Gair Rhydd - Issue 1104 - 30th of October 2017

gair rhydd

gair rhydd | free word Cardiff’s student weekly newspaper Papur wythnosol myfyrwyr Caerdydd Issue 1104 | Rhifyn 1104 30th October 2017 | 30ain o Hydref 2017

Cardiff Uni’s student paper | est . 1972

Politics and academia clash

Tory MPs wade into university freedom and censorship Is Britain still great, or a failing country? p.8 In depth: Grey ethics, black soil in Ukraine p.14 Stereophonics return to the ‘Diff - at your

Students’ Union

p.28

Marie-Claire Alfonso and Gareth Axenderrie

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oliticians and academics have clashed this week with university campuses becoming the latest battleground for the freedom of speech versus censorship debate.

First, Universities Minister Jo Johnson announced plans that would allow the new Office for Students (OfS) to fine, suspend or deregister universities if they do not commit to uphold freedom of speech.

Johnson said: “I want the OfS to work with universities to encourage a culture of openness and debate and ensure that those with different backgrounds or perspectives can flourish in a higher education environment.”

This follows a trend of universities using ‘safe spaces’ and ‘no platforming’ in order to shut down public speakers on campus. Analysis by Spiked magazine, supported by the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust, found that more

than 9 in 10 UK universities are restrictive of free speech. The Free Speech University Rankings (FSUR) surveyed British universities and found that 63.5% of students’ unions were “severely restrictive of free speech.”

The FSUR has named Cardiff University as one of the worst offenders for being restrictive of free speech, naming it in the top five most “ban-happy” universities. Cardiff has banned sales of tabloid newspapers and pornographic magazines in the WHSmith located in the Students’ Union, as well as songs with offensive lyrics on SU club nights and on the student radio station Xpress.

Cardiff University also made news in 2015, when feminist writer Germaine Greer was almost banned from giving a guest lecture.

There was a call for her to be ‘no-platformed’ for her trans-phobic views. Despite the campaign to silence her, Greer was able to speak at the university under high security.

Sir Michael Barber, chairman of the OfS, said: “Ensuring freedom of speech and learn-

ing how to disagree with diverse opinions and differing views of the world is a fundamental aspect of learning at university. The OfS will promote it vigorously.” The OfS will be gaining its legal powers in April 2018.

Following Johnson’s announcement, Conservative Government whip, Chris HeatonHarris, waded into the academic domain as he wrote to universities asking for a list of professors lecturing on Brexit, and details of what they are teaching. Bizarrely, Heaton-Harris, a stanch Brexiteer, also requested links to online lectures on Britain’s departure from the EU. Heaton-Harris’ letter read: “I was wondering if you would be so kind as to supply me with the names of professors at your establishment who are involved in the teaching of European affairs, with particular reference to Brexit. Furthermore, if I could be provided with a copy of the syllabus and links to the online lectures which relate to this area I would be much obliged.”

Academics responded with widespread con-

demnation as many interpreted the move as an attack on academic freedom, whilst Downing Street quickly distanced itself from the comments, claiming they were made in Heaton-Harris’ move as an MP rather than as a government minister.

Cardiff University Vice Chancellor Colin Riordan was forthright in his response to HeatonHarris.

“Our academics are free to teach topics including Brexit as they see fit. If Mr Heaton-Harris wants to understand their work he should attend some of our classes or consult our website or directory of experts.”

Professor Kevin Featherstone of London School of Economics drew a parallel with a historical political witch hunt: “The letter reflects a past of a McCarthyite nature. It smacks of asking, ‘Are you or have you ever been in favour of Remain?’”

Continued on page 4

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EDITORIAL Gair Rhydd Coordinator Elaine Morgan Editor-in-Chief Liam Ketcher Deputy Editors Gareth Axenderrie Tanya Harrington

the free word The untold important stories

News George Watkins Emma Videan

We’re human, not superheroes

Comment George Cook Silvia Martelli Unsafe Space Harry Heath Politics Gareth Axenderrie Tanya Harrington Conor Holohan Hannah Woodward Science Louange Lubangu Stephanie Ma Advice Alice Dent Sarah Harris Ask At Your Own Risk Charlie Knights Campus Life Laura Price Charlie Knights Taf-od Elen Davies Osian Wyn Morgan Aled Huw Russell Sport Rich Jones Mark Wyatt Molly Ambler Rhys Thomas Digital Media Editors Alice Dent Reece Chambers Cartoonist Louis Mertens Write to the editor editor@gairrhydd.com Social Media @gairrhydd @gairrhyddsport @cmccaerdydd

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.

Liam Ketcher

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s a student journalist running a student newspaper, it’s hard sometimes having to pick between two stories. Often, we as editors on Gair Rhydd have to question, which story is worthy of the front page this week? How many pages does each section have in this issue? What stories make it, and what gets cut from the paper? These are just some of the questions that we have to ask ourselves week in week out. Most weeks stories will stand out and we’ll obviously know which one is that weeks front page, our main story.

However, other weeks are slower and we could be short on stories as the deadline looms ever closer. Sometimes you have

a crazy week, everything under the Sun happens within a seven day period. It’s impossible to include everything and with only roughly 40 pages, we just can’t cover everything that happens in a week.

This is called Agenda setting, the influence journalists have to give certain topics in the news frequent coverage or noticeably more importance. Audiences will regard that topic, story or issue more important because they have seen in the the news often, it is something they are familiar with and is something that is possibly covered daily for a long period of time.

A documentary series on E4 ‘Unreported World’ takes a look at the least

reported stories from around the globe, giving them coverage and sharing stories of events that have been missed within our own news media. These stories are lost due to bigger events happening in more well developed countries or when it’s closer to home. Because of this we miss these stories in our local and national news. One episode titled ‘Africa’s perfect storm’ looks at a landslide in Sierra Leone this year, that went unreported in our media. The landslide took more lives of any weather incident this year, yet it was one of the least reported.

We’ve all heard of Irma, Katia, Maria, Ophelia and of course storm Brian. All of these covered in our media either

coming from America or here in Britain.

These weather disasters took fewer victims than the landslide in Sierra Leone, yet it was nowhere to be seen on our news coverage.

Journalists have a tough and important job; to educate others, to create discussion on taboo topics and change views and opinions, and to share stories to everyone all over the world. But we’re only human, not superheroes and we can’t be expected to cover everything.

Sometimes something will be missed, but that doesn’t mean to say that it’s not important or that no one cares. Somethings will always be missed, but every story is important.

GOLYGYDDOL

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Campus in Brief Content: Tanya Harrington, George Watkins

Design: Tanya Harrington, George Watkins

In case you missed it...

On this day...

1957 The House of Lords announced their intentions to allow women to be admitted as Peers.

30th

What’s on?

Petful via Flickr

Baaa-d behaviour A police investigation has been launched as students were spotted dressed up as farm animals and proudly weeing on the streets of Cathays. Although they proudly proclaimed they attended Cardiff Met, we wonder if the police know the real student residents of Cathays...

Kevin Dooley via Flickr

Kim via Flickr

Ben Alford via Flickr

Cardiff cake-off Gruesome juice Burning bridges Cardiff bar The Hashery is serving up a spooky something this Halloween “The Sharing Bulldog Margarita Skull” - big enough to serve four people. It’s made with tequila, corona and triple sec, among other ingredients complete with a bloody hand to hold the straws.

Aaaand in today’s issue of “things that make you realise how little you’ve acheived in life,” a Cardiff primaryschooler is baking cakes well enough to rival Mary Berry herself. 6-year old Immie Kitchen dreams to one day meet Paul Hollywood.

Nans everywhere will be dismayed to learn that Bridge is officially NOT considered a sport. Despite the game requiring “mental effort as part of a challenge,” the European Court of Justice has ruled against an appeal to recognise it as one.

Spooky stuff! Halloween factoids:

#ITooAmCardiff Exhibition, showcasing equality, diversity and inclusion. At Y Plas 31st Film night: Hocus Pocus. Lounge, Third Floor, SU. 2nd Nov Concert: Stereophonics at The Great Hall 3rd Nov Concert: Akon at The Great Hall

Silly string is banned in Hollywood for one night only on Halloween.

Jack-o’-lanterns were once made with vegetables other than pumpkins - such as turnips and potatoes.

Halloween is the biggest commercial holiday in America Black cats are thought to be targets of crimes during Halloween time Photo source: Cristian Iohan Ştefănescu via Flickr. Clipart images via openclipart

NEWS

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news

On Campus

George Watkins

Pictured: YOLO Source: Cardiff University Students’ Union

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#GRNews news@gairrhydd.com gairrhydd.com/category/news

Rugby Club banned from the SU after a series of complaints

ardiff University Men’s Rugby Club have been banned from participating in Union events for four weeks, following a series of complaints.

The ban comes after a number of criticisms surrounding behaviour, including the alleged destruction of a bus stop on Colum road, reported in last week’s issue of Gair Rhydd.

In response to the ban, the Union were keen to stress their firm response, and that the behaviour will not be tolerated by any student. They said: “The Students’ Union and Cardiff University Men’s Rugby Club have been working together with regard to ongoing issues with the behaviour of some of its members. Despite this, over the last few weeks we have

“Over the last few weeks we have seen a number of isses arising where members’ behaviour has not met the standard expected by the Union or by the Rugby Club.”

“As a result of ongoing issues and dia-

National

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11 students admitted to hospital in one night Alys Hewitt

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1 in 7 Welsh adults admitted to drinking 14 units of alcohol in a single day.

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logue between the Union and the Club, the Rugby Club have today imposed a ban on members attending Union venues for the next four weeks in order to demonstrate to its members and the wider community that such behaviour will not be tolerated. The Union and the Rugby Club will be working together to enforce the action.

The Club President adds that “The majority of our members bring talent on the field and build great friendships off the field, but to those who believe it gives them the right or sets an expectation to conduct themselves in an inappropriate manner, we say, you’re not welcome.”

The Students’ Union is disappointed by the behaviour that has been seen by some members and will continue to work closely

seen a number of issues arising where club members’ behaviour has not met the standard expected by the Union or by the Rugby Club.”

