked lectures, Elections Week is behind us for another year. You can finally walk past the Woodville on a Monday morning without being asked about your opinion on the sanitary towel tax. Te streets are safe again.

I’d hesitate to question whether the current system is entirely broke, but it’s certainly become joyless for all involved

Union elections are weird. On one hand, they’re one of the most important ways that students can affect real change within their university. So every student has a duty to go and read a little bit about each candidate, and then elect the one who looks and sounds the least like a clueless moron. Especially when over £100,000 of your tuition fees are being spent to pay the officers representing you. And yet, the Union elections are a fucking circus. Candidates dress up like dinosaurs or Mr. Monopoly or something equally insane to convince us that they’re responsible, articulate adults capable of making reasoned decisions on our behalf. Tey do this knowing that if they don’t, they stand no chance of being elected, because nobody bothered to read their lovingly crafted Wordpress blog detailing every point on their manifesto. And then, students have to basically be bribed into voting (“We’ll give a cash prize to the AU club that has the most voters!”) because they’re fed up of being constantly accosted by onesie-clad weirdos. Who are only there because nobody read their

manifesto.

It’s time for a change. I’d hesitate to question whether the current system is entirely broken, but it’s certainly become joyless for all involved. Even the guy who was campaigning in a smiley face acid-house poncho looked totally miserable. We need some new rules to make sure that we’re not dreading Elections Week this time next year.

First and foremost, NO ONESIES.

If you’re going to have a gimmick costume, you better put some damn time and effort into it. Adopting a onesie as a costume says to me, “I have no original ideas”. Why should anyone vote for you can’t even think of a decent costume? Tis year, there were at least two candidates that attempted to dress up as bears, but wore onesies instead. And this, quite frankly, is a grave insult to the proud and noble bear, the most glorious of God’s creatures. I know that candidates work on a budget, but I expect my future officers to be resourceful.

If you’re a wasteful bear-hater, you have no business running anything, let alone an institution of higher learning.

On the topic of costumes, this next proposal may have future candidates thinking carefully. As students, we don’t always give our elected officers as much flak as we should when they don’t follow through on their promises. Gair Rhydd runs a check at the end of the year, but

by then it doesn’t matter because they’re already on their way out. In light of this, I believe that if elected, candidates should be made to wear their costume every day, until their manifesto is completed. Every. Single. Day. To meetings, to events, to the Lash, everywhere where they go they should be dressed in whatever ridiculous garments that played a part in getting them elected in the first place. Tis would be effective for so many reasons. Students would be able to see whether promises were being kept or broken. Candidates would start to set achievable aims, rather than promising to run affordable trips to the moon or whatever. And we’d see a marked decrease in awful puns and bad costumes. Next, if you’re going to give out free sweets, they must be a recognisable brand. Call me a snob, a corporate shill, whatever, unbranded sweets are the absolute worst. Branded sweets will still give you diabetes, but at least they’ll taste good while doing it. Actually forget it, no sweets at all. Tey’re lazy. Shoutout to everyone who gave away home baked goods this year. Most of them tasted miserable, but the thought was there. Give me sad-tasting thoughtfulness over mindless E numbers any day. And to the person who gave out liquorice sweets, I hope you never get put in any position of responsibility, because that was a catastrophic error in human judgement and you should

be absolutely ashamed of yourself. Also, election videos are now too long. Although there were some good ones this year, I didn’t have the time or the willpower to watch every single one. Terefore, all campaign videos should have a maximum length of… 6 seconds. Coincidentally, making them perfect for Vine! If you can’t make a good case for yourself in 6 seconds, you’re clearly not DYNAMIC or INCISIVE enough for the crazy pressure cooker world of student politics. Tink of the Vine as sped up version of ‘the elevator pitch’ concept. Only instead of an elevator in a skyscraper, you’ve got a trampoline in a shed.

Finally, a rule for the students voting in the elections. Tere are some candidates that are weird, some candidates that are clearly in it just for the money, and some candidates who are hilariously unqualified to do absolutely anything at all, but you still need to vote. No matter what. If you don’t engage with the University, they’re not going to give you any of the things that you want. Tis - short of kicking down the vice-chancellor’s door and demanding that he bring back Te Lash - is one of the best chances you’ll get to make positive changes for you and thousands of future Cardiff students. It can be a chore to sift through all the shitty candidates because there are so many, but it’s a chore worth doing. You owe it to yourself.

Pictured: Te awkward moment the signifier meets the signified

There are some candidates that are weird, some candidates that are clearly in it just for the money, and some candidates who are hilariously unqualified to do absolutely anything at all

I persuaded the prison officers to let me begin a Masters in International Relations and had the books and papers sent from Australia into the prison to work on with a pencil and paper

Peter Greste talks to Cardi ff students

Less than a month after his release from prison, the Al Jazeera journalist visited Cardiff to share his experience

Peter Greste, a recently released Al Jazeera journalist, came to discuss freedom of speech, his 400 days in prison in Egypt and how to cope working in hostile environments. Greste was one of three Al-Jazeera journalists who received worldwide support and media coverage while imprisoned on false charges of terrorism and spreading false news. Egypt’s Government targeted the three claiming they supported the Muslim Brotherhood, the rest of the world however saw their imprisonment as an infringement on their freedom of speech.

Tere was a huge turnout for this Cardiff event and an air of excitement in the room. Interestingly, Greste did not appear traumatised or display any difficulty sharing his ordeal with us, despite saying; “PTSD can come and bite you on the arse when you least expect it, so I’m mindful”.

Amogst questioning about his journalistic activities in Egypt, he stated that Al Jazeera were under pressure and self-censoring at the point he was arrested. Having only been in Egypt for two weeks before his arrest, he stated that the situation there was “politically volatile”. When questioned on his charges, Greste responded, “I wasn’t going after the Muslim Brotherhood or actively challenging the government.” Greste emphasised the precarious nature of journalistic life in Egypt but added, “we felt we had to be there and were working with integrity.”

Greste gave advice: “I don’t want to encourage anyone to take risks. Journalism is only as dangerous as you want it to be and you prepare by training and getting support.” However, Greste also joked that we must do as he says and not as he does, since he went into some of his first experiences of writing abroad untrained.

Worldwide freelancers come into very dangerous situations and many are killed, particularly in parts of Lib-

ya, Nigeria, Egypt and Syria. Greste added “I know people who are trying to break into this industry who are young, trying to demonstrate how creative they are and get killed just trying to do their jobs.”

Unfortunately it is easy to run into trouble in the hostile environments that tend to hold some of the most sought after foreign stories.

Greste added a strong caveat to this: “Go with people who have experience and know how to survive. You have to know the geography and know what’s going on. You have to know the political geography and what the history is. You have to know the social geography. In Africa you have to know which tribes are where, and which like each other, and which don’t get along. If you hire a translator or taxi driver then know what tribe he is from too. Know where the nearest hospitals and embassies are. Get all the phone numbers you might need. Get hostile environments training and invest money. Absolutely do your homework and don’t go alone.”

Numerous questions were asked about Greste’s 400 days in prison. He was asked if he felt defeated in prison, responding, “no I didn’t, prison is prison and the biggest risk is your own head – a mindfuck. Prison is a blank space with the most benign conditions. You have to consciously look after your own mind and not give into defeatism or talk yourself into depression.”

Greste described how after his colleague was murdered in Somalia, he had needed friends and colleagues with more experience than him to talk him out of the dark place he was heading towards. He applied this strength of mind when in prison under the knowledge that “you are your own worst enemy”. Greste’s prison experience could be used by anyone dealing with a difficult situation and applies to people across all professions and trades.

Greste said he was careful about physical and spiritual fitness; “I would run 8-10km, 45 minutes everyday, up and down a 30m corridor. I persuaded the prison officers to let me begin a Masters in International Relations and had the books and papers sent from Australia into the prison, to work on with a pencil and paper.”

In order to take care of himself mentally he meditated. Greste had learnt meditating skills on a course after a difficult relationship break up. Using this when locked in solitary confinement during the first two weeks of his imprisonment, he realised it was the most powerful tool he had. Highlighting the importance of being conscious of your mind during tough experience, he added, “I keep trying to give it meaning. It’s become a fundamental part of who I am. It has to be more than 400 days in hell and that’s what I have to keep doing and not give up.”

Overall, Greste argued that the experience was positive, “it’s going to sound ridiculous but you learn the clichés all your life and this is a time when you actually live them. It is exactly the case that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Many of you wouldn’t imagine you could cope. I’m here to tell you that’s wrong. Most people aren’t pushed enough to know and I have been. I’m not advocating going out to test it. But knowing how strong I am is a positive.”

On the day Greste was released he had been considering a hunger strike. He said this signals the strong mental place he had reached at that point, saying, “I know it’s a radical step but it’s very empowering to realise how capable you are.”

Law systems in Africa and particularly Egypt are not based on any particular standards of justice. Tousands of innocent people are jailed under arbitrary findings and then released for similarly arbitrary reasons. Hundreds of people are imprisoned for peaceful protests, sometimes fired on in the streets and many are killed.

In Peter Greste’s case, the three journalists had become so high profile that keeping them in jail would’ve become a diplomatic crisis for Egypt. Regarding the reasons for his own arrest, Greste stated, “we will never be able to draw a line between an action and an outcome.”

Te media response to the three journalists was very supportive and

luckily Greste had friends and respected colleagues in media all over the world, putting him in a good position. He spoke on this saying, “the solidarity from the media community has been unprecedented. Journalists are a competitive bunch of buggers. We’re argumentative and organising around a common cause is very hard. But everyone came together in protest without question.” He also added, “I’m very humbled by all of this. Tere are so many others in prison on charges just as bogus.” Most ordinary detainees have no hope of being rescued or released and their situation can be much worse, facing beating and abuse while imprisoned.

When asked whether Greste felt African systems should enforce freedom of press, he responded, “I’m going to stay away from talking about Egypt because it’s too politically sensitive. Forward progress isn’t a given. It will happen to some extent. It’s a question of agency. Tese things will happen naturally but they need people involved too.”

Perhaps most important of all, Greste warned the room about integrity, “we talk a lot about integrity. But all three of us in prison had impeccable professional records, which is what saved us. Te Egyptians would have followed any flaw; our professional colleagues and the politicians would have lost confidence. All of us stuck to our professional ethics and standards. Its what you have to hold you up if you’re in the shit and challenged. You have to be able to stand on your record. It’s all you have to back you up.”

For the future, Greste said “I’ve had some ideas about making a documentary film on what happens to Somalians every day, and I want to work on something which looks at the futures of democracy and social systems particularly across Africa, but I haven’t got much further than that yet.”

Ultimately, Greste believes he can’t “simply go back to the job” he was doing before. “Routine news work is not an option. Tere is a point when something big happens to a journalist and people start following their stories because of what’s happened to them, and not because of the stories themselves. At the moment I can’t walk away from the platform so I will talk to students, campaign on freedom of speech and try to persuade governments to look at these issues.”

We talk a lot about integrity, but all three of us in prison had impeccable professional records and when you’re in the shit and challenged that’s all you have to back you up

Pictured:

Above: Peter Greste awaiting trial in Egypt

Below left: Greste reporting from Africa before his arrest

Rhiannon Tapp

Student Registration Success

New research conducted by youthsight.com has revealed that the drive to get young people and students to register seems to be working, with 78 per cent now registered.

Events such as the National Voter Registration Day, as well as campaigns by ‘Bite the Ballot’ have been encouraging people to register. Te research also proposed a reason as to why many

worry that students have been lost from the registration system. Many more students seem to be registering to vote in their home constituency than in their university town, as has been the case in the past.

It also points out that many students are not as disengaged with politics as they are generally portrayed, with student election turnout being higher than the national turnout in 2010. 71 Estimated student turnout in the 2010 General Election (%) 65 National voter turnout in the 2010 election (%) Carwyn Williams

HOPES: James Smith

General Election: Hopes and Fears

In recent years, politicians’ opinions have increasingly appeared detached from those of ordinary people.

