Advice: Mind Your Head Week came to the SU P18>>
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Science: Strange drop in butterfly numbers P30 >> gair rhydd | freeword Cardiff ’s student weekly Issue 1083 Monday 17th October 2016 Tim Peake comes to Cardiff for his post-space tour
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Photographer: Mark Wyatt
Hygiene Horror: Cathays takeaways score low on food safety EXCLUSIVE Toby Holloway
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air Rhydd has acquired information concerning the food hygiene ratings of numerous restaurants, cafes, and kebab shops in Cardiff. Following an investigation by Gair Rhydd, it has been revealed that many establishments popular with Cardiff University students scored below what is deemed by the Food Standards Agency as ‘generally satisfactory’. The Food Standards Agency works with local authorities to rate businesses out of five for overall food hygiene, and considers three key elements in doing so. According to the Food Standards Agency website, food.gov.uk, these include “how hygienically the food is handled”, “the condition of the structure of the buildings”, and “how the business manages and records what it does to make sure
food is safe”. There are six possible scores that can be given to businesses by food safety officers, ranging from zero - ‘urgent improvement necessary’, to five - ‘very good’. To score a zero, a restaurant, cafe or kebab shop would have to perform poorly in all three areas of food hygiene, whilst also possessing a history of food safety problems. Food hygiene ratings are essentially a measure of how safe the food at any given place is to eat, and can be very influential in a potential customer’s choice of where to dine. Out of the 1315 Cardiff businesses that received a food hygiene rating, 11 scored zero, whilst many others were rated below three. Gair Rhydd also conducted a survey of 139 people, in order to find out which of Cardiff’s takeaways students frequent most, which of these have low food hygiene ratings, and if there is a link between these things and cases of students suffering from food poisoning after eat-
ing in certain places. The Family Fish Bar was revealed as Cardiff’s most popular takeaway, with 41.7 per cent of people saying it was their favourite place to get food after a night out. McDonald’s came in second with 32.4 per cent of people saying it was their favourite, whilst T&A Kebabs was third with 20.9 per cent. Despite being the most popular takeaway among those who answered the questionnaire, The Family Fish Bar received one of the lowest scores for food safety earlier in the year, with a rating of only one out of five. However, its has since improved this, with a recent inspection granting them a new rating of four out of five, or ‘good’. All the branches of McDonald’s in Cardiff scored the full five out of five, however there was ‘improvement necessary’ at T&A Kebabs, who managed only a two out of five. Chicken Cottage was selected by two out of the 139 people surveyed as their
favourite place to buy food after a night out, however the city centre branch on St Mary’s Street scored the lowest food hygiene rating possible, with zero out of five. This means that it failed in all three elements of food safety, and has been advised that urgent improvement is necessary in order to avoid closure. Cathays Fish and Chips on Crwys road also scored the lowest possible rating, as did Andalucia Kebab House and Spicy Hut, both on City Road. Many other businesses received a rating of one, which means ‘major improvement necessary’, including popular student outlets the Family Fish Bar and Mama’s Kebab House, both on Salisbury Road. Despite this, 10 per cent of respondents said that Mama’s was their favourite place to eat after a night out.
Continued on page 4
he astronaut who returned from the International Space Station earlier this year visited Techniquest in Cardiff Bay as part of his post-flight tour of the UK. Over 200 children from local schools came to hear from the man himself about life in space and his six month mission. Nathan Wyburn, a food artist from Ebbw Vale presented Tim with a space-inspired portrait made from chocolate and space themed confectionary such as flying saucers, galaxy bars and mars bars. Techniquest asked Nathan to the event after he created Einstein using 5,000 Smarties for their 30th anniversary celebrations. Techniquest chief executive Lesley Kirkpatrick said: “Tim’s journey and time on the International Space Station has given us a great opportunity to encourage children to be more curious about space and science.” Tim will continue his tour around the UK, going to cities such as London and Manchester.
Treatment cancelled due to poor ticket sales
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ardiff club night Treatment has been forced to cancel its debut show of the academic year, after failing to sell tickets. A statement on the event’s Facebook page said: “We wanted to do something a little different with this date but unfortunately it hasn’t been received as well as we’d hoped. “We’ve tried our hardest to make it happen and this has been an incredibly tough decision for us to make. “We’ve sold out every single Treatment we’ve put on in the city over the past 3 years, but it seems this one just wasn’t meant to be. The statement then goes on to ensure that tickets already purchased will be refunded. The event also sought to reinsure its customers that no future events will be affected, with the popular house night returning to Y Plas on 4th November.
2 EDITORIAL Gair Rhydd Coordinator Elaine Morgan Editor Maria Mellor Deputy Editors Toby Holloway Emily Giblett
the free word
No such thing as a new idea
News Toby Holloway Gabriella Mansell Harry Webster Comment Helena Hanson Caragh Medlicott Sam Saunders Columnists Helena Hanson Dan Heard Advice George Watkins Anwen Williams Politics Jamie McKay Adam George Ellise Nicholls Science Tanya Harrington Kat Pooprasert Societies Aletheia Nutt Tom Morris Taf-Od Osian Wyn Morgan Liam Ketcher Sport James Lloyd Mark Wyatt Rich Jones Shaun Davey Digital Media Editor Emily Giblett Cartoonist Tom Morris Editorial Assistant Carwyn Williams Proofreaders Sophie Miles Mel Lynch Jessica Keast-Towns Write to the editor editor@gairrhydd.com Tweet us @gairrhydd
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 Student Media, 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.
We don’t steal scoops here
Maria Mellor
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ark Twain once said “there is no such thing as a new idea. It is impossible. We simply take a lot of old ideas and put them into a sort of mental kaleidoscope.” When you’re editing a paper the topical nature of news makes it easy to come up with stories, but what you do most of the time is take a look at what everyone else is writing about then write something similar yourself. Maybe you heard something about Bake Off being moved to Channel 4 on The Guardian, then you decide to write a story about it getting information from Huffington Post and ITV News. Is that stealing? A newspaper like ours wouldn’t be able to function like it does now without getting information in this way. We’ll reach out to people for original quotes and details where we can, but for the most part, much like other news outlets, we get our information from the very same press releases. What if we want to come up with
some kind of exclusive? The previous two editors I have worked under have had several great exclusive stories for the front page, and so we were looking for something for this issue to draw in readers. I thought it would be a great idea to take a look at food hygiene ratings for restaurants in Cathays. We got some interesting results which you can see in our front page story (if you haven’t already!) It’s tough to come up with an entirely new exclusive article when it’s already deadline night, but luckily we managed to pick up a couple of scoops thanks to inspiration from Glyn Mottershead, Cardiff University JOMEC professor. We got the idea from some information he gave us last year, and it just so happens a journalism buddy of mine from my local paper back home advised me to try it out at some point too. What I’m trying to say is that in this industry original ideas are far and few. It just so happens that our friends over at The Tab had an idea about Cathays takeaways on that very same night that we did, and while our ideas were quite different,
we got our wires crossed and both thought that we were copying each other. It wasn’t about maliciousness or moles, just coincidence. We will never conciously steal someone else’s scoops or anyone else’s ideas. The content we do manage to piece together I believe is of a reasonable quality. Last week was Mind Your Head week and with new advice editor Anwen Williams has helped us to cover a range of topics to do with mental health. Our collaborations with the sabbatical officers have been excellent so far, in this case Hollie Cooke as VP Welfare who has been wonderful. The main message to take away from all the activities and advice is that you are not alone. If you’re struggling there are people you can go to for help: call Nightline, visit the Student Support Centre or talk to your friends or personal tutor. Thinking about mental health, this whole ‘clown craze’ makes me so angry. Why would some sick people go out to purposefully scare people and make hem fear for their lives just because they saw someone else do it on
the internet? There’s not much I can say that hasn’t already been covered in the news and comment sections other than that I despair for our society. How smoothly things ran with getting out our previous issue lulled me into a false sense of security. There were a few bumps and hiccups in producing this issue - one of them being the fact that the whole marmite problem was solved right after an article was written for comment. Nevertheless we perservere and after a late night and an early morning this newspaper comes to you looking fine and fresh. We’re always looking for new volunteers to come and help out. If you have an idea for an article then you can get in touch or come to our editorial meeting on a Monday at 6:30pm. If you would like to meet the team and get some practical experience beyond just writing for us, come along to a proofreading meeting on Thursday at 6pm. Everyone is welcome! If you would be interested in joining us then send us an email or a tweet - our details are just on the left of this page!
EDITORIAL 3
Campus in Brief
Emily Giblett
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Fishing could be introduced as a sport for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
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lans to hold a full marathon in Cardiff next year have been put on hold because of uncertainty about the proposed route. After the success of the Cardiff Half Marathon earlier this month, Matt Newman, CEO of Run 4 Wales, told the BBC ‘the demand is there. We’ve got plans in place... they’re almost finalised.’ However, due to concerns over road closures, the race organisers now plan to postpone the event until 2018, in an effort ‘not to rush’ preparations for the full marathon. A ‘stepping stone event’ will be held in April 2017, providing runners of all abilities with a sense of what they can expect in 2018. A Cardiff man who was caught with a drugs stash worth an estimated £135,000 has received a prison sentence of six and a half years. Michael Markkanen, 46, was arrested after police seized MDMA and over 8,000 ecstasy pills from his home in Canton. Detective Constable Craig Alexander told the court that Class A drugs such as those found at the defendant’s address ‘have a hugely destructive impact on lives’. Alexander urged the public to come forward and help the police in their ongoing attempts to crack down on dealers in Cardiff. An amateur paleontologist from Porthcawl who accidentally smashed a 200 million year old fossil into over one hundred and fifty pieces has finished a two year process of sticking it back together with super glue. Jonathan Bow who found the plesiosaur fossil on a beach walk in Cardiff in 2014 initially, attempted to chisel the fossil free from the rock but shattered the discovery in the process. Speaking to The Telegraph, Bow said ‘at the time I took pictures of all the bits as they came off, so had to refer to the pictures to stick it all back together. Some days I would spend two or three hours just to find one adjoining piece.’
National
In a dispute dubbed ‘Marmitegate’, grocery giant Tesco briefly withdrew many popular Unilever-owned brands from its website on Thursday as the value of the pound continued to drop. Online shoppers took to Twitter in uproar as consumer favourites such as Marmite, P.G. Tips, Persil and Ben & Jerry’s disappeared from the website. The removal of selected products by Tesco was a response to Unilever’s plans to increase prices by an estimated 10% following the devaluation of the pound triggered by Brexit. Speaking at a press conference, Unilever’s finance director said that the price increase was ‘a normal course of affairs for Unilever as a multinational.’ Drivers of electric vehicles could be allowed to use bus lanes in five cities across the UK according to new government proposals to tackle air pollution. The ‘clean air zones’ rolled out across Southampton, Birmingham, Nottingham, Derby and Leeds, are intended to incentivise people to switch to electric cars in an effort to reduce illegal levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Environment minister Therese Coffey stated ‘we need to tackle air pollution and creating clean air zones will improve the quality of life for people who live and work in our towns and cities, both now and in the future.’ The National Living Wage could rise by 30p to £7.50, an independent think tank has forecasted. Research by the Resolution Foundation suggests that the rise has been stunted by slow economic growth following Brexit, but could still mean an annual pay rise of around £600 for full-time workers. The news is not so positive for an estimated 100,000 businesses who are said to be experiencing ‘financial distress’ since the introduction of the higher wage. Under current forecasts, the National Living Wage is expected to rise to £8.60 by 2020.
International
Fishing could be introduced as a sport for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The official governing body for angling, known as the Confederation Internationale de la Peche Sportive, suggest that the sport is hugely popular and could widen the fan base for the Olympics beyond traditional spectator sports. Critics argue that the fishing involves as much luck as skill, and that it would be boring to watch. Sports including skateboarding, surfing, karate and baseball have already been confirmed for the games in four years time, as the International Olympic Committee attempts to attract a younger audience. The world’s longest reigning monarch has died aged 88. Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej had been head of state since 1946. Hundreds of mourners gathered at Siriraj Hospital on Thursday afternoon to grieve for the king. In an address to the nation, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha announced that Thailand will hold a year-long mourning period, asking that entertainment be ‘toned down’ for the next month. The crown is now expected to pass to Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, who has confirmed he will fulfill his duty once he has had time to mourn the death of his father. Global travel giant Tripadvisor has taken a stand against animal cruelty, by introducing a ‘no touching of wild animals policy’. The website, widely known as a forum for travel reviews, allows users to book tickets for tourist attractions, but will now cease to sell tickets for any attractions where visitors come into contact with endangered, wild or captive animals. This includes swimming with dolphins, stroking tigers and riding elephants. In a statement, a spokesperson for PETA said: ‘we applaud TripAdvisor taking this stance, helping to raise awareness.’
Pictured: Tripadvisor’s ‘no touching of wild animals’ policy prevents swimming with dolphins. (Source: Josh Grenier via Flickr)
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Global travel giant Tripadvisor has taken a stand against animal cruelty by introducing a ‘no touching wild animals’ policy.
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4 NEWS
news
Editors: Toby Holloway Gabriella Mansell Harry Webster @GairRhyddNews news@gairrhydd.com gairrhydd.com/news
Continued: Gair Rhydd dishes the dirt on dodgy takeaways Do you take food hygiene rating into account when choosing where to eat?
Continued from front page
Would a low food hygiene rating put you off eating somewhere?
Gair Rhydd also asked those who responded to the questionnaire if they considered food hygiene rating when deciding where to eat, and also whether or not a poor food hygiene rating would put them off eating at a particular place. 15.2 per cent of people said that they always take food hygiene rating into account when choosing a place to eat at, whilst 41.3 per cent said they sometimes take it into account. 26.1 replied with rarely, and 12.3 per cent said they never thought about hygiene ratings when deciding where to eat. In spite of only 15.2 per cent of respondents saying that they would always take food hygiene ratings into account when deciding where to eat, 60.4 per cent declared that a low rating would put them off eating
somewhere. 32.4 per cent said maybe, whilst five per cent said they would not be bothered by a low rating. The questionnaire also asked whether respondents had ever had food poisoning, and if so, where. There were 23 responses to this question, three of which stated that they had contracted food poisoning from Chicken Cottage. Three others said that they had become ill following a meals at KFC, two after dining at Snack Shack, and one as a result of eating food from Woodville Fish Bar. Third year JOMEC student Jasper Wilkins suffered from food poisoning after eating from a Chinese takeaway in Cathays. He said: “Getting hospitalised with food poisoning the night before Varsity was not ideal, but it still wouldn’t put me off getting a dodgy kebab after a night out”.
Have you ever had food poisoning (or any other illness) after eating somewhere?
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Getting hospitalised with food poisoning the night before Varsity was not ideal, but it still wouldn’t put me off getting a dodgy kebab after a night out. Jasper Wilkins, Third year JOMEC student
” Have you been put off by a low food hygiene rating? Join the conversation on Twitter: @GairRhydd
University invites private capital into education
Matthew Proctor
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The NUS has come out resolutely against the encroaching economisation of our education system
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n a largely un-publicised move, Cardiff University has secured the largest ever loan from bondholders in the history of any university in Wales. The £300 million bond has an annual interest rate of 3.0 per cent, totalling annual interest payments of £9 million each year - with the £300 million to be returned in total in 2055. Whilst the bond has the lowest interest payment rate of any bond released by a university to date, it represents a big increase in the cost of finance when compared to the previous funding regime, whereby universities funded expansion through grants. Such grants were paid for by government taxation (and so, had no interest cost) or were borrowed from the gilt market at much lower rates.
It represents yet another cost which will be borne ultimately by students through higher fees in the future, and lower expenditure on things that matter. Critics also question just how aggressively Cardiff University intends on expanding to gain the additional revenue to pay off the debt, let alone service the interest payments. It is very clear, however, that international finance is pleased by fragmentation of the funding regime in the UK higher education system with Barclays Bank forecasting a growth in sector borrowing of an additional £4-5 billion a year by 2020. Indeed, investment banks and lawyers have begun to carve up the market by setting up specialist advisers. Teams from the law firm Rothschild’s, and internal investment bank-
ers Morgan Stanley, have been involved in the bond sale by Cardiff. They have also helped several other universities tap into the Bond market, including Manchester and Cambridge. Unfavourable comparisons by higher education experts point to the example of California, a state in America whose tertiary education system has over the past decades observed the process of bond holders slowly bleed the education system into insolvency. The NUS (National Union for Students) has come out resolutely against the encroaching economisation of our education system, and has urged students to attend the national rally for education to be held in central London on Saturday 19th November.
Pictured: Cardiff University Main Building (Photographer: Jeremy Segrott via Flickr)
NEWS 5
Phoenix project ready for take off
Cardiff university helps trains nurses in Namibia
Gabriella Mansell
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In the UK, we have highly trained nurses managing much of the care of patients having operations. Why shouldn’t Namibia benefit from the same high-quality system? Professor Judith Hall
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ardiff University is currently joining forces with NHS Wales and the University of Namibia to offer lifesaving specialist nurse training in Namibia. The training programme has been organised by Cardiff University’s Phoenix Project, an engagement scheme which works with the Welsh Government on a range of activities involving education, health, communication and science. Cardiff University in collaboration with The University of Namibia are offering peri-operative care training to 24 nurses, which intends to transform the quality of care for patients before, during
” Harry Webster
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and after surgery. This training includes learning various techniques such as interpreting blood results, managing pain after operations and monitoring the respiratory system, clearly boosting the skills and professionalism of the nurses in Namibia. Medical and nursing experts led by Cardiff University’s Professor Judith Hall and Dr Brian Jenkins, will deliver lectures and workshops in the Namibian capital, Windhoek from 24-27th of October. Namibia’s Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services, Hon Julieta Kavetuna, had personally asked Professor Hall of Cardiff University to set up the specialist nurse training in the hospital.