The Rugby Club have been keen to cooperate with the ongoing investigation, and participated in the release of the statement.

leven students were admitted to the University Hospital of Wales last week due to issues related to alcohol consumption, according to Cardiff and Vale University Health Board.

A spokesperson for the hospital has stated that this is a cause for concern, as it ‘take[s] emergency care away from those patients who need it most’.

The influx happened over a single night on Wednesday 18th of October, and has led to renewed warnings that students, especially those who have only recently moved to university, learn their limits and stay responsible when it comes to alcohol.

The University Hospital is no stranger to such incidents; alcohol-related casualties occur every year during Freshers Week, partly because of the popular phenomenon of initiation ceremonies for sports teams and societies.

Wales itself has one of the largest binge drinking cultures in the UK, according to statistics from 2016, with almost 1 in 7 Welsh adults admitting to drinking 14 units of alcohol in a single day, a figure substantially higher than that for both England and Scotland.

When combined with the drinking culture of university, it seems that some Welsh students are at a particularly high risk of suffering alcohol-related health problems in both the short and long term.

with all sports clubs and societies to eliminate behaviour that is inappropriate.

Disciplinary action has and will be taken against any club or individual members if behaviour is deemed inappropriate, with incidents being investigated on a case by case basis and appropriate action taken accordingly.”

Investigations are ongoing as to the perpetrators of the allegations, as well as potential associations with the Rugby Club.

It remains unclear what has actually taken place, with the details still kept quiet.

The firm stance by the Union in response to the criticisms is sure to send a message, but it remains to be seen whether this stance is effective at stamping out negative behaviour.

Tory MPs wade into university freedom and censorship

Continued from front page

Welsh Education Secretary, Kirsty Williams, responded with bewilderment, saying: “When I first saw this story I thought it was a hoax. The letter is totally inappropriate. We would never do this in Wales; freedom of thought and debate in our universities is the essence of what they stand for and it is not the role of politicians to encroach on this.”

As academics and politicians were appearing to rally against HeatonHarris’ words, one Welsh MP actually left a Cardiff University organised seminar in support of the Tory whip. Conservative MP for Monmouthshire, David Davies, claimed Heaton Harris “should have gone further”.

Davies had been sat in the front row of a breakfast seminar when he had a ‘heated exchange’ with Vice Chancellor Colin Riordan. It is understood that he argued “universities shouldn’t be promoting anti-Brexit views because they are

publicly funded.”

The latest clashes between politicians and academics appear to illustrate a blurring of the previously clear distinction between universities’ freedoms and government intervention. Words like ‘McCarthyite’ and ‘Totalitarian’ are strong and

emotive, but those using them will argue that rather than fearmongering, they’re warning against a dangerous setting of precedent.

One former Cardiff University student added a blunter response, tweeting: “Don’t let the bastards see anything for less than £27K!”

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NEWYDDION

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National

Welsh government plans minimum alcohol prices

Source: CUSU

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Rimante Bivainyte

Students choosing to invest in fitness over alcohol

A Luca Peluzzi

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There were 463 alcoholrelated deaths in Wales in 2015-16

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law to set minimum pricing for alcohol sales was unveiled last Monday by Rebecca Evans, the public health minister. The bill proposes a new 50p-a-unit formula that aims to address health effects of excessive drinking caused by the availability of cheap and strong alcohol.

Heavy-drinkers are the targets of the law, since binge drinking is a significant problem with people of all ages.

Statistics said there were 463 alcoholrelated deaths in Wales in 2015-16 and 54,000 alcohol-related hospital admissions. Treating these people cost the Welsh NHS £120m every year.

Evans said: “Alcohol-related harm is a significant public health problem in Wales. The 463 alcohol-attributable deaths in 2015 were all avoidable, and each of these deaths would have had a

ccording to new research, students who lead healthy lifestyles are cutting back on alcohol expenditure and choosing to spend four times more on fitness activities than they were a decade ago. New student letting app, SPCE, which is being launched next month, conducted a survey of over 2,000 participants.

They found that alcohol was the last one of student’s list of expenses, estimating that it costs them, on average, £68 per month.

devastating effect on the person’s family and friends. Alcohol-related harm has also had a large impact on public services such as the NHS. There is a very clear and direct link between levels of excessive drinking and the availability of cheap alcohol” Today alcohol can be bought for as cheaply as 18p per unit and alcohol sold below 50p per unit makes up 72% of the beer sales in Welsh shops and supermarkets, 78% of the cider sales, 42% of the wine and 66% of the spirits.

The draft law outlined a 50p per unit, but the exact limit could be higher or lower than this. It has been estimated that with the 50p-a-unit formula, a typical can of cider would cost at least £1, a bottle of wine at least £4.69 and a typical liter of vodka more than £20.

The supporters of this law claim it

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Police officers march in heels for victims of domestic violence

Pictured: Top: The Senedd (Source: National Assembly For Wales) Below: One of the officers taking part (Source: Western Mail)

Around £120 per month was spent on health and fitness, including gym memberships, classes and sports clubs.

18 per cent surveyed said that they did not spend any money on alcohol. Moreover, around £120 per month was spent on health and fitness, including gym memberships, classes and sports clubs. Hence, it was £87 more than that spent by students who graduated between 1997 and 2017. This survey included the students’ average cost of rent and bills which was £274. Expenses of groceries and household items have risen to £157 up from £97.

However, these numbers include students who live at home. SPCE’s research suggests that at this day students are more likely to invest money in their healthy lifestyle and fitness than previous generations. Also, in the UK, the cost of being a student varies between different universities, for instance, this year NatWest surveyed students in various universities in the UK and found that Cardiff was the cheapest city for students while Glasgow was rated as the most expensive.

National

National

George Caulton

will have multiple positive effects: it will save the NHS £6.5m annually by decreasing the impact on hospitals and at the same time boost the Welsh economy by £44m a year by reducing workplace absence and crime.

Among who oppose the plan the Welsh Retail Consortium said the minimum price could hit the moderate consumers “whilst not necessarily having the desired impact on problem drinkers”. Moreover, some economists suggest this policy give more profits to large retailer and producers that so can invest the increased revenues in more advertising; on the other hand using taxation instead of price limit could make the government earn more money to invest in the healthcare system and anti-alcohol campaigns.

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ore than 100 men took to the streets of Cardiff last Friday to raise awareness for domestic violence.Around 137 men and women walked a mile in high-heels and wedge footwearthrough Cardiff City Centre as part of the White Ribbon Campaign’s initiative to highlight the ever- expansive issue of sexual harassment throughout the UK. Now inits fourth year of campaigning, the White Ribbon Campaign (WRC) has turned into aglobal movement for both men and boys to work together with the hope to end male violence against women.

A UK report conducted by STOP! STREET HARASSMENT in2016 showed that 64% of women of all ages have experienced unwanted sexual harassment in public places.

Both South Wales police and Royal Mail post officers were just a few namedprofessions who walked a mile through Cardiff City Centre wearing high-heels tomake a stand.Though the event was a success, DCC Simon Chesterman from South Wales Police has recently criticised fellow officers. DCC Chesterman posted on twitter that whilstthe ‘issues [of sexual harassment] are serious and real’, the fact that the policeofficers are walking in heels and posting images on social media was an‘embarrassment’.

In response to his comment, Assistant Chief Constable Rich Lewiscommented that ‘it was all done in good faith’ and that he ‘supported the officers involved’.

Spice blamed as drug abuse doubles in 5 years in Wales

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pice, the synthetic cannbinoid, has been held responsible for a large rise in the number of people needing medical attention for drug abuse in Wales.

Public Health Wales realeased a report highlighting the extent of the problem, noting that admissions to hospital from cannabis, Spice and other similar drugs has leapt from 518 in 2011-12 to 1323 in 2016-17.

The drug, reportedly described as “worse than heroin”, is a name for a group of synthetic cannabinoids.

Originally marketed as having similar effects to cannabis, the Class B drug causes users to fall into a “zombielike” state, with footage of users often displaying them unconscious on benches or leaning on bins. Certain types can be up to a 100 times more potent than traditional cannabis thanks to different chemical makeups.

It has been seen most noticeably amongst the homeless population, with an estimated 90-95% of the demographic in Manchester using the drug, according to researchers.

Josie Smith, head of the substance misuse program at Public Health Wales said: “The increase in harms associated with cannabis and cannabinoids are particularly challenging to interpret.”

Harry Shapiro, director of DrugWise, said: “The effects can be quite dramatic”, saying of the effects that “One of the effects of one of the compounds is to dramatically reduce your respiratory system so that you are essentially frozen.”

FEATURES

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Mental Health At University: A Closer Look

“Student mental health is a prioritynot only because we want to help students to thrive and realise their potential both academically and personally, but also because of our responsibilities to our university community. We should support students in the same way that we would also seek to support staff experiencing mental health problems”.

Professor Sir David Eastwood,

University of Birmingham

Getting help at Cardiff University

George Watkins

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Of the students who took their own life, only 28% had been in contact with support services.

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Pictured: Student Support Centre (Photographers; Charlie Knights, Rimante Bivainyte

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ake was in his first year at Cardiff University. He had failed to complete first year and then taken a year out to decide what to do next, and had just started a different degree, moving into halls. Without his friends realising, he was desperately suffering with his mental health.

Towards the end of Freshers’, he took his own life. His girlfriend at the time sought help, feeling somehow to blame after an argument with her boyfriend the night of the event. She took an overdose and was admitted to hospital, thankfully making a full recovery and returning to university the year afterwards.

As I sat talking with his friends about what had happened, I couldn’t help but realise how raw the pain still was. They seemed to regret not doing anything sooner, and were frustrated at the support services.

The details have been changed for the sake of anonymity, but this story continues to be told, in Cardiff and across the country.

Mental health has a particular resonance for me, after battling with problems of my own for many years, including my time throughout university. The impact of a suicide can be devastating, as I can affirm through my personal experience.

As I heard Jake’s story, it stuck with me. What can we do to stop this hap-

pening again?

Cases like this are sadly becoming far too common on university campuses across the country. Suicide amongst the student population is a key indicator of the wider impact of a mental health crisis.