Terefore, I hope that the 2015 General Election will increase the representation of the electorate’s views in parliament, as a result of a poor Liberal Democrat performance.

Much has been made of the Liberal Democrat’s struggling fortunes in the polls, which currently see them well behind UKIP as the fourth party and with the Deputy Prime Minister himself at risk of losing his constituency seat.

Tis has been caused by the Liberal Democrat decision to join the

Conservative Party in a coalition government which, contrary to their manifesto, pursued austerity policies. Particularly unpopular was the increase in university tuition fees, despite Clegg’s pre-election promises. Hopefully the Liberal Democrats will suffer the defeat the opinions polls are predicting. Tis may appear like an extremely negative hope, but I believe it will prevent commitments being abandoned in the future by providing an example of the consequences of these actions. Tis will be a very useful lesson for the minor parties who might participate in a new coalition government: abandon policies at your peril.

A Week in the Senedd

Recent politics in Britain has been ground-breaking and shattered the cosy, three party status quo that has dominated the stage of British politics for, well, ever.

Yet such change, such political revolution and social resuscitation I believe comes at a price. A price that manifests itself within four disheartening, nauseating and visually insulting letters – UKIP. It is here where my greatest fear for the up and coming election lies.

Tis “political revolution” has done wondrous things in exposing the moral deficiencies of our current system.

Yet the UKIP presence unbalances the scales. Tey are setting us back 60 years when this election should be about moving forward.

Any success they have in May I believe will be a blow to my inherent beliefs about what it means to be British. Every individual vote for UKIP is another British person aligning himself or herself with everything un-British. We are racially tolerant and cultural diverse country, built on decades of Irish, Indian, American, German and eastern European immigration.

with Carwyn Williams

First Minister’s Questions Cardiff Council was discussed at last week’s First Minister’s Questions, with Kirsty Williams repeating the Labour MP Stephen Doughty’s point that the handling of cuts by his party’s own council has been ‘appalling’. Williams went on to question how the Minister and the people of Cardiff have any confidence in the council to improve the city’s economy when the council and Labour group are in disarray, with Labour councillors discussing a budget with other parties.

Te First Minister pointed out that the 2012 local elections and subse-

quent by-elections have shown that the people do have confidence in the council, despite him ignoring a lower voter turnout. Eluned Parrott AM later went on to question who was in charge of a potential Cardiff City Region application, with Jones clarifying it was Cardiff Council’s responsibility along with other authorities. Plaid Cymru brought up the topic of health, with Leanne Wood telling the First Minister “while there is open privatisation in England, there is hidden privatisation by the back door in Wales”, which caused a mixed response in the chamber, with Labour and Carwyn Jones denying these claims. Jones

emphasized that there is no evidence of privatisation in the Welsh NHS, and that 9/10 people receive good service, while also noting the need to concentrate on the 1/10.

Jones then assured the Conservative leader that Glan Clwyd maternity services will resume within 12 months, and that this cannot be anything but a temporary situation, while mentioning he does not anticipate any major changes to services in North Wales.

Other matters led to the First Minister clarifying that any devolution from the Assembly to councils and communities would be examined after the local government re-structuring, as well as calling for people to use 999 calls more responsibly, for emergency uses only. Te chamber also briefly discussed the devolution settlement that will be announced and discussed this week.

Increased accountability for Social Care

Health Minister Mark Drakeford introduced a new bill, the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Bill, which will increase “transparency and accountability” to social care. Tis bill, which is likely to

pass with cross-party support, will impose stronger penalties on those who offer a service without ensuring it is regulated.

Radical curriculum changes proposed

An independent review published its report on education last week, proposing massive changes to teaching in Wales. Te Education Minister described the report as “a compelling, exciting and ambitious vision”, which will allow teachers to have more flexibility to teach around a central curriculum. Digital competency will become prominent as well as core subjects and non-core subjects being combined into six areas of learning.

Welsh Assembly to become the Welsh Parliament?

There have been calls for the Welsh Assembly to be re-named and rebranded as the Welsh Parliament, with UK politicians such as Ed Miliband calling the body the Welsh Parliament in a speech at the Labour conference. Prof. Richard Wyn Jones from the Cardiff Governance Centre said “clarity can only be achieved by calling the Welsh legislature a Parliament.”

FEARS: Isabella Lyons

22 POLITICS

Interview: Richard Hopkin

Gair Rhydd talks politics, young people and the ‘long term economic plan’

Rhiannon Tapp

Last week, Gair Rhydd met with Richard Hopkin, the Conservative candidate for Cardiff Central, to discuss his parliamentary candidacy and various political issues. Hopkin stated “this will be the most important election for a generation’; and people should vote for him because it’s ‘absolutely critical that we don’t throw away all the hard work of the last five years”.

Richard Hopkin was brought up in South Wales in the Swansea Valley, Clydach and speaks fluent Welsh. He went to a Welsh comprehensive school in the 1970s and went on to study law at Cambridge University. Hopkin believes this background helps him “understand very well how the Welsh people think and feel”. After losing his job in 2008, Hopkin said he could relate to “the difficulties which ordinary people have experienced over the last few years’. Tis led to ‘quite a solitary experience, which brought home just how damaging economic recession has been.”

Tis, perhaps, differs from the perception some share about the Conservative Party- that they represent a rich elite, who is out of touch with ordinary people’s hardships. Hopkin’s philosophy is that of a ‘one nation Conservative’, believing we should help the less advantaged people in society. In Cardiff in particular, Hopkin

Cameron in talks with former President of the European Council, Herman von Rompuy; Hopkin describes himself as a modern eurosceptic

believes “there are pockets of relative wealth and pockets of relative deprivation and it’s important we remember that.” However he added that we can only take care of others if we’ve got a strong economy “to pay for all the first class public services, such as health, education and welfare.”

Tere are fairly obvious reasons why young people may not believe in the Conservative Party. Many students felt outraged at the rise of tuition fees in 2010. Alongside making it more expensive for people to attend university, the Conservatives plan to take away benefits for 18-24 year olds. Ultimately these are not policies which many students feel will benefit them. Tus it is commonly said that we are the first generation that is expected to do worse than our parents.

With all this in mind, why should young people vote Conservative? Hopkin responded saying: “in my experience, what students care about most is getting a job when they have completed their studies. It’s only the Conservatives who have a long term economic plan to keep our economy growing, creating jobs and paying off debts. Tere are more than 1.85 million more people in work today than in 2010. Tese jobs are not insecure or poorly paid; in fact three quarters of the new jobs that have been created since the election are full time. Wages

are rising significantly faster than inflation with total pay going up by 2.1 per cent and inflation over the same period at 0.9 per cent. Getting a good job after university depends on having a strong and growing economy - that’s why students should vote for me as the Conservative candidate for Cardiff Central on May 7th.”

Wales has a long history of politics dominated by the Labour Party; to a large extent they have been hegemonic within Welsh society, particularly within the South Wales valleys, since the 1920s. Hopkin argued however that this was changing. He said, “the Conservatives now maintain a 20 per cent core vote in Wales, with 8 MPs out of 40 now representing Welsh constituencies.”

With the political history and culture of Wales in mind, I wondered whether the Conservatives in Wales might receive more hostility than other places. Hopkin responded saying: “I’ve never experienced any hostility. I really enjoy campaigning in Wales and I’m very emotionally attached to Wales. It’s upsetting when I look at health and educational achievement statistics where schools standards are equated with places like Latvia and Bulgaria. I think it’s much harder for the kids in the state sector in Wales to achieve places at top universities and that’s why I do this. I want everybody in Wales to have the opportunities that I had. So no, I don’t think it’s difficult to be a Conservative in Wales.”

Jenny Willott, current Liberal Democrat MP for Cardiff Central has been representing our constituency in Parliament for ten years. Te polls suggest she will not continue after May’s General Election, with the favourite appearing to be Jo Stevens, the Labour Party candidate. Willott’s record in Cardiff is somewhat controversial, particularly her voting in favour of the bedroom tax. In her interview to Gair Rhydd, Willott stated that the bedroom tax was not an attack on the poor, but done to make better use of the housing stock. When asked about this, Hopkin agreed with Willott’s decision to vote in favour. He said that this policy, which “is in fact a spare room subsidy’” makes it fairer for taxpayers who “may not be earning very much money themselves”. He argued that “a lot has been done to ease circumstances of hardship sur-

rounding the bedroom tax” in which certain people were given exemption. Hopkin also stated that “it’s a little known fact that the Labour party actually removed the spare room subsidy from tenants in private housing” and claimed that “all this jumping up and down and screaming about the bedroom tax, it’s somewhat typical of the sanctimony that you often see from the left.” He cited the often-repeated Conservative message “tough economic times call for tough economic decisions.” Te Liberal Democrats and Conservatives formed a coalition in 2010, an event described by Hopkin as “the right thing to do during a dangerous time for the country” after the recession caused by “Gordon Brown’s profligacy.” Despite the partnership between the Lib Dems and Conservatives, Hopkin didn’t see Lib Dem success as likely this time around. “I think inevitably the Lib Dems will be held to account on the U-turn they did with student fees, particularly in a constituency like this where there is a big student population.”

Hopkin described himself as a ‘modern euro-sceptic’, someone who believes we should have a referendum but who “isn’t rushing for the exit.” Hopkin emphasised that he believes we need to have a sensible debate and re-negotiate to get a reformed EU, and only a referendum if that fails.

Comparatively, UKIP and the Conservatives reflect similar sentiments.

Te Conservatives have been accused of pandering to UKIP’s policies in the wake of the party’s recent UK wide support. Similarly to Gair Rhydd’s interview with Ethan Wilkinson, UKIP candidate for Cardiff North, I asked Hopkin how Wales would cope without the funding and support of the EU.

Likewise to Wilkinson, Hopkin replied that since much of the funding Wales receives is that which the UK, including Wales, has given to the EU in the first place, then it is likely we would have more money available.

Hopkin differed to Wilkinson in one regard however by suggesting voting UKIP would make it more difficult to have a referendum on Europe.

Perhaps most interestingly to would be UKIP voters, Hopkin stated that only a vote for the Conservatives would provide for a referendum on the EU.

“

I think it’s much harder for the kids in the state sector in Wales to achieve places at top universities... I want everybody in Wales to have the same opportunities that I had

Pictured: Richard Hopkin: Conservative candidate for Cardiff Central

Pictured: David

Continued from the previous page

With the rise of smaller parties in recent years, there is an argument that people need to vote tactically in order to get the result they ultimately want.

Hopkin argued that a vote for UKIP with the hope of an EU referendum in mind would be a way of “letting Miliband into Downing Street” which would “deny everyone the chance to have that debate”. Tis highlights the issues surrounding how the electorate votes between five potential choices. Hopkin weighed in on this by saying that the ‘real choice’ was between David Cameron and Ed Miliband.

When asked about other candidates and politicians, Hopkin consistently emphasised that these were not judgements for him to make, that policies were more important than personality, and this was for the electorate to ponder themselves.

Regarding Ed Miliband’s leadership, Hopkin suggested that he hasn’t shown “the leadership qualities you would expect from a potential Prime Minister” and that to him, Miliband’s style of politics and use of ‘class war’ isn’t very mature, and “avoids answering the ‘difficult questions”. Many will regard this statement as controversial since we don’t live in classless society. Some will ask how ‘class war’ could be something used to avoid ‘difficult questions’ when there is evidence of huge disparities in wealth and power in Britain, disparities which are reinforced by people who perhaps don’t consider class. Hopkin stated that Labour were not worth voting for since “there is just no credible long term economic

plan from the Labour Party, their only plan being more borrowing and more spending”.