Professor Hall is a Professor of Anaesthetics, Intensive Care and Pain Medicine at Cardiff University and said: “I’m delighted that the Phoenix Project is in a position to facilitate ground-breaking nurse training in Namibia alongside the Welsh NHS and UNAM”. “It’s the first time that Namibia has had specialist nurse training outside midwifery so it will really make a difference to the care that patients receive. In fact I hope it will be transformational. “If you look elsewhere in southern Africa, this kind of training is only really available in South Africa”, she added. Dr Tony Funnell, an anaesthetist at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, said: “I signed up primarily because peri-operative medicine is something I’m passionate about here in the University Hospital of Wales. “I enjoy teaching and education and the Phoenix Project represents a fantastic opportunity to combine the two.” Professor Hall added: “It is about looking after patients during the whole surgical process from referral to discharge. The training will support medical delivery of surgery and anaesthesia. “We aim to equip nurses with valuable skills and help put in place a process that guarantees patient safety.” She went on to say: “Cardiff University’s Phoenix
Project, working with the University of Namibia, is helping put this right by providing specialised training. “In the UK, we have highly trained nurses managing much of the care of patients having operations. Why shouldn’t Namibia benefit from the same high-quality system?”, she added. “Doctors and nurses from both Cardiff University and Cardiff and Vale NHS are travelling to Namibia to deliver peri-operative nurse management training. “We will share our expertise, learn from each other and make care better and safer for the patients of Namibia. It’s a wonderful opportunity.” A Cardiff University student nurse said that she was unaware of the scheme, but admitted: “it would be nice to learn about the project in lectures as loads of [people] would be interested in going one day”. She added: “having more trained staff from Wales would… help promote equal opportunities in Namibia, because everyone should have the right to good healthcare wherever they live”. The Phoenix Project is one of Cardiff University’s engagement projects which work with communities in Cardiff, Wales and beyond aiming to improve standards in areas including health, education and wellbeing.
Pictured: Cardiff University’s Heath Campus (Photographer: Mick Lobb)
South Wales Police crack down on creepy clown craze
outh Wales Police have been forced to issue a warning against those choosing to dress up as clowns, after numerous complaints were made across the country during the last week. The sinister fad, which has spread across the UK in recent weeks, has seen Welsh police forces receive over 80 calls regarding clown sightings - 30 of which being made to South Wales Police alone. One reported incident in Tredegar ended in 10-year-old Ben Griffiths receiving bruising to his arm, after having an object thrown at him while being chased by a clown. Another incident in Caerphilly ended in 18-year-old Connor Jones receiving a £90 fine, after intimidating children dressed as a clown outside a school. Mr. Jones also received a fixed penalty notice, which will go on his criminal record. Chief Inspector Paul Stainforth of Gwent Police stated: “Gwent police will not tolerate such behavior and anyone seeking to
cause distress and potential harm to anyone will be dealt with. “I hope this result sends a strong message to anyone thinking about taking part in this craze.” This comes after a spokesman for South Wales Police last week said: “Dressing up as clowns or in costumes to frighten others intentionally will have consequences. “We have received a small number of similar reports locally and would like to remind people that this behaviour can cause concern and worry, particularly to young children and the elderly, and they may end up committing an offence.” The ‘killer clown’ craze, which seemingly originated in the US, was first reported in the UK on the 5th October, when a 13-yearold boy was given a warning for dressing up as a clown and scaring people in Northumbria. Sightings have since been reported across the UK and Wales, with one being made in the Fairwater area of Cardiff on Tuesday night.
Pictured: A typically scary clown (Photographer: Wikimedia
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Dressing up as clowns or in costumes to frighten others intentionally will have consequences. South Wales Police
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COMMENT 9 Editors: Helena Hanson Caragh Medlicott Sam Saunders @GairRhyddCom comment@gairrhydd.com gairrhydd.com/comment
Vogue’s real issue with ‘real women’
Abigail Wilson
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These women are juxtaposing popular notions of femininity that are associated with innocence, dependency, emotion and passivity.
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ashion magazine Vogue, aka the ‘Fashion Bible’, has announced that for the first time ever, it is to feature “real women” in a one-off “real issue”. Vogue’s November issue will contain empowered and successful academics and businesswomen, with content exploring topics of ‘real’ beauty and how to have a sophisticated work wardrobe. The ‘model-free zone’ will showcase ‘real women’ including Brita Fernandez Schmidt, Jane Hutchison and Kitty Travers. Does this mean that Vogue’s previous issues should be disregarded? Are models now not considered as ‘real women’? What does it actually mean to be classified as a ‘real woman’? Catharine MacKinnon even asks, are women human yet? There are hundreds and thousands of successful businesswomen that deserve recognition throughout the press. But instead, we are constantly shown images of the same models, selling different brands, in different magazines. And what do all of these models have in common? Their size. There has long been criticism of magazines and their advertisements for using models that reflect an inhumane image of the size of women. For centuries, women have been led to believe that being beautiful, slim and
confident are necessary attributes of femininity. We are bombarded with images of ridiculously skinny models and are told that in order to be accepted and considered attractive, we must conform to this. So why are Vogue now scrapping models for their November issue? The issue follows the H&M new autumn ad campaign that redefines femininity with a group of ‘strong’ women. The ad features a plus-size model in underwear, a woman using a fork to pick her teeth and another with hairy armpits eating chips in bed. These women are juxtaposing popular notions of femininity that are associated with innocence, dependency, emotion and passivity. In addition, women with larger body types than the norm are underrepresented and presented negatively in the press. We flick through magazines and are hounded with images of tiny models and it’s very rare that plus-size women are featured. The mass media is, in general, a world in which how women look is critically important. Thus, women’s bodies are viewed as objects to be evaluated and scrutinised. But why? The average dress size of a British woman is a size 14. So why are we made to feel abnormal if we don’t fit the model mould? There is still a stigma attached to being plus-size and a quick search of the Internet reveals a huge trend in over-
weight people being ridiculed and fatshamed. There’s definitely a segment of society that view people of a larger size not to be an acceptable member of society. In recent years, the media has made significant strides in representing women of varying identities, with a particular emphasis on plus-size women. With the increased representation of plussize models in the press, including Ashley Graham, Robyn Lawley and Tess Holliday, the typical notion of beauty is finally starting to be attacked. The use of hashtags has become increasingly popular on Twitter as a tool for women to challenge the feminine ideal. #CelebrateMySize, #EffYourBeautyStandards and #PlusSizeAppreciation are just a few examples of the empowering body positive hashtag campaigns that have gone viral recently. Campaigns such as these are essential to the empowerment of women and are steps towards extinction of the instilled beauty myth. Following a string of customer complaints about ‘disgustingly skinny’ mannequins with ‘inhuman proportions’, more and more high-street retailers, such as Debenhams and Target have introduced plus-size mannequins. This has been followed by the recent craze for a curvy figure, encouraged by celebs such as Kim Kardashian, Beyoncé and
Nicki Minaj. As a result, plus-size fashion is going through the roof. One in four of us buys plus-size clothing and Britain is getting bigger. Famous faces including Geordie Shore star Holly Hagan are launching plus-size clothing ranges, reinforcing that it’s wrong to charge more for clothes in bigger sizes. The UK plus-size industry is now worth £6billion but the modelling industry needs to catch up. So, will it be effective to have ‘real women’ featured in Vogue’s November issue? Of course. But in order for this to be empowering, it needs to become more commonplace. We need to be informed about what female entrepreneurs are doing and how women are changing the world. There needs to be a shift from magazines full of advertisements of models, to magazines containing discussions and articles about female power. Many have applauded Vogue for using images of ‘real’ women in the November issue. However, there is still fear that the magazine will digitally alter the images, maintaining the pressure put on women to adhere to unrealistic standards of beauty. Though the media are taking steps in the right direction and change is in the air, there is still a long way to go until our unrealistic ideas of beauty are overthrown.
Pictured: Vogue is one of the most widely read fashion magazines (Source: Marina Burtley via flickr).
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We need to be informed about what female entrepreneurs are doing and how women are changing the world.
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10 COMMENT
Is it too late now to say sorry?
Trump’s comments about women are unforgivable. G Gavin Collins
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There he sat displaying as much contrition as his heavily powdered face would allow, mournfully eyeing the camera, ready to confess his sins before God.
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Rachael Hutchings
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As with every viral trend there are others whose concerns aren’t quite so genuine.
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F
or regular viewers of the 2016 US presidential race, coarsened by a now nine-month long Trumpian assault on political decorum and language, the only truly shocking thing about Mr. Trump’s most recently leaked comments, this time from all the way back in 2005, was that he deigned to apologise. Perhaps it was the realisation by the Trump campaign that apart from the mob who continue to support him, more measured minds found the revelation that one of the two candidates for the highest office in the land thought it acceptable to “grab” the genitalia of random women just a tad off-putting. Whatever the reason, there he sat last Friday, displaying as much contrition as his heavily powdered face would allow, mournfully eyeing the camera, ready to confess his sins before God and the television audience of every Hooters restaurant south of the Mason-Dixon line – truly a reformed man! In typical Trump fashion, however, he made sure to deflect at least some of the blame, this time informing the camera that, “Bill Clinton has said far worse to me on the golf course – not even close”. How reassuring. It would no doubt be fruitless to remind Mr. Trump that he is running against Mr. Clinton’s wife, and not the seedy ex-President. By the time Mr. Trump had concluded his remarks, it was not even clear if there had been an apology at all. In a sane and decent society, Trump’s comments would automatically have disqualified him from the presidency; what is left of the Republican Party would have banded together to excommunicate him from its ranks, the
private news networks would have refused to televise any further presidential debates featuring Mr. Trump, and he would have shuffled offstage to tweet alone in relative obscurity from his palatial apartment atop Trump Tower – a blasphemy against good taste in its own right. Alas, all the ineffectual Republican Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan, could muster was to reconsider his support of Trump, no doubt until the course of the political winds can better be ascertained. The television networks sank to new lows in their reportage - Sean Hannity, a popular conservative television host, even went so far as to justify Mr. Trump’s shortcomings by reminding his viewers that King David of the Old Testament had hundreds of concubines, and on Sunday Mr. Trump managed to bluster his way through the second debate. There is no indication that the Republican Party will pull the rug out from Mr. Trump at this late stage. That they have had ample opportunity to distance themselves from him in the recent past is without question. There was that time, for instance, when Mr. Trump labelled the majority of Mexican Immigrants rapists and criminals, that time he mocked a disabled reporter, that time he alluded to the size of his genitalia during a nationally televised debate, that time he mocked the menstrual cycle of Fox News Host Megyn Kelly – also during a live television debate, et cetera, ad nauseam. For each of these tasteless remarks, Trump offered no apology but, curiously, his support grew. The fact is that Mr. Trump’s sup-
porters do not want to see him apologise. They want him to attack the establishment and everything ‘it’ stands for. If this means an occasional assault on public decency, then so be it. Even the Evangelical Christian wing of the Republican Party, who make a great fuss about standing for Christian virtue in civil society, have been perfectly content to endorse Mr. Trump and invite him to their places of worship. But all of Trump’s sins must not excuse the part that Mrs. Clinton has played in widening the political di-
vide and fuell ng this resentment. The Trump-like apology of Mrs. Clinton in the wake of her email scandal, and her stubborn refusal to take responsibility for her own actions – including her failure to release the transcripts of the six-figure speeches she gave to America’s leading financial institutions, are unacceptable. Realistic solutions and serious political debate are sorely needed in the United States, and that requires a public that holds candidates to a higher standard – and yes, even forces them to apologise.
Pictured: Trump’s comments often cause controversy (Source: Gage Skidmore via flickr)
Clowning around
H
What role has social media played in fuelling the ‘creepy clown’ trend?
alloween is rapidly approaching and at this time of year it is certainly not unusual to hear of all the spooky costumes people have lined up to take part in the festivities. However, this time around the spirit of fun, games and lighthearted practical jokes has been dampened by the international ‘creepy clown craze’ which is no laughing matter. Originating in the US, this unsightly trend involves individuals dressing up in frightening clown masks and harassing or, more worryingly, attempting to chase or even hurt other people. Schools and other organisations, as well as parents, are in uproar as there is no way of knowing who is behind the costume and what their true intentions really are. Typically of this media-saturated
generation, many people are taking their worries, rants and experiences regarding this craze to social media to share with their friends. Whereas a large majority of people are anxious about the clown craze, as with every viral trend there are others whose concerns aren’t quite so genuine. This is recognisable, on my news feed at least, through people posting memes and sharing false news headlines to mock the entire concept. On top of this, South Wales Police have now issued an official statement warning people against scaring the public intentionally, following a peak in sightings being posted on Facebook. For example, I have witnessed several groups on Facebook claiming that a clown has been spotted only minutes away from my father’s house, in a residential area, where a
large amount of children live. To find this out conventionally through the police would be extremely worrying and I would encourage my family to be cautious. However, whether or not to believe these claims when they are coming from unknown sources across social media is where the confusion, and concern, really begins for a lot of people. It is arguable that social media sites such as Facebook are becoming vital in the production of news, as it is often the first place many people get access to a story if they don’t regularly read newspapers or watch televised news. Not to mention, it is a positive platform for expression and sharing one’s thoughts, opinions and feelings with an infinite amount of people. That said, the freedom of social
networks such as Facebook allows users to generate any content, which leads us to question whether or not social media is the most reliable source when it comes to sharing information. Especially about an issue that causes so much scepticism and is as fundamentally dubious as this.
Pictured: Creepy clown sightings are cropping up everywhere (source: photo via flickr)
COMMENT 11
Marmageddon
For a brief moment, our whole lives were thrown into turmoil, as we truly believed Marmite was a thing of the past
Helena Hanson
“
We looked towards the bleak future of no sunny days by the sea with a Cornetto, and no splurges of Ben and Jerrys.
”
Mark Chesson
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‘Trolling’ is basically a form of cyberbullying in which the victim is subjected to a torrent of abuse over the internet.
”
W
ell this is it folks, the end is nigh. The nation has crumbled. Saruman has descended upon us and brings with him nothing but death, destruction and despair. For Britain, this is it. Although very little information has been released at the time of print, the overriding fact was that Tesco had announced it was fighting a battle with Unilever over a potential 10% price hike. Unilever products, such as Marmite, PG Tips and Pot Noodle are among the brands that became unavailable to buy on Tesco’s online site for most of the day. Unilever confirmed the prices of their products were to rise in order to compensate for the sharp drop in the pound’s value caused by Brexit. Tesco resisted the rise, but whilst they may have been able to succeed in resisting the rise of Unilever prices, they shallt not resist the rise of the people of Britain. For we saw the future. We were already peering into the distance, imagining sitting around the dinner table with our families, “what did Marmite taste like mother?” they would ask me, their sad, sol-
emn faces revealing a life of heartache and pain. A life so worthless, without the sparkle of Pot Noodle or Cornettos to bring joy to their existence. We knew that our sons would never know the feeling of gassing themselves with Lynx Africa in order to impress the girls after P.E in school, and our daughters would forever have chapped lips as they would never know a life with Vaseline. Summers to come would be miserable. We looked towards the bleak future of no sunny days by the sea with a Cornetto, and no splurges of Ben and Jerrys when our relationships inevitably break down from the Hellman’s depression. No couple would have been safe from the unavoidable, relationship ruining mayonnaise row, that will see one partner ultimately victorious with the last spoonful of mayo, leaving the loser no option but to pack their bags and move out. I saw only darkness in the future. I saw a world where potted condiments would be exchanged by questionable characters under coats in dark alleyways, where youngsters would save their weekly pocket money for months to in-
dulge in a £99 vintage tub of Ben and Jerry’s on eBay, and a world where Lily Allen would have to apologise again for the actions of those above her. No longer will we declare PG Tips the shittiest tea to ever exist, instead we will realise there is no phrase that rings truer than ‘you never truly appreciate what you have, until you don’t have it any more.’ But we tried to look on the bright
side. The future was now for the likes of Vegemite and RightGuard deodorant. Super noodles would finally have their day, and the return of Mars ice cream was inevitable. Ah, Brexit, you have wronged us in so many ways. You took our free trade, you took our free movement, you took our pound, but you will absolutely not, ever, take our Marmite.
Pictured: Social media was plunged into chaos on the 13th of October as Tesco stopped selling Marmite on their website Source: Photo via flickr
New guidelines on trolling offer hope for victims
N
ew guidelines on dealing with trolls have been released by the Crown Prosecution Service which include the prosecution of those that create abusive hashtags and images. In addition to this, the new guidance looks to reduce the amount of ‘grossly offensive’ content on the internet through the threat of prosecution. As the internet continues to grow, so too does the problem of ‘trolling’. ‘Trolling’ is basically a form of cyberbullying in which the victim is subjected to a torrent of abuse over the internet. This abuse can take a wide range of forms such as sexism, racism and homophobia, with ‘trolls’ attempting to validate their lack of self-worth through the destruction of other peoples. With this in mind, I believe that the CPS’ new guidelines can be seen as a welcome introduction that will provide police with the necessary information to prosecute cyberbullies. Some people might believe that cyberbullying can be solved with the simple disregarding of the abuse by the victim. For example, if somebody receives an abusive message on social media there is nothing stopping them from deleting it and blocking the offen-
sive account. However, the emotional impact that is attached to the message will continue long after its deletion, and the relentless nature of trolls can make them hard to evade entirely. It’s far more common that, having already deleted the message and blocked the abuser, they will being messaging the victim again whilst using a separate account. Due to the large amount of personal information that we post on websites such as Facebook, trolls can gain access to different methods of contacting their victim. In the instance of an anonymous woman interviewed by the BBC, the trolls were able to obtain her telephone number. She recalls that they proceeded to call her home at ‘three or four in the morning threatening to petrol-bomb our house’. There are also instances of the trolls creating an image or a hashtag that is deeply offensive to the victim. When this happens, there is nothing that the victim can do to prevent it being circulated around the internet. The guidelines specifically mention the use of Photoshop to generate an offensive image as an offence worthy of prosecution. Since this would be entirely out of the victim’s control, it seems right for there
to be some legislation preventing it, or at least creating a deterrent. Furthermore, the guidelines mention an intent to deal with internet trolling in the same manner as it would be treated in a real world situation. If somebody randomly ran up to another person in the street and began to racially abuse them it would be seen as hate crime. Therefore, if somebody randomly uses a racist term in regard to a person on twitter it should also be seen as a hate crime.
Overall, I believe that the CPS’ new guidelines on dealing with trolls is a step in the right direction for resolving instances of trolling as with the potential for prosecution looming over would-be trolls, they might be deterred. Since trolling can be so harmful and obstructive to the lives of its victims, and can so often be out of their control, it is right that it is dealt with as a police matter, and it will hopefully result in a less toxic internet environment.