The number of students taking their own lives is now at record levels, according to think-tank IPRR. 134 took their own lives in 2015, a rise of 4 on the previous year. The breakdown of this for male students is particularly worrying, as around 100 of the 2014 statistic were men. What this reflects is both a lack of conversation amongst men about mental health, and also a convention of living up to idealised archetypes of ‘manliness’ that are simply not true in modern society.

More worrying for support services is that of the students who took their own life, only 28% had been in contact with support services in the year before their death, and only 12% reported to be seeing counselling services. It is clear that many who are at risk do not seek help themselves, which is symptomatic of a wider deficiency in mental health provision for students, it would seem.

What has caused the prevalence of students suffering is difficult to pin down to a single set of reasons. It is important to consider the national climate, with the Royal Family being the latest celebrities to be particularly hon-

est about their mental health issues surrounding the death of Princess Diana, but there is more to consider from a student perspective, from exam pressures, rising grade demands for securing future careers, or even the rising costs of housing.

One reason stands out in particular.

Campaigners have argued for a number of years that tuition fee rises have played a part. Mind (the mental health charity) noted that the rise in students seeking counselling coincided conveniently with the trebling of tuition fees to £9000, despite this being easily deniable by the government.

Shelley Asquith, the former NUS vice-president for welfare, said in response: “The evidence is clear. The marketisation of education is having a huge impact on students’ mental health. The value of education has moved away from societal value to ‘value for money’, and the emphasis on students competing against each other is causing isolation, stress and anxiety.

However, clinical psychologist Dr Thomas Richardson, who has studied the link between mental health and tuition fees, noted that “financial difficulties...has an impact on mental health in students”, but pleaded caution in correlating a direct link, as this could be symptomatic of wider issues of students and finances.

Nightline: An independent, student-led charity, they offer a vital listening service for anyone who needs a chat from 8pm-8am every night of term. They are non-advisory, but have a very good reputation amongst students for offering a friendly ear.

Student Minds: Having a growing presence on campus, they run an eating disorder peer-support group every Thursday from 6:15-7:15 on the fourth floor of the Students’ Union.

Student Support: Situated at 50 Park Place, they offer a huge range of student support facilities, ranging from the Disability and Dyslexia service to appointments with the Counselling and Wellbeing team.

Signing up to the counselling waiting list is easy, with all the information available on the intranet.

Also, they offer wellbeing drop-in appointments from 3-3:45 every weekday, with an extra session from 9-9:45 on a Wednesday morning, which are a 15 minute chat with one of the team. Not a substitute for counselling, they can offer advice, give resources, and refer you on for counselling. The appointments have a very positive reception from students who have used them on the whole.

In short, there are plenty of options available on campus. If you are struggling, it is also important to book an appointment with your GP, who will be able to offer guidance as to what your next step should be.

NODWEDDIADOL

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The University of Bristol: A case for student mental health

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50% of adult mental health conditions have manifested themselves by the age of 18, whilst 75% are seen before the age of 24.

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ristol University is an interesting case study, in that they responded to criticism, and took immediate action. It was reported in September that the institution had invested £1 million in ‘well-being advisers’, amongst other measures, to combat recent demand, and also, it may be argued, to save face after a difficult previous academic year.

In the year 2016-17, the university dealt with five suspected suicides by students, which was widely reported across the local and national press.

The University of the West of England (UWE), also saw one suicide. Their response has been to hire a team of 28 full-time mental health advisers and managers set to be embedded within academic departments, so that students can access support easier. Amongst other measures, they are increasing the capacity of university GPs so that mental health-related appointments can take place on the same day.

Mark Ames, the Director of Student Services there, said that the review had been conducted after increasing numbers of students battling conditions such as anxiety and depression.

He noted that lecturers and academic staff felt much of their time was being taken up with the emotional difficulties of students, and they worried about not feeling capable enough to adequately handle them: “A lot of the academic staff felt they were ill-equipped to deal with these issues”, he said, keen to help instead “equip students with the ability to manage their own well-being.”

Another key feature of his comments were the attitudes of parents.

After such publicity from outlets like the Daily Mail with headlines such as ‘Law student who has been found dead is believed to be SIXTH suspected 2017 suicide at universities in Bristol’, parents would surely be wary

of allowing their children to study at an institution with a poor reputation.

It is undeniable, however, that the response by the university has been both swift and extremely positive, with the true impacts of the changes unlikely to be truly recognised for a year or two.

The need for adequate support speaks for itself. Roughly 1 in 4 people will suffer with a mental heath problem in any year, which is very much a mainstream figure in mental health campaigning. According to Universities UK (UUK), this could equate to 500,000 students each year, or around 8000 students at Cardiff University.

50% of adult mental health conditions have manifested themselves by the age of 18, whilst 75% are seen before the age of 24. With over 21,000 students at Cardiff studying at undergraduate level, with the vast majority being made up of non-mature students, the prevalence of mental health conditions statistically coincides with the ages of academic study.

Their response has been to hire a team of 28 full-time mental health advisers and managers set to be embedded within academic departments.

“Universities have a duty of care to their population,” UUK acknowledged in their recent analysis of mental health at university. Adequate care is also necessary for the potential legal implications, the report said. The Equality Act 2010 covers the issue of student mental health, requiring universities to protect students with disabilities from ‘harassment, victimisation and discrimination’, which includes discrimination arising ‘from disability and a failure to comply with the duty to make reasonable adjust-

ments’. Also, institutions are bound to safeguard (promote the welfare of anyone at risk), and protect the consumer rights (to provide accurate information about mental health support) of their students.

The number of students dropping out due to mental health problems has peaked, whilst the number of students seeking counselling at Russell Group institutions in the academic year 2014-15 topped 43,000 students.

This was up 9000 compared to three years previously, which would suggest that, quite simply, universities are not meeting demand well enough.

In a national context a standard level of concern is seemingly being neglected. A report by the Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi) suggested that some universities need to ‘triple’ their mental health funding for students to simply be able to meet demand. The report, entitled ‘The Invisible Problem? Improving Students’ Mental Health’, suggested that whilst the evidence shows counselling services are very effective in their treatment, student-to-counsellor ratios can be 3/4 times lower than is necessary. It is worth mentioning that some universities do better than others in their provisions. Sussex, for example, spent £456,000 on counselling services in 2015-16, but the number of universities following this path has been frustratingly few.

Nick Hillman, director of Hepi, said: “Mental disorders are most common in young adults, just at the age when many people become students. Going to university can be stressful (...). Typically, you lose your established support networks, move to a new part of the country and take on large debts. Occasionally, it even ends in tragedy.” He recognised the absolute necessity then for universities to do enough for mental health provision: “It is vital that people en-

tering university for the first time know that support is available, that any problems can be shared, and that asking for help is normal.”

Hepi also noted the disparity between certain areas of university spending, and that counselling spending can often be similar the cost of a salary of an academic or Vice-Chancellor. In 2016, Cardiff University had 128 members of staff on salaries of between £100,000 to £199,999, with the Vice-Chancellor earning £244,000, with a bonus of £8000, pension of £41,000 and benefits in kind at £1000.

Whilst counselling spending levels are unclear for the university, it is unlikely to be beyond £500,000 per year, or the equivalent of a tiny percentage of the overall salary bill for the university, even for these higherpaid members of staff. It is worth recalling that the three years leading up to 2014-15 saw a 72% rise in counselling, and a number of highly-publicised student suicides (rises also seen across the country).

The data presented paints an uncomfortable story for UK universities to confront, but this is an international problem too. Many higher education facilities across America, for example, are seeing similar rises.

It is very much a global concern, with 300 million people across the world suffering from depression alone (WHO). The challenge for those able to make a change, then, is to recognise the prevalence of struggling students and to ensure that every person studying is able to reach out and receive a basic standard of care if they need it. Cases such as Jake’s are more often than not very much preventable, and every example of a student dropping out, or a tragedy on campus is simply indicative of a wider failure nationally, both in the education sector and beyond.

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The three years leading up to 201415 saw a 72% rise in counselling, and a number of highlypublicised student suicides.

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George Watkins

Pictured: Wills Memorial Building (Source: Gerard Reyes via Flickr)

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8 COMMENT

comment

#GRComment comment@gairrhydd.com gairrhydd.com/category/comment

Is Britain a failing country?

Pictured: Living Union Jack, 1911, Bristol.

Source: Paul Townsend (Via Flickr)

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o claim that Britain is a ‘failing country’ or that it is ‘completely useless’ is patently ridiculous. The piece in the South China Morning Post to which I respond asserts that Britain is losing its footing on the world stage. In the piece, the writer states that British activist Benedict Rogers should not have been refused access to Hong Kong.

Rogers was to visit some jailed prodemocracy activists but was turned away at the airport. Supposedly, no notice should have been taken of Rogers by the Chinese government.

But, that fact that he was stopped shows that Britain’s core values and principles are part of what make it relevant on a global scale.

Although we are not the most powerful nation on the planet, this does not mean that we are ‘failing’.

ple. Austerity measures made by the current government of seven years have meant A&E wards are, more often than not, filled with patients awaiting hospital beds due to a lack of NHS investment and cuts to social care. The crisis with housing and government funding in Britain labelled 57750 households in the country “homeless” in 2016 also. This is up 6% from 2015 and is only a fraction of over 200000 families who attempted to find help from their local council about homelessness worries last year.

The main idea this government has based itself off of is the need to cut budgets for some of the most important services that help everyone get by and the examples used are just two on a list of many which prove Britain is

“useless” at being a successfully developed country.

Another way for Britain to not fail its citizens and the world would be to have a successful economy. The Conservative Government has repeatedly supported a “long term economic plan” over the course of its place in power. Reports from the Summer show this has not come into place.

The Film industry and inflation have offered a very slight, and possibly temporary, boost to growth but it is safe to say the economy is a joke at the moment. The uncertainty about Brexit is also causing Britain’s GDP growth to slow significantly with forecasts for 2018 putting GDP growth for the UK at just 1% with many other developed countries’ GDPs predicted to grow

much more. Even the Eurozone on average has expected GDP growth of 1.9% despite its lack of economic desirability. Searching for new trade deals is also not something that is being done well by Britain at the moment. Negotiations with the EU have come to what is being reported as a deadlock. Theresa May’s speech at the UN last month attracted few interested buyers in the audience and “strong and stable leadership” does not exist right now because of a number of failures by the government in this way.