Hopkin shared interesting insights about Parliament and the different strands of left and right that exist within each party: “yes, all parties are coalitions. It’s a fascinating question. I find it very hard to categorise myself; I’m very much a social liberal. I’m gay and in a civil partnership so in the gay marriage debate I was clearly in support of that. Tat’s an issue I’ve been very happy to stand up on and defend. I don’t think people who oppose gay marriage are homophobic, if you ask my elderly mother if she’s in favour of gay marriage she would probably say no. It’s a generational thing. I’m very much a gradualist; I think you have to bring people with you, especially when you’re a minority. I think in ten years people will ask ‘what was all the fuss about?’”

Hopkin had much to say on the topic of religion and the religious context of policies and parliament: “when I’ve come across opposition to gay marriage it has mostly been because people have very genuine and very sincerely held religious views that it’s wrong, which I respect. Tere are also plenty of Christians and Muslims I’m sure for whom gay marriage is absolutely fine so it’s not always the case.”

In modern times, particularly in the West religion is less intertwined with politics. Many people express concerns at how much David Cameron mentions Christianity in his speeches, in which he claims Britain

Prime Minister’s Questions returned last week after a week of parliamentary recess. Tings seem to start relatively calmly, with cross-party support for the principle of reforming second jobs ahead of a vote later in the day. However, this was short-lived with one MP being told by the Speaker to calm down before he exploded.

Mr Cameron made a swift move to attack Labour by making a link to David Miliband earning the most from second jobs in the previous Government. Ed Miliband swept this comment aside and tried to reach consensus on general principles. Tis quickly reverted to sustained attack

should “work towards Christian values”. Hopkin suggested this was Cameron’s way of making a point that culturally we are predominantly a Christian country. He also added: “I think Christian values are a short hand for what the culture of this country has been for many centuries. Having said that, in the modern Britain, we also have people of other religions, Jews, Muslims, Sikhs, and I think all of those religions have something to contribute as well.”

Particularly within the Conservative Party there have been some MPs who report the pressure to have religious faith. Retired Conservative MP James Arbuthnot described how being nonreligious within the Conservative party was “as hard as being gay within it”. Te House of Commons is perhaps outdated in this regard since MPs are required to attend morning prayers to get a seat in the room. Undoubtedly modern Britain is a multicultural country with people of many religions and a large number of atheists. Te hope would be that this is represented in parliament and that parliamentary candidates can feel free to say what they believe in, whether that be any given religion or atheism. Hopkin, however, doesn’t agree there is a pressure to have faith, saying: “religious views are those which shape people’s lives and that’s perfectly legitimate. I don’t think it’s an issue in the modern Conservative Party. It would be interesting to know whether people in Parliament are disproportionately more or less religious than the general population. Nick Clegg has always been very upfront that he’s not a believer; I think David Cameron once said ‘my faith fades in and out a bit like Classic FM

on Labour about their links to trade unions; supposedly being ‘the party of Len McClusky’.

As soon as the subject of trade unions was raised, the Conservatives sustained their attacks and managed to hold the floor, despite attempts by Ed Miliband to link the Conservative Party to hedge funds. Labour were not doing very well, and the situation was worsened by Liberal Democrat MPs who added their own criticism of Labour and spoke about the achievements the Coalition had made. It seems the Liberal Democrats are trying to portray themselves as a sensible party who are adept at political decision-

making. Whether this is successful is yet to be seen.

After the initial wave of questions relating to MPs having second jobs, it would have been reasonable to believe that they had finished discussing the issue. However, it was a recurring theme amid questions about cuts to Disabled Students’ Allowance (which Cameron said had been brought up by one of his constituents and was being investigated) as well as the format of television election debates.

Later in the debate, a question was raised regarding the three girls who have fled to Turkey and are believed to be heading to Syria. Mr Cameron said that everyone had a responsibility

in the Cotswolds’ and Ed Miliband, I think, is an atheist.”

“I would describe myself as a Humanist. I was brought up very much in the Christian tradition as a Calvinistic Methodist; I guess you could say I’ve lost my religious faith but I very much believe in morality. I believe that our sense of right and wrong comes from within us. I think there are good and bad things about religion. You only have to look at the Middle East, Northern Ireland and parts of this country to see that extremist religious views can cause problems. I think religious values of compassion and looking after minorities and making sure people aren’t left behind are very laudable concepts.”

Richard Hopkin will run in the General Election for the Conservative Party. Even if you are a student in Cardiff who expects to live elsewhere in the next few years, you could still be affected by the decisions made within this constituency and should vote with this in mind. Te deadline at which you can register to vote is looming on the 20th of April. Te new system of Individual Voter Registration means that even if you were registered under head of household last year then you still need to re-register yourself this year. To many the idea of voting is pointless. Lots of young people are frustrated with the political system and feel betrayed and under represented in parliament. By not voting however we will see further disintegration of our representation in parliament. Students: in the interests being heard by politicians, get registered, it’s easily done online and then cast your vote come May 7th.

as a community to fight ‘poisonous radicalisation’.

Election time is definitely drawing nearer, with the Prime Minister being criticised for a party-branded letter being sent from Downing Street. Mr Cameron apologised but still managed to find a way to ridicule Labour. Tis week’s PMQs saw the Conservatives come out the strongest of the parties, with the continual attacks on Labour seeming to have an effect. Only a few PMQs left to go before Parliament dissolves –the Conservatives should not be complacent, but after this week’s debate it seems Labour have a lot of work to do.

Religious views are those which shape people’s lives and that’s perfectly legitimate.

My faith fades in and out a bit like Classic FM in the Cotswolds David Cameron

Pictured: Te Houses of Parliament

Kieran Lewis Prime Minister’s Questions

Pictured: Tuition fee protests in 2010

(Source: Flickr, Credit: Bob Bob)

“ A ban on second incomes for MPs is the logical way to restore faith in politicians ”

Westminster Scandal

Prominent Conservative and Labour MPs are caught on camera selling their services

Two experienced MPs have been left with egg on their faces after being caught out offering to carry out work for undercover reporters who posed as representatives of a fake Chinese company.

Labour’s Jack Straw, and the Conservatives’ Sir Malcolm Rifkind, both former Foreign Secretaries, were filmed by investigators from the Telegraph and Channel 4’s Dispatches. Both were apparently willing to discuss working with the fake company for large sums of money, which were featured in the programme last week.

In the clip, Straw appears more than willing to work with the reporters, outlining his daily rate of £5,000 for doing “a speech or something”. He was also recorded boasting about working “under the radar”, and of previously influencing EU rules for a firm which employed him.

Rifkind was similarly exposed, saying that his rate for a half day’s work was “somewhere in the region of £5,000 to £8,000”. Furthermore, he bizarrely claimed, “I am self-employed”, adding, “you’d be surprised how much free time I have”. Te MP also bragged of being able to sort “useful access” to British diplomats. Rifkind has now paid the price for his loose words, having been suspended as a Conservative MP, and left his role as chairman of Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee.

Straw had already announced his intention to stand down as an MP at the next election, but has suffered the embarrassment of also being suspended from the Labour Party.

Tis scandal will probably draw an end to two notably long political careers. Rifkind, first elected in 1974, served as Secretary of State for Scotland in Tatcher’s government, and as Transport, Defence and Foreign Secretary under Major. Straw became an MP in 1979, and was the Home and Foreign Secretary for Tony Blair.

However, despite the video footage, both were keen to stress their innocence. Speaking to Radio 4’s Today programme, Rifkind said he had “nothing to be embarrassed about”, although he did admit the self-employed remark was a “silly thing to say”. Straw argued that he had been talking about working after his retirement, also saying his words were “not necessarily wrong but could be taken out of context”.

Te scandal brought Labour leader Ed Miliband quickly into action, as he called for a ban on MPs’ secondary jobs, and promised to ban the involvement of Labour MPs in “paid directorships or consultancies”. Prime Minister David Cameron wasn’t ready to make this commitment, but did give his support to the reporters that rumbled Rifkind and Straw, with his spokesman stating

“he thinks it is absolutely right that we have robust investigative journalism in this country”.

Tis story has become another match of political football, as the buildup to the General Election gathers pace. However, it does not really offer any benefit to either of the main parties, but instead serves as an expenses type

Daniel

Heard

“

I think it is up to everyone else to be a little more innovative as to how you get round it, and I’m hearing all sorts of schemes

scandal, weakening the faith that the public has in its politicians. Both Straw and Rifkind have been exposed exhibiting an audacious level of self-interest in this case, and the time is right for their political careers to end. A ban on second incomes for MPs is the logical way to restore faith in politicians, and to ensure improved performance on our behalf.

Welsh MEP supports bankers bonuses

Atop Welsh Conservative has been secretly recorded advising bankers to be “innovative” to flout rules that would cap their bumper bonuses. Te party’s MEP Kay Swinburne was caught on tape alongside a Tory MP talking to an audience in London outlining how the Conservatives had opposed new European rules limiting how much bankers can make on top of their salaries.

Speaking at a conference in the city, Swinburne, who worked in investment banking before becoming an MEP, told the audience there was no public appetite to revoke the cap and suggested they “get around it” instead.

She said: “We’ve had things like bankers bonuses, which was a tiny part of CRD IV [which aims to minimise the negative effects of firms failing by ensuring that the firms hold enough financial resources to cover the risk associated with their business]. Nevertheless, it was a very important part for the UK and for other bankers across Europe.”

“I can tell you that there is not a single constituent that we have met that think that it was right to take it to the courts. Tey think that it was right that there was a bonus cap. So, I think it is up to everyone else to be a little more innovative as to how you get round it, and I’m hearing all sorts of schemes at the minute which do in fact bypass the overall cap. I suspect that there will be a lot of anger about it.”

A spokesperson for the MEP was quick to say that the comments were taken out of context, as Swinburne was saying she believes there are better ways of dealing with excess in the financial services industry. Te cap restricts bonuses to 100 per cent of bankers’ pay or 200 per cent with shareholder approval. Te Treasury has argued that the cap will drive talent out of Europe and inflate basic

pay, making it harder for banks to trim costs in lean years.

Chancellor George Osbourne had launched a legal fight to overturn the cap - spending £43,000 of taxpayers’ money to fight court battles - before ultimately abandoning the bid last year after a judge rejected ministers’ claims it was illegal.

Swinburne, who was born in Ceredigion, was criticised by Labour MP Cathy Jamieson, who said: “Te Tories are not only opposing a cap on bank bonuses, they now even seem to be encouraging bankers to find ways to get round it.

“Labour will repeat the tax on bank bonuses and use the money raised to fund a jobs programme for young people. We will also change the rules so that, in cases of wrong-doing, bank bonuses can be clawed back for at least 10 years after they have been paid out.”

Swinburne’s comments were made public on the day that banks began announcing how much bonuses workers will get. HSBC, which has been facing allegations it helped companies avoid tax, released its annual earnings this week including bonuses. Bankers for HSBC will be taking £2.2 billion worth of bonuses, with taxpayers owned Royal Bank of Scotland paying £500 million.

“However, despite the video footage, both were keen to stress their innocence.

Michael Arnott

Pictured: Jack Straw (top) and Malcolm Rifkind (below)

Pictured: Swinburne, who won her seat with 17.32 per cent of the Welsh vote last year

(Credit: Michael Walter)

Greg McChesney

TMiniskirt protest after murder

urkey has seen an explosion of Twitter protests in recent days after the attempted rape and subsequent murder of a 20 year old woman. Ahmet Suphi Altındöke, a bus driver, attempted to rape Ozgecan Aslan, as she was travelling alone on his bus in the seaside province of Mersin.

After attempting to defend herself with pepper spray, Altındöke repeatedly stabbed Aslan and beat her to death with an iron bar before attempting to dump her body in a river in the Tarsus District. Following his arrest on Monday, along with his 50 year old father and 20 year old friend, Altındöke confessed to the crime.

Violence against women is increasing, but men are becoming increasingly vocal on the issue and are protesting against the violence

“ ”Lauren Booth

For ISIS, propaganda is now a major part of their strategy, from sharing shocking videos of killings to propaganda videos about their ideology

Turkish women have since taken to social media to protest the injustices committed against fellow women. Since Monday, the hashtag #OzgecanAslan has been tweeted more than three million times, while #sendeanlat (tell your story) was the third-highest trending topic worldwide.