Pictured: Trolling is a massive issue on many forms of social media. Source: Sebastien Wiertz via flickr).
12 COMMENT
Are referendums useful? FOR: Lorenzo Migliorato
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Referendums – binding or not – are a precious tool to hold governments to account.
”
T
Do they take responsibility away from politicians or give a democratic voice to the majority?
he idea behind a referendum is, like most things in politics, a noble one. When it comes to wide-impacting issues, it is not enough to rely on the result from the elections two or three years ago. Rather, an opinion is needed from the whole nation before taking a decision. Again like most things in politics, however, a referendum is also, for the “winning” party, a jackpot that is extremely easy to manipulate. How many Britons, for example, knew that the voting results from back in May were not legally binding for the government, but a mere consultation? (A point that the media hardly pressed on the Leave campaign) In my opinion, it is not that democracy is too good for the masses. On the contrary, referendums – binding or not – are a precious tool to hold governments to account. The problem with such consultations, rather, lies in their framing. It is extremely easy to give them a much larger meaning than originally intended. Sometimes, this works to the politicians’ advantage, like UKIP making voters believe that Brexit was about refugees (at best, it was about having to get a visa to spend your retirement in Spain). In other cases, it’s
something to handle carefully: Italy’s President Matteo Renzi is having a hard time convincing voters that the constitutional referendum next December should not be a judgment on his government. The issue that popular opinion is an oft-unwise force is something we’ve seen over and over again. That doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be given a voice. It just needs to be educated at the same time. As obvious it may sound, it falls to the media to do this. Holding campaigners to account, explaining the issue at hand and giving equal space to different perspectives on the matter are the only ways to properly frame referendums, and get voters to actually know what they’re doing when they grab their pencils. Brexit wasn’t a failure of popular opinion. It was, rather, a failure of the infrastructure of democracy: the media, the watchdog organizations, the side of politics with a moderate agenda (Tory or Labour it may be). Their inability to hold the ground with Leave supporters was what transformed the popular vote into Frankenstein’s monster – an agglomerate of undistinguished voices ready to serve the winner’s agenda. But democracies keep learning. Here’s to the next referendum.
R
eferendums seem, on the surface, the most democratic way to settle a debate – why not just ask everyone and see who wins? But in reality, the careful, considered decision isn’t always victorious. Referendums are mob rule, and being a majority doesn’t automatically make you right. People will, as they always have done, vote for their own self-interest, be easily swayed by sensationalist arguments, and end up picking their gut instinct, or what ‘feels right’ to them on the day. It’s not surprising then that a historic peace deal in Colombia has just been torpedoed by a referendum that rejected it with the barest sliver of a majority. This deal took four years to reach, and had the potential to put an end to 56 years of warfare that has killed 220,000 people. But good old fear mongering and ‘outrage’ from the No side won out, and the future of Colombia is now less than certain. Rather than decisively settle an issue, these votes divide a country, inflame tensions and pit people against each other, far more than any election vote. And the consequences to a referendum vote are permanent. There’s no changing your mind after five years if you don’t like the outcome, or find out that you were lied to by the
side you ended up supporting. Referendums reduce incredibly complex problems to yes/no answers. Expecting the populace to be able to pick the right one without suddenly becoming experts in the complex economic and sociological repercussions of each side is simply ludicrous, and opens the door to populism, like the wave of anti-immigration sentiment currently sweeping Europe. Essentially, referendums allow politicians to shirk the actual responsibility of making decisions for the country – the job they’ve been elected to do as the people’s representatives and blame us if it all goes wrong. David Cameron’s sudden commitment to an EU vote was clearly motivated by wanting to shut up UKIP and his own unruly backbenchers. He never expected to actually lose. Why would he? He’d already done it twice before: with voting reform and Scottish independence, and won both times. He took a gamble that it would consolidate his power, underestimated how many people wanted to stick two fingers up at the political establishment, and lost. Now we’re all stuck with an unelected leader pushing a new platform that nobody has actually voted for. Doesn’t sound so democratic to me.
AGAINST: Tasmin Dykstra
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Referendums allow politicians to shirk the actual responsibility of making decisions for the country.
”
Pictured: The number of UK wide referendums held has increased from one to three in the last five years. (Martin Deutsch via flickr)
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HEL ON EARTH 15
Ups and Down’s
Sally Phillip’s new documentary forces us to answer the uncomfortable question, do we want to live in a world without Down’s syndrome? Helena Hanson
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Somewhere, the notion has emerged that those different to us must not be as good as us, and not as fit for ordinary society as we are.
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W
hat do you imagine, when you think of a perfect world? I guess, a ‘perfect’ world would mean something different for each individual. For me, it would be a world where humans didn’t eat animals, and where people didn’t kill each another over land or money or power or holy books, where we weren’t destroying our planet and where those who want to be different, could be. I wonder if anybody would imagine a ‘perfect’ world without disability, without genetic conditions, without...Down’s syndrome? As it stands, one in twenty five children in the UK are affected by some kind of genetic disorder. There are also half a million people in Britain that are living with some kind of disability. It has been suggested by genomic researchers that by 2020 science will have advanced so far that many common congenital disorders could be eliminated, meaning that there could soon come a day where many conditions are a thing of the past. But, before this can happen, we must ask ourselves whether a world without disability, is something that we really want. This question has been brought to the forefront of the media in recent days, following a documentary made by actress Sally Phillips, bringing to attention the introduction of a new NHS pregnancy screening test that can detect foetal abnormalities with an accuracy of 99 per cent. The non-invasive prenatal test (NIPT), primarily can recognise if a baby has Down’s syndrome. As is stands, 90 per cent of parents that are informed that their child has Down’s will terminate the pregnancy. When the NIPT was introduced in Ireland, the termination rate rose to 100 per cent. Down’s, in a nutshell, is when a person has an extra copy of chromosome 21. This can result in developmental difficulties, that can range hugely in severity. In some cases, people with Down’s can be more vulnerable to health conditions, particularly heart and thyroid issues. About 750 babies are born each year with Down’s syndrome in the UK, and there are an estimated 40,000 people living with the condition. The issue that Sally draws attention to during the documentary, is not that the NIPT test is available. The issue, she maintains, is that parents are not given the appropriate information when screened, to help them make the decision whether or not to terminate a Down’s baby. As shown during the film, parents are only given a leaflet, simply listing all potential health problems and difficulties faced by people with Down’s. Parents are not made aware of people like Sally’s son, Olly, who is healthy and happy and lives a wonderful, fulfilling life, despite his condition. They are not put in contact with other Down’s parents or people who
can give a reliable insight. They are given only a piece of paper. In some cases, parents are simply advised by doctors to just terminate. It was difficult not to wince during the film as a doctor referred to Down’s children as a “burden that lasts for a long time”. I couldn’t help but wonder how many Down’s people watched that moment, and how it would feel to have your life described as a burden. Of course, we have come a long way in terms of how we respond to people with disabilities in society. That said, with pressure coming from doctors, and statistics as bleak as those mentioned, it must be considered how this must make those living with these conditions feel. Like they are a ‘burden’? Like they should have never been born? Like they are the kind of people we don’t want in our society? My heart aches at the thought. If and when the elimination of congenital disorders becomes possible, where do we then begin to draw a line around who is a desirable member of society. Somewhere, the notion has emerged that those different to us must not be as good as us, and must not be as fit for ordinary society as we are. But it will “eliminate suffering”, the advocators will cry. But, how does one moderate to what extent we eliminate the supposed suffering. What becomes of those who have a disability that is not congenital? A condition that is assimilated over a lifetime? Those who have car accidents, diseases, strokes and so on. If a person acquires a disability, or condition, rather than is born with one, do they then become an undesirable member of society too? Thus, then some sort of imperfection ‘scale’ shall be born, that will determine how valuable a life
is. As it stands, it seems that conditions that effect intellect are deemed ‘worse’ than those that affect, say, physical appearance. Would a doctor actively advise a pregnancy to be terminated if a child had only minor physical deformity, probably not. Would a child be considered a ‘lifelong burden’ if they were blind? Or deaf? I don’t know. Is it then that those that are different to us, who communicate less, who learn differently, who need more help, who don’t walk or run, who behave inversely, must certainly suffer, and could not possibly have a life of enough value to be born? It is important to consider Paralympians, disabled scholars, brilliant people, like Olly, that are succeeding and flourishing and thriving, despite their conditions. It is impossible to argue that their lives are not valuable and fulfilling and brilliant. They can absolutely achieve alongside the able bodied. “Ah, but…” say the doubters. “Ah, but they are the exception, not the rule.” They watched Phillip’s documentary and said, absolutely, her Down’s son is wonderful. Absolutely, parents would be blessed to have a child like him. However, he is, really, quite abled. He can walk, talk, play football, make jokes, nobody would ever suggest his life was not worth living. This creates then the notion that those living with less severe conditions have a life more worth living, implying that those with more complex needs do not. This means, in the mind of those critics, there is a distinction, between disabled lives that are worth living, and disabled lives that are not. I didn’t want to use the word fuck in this week, but who the fuck are we to decide that? This is not to say there is no
struggle, of course there is. I have a cousin with Down’s syndrome, and I know that his needs can make the smaller things in life that much tougher for those around him. I know that things have not, and will not always be easy for his parents, and for him. I do know, however, that he brings joy, and laughter, and extraordinary light to all of those people around him, and to imagine a world that wouldn’t accommodate him is crushing. A study in 2011 concluded that 97 per cent of siblings report being extraordinarily proud of their Down’s brother and sister, and 99 per cent of adults with a Down’s child say they are happy with their lives, as well as 79 per cent of parents having a more positive outlook on life since their Down’s child. We must again ask the question why on earth we would believe that the world could be a better place without the unique wonder of those living with Down’s. It is difficult, in essence, to write this, without feeling I am advocating towards pro-life. This is not the case. What I do not mean, is to suggest that we remove choice, neither from the use of NIPT nor the right to decide to terminate a pregnancy. I agree with both of these wholeheartedly. Choice is fundamental to all of this. Choice is the key. But in order to have genuine choice, parents must be given enough information, to make the right decision for them, whatever that may be. We must call for discussions, during which we step back and acknowledge, appreciate and respect all of our differences, as individuals, and as human beings, looking beyond our physicality and appearances and learning differences, maybe this is what would truly make a perfect world.
Pictured: Actress Sally Phillips with her son, Olly, who has Down’s syndrome. (source: YouTube)
“
Thus some sort of imperfection scale shall be born, that will determine how valuable a life is.
”
16
HEARD IT HERE FIRST
I can feel it in the air tonight…
Nights out feel different these days. Maybe it’s my age. Or maybe it’s something else. Dan Heard
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Taxi drivers came in for a lot of criticism for refusing to take young women home to Cathays.
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I
t has to be said, Cardiff is one of the best nights out you can have. I’ve listened to Fatman Scoop telling all the cheeky heads to be quiet in Motion in Bristol. I’ve pogoed to The Smiths’ ‘This Charming Man’ in 42’s in Manchester. I’ve even gotten hopelessly lost in the middle of Amsterdam while drunk, after attempting to get money from a cash machine. But, I have to be honest, none hold a candle (or a five pound bottle of wine, cheers Live Lounge) to the ‘Diff. Whether I’m out with friends from back home or on my course, after a few times, you almost know what to expect. You’ll pre-drink somewhere, then head to a smaller bar for a few more, and then into town. If it’s a Monday, Bump ‘n Grind. Tuesday, Revs, no question. Wednesday, the only place to be is the SU. Thursday, Walkabout (everyone knows at least one rep in your year who can get you discounted entry). Friday… well, if you’ve made it that far, congrats. Maybe have a deserved, everso-slightly-needed night off? That’s the thing though. That night, or nights off are definitely needed. Because, once you take a step back and look at what is going on, is everything quite as innocent as it seems? I’m not singling out these clubs or what they offer to party goers, far from it. Often, they are what make a night out in town one to remember. But I can’t escape the feeling that something has changed. Maybe there’s something in
the air, or in the chilli vodka shots. Somehow, a night out in Cardiff, for me anyway, just doesn’t feel the same anymore. Why? I’m unsettled. What seemed to be nights full of adventure and opportunity in first year, now feels far different. Something isn’t quite right almost, an uncertainty of what in some cases, is literally around the corner. The last few nights out I’ve been on, I’ve seen a lot of unsavoury incidents. Fights breaking out, and a lot of them. Not just down the quieter backstreets as per, but some now spill out of clubs and bars, into the path of other revellers and even the main road. Many started out quietly, but quickly turned. I saw one guy, big and clearly in good shape, start on a group of lads his age, over seemingly nothing. Insults and jibes were exchanged, before someone swung a punch. Another was thrown back, and it connected. Hard. In a split second, they were on the ground, thrashing around. What, it’s only one fight, right? Loads must take place on a Saturday night in Cardiff, surely? Well, maybe they do. Hell, they must do, I’ve seen enough in my time here. But there’s something else. It’s safety. Not just against the odd drunken prick who is looking for a punch up, but from other figures, lurking in the shadows. Last year, during fresher’s, three young women were sexually
assaulted in the space of five days, each within a few miles of each other, and all three were not too far from the centre of town. The attacker was eventually caught, but it has left a lasting impression. Taxi drivers came in for a lot of criticism for refusing to take young women home to Cathays, as it was, in their eyes, too short a distance to justify a fare. But, I’ll admit, eventually, the doubt passed, and life, and the nightlife, returned to normal. Then, not even a month ago now, two young people, one of whom was a recent graduate, were stabbed to death in the early hours of the morning on Queen Street. Students woke up to the news that someone their age had been murdered on one of the busiest streets in the city, a street that everyone has walked, or stumbled down, on a night out. It feels surreal, as though it happened in another city, or country even. But it happened in Cardiff, yards from where tens upon tens of people queue to get in and see live music and get cheap cocktails. Now, killer clowns. Not real killers, just a bunch of idiots dressed up in clown masks chasing people around for a “prank”. Rachel Hutchings has done a piece this week on this craze, This just adds to the whole unsettled vibe. It was only a matter of time before one was spotted close to town, and just last week, unsurprisingly, a clown-mask wearing joker was spotted on Cathays Terrace. At three in
the morning. Creepy. And unnerving. On top of fights and attacks, it just seems like one more thing to be worried about, along with if you have enough for that double vodka and coke AND cheesy chips, while out on the town. But am I maybe overreacting? I mean, it’s not as if there aren’t things being done. For instance, the University has recently introduced a number of schemes aimed at ensuring students get home safely from night out in the Union. There’s the Safe Taxi Scheme that has been in place in collaboration with Dragon Taxis for a number of years. I don’t feel that students who stay in control are to blame for this feeling that I have experienced recently. On the one hand, maybe it is down to me looking to deride a night out as not being as good as before because I just don’t want my time in University to end yet, which I know it will all too soon. These incidents have highlighted exactly why we need to stay safe whilst we enjoy ourselves in town. Walking down a street where police officers hosed blood off of the floor only weeks before can be pretty damn unsettling, as can walking past the park where someone your age, was enjoying their first nights out away from home, before being sexually assaulted. What I’m saying is, enjoy, but please stay safe. Be diligent, be alert, and be aware of what is around you. And watch out for clowns.
Pictured:
Cardiff’s infamous Queen Street (source:
Jon Candy via flickr)
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The university has recently introduced a number of schemes aimed at ensuring students get home safely from night out in the Union.
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Share your thoughts on Freshers’ Week and help us improve the Union. Get a free cuppa and a cake too monday 17th october all day in Y Plas
18 ADVICE
advice
Editors: George Watkins Anwen Williams @GairRhyddAdv advice@gairrhydd.com gairrhydd.com/advice
It was Mind Your Head Week!
Join us in starting a conversation on mental health on campus
Anxiety: Let’s Talk
Anwen Williams
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If you’re having difficulties with anxiety or mental health, it’s important to know that you’re not alone.
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I
More people struggle with it than you think
f you’re having difficulties with anxiety or mental health, it’s important to know that you’re not alone. The number of students declaring a mental health problem has doubled in the last 5 years, to at least 115,000 (and this is only the declared). It’s also important to understand that you don’t have to have suffered from depression or a mental health issue over a long period of time to be someone that suffers with anxiety. It’s known that even students who show no symptoms before starting university are troubled by a significant level of anxiety by their second year. Anxiety is the feeling of fear and panic, and can cause your body to jump to the ‘fight or flight’ mode. While many people feel panicky and anxious in difficult situations, once the situation is over the person feels calmed and relieved of this anxiety. However this is not always the case, and for some people these feelings of fear and anxiety continue after the difficult situation, and you may even feel a stronger sense of fear than others. This is when anxiety can really
become a problem and interfere with your day to day life. Anxiety causes levels of adrenaline to rise along with the sympathetic nervous system, which controls automatic activities, like breathing - and then takes over. Students suffering with anxiety may feel extreme difficulty in university in terms of learning, as if you suffer from anxiety, it’s likely that even if you’re taking the information in - you’re not processing or storing it properly. When it comes to dealing with anxiety - there’s loads of help out there. If you feel overwhelmed by any issue or even that it’s affecting your life or studies in any way, it’s always a good idea to discuss this with your GP. Your GP can discuss your options with you, provide you with great resources to for self-help, and provide you with anything you may need. Your GP is there to help and will remind you that you’re one of a huge number of people dealing with anxiety issues. The university offers counselling and wellbeing appointments in person, over the phone, or even
through webcam, instant messaging or email. They also provide a daily walk-in service that you can attend without making an appointment, where someone will spend 15 minutes giving you advice about the different services they offer, or selecting some self-help materials you can take away with you. Contact them at wellbeingandcounselling@cardiff. ac.uk or call 02920874966 during office hours. The NHS offer free courses that offer classes that are aimed towards stress control, mindfulness, groups for anxiety and depression, controlling panics and sleep problems, learning about stress, controlling your thoughts and actions, and so on. Further information on these groups can be found on www.stepiau.org. Lastly, be kind to yourself. It’s easy to become your own worst enemy, especially if you’re comparing yourself to others. Accept that things are tough right now, don’t compare yourself to anyone else - and think about how you can work with your brain to make things happen.