Britain’s negotiating power is not strong. Its economy is not necessarily stable. Public services are not able to get on with the job. Britain, the “useless” way it is now at least, is failing in a lot of senses.

We certainly have global influence and the UK is still seen as one of the best places in the world to live and do business. The financial services that people from across the world use in London are second to none.

For example, investors won’t get tied up with the red tape that they would were they to work in New York. Furthermore, Mark Carney has said that the size of The City could double after Brexit negotiations have ended.

The British economy is doing very well with unemployment is at its lowest level since 1975. Plus, people still wish to come and live here, and net migration has never been in negative figures since 1993. Do these statistics point towards a failing nation?

As for Britain’s military clout, it is true that we used to be able to punch

well above our weight. We still can, but not as much as we used to be able to. For, it is not that Britain’s armed forces are in decline, but that other nations’ have expanded to a size that they should be. On paper, Britain should not be able to beat Russia in a war and that’s okay, but it does not mean that we are ‘useless’. No nation’s military is totally infallible, as we have seen with the four accidents that occurred for the US Navy in the Pacific Ocean this year. It can be seen then that not one country can police the entire world, and Britain certainly doesn’t claim to be able to. But who wouldn’t want us on their side if it came to WWIII? Responding directly to the South China Morning Post piece once again, there are five permanent members on the UN security coun-

cil.

The big three are of course China, the USA and Russia, but if France can also make the list then the UK certainly ought to be able to. Moreover, there are ten non-permanent council members which include the likes of Kazakhstan and Senegal. Is Britain useless compared to these countries?

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Britain and its establishment is really failing both its population and itself.

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No country can claim to be perfect and Britain To claim that Britain is a certainly ‘failing country’ or that it is ‘completely useless’ is wouldn’t want patently ridiculous. to do so.

But Britain’s No country can claim to be perfect opinion is still and Britain certainly wouldn’t want valued across to do so. But, as I have previously pointed out, Britain’s opinion is still the world. valued across the world.

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Bob Wigin

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he South China Morning Post have recently released a mostly appearance-based article branding Britain as “Useless”. This seems at face value like a typical personal attack on the appearance and being of Britain but it actually has a lot of worth considering the situation with our leaders and a lot of issues they’re meant to be dealing with.

Instead of analysing the situations highlighted by the article mentioned, it is better to look beyond just superficiality and study how Britain and its establishment is really failing both its population and itself so that it can be called “useless”.

For the UK to not be “useless” on the world stage, it shouldn’t fail its own citizens and set a terrible exam-

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Matt Tomlin

SYLWADAU

9

Food waste: a blind eye to effortless solutions

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By decreasing food waste by only 5%, we would be able to save up to £250 million in two years.

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Silvia Martelli

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ut of the biggest environmental issues we hear every day, food waste is one of the most significant. However, we tend to not really think about it as a problem that affects our lives until we get to see with our own eyes the critical amount of waste.

Student jobs are often within the hospitality and catering fields, one of the areas in which we realized how much food is thrown away.

Every year, 920,000 tonnes of food are wasted, 75% of which could have been eaten. On a much smaller scale, the majority of us must have seen, at least once, some food being wasted without any distinctions - whether still edible or not - by food businesses, which have to follow the prohibitive redistribution legislations.

Such legislations are either not exhaustive or only achievable through volunteering organisations, and only swwuggest an ideal solution without providing the means to accomplish them. Therefore, business companies personally have to get in contact with volunteers, which however most of the times do not have enough funding or the necessary tools to provide the service.

This inevitably determines a failure of the rules’ aim and a high amount of wasting.

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Is there a way out from this vicious circle? Absolutely! As a matter of fact, a study conducted by the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) has shown that, by decreasing food waste by only 5%, we would be able to save up to £250 million in two years. This money could then be invested by the government in promoting the redistribution of food waste, as well as in financially sustaining the non-profit organisations with their amenities.

A good solution on the macrolevel could be following the example of 2016 France legislation - banning supermarkets that were throwing away unsold food, and forcing them to arrange deals with charities. This could also be applied to the Hospitality and catering services mentioned earlier. Soon after the law passed, French actionists’ intention was to encourage other EU members to join them in the fight. Almost two years later, very few improvements

can be recorded.

There are, of course, actions that can be easily taken into consideration on our micro-level. For instance, there is an app called TGTG (Too Good To Go), which was launched in Denmark at the end of 2015, and became popular in the UK last year. The app allows you to buy non-consumed products from food businesses an hour before they close, spending from £2 to 3.80£. Reduced-price goods can also be found in most supermarkets at the end of the day - which is not good only for the environment, but also for our students’ pockets. Finally, when in a restaurant, if the portions are too big (and you also want to save some space in your stomach for some dessert), do not be afraid to ask for a doggy bag or to simply share with your companions.

It sounds absurd that, despite the hard work of actionists, volunteers and the uncountable services available to reduce food wasted, the problem is still unsolved and the amount of products thrown in the bin is rocketing year by year.

No excuses for this can be accepted: there are solutions out there, which can be financed with the money that, together with the food, we are wasting.

Pictured: Food being thrown away.

Source: bloom (via Flickr)

The deadly power of corruption

aphne Caruana Galizia, Maltese investigative journalist and mother of three sons, had launched her notoriously trenchant blog, Running Commentary, a few years ago. Since then, she had been using the website to bravely denounce Malta’s governmental corruption and uncover the political reality of the EU’s tax haven country. Her style was witty and sardonic, and her articles sparked hate among the many accused of responsibility for turning Malta into a mafia state - in which the political system was led by corruption, the criminal justice system was useless, and businesses were used to launder money or pay bribes. Proof of this were the car bombings and fifteen mafia-style assassinations that took place on the island in the past ten years.

In her last ever post, Galizia had warned: “There are crooks everywhere you look now. The situation is desperate.” She had got it right, and her statement was probably more dangerously accurate than she could imagine: shortly after, just a few meters away from her home and family, a bomb in her car exploded, killing her. The outrageous act - the ultimate mafia’s murder in Malta - can be considered as an enormous violation of the journalist’s right to freedom of speech, as well as a substantial menace to the island’s democracy.

The reporter, who had denounced some life threats only two weeks be-

fore dying, was driven by a fearless necessity of pursuing the truth. Inevitably, such attitude determined a long list of enemies, some of whom feared her enough to want her quiet forever.

As her son Matthew pointed out, the assassination was a ‘culmination’ rather than a simple ‘aberration’, the remarkable evidence of a critical situation of corruption, violence and impunity that needs to cease. “My mother was assassinated because she stood between the rule of law and those who sought to violate it,” he added.

The journalist took on the power-

ful and the rich. After leading the Panama Papers investigation into corruption in Malta, she was named a ‘one-woman WikiLeaks’ by Politico, which also appointed her as one of the 28 people who were ‘shaping, shaking and stirring Europe’. The latest scandal happened last May, and it had to do with Malta’s Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, two of his closest aides, and the connection of offshore companies linked to the three men with the sale of Maltese passports, as well as payments of thousands of euros from the Azerbaijan government. Galizia’s reporting

was a loud declaration that Malta was becoming - or maybe has already become - a rotten state that resembles organized crime.

Despite being the EU smallest country, Malta held the rotating EU presidency until last year. However, all that glitters is not gold: the Malta files, which show that the country has helped multinationals avoid paying over €14bn, leaves no space to grant the country the benefit of the doubt on its integrity. Forget Switzerland and Luxembourg, the new EU ‘pirate tax haven’ is the small island. In addition, although the big money-spinner for the island has been selling EU passports, internet gambling companies are becoming an increasing issue, currently accounting for 10% of the island’s GDP. Galizia, who was the tenth journalists assassinated worldwide since the beginning of the year, was on an incredibly valuable mission of uncovering the systematic corruption that is spanning the Maltese economy, society and politics. Her blog often reached a much bigger audience than the national newspapers did, becoming an inestimable source of information for those who, just like her, were committed to shape a fairer and more transparent Malta. Her murder, whose nature was predominantly political, is one more example that corruption kills - both countries and innocent citizens.

Pictured: Valetta (Malta), where Galizia lived. Source: Berit Watkin (via Flickr)

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Galizia was on a valuable mission of uncovering the systematic corruption that is spanning the Maltese economy, society and politics.

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Andrea Gaini & Caterina Dassie’

COMMENT

Dylan Graham

F

ootball is a sport that has been strongly associated with males as most of the advertising and media coverage focuses on the men’s game. However, attention to women’s football has recently experienced a steady increase resulting in more media coverage and a growing number of young girls playing the sport.

Despite this, the England Women’s football team has been subject to intrusive levels of public spotlight in the last few weeks, but for all the wrong reasons. Mark Sampson has been accused of racism and harassment of at least one player, Eni Aluko, and possibly more. After making comments about the player’s heritage, the calls for Sampson’s sacking grew, and he was eventually relieved of his duties.

Although, bigger questions need to be asked about the culture of the largely male dominated sport and also the culture of elitism at the very top of the English game. With accusations of a cover-up and blackmail at the FA, it portrays the picture of a corrupt organisation with white, rich men at its helm attempting to prevent its own star players from exploiting the elitism, racism and to some extent sexism that are personified by those in power.

Whilst such behaviour is present in the men’s game with the previous case of John Terry and Anton Ferdinand, the views expressed in the women’s game are by those who possess greater power than even John Terry at the

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height of his footballing career. That case was also between two players and not directors of the FA. I doubt whether they would have spoken to high profile male footballers in that way. Female footballers deserve the respect male footballers do. However, because of their lack of profitability created and sustained by the sexist pay gap that the powerful in football generate, they often face disrespect.

The fact that they were female and the women’s game is less high profile suggests that they thought they could get away with it. They would have escaped justice if Aluko and others did not have the courage to speak out.