Te hashtag #sendeanlat allows Turkish women to narrate their daily struggle against male sexism or their methods for preventing sexual attacks, including wearing fake wedding rings and carrying pepper spray.

Te country’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has commented on the young woman’s violent death, saying that violence against women

in Turkey is the ‘bleeding wound’ of the country. Erdoğan, despite his condemnations, has elicited criticism for asserting that equality between men and women ‘goes against nature’, and for proposing ‘limits’ on abortions and caesarean sections.

Te contradictions between Erdoğan’s comments and actions represent either a lack of knowledge or effort on the part of the Turkish government to prevent violence against women.

A study by Turkish press agency Bianet showed that 281 women were killed by men in Turkey last year. An increase of 31 per cent on the previous year, these deaths could have been, in some cases, directly pre-

vented by the state. Nine per cent of victims filed a complaint or restraining order against their killers prior to their deaths. It is not just murder that has increased: the number of women who were victims of batteryassault by men jumped from 240 to nearly 520 between 2013 and 2014, an increase of 116 per cent.

Violence against women is increasing, but men are becoming increasingly vocal on the issue and are protesting against the violence.

‘Miniskirt walks’ have taken place in Istanbul and Ankara, seeing men donning miniskirts and carrying placards condemning violence against women and chanting, ‘you’ll never walk alone’.

London schoolgirls join ISIS 21st

century methods of recruitment

News that three girls aged 15-16 had left the UK, bound with the intention of joining ISIS sparked a debate as to whether they had been groomed online by ISIS recruiters in Syria. Tey flew to Istanbul hoping to cross the border into Syria from Turkey. Teir school had formerly invited the police in to give talks about counter-terrorism and antiradicalisation after a previous student had left for Syria, suggesting current counter-terrorism laws in social media are not sufficient.

Shamima had supposedly been in contact with a ‘jihadi bride’ already in Syria over Twitter, just hours before her departure. Although no public communication was available, the last message indicated that the contact in Syria wished to personally message Begum. Her account shows she was following over 70 known Muslim extremists with some potential ISIS members. A Guardian piece recently commented that ISIS was ‘Holywood-ising’ war, with ISIS members making their online profiles look like rock-stars, to attract young girls to want to be with them. Tis story is not unique. ISIS makes heavy use of social media for recruit-

ment purposes. ISIS has become a clever user of social media to victimize vulnerable young people and brainwash them into join the organisation.

Without their online presence being so vast, disseminating 90,000 messages a day, it is doubtful that their ranks would boast the numbers it does, with over 2,000 people from the UK alone, being radicalised by people in the country, as well as many through social media. Labour MP Khalid Mahmood sits on an all-party committee on terrorism, and said, “We don’t have a border agency capable of dealing with the problem.”

Adolescents are fraught with vulnerability and can be unaware of the ‘bigger picture’. Social media all too often exposes people to things that they do not understand, and the likes of ISIS take full advantage of such susceptibility.

We should be concerned that teenagers, who sometimes may not understand the consequences of their actions, could ruin their lives, as is seen in this example, where the girls had great future prospects.

On looking to attempting to solve this problem, social media moderators

certainly have a role to play, with David Cameron stating earlier this year that Twitter and Facebook have a “social responsibility” to help fight terrorism and extremism.

It is also often the case that parents have no access to their children’s social media accounts, so no preventative measures can be taken from their perspective, unless attitudes change.

For ISIS, propaganda is now a major part of their strategy, from sharing

shocking videos of killings to propaganda videos about their ideology. Some argue it would perhaps be better if the media scaled down its coverage of their actions, as they are assisting ISIS in disseminating propaganda and teenagers may end up ‘googling’ them to find out more. Counter-terrorism measures can now concentrate on ISIS’s social media coverage to try and stop further people fleeing the UK to fight against the West.

Pictured: CNN news in the USA used these images to portray how ISIS could be recruiting women

Pictured Left: A ‘miniskirt’ protest in Turkey Right: A protester in the USA standing up against the Turkish President

SCIENCE

tweet us @gairrhyddsci email us science@gairrhydd.com or visit us online at gairrhydd.com/scienceww

Mars One: Could the final frontier be a frontier too far?

Meryon Roderick

Despite vocal criticism from many sources, including Gair Rhydd Science, Mars One seem undeterred from their mission to take the human race to the red planet.

Te ramifications of sending people on a one-way trip to another planet are as serious as they are unpredictable and the resources and planning required for such an undertaking are immense. It is natural then that questions have been raised not only about whether it is scientifically feasible to send people to Mars in the timespan proposed by Mars One, but also whether it is economically viable or even ethical.

“

The feeling that each member of the crew is likely to feel as the beautiful view of Earth from Space fades into a tiny dot and finally disappears completely is near impossible to understand.

”

Te barriers that the Mars One project must overcome are so numerous that listing one after another they roughly chart the entire proposed timeline of the mission. Firstly, as with all scientific projects, it is unfortunately necessary to discuss the mundane subject of funding. In all of the Mars One promotional material they estimate the cost involved in putting the first six people on Mars at around $6 billion, which in itself sounds like a mind-boggling figure.

Tis is far from the largest monetary issue. So far Mars One have only raised $759,816 which is a trifling $5,999,240,184 off their proposed budget. Tey intend to cover most of this with contributions from private investors and by producing a Big Brother-style television programme following the first Martians on their journey.

Teir proposed television partner, Endemol, have recently withdrawn from any potential deal forcing Mars One to seek out other production companies to work with. Whoever they find, it seems unlikely that they will manage to gather revenues of several billion for a TV show that could very easily end in the deaths of six people broadcast live across the world.

Got a story idea? Let us know: science@ gairrhydd.com

Whether or not Mars One are capable of reaching their target may be completely irrelevant as the Apollo mission that put Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on the moon cost $25 billion in 1967 which equates to roughly $190 billion in today’s money. Tough a mission to the moon now would un-

doubtedly be much cheaper than in 1967 when the technology was all new, its likely a mission to Mars would be much more expensive. To compare the proposed Mars One budget to the independently proposed one: $6 billion is about three times as much as students contribute to the Cardiff economy every year, $190 billion is the gross domestic product of the Czech Republic.

If Mars One do manage to overcome their money troubles then they’ll hit far more complex problems. Te effects of low gravity on the body over a prolonged period of time are very well documented from astronauts who have done long tours of duty in the International Space Station. Muscle wastage, loss of bone mass, hypotension and cataracts are only some of the best-known health impacts. Having said that, the longest a human has spent continuously in Space is 438 days, a record held by Valeri Polyakov, a Russian Cosmonaut. Te astronauts aboard the Mars One mission will be in space for about a third of this time before they even reach Mars.

Te gravity on Mars is only about a third of that on Earth so the impacts of low gravity on the health of the Mars One crew are likely to continue to worsen after landing. Te ramifications of low gravity over a timescale of years or decades are an unknown quantity and could be a lot more extreme than anything previously observed. Tat is if the travellers to Mars even live that long.

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have weighed in on the viability of human life on Mars. Tey calculated that the calorie requirement of the first Martians would be roughly 3040 calories a day. To grow the crops to provide a sustainable and balanced diet, such as potatoes, lettuce, and beans, at least 200 square metres would need to be put to this purpose which is four times as much as Mars One have proposed.

Tis area of crops would produce so much oxygen that the air in the enclosed environment the settlers live in would rapidly become flammable. Tis

could be compensated for by diluting the oxygen with nitrogen except that the nitrogen would need to be conserved to restore air pressure in the event of an air leak in the settlers’ contained environment. If nitrogen was not conserved for this purpose then any air leak would likely lead to the death of all settlers in 68 days or under. Te best way to prevent this would probably be to establish a system to selectively remove oxygen from the environment and pump it out into Space.

A technology that could do this on Mars doesn’t actually exist yet, which puts an end to the claim that Mars One could conduct their mission with technology that all already exists. MIT researchers calculated that it would actually be cheaper to send food continuously from Earth to Mars but it’s easy to see how this could be a problem.

Te window to launch a space craft to Mars only opens every 26 months and it would then take 180 days to arrive. Tis means that if a catastrophe occurred and the settlers found themselves without food, or any vital spare part that they couldn’t produce themselves, they could potentially be waiting for it for nearly three years. Tat’s 365 times as long as a human can go without water and 73 times as long as a human can go without food.

It’s easy to criticise the facts and figures put forward by Mars One and frankly if their budgeting and proposed scientific requirements don’t stand up to even the most cursory examination then perhaps it would be premature to

get excited. What isn’t that well understood is the psychological toll that such a mission would exact upon the potential Mars settlers.

Te feeling that each member of the crew is likely to feel as the beautiful view of Earth from Space fades into a tiny dot and finally disappears completely is near impossible to understand. It would be an undertaking unlike anything done by any human before. Te knowledge that the five other people sat with you are the only faces you’d see in person for the rest of your life and that you would never communicate with anyone on Earth in real time ever again would surely be difficult to deal with even for the strongest and most determined of people.

Valeri Polyakov was in Space for under a year and a half and showed clear signs of depression near the start of his time on the International Space Station. Apparently confronting the fact that he would live in a metal box for months was difficult and made it hard for him to complete his work. However, Polyakov could comfort himself with the knowledge that every day spent in Space was another day closer to returning to Earth.

Te Mars One settlers will have to live with the fact that every day on Mars is another day further from the lives on Earth that they left behind. In the end the most difficult part of this mission might not be logistics or economics but rather the fact that for the first Martians, there is no return ticket.

Above:

An artist’s impression of a rover approaching the surface of Mars

Below: An artist’s impression of the Mars One colony

Any air leak would likely lead to the death of all settlers in 68 days or under.

Pictured:

Babatunde Onabajo

We shouldn’t fear artificial intelligence

If inequality was the hot-button issue that defined the year 2014, it will be artificial intelligence (AI) that will define the year 2015. Tese two words have troubled a variety of people, from Bill Gates to Professor Stephen Hawking. Te prominent entrepreneur Elon Musk called it our greatest “existential threat”. But what is AI and why has it caused so much worry?

AI basically describes robots displaying behaviour that would be considered “intelligent”. Have you ever seen a Hollywood movie with a theme surrounding robots destroying mankind? Tose robots exhibit AI and such movies portray the fears of men like Musk; that robots will soon become more intelligent than we are and will one day wipe us out. Other fears include the prospect of mass unemployment as more jobs are taken over by robots.

Frightening though these prospects may be, it is unlikely they will really materialise.

Frightening though these prospects may be, it is unlikely they will really materialise. Tough it is natural to consult industry experts like Gates on an issue like this, it is also important to consider the views of philosophers.

Te debate about AI is not new. A precedent can be found as early as the 18th century in the works of German philosopher Gottfried Leibniz, with what is now called “Leibniz’s Mill”. Further down the history of philoso-

phy in the 20th century we find what is called the “Chinese Room” argument by Professor of Philosophy John Searle that dismisses AI.

Suppose you were in Beijing working in the drive-thru section of McDonalds. You have no knowledge of the Chinese language, spoken or written. Intermittently, a person slips a set of instructions underneath your door with Chinese characters along with English words explaining the various orders. Unbeknownst to arriving Chinese customers, you simply follow these instructions to fulfil their

requests. To the Chinese customer you seem to have a grasp of Chinese language, but can we really say you understand the Chinese language when all you are doing is following instructions?

Tis was the thought experiment put forward by Searle to dismiss the view that computers will exhibit AI. Tey may appear “intelligent” to us on the outside, but they are ultimately not conscious of what they are doing.

Te fears of men like Musk are based on a view of human intelligence called “functionalism” in philosophy:

minds are defined by what they do rather than what they are. Tis view suggests that a processing unit that behaves like a human mind can be said to be equal to a human mind. Tis was not the view of philosophers such as philosopher and theologian St. Augustine, who added a metaphysical element to the concept of the mind: It is by being made in the image of God that our minds are truly special. Terefore, it is improbable that robots will ever develop a mind vastly exceeding that of our own. AI robots will always remain in the movies.