5 steps
TO DEALING WITH ANXIETY breathe through the panic Try some breathing techniques in order to remain calm. (count to 10 slowly).
limit alcohol and caffeine intake These can aggravate anxiety and trigger panic attacks.
follow a healthy routine Even 30 minutes of walking a day can reduce anxiety. The university have a ‘walk to wellbeing scheme’ where you can meet with other students to improve your mental and physical health.
talk about it A problem shared is a problem halved.
remember: you’re not alone Everyone else may look as though they’re coping fine but many of them are struggling too. Are you a perfectionist? When was the last time you treated yourself?
ADVICE 19
Eating Disorders
Issy Jackson
“
The overwhelming message of minimising food intake is freely used to promote ‘healthy living’.
”
W
e are submerged in a rhetoric of modern ‘health’. Walking down Queen Street this morning I saw adverts offering me ‘lighter choices’, ‘detoxes’, and ‘guiltless pleasure’ covering foodstuffs from teas to pasties. I’m not quite sure why I need to eat less or what pleasures I should be feeling guilty for, but already, by 10am on a Tuesday, questions begin to bubble: ‘Did I eat too much for breakfast?’, ‘Did I make the ‘right’ food choices for breakfast?’ and ‘What about dinner yesterday?’. I know I ate a good amount of breakfast and I know that food isn’t a black and white, right and wrong dichotomy. I know this because I am fortunate enough to have been part of FREED, an early intervention programme for Anorexia suffers. I have been in recovery for 3 years now. Despite all of this, intrusive thoughts and intimidating feelings begin to occupy me from the onset of my day. Eating disorders are devastating
Making peace with yourself
illnesses. The overwhelming message of minimising food intake is freely used to promote ‘healthy living’. Looking back prior to treatment, it is one that would have furthered terror surrounding my food and weight, leading to damaging physical issues too. Whilst this misleading popularisation of ‘health’ is not the cause, clearly, as an environmental factor, it plays a role in rationalising and enhancing the disordered thoughts in those of us vulnerable. From this it is evident that food choices are not isolated to nutritional value; there are a broad range of things that go into our decisions. The cost, the look and the personal feelings associated with particular foods are a few examples. Acknowledging this, it’s understandable that food companies take it upon themselves to entice us, tapping into each of these areas but skewing the real importance of a stable and substantial relationship with food and ultimately our health.
In the thesaurus the first 4 synonyms for health are: ‘energy’, ‘fitness’, ‘strength’ and ‘wellbeing’. These words carry a markedly different tone from the ideas we are surrounded by today. The connection people have with their food has a significant impact on their mental and physical state. Those susceptible to eating disorders often become tied to the mimicked version of health we are sold finding it sadly easier to choose low energy food options. Similarly, strong urges to rid their body of what is perceived as ‘excess’ can arise. Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge Eating Disorder (to name a few) all stem from the need to rid food and weight for various reasons, leaving those burdened by these illnesses lacking energy, fitness and strength; their wellbeing is destroyed. The motivation from misunderstood emotion, normally anxiety, triggered by a desire to ‘succeed’ in being the modern misconception of ‘healthy’ can de-
stroy health. At any stage of an eating disorder there are new obstacles but at university we become responsible for managing everything, from food shopping to cooking, so there is more exposure to these unreliable health claims. As these new challenges arise, it makes me realise that I am still closely intertwined with anorexia. It is scary but I know now the illness and me are not one - in fact our outlook couldn’t be more distant. Food is personal and our relationship with it, unique. Food, in this sense, can be freeing but an eating disorder has the potential to be fatal. Letting go of an instrumental, unsustainable relationship and nurturing a peaceful link with food provides the ultimate care for our mental and physical well-being. If you or someone you know is strugling with an eating disorder, please get in touch with Student Support, or call Samaritans on 116 123 (free).
“
It is scary but I know now the illness and me are not one.
”
Student Suicide: The Silent Killer Why we need to say the unsayable
George Watkins
“
We are failing one another with every suicide that takes place on a university campus.
”
I
t was a cold, grey day in February, and I wasn’t in a good place. It was my seventh year of dealing with anxiety and depression, and since coming to university I had found myself steadily getting better and better, but in those few days I couldn’t appreciate just how far I’d come, so I was on the verge of doing something stupid. I nearly committed suicide.I didn’t go through with it. I called Samaritans and was pulled through by my friends. I’m one of the lucky ones. Why am I telling you this apart from me being a desperate for a sympathy vote? Student suicide is rampant on campuses across the UK. Most students will be able to report hearing of events like this tak-
ing place on their campus, such as a young girl who took her own life here in April of this year. In 2014, the Office for National Statistics reported, there were 130 suicides amongst students in England and Wales, rising by 30 from the previous year. It is also the biggest killer of men under the age of 49. These figures seem to be growing year on year, and there seems to be no stopping it any time soon unless something changes. What can we do? The first problem is funding. According to the Higher Education Policy Institute, the salaries of university vice-chancellors, often above £200,000 a year, could cover the entire counselling facility for institutions with the lowest levels
of funding. Some universities are recommended to even need to triple their budget to keep on top of the rise in demand. It seems simple: raise the level of funding and improve the ratio of students to counsellors so that nobody is turned away at their most vulnerable. The second is culture. 97 of the 130 suicides in 2014 were male. This is a difficult area to explore in enough depth, but the premise is simple: men are much less likely to seek help for mental health than women. I believe our culture inherently makes men feel inadequate and failures One in four of us will statistically suffer from a mental health problem at one point or another, with 75% of these manifesting themselves before
the age of 18. That equates to 7000 of the 28,000 students at Cardiff University. But yet, there are very few voices from the male community saying that this is something that is neither good enough, but also downright dangerous. There are other areas that others will no doubt pick up on for where we as a student culture need to improve upon, but the message is simple: we are failing one another for every suicide that takes place on a university campus, because while issues like this need proper treatment from professionals, as a community we need to come together and keep talking about this issue for the unspoken problem that it is before it happens again.
Pictured:
There’as always someone willing to listen (Photographer: Maria Mellor)
20 ADVICE
Hollie’s Note
“
It has never been more important that individuals are supported and educated about the problem.
”
Why should you care about mental health? With one in four of us being affected by mental health illness in any year, and with the pressure that university can create, it has never been more important that individuals are supported and educated about the problem. This week has been our annual mental health campaign, Mind Your Head Week. This year we have had the theme ‘let’s talk about the elephant in the room’, the elephant being mental health. As part of this we
have had ‘an elephant’ going around campus, in an attempt to get people talking. We have also released videos with different positive messages about aspects of mental health, including the importance of friendship, the support services that are on offer, and how getting active can improve your mental wellbeing. Beyond this campaign week, I am working with the University’s Student Support department to ensure that all
students are getting the support they need. In addition to this, I am working hard to ensure that all students know about the support services on offer so that everyone knows who to turn to when they need help. I am also open to any student getting in contact with me about any problems they might have experienced in relation to any aspect of their welfare, and I will do what I can to help.
Pictured:
Our VP Welfare (Source; Cardifrf Students Union) Below: Paintbrushes. (Source: Peter
Getting arty
Why creativity can make a world of difference
Clemmie Foulkes
“
Whatever your creative outlet, find it and trust in it.
”
Claudia Rutherford
T
rying to keep control over mental health issues on a daily basis can be tricky, especially on bad days. That is why it’s important to find a hobby through which you can channel your energies into something creative and come out feeling relaxed and ready to carry on adulting. I constantly struggle with anxiety and during a particularly difficult time in my life I discovered that I have a passion for colouring. I’m 21 years old and I own three sets of felt tip pens and 14 colouring books of varying themes and I’m totally okay with that. Colouring allows me to completely switch off my brain and appreciate the simple pleasure of how many shades of blue there are. I’ve even been gifted with a ‘colour by numbers’ book, so when need be, absolutely no decisionmaking is required. There will be days where I feel like I can’t complete the most menial tasks, so I’ll get out my trusted pens and cover a cartoon elephant with all the colours of the rainbow. Once I’ve fin-
Sex and depression
ished a page of colouring, I tell myself that I can also finish that email I was supposed to send. Another, possibly more universal relaxation method is the old classic: music. I like to incorporate the two by listening to peaceful or happy music while I’m colouring. Find a song, artist or genre that makes your ears smile and let yourself focus on the music for as long as you need. Singing along is even better, as it releases endorphins which can greatly improve your well-being. And no, you don’t have to be Frank Sinatra, no one is going to judge you. If neither of those sound like your cup of tea, experiment with other activities; you may discover you’re the Mary Berry of baking; you knit a fabulous scarf; you’re just really good at yo-yoing. Whatever your creative outlet, find it and trust in it, because the simplest of pastimes can have an invaluable influence on your ability to take on the struggles that mental health issues can throw at you.
I
n light of World Mental Health Day, I decided to do some research on the relation between sex and mental health (a bit of a specific area to express an interest in I know), but, at least in my experience, it’s a subject I’ve found to be shunned, brushed off lightly or simply laughed at. Too often when I’ve attempted to spur up discussions of sex, my friends have become bashful and don’t quite know how to respond. People (understandably) are shy to the topic of sex. But when issues of mental health become entangled in this already discarded topic, it becomes a danger. We need to speak about it and voice our concerns. I’ll start with myself. When I was suffering through one of my more
severe bouts of depression, sex was painful. Literally. Because my mind was elsewhere, I couldn’t relax or feel comfortabl with my partner. Every time we’d try to have sex, I’d feel tense, anxious and totally unstimulated. I felt like I couldn’t communicate these issues to him because I didn’t understand them myself. When we’d be together, I’d freeze and couldn’t perform. For someone who has had no issue with sex or relationships previously, this predicament was awfully confusing. I’d always been confident in myself and my body, so what had changed? I loved him, so why was it so hard? I questioned myself and assumed that I just wasn’t cut out for sex anymore. I had no idea that it could have been
related to poor mental health. Feelings of extreme sadness are emotions intense enough to interfere with your sex life. The mind is important for sexuality, because it helps to shape your experience of pleasure and how you define it. After spending time looking after myself and treating my mental health issues, I began to enjoy sex again. It’s wasn’t a permanent and it doesn’t last forever, but I needed time to take care of myself. If you’re suffering, treat your depression first. Voice these concerns to your partner. They can help you recover. And if they don’t understand, then leave. It’s really not worth downward spiral. Your health and happiness take priority always.
ADVICE 21
Dancing to Recovery
Sanya Arora
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Regular activity helps you sleep better as it makes you tired and fatigues your body and mind
”
N
Why exercise is great for mental health
o matter the reason why you are stressed, being active is a fantastic therapy to help you cope. Science has proved that those who exercise regularly have relatively high levels of amino acids GABA in their body. Low GABA levels are linked to depression and anxiety. If you are tense, your sleep cycle is also affected as you are constantly thinking about your troubles and unable to sleep properly. Regular activity helps you sleep better as it makes you tired and fatigues your body and mind. Exercising also releases endorphins, which create feelings of euphoria, instantly cheering you up! Dance your troubles away. Literally. Exercising is the best stressbuster technique and also keeps you fit, making you ready to face all your problems. Just broke up? Go punch a boxing bag to release your anger.
Tense about studies? Learn a sport to de-clutter your mind and change your mood. Bad day at work? Head to the gym for a rigorous workout to distract yourself. To transform your state of mind, try meditation. It can help you get rid of your confusions, anxieties, and fears. Even devoting just 10 minutes a day to meditation is enough – as long as there is absolutely no distraction and you are able to tune in to how you are feeling. When I was in school, I used to get a lot of bad thoughts and even consulted a doctor and how to get rid of it. He suggested yoga to heal my mind. Though I was the youngest in the yoga class, I immediately understood why he had recommended it. Yoga helps you detoxify your body and gives you mental strength.
Dancing is another way to relieve stress- it improves physical and mental well-being. Groove to the latest beats and your mind will surely get distracted from all your troubles! The different kind of ways in which you can exercise is endless-
even going for a jog every morning improves your mental health. Just try out whatever type interests you and you are certainly going to feel better. Also remember, seek help whenever required. Do not suffer in silence, you are not alone!
Pictured:
Dancing (Source: Pics by marty via Flickr)..
Not feeling so fresh anymore? Your guide to support at Cardiff
Charlie Knights
W
ith seemingly wall-to-wall parties, over 200 societies, sports, friends, and that annoying course sitting on top of it all, university is an interesting and pressure-filled time. With Mind Your Head week taking over the Students’ union, it’s always worth talking about the range of different ways you can get by during your time. Certain recent studies suggest that over a quarter of all university students suffer from a mental health problem at some point during their time of study. Those problems and conditions take a range of forms, varying from depression and anxiety, to stress, loneliness, and even feeling homesick. The main thing to understand is that those come to everyone. For most first years this is the first time living away from home, in an environment where it seems like it is all down to you. Your union exists to support you through this transition, your sanctuary
between home, just before the world of jobs and council tax. Elected officers exist ready to help you and represent you as they have been elected. Vice President of Welfare Hollie Cooke, and myself, Charlie Knights, as your Students’ with Disabilities officer, fight for mental health awareness, and try to make sure that all students have the specific support available to you, and know where to go. Their offices are always open for any student that needs support or advice. If however, you find yourself wanting more help on other topics, Student Advice is the independent and confidential service that the Students’ Union provides on the 3rd Floor of the SU building on Park Place. You can either drop-in or get an appointment to chat about all sorts of issues from housing to consumer to personal and more. If you have any issue with landlords, with student finance, even if you just want a chat, the team is available any
week day. For a lot of students though, with course timings and lectures, clubs and socials, it’s often not then that you worry and need someone to talk to. Over the midnight hours in an unfamiliar flat, it could potentially get lonely. Cardiff Nightline is a confidential student led phone service. They provide information and serve as a listening ear and to students in the Cardiff area. Nightline is open every night during term time between 8pm and 8am. You can call them on 02920 87555 or use their Instant messaging service on their website. The volunteers are students just like us, who are fully trained to handle calls through training days and ongoing training sessions. Guest speakers are invited to talk at training sessions, to giving volunteers an insight into issues that may be faced by anyone in the student population. In the process of being Nightline volunteers, they learn skills
that are transferable to the workplace and make new friends. They aren’t paid, they just listen, no lecturing. If you aren’t comfortable to talk to other students however the Samaritans is also there, as a national charity who you can call if you need a chat or advice. They’re here 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you need a response immediately, it’s best to call them on the phone. This number is FREE to call. The number is 116 123. But at the end of the day, it’s not a case of trained people, elected officers, and big organisations. Friends and housemates, course friends, lecturers, even that very talkative guy out in the smoking area of the students union. All of them, to some degree, care about your wellbeing. Open up about it, stigma is a purely mental block half the time. Once we open the conversation to each other, everything starts to make a little bit more sense and we can deal with it.
Pictured:
Long night? (Photographer: George Watkins)
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politics
POLITICS 23 Editors: Jamie McKay Adam George Ellise Nicholls @GairRhyddPol politics@gairrhydd.com gairrhydd.com/politics
Clinton v Trump take two - tensions grow in penultimate debate Threats, insults and accusations dominated discussion on Sunday’s debate, but was there any mention of policy?
Pictured: Candidates speak to press (Left, photographer: Gage Skidmore; Right, source: United States Mission Geneva)
Charlotte Gehrke
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If only males were allowed to vote, Trump would be elected as President
”
Ellise Nicholls
D
emocratic Nominee Hillary Clinton and Republican Candidate Donald Trump were led in to the second presidential debate by ABC news reporter Martha Raddatz and CNN news anchor Anderson Cooper at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri on October 9th. This debate was held in the “town meeting” format meaning that some of the debate questions were directly posed by audience members at Washington University while others were asked by the moderators, selected through the website Open Debate Coalition. Hillary Clinton was named the unofficial winner in the four so called “quality” polls. According to a CNN/ORC instant poll, 57 percent of debate watch-
O
ers agreed with this and only 34 percent believed Trump to be the winner of the discussion. However, the result of the YouGov poll was a lot closer. 47% of respondants believed that Clinton won the debate whereas 42 per cent saw Trump as the winner. One of the major topics discussed in both debates was the issue of taxes. While Trump explained his plans to decrease taxes from 35 to 15 percent saying that he would be “cutting taxes for the middle class”, Clinton stated that she would raise taxes for the wealthy. When asked how she would tackle issues surrounding Syria and its ally, Russia, Clinton said she would instate to nofly and safe zones in Syria. When asked the same question,
Trump avoided answering. instead retorting with insults and accusations. The most controversial issue of the evening, however, was a tape from 2005 that had surfaced before the debate recording Trump talking to Access Hollywood host, Billy Bush, about women using extremely vulgar and derogative terms. Trump apologized describing the conversation as “locker talk”. The Republican party members, however, saw this as an indicator to distance themselves even further from Trump by diverting funding from his campaign and spending it on S enate races instead. Trump responded to the actions taken by the Republican party by calling them “self-righteous hypocrites” and
proclaiming to a reporter of the Wall Street Journal that there is “zero chance I’ll quit”. In the past week the majority of news outlets have predicted that Clinton will win the forthcoming Presidential election easily. This has led to Trump supporters looking for new ways to get their candidate elected. A poll study on the website FiveThirtyEight found that if only males were allowed to vote, Trump would be elected as President. This observation has caused Trump supporters to run a Twitter campaign to repeal the 19th amendment, which gives women the right to vote. The third and final debate will take place on October 19.
Will parliament get a vote on Brexit deal?
n 13th October, a legal challenge to the government’s right to formally begin Brexit without parliamentary approval went under way in what has been considered the most constitutional case in generations. Government lawyers are set to argue before three judges at the High Court in London that the prime minister is legally entitled to use the royal prerogative to begin the process of Britain leaving the EU. Opponents, however, are arguing that PM Theresa May cannot trigger Article 50 by using royal prerogative without the consent of parliament. During May’s first Conservative Party conference, she announced that she
intends to trigger article 50 by the end of March 2017, formally notifying the EU of the UK’s intention to leave. This follows the UK’s decision to leave the EU in June’s referendum, with the yes campaign winning by a marginal 51.9% and the no campaign with 48.1%. The EU has said that negotiations about the Brexit term’s cannot begin until Article 50 has been invoked – a process due to last two years. On Monday 17th, the judicial review will be heard by the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, Lord Thomas. Gina Miller, an investment manager, will be contesting against the government’s authority to proceed without recourse to Parliament.