I question the extent to which this problem existed previously and the depths those in power sank to so that they could remain in their privileged position.

The disgusting behaviour of those in positions of medium-level power was even denied by the ones at the very top of the FA, suggesting they too embody and exhibit such opinions.

Like Trump fails to call out the actions of white-supremacists, and Hollywood ignored and was almost complicit in the Weinstein Scandal, the FA is too like a gold and glamorous organisation on a hill of privilege,

wealth and arrogance. But now that hill is crumbling from the weight of those ordinary players hoping to reveal the darker truth of the FA that will surely lead to an avalanche of resignations, sackings and change. Yet, even in the face of an avalanche travelling at great speed, the FA, like Hollywood and Washington, is unlikely to change any time soon. The views and actions uncovered by Eni Aluko are not the modern phenomenon some wish to believe. Instead, they form the bottom layers of the hill that were present in its initial configuration.

Whilst the process of new surface layers forming on top of the original one’s underneath over the course of time may give the impression of a new appearance with different opinions, the older layers still remain engrained in the hill of dishonesty.Like it is hard to change the layers of a hill, it will also be hard to change the attitudes of the FA and similar organisations. Even though Sampson is no longer manager and the Aluko case has received widespread publicity, those older, most powerful members that represent the ground layers of the hill, are still present permeating their views throughout the FA. The avalanche of condemnation cannot obliterate the foundation layers of the hill, it will only briefly brush over and damage them. Only a powerful earthquake can destroy it and bring about a much needed revolution at the FA.

Pictured: England Women’s Football Team.

Source: James Boyes (Via: Flickr)

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I question the extent to which this problem existed previously and the depths those in power sank to so they could remain in power.

The darker side to Dubai?

ubai. The city of record breaking skyscrapers, luxurious hotels, bucket-list holidays and… ultra-conservative laws. Jamie Harron, a Scottish electrician on a two-day stopover in the city, knows this better than anyone after becoming the brunt of Dubai’s public indecency laws.

Whilst drunkenly walking through a bar, Harron accidentally touched another man’s hip in an attempt to avoid spilling his drink. That’s right: he simply touched another man’s hip, and shortly after got arrested for doing so.

I’m not going to lie - my initial reaction when I first heard about this story was pure amusement. This surely couldn’t be real? Being bumped into in a crowded bar is unavoidable, but the more I read into the event, the more shocked I was. Businessman Emad Tabaza seemingly took great offence to Harron’s actions, as he promptly called the police, claiming that the Scot was ‘very drunk’ and ‘repeatedly’ touched him on the hip.

The fact that the police took this case so seriously clearly shows how conservative the city is. Jamie Harron’s ordeal shows another side to Dubai.

It seems that there’s more to the place than the world-famous malls, water parks and seven star hotels that you always hear about.

As bad as it is, being arrested for accidentally touching a man’s hip is just a scratch on the surface of the downright oppressive laws and unglamorous undertones in Dubai. This is a city where homosexuality and apostasy are punishable by death, and where labourers live in conditions described

by Human Rights Watch as ‘less than humane’. The narrative of Dubai being a luxurious holiday destination needs to be reassessed. The city thrives off of tourism, an industry that adds billions of dollars to its economy every year.

It has successfully established itself as an exotic, middle eastern city whilst

also incorporating many attributes of Western culture.

However, Jamie Harron is now another name on the ever-growing list of tourists in Dubai finding themselves wrapped up in their ultra conservative laws. When stories like these break, it brings light on how oppressive the city can be, and what life may be like for an ordinary person living in Dubai.

Of course, it is important to note that tourists should be respectful and understanding of the culture of the city. There’s nothing worse than rowdy Brits on a week-long bender in Malia, and I’m not suggesting that Harron should have been able to go around on the streets drinking and causing havoc.

But for what was such a simple, harmless mistake, Jamie Harron has been unjustly treated as a result of the public indecency laws in Dubai. The ordeal has cost him his job and over £30,000 in expenses and legal fees, changing his life forever.

Harron’s story ends more positively, as he has now returned to Scotland after the prime minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, personally exonerated him. However, it’s difficult to say whether events would have played out differently had Harron’s story not gained so much media coverage.

Pictured: Dubai by night.

Source: *Crazy Diamond* (via Flickr)

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Jamie Harron has been unjustly treated as a result of the public indecency laws in Dubai.

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George Cook

The disrespectful culture towards women’s football

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10

column

UNSAFE SPACE

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@harryheath__ | #UnsafeSpace gairrhydd.com/category/column

The visibility of the past in the Digital Age

The case of Jared O’Mara shows that we cannot afford to be complacent with our online footprints.

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We will no doubt learn the true nature of Mr O’Mara’s history in the coming weeks, and how he went from expressing bigoted views in his early twenties to being an MP for the party of equality

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n June 8 this year Labour won the Sheffield Hallam seat at the General Election. The news wasn’t about the victor, it was about the loser. A dejected Nick Clegg looked tired and forlorn. The ex-Deputy Prime Minister, a thoughtful and articulate politician was the news, a major casualty toppled on a night of political carnage.

The winner, local man Jared O’Mara, stepped almost anonymously into parliamentary life after a night of shocks.

His transition was uneventful and his subsequent appointment to the Women and Equality Committee went equally unreported. However, on 23rd October 2017 Mr O’Mara became headline news. A now controversial Guido Fawkes blog exposed homophobic and misogynistic posts he had made on social media, fifteen years previously, when he was twentyone years of age. Mr O’Mara’s digital footprint had returned to haunt him.

Social media and political commentary was rife. For some such views were clearly part of his DNA, branded into his psyche. How had this vile man slipped through the net as a parliamentary candidate for Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour Party? For others he was just a young immature lad expressing some harmless banter back in his student days, what was all the fuss about? Some took a more reasoned view, wondering whether his views had changed, if his life experiences in the fifteen years following these posts had resulted in an adjusted position, and if the ability to make the transition and an understanding of that journey was actually beneficial to the Committee of which he joined in Parliament.

We will no doubt learn the true nature of Mr O’Mara’s history in the coming weeks, and how he went from expressing bigoted views in his early twenties to being an MP for the party of equality. The wider debate here is how we as a society now use and interpret an individual’s digital footprint.

Is it an insight into the journey an individual has taken or an indelible scar that they must forever carry?

In 2013, the Kent Police Crime Commissioner employed Paris Brown

under the title of Youth PCC. This bold plan was designed to appeal to the views and needs of young people.

The seventeen-year-old Paris evidently seemed a bright and talented candidate; unfortunately for her she had a digital footprint. An examination exposed posts she had made between the ages of fourteen and sixteen that contained both racist and anti-gay terminology. The young woman was judged by her comments as a child and so became

collateral damage for the political opponents of the then adult Kent PCC. Even more like the case of Jared O’Mara was the episode concerning the online behaviour of another Labour MP, Naz Shah who had made various anti-Semitic tweets years before. This was a Guido Fawkes job once again, proving that there are politically motivated journalists whose very existence is to dig up the online behaviour of certain public figures to make political capital.

We can contrast these examples of unacceptable behaviour, rooted in the

evidence of screenshots, with another case of which there was no conclusive evidence to draw on.

In 2015, Lord Ashcroft’s unofficial biography disclosed David Cameron’s membership of the Piers Gaveston Society, an elitist Oxford University Club.

Ashcroft had an axe to grind with Cameron and it was his description of a certain initiation ceremony, which allegedly involved Cameron placing his honourable member in a dead pig ’s

mouth, that was to cause the most damage. Its motive was to undermine the then Prime Minister’s credibility by his association with a posh boy club known for its debauchery. If such an initiation took place thirty years previously it occurred long before the days of social media and smart phone technology.

There was no one present able to record the occasion for prosperity and to place it indelibly onto social media for the entertainment of friends. Most importantly there was no digital footprint. Cameron’s alleged exuberance of youth remained a distant memory,

relevant only to its time and place.

Whatever the truth in such a bizarre tale, this luxury of leaving no trace of our pasts will not be enjoyed by the social media generation.

Unlike a criminal conviction, no element of your digital footprint is ‘time spent’. The zeal with which opponents seize upon such past indiscretions is typified by the press and the online Twitter mob. The voice of intolerance shouts loudest and there shall be no redemption; a quick scalp is a neat solution, move on. We must realise that this trend reaches far wider than individual cases, than Jared O’Mara, Naz Shah or Paris Brown.

Where the youth of previous generations were allowed the privilege of maturing during their socialisation of family life, education and then the working world, the children of Web 2.0 are held accountable for their actions as young people and can now be publicly condemned for them. Is it time that we all agree for good that the technology of around-the-clock, worldwide interaction is a positive advancement that carries many damaging side effects.

Along with cyber-crime and online bullying, our digital footprints are another inconvenience of increased visibility in the modern age, with many now rushing to deep clean their online profiles.

While transparency and accountability are necessities in a truly democratic society, we must be reserved in judging a person’s character entirely by selected parts of a different era of their life.

Disagree? If so, I invite you to consider whether you hold exactly the same views today as you did in your mid-teens, and whether you would happily express any previous views you held in an interview with a potential new employer. We can’t afford to be complacent when it comes to the online forensic evidence surrounding our journey’s through life, but I happen to think we should be more thoughtful than throwing the book on occasions such as the controversy surrounding Jared O’Mara. I simply opine that we should allow others the benefit of hindsight that we would choose for ourselves.

Pictured: Social media reaches everywhere.

Source: geralt (Via Pixabay)

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Is it time that we all agree for good that the technology of aroundthe-clock, worldwide interaction is a positive advancement that carries many damaging side effects

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Harry Heath

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12

POLITICS

politics

#GRPolitics politics@gairrhydd.com gairrhydd.com/category/poltics

Plaid Cymru’s Annual Conference report Williams Jac Rees

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Leanne Wood proposed a ‘rail revolution, with plans to complete the electrification of the railway line to Swansea

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ast week at Y Galeri, Caernarfon members and supporters of Plaid Cymru – The Party of Wales gathered for the parties’ annual conference. ‘Forward Stronger’ was the theme as party leader Leanne Wood AM put to bed claims that she will be standing down from her position. She stated in her speech she intended to lead the party into the next Welsh Parliamentary elections in 2021 as Plaid Cymru’s ‘candidate for First Minister’ and said that Plaid Cymru had ‘the ambition to show a new way for Wales’.