Te UN put ketamine in the k-hole

Meryon Roderick

The change in legislation would mean that each hospital would need its own licence to administer

Amongst students, ketamine is most well-known as the perpetrator of the infamous “k-hole”, a dissociative state signposted by wide eyes and a slack jaw that can be recognised in numerous clubbers throughout Cardiff on a Saturday night. Most are also aware that its most common non-recreational use is as a tranquiliser for horses who presumably develop an affinity for trance music and glow sticks every time they undergo an operation.

Much less well-known however, is ketamine’s use as a medical anaesthetic in humans. In normal settings it’s usually used to supplement other drugs rather than as the primary anaesthetic due to its ability to induce extremely vivid hallucinations. However, unlike other more commonplace pain relief drugs such as morphine, ketamine causes very little respiratory depression; in some circumstances it has actually been shown to improve breathing function when used in anaesthetic doses. It can also prevent hypotension, or low blood pressure, whereas other anaesthetics exacerbate it.

Tis means it is extremely useful when there is no adequate ventilation equipment to keep a patients breathing normal under sedation and also when there is a high chance of a patient dying of shock due to hypotension. Tis has seen ketamine deployed in a number of diverse situations as music festivals and the frontline in Afghani-

stan. Tese attributes also often make ketamine the anaesthetic of choice for operations on young children who are usually less able to endure respiratory depression than adults.

Unfortunately, the widespread recreational use of ketamine saw it reclassified in 2013 from a class C to a class B illicit substance. It is extremely difficult to synthesise and therefore most sources of the drug for recreational use focus on diverting drugs from medical supplies rather than producing it from precursor chemicals. Tis means that as the drug becomes more strongly controlled it has become increasingly difficult to gain access to it for research and legitimate medical applications.

Last year the UK government banned any use of all ketamine-like drugs and placed very strict controls on the use of ketamine itself. Tis move was criticised by many as “unscientific” because a blanket ban on so many different drugs creates a massive barrier to medical research. However, the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (UNCND) want to go even further by banning the use of ketamine worldwide. Tis move is being heavily opposed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) who class ketamine as a “vital medicine”, a classification that means it should be available to all people who need it globally. If approved, the change in legislation would mean that each hospital would need its own licence to admin-

ister ketamine and only four hospitals in the country currently hold such a licence. To get one costs around £6000 and often takes over a year. Writing for ‘Te Guardian’, Professor David Nutt has strongly criticised the UNCND’s proposal, calling a ban on the medical use of ketamine “madness”. He cites not only the growing use of the drug in anaesthesia, but also its potential as a potent antidepressant as opportunities that would be wasted if controls were tightened.

Tis recent conflict fits into the

wider debate about the “war on drugs”, which many deem to have failed. Legally prohibiting drugs in a reactive and unvarying way has proved to be far less effective in almost every measure of success, be it public health or levels of violent crime, than more liberal approaches such as those adopted in Portugal and the Netherlands. Now it seems the UK may end up legislating against pain prevention for patients who need it most, and when the war on drugs has become a war on people, it might be time to call it a day.

Pictured: Ketamine is often sold for recreational purposes in the form of a white powder.

Pictured: Robots like this will probably never be your overlords but they may one day serve you at the drive through.

Redefining Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Does a new name trivialise an already misunderstood condition?

Shanna Hamilton

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, also known as ME/CFS, is a condition as difficult to comprehend as it is to pronounce the name. You may be unfamiliar with the illness, as are many health professionals; it is included in less than a third of the medical school curricula around the world, and in less than half of medical textbooks.

Although it is thought that 250,000 people in the UK suffer this debilitating illness, the public often question it’s legitimacy, feeling the current nomenclature of a “fatigue” syndrome trivialises what can leave many bed bound for months, if not years. There was initially a debate about whether the condition even existed at all, and it has historically been referred to as “mass hysteria”, or more offensively, “yuppie flu”.

In response to the lack of clarity and a poor public perception, the US Department of Human Health and Services asked an expert committee of the Institute of Medicine to examine the evidence of ME/ CFS. In the IOM report published earlier this month, “Beyond Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Redefining an Illness”, the panel did indeed confirm the seriousness and severity of the condition, which they emphasise should be taken seriously. “It is not appropriate to dismiss these patients by saying ‘I am chronically fatigued too’”, authors say.

However, to add to the confusion surrounding what is already a minefield of different names, symptoms and classifications, the report also suggested a new name for the disease. “Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disease” or SEID, they argue, is a more appropriate name for the condition, “to accurately capture the central characteristics of the disease”.

There has been a mixed response to the new nomenclature, ranging from cautious optimism of physicians and patient advocates, to waves of outrage from ME/CFS sufferers who feel not only that this will add to the trivialisation, but that they were not adequately consulted as the people this report truly affects. “It is the equivalent of calling Parkinson’s disease: Systemic Shaking Intolerance Disease”, said on patient to the New York Times.

It is not appropriate to dismiss these patients by saying, ‘I am chronically fatigued too’

Will this new name improve both the public and healthcare professional’s awareness, or will it just further trivialise a disease that is often shrugged off as simply being “overtired”?

ME/CFS symptoms can range from mild to severe, adding to the difficulty in diagnosis. The predominant symptom that accounts for the current controversial name is severe tiredness following physical and mental activity, a severe exhaustion that remains even after a good

night’s sleep.

Other symptoms include acute muscle and joint pain, headaches, complaints of a “brain fog” that cannot be shifted, as well as palpitations and fainting episodes. Patients can suffer with irritable bowel syndrome-like illnesses, as well as shortterm memory loss, clumsiness and recurrent infections. Although some have only mild symptoms, some patients have symptoms so severe they remain bed bound with significantly reduced mobility, rendering them unable to work.

It seems unfathomable that such an illness could be dismissed as trivial, but according to those who suffer with the condition, this happens all too often. Speaking to Gair Rhydd, a Cardiff University student said, “The doctor said that I probably had CFS but there wasn’t much that could be done about it and after that I wasn’t diagnosed properly for another 6 years. It turned out that I had breathing problems that affected the quality of my sleep.” She also added, “I think it’s not very well understood so some people think CFS sufferers are just lazy.”

This student’s experience highlights the difficulty in getting a clinical diagnosis. There is no test for ME/CFS, as there is no cure. Doctors following specific guidelines, set out by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), where they have to eliminate other illnesses first; blood and urine tests to rule out anaemia, an underactive thyroid or liver and kidney problems. Only after the physician can confirm the symptoms have been persistent for at least four months can a positive diagnosis be made.

Treating the syndrome is as difficult as obtaining the diagnosis, simply because doctors don’t understand what causes it. According to the ME Association, at one end of the spectrum of medical opinion, doctors believe the condition arises as a result of physical disease processes, in the brain, muscle and immune systems. At the opposite end of the spectrum, some doctors believe that the illness is purely psychological, where symptoms do not have a physical cause. Discussing the controversy, the ME Association says, “This is clearly a very unsatisfactory and unhelpful situation for patients. Unfortunately, it is likely to continue until medical research has produced replicated studies of sufficient quality and size to convince those in doubt that a physical disease process is in fact taking place.”

Several different factors have been proposed as potential causes, but as of yet, no clinically significant risk factor has been identified. Suggested factors include neurological abnormalities, such as low levels of beta-endorphin, a natural painkiller. Bacterial and viral infection has also

Neurological symptoms

Symptoms of ME/CFS

Pictured: Schematic to outline the complex symptoms of ME/CFS

Impaired memory and concentration

Headaches and migraines

“Brain Fog” and unrefreshing sleep

Immunological symptoms

Enlarged lymph nodes

Problems with temperature control

Infection and sore throat

Cardiovascular symptoms

Palpitations and fainting

Sweating episodes

Low blood pressure

Muscular symptoms

Exercise Intolerance

Tiredness

Pain and muscle twitching

Gastrointestinal symptoms

Alcohol intolerance

Nausea and diarrhoea

Skeletal symptoms

Joint pain

Worsening on standing up

If your symptoms aren’t being taken seriously, contact: student support centre@ cardiff.ac.uk symptoms

“ ”been implicated, including Chlamydia pneumoniae and infectious glandular fever.

CFS/chronic fatigue syndrome is an absolutely dreadful name for a serious and debilitating neurological disease

A chronic suppression of the immune system may also be to blame, as patients with CFS show a similar response to people with toxins in their system. Teamed with stress, infection and certain genetic abnormalities, these physical conditions may accumulate and collectively cause the debilitating condition.

Other more contentious hypotheses include psychological causes of the disease, such as neuroticism, introversion and mood disorders, but many doctors and patients alike reject the idea that the condition could be a mental illness.

As there is no solid consensus as to what’s behind ME/CFS, the condition is very difficult to treat. Tere is a major focus on the emotional health, rather than the physical causes that so many doctors and patients now vehemently argue are the real reason behind the disease.

Cognitive behavioural therapy focuses on improving a patient’s mental health and wellbeing, and according to the NHS, “it works by breaking down overwhelming problems into smaller parts and by breaking the negative cycle of interconnected thoughts, feelings, physical sensations and actions”. Te NHS also recommends graded exercise therapy as

a programme structured to increase the amount of time a patient can complete physical exercise.

Medications also do not target the specific cause of the disease, merely aiming to relieve symptoms. Many patients take painkillers to ease muscle and joint pain, antidepressants such as amitriptyline to help restore sleeping patterns, and anti-emetics to alleviate nausea.

Treatment is regarded by some patients as unhelpful and even detrimental to their condition. A Gair Rhydd patient source said that after over 10 years of suffering, she is not “currently receiving any treatment for CFS, in part because so little professional help is available, and in part as a conscious decision: I did not want the illness to become my identity.”

School did little to accommodate her illness, who prior to diagnosis were “completely unsupportive”. After being forced to leave formal education at 14 due to the severity of her condition, a return to pursue her A levels was difficult: “Teachers were entirely unsupportive – one teacher even told me he was wasting his time teaching me, a comment I am still struggling to deal with 7 years later.”

Within the myriad of confusing and sometimes contentious diagnosis criteria, names (see table below) and available treatments, the new name SEID suggested in the IOM report

Condition Name History

Neurasthenia

Atypical myelitis

Royal Free Disease

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

Chronic Epstein-Barr Virus

Chronic SyndromeFatigue

What do you think? Have your say: science@ gairrhydd. com

Post-viral Fatigue Syndrome

Systemic IntoleranceExertionDisease

has split opinion across the globe.

A member of the expert panel of the IOM and co-author of the study, paediatrician Dr Peter Rowe said that the new name “really describes much more directly the key features of the illness, which is the inability to tolerate both physcial and cognitive exertion.” He specialises in treating children with the condition and hopes this report will be helpful to their future.

Psychologist Leonard Jason of DePaul University in Chicago was particularly critical of the lack of patient involvement said, “As a community psychologist who values citizen participation in critical decisions, I think this was a strategic mistake.”

Dr Charles Shepherd, honourary medical advisor of the UK ME Association, was more optimistic about the findings: “CFS/chronic fatigue syndrome is an absolutely dreadful names for a serious and debilitating neurological illness. It is the equivalent of saying someone with dementia has a chronic forgetfulness syndrome. CFS needs to the be placed in the medical dustbin of obsolete names as soon as possible.” Although he commented that “SEID is not the simple solution we need, he said he “would like to thank the IOM committee for all the time and effort that they have put into producing a very detailed report which, certainly in

In the 1800’s, neurologist George Miller Beard suggested the name, with symptoms including fatigue, headache and depression

An outbreak in 1938 in LA County Hospital was coined this by Alexander Gilliam, as it was similar to poliomyelitis (polio)

Several outbreaks of polio-like disease spread across the UK in the 1950’s. and a major outbreak took hold in the Royal Free Hospital in 1955

Tis term first appeared in 1956. It remains controversial as currently CFS has not been associated to the central nervous system

Tis term was introduced in 1986 in the US when the cause of CFS was thought to be the virus that causes glandular fever

CFS was introduced in 1987 to describe “chronic active epstein-barr infection” symptoms but without any evidence of the virus as a cause.