Ms Miller told the BBC radio 4’s Today programme that “the government cannot use this ancient secretive royal prerogative” to conduct the negotiations. “Did the people who voted to leave really vote for an executive arm, for the prime minister and a handful of her ministers, to bypass parliament? are we now going into dictatorial landscape?” she said. Her legal team is arguing that invoking Article 50 will threaten the rights of individuals enshrined in the 1972 European Communities Act – the act of parliament which paved the way for the UK to join the European Economic Community.
The PM has accepted the need to have “full and transparent” parliamentary scrutiny before triggering Brexit, telling MP Angela Eagle. “The idea that Parliament somehow wasn’t going to be able to discuss, debate, question issues around Brexit was frankly completely wrong. Parliament’s going to have every opportunity to debate this issue.” However, the concession does not go as far as specifying that MPs will get a formal vote on article 50 and any other Brexit deal. May used her party conference speech last week to suggest she would use the vote as a mandate for tougher immigration controls and a more interventionist government.
“
Hillary Clinton was named the unofficial winner in the four so called “quality” polls.
” “
Negotiations about the Brexit term’s cannot begin until Article 50 has been invoked – a process due to last two years.
”
24 POLITICS
Yemenis protest against US-backed airstrike
Alex Seabrook
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Since March 2015, the civil war has killed more than ten thousand people
” Lydia Jackson
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It has proposed to recognise the permanence of the Assembly whilst giving it new powers over elections, energy and transport.
”
A
t least 140 people have been killed and more than five hundred wounded after a series of air strikes last Saturday at a funeral in Sana’a. The Saudi-led Arab coalition have been accused of targeting the funeral reception in the Yemeni capital, attended by hundreds of mourners, including many high-level officials in the Houthi-led government. The UK Foreign Office released a statement describing the attack as “shocking”, adding that “there can be no military solution to this conflict.” The incident has seen scrutiny of American security co-operation with the Saudi government intensify, with officials warning that they were not providing “a blank cheque”, in a statement released by the US National Security Council. US support for the coalition has already been “significantly reduced” due to concerns that the Arab alliance is intentionally bombing civilians. Haykal Bafana, an analyst who witnessed the bombing, described the attack in an interview with Al Jazeera. Four missiles were fired, the first to pierce the roof of the hall holding the funeral reception, the second an incendiary which burned the hall to the ground and the third targeting ambulance crews arriving on the scene. The Saudi coalition deny involve-
ment, despite the fact that they are believed to be the only side in the conflict who possess aircraft capable of the attack. Following the US’s announcement of a review of their support, the coalition have launched an investigation into the attack. “The coalition will immediately investigate this case along with Joint Incidents Assessment Team in Yemen and experts from the United States who participated in previous investigations,” according to a statement released on Sunday by the Saudi Press Agency. Sana’a is in the Houthi-controlled west of the country, and the central and eastern parts are held by the Saudi supported Hadi-loyalists, as well as the southern port city of Aden. The Houthis, a Shia-led group from the north of the country, who are allied with Syria, Iran, and Russia, took control of the Yemeni government from President Hadi in March 2015. Hadi, who is supported by Saudi Arabia and the US, fled to Aden, where he is leading the effort to take back control of the government. Since March 2015, the civil war has killed more than ten thousand people, and displaced over three million. Throughout the conflict, heavy criticism has come from campaign groups in the UK opposed to Brit-
ish arms sales in the region. ‘Campaign Against the Arms Trade’ have claimed that bombs made in the UK, such as the Paveway IV, have frequently been used in attacks against hospitals, schools, and other civilian targets. Paveway bombs are made by Raytheon UK, who have offices and factories in Harlow in Essex, Glen-
rothes in Fife, and Broughton in North Wales. Arms deals must be authorised by the government, and are often seen as an indirect way of conducting foreign policy. Amnesty International claim that the UK government is breaking domestic and international law by supplying weapons used to kill civilians.
Wales Bill sparks debate over Westminister’s devolution to the Welsh
N
ew concerns have arisen this week for the Welsh Assembly relating to the long awaited revision of the Wales Bill, first promised by David Cameron immediately after the Scottish referendum of 2014. Since devolution was introduced in 1998 it has been a focal point of contentious debate across the UK, particularly with regards to the uneven rates at which the proposed decentralisation has occurred upon comparison of Wales and Scotland. These concerns find their origins in the ‘Barnett Formula’ created by the Labour Chief Secretary to the Treasury Joel Barnett in the 1970s. The formula has been used as a tool to allocate public spending from the central government in Westminster to the United Kingdom’s devolved powers: Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. These tax revenues can then be used by the regional power to spend on public services as they themselves see fit. Despite the distributions supposedly being based on a fair method corresponding to population size, and therefore the extent to which populations contribute to taxes, there has been notable controversy relating to the disproportionate benefits the Scottish Parliament appears to receive. A well-known example of this was
the Scottish Parliament’s ability to reject university tuition fees, with the standard tuition fee for an undergraduate degree course in Scotland in 2016 standing at £1,820. In comparison, the majority of courses in the rest of the UK amount to £9,000 per annum. As a result of this (and other examples) the Welsh Assembly has claimed, understandably, that it has felt ‘short-changed’ over the past few decades. Following the Scottish referendum, many in Wales were disappointed by the promise to preserve the Barnett formula, leading to David Cameron’s proposal that Wales would receive more devolved powers and direct legislative control over their own affairs in the form of the Wales Bill. These included giving Welsh ministers increased responsibility on both the spending and raising of its own revenue, whilst also promising a “funding floor” to maintain a constant level of income. The Bill has now been approved by the House of Commons and has met some positive response, such as that from Welsh Conservative leader Andrew Davies praising it as a “landmark piece of legislation”. It has proposed to recognise the permanence of the Assembly whilst giving it new powers over elections, energy and transport. It also moves from a list of approved
legislative powers that the Assembly can pass laws on, to one which gives it power over all but a list of reserved powers. However, although this suggests increased Welsh control, Westminster’s list of reserved powers has been seen as too substantial by some, with Lord Wigley of Plaid Cymru claiming that there are as many as 200. Some have stated that the areas covered by this list would in fact reverse devolution, in an attempt by Theresa May to centralise powers by taking them back from the Welsh Government and sparking a “roll-back”. The complicated and unclear nature of the Bill has also raised concerns over the extent to which it could come into effect in practicality, and failure to separate Wales’ legal jurisdiction from England’s has added to criticisms that the Bill doesn’t have the capacity to provide substantial change. First Minister of Wales, Carwyn Jones, who favours the devolution of income tax, has voiced concerns over the details, time scale and failure to guarantee a “funding floor”. He also claims that despite some potential progress, without full reform of the Barnett Formula there is no promise that any changes would be maintained after the end of this Parliament’s office.
Pictured: Above, Yemeni child with “get out” written on his forehead in Arabic (Source: AJTalkEng); below, Westminster Abbey (Photographer: Tom Bennett)
POLITICS 25
Government u-turn on foreign workers list after widespread opposition
Theresa May’s Tory party are forced to abandon plans forcing employers to list their foreign workers after cross-party criticism. Adam George
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The leaders of the SNP, Plaid Cymru and the Greens demanded all progressive parties unite to battle the Tory agenda on immigration
”
The government has retreated from plans to force companies to reveal how many foreign workers it employs. The policy was first outlined by the home secretary, Amber Rudd, at the Conservative party conference last week. Rudd announced that companies would have to “be clear” about the proportion of their workforce that was international, as part of a drive to encourage them to hire locally. It was not just foreign workers targeted in Amber Rudd’s speech, worryingly the home secretary also discussed more controls over foreign students. She announced that the government are looking at ways to reduce the number of people coming from abroad to study at British universities. Rudd stated that the government will “look for the first time at whether our student immigration rules should be tailored to the quality of the course and the quality of the educational institution”. However, these ideas were met by widespread criticism and after several days of pressure senior government officials made it clear that they would not be implementing the policy on listing foreign workers. Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon and Education Secretary Justine Greening in-
sisted the information was aimed at improving Government investment in skills training, and said it would never be made public or used for “naming and shaming”. Criticism came not just from the opposition, but from fellow Conservatives. David Cameron’s former senior advisor, Steve Hilton, labelled the plans as “divisive, repugnant and insanely bureaucratic”. This view was shared by former education secretary Nicky Morgan who was asked on Sky News if she would endorse Mr Hilton’s view of the policy as repugnant, Ms Morgan said: “Yes, I probably would, actually. I think it’s a really inadvisable way to proceed”. Several opposition leaders were quick to denounce the policy, with three of Britain’s left-wing opposition parties breaking usual convention by uniting to condemn the anti-immigration rhetoric. In a joint statement, the leaders of the SNP, Plaid Cymru and the Greens demanded all progressive parties unite to battle the Tory agenda on immigration and leaving the single market. It is not typical for parties to draw attention to themselves during other party’s conferences and certainly for them to come together to
Pictured: Conservative party conference (Source: Wikipedia).
offer a joint statement, but it appears the leaders decided the severity of the rhetoric coming from the Birmingham conference centre merited the statement. The Leader of the Opposition, Jeremy Corbyn, came under fire on social media for not immediately speaking out against Amber Rudd’s speech. However, the recently reelected Labour leader did finally break his silence and release a statement. He accused Theresa May and the Conservatives of “fanning the flames xenophobia and hatred” and added that the Tory party will foster “division” and “discrimination” in communities across Britain. However, Jeremy Corbyn’s best
response to the Conservatives’ xenophobic proposals, comes through actions rather than words. Emboldened by a leadership challenge that only improved his record-breaking mandate, the Labour leader has made history by appointing five parliamentarians from the Black, Asian, and minority ethnic (BAME) community to his new Shadow Cabinet. It is unclear whether or not Theresa May’s Conservative government will actually go forward and implement these policies. However, it does show that the new Prime Minister is willing to appease the right-wing nationalist faction of the Conservative party and also happy to follow through with “hard-Brexit”.
UKIP MEP hospitalised after altercation
Hopeful leadership candidate Steven Woolfe and Mike Hookam involved in scuffle at European Parliament Molly Ambler
“
Mr Hookam continues to deny his role in the altercation and has recently called Mr Woolfe’s collapse “pure Hollywood”
”
U
KIP has been placed into the lime light again with the recent altercation between MEP Steven Woolfe and the party’s Defence Spokesman Mike Hookam. They had attended a party meeting to discuss the leadership crisis, where interim leader Nigel Farage was present. The event came just days after the UKIP leader, Diane James resigned. This meeting, however, went beyond the usual discussion and debate that political life entails. The discussion began to get heated and sources suggest that Mr Woolfe took off his jacket and suggested he and Mr Hookam should take the matter outside. The apparent brawl left Mr Woolfe in hospital shortly after the vote in the European Parliament. Mr Hookam denies punching or pushing Mr Woolfe, insisting he “fell over his own feet.” The cause of this altercation may have been due to Mr Woolfe’s talks with the Conservative party, it has been reported that senior Tories were under the impression Mr Woolfe was about to jump ship before the resignation of James.
In a statement, Mr Woolfe said “I have been enthused by the start to Theresa May’s premiership. Her support of new grammar schools, her words on social mobility and the growing evidence that she is committed to a clean Brexit prompted me, as it did many of my friends and colleagues, to wonder whether our future was within her new Conservative party.” However, in his view it is “only a strong UKIP that can guarantee Brexit is delivered in full.” Many commentators have suggested that this could be main factor behind the pair’s disagreement. Mr Hookam continues to deny his role in the altercation and has recently called Mr Woolfe’s collapse “pure Hollywood”. Hookam has also threatened legal action over claims that he hit him. Mr Woolfe is maintaining his position and pledge commission an independent report to prove his injuries were the result of a punch. UKIP are also investigating the incident. Mr Farage reacted to the altercation saying the incident did not make UKIP “look good”, describing it as
something seen in “Third World Parliaments.” Farage went on to say that he didn’t want to play “the name game” but had suspicions as to who was responsible. There has been a mixed response from other UKIP members with prominent UKIP donor Arron Banks expressing “utter digust” at the comments made by Welsh UKIP leader Neil Hamilton. Hamilton suggested that Mr Woolfe has “picked a fight and came off worst.” Both Mr Woolfe and Mr Hookam face suspension and a cut in daily expenses from the European Parliament. The punishment could last ten days and cost both MEP’s €3,040 in lost claims. President Schulz, who has clashed with UKIP MEP’s before, has ordered the Parliament’s advisory committee for code of conduct to investigate the brawl. After this report, President Schulz will determine the punishment, which can range from a verbal or written warning, cuts to expenses, or even removal from the European Parliament. This altercation could certainly prove very costly to both UKIP MEPs.
Pictured: Steven Woolfe discusses UKIP’s pro business agenda (Source: Cicero Group)
26 POLITICS
Colombia rejects FARC peace deal in shock Jamie McKay
“
Most pundits in Colombia and elsewhere expected the plan was sure to be accepted in the referendum
”
O
ver the past few years the Colombian government and the Marxist-Leninist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, have been engaged in complex and intense peace talks to bring an end to more than 50 years of violence. This year a final agreement was made between the two parties and the incumbent President Juan Manuel Santos has been awarded this year’s Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts. But, just two weeks ago, the agreement was rejected by Colombian voters by a razor-thin margin of less than half a percentage point. The conflict between the two sides has a long history with origins in the assassination of Jorge Eliécer Gaitán, a populist political leader, in 1948 and strong anti-communist suppression in the 60s that saw Marxist militants reorganise themselves in rural areas and form FARC. The conflict has seen an estimated 220,00 dead and upwards of five million people displaced from their homes. Both FARC and the Colombian government and paramilitary groups have been accused of drug trafficking, terrorism, and numerous human rights abuses. Given the numbers of people killed or displaced by the conflict, most pundits in Colombia and elsewhere expected the plan was sure to be accepted in the referendum and that after so many years of suffering people
would jump at the chance for peace. British commentators rushed to make comparisons with last summer’s decision to leave the EU, with the Independent referring to the vote as “Farcxit”. Such comparisons are perhaps understandable, given the dive the Colombian peso took against the dollar amid market uncertainty. Many commentators have contested the reasons for the referendum’s rejection. Critics argued that the deal was too lenient on FARC leaders. Had the deal been passed, FARC leaders would have avoided prison time as long as they made a public apology and paid reparations, the deal would have also seen the group gain ten seats in Congress for the next ten years. The main political leader against the deal was President Álvaro Uribe who led an aggressive campaign against FARC during his eight years in office between 2002 and 2010. In his time as President, he made real progress in combating the guerrilla forces; clearing and occupying former rebel-held areas and increasing police and military presence. However, his time in office was not without scandals concerning alleged corruption and human rights abuses. But his time in office saw the number of FARC guerrillas more than halved and general living standards improved to a large degree. Even without a final peace treaty vi-
Pictured: Colombian defense minister Juan Manuel Santos (Source: Centre for American Progress)
olence in Colombia has seen a sharp decline over the past decade. the number of tourists deciding to visit has shot up and Medellín, a city once known as one of the most dangerous on Earth, has now won several awards
for urban design and dynamism. With FARC on the back foot, a return to previous violence seems unlikely and given the narrow, a renegotiated deal with slightly harsher terms has a greater chance at success.
UK immigration controls may shift to Ireland
UK talks with the Irish government to maintain an open border and underpin the Good Friday Agreement, the Brexit secretary has said. Anna Dutton
Pictured: Stormont, the seat of the Northern Ireland Assembly (Photographer: Robert Paul Young)
I
reland’s government has confirmed that discussions have begun with Britain to try to reach an agreement on how to secure the two countries’ borders after Brexit, control immigration and counter terrorist threats. Post-Brexit talks with European leaders have hinted that free movement will continue as a condition of trading within the single market. It is also believed that influence over immigration laws and border controls are likely to devolve to Northern Ireland, as they voted 54% in favour of remaining. This could leave the Leave campaign red-faced because it is ultimately taking immigration powers from Westminster and handing them to
Ireland. Therefore undermining their ‘take back our borders’ argument in the run up to the referendum. The reason that the British government is seeking to shift the frontline of immigration controls to Ireland’s ports and airports is to avoid having to introduce a “hard-border” between north and south after the UK leaves the European Union. The Northern Ireland secretary, James Brokenshire, has suggested that London and Dublin will work to strengthen Ireland’s external borders to combat illegal migration into the UK once it leaves the European Union. It is not in the interests of anybody to create a ‘hard border’ because the current open border has thus far al-
lowed for free movement of people, capital and trade. If the open border is lost it will reflect badly on Westminster, creating an atmosphere of hostility between the Prime Minister and the Northern Irish Assembly, as well as affecting those in the Republic of Ireland. It is also possible that a “hardborder” may weaken the economic and trading advantages between the two countries, fragmenting relations further. The government has tried to reassure those doubting Northern Ireland’s positon after Brexit by reinforcing Westminster’s commitment to working with the National Assembly. Despite this, questions surrounding industry and business are still unan-
swered and therefore concerning for MP’s and citizens alike. If there was a stricter border system, it could undermine the Good Friday Agreement of 1998 that stressed the commitment to cross-border communication and free movement. If this agreement was to be breached, there could be severe repercussions and further protest in Ireland against its Government. By triggering Article 50 and beginning the process of leaving the EU, there will inevitably be short-term consequences for the UK and subsequently for Ireland; many commentators believe the best way to minimise these risks would be to avoid a “hardBrexit”.
“
European leaders have hinted that free movement will continue as a condition of trading within the single market.
”
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28 SCIENCE
science
Editors: Tanya Harrington Kat Pooprasert @GairRhyddSci science@gairrhydd.com gairrhydd.com/science
Nobel Prize winners for science: the roundup
Josh Green
“
This year’s Nobel prizes have been given to scientists who have been instrumental in expanding horizons in their fields of expertise.