Amongst the main talking points at the conference were not surprisingly: ‘Brexit’, the ongoing constitutional crisis in Catalonia, and the recent General Election results which saw Plaid Cymru increase its number of MP’s following the election of Wales’s youngest MP Ben Lake as the MP for Ceredigion.

Throughout the weekend the party also proposed many new policies that would be a key part of their manifesto going into the elections in 2021. Most notably Adam Price AM, Plaid Cymru’s spokesman for

the economy and infrastructure, announced ‘youth basic income’ for 18 to 24 year olds which would be the ‘most comprehensive package of support for young people across the entire world’ that would include support for higher and further education, a national citizen service, grants to support young entrepreneurs wishing to start up their own business in addition to a ‘guaranteed’ job.

Additionally, as part of her ‘All-

Wales Agenda’ Leanne Wood proposed a ‘rail revolution’, with plans to complete the electrification of the railway line to Swansea, which was ditched by the current UK Government. Whilst discussing Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union Wood also said, ‘remaining in the single market was the best scenario for the Welsh economy’ which was supported by delegates who voted unanimously to maintain Wales’ membership of the single market.

Plaid Ifanc, the parties’ youth wing also launched their National Survey which will be the biggest ever survey focusing on independence and what kind of country young people in Wales want to build. Speaking to Gair Rhydd, co-chair of the movement Sioned Treharne said ‘This campaign is Plaid Ifanc’s most ambitious project to date. We’re aiming high, and have set a target of 10,000 conversations with young people across Wales about our nation’s constitutional future.’ The report based on the findings of this survey will undoubtedly inform and further the national conversation about independence, and will inject new energy into the campaign for self-determination.’

Summing up the parties’ values and vision for Wales in an interview given to BBC Wales Dr Dai Lloyd AM said ‘No other party puts Wales, this nation, at the heart of its raison d’etre.

Nobody else cares to this extreme degree about the future of Wales, its people, its economy its vision or its place in the world’. Only time will tell if the people of Wales agree.

Pictured: Leanne Wood.

Source: Plaid Cymru (via Flickr).

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Welsh postgraduate funding changed Tomos Evans

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It is expected that these changes will increase the number of postgraduate and undergraduate students in Welsh universities.

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he Welsh Government has announced plans to allocate a further £5 million to the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales in order to invest in postgraduate education in both 2018-19 and 2019-20. This will allow Welsh universities to offer bursaries and grants to Welsh students. In response to the recommendations made in the Diamond Review, published in September 2016, it is hoped that such a move will encourage students to progress to postgraduate courses, whilst also encouraging students to return to Wales.

On October 18th, the Education Secretary, Kirsty Williams, announced some of the greatest higher education funding reforms in recent years.

It is expected that these changes will increase the number of postgraduate and undergraduate students in Welsh universities. The funding adjustments come after a gradual increase in the uptake of postgraduate courses. In data collected by Universities UK, the number of students leaving UK universities with a postgraduate taught qualification increased by 35.1% to 60,595 between 2004-05 and 2013-

How will students benefit?

14. In the same period, the number of students leaving UK universities with a research postgraduate qualification grew by 28.6% - a somewhat more modest increase of 5,490. However, the number of young people from lower income backgrounds studying postgraduate courses is far smaller in Wales. As a result of the Welsh Government’s proposals, it is hoped that this will change.

Whilst university applications for undergraduate courses in Wales fell by 7% this year - a steeper decline than any other UK nation - proposed changes to undergraduate degree funding is also hoped to further incentivise young people to study in Welsh institutions.

One such strategy is to retain tuition fee levels at £9,000 instead of increasing them to £9,250, as is the case in England. In another move by the Welsh Government, the repayment threshold for undergraduate loans will be increased from £21,000 to £25,000.

In a statement published on the Welsh Government’s website, Education Secretary Kirsty Williams said that the government aimed to deliver “a

stable and sustainable higher education system in Wales”. Ms Williams added that the government’s “on track to deliver the most equitable and progressive student support system in the UK” and that the plans “support both students and universities”.

Jake Smith, the Vice President for Postgraduate Students at Cardiff University has welcomed the announcement from the Welsh Government.

In a statement published on the University’s Student Union website, Mr Smith commended the “positive development in Welsh higher education”, describing postgraduate study as “a vital development route for many students”. He added that he is looking forward to working with all stakeholders in order to “ensure as much of the money as possible reaches the students themselves.”

Universities Wales, the body which represents universities in Wales, said in a statement published on their website that the additional funding for postgraduate study is “welcome”, ensuring that “Wales continues to deliver world-leading research”. However, they also called for “investment

in our institutions, for this excellence to be realised.”

Despite the commencement of the new funding scheme as early as next year, its effects are unlikely to be felt for some time.

Pictured: Kirsty Williams Source: Liberal Democrats (via Flickr).

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GWLEIDYDDIAETH

Conor Holohan

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European leaders have thrown May some rope in the press regarding the next stage of negotiations.

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Do the EU need May to stay put?

here have been some rather interesting messages out of Brussels recently. Despite the EU’s customary swipes at our Prime Minister and Brexit Minister, there have been many emerging stories that play well for May’s leadership and David Davis’ enormous task.

It was reported last week that Guy Verhofstadt urged Theresa May to ‘face down’ Boris Johnson and other Brexiteers who refused to ‘accept the reality of the Brexit they campaigned for’. This is telling of how the Eurocrats view the British Prime Minister: They rightly see May as someone reluctantly implementing Brexit. Since May was a known remainer before the referendum, the EU believe that she is more likely than someone like Boris Johnson to give concessions and less likely to walk away from the negotiating table.

They are correct on both counts.

European leaders have also somewhat thrown May some rope in the press regarding the next stage of negotiaions; trading arrangements. It was reported that the EU are internally preparing for discussions on trading arrangements and a transitional period. Previously, the EU had insisted that they would not entertain this prospect before the so-called ‘divorce’ payment was settled.

This change of tone is indicative of the fact that Brussels are eager to pressure the UK into paying the ‘divorce’

bill which caused a deadlock between sides throughout the summer. They hope that by portraying December as a deadline of sorts for moving on with discussions, the UK will be rushed into paying a large enough settlement to disparage other nations from thinking that exiting the EU is cheap.

The change of tone on trade talks also suggests that the Eurocrats are trying to help May, who is domestically week and under constant threat of a coup from within her minority party. The announcement that the EU are internally preparing for trade talks may be designed to calm Brexiteer Tories who are frustrated with the negotiating deadlock and have become restless, some having already called for May to walk away from the table without a deal.

However, it was leaked to the German press that, during their recent dinner, Mrs May begged President of the European Commission JeanClaude Juncker for help. Though Juncker’s chief of staff denied being the source of the leaks, it must be remembered that there are some prominent Eurocrats that still believe Brexit can be reversed through aggressive briefing against the UK’s negotiating team designed to lower morale and confidence in the possibility of Brexit.

Sources surrounding Angela Merkel are angry about the leak, and have said that the German Chancellor wants

Pictured: President of the European Commission, JeanClaude Juncker.

Source: © European Union 2015 - European Parliament via Flickr

May to stay the course of Brexit negotiations.

The reason that the Eurocrats and the national leaders in Europe want May to stay on is that they know she will pay a large ‘divorce’ settlement in order to get onto trade talks by December for the sake of her government. They rightly believe that, if May were usurped, she could be replaced

by a more brutish character, particularly Boris Johnson, whom EU sources have called a ‘dangerous joke’. If the EU want to cover the economic black hole left by the UK and discourage Eurosceptic sentiment across the continent simultaneously, they need someone like May in place, who isn’t ideologically attached to Brexit and is more likely to take a sore deal.

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Universal Credit roll out questioned

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heresa May has come under criticism from all sides of the political spectrum as the Universal Credit system rolls out to more and more jobcentres across the UK. The system is a new way of claiming benefits and it is set to replace to the six means-tested benefits that are currently available for claimants across the country by 2021. Despite criticism, the government has argued that changes are being made in order to ‘simplify’ the process of receiving benefits in a timely manner; reduce bureaucracy costs and making it easier

for all claimants. Since it began rolling out, many problems have arisen for this key Conservative policy as political heavyweights, from Jeremy Corbyn to ex-Conservative Prime Minister John Major, have urged for May to consider a halt in the rollout and to review the system to ensure it is fairer.

So why the fuss? One issue surrounds one in five people on the system being made to wait six weeks before they are paid. The waiting time presumes that someone who has lost their job will at least be able to afford six weeks of living expenses. This is of-

ten not the case. With years of wages rising at a slower pace than inflation, it is no wonder that many people lack savings and will struggle to make it to the six week mark - instead ending up in rent arrears or relying on friends and family to ensure they are not sleeping rough. Iain Duncan Smith, the original architect of this system, has called for this waiting time to be reduced to four weeks; though many Labour Party MPs (including Shadow Secretary for Work & Pensions Debbie Abrahams) are unconvinced that this change will be enough.

The new system will also mean that people in work will begin to be sanctioned as the system will include benefits such as housing benefit and working tax credits - money that is used to help the lowest paid stay afloat. For part time workers, this will mean that receiving tax credits will be dependent on them taking ‘intensive action’ to find more working hours; though it is unclear how working more hours will be possible for many low paid workers who rely on zero-hour contracts for which they may need to stay readily available.

With May’s position of Prime Minister seeming turbulent as she is engulfed in the difficult brexit negotiations, another U-turn would do little to shake her ‘weak and wobbly’ perception. After being mired in criticism from her own party and the opposition alike, it is unclear what the future for Universal Credit will be. An emergency debate was held on Tuesday to discuss the issues, with some Conservative backbenchers speaking out to say that their own party need to make compromises on the new system. Work and Pensions Secretary David Gauke was not present for the important debate - with unconvincing explanations as to why. Perhaps sanctioning Ministers who fail to arrive for work would be a more effective policy than sanctioning the lowest paid who do.