Te World Health Organization’s International Classification of Diseases refers to CFS as this, based on the hypothesis that viruses cause the illness

SEID has been suggested by the Institute of Medicine as a more appropriate name for CFS

America, should help to improve the recognition, diagnosis and management of people with what is currently called ME or CFS.

One of our anonymous patient sources was more sceptical however: “Too many name changes encourage confusion amongst the general public, employers etc. It places more barriers in front of them, likely making them less supportive.”

Although the new name remains a controversial subject, patients and doctors seem universally happy that the condition has receiving the medical recognition it deserves. Te IOM has even recommended that SEID is entered into the World Health Organizations ICD-10, the International Classification of Diseases that acts a “bible of illnesses” to physicians around the world.

Speaking to Gair Rhydd, one ME/CFS sufferer’s comments were poignant and particularly relevant to the report’s findings: “This is a real illness, even if it is a ‘mental illness’… that makes it just as real as a broken leg. The brain and the body are interconnected; one affects the other. In any case, if a person is constantly exhausted, socially isolated, in constant pain and is having to battle to be taken seriously it is highly likely they will develop a mental illness, such as depression, secondary to their CFS.”

This is a real illness, even if it is a ‘mental illness’... that makes it just as real as a broken leg. The brain and body are interconnected: one affects the other.

Pictured: Left:

Table of the many confusing names for CFS

Right: People with CFS suffer extreme fatigue that never seems to end (Source: Flickr)

SOCIETIES

tweet us @gairrhyddsoc email us societies@gairrhydd.com or visit us online at gairrhydd.com/societies

Barney’s Note

Hello all! I hope you got through elections without getting too annoyed at the candidates! The winners are now decided and you should be able to view them and their policies in this

What’s On

Monday 2nd March

Student Minds

Clothes Swap: Bring in Clothes 11am - 3pm Side Bar, 2nd Floor, Students’ Union

Student Advice

Student Advice Drop In Noon - 2pm Meeting Rooms close to the IV Lounge

Nightline

Call Nightline to chat about anything Every night 8pm - 8am

Tuesday 3rd March

Student Minds Clothes Swap: Choose new clothes! 11am - 3pm Side Bar, 2nd Floor, Students’ Union

Anime Society Mask Painting Session 6pm –7.25pm 4G, Students’ Union

MedSoc

MedSoc Presents: Te Wild West

issue! If you are a regular reader of these little blurbs, you will also be aware that the INCREDIBLE Cardiff Fringe Festival and the AWESOME Go Global evening! Tickets are on sale on the website and I urge you

all to come – things get very exciting in the Union around this time of year! Shows, music, dance and a whole host of other performances are underway and it is always worth attending at least a few events. Now, read the rest of the Societies section and don’t hesitate to get in touch if you need help getting involved. As ever, you can reach me on VPSocieties@Cardiff.ac.uk. Have a nice day and a nice life!

10pm

YMCA Teatre, Roath

Hoedown 8.30pm - 3:30am Portland House, Bute Street

Wednesday 4th March

Skills Development Service Short Course in Personal Effectiveness 2pm - 4pm For location information e-mail SDS.

Women’s Week SDS Leadership Styles Workshop 2pm - 4pm 4I, Students’ Union

Women’s Association Women in Leadership SDS Course 4th March 5pm - 7th March 5pm Students’ Union

Women’s Week Cardiff Women In Science Film Screening and Discussion 6pm - 8pm 4C, Students’ Union

Act One

A Teory of Justice See article for more details 4th March 7.30pm - 7th March

Erasmus Society Tandem Café 8pm - 11pm

Tursday 5th March

Women’s Association

50:50 Parliament Talk 6pm - 8pm

Beverton Lecture Teatre, Main Building

Expression Fitness

6pm – 7.15pm 4A/B, Students’ Union

Student Enterprise Speaker Session: Confessions of an Entrepreneur 6pm - 8pm 4J, Students’ Union

Student Minds

Eating Disorder Support Group 6.15pm - 7.15pm 4F, Students’ Union

Art Society

Modroc 8pm - 10pm 4G, Students’ Union

Friday 6th March

Students For Life SPUC Youth Conference 2015 6th March 4pm - 8th March 2pm Southport

Women’s Week SDS Coaching Skills 5pm - 7pm

Training Room 2, CSEV, 2nd Floor Students’ Union

Women’s Week Liberation Panel Talk 7pm - 9pm 4D, Students’ Union

Saturday 7th March

Women’s Week Assertiveness for Leaders 10am – noon Training Room 2, CSEV, 2nd Floor Students’ Union

Sunday 8th March

Wilderness and Expedition Medicine WEMS does caving 10am - 4pm

Women’s Week

Feminist Temed Social 7pm - 10pm Venue TBC

You’re out at dinner and you’re having a great time. Your friend laughs too hard and begins choking. What do you do? Encourage them to cough it out. If it is clear they will need more help than this, firmly slap them in between their shoulder

blades 5 times using your other hand to support them so they don’t fall over. What if they start swelling and going red? Do you see a rash on their skin or they get itchy? You have just identified a possible allergic reaction. Some allergic reactions are severe and some are

more mild. Te best way to help is to keep them calm and try and find out what they are allergic to. If it is a severe case, call 999 and tell them everything you know. If they have an epi-pen, under their instruction you can help them administer it to themselves.

Have an event you want covered? Email: societies@ gairrhydd. com

The Red Cross Group

Pictured: Wilderness and Expedition Medicine

A Theory of Justice

Political philosophy gets the musical treatment in this weird and wonderful new production from Act One

It’s not very often that a course book gets turned into a musical, but this is exactly the challenge a small group of Oxford students set themselves when they turned a book by influential philosopher John Rawls into an all-singing, all-dancing, timetravelling farce.

Tis brilliant and brainy musical comedy is receiving its Welsh premiere at Cardiff ’s YMCA Teatre on Te Walk in Roath this week in a brand new production by Act One.

Te original show sold out its run in Oxford and was nominated for Best Musical at the Edinburgh 2013. Te cast and crew are hoping for a similar success when the show opens Wednesday March 4th.

When Harvard’s physics department accidentally opens a vortex in time and space, Professor Rawls falls into a madcap romp through the history of political thought while chasing his beautiful student Fairness.

Hoping to find some inspiration for his new book, and win the heart of his

lady love, Rawls comes across some of the smartest and silliest philosophers ever to have graced the pages of your recommended course reading.

Athens’ famous Plato-Socrates ventriloquism act, a rap-battling renaissance duo of Hobbes and Locke, the saucy republican seducer Jean-Jacques Rousseau and a cross dressing “Fairy Gotmutter” Immanuel Kant all help Rawls on his quest for Fairness and for a just philosophical foundation for the liberal state. All the while, our hero is pursued on his journey by the evil neo-conservative Rand.

Te show will be madcap and magical, whether you’re a philosophy enthusiast, musical aficionado, or just a fan of silliness and song.

‘A Teory of Justice- Te Musical’ will be performed at 7:30pm at the YMCA Teatre from the March 4th until March 7th. Tickets are £8, with student tickets £7 available now on the Students’ Union website (just make sure you have an account on the website first!).

All events must be signed up for in advance. To sign up and for more information on any activities head to cardiffstudents.com/GiveitaGo.

Try a Sport

Give it a Go Jiu Jitsu

6pm 2nd March

Talybont Dojo

Give it a Go Ladies Cricket

5.45pm 3rd March

Talybont Sports Hall

Be Creative

Give It a Go Manga Library

6pm 2nd March

The Lounge, 3rd Floor of the Union

Give It a Go Sci-Fi

6.45pm 2nd March

Meet at the front of the Students’ Union

Give it a Go Baking 8pm 2nd March

Room 4J, Fourth Floor, Students’ Union

Give It a Go Creative Writing 6.45pm 3rd March

Meet at the front of the Students’ Union

Give It a Go Anime Screening 7pm 6th March

Large Shandon Lecture Theatre, Main Building

Music, Dance & Performance

Give it a Go Slash Hip Hop Dance 7pm 2nd March

Room 4J Students’ Union

Give it a Go Dance-Sport 7pm – 9.30pm 3rd March Salsa 7pm Latin & Ballroom 7.30pm Technique Class 9pm Great Hall, Students Union

Thought, Faith & Culture

Give it a Go Model UN 6pm 3rd March Students Union, Room 4H

Give it a Go Debating 7pm 5th March

Cafe in Bute Building

Heath Park

Give it a Go Healthcare Basketball 2pm 7th March

Heath Sports Hall

Give It A Go Medics Hockey 4pm 8th March

Talybont Astroturf

Get some Skills

Negotiation Skills 2pm 2nd March

Room 4i, Fourth Floor, Students’ Union

Sleepless in Cardiff 2pm 2nd March

Room 2, CSEV, Students’ Union

Leadership Styles 2pm 3rd March

Room 2, CSEV, Students’ Union

Assertiveness

5.30pm 3rd March

Room 2, CSEV, Students’ Union

How to get a Placement/Internship 4pm 4th March

Room 4i, Fourth Floor, Students’ Union

Problem Solving 1pm 6th March

Room 2, CSEV, Students’ Union

Students’ Union Trips

Edinburgh Weekend Break 5th – 9th March £79

Buses leaving at 21.30 from the Union

Sarah Roberts

Contin-

Pictured: Lady Justice features on the poster for ‘A Teory of Justice’, directed by Sarah Roberts

32 SOCIETIES

Celebrating St David’s Day with the Palestrina Singers and Cardiff University Male Voice Choir

Kieran Jones

The Palestrina Singers are one of Cardiff University’s many student-run ensembles and they will be celebrating St David’s Day on March 2nd with a lunchtime concert of Welsh music.

I am a final year music student and currently the musical director of the group. It is a great honour for me to be their conductor, as they are a choir that holds great stature in the choral

scene at Cardiff and it is important to me to keep their reputation alive.

I am originally from North Wales and am a first-language Welsh speaker, which has made St David’s Day a special date in my calendar every year. Troughout my years at school, the day was always marked with an eisteddfod and an annual walk across Flintshire made by the whole school. Over time, I have increasingly

connected with how important it is to express the importance of the Welsh language and what it means to be Welsh on this day.

Tis day is also very important in Cardiff with an annual parade, concerts and various other events.

Tis year, the Palestrina Singers are lucky enough to be involved in Cardiff ’s celebrations through organising this concert to celebrate

the long-standing tradition of Welsh music.

Music has always been an important part of Welsh culture and Wales is often seen as the ‘land of song’. Te concert is intended to be a celebration of all things musical and Welsh. Cardiff University Male Voice Choir, of which I am also musical director, will also be involved in the concert, singing modern arrangements of classic Welsh folk melodies.

Te Palestrina Singers will showcase a combination of choral spectaculars alongside this, as well as sharing the stage with two prolific talents. International soprano Gail Pearson will be performing a variety of songs written by Welsh composers, while pianist Jeffrey Howard will be accompanying all of the performers.

Not only are Pearson and Howard accomplished international musicians, but they are also alumni of Cardiff ’s School of Music, so it will be an enormous pleasure to welcome them back to perform at this special concert.

Te concert is being held at 1pm on Monday March 2nd in Cardiff University’s Concert Hall, with tickets priced at £3 or £2 for concessions.

Further information on the Palestrina Singers and Cardiff University Male Voice Choir can be found on their Facebook pages.