”
Kirby Evans
E
very year, awards are given out to individuals and collaborations that have further pushed the known boundaries of science and humankind as a whole. The Nobel Prizes were established by Alfred Nobel, in the year 1895, and have been awarded for incredible scientific discoveries by icons such as Albert Einstein and Marie Curie. As 2016 is coming to a close, this year’s Nobel prizes have been awarded to scientists who have been instrumental in expanding the horizons in their fields of expertise. The top prize for Physiology or Medicine was given to native Japanese scientist Yoshinori Ohsumi. This year’s award goes to the study and observations, made in the 1990’s of a process called autophagy. This process occurs inside yeast cells and work by Ohsumi show that this process occurs in human cells as well. Autophagy, which can be referred to as “self-eating”, is a mechanism in where a cell recycles unneeded biological material. The work conducted by Ohsumi has led to further conversation and insight into topical illnesses. Links have been drawn to Parkinson’s disease and cancer with mutations in a cell’s autophagy process. Chemistry this year was shared by
T
Pictured: The Nobel Peace Prize, given out to those with outstanding accomplishments. (Photographer: David Holt).
Jean-Pierre Sauvage, Sir J. Fraser Stoddart and Bernard L. Feringa. Their combined work, spanning many decades, focuses on ‘molecular machines’ made from molecules which are around 1000 times smaller than the hair on your scalp! The work started in 1983 with Sauvage linking up two ringshaped molecules to form a mechanical bond between them. Stoddart then took those rings, in 1991, and threaded them onto molecule axles to create molecular lifts, muscles and even a molecular computer chip! Finally, Feringa created a world’s first with a molecular
motor which he was then able to create a ‘nanocar’ using the motor. These types of constructions could be used for the development of new sensors and energy storage systems on the nanoscale (a billionth of a meter!). Finally for science, the prize for Physics went to three scientists for research into quite a complicated matter! You will have to excuse the pre-emptive pun but the Nobel Prize for physics was given to David J. Thouless, F. Duncan M. Haldane and J. Michael Kosterlitz for their theoretical physics work. These three scientists increased our
knowledge of ‘topological phase transitions and topological phases of matter’. This type of research includes looking into exotic states of matter which includes things like ‘superfluids’ which are fluids that have zero viscosity (the liquid flows with zero resistance) and superconductors (which are materials that conduct electricity with no resistance). Their work has inspired others to look into exotic forms of matter and this research could potentially lead to exciting new technology made from exotic materials!
Do we really need 8 glasses of water a day?
he government recommendations and the NHS-endorsed ‘eat well guide’ are consistent in their advice that we should be drinking 6-8 glasses (around 2 litres) of water a day. This is not new information. However, these guidelines have been the topic of many a discussion in recent months and scientists are challenging them regularly. A recent study carried out by Monash University found that, in simple terms, our bodies will try to stop us from over-drinking. It found that a ‘swallowing inhibition’ is activated following the consumption of excess liquid, although once this process has been activated, FMRI scans show that the brain (frontal cortex) steps in to override the swallowing inhibition so drinking can occur. Essentially – our body no longer needs or wants more water, yet it finds a way to allow for both of these opposing processes to both occur. This phenomenon seems odd when we consider that drinking too much water puts the body in danger of water intoxication or hyponatremia; when vital levels of sodium in the blood become so low that they can cause symptoms ranging from lethargy and nausea to convulsions and even induce comas. So is the 8 glass rule in fact a lie? Is it another example of Pseudosci-
ence?* Are water companies brainwashing us into purchasing their products? Well, no. Consider this: The NHS also advise that we should be consuming 5 portions of fruit and vegetables each day. Other countries recommend anything up to 13 portions of vegetables and 4 portions of fruit (Japan, in case you were wondering). So why in the UK is the suggested amount so low? It transpires that a balance has to be found between what is ideal and what is feasible. Our diets, our culture and our day to day timeconstrained lives do not comfortably allow for so much green goodness; and so 5 it is. Similarly, its 6-8 glasses of water. 8 is ideal but 6 will suffice. If on one day you were to only drink 3, you are not going to die from dehydration. But on the flip side, you won’t find yourself in a coma from consuming 9. This being said, water is vital to our survival, and below are 4 of the key functions it has within our body: 1. Cell function 2. Chemical and metabolic reactions (breaking down food) 3. Transport of nutrients and removal of waste (as blood and urine) 4. Body temperature regulation (think about sweat) Further to this, the study previously mentioned fails to explain that
Pictured: That’s a lot of glasses to drink. (Photographer: Roberto Verzo)
“ the water consumed was done so in a short window of time. The idea is that we spread our 2 litres out over the course of the day, to avoid water loading and consequently a ‘swallowing inhibition’. If you do experience this, maybe put the water bottle down. The study also limited its water intake to glasses. It fails to recognise that water is found in food, tea, coffee, milk, and even alcohol. So, as
much as I recommend you not to take this article as certified health advice (by no means am I qualified) I would suggest you take the guidelines with a pinch of salt, because ultimately our bodies know what we need, and if you listen to its signals, you won’t go far wrong. *Ear candles are a prime example of pseudoscience.
These guidlines have been the topic of many a discussion in recent months and scientists are challenging them regularly.
”
SCIENCE 29
Immunotherapy cancer treatment a “game-changer” Kat Pooprasert
“
Patients taking Nivolumab lived for longer compared with those who were treated with chemotherapy.
” Ben Sendell
“
We may see more studies in the future claiming a new limit to human longevity, or ways for us to live longer.
”
A
n immunotherapy drug presented at the European Cancer Congress has been dubbed as a potential “gamechanger”. In a study of head and neck cancer, it was discovered that patients taking Nivolumab survived for longer compared with those who were treated with chemotherapy. This could be potentially promising as head and neck cancer has very poor survival rates. In another study, early data collected from 94 patients with advanced kidney cancer showed that the double hit of Nivolumab and Ipilimumab resulted in a reduction in tumor size in 40% of patients. Moreover, of these patients, one in ten had no sign of cancer remaining. This is significant when compared to standard therapy with 5% of patients showing tumor reduction. Advanced kidney cancer is a widespread medical condition, with around 12,000 people diagnosed in the UK each year, and an average of 12 people die from the disease each day. Peter Waite was one of the patients who started receiving combined immunotherapy (Nivolumab and Ipilimumab) in a clinical trial in early 2015 after doctors discovered he had a type of renal cancer several years after recovering from kidney and lung cancer. Due to his medical condition, he was told he probably had three to five years left to live. Instead of being treated with chemotherapy, as one of the usual treatment methods, he received both immuno-
Pictured: New medication could change lives. (Photographer: Gregor Fisher)
therapy drugs for four months and experienced virtually no side effects. These medications allowed him to continue working as a motor technician throughout the treatment. After performing kidney and lung scans, it was discovered that one of his tumors has shrunk and two others have not shown any further growth. Commenting on his treatment, he described how “I feel a bit of a fraud having terminal cancer because I haven’t been in pain at all” and that he “feel[s] very privileged to have had the opportunity to go on the trial”. Peter is now no longer taking the
drugs but is being monitored every 12 weeks with scans. As of yet, Nivolumab has only been approved for treating skin cancer and in June, it has become one of the fastest medicines every approved for NHS use, in combination with Ipilimumab for the same cancer. Nivolumab and Ipilimumab both interrupt the chemical signals that cancers use to ‘convince’ the immune system that they are healthy tissue. Professor Kevin Harrington of the Institute of Cancer Research and consultant at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London led the head and neck can-
cer rial and described how Nivolumab could be a real “game changer’ for patients with advanced head and neck cancer. He commented, “this trial found that it can greatly extend life among a group of patients who have no existing treatment options, without worsening quality of life”. He also explained how head and neck cancer is extremely difficult to treat once it has relapsed or spread, and that “it’s great news that these results [from the studies] indicate we now have a new treatment that can significantly extend life, and [he is] keen to see it enter the clinic as soon as possible.”
scientists still insist that with advances in diets, nutrition and medicine that humanity will be able to outlive Jeanne Calment’s achievement. Other studies on animals have even found calorie restriction and
genetic manipulation resulted in mice living longer than is normally expected. So, we may see more studies in the future claiming a new limit to human longevity, or ways for us to live longer!
Have we hit our maximum lifespan?
H
umanity seems to have an obsession with living longer and pushing the boundary of death later and later, with some scientists trying to defeat death all together. According to a new study published in the journal Nature, scientists are claiming that there may be a limit as to how long we can live, with the oldest person ever recorded to have lived dying in the 1990s, and since the oldest ages to be reached are shown to be decreasing. Scientists used to believe that it was impossible to live beyond the age of 110. However, a French lady named Jeanne Calment lived to the grand age of 122. She died in 1997 as the oldest recorded person to have ever lived. This shows just how difficult it is for science to predict quite how long humans can live for. Those carrying out the study found that in at least 40 countries, the amount of people living to 70 and beyond has increased since 1900, and as a result of these findings we have seen our life expectancy rise. Scientists hypothesised that if there is no limitation as to how long a human being can live, then the largest survival rate increases should have occurred in those people who are currently the oldest.
The new study used the Human Mortality Database, maintained by researchers in Europe and the U.S.A. It contains information on longevity gathered from around the world. The study also looked into people’s ages at death in the very oldest age range, focusing on deaths between the years 1968-2006. The research focused on the four countries with the largest amount of people living over 110, the United Kingdom, United States, France and Japan. They also examined the highest reported ages between 1972-2015. However, data has shown that the the largest survival rate increases peaked in the 1980s for the oldest age groups. As a result, researchers have suggested this means there may be a natural limitation as to how long we can live. Scientists have therefore summed up from this research that though the oldest reported ages at death rose until the 1990s, it began to level off and even began to decrease again since Calment’s death. The natural ceiling of how long we can live is put at 115 years by the study, yet this doesn’t mean that unnatural ages will not be reached in the future with artificial methods. This means the case may not be closed… despite this research, some
Pictured: Life is short (Photographer: Alan Weir)
30 SCIENCE
Dropping butterfly numbers baffle scientists
Tanya Harrington
“
With little to hint at what may have caused the fall in numbers, scientists and enthusiasts have been speculating.
A
n annual survey known as the “Big Butterfly Count,” was conducted earlier this year, and recorded a worryingly low presence of butterflies and moths of around 12.2 per count – even lower than that found during the inordinately wet summer of 2012. Stranger yet, these findings contrast the high numbers of butterflies and moths found in 2013, which were found to be around 23 per count. This particular survey began running in 2010, but there are records dating back to the 1970s which the group Butterfly Conservation also uses. Yet, despite these extensive information resources, scientists are still having trouble ascertaining the cause behind this recent drop. Over 390,000 butterflies were counted by around 36,000 people, a statistic which certainly sounds proportionally healthy. However, the head of recording for the group, Richard Fox, described the findings as “shocking and disappointing,” stating that “the overall trend has been a decline,” and that there is concern that “a bad year will do lasting damage.” Since the weather this Summer has been well suited to butterflies, this recent trend appears even more baffling. More so, it seems as though certain types of butterfly have been thriving in
the good weather, whereas others have suffered from significant drops. Presence of the red admiral butterfly, for example, has increased by 70%, alongside a rise of 58% for the green-veined white butterfly as well. Contrasting this is the sharp drop in numbers of the common blue butterfly, which is down by 55%, as well as five other types which have dropped by at least 40%. Richard Fox also noted the precarious nature of the situation, adding that “with some rarer species we are already at the point that colonies could be wiped out,” and that this recent plummet could leave them without enough butterflies for those colonies to make a comeback. Considering the impact butterflies have on the ecosystem, it could even be likely that this fall in numbers could have further repercussions for the environment. However, with little to hint at what may have caused the fall in numbers, scientists and enthusiasts have been speculating. Tim Sexton, from the Attenborough Nature Reserve in Nottinghamshire noted that “it seems like the species which migrate, like the red admiral, have done well,” hinting that perhaps Winter conditions could be to blame, as “those which wintered here have
suffered.” This idea works alongside Richard Fox’s own, as he also mentioned “the most extreme thing was the exceptionally mild winter,” but added that, as far as definitive reasons go, “it is debated if that is a good or bad thing for butterflies,” perhaps since it is thought that butterflies fare well in warmer weather. Both Mr Fox and Mr Sexton ap-
Pictured: Oblivious to the tragedy. (Photographer: tdlucas5000)
pear to be worried about the continued presence of Butterflies locally, with Mr Sexton mentioning that “we might even risk local extinctions,” and so it seems this could be another example of changing within ecosystems as a result of global temperature changes. However, without any definitive answer, it is important that this issue is looked into with the aim of recovery in mind.
” Airlines sign controversial deal to “offset” CO emissions 2
Critics say it won’t make any difference
Joshua Lee
“
The world needs more than voluntary agreements. Without robust environmental safeguards the offsets won’t cut emissions.
”
T
he UN International Civil Aviation Organisations (ICAO) has struck a landmark agreement to cut carbon emissions from international aviation from 2020, although there is concern from environmental groups that the emissions deal may do little to cut the aviation industry’s contribution to man-made climate change. The deal, announced last Thursday following years of negotiations, will not directly restrict CO2 emissions, but instead require airlines to offset any increases in carbon emissions from international cargo and passenger flights through a system of carbon credits. These are sold to airlines so that carbon emissions can be reduced elsewhere, such as through tree planting. The scheme will become compulsory for all ICAO member-states in 2027, but dozens of countries have already agreed to join the program from 2020. These countries represent around 83 percent of international flight operations. While Olumuyiwa Bernard Aliu, ICAO’s president, described the agreement as a “bold decision and an historic moment”, the deal was met with disappointment by environmental groups. This offsetting proposal is seen as falling short of the initial goals set by the airline industry to have carbon-natural growth by 2020 and a 50% absolute reduction in aircraft carbon emissions by 2050. Clauses linking the deal to the goals in the Paris climate agreement to limit global warming to 1.5/2°C were also
removed. “Airline claims that flying will now be green are a myth” said Bill Hemmings, aviation director of the concern group Transport and Environment: “Taking a plane is the fastest and cheapest way to fry the planet and this deal won’t reduce demand for jet fuel one drop.” The offsetting scheme will use emissions levels in 2020 as a benchmark, meaning that emissions above 2020 levels will be offset until 2035. Overall about 80 percent of emissions above the benchmark will be offset, but this only accounts for 20% of total emissions, translating to roughly 2.5 billion tons of CO2. There were also concerns about the lack of environmental safeguards in the report, with the potential for abuse through the purchasing of ‘risky credits’. “The ICAO Assembly Resolution is missing clear references to sustainable development, strong international oversight and overall environmental integrity” said Kelsey Perlman, Policy Officer for Aviation and Land Use at Carbon Market Watch. The group described the deal as unclear, and called on ICAO to improve the agreement and ensure that the system is effective in combating climate change. Bill Hemmings added: “Today is not mission accomplished for ICAO, Europe or industry. The world needs more than voluntary agreements. Without robust environmental safeguards the offsets won’t cut emissions, leaving us with a deal that amounts to little more than add-
Pictured: Planes emit far more CO2 than other modes of transport. (Photographer: Rose Davies)
ing the price of a cup of coffee to a ticket.” Air-travel accounts for 1.3 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, but nitrogen oxide and water vapour emissions from aircraft have a much
larger impact on climate at high altitudes compared to at ground level. Aircraft carbon dioxide emissions are expected to quadruple by 2050, accounting for 22 percent of global CO2 emissions.
32 SOCIETIES
societies
Editors: Aletheia Nutt Tom Morris @GairRhyddSoc societies@gairrhydd.com gairrhydd.com/societies
Milly’s Note:
Milly Dyer VP Societies
H
Loads of new Society applications!
ello/Shwmae,, another week means that there are even more events for you to keep getting involved with! Keep an eye out on our Give it a Go pages to see if there are any events that take your fancy. Thank you to anyone who got involved in Mind Your Head Week – Inner Child Day was definitely a highlight for me. Who doesn’t like bouncy castles
& ball pits! We have been having loads of new Society applications through in the last few weeks & the Societies Exec have been busy reading through them. If your interest isn’t represented in our current list of Societies and you can get together 20 members then please apply! The best thing about Societies is that they are a way for you to meet with
‘Give it a Go’ is a Students’ Union initiative showcasing opportunities and taster sessions available to all Cardiff University students. Think of it like ‘try before you buy’ for clubs, societies, volunteering, language courses and skills development. Add to that a load new exciting opportunities like trips around the country, Playzone nights, Bubble Football tournaments, Speed Dating, Weekend Breaks and you get Cardiff ’s Give it a Go! Listed below are some of the GIAG events in the coming week. For more details on how to buy tickets, times/dates of events go to the GIAG website: https://www.cardiffstudents.com/whatson/ giveitago/ Evening with PwC Monday 17th October 2016 19:00-21:00, Main Building, Julian Hodge Theatre We hope you’re settling well into university life . We wanted you be the first to hear about our upcoming “Evening with PwC” event at Cardiff University. This is always our biggest event of the year, which often attracts around 300 students.
people that share your interests. Examples of new Societies over the past few months include Catalan Society, Medieval Re-enactment Society and Medical Education Society. I hope you have a great week and as ever, if you have any Society related queries please email me at VPSocieties@Cardiff.ac.uk.
Not only will you hear from a Partner at our firm, you’ll learn more about the skills & attributes we look for, gain a better understanding of how to perform well in our process, and have the opportunity to network with our staff across a range of departments. Of course, this is a great opportunity to learn more about the different business areas we recruit into, and should certainly help to answer any questions you have about the various career routes on offer. We welcome students from all universities, degree programmes and year groups to this event, and offer placement opportunities for all year groups too. In addition, Wine, soft drinks and nibbles will be provided on the night, and there are often a few surprises in store as well. To reserve your place for 17 Oct, please click on the web link below: PwC Presentation evening: http://pwc. to/2d5wVBz Global Opportunities: Thinking of going global? Tuesday 18 October 2016 19:30-21:00, The Lodge, 2nd Floor, Students’ Union
Information session and quiz giving you a flavour of your study, work or volunteer options. Win an STA Travel voucher. Come along to the Global Opportunities quiz and information session to test your international knowledge and be in with a chance of winning a travel voucher from STA. We’ll also be giving you a flavour of where you can study, work or volunteer and the funding that’s available. For enquiries, please contact GO@cardiff.ac.uk.
showing a different film for FREE at 8pm every Tuesday and Thursday of term. If you are not in the mood to go out, come and join us- a good film makes for a much more comfortable evening. What’s the plan? Just bring yourself, there’s no need to bring a ticket or print out, but please sign up online so we know numbers. The film starts at 8pm, and should be finished between 10pm-11pm. The film is entirely free. Bring any drinks, ice cream or snacks you want.