Pictured: Job Centre Plus Source: HelenCobain via Flickr

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One in five people on the new system are being made to wait six weeks before they are paid

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Lewis Payne

14

POLITICS

Grey ethics, black soil

The human consequences of market deregulation

Tanya Harrington

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The true price of cheap meat might be more than just what we pay at the counter.

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ordered by Russia and the Black Sea, Ukraine is known as a “breadbasket” nation, famed for its agricultural and heavy industry sectors. It stands as the largest country within Europe, with a population of over forty-two million people.

It is no stranger to conflict. Once a part of the now-dissolved Soviet Union, Ukraine struggled for sovereignty for much of the 20th Century – a status that it has since achieved. But even now, accounts of rigged elections, mass corruption, revolutions and land disputes confuse and disrupt the nation’s identity and goals.

At the south end of Ukraine sits Crimea, the subject of military conflict between Ukraine and Russia since 2014, when Russia annexed the area.

Despite peace deals and ceasefires, conflict between Ukrainian and Russian rebel groups in Eastern Ukraine has continued well into 2017.

Referred to as “the war no one notices,” the conflict has been marked by mass casualties and a lack of resources for those living in the conflict zone.

One civilian told The New York Times “there had not been gas heat available since 2014,” despite temperatures plummeting to below 19 degrees Celsius on some winter nights.

Further north, the Western Central area of Ukraine hosts an entirely different scene. Here resides the Vinnytsia Oblast, an area renowned for its immense agricultural wealth, potentially even the resources to ensure global food security in an age of great population expansion. It is famed for its chernozem – miles upon miles of highly-fertile, mineral-heavy, rich black soil.

And so Ukraine can be viewed as a country in two minds: a place of both great national wealth and anxiety.

It was during the height of the Ukrainian crisis that confectionary

tycoon, “Chocolate King,” Petro Poroshenko was elected as President of the nation. Poroshenko was praised for his anti-Russian establishment, proEurope stance, his promises to further represent Ukraine on the world stage and to improve living standards for all.

It was Poroshenko who signed an association agreement with the European Union – including the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA), which opened much of the European market up to Ukraine’s exports and required that Ukraine abide by EU standards in many areas of economic policy. This was a choice that would increase trade and improve international relations - one which is proven to have been largely successful.

But this EU attention, alongside continuing national destabilisation and the fact that agriculture remains one of Ukraine’s only growing sectors, means that many players understand that this is a key time to push for deregulation.

In Ukraine’s current market, all regulation (aside from taxation) has been suspended, meaning that industries, including the agricultural industry, do not have to undergo inspection from labour, health and safety, or environmental authorities (as of information provided by Bankwatch, 2015).

Myronivsky Hliboproduct (MHP) is Ukraine’s biggest poultry farming company. It boasts meat exports of 132 000 tonnes in 2015, with a 65% increase in exports to countries in the European Union. The company has been able to borrow mass amounts of money from multiple sources - over 500 million euros alone from the European Investment Bank (EIB), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a part of the World Bank, in order to further expand its operations.

Particularly, MHP aims to double the size of its Vinnytsia complex, a compound which currently has 38 slaughterhouses, each with the capacity to hold 54,000 chickens. To increase their size, the company now wants to spread out onto land owned by local residents and vendors. This is the area where MHP – which also claims to have provided around 30,000 jobs and a bus service in the areas local to its complex – runs into trouble: with the community.

Following concerns and allegations from community members affected by the Vinnytsia complex, the EIB, EBRD and IFC made their loans to MHP with certain conditions attached. MHP was required to improve its environmental performance and further enhance the impact it had socially and developmentally. However, because the regulatory infrastructure to hold the company to account on these conditions is lacking, many locals feel that the conditions simply are not being taken seriously - and neither are their needs.

Campaigners on a fact-finding mission set out by organisation Bankwatch interviewed local representatives from three villages and the town of Ladyzhyn, all local to the Vinnytsia complex. They found that residents were concerned primarily about health and safety issues, and about their homes and livelihoods.

With no centralised water supply system in the area, access to and cleanliness of drinking water was a worry.

Residents, who were reliant on water from wells, reported a drop in water levels which could be attributed to heavy usage by the complex. As well as this, the disposal methods of farm waste such as manure caused anxiety in the community, with many fearing that the water may have been contaminated by pathogens from waste products. As well as this, they reported a

sense of pressure to lease their privately owned land for the expansion of the complex - a demand with the potentiality to see many residents lose homes or livelihoods, alongside their sense of self-sustainability. Again, although loans for the expansion of the Vinnytsia complex came with the condition of improving small business connections, the government’s crackdown on inspection means that MHP has no incentive to comply.

Furthermore, the tactics used by the company to coerce residents into allowing the expansion have been referred to as “violent.”

Research by Bankwatch has shown that residents report “being followed, having phones tapped,” and themselves and families repeatedly warned of “ the ‘consequences’ of activism.”

There have even been reports of explicit violence, with one court hearing that a local activist had been “attacked and beaten by another villager because of different opinions about the ‘construction of the poultry farms’.”

There is a great local sense of dissatisfaction, fear, and resignation complaints to government officials are often noted as ignored or met with hostility.

It is important to create jobs, expand economies and ensure increased food security - but this must be done responsibly, and large businesses must be held to account.

In allowing large businesses to remain unaccountable, does Ukraine display a tacit approval of profit over people? Should such extreme market deregulation be allowed if it risks livelihoods, supports the suppression of opinion and undermines the food health and safety values that other EUassociated countries must abide by?

The true price of cheap meat might be more than just what we pay at the counter.

Pictured: A Ukrainian farm landscape (Source: Juanedc via Flickr)

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GWLEIDYDDIAETH

15

Populism and nationalism are far from done

They’re on the rise, and it’s a huge threat to the fabric of Europe Gareth Axenderrie

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Europe has become a battleground between the established centre-ground, and a plethora of internal opponents to the status quo.

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hen Emmanuel Macron was elected as President of France in May, many were quick to conclude that populism, and specifically nationalism, had had its day in Europe. Macron had swept to power with 66% of the vote share against Front National’s Marine le Pen. His vision was a centrist, pro-European one, and as he stood celebrating in front of European Union flags, the assumption was that order had been restored.

Barely five months on however, you could argue that the nationalist and populist movement is still in full flow across Europe.

We are very quick to continue to talk about Trump and Brexit, but as we have become tangled in the US President’s latest inflammatory tweets and arguments about hard, soft, red, white and blue Brexits, Europe has become a battleground between the established centre-ground, and a plethora of internal opponents to the status quo.

Germany was the first major shock since the summer. Chancellor Merkel has been the immovable object in European centrist politics for the best part of twelve years, and yet now, she faces the task of a swell in right-wing nationalism throughout the country.

This swell has resulted in Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) becoming the Bundestag’s third largest party, and a huge thorn in her side. Political commentators are predicting a huge change in the discourse and tone of debate in the western world’s largest parliament.

The AfD’s result was quickly mir-

rored in neighbouring Austria, albeit on a more cataclysmic scale. 31 yearold Sebastian Kurz led his Austrian People’s Party to electoral victory earlier this month, and they have just opened coalition negotiations with the far right Freedom Party. The proposition of an extremely right-wing government in Austria sent shivers down the spine of the EU establishment.

Those shivering spines will have turned cold last weekend however, as the Czech Republic elections delivered a victory for a man dubbed the ‘Czech Donald Trump’. Andrej Babis led his anti-establishment Action for Dissatisfied Citizens Party to 30% of the vote making them the largest party in the country. Babis is the Czech Republic’s second wealthiest businessman, with an estimated worth of $4.1 billion. The owner of conglomerate Agrofert, has been heavily accused of undermining democracy by buying up a large proportion of the country’s media to silence criticism. Campaigning on an anti-immigration platform, it’s evidence that Europe is ready to accommodate populist charges into politics from ‘Trump-style’ demagogues.

There was minor relief in the form of the Slovenian presidential elections as the first round produced victories in all but three districts for Borut Pahor of the social democrats. Slovenia has Europe’s lowest rate of income inequality, and it appears its electorate are rewarding its political class. That said, Slovenia’s example is a current anomaly in the wider European context.

The rise of separatism is also a ma-

jor concern for the EU’s status quo.

Catalonia is the obvious example, as established constitution comes head to head with a drive toward self-sovereignty. The EU has been extremely cautious in its response to the crisis on the Iberian Peninsula, and they’ll be conscious of the potential for mirror movements in Corsica, northern Italy and other semi-autonomous regions.

There’s no doubting that Europe as a continent, and as a political establishment, is in the midst of a huge identity crisis. Years of centrist establishment rule is being challenged by

populism and nationalism on a scale not witnessed for the best part of the last fifty years. The EU has threatened countries embracing populist and nationalist movements with sanctions, but you fear that this rhetoric may only further drive people to opposition.

Those who pointed to Macron’s election victory in May as an end to this, should be reminded that Macron himself can be defined as a centrist populist. The establishment is creaking, and possibly even taking on water.

Brexit was the first rock of the boat, and there are many waves still ahead.

Pictured: Puigdemont, Macron and Babis Sources: Asociación Española de Directivos - AED, Jeso Carneiro, Bundesministerium für Europa, Integration und Äußeres (all via Flickr)

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Palestinian and Israeli women march together for peace Marta Abascal Centenera

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We are women from the right, the left, Jews and Arabs, from the cities and the periphery and we have decided that we will stop the next war.

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ver 30,000 Palestinian and Israeli women came together during late September and into early October as they marched across the desert to protest violence and urgently call for a “bilaterally acceptable political agreement” on the Israel-Gaza conflict. The conflict has taken the lives of more than 2,000 Palestinians and 70 Israelis since 2014. The movement has also demanded women be granted an equal role to that of men in peace negotiations.

Dressed in white, thousands of women: Israeli and Palestinian; Muslim, Jewish and Christian; began their march on September 24th, starting in the south of Israel, and culminating on October 8th upon their arrival at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence. Here they set up a “tent of reconciliation”, in which women and children created signs that read “peace be upon you” in Arabic and Hebrew.