Pictured: Te Palestrina singers in a rehearsal

SPRING CIDER Ciders

March 2nd-8th

Morgan Owen

TAF-OD

Caerdydd a Lerpwl

YByddid yn disgwyl i Gaerdydd feddu ar hunaniaeth gref ac amgyffrediad o’i le a’i phwysigrwydd yn wladol ac yn rhyngwladol

mwelaf â Lerpwl yn fynych: bob mis, fel rheol. Fel arall, treuliaf fy amser yng Nghaerdydd ac eithrio’r gwyliau. Yn hyn o beth, teimlaf fy mod i’n gymwys i gymharu’r ddwy ddinas, a’u tafoli yn ôl eu diwylliant, eu hunaniaeth a’u harwyddocâd, oherwydd yn y pethau hyn y gwarchodir etifeddiaeth cenhedloedd, ac yng nghyswllt Caerdydd, hollbwysig yw’r gwarchod, a phellgyrhaeddol ei ddiff yg. Fel prifddinas (a bwrw y byddai pobl y tu allan i Gymru yn ei hystyried yn wlad ‘go iawn’) byddid yn disgwyl i Gaerdydd feddu ar hunaniaeth gref ac amgyffrediad o’i le a’i phwysigrwydd yn wladol ac yn rhyngwladol. Ond, heblaw am led-adnabyddiaeth am fod yn lleoliad i ambell i raglen deledu ac am fod yn lle bywiog i wylio gêm o rygbi, nid oes fawr o sylwedd i’w delwedd.

Darlun go wahanol a geir o Lerpwl, fodd bynnag. Wrth gwrs, ni ellir sôn am y ddinas honno heb gonsurio’r Beatles, ond y tu hwnt i’w phedwar mab enwocaf, y mae cryn hanes a chymeriad sydd yn weladwy ac yn gyff yrddadwy yna hyd heddiw. Gwreiddiau, a pharhad y gorffennol, sydd yn dyrchafu Lerpwl uwchben Caerdydd, a thrwy ystyried sut mae’r un ddinas yn rhagori ar y llall gellir cynnig achubiaeth i Gaerdydd farwaidd.

Mae’r argraff gyntaf a geir o gymeriad ac ysbryd Lerpwl yn reddfol. Gwe-

lir ar unwaith ddinas a gadwodd, ar y cyfan—er gwaethaf y Blitz— ei phensaernïaeth wreiddiol o’r adeg pan ddaeth yn ddinas o bwys. Mae cynifer o’i hadeiladau i’w gweld fel y cafwyd hwy yn gyntaf, ac o’r herwydd, safant fel cofebau i orffennol y ddinas, ar y cyd â bod yn rhan o wead ei phresennol. Gwêl yr ymwelydd i Gaerdydd, ar y llaw arall, gybolfa bensaernïol: dim ond rhyw ddyrnaid o adeiladau ar eu gweddau gwreiddiol; anghenfilod llwydion ac annynol y 60au, y 70au a’r 80au; ac yma a thraw, creadigaethau modern ymhongar nad ydynt yn adlewyrchu ddim o hanes y ddinas na’i hesblygiad. Mae adeiladau dinas yn ymgorffori ei hanes, ac mae eu tynnu i lawr yn ddiangen yn erydu’r hanes hwnnw.

Tu mewn i’r adeiladau hyn ceir arwydd o agwedd y dinasoedd tuag at eu gorffennol. Yng Nghaerdydd ceir diffeithwch o siopau cadwyn, yr un rhai â phob dinas arall. Unwaith yr ydych yn camu dros drothwy eu drysau, gallwch fod unrhyw le yn y byd. Mae’r arcêds yn eithriaid, bid siŵr, ond pa sylw a gânt o gymharu â’r strydoedd mawr?

Pan adewir i gyfalaf byd-eang ymblannu yn y ddinas, aiff ei gorffennol ar ddifancoll oherwydd nod cyfalafiaeth hegemonaidd yw creu marchnad unffurf, gorau po fwyaf, lle y sgubir ymaith popeth sydd yn lleol ac yn neilltuedig.

Wrth gwrs, ceir siopau cadwyn yn Lerpwl hefyd, ond maent yn llawer llai niferus, ac fe’u ceir ar wasgar mewn torf o siopau annibynnol. Mae’r fath fusnesau annibynnol yn gweithredu’n lleol, wrth reswm, ac o’r herwydd yn nodwedd unigryw y dinasoedd y’u ceir ynddynt. Yn hyn o beth, cyfranogant o ddiwylliant y ddinas, gan ddod yn rhan ohono maes o law.

Ond pam sôn felly am amgylchfyd y ddwy ddinas hyn? Yn y bôn, gwelir dileu graddol a chyson yr ymwybyddiaeth o le yng Nghaerdydd, ac yn ymhlyg yn hynny, diwreiddio ei chymeriad a’i hanes. Fel ein prifddinas a chanolbwynt gweinyddol a gwleidyddol ein

gwlad, mae’r fath wacter yn niweidiol i’n hunaniaeth genedlaethol. Nid yw Lerpwl yn brifddinas Lloegr nac ychwaith yn ddinas ag arwyddocâd arbennig bellach i economi’r wlad honno, ond erys ynddi ymdeimlad cadarn o’i chymeriad, ac ymwybyddiaeth o le neilltuedig, unigryw. Os nad yw Caerdydd yn meithrin ymwybyddiaeth neilltuedig o’i hun fel lle â hanes a chymeriad a diwylliant arbennig, ac os nad yw hynny’n cael ei adlewyrchu yn ei amgylchfyd dynol, mi fydd yn agored i unrhyw ddylanwad a chwytho heibio, ac ni fydd Cymru ar ei hennill gyda phrifddinas ddiwreiddiedig a di-le.

Oes problem hiliaeth mewn pêl-droed?

Condemniodd Chelsea ymddygiad hiliol eu cefnogwyr a ddigwyddodd ar y 17fed o Chwefror cyn y gêm gyfartal rhwng Chelsea a PSG ym Mharis yn rownd 16 olaf Cynghrair y Pencampwyr. Cyn y gêm gwthiodd cefnogwyr Chelsea ddyn du oddi ar y trên yng ngorsaf RicheliueDrouot, un o orsafoedd metro Paris. Dengys fideo cefnogwyr Chelsea yn dathlu beth ddigwyddodd gan ganu

‘We’re racist, we’re racist and that’s the way we like it.’ Yn naturiol mae’r fideo wedi sbarduno dicter rhyngwladol. Nid oes lle bellach i ymddygiad barbaraidd o’r fath yn y gymdeithas gyfoes heb sôn am bêl-droed. Mae’n od gweld y cefnogwyr hyn yn datgan

Mae’r gefnogaeth i fudiadau gwrth-hiliol wedi bod yn amlygu i ni nad yw pêl-droed yn hiliol ac ond ychydig fach o gefnogwyr a chwaraewyr sy’n ymddwyn yn hiliol “ ”

eu bod yn hiliol tra bo dim ond dau o’r tîm a aeth i Baris yn dod o Loegr. Yn ddisgwyliedig mae Chelsea wedi ymateb yn gadarn i’r ymddygiad cywilyddus, a gall arwain at achos disgyblaethol i’r clwb. Yn ôl y clwb nid oes lle i’r ymddygiad hwn ym mhêl-droed na’r gymdeithas, a byddant yn cefnogi cosb gyfreithiol yn ogystal â gwahardd y cefnogwyr dan sylw o gemau yn y dyfodol. Dywedodd Jose Mourinho, rheolwr Chelsea ei fod wedi’i gywilyddio gan y digwyddiad, tra bo Roman Abramovich, perchennog y clwb o Rwsia, wedi’i ffieiddio. Mae mudiadau gwrth-hiliol pêldroed hefyd wedi bod yn lleisio’u pryder am y digwyddiad, megis ‘kick

it out’. Yn naturiol mae’r gymuned pêldroed wedi’i synnu. Ond a oes problem hiliol mewn pêl-droed? Yn y tymhorau diwethaf gwelsom ddigwyddiadau hiliol ar draws Ewrop. Luis Suarez yw’r amlycaf; cafwyd achos John Terry; bu Marcelo yn dioddef synau mwnci ac yna’n ymateb gan fwyta’r banana yng nghanol gêm honno yn yr Eidal gydag Inter Milan yn derbyn dirwy am ymddygiad hiliol ei gefnogwyr yn erbyn Juventus. Achosodd hiliaeth yr Eidal i un o chwaraewyr cynghrair y wlad honno, Kevin Prince-Boateng, adael y wlad i chwarae pêl-droed mewn gwlad arall. Dyna yw honiad rhai. Ac yna, yn agosach atom ni cafwyd ffrae gyda bwrdd rheolwyr tîm pêl-droed Caerdydd yn

boicotio’r gêm yn erbyn Wigan, yn dilyn sylwadau hiliol perchennog y clwb Dave Whelan am Iddewon a phobl o Tseina. Y peth truenus am hwn yw nid dyma’r rhestr gyfan. Mae llawer mwy o esiamplau o hiliaeth ym mhêl-droed nag sydd uchod. Ond er y sawl esiampl o hiliaeth yn y gêm, mae’r ymateb wedi bod i bob un o’r digwyddiadau. Ymatebion cedyrn: derbyniodd John Terry a Luis Suarez waharddiadau o bêl-droed, dirywon a oedd yn ganlyniadau i ddigwyddiadau eraill. Ond yn bwysicach na hyn, mae’r gefnogaeth i fudiadau gwrth-hiliol wedi bod yn amlygu i ni nad yw pêl-droed yn hiliol ac ond ychydig fach o gefnogwyr a chwaraewyr sy’n ymddwyn yn hiliol. Derbyniodd Marcelo lawer iawn o gefnogaeth am fwyta’r banana ar rwydweithiau cymdeithasol, ac wrth i fwrdd Caerdydd wrthod mynd i’r gêm dangosant nad ydynt yn fodlon goddef hiliaeth mewn chwaraeon. Yn anffodus ni chredaf fod modd dileu hiliaeth, o bêl-droed na’r gymdeithas. Tra goroesa gwahaniaethau rhwng pobloedd o unrhyw fath bydd hiliaeth, neu wrthdaro a thensiynau ar sail gwahaniaethau. Yr unig beth a allwn ni ei wneud yw addysgu pobl nad yw ymddygiad o’r fath hwn yn dderbyniol a gobeithio bydd hiliaeth yn dirywio, ac y bydd pobl yn gwerthfawrogi’r gwahaniaethau sydd rhwng bodau dynol. Pwy â ŵ yr, efallai y bydd modd dileu hiliaeth o chwaraeon a’r gymdeithas, ond ni fydd yn digwydd yn sydyn.

Llun: Trumwel Lerpwl

Dewi Alter

Llun:

Jose Mourinho, rheolwr pêl-droed Chelsea

Presented by:

BUCS results: Wednesday 25th February

Continued: Hammett leaves Blues

be first and foremost.”

Pre-season, Blues fans were touting a new era for the region, full of high long-term aspirations and a sense that the club was maturing as a professional sporting business. Having now played 15 league matches and with just four wins to his name, Hammett’s tenure has come to an abrupt end.

It is very easy to speculate as to what has been going on behind the scenes at the Arms Park, especially following the pathetic capitulation at the hands of Treviso. However, given the reported family issues which are at the heart of the decision, the departure is understandable.

However, we can still evaluative how the Blues got to this point, and where they can go next. Any coach needs a number of factors to go their way in order to be successful.

Tey need a clear game plan and

style of play; support staff around them to deliver that ethos to the players in the squad; players of sufficient quality to execute game plans; and perhaps most importantly a sense of unity within the squad.

Tere is a culture of general apathy at Arms Park, which the tops clubs just would not tolerate. Whether that’s bred from the ‘Team Wales’ culture, or possibly too few home grown players who wear the shirt with pride, the players have lacked any real passion, drive and desire since Dai Young’s departure in 2011.

Whoever gets the job as Hammett’s successor, it is clear they have an extraordinary amount of work to do.

A player and coach clear-out is an absolute necessity.

A whole culture change is needed and money will have to be spent wisely on players who can come in and actually make a difference.