Film Night- Spectre
Black History Month Film Night- Glory Road
Tuesday 18 October 2016 20:00-22:00, Lounge, 3rd Floor, SU Do you want to enjoy a great movie on a big screen, without the cinema price tag? If so, you’ll love our Give it a Go cinema screenings in the Lounge! Open to all, don’t hesitate to come along - we’ll be showing a different film for FREE at 8pm every Tuesday and Thursday of term. If you’re not in the mood to go out, come and join us - a good film makes for a much more comfortable evening. What’s the plan? Just bring yourself, there’s no need to bring a ticket or print out, but please sign up online so we know numbers. The film starts at 8pm, and should be finished between 10pm - 11pm. The film itself is entirely free. Bring any drinks, ice cream or snacks you want. Black History Month- Share Your Story Thursday 20 October 2016 19:00-21:00, The Boardroom, 3rd Floor, SU Share your story for Black History Month. Interested in listening to other black students’ experiences? Come along, come with friends, course-mates, lab partners, anyone. You can even share your story if you want to. NUS Wales Black and Ethnic Minorities Officer will be present to share her own story. This is a must attend event. Film Night- Blended Thursday 20 October 2016 20:00-22:00, Lounge, 3rd Floor, SU Do you want to enjoy a great movie on a big screen, without the cinema price tag? If so you’ll love our Give It A Go cinema screenings in the Lounge. Open to all, don’t hesitate to come along- we’ll be
Friday 21 October 2016 19:30-21:30, 4I, Students’ Union Celebrating Black History Month through film: Glory Road. How can we know for certain that racism is real? Do people just exaggerate the effects of racial abuse? This touching film explores all these topics (racism, discrimination and sports). Halloween Playzone! Fri 28 October 2016 19:00-00:00, Meeting at the Back of Students’ Union . Get hold of your ticket now for the ultimate night of halloween fun. This trip is leaving at 7pm today from the back of the Students’ Union (Senghenydd Road). Brave a night of spooky fun like no other this Halloween Friday night with the Students’ Union. Grab your halloween custome, your vodka slushy and get ready to find your inner child! Every Friday the children’s play centre becomes a strictly over 18s night with a bar, hot and cold snacks and of course vodka slush puppies. The coaches will be leaving from the back of the Students’ Union building at 7pm. From there the coaches will take everyone to Swansea Playzone in Llansamlet for 8pm where you have up to 3 hours vodka slushy fueled play time! At 11pm we’ll be leaving Swansea and you should be back in Cardiff by 12am. Tickets cost £20 for non-students and £17 for students, included in the price of tickets are; transport to Swansea, entry to Playzone and transport back to Cardiff.
SOCIETIES 33
Cardiff Volunteering launches the Student Safety Walk Scheme: A first hand account with Alastair Babington
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Over Freshers’ week we encountered numerous individuals who needed our assistance
” Pictured: A group of volunteers who work with the Student Safety Walk Scheme.
founder, Alastair Babington!
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he Safety Walk was first thought up back in November of 2015, in response to the sexual attacks that happened around the Students’ Union. Unsatisfied with the response that happened afterwards I saw that these attacks would only continue unless if a new approach was taken. After approaching the student union with the idea for the safety walk, I was given a positive response and asked to get potential volunteers registered as well as to do research into other similar schemes. In doing so I learnt that schemes such as the safety walk scheme were quite common throughout the rest of the UK and that there was similar scheme happening in Cardiff - the ‘Street Pastors’. However, the Street Pastors didn’t operate around the Students’ Union and only worked at the weekend. This showed me how there was a need for such a scheme which was further proven when we launched during Freshers week in September 2016. Over Freshers week we encountered numerous individuals who needed our assistance, ranging from asking for directions to those needing first aid and a ride to the alcohol treatment centre. Not including people who needed directions, we helped over 60 people and 14 of those were referred to the safety bus so they definitely needed help getting home. Our very first case was the typical situation of a lone drunk female, separated from her friends and there were two males insisting on walking
her home. The woman didn’t know the two men so it was suggested that she stayed with us as we tried to find her friends. After a few minutes we were able to get her friends on the phone and arrange a meeting point where we helped them to be reunited. This is just one of the many situations that we’ve helped in during our time operating, showing that there is a clear demand for us. The response to us from students has been largely positive with people thanking us for our help and even some people finding us on multiple nights just to say thank you for the other night. We’re always looking for new volunteers, who will receive first aid training as well as conflict management training thanks to one of sponsors, Safeguard Medical Services LT. Our other two main sponsors; Endsleigh insurance, and Tesco provide us with all the necessary gear to keep our volunteers safe which is our number one priority during a patrol. Equipment includes; torches, Hi Vis, first aid packs, and radios that are directly linked in with the police giving us instant assistance if there is an emergency. Our main priority on a night out is to support local authorities and other services as we act as an extra pair of eyes and ears to look out for anyone who’s in need of help. If you’re interested in joining then please find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/16294194239899 75/?ref=bookmarks or email Cardiff Volunteering Volunteering@cardiff. ac.uk
Societies Spotlight:
Will the real Comedy Society please stand up? Tom Morris
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omedy society once again started their year with a stand-up showcase of all the talent festering in their ranks at the Lounge, just off Y Plas. The nearby Poker and Yoga societies must have wondered what on earth they were doing, as all kinds of expletives and absurdities bellowed from the mouths of Cardiff ’s quick thinking quippers. Old hands like Daniel Neenan, Elliot Badcock (now bearded) and Jason Truelove took to the stage. Dan Hughes in his smart suit compered, this time freshly adorned with his half marathon medal which he didn’t brag about- not at all, really. Harrison Webb split up the onslaught of jokes to deliver a long sermon about the edgiest things he could think of, giving aching jaw muscles a rest and
letting butt cheeks get clenched instead. The sets of student comedians were split up by some young visitors from elsewhere in Wales, driving the audience to raucous applause. These were: Calum Stewart, Alex Perkes, James Wilkinson and Sam Lloyd. There was deadpan delivery and there were quite a few young men attempting to make a career out of stand-up. Best of luck to them all, they were of a calibre comparable to the majority of the acts I saw at the Edinburgh Fringe. There was a noticeable lack of female talent (former feminine funnypeople having graduated) but this week the society held another event to get the young women of the University interested in writing and performing comedy, a Women’s Work-
shop. Before you pull the tokenism card, they also hosted a workshop for everyone to attend. The comedy society mainly encompasses performed comedy, whether that be stand up or sketch, but any passion for writing, filming or throwing shit at walls is also encouraged. They host a number of events regularly just like these performances, and encourage everyone to have a go at performing themselves (not unlike Gair Rhydd in fact). Aside from rehearsal, performance, and humorous socials, they also regularly visit the Thursday stand-up variety show Comedy Carousel at Glee Club in Cardiff Bay. If you can’t convince your flatmates to go to a comedy club instead of a night club, it’s worth tagging along on your own anyway!
SPORT 35
“Legless” Lacrosse victorious in intense AU Dodgeball tournament Dodgeball defeated and Events team irate after unprecedented show
Tom Morris
George Watkins
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he Athletic Union’s Dodgeball tournament went down a storm on Thursday 13th, with more than a dozen teams of five or more students gathering at the Great Hall for what was supposed to be friendly competition to win a couple of VKs and promote Coppafeel breast awareness, the Cardiff Hornets dodgeball club and the mental health themed Mind Your Head Week. This turned out to be sorely mistaken, as friendly tussles between Airsoft Society’s camouflaged We Go Commando team and the Welfare Exec’s brave entry (headed up by Gair Rhydd’s own George Watkins) later turned to deadly showdowns between bitter enemies. These were not, however, the showdowns expected. After being beaten to second place by the unstoppable force of Lacrosse last year,
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Dodgeball (now rebranded as Cardiff Hornets UDC) was hopeful for victory. However, as many of their most experienced players (including, in the interests of transparency, me) had to referee the tournament, their team consisted of mostly freshers and as such didn’t manage the victory they had hoped for. Perhaps also the lack of free Red Bull changed peoples’ fortunes. The unexpected brute force of Do You VK, a team of Students Union staffers, did well but perhaps They Shouldn’t Have VKed because some members of the group got a little testy with the refereeing team. Sudden death rematches were arranged, catching kings faced each other down and the crowd went wild, their chants heard from the media office two floors up. The tournament adjourned for
a short break before quarter finals, myself and other refs hitting the bar and the balls pretty hard to let off some steam. Having to watch our own team get beaten to the top place and be unable to help them was no fun experience, despite what the protestations of those surrounding the court seemed to think. Amongst the wrath and the dashed hopes however, there were several success stories. The undoubted man of the match was Matt of Lacrosse, who played the entire tournament on a crutch. He regularly dropped the crutch and suicidally dived for a ball, catching it but most likely sending himself into further pain. Whilst many players would say they were shattered after the event, no doubt Matt was the only one who could say so literally. Elin and the AU exec held a pres-
entation ceremony at the end to much applause. The refs were presented with a £5 Taf food voucher, and Lacrosse a crate of VKs. Second place team, “Decks out for Harambe,” their words not mine, got a bottle of Corky’s. Perhaps they should have been presented with the last pint of Gaymers in the SU? Despite the lack of Red Bull, the electrifying energy filling the room beat any other event I’ve been to in the Great Hall, from concerts to awards. There really is nothing in the world quite like the annual AU dodgeball tournament. If you are interested in regular dodgeball, join the aforementioned Freshers in their training to become world class players, with coaching from international level Welsh dodgeball players every Thursday, 9pm at Talybont sports hall.
Game on for Welfare Exec team
ith tensions high, my team, representing the Welfare Executive, stepped into the arena and gazed around us. As it is Mind Your Head Week on campus, Hollie Cooke, our VP Welfare was dressed as an elephant (mental health as the elephant in the room), but there was much more to see. A
fluorescent, flamboyant flamingo, a whole team dressed in camouflage gear, packs and all, not to mention the heroic dodgeball warrior playing on crutches. Suddenly the game was on, and with dance music echoing from the corner, balls were flying left, right and centre. Spectators were hit and barriers were knocked
over. Nowhere was safe. The roar as one player faced off against a team or went mano a mano against one opponent was electric. I took a healthy smart to the face, as did various other players, but it was worth it, as a competitive edge I hadn’t seen since Sports Day in Year 6 took hold. I was smacking my hand together, shout-
ing, chanting and celebrating whenever the tiniest thing happened. The heat added to the tension, as the teams were whittled down one by one, until finally the victor remained, and it was time for everyone to go home for dinner, spandex and all. I think the best team name, though, was ‘Dodgy Balls’!
Pictured: Left, the referee team, and right, the winning team, Lacrosse Mavericks
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The undoubted man of the match was Matt of Lacrosse, who played the entire tournament on a crutch.
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36 SPORT
Jack Marshman makes history as first Welsh fighter to be signed by UFC
Paul Hilleard
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This is a brilliant time in the life of the former solider - Marshman was a Lance Corporal with the 3rd Battalion Parachute Regiment.
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n 6th October 2016 the Ultimate Fighting Championship made history by signing Jack ‘Hammer’ Marshman, the company’s first ever Welsh fighter. The 26-year-old from Abertillery, Gwent, has been training under the watchful eye of Richard Shore, at the Tillery Combat MMA Academy, for over 10 years. Shore spoke of his close relationship with Marshman by claiming to have “shed a tear” when he heard the news. Marshman, meanwhile, thanked his coach, who he first met when he was 15-yearsold. He said “I’ve had a long and tough MMA career with huge ups and massive downs and Richard has stuck by my side throughout. “If it wasn’t for him (Shore) and my team at Tillery Combat - I had my doubts and thought about knocking it on the head - but they pushed me to a world title and now a UFC contract.” However, Marshman does not see getting to the UFC as an end goal, instead he believes this to be “just the beginning”. That beginning will take place at UFC Fight Night 99 Belfast, on November 19, at the SSE Arena
against Swedish-born fighter Magnus Cedenblad. Cedenblad holds a professional record of 14-4 and has competed in the UFC since 2012. Of the five fights he has competed in for the company, Cedenblad lost only his debut and is currently riding a four-win streak (twice by guillotine choke, unanimous decision and TKO). Marshman also comes into this fight with a winning streak of six, with only one of those wins being by decision. Marshman holds an amateur record of 2-1, defeating two of his opponents in the same night at G&S Fight Night 2 in 2007, when he was only 16-years-old. The ‘Hammer’ turned professional a few weeks after his 20th birthday, which has led to him fighting for multiple organizations, including BAMMA and Cage Warriors (which was recently bought by the UFC), racking up a professional record of 20-5. Although this is a brilliant time in the life of the former solider - Marshman was a Lance Corporal with the 3rd Battalion Parachute Regiment – his new contract is somewhat bittersweet. He must now relinquish his Cage Warriors Middleweight Championship (185lbs), a title he has held since
Pictured: (Left) Jack Marshman is tipped to be a rising star. (Below) Boxing at the Olympic gmes (via Flickr)
his TKO victory over Christopher Jacquelin in July of this year. Marshman follows in the path of many other former Cage Warrior competitors, who have had to let go of their championships to further their MMA career on the road to the UFC. Current UFC Women’s Strawweight (115lb) Champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk previously held the CW Strawweight Championship. Most famously, Conor McGregor had to relinquish both his CW Lightweight (155Lb) and Featherweight (145Lb) championships before making the leap to the UFC. So, as Jack ‘Hammer’ Marshman prepares to make history as the first
ever Welshman to set inside the octagon, what does this mean for the rest of the Welsh MMA community? The door is wide open. The ‘Hammer’ took it off its hinges, and in doing so, he has given hope to Welsh teams and fighters, proving that it is possible to make it into the major leagues of MMA. And with the mass amount off Welsh talent such as Lewis ‘The Foot’ Long, John “The White Mike Tyson” Phillips, Brett ‘The Pikey’ Johns, Ffion Eira Davies, Jack Shore, Joshua Ellis and Aaron Khalid and the sheer amount of high quality MMA clubs in Wales, I’m sure Jack Marshman won’t be alone for long.
Cardiff boxing event postponed
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Marshman does not see getting to the UFC as an end goal, instead he believes this to be ‘just the beginning’.
Frank Warren card featuring Welsh fighter Liam Williams and World Champion Billy Joe Saunders put back to November 26 due to injuries Rich Jones
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The 27-yearold was due to defend his World title for the first time after defeating Andy Lee by majority decision back in 2015.
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elsh boxing fans have been left frustrated after Frank Warren’s October 22 card at the Motorpoint Arena was put back to November 26. Rhondda-based fighter Liam Williams had been due to defend his British Super-Welterweight title against Ahmet Patterson whilst WBO World Middleweight Champion Billy Joe Saunders was scheduled to take on Artur Akakov. But both fighters picked up injuries on the same day last week leaving promoter Warren with little choice except to postpone the event. Williams, 24, won his crown with a dominant 1st round stoppage of Kris Carslaw in 2015 and defended his belt in memorable fashion with an exhilarating 11th round stoppage of the unbeaten Gary Corcoran in July. His stunning success over Corcoran in Cardiff earned him a wealth of admirers to set up a huge encounter with highly-rated Londoner Patterson. Although he is a mandatory challenger, Patterson has won all of his 17 professional bouts and will be sure to offer Williams a stern test in front of his home crowd. Whilst the Welshman will no
doubt be frustrated to face a monthlong wait before their showdown, he is nonetheless in a good place following his eye-catching victory against Corcoran. He scooped the Boxing Writers’ Young Boxer of the Year award earlier this month and moved up to third in the WBO World Rankings. As he closes in on a World title fight, his eagerly-anticipated encounter with Patterson could be a crucial moment in his blossoming career. Saunders, meanwhile, was a late addition to the card after Chris Eubank Jr pulled out of a bout with Tommy Langford due to an elbow injury. The 27-year-old was due to defend his World title for the first time after defeating Andy Lee by majority decision back in 2015. However, a muscle injury has prevented him from taking part and left Warren lamenting his misfortune when organising a bumper night of boxing in the Welsh capital. In a statement on his website, frankwarren.com, he said: “We have obviously not had a lot of luck with this event, first of all being let down by Chris Eubank Jnr and now the two main fights on a card falling out
on the same day. “We have no choice but to postpone the card to a month later so everyone is given time to recover. “I apologise to the fans for any inconvenience this may cause. It is extremely frustrating as the event
is already essentially sold out and we were all geared up for a cracking night of boxing on the 22nd October in Cardiff.” Tickets purchased for the original October 22 date will remain valid for the restaging.
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SPORT 37
Giggs snub is proof that British managers are viewed as an immense gamble Why are so many clubs unwilling to take the risk on young, developing British managers?
Shaun Davey
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A somewhat gamble and something which is becoming allpart of a contiuing algorithm thrust within the English game.
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Rich Jones
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irst and foremost, the issue is time. Football is plagued with the attitude that it is a results business. Each club’s hierarchy strive for quick success; and why shouldn’t they? They’ve spent or invested millions of pounds, but in hindsight its clear to see that foreign ownership may be an indicator of why so many British managers are being squeezed out of the game, in the search for instant prosperity. This reluctance was clear for all to see surrounding the recent managerial vacancy at Swansea City. It was reported that former Manchester United man Ryan Giggs was ‘snubbed’ for the Swans job after an ‘underwhelming interview’. A lack of managerial experience was quoted as one of the reasons for his failure; but is this not a recurring, rhetorical theme that whispers up and down the English football leagues? If we look as Swansea as a prime example; they parted company with Gary Monk last season - a decision that infuriated some of their fan base - and replaced him with Francesco Guidolin. In all fairness, the Italian kept the Swans up last year but inadvertently was removed from his duties after just seven games into this campaign. The bookies favourite and former Welsh legend Ryan Giggs was shortlisted to take over the reigns and some saw it as an ‘ideal fit’ for the club. However, despite holding crunch talks with chairman Huw Jenkins regarding the role, the club’s USbased owners opted for the former USA boss, Bob Bradley. Therein lies the problem. Giggs, although inex-
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perienced as a head coach, knows the Premier League whereas Bradley becomes the first American to try his luck in the top tier of English football. The move is something of a gamble and the sort of move that is becoming part of a continuing algorithm thrust within the English game. This idea that foreign influx offers something different to what a British manager can is debatable and can be viewed in numerous ways. You only have to look at a club like Liverpool and view the impact of Jurgen Klopp. The charismatic German has given the club, even the city a lift and it is doubtful whether a similar impact would have been visible from a British manager. Would Alan Pardew or Eddie Howe, two capable English manager, have given them such a lift? Often, clubs do not gamble due to money. Managers in Britain are generally given more control than in other countries. The best managers in the world want to come and try their luck in the Premier League, and this combination of factors limits the opportunities for British coaches. So where do they go? They try their luck down the lower leagues, with the hope of breaking into the wealthy elite of the Premier League. The proof is there. British managers succeed in the lower leagues, with Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe being a prime example. Yet it can be difficult to break the label as a ‘lower league manager’. The likes of Steve Bruce, Neil Warnock and Mick McCarthy have regularly succeeded at a lower level, earning numerous promotions to the top flight. In the case of Bruce, he has often enjoyed creditable success in the
Premier League, but for whatever reason the big jobs have not come calling. Some work their way up and take the opportunities on offer such as Howe at Bournemouth. But for every Eddie Howe, there is a David Moyes, a Gary Neville, and to, some
extent even a Roy Hodgson. Numerous British managers in such a mould seem to fail when they get the lucrative jobs, and until a British manager succeeds on a national and European stage, the trend for them to get overlooked will almost certainly continue.