Pictured:

Left: Cardiff Arms Park’s North Stand

Right: Former Blues head coach Dai Young

38 SPORT Team Talk: Riders of Rohan

We talk to the IMG 7-a-side league high-fliers

First of all what is the story behind the team name?

It wasn’t actually my idea for the name, but basically it was a friend of mine’s brothers team and it originally started as a joke on a night out, and then he said to me last year come and join. Because I’m such a Lord of the Rings geek, I was wowed into playing and all the team like football and Lord of the Rings so it was a match made in heaven.

So why out of all the LOTR characters, the Riders of Rohan?

I guess all the other teams in the league have jokey names, I don’t really know the origin of it, but it’s quite funny because other teams will see our name and think that we’re not going to be any good.

Where would Aragon fit in the team?

He would have to play up front because he has less of an ego as our striker at the moment!

You’re top of the league, how has the form been this year?

It has been fantastic. We went up into the top division after the first semester and the team was a bit apprehensive, but it has been really

Michael Cantillon So Mark Hammett has gone. Last week the Blues confirmed that the former All Black had left with immediate effect, heading back to his homeland citing a need to “put his family first”, just half a year into his three-year deal.

Despite a truly rotten six months, which can quite easily be summed up in last week’s horrendous 40-24 loss away to Treviso, Blues bosses apparently made last-ditch attempts to try and keep Hammett at the club. By that stage however, the Kiwi had already made up his mind and, given the way his tenure had gone, it came as no surprise to see

good. We lost our first game 4-0 and everyone just wanted the season to finish after that day, but since then we have won all of our games and not conceded a goal, the confidence now is really high.

Is there a team you look forward to playing the most?

I’d have to say, along with Campus Sport, the Asian Society. Tey beat us last semester and are probably our closest title rivals. Te boys feel they have got a bit of a score to settle with them.

Is there good banter between the teams?

Some teams will take it very seriously and some will think it’s a laugh, which it is. We all give each other a bit of stick but it is all good natured.

Is there a style of football that the Riders of Rohan play?

We have been criticised by certain teams for playing too defensively. As it is 7-a-side we play 3 at the back with two playing as wing-backs. We have some quick players and a nice mix. If we all thought we were Ronaldo bombing up the pitch we would probably lose every game, but we have got the balance right between

his departure.

Te Blues are down in lowly tenth within the Pro12, an absolute mile away from European Cup qualification for next season. Teir only hope is to win the Challenge Cup this campaign, where they face the Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade in the Quarters in early April. Even if they were to be successful in this competition however, (a big ask considering their form so far this term) they would still have to play a two-legged playoff semi-final and final against mid-placed teams from the French Top14 and English Aviva

attacking flair and rigid defence.

What are the rules of 7 a side? It is similar to 11-a-side but you can’t slide tackle because of the 3G pitch, which is great, may I add, as you can play in all conditions. Instead of a throw in it’s a kick in; you can’t go in the ‘D’ area where the goalkeeper is and he can’t come out of his ‘D’; and the pitch is about the size of half a pitch and it’s long and narrow.

How many more games do you have remaining?

We have four games left, with the Asian society still to play. Dare I say it, a couple of cup finals left to play, we don’t really want it to end.

What is your role as captain?

I am the only person to get the fixtures so we have a nice routine where I get the fixtures on a Sunday and I will publish them and everyone gets excited. Monday I will see who is available which is either really fun or really frustrating, for example last week eleven turned up and sometimes we will struggle to get seven, so Monday is a strange day. I’ll organise the team on the day without much of a warm up. I’ll give a team talk because the captain has to be a

Premiership.

Blues assistants Dale McIntosh and Paul John will now take the helm in an interim position, with Rob Howley one of the early favourites to take over permanently having spent three years with the Blues as a backs coach until 2008 ahead of becoming Wales’ assistant manager to Warren Gatland in the current set-up.

Other possibilities at this early stage include Nigel Davies, most recently of Gloucester; Danny Wilson, current forwards coach at Bristol who has accumulated a wealth of coaching

manager, a man motivator and put a shift in so at this level it’s anything you want to make of it.

Do you give a pre-game speech like Aragon?

Last season our previous captain had to give a couple Lord of the Ringsbased speeches to get the morale up, we get a couple of strange looks from other teams.

I would think Legolas would be quite a good footballer, quite light on his feet, who on your team is the Legolas (ponytail optional)?

So someone who is nimble and light... I’ll say Luke Wilshere. He is nimble and athletic, sometimes a little overdramatic, but definitely a hard worker for the team!

Finally, do you have socials?

If it is a Wednesday one, we’ll do Riders of Retros. We also have an end of the year awards night where we’ll get suited and booted (we should probably wear Rohan armour, but obtaining that is more difficult than you think). We have certificates and awards and plenty of drink. Wednesday night is usually a good night for a social, if we have won everyone will be in good spirits.

experience at Cardiff, London Welsh, the Dragons and Scarlets; as well as Geraint John, Shaun Edwards, Mike Ruddock, Mark Anscombe and probably the most unlikely name to be linked at this stage, Wasps Director of Rugby Dai Young. Next up for Cardiff is Edinburgh at the Arms Park in the Pro12, with the Scots experiencing a decent run of form of late and really challenging for that important 6th spot in the league, exactly where the Blues would like to be. It promises to be another crucial game for the Blues.

James Lloyd

Pictured: Te Riders of Rohan as depicted in ‘ Te Lord of the Rings’ films

Success for Cardiff at BUCS Nationals

Athletics Club

As part of BUCS Nationals in Sheffield over the weekend of February 21st and 22nd, Cardiff University Athletics Club competed in the BUCS Indoor Athletics Championships. Te competition produced plenty of signs that this will be a very good year for CUAC.

Te highlight of the weekend for the club was a silver medal in the women’s pole vault for Sarah McKeever, who equalled her personal best of 3.70 metres in the process. Against strong competition from across the UK’s universities, McKeever’s medal represents a huge achievement.

Tis performance was backed up

Cby the evergreen club Vice President Dan Nash’s performance in the final of the 3000m. Despite not being 100 per cent fit, Nash finished second in his heat in a personal best time. Tis qualified him for the final, where he managed another personal best of 8:32.37, taking a total of four seconds off his previous best.

Te best freshers’ performance came from Eleni Zembashi in the women’s shot put, as she qualified for the final and placed 11th with a new personal best of 10.53 metres. It is worth noting that the shot is not even Eleni’s main event and it will be very exciting to see what she can do in the

Trampoline Club

ardiff University Trampoline Club represented the University with style at BUCS Nationals over the weekend of February 21st and 22nd Tey managed to bring home 10 BUCS points, as well as three medals in total.

Tere were individual medals for Rachel Woodman and Bryony Harper, with Woodman winning gold and Harper silver. Te two athletes then combined with Emma

At the start of February, the Bluebirds were fairly optimistic of improving their dismal record from the Winter period with a schedule of winnable games that could put them back into the race for a play-off place.

Instead, Cardiff are in a state of limbo and manager Russell Slade has conceded that the expectation of achieving at least a play-off place is now deemed as unrealistic, and the club has been thrown into obscurity.

February mainly produced draws for the Bluebirds against clubs that are in the bottom half of the table,

Wallace to take a bronze medal in the team competition to complete a full set of medals for Cardiff Wallace, along with Becca Bough, Laura Westacott and Jess Handley, also made individual finals. Niall Doherty ensured that it wasn’t just Cardiff ’s women who managed impressive performances by making it through to his own individual final. Another nine competitors from Cardiff put in impressive routines

such as Brighton and Hove Albion and Huddersfield Town.

While City fans are still as frustrated as ever about the lack of wins, having only beaten Wigan and former boss Malky Mackay by one goal, the mood is a lot lighter than it was in the downtrodden second half of January that brought about three consecutive losses in the league and an exit from the FA Cup.

Cardiff were frequently bested by teams that showed them how far they had to go to once again become a formidable side.

discus, her main event, at the BUCS Outdoors in May.

Another notably strong first year performance came from Charlie Walker, who made the semi-finals of the 800m. Another fresher, Adam Hughes, made a scintillating start in his 400m heat, but faded to fourth.

Postgraduate students Hannah Tomas and Lemarl Freckleton, now BUCS stalwarts, made the semi-finals of the women’s 60m and the men’s 200m respectively, both coming close to final places.

Patrick Baatz, a second year but competing at his first BUCS made a strong impression in his 800 metre heat and finished just outside his personal best in 2:02.10, and Hugh Saunders ran a strong 1500 metre

across the weekend amongst the very high overall standard of competition, with all Cardiff athletes coming close to making finals.

It is safe to say that Cardiff stood out amongst the teams from all of the other universities, providing some of the weekend’s amazing highlights. All of Cardiff ’s competitors ranked among some of the best athletes in this field from across the whole of the UK.

Many thanks must go to the club’s coach Craiger Solomons for another successful and crazy weekend that again left Cardiff shining.

While the Bluebirds certainly haven’t lit up the league with their play and Slade’s long ball tactics are continuously critiqued, they were arguably unlucky to only get a point out of the games against Sheffield Wednesday and Blackburn, with both teams equalising near the tail-end of both games, whilst former Cardiff and current Blackburn striker Rudy Gestede also came back to haunt his former team with a last gasp goal to prevent a potentially impressive win. With the midweek win over Wigan, City ended an eight game streak

heat, finishing in 4:31.80.

A mention must also go to Track and Field captain Nick Marsh, who actually managed to complete a race at BUCS Indoors without getting disqualified or falling over and was rewarded with an indoor personal best over 400 metres.

Everyone had an enjoyable weekend but the final word must go to our two drivers for the weekend, Rhys Annett and Makoye Kampengele, who gave up their weekend to drive to and from Sheffield and made the many trips between the hotel and the track. Tey gave up their lie ins, showing great dedication to the cause, with Rhys even managing to squeeze in the Sheffield Parkrun into his schedule on Saturday morning.

without a win, yet due to their many draws, they have also continued an unbeaten run of five games. Tis has caused a mixed response from fans, as this unspectacular five game unbeaten streak does not seem like a cause for celebration for a team who are seemingly getting stronger on the defensive side.

Tis is, in part, due to the magnificent play of Gabonese international centre back Bruno Ecuele Manga, but City just seem to be lacking that cutting edge when they get into the final third.

Jack Boyce

Pictured:

Above: Te English Institute of Sport’s indoor athletics track in Sheffield

Below: CUTC’s squad at BUCS Nationals in Sheffield

Nick Marsh

Eloise Brian

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Director of Rugby leaves Blues

Cardiff Blues’ head coach Mark Hammett has left the Welsh region after just six months in charge, citing personal reasons

Only six months into his threeyear contract, Mark Hammett has stepped down as Cardiff Blues’ Director of Rugby. Hammett has cited personal reasons for the decision, but increasing player power and panic among administrators have been speculated as contributing factors in his sudden exit.

Hammett, who also endured criticism while working with the

Hurricanes in New Zealand between 2011 and 2014, incurred the wrath of the Blues board and supporters for refusing to change his policy of treating the Pro12 as a development competition. Crisis talks are said to have taken place last week with Hammett’s methods having been under question for much of his tenure.

Pressure had mounted on Hammett with the Blues winning just

four of 15 matches in the Guinness Pro12, including a 40-24 defeat at the hands of fellow strugglers Treviso. Te Blues are now seemingly out of the race to qualify for the top tier of European competition next season.

A high-powered player delegation, led by captain Matthew Rees, voiced its concern at the former All Blacks hooker’s punishing training regime early in his reign. Blues assistants –

former Welsh internationals Dale McIntosh and Paul John – are likely to take over as caretaker coaches.

“For whatever reasons it hasn’t gelled this year,” said former Welsh captain and Blues legend Martyn Williams. “Tere have been huge expectations, other pundits and I have said they would be the leading region but they haven’t fired. If there are personal issues there, that’s got to

Continued on page 37

Dan Heard