Cardiff Marathon delayed to 2018
he Cardiff Marathon planned for April 2017 has been put back by 12 months. After the huge success of the Cardiff Half Marathon, organisers Run 4 Wales announced they would be hosting their first full marathon next year. But they have now revealed the race will not take place until April 2018 to allow more time to plan a suitable route. The increase in distance to 26.2 miles brings about a number of logistical issues such as road closures around the area. Run4Wales Chief Executive Matt Newman nonetheless believes the ground-breaking event will be worth the wait. He told the BBC: “Rather than try
to stage the event in 2017, we feel it is more important to provide the perfect course for runners of all abilities. “There are a number of opportunities that need to be further explored in order to deliver an iconic route for the runners to enjoy. “Having fully explored all the possibilities with Cardiff Council and Vale of Glamorgan Council regarding the best possible route we have decided not to rush things. “It is obvious there is a huge desire from the running community within Wales and beyond for a quality marathon event. Cardiff Bay will instead host an event in April in order to cater for runners in the area after 22,000 people took part in the Half Marathon earlier in the month.
Newman continued: “In the meantime, there will be an event in April 2017 that will give everyone a flavour of what we want to deliver a year later. “This will include training events at venues around the course, information for runners and a general build up to what we hope can become a huge day in the Welsh sporting calendar.” The Cardiff Half Marathon on October 2 proved to be a roaring success in terms of both participation and competition. There were a record-breaking number of runners whilst course records were broken in both the men’s and women’s races in near-perfect conditions. Kenya’s Shadrack Kibet Korir and Violah Jepchumba won the men’s and
women’s races respectively after seeing off stern competition in a strong field. Welsh Half-Marathon Champion Dewi Griffiths finished in a creditable eighth place whilst Ebbw Vale’s Richie Powell won the men’s wheelchair race. It is hoped the jump to a full marathon will add to Cardiff ’s growing reputation as a venue for elite longdistance running. The city also hosted the World Half Marathon Championship last year and is now looking to complement the London Marathon as one of the top races in the UK. The 2017 Cardiff Half Marathon has already been announced to take place on October 1 next year and is sure to once again generate a high level of interest.
Pictured: Ryan Giggs spent time under Louis van Gaal at Manchester United (via Flickr).
38 SPORT
It’s time to get to work, Mr Coleman Mark Wyatt
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The numbers don’t echo the idea that Wales are struggling though. Since France they have managed to increase their average possession, goals scored and shots on target.
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Gareth Axenderrie Cardiff Blues Columnist
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Consistency is key for Wales to ensure they aren’t left behind in international football
n 9th July 2015 Wales made history gaining their highest FIFA world ranking ever, reaching the top 10 for the first time. Since then the team have gone on to reach the dizzy new heights of international football, qualifying for a first major tournament since 1958. Their appearance at EURO 2016 sparked a new breed of life into the team and Wales made even more history as they knocked out Belgium and Northern Ireland whilst topping their group on the way to the semi-finals. Losing out to eventual winners Portugal was tough seeing as the squad got so close to the finale, but few can criticise the side for achieving the unimaginable. Since Wales’ exploits in France business has resumed as usual for Chris Coleman and his team. Qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia now takes priority and navigating through a difficult group featuring Austria, Serbia and the Republic of Ireland amongst others will be tough. The group has provided a mixed bag of results so far for Wales however, with a 4-0 home drubbing over Moldova, a 2-2 draw away to Austria and an embarrassing 1-1 draw at home
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ardiff Blues head into their first European Challenge Cup pool fixtures looking to overcome the first blip of a promising start to the season. Following impressive victories in their first four league games, a cagey loss to Leinster and a humbling away to the Ospreys have followed. Any time spent dwelling on a change of fortune will be short lived however, as a challenging and exciting European campaign gets under way on Friday night. With the Blues chasing European success for the first time since 2010,
with minnows Georgia last week. What Wales now need to ensure if they are to keep their status as a top 10 team is to find consistency. Qualifying for the World Cup through the automatic positions is an expectation of the team right now, which is something Wales have rarely experienced. Going into the summer in France fans were hopeful, but not expecting miracles. Now it’s time to realise that Wales are no longer an underdog team. A dismal second half performance against Georgia in Cardiff has shown cracks in the Welsh wide. Chris Coleman admitted his side were lucky to have taken away a point and so it is difficult to see if this game is just a minor setback for Wales or if it has exposed something much deeper and troubling for the team. The numbers don’t echo the idea that Wales are struggling though. Since France they have managed to increase their average possession, goals scored and shots on target. Yes, I know that Moldova don’t pose the same threat as Belgium, yet in order to post the numbers they have been the players need to be just as motivated as they were in the sum-
mer. Furthermore Wales were without key players for some of their matches, one notable absentee was the talismanic Aaron Ramsey whose hamstring kept him out of the game. If the Georgia match showed anything to Chris Coleman, it must be that his side miss Ramsey and Joe Allen badly when they are not in the team. His words after the match show just how much that result resounded with him - “I’d have been amazed if we we’d gone through the campaign without a blip and without somebody giving you a little tap on the shoulder to just remind you how difficult it is at this level - we got one today for sure and I’m not used to being disappointed at the end of 90 minutes.” The result was more than a ‘little tap’ for Wales but Coleman is ensuring it does not affect his players too much and he has his sights firmly set on the future. He told the media after the match that “It’s not the end of the world, it’s only three games in, and we’ve got good games coming up – so this is a nice little test for us actually, we came back from the tournament (the European Championships) with our tails up and rightly so. But we’ve just had
a little slap around the back of the head.” The next set of qualifiers will be a difficult challenge for the side as they face Serbia at home, a side who won both of their games over the last international break including an impressive 3-2 win against Austria. Wales will be keen to put their qualifying campaign back on track with a win but this test will be much harder than anything Wales have faced before. The 1-1 draw with the Georgians is the first major setback Coleman has experienced from his team for quite some time. This will be a different type of pressure for the squad. In France they played with freedom, knowing whatever happened they had made their country proud just by reaching the finals. Now the team need to overcome this hurdle, forgetting their previous outing and focusing solely on the next challenge. This is where fans will see the real Wales. They will need to dig in and get a result because that is what teams in the top 10 are capable of doing and neither Chris Coleman nor his team will be willing to lose their status without a fight.
a trip across the Severn Bridge lies in wait this weekend. Opponents Bristol, whose squad includes Welsh expats Gavin Henson, Ian Evans and Jordan Williams, are well known to Danny Wilson, who was the club’s forwards coach prior to his move to the Welsh capital in 2015. The home side have had a tough start to their first season back in England’s top flight, losing six from six. Despite a series of close defeats like last weekend’s narrow away loss to Worcester, like the Blues, they’ll be keen to use Europe to gain
traction and build some momentum. Danny Wilson’s men have also been drawn alongside English giants Bath, who are finding the form that was so badly missing at The Rec last season. Looking a completely different animal and having already notched impressive victories over Gloucester and Northampton, many are already backing them for European success. Taulupe Faletau is currently unavailable through injury, but fellow Welshmen Rhys Priestland and Luke Charteris feature in a Bath squad filled with world class quality.
Finally, but far from making up the numbers, are French side Section Paloise (Pau). French clubs haven’t taken the Challenge Cup that seriously in recent years, but a side that includes New Zealanders Colin Slade and Conrad Smith, as well as recent acquisition Steffon Armitage, will be no mugs, especially at home. So, the season gets no easier for the Blues over the next couple of weekends, but European fixtures rarely lack a generous amount of passion and excitement; something the Capital region will be desperate to harness.
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His side miss Ramsey and Joe Allen badly when they are not in the team.
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Pictured: ‘Together Stronger’, Wales players huddle up. Photograher: Jon Candy)
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Con’t: Alun Wyn Davies explains how Cardiff University can become a rugby stronghold
James Lloyd
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There’s a sense of optimism amongst the club this year, championed by Davies’ vision of turning the team into a dominant force on and off the pitch.
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Jack Cutler
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Results over the past week mean Welsh fans could be forgiven for feeling slightly disappointed.
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Philip Marsh Cardiff City Columnist
H
e added: “The guy deserves a medal, to be on his own and dealing with essentially 80 players on a weekly basis is fantastic. “I’ve wanted to surround Rich with good people to help him. It was one of the first things I sorted when I came on board, to support Rich and it’s a fantastic first measuring stick really in winning the Blues Cup, and long may their success continue.” Davies has coached the Wales women’s side at two Six Nations’ tournaments and a World Cup – where they secured their highest ever finish. “My involvement in the women’s game is reflected in the input I’ve tried to put in at women’s team here. I’ve done a few sessions with the girls now and I want to do more. I’m ecstatic that Rich wanted to continue this year”, added Davies. There’s a sense of optimism amongst the club this year, championed by Davies’ vision of turning the team into a dominant force on and off the pitch, and in both the men’s and women’s game. You get the picture that the new
Head is continually twiddling his thumbs and wanting to make things happen, though Davies knows it’s no overnight job. He explained: “We’re looking at different angles. When I say I want Cardiff to be synonymous with an elite rugby environment, I mean it. “There’s family dynamic and family values that runs quite deep in rugby. To link the men’s and the women’s together is important for me to keep the foundations building.” After April’s narrow Varsity loss, Davies hinted that revenge is close to the top of his wish list. “It will always be on the back of your mind. It’s going to take time and it’s the old cliché of taking a game at a time. “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t thinking about it, but we at the moment live in the present”, admitted Davies. The men’s first team have played two matches so far, beating Hartpury 22-14 in their opening fixture before losing 38-22 away at Bristol last Wednesday. The Red and Blacks will play UWE this Wednesday in their third BUCS game of the season.
Pictured: Davies lines up for a scrum for Swansea RFC (via LinkedIn). Below: Wales boss Chris Coleman gives instructions on the touchline. (Photographer: Jon Candy).
Wales drop to third after two consecutive draws
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resh off the back of their best ever major tournament display at Euro 2016, and having thrashed Moldova 4-0 on their return, Wales headed into the latest international break high on confidence. However, results over the past week mean Welsh fans could be forgiven for feeling slightly disappointed. Chris Coleman’s side started well with a creditable 2-2 draw in Austria, a result which they should ultimately be happy with. The game could not have started any better for Wales and Joe Allen, as he thumped in a fantastic, left-footed volley from 25 yards out in the 22nd minute. Allen is in fantastic form for Stoke City at the moment, despite their languishing position, and his confidence showed with a memorable strike. Six minutes later, however, his Stoke teammate Marko Arnautovic headed in the equaliser from close range. An outrageous pass from David Alaba picked out his clever run, and the midfielder coolly nodded past Wayne Hennessey. The Wales midfield could be questioned for failing to pressure Alaba in the build-up as his perfect
N
eil Warnock has wasted no time bolstering his squad since his arrival, but who are the recent recruits and can they change Cardiff ’s fortunes? Warnock’s first signing as Cardiff manager was Canadian international Junior Hoilett. Hoilett, who has almost 50 Premier League games to his name, has spent the majority of his career in English football, making almost 200 appearances in seven seasons at Blackburn and QPR. Cardiff fans this season have been calling for an injection of pace and a
pass unlocked the defence. The setback did not stop Wales as Gareth Bale’s newly discovered weapon, his long throw in, was launched into the box and flicked on by Sam Vokes. James Chester was well-placed to try and divert the ball into the net, and although Robert Almer pulled off a great save the ball ricocheted off Kevin Wimmer and into the net. The goal came right on the stroke of half time, much to Wales’ delight, but frustratingly their good work was soon undone. A poor pass from Joe Allen, intended for James Chester, was miss controlled, allowing Arnautovic to pounce and make it 2-2 with a cool finish. Whilst there was an element of frustration after twice leading, the draw can be considered a good result for Wales. On the other hand, their next game at home to Georgia turned out to be a big disappointment. They once again got off to a flyer, with Bale expertly heading in from a Joe Ledley corner. For the most part, Wales remained in control during the first half and Georgia’s only real chance came from a set piece as a neat
free kick clipped the top of the bar. After the break, however, things all changed. Wales were not as crisp and compact and Georgia saw their chance to sneak back into the game. It became a far more even and open game in the second half and Georgia thoroughly deserved their equaliser. After nice play down the left wing, the ball was whipped in and Tornike Okriashvili headed back across Hennessey to find the back of the net. After scoring the equaliser, the visitors squandered a glorious opportunity to take the lead when Levan Mchedlidze shot wide after a swift counter-attack when he was one on one with the keeper. In the dying minutes, Kazaishvili’s powerful shot from 20 yards cannoned into the crossbar as Wales were left relieved to avoid further punishment. Wales did apply pressure in spells, but they missed the flair of Allen and Ramsey. Coleman gave everything with his substitutions, but the Euro 2016 hero Hal Robson-Kanu, plus David Cotterill and Emyr Huws, did not offer enough. After seeing their World Cup quali-
fication hopes dealt an early blow, Wales will be back in action at home to Serbia on November 12. Coleman will no doubt hope for a stronger squad at his disposal and hopefully a much more positive result.
more direct style of football, a style suited to players like Hoilett. Second up for Warnock was Ivorian Sol Bamba. Bamba, most recently at Leeds, Bamba captained the Yorkshire club for 14 months before falling out of favour with manager Garry Monk. Despite Bamba’s international and domestic experience, his impact at Cardiff may not be a telling one. Leeds fans were content to see their club captain leave, which illustrates Bamba’s poor recent seasons. Already with three experienced central defenders, the jury is still
out on whether Bamba can have a positive impact at Cardiff. Striker Marouane Chamakh joins Cardiff ’s misfiring strikeforce after spending six years in London. Chamakh is most famous for his time in England where he has only managed 15 goals in 102 league games. Hopefully the Moroccan will not follow the footsteps former Premier League striker Federico Macheda did at Cardiff. Kieran Richardson’s arrival was Neil Warnock’s fourth signing in 48 hours leading to the Severnside Derby.
Richardson has spent his entire career in the Premier League, the majority of which time was spent at Manchester United and Sunderland. Richardson’s Premier League experience plus his ability to play a range of positions is an attractive mix for a Championship. If Warnock gets the best out of Richardson he will be well received. However, utilising such a versatile player to the best of their ability will be no easy task. Warnock has a mammoth job on his hands to make everything work and in such little time.
sport
Editors: James Lloyd Mark Wyatt Rich Jones Shaun Davey @GairRhyddSport sport@gairrhydd.com gairrhydd.com/sport
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ou get the feeling that something special is happening at Cardiff University Rugby Club. The narrow 16-10 Varsity loss to Swansea in April will still taste bitter in the mouths of all those involved with the club, but autumn of 2016 brings a whole new chapter, a whole new culture and a fresh beginning for the men in red. There was radical change at the forefront to begin with. Louie Tonkin departed for Bahrain RFC and in stepped Alun Wyn Davies who took over at the helm as Cardiff University’s Head of Rugby. Davies has been involved with the club for a number of years, working as the defence and scrum coach under Tonkin’s reign. And the former Neath and Ospreys prop expressed his delight when the job became available. “It’s exciting, I’ve been here two years as defence and scrum coach”, said Davies. “I jumped at the chance when I knew the position was available. It’s something that I’ve always wanted to do. If you’re passionate about some-
thing, then it’s not work, it’s a dream job for myself so hopefully that comes across to the players.” Davies explained his philosophy to transform Cardiff into a rugby stronghold, praising the work that former coach Tonkin put in over the last few years. He said: “In regards to the university as an elite rugby environment, it has a long way to go, but the work us and Louie have put in over the last three years is something we are striving towards achieving. I want to be synonymous with an elite rugby environment.” As part of the philosophy, Davies explained the importance of developing and nurturing talent from within the club without focussing purely on the first team. “Our first year with Louie we concentrated solely on performance at the top end”, said Davies. “In regards to the freshers, that I now call an academy, there wasn’t that conveyor belt system of developing beneath.” He added: “I’ve sampled academy structures and it’s something we put in place last year. We put a fast track group in place, putting more emphasis on the freshers with Jack Bairstow
and we are reaping the rewards from that now. “That will be mirrored this year, I’ve put measurable targets in place now, so I want to see a certain amount of freshers come through that conveyor belt.” Last month, Cardiff ’s men’s first team were runners up to Cardiff Metropolitan in the the WRW Blues Construction University Cup, after losing 19-10 in the final. “Unfortunately we were decimated with injuries for the final”, admitted Davies. “I dare say if we had our team that started against USW we would have won. “But hindsight is a wonderful thing, we had players playing out of position, which was great and a testament to the players we have within the rugby club as a whole.” In the women’s final of the Blues Cup, Cardiff triumphed after trumping Cardiff Metropolitan on points difference after a three game roundrobin style tournament. And Davies was full of praise for women’s coach, Richard Jones and vows to lend him a helping hand. “Rich has been doing it for around seven years on his own.”
Pictured: Alun in his Wales women coaching days (Photographer: Huw Evans Agency)
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