Along the way, these determined activists toured Israeli cities, settlements in Palestinian territory, Palestinian and Bedouin villages, and met with various organizations and government officials.

The organizer of the movement is the grassroots group Women Wage Peace, created in 2014 after the Gaza War. The group has more than 24,000 members in Israel and Palestine and significant support on social networks.

Marilyn Smadja, one of the founders, made the following statement about their crusade: “We are women from the right, the left, Jews and Arabs, from the cities and the periphery and we have decided that we will stop

the next war.”

This language is quite reminiscent of that used in Greek playwright Aristophanes’s Lysistrata, in which the women of Athens come together in an extraordinary mission to put an end to the Peloponnesian War that the men are waging.

Another example of a chant often heard on the Women Wage Peace demonstrations is: “We give life, you give us peace”, which is also one of the central and recurrent arguments in the 411BC play by Aristophanes.

The similarities between the diegesis of the 2,500 year old fictional play and the status quo on the PalestinianIsraeli conflict goes to show that the issues concerning both gender and war policy are still very much relevant today. In fact, war policy is one of the institutional matters that most notoriously perpetuates gender inequality by not giving women a fair part, responsibility and voice in all bellicose affairs.

Much like in Lysistrata, the 30,000 women that protested this last month are indeed waging for peace, and we should listen to them.

Pictured: For too long, women feel their voices have been ignored in a bloody and complex conflict (Source: United Nations Photo via Flickr)

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SCIENCE

17

science

#GRScience science@gairrhydd.com gairrhydd.com/category/science

MEDICINE

Artical Intelligence: A new chapter for medical science Revolutionary changes in ways we see a doctor

Michael Maccallam

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There is little doubt that artificial intelligence will go on to pave the way for a new era of medical science.

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rtificial intelligence has long been the fascination of scientists and filmmakers alike, whether it has been through apocalyptic visions or dreams of utopia.

However, despite people’s beliefs that the creation of artificial intelligence would be welcomed with breaking news headlines, forms of AI have already been introduced into many fields of work, including medicine.

Although many doctors will say that their knowledge is based solely on their years of rigorous education, many will also say that it has been their past experiences and judgements that have led to the level of expertise that they work with, things which are far less tangible and far more difficult to measure.

Therefore, with the medical field seeming highly subjective, it would make sense that this would be an almost impossible area for machines to infiltrate, but this seems to have been proven wrong.

In the era of modern medicine, doctors have found themselves increasingly dependent on countless studies and differ-

ent drug options, which is limited to the human capacity of the doctor’s mind.

The use of machines, however, eliminates this problem, since a machine is not limited to the same boundaries as the human mind. Alongside this, artificial intelligence would be able to interpret and analyse a patient’s data and instantly be able to offer the best diagnosis and drug choice.

The issue must not be seen in terms of taking the doctors’ jobs though. On the contrary, artificial intelligence is increasingly being seen as a necessity rather than an option, since it seems counter-intuitive to base a diagnosis solely off the opinion of the doctor when a much more reliable source is so readily available. This branch of artificial intelligence has been named machine learning by many, with the idea that just like a doctor, the machine itself can learn and develop new methods of diagnosing patients.

Not only could this emerging technology revolutionise physical health though, it also has significant implications for mental health.

Such ideas include exploiting the relationship we all have with our smartphones nowadays, whereby a mobile phone will be able to monitor the interactions that the user makes, detecting any signs of depression or bipolar disorder that may be visible from their posts on social media or their searches on the internet.

David Ahern, of the Department of Psychiatry at Brigham, has said that ‘historically we have been dismally poor at detecting dangerousness or selfharm’ and that ideally ‘we may be able to develop an earlywarning system that […] could monitor and see changes in patterns to better determine when the risk gets to the level where intervention is needed’.

This system would be able to detect how mild or aggressive someone’s illness is and would offer more reliability than that of a doctor.

Ultimately, this technology is still in its inception, but there is little doubt among medical professionals that this area of artificial intelligence will go on to pave the way for a new era of medical science.

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18 SCIENCE NEWS

The spacecraft cemetery you never knew about

Pictured: Spacecraft sourced via Pixabay by skeeze Clipart from openclipart

Matt Tomlin

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n Earth, there is a place which is ideal for artificial satellites to land.

That place is within the area around the point furthest from land.

Known as the “Oceanic Pole of Inaccessibility” or “Point Nemo”, this point is the safest and the most environmentallyfriendly for dumping satellites which need to be discontinued and also have the issue of being too large to simply burn up completely in the Earth’s atmosphere.

The zone around this point, inside which 260 spacecrafts have been brought down already, hosts extremely little human or marine life as so few species are able to live in the area due to a lack of currents bringing them in.

The area, which is 1500 square kilometres (580 square miles) of sea between Australia, New Zealand and South America, is so remote that there is a significant margin of error for ground controllers when managing the descents of these large spacecrafts towards “Point Nemo”.

There is a great need to deliver constructed space objects back to Earth.

Around 170 million pieces of notable space junk orbit the planet with the significance of the ob-

jects ranging from paint flakes to the International Space Station.

The high speeds of these objects, estimated to reach up to 27,000 kilometres per hour (16 777 miles per hour), mean that even the smallest of them could be destructive.

Scientists have warned that increasing numbers of man-made structures surrounding the Earth could cause serious damage and inevitably economic consequences to satellites and stations currently in use.

Furthermore, it has been understood in the scientific community that too much space debris held by the gravitational pull of the Earth could cause complications when launching rockets in the future.

Such issues mean it is vital that ground controllers retain control of their space craft and use the area surrounding the “Oceanic Pole of Inaccessibility” to bring them back to Earth as safely as possible.

Unfortunately, this is not always the case as next year the Chinese Tiangong-1 space station will be brought down but with the engineers having no control over its descent.

It would seem unwise for engineers to be negligent about the risks of this lack of control in future especially when, within the next ten years, the International Space Station is going to be brought back down to Earth.

A space “graveyard” appears to not be just that. It is a necessity.

GWYDDONIAETH

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Sustainability: A new element of the fashion industry?

Kawser Abdulahi

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crucial part of the UK economy, fashion has more than just an impact on our bank balances.

Rising global demand and changes in consumer behaviour have led to a shift towards more affordable avenues of clothing, with the booming fast fashion industry taking over our high-streets and wardrobes.

In the UK and EU, clothing is the 8th largest sector in terms of a household’s expenditure. However, behind housing, transport and food, it has the fourth largest environmental impact. In 2016, an estimated 1.3 million tonnes of clothing was purchased in the UK. Yet, around £30bn of the clothes we buy hangs in our wardrobes, collecting dust, because we don’t have the time to wear it or don’t like it anymore.

With online clothing sites offering better deals than the high-street AND free delivery, buying clothes is easier than ever (and cheaper for us cash strapped students).

Part of a rapid production system, fast fashion provides on trend and cheap clothes for the masses.

No wonder it’s the greatest success story of the 3 trillion-dollar fashion industry. But the environmental cost

of this success certainly isn’t cheap.

The 2012 report by the Waste Resources Action Programme (WRAP) looking at the carbon, water, and waste footprints of clothing throughout its life cycle, highlighted the large environmental impact of the fashion industry.

The latest ‘Valuing Our Clothes’ report follows on from the initial findings. WRAP’s Sustainable Clothing Action Plan (SCAP), a collaborative agreement to reduce the impact by the clothing industry, has over 75 signatories and supporters representing more than 58% of UK retail sales.

Since 2012, SCAP has resulted in a reduction of 10.6% in carbon, 13.5% in water, 0.8% in waste arising across a products life cycle and a 14% reduction in household residual waste.

Equivalent to one and a half hot air balloons of carbon, more than 23, 000 baths full of water, and 30 pairs of women’s jeans for every tonne of clothing sold!

The effect on the environment is a shared one between consumers and companies.

The ‘Love Your Clothes’ Campaign has resulted in consumer behaviour changes leading to reduction of the carbon footprint by 700, 000 tonnes

Pictured: Catwalk sourced via Pixabay by StockSnap

of CO2 through washing clothes at lower temperatures and tumble drying and ironing less.

Consumer behaviours to the care, repair and re-use of clothing might have changed but the largest impact arises from the production stage.

Sustainable fibre choices are the key to reducing the environmental impact and making fashion greener.

Major retailers like Marks and Spencer and Tesco have already committed to 100% sustainable cotton by

2020 but the development of new fibres is long overdue. The last significant one being polyester in 1943.

Eco-fibre start-ups like Orange Fibre, making yarn from citrus waste, and Bolt Thread, brewed spider silk, as well as 3D printing are exciting innovations but still in their infancy.

So, while an apple leather jacket is something to look forward to, simple changes to increase the longevity of our clothes is key to making fashion greener.

Air pollution kills estimately 9 million people per year, survey reveals Buffy Beck

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Scientists are researching links between air pollution and dementia, diabetes, heart disease, stroke and kidney disease.

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nnually, an estimated 9 million people die from pollution with air pollution being the main culprit.

However Prof Philip Landrigan, at the Ichan School of Medicine in the US, says that “The current figure of nine million is almost certainly an underestimate, probably by several million”.

Mostly invisible, air pollution is seriously damaging to our health. Poor quality air increases the chances of someone developing respiratory illness such as asthma and stunted lung growth in children and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in adults.

These illnesses are increasing in their frequency and in their severity.

Scientists are also researching links between air pollution and dementia, diabetes, heart disease, stroke and kidney disease.

With air pollution being so dangerous it’s no wonder that Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, has introduced a £10 T-charge for older polluting petrol and diesel cars in the capital centre. The charge came into force on the 23rd October 2017, however it is already meeting opposition.

Opponents argue that it would “disproportionately penalise London’s poorest drivers”. Others argue it is not doing enough. Simon Birkett from the campaign group Clean Air London says that he wishes the mayor to “take steps which are bigger, stronger and smarter”.

This T-charge is soon to be replaced by an even stricter Ultra-Low

Pictured: Air by alvpics via Pixabay

Emission Zone in 2020, although Mr Khan is in consultation on whether to bring this forward to 2019.

There are also continuous studies on the effects of urban forests on air pollution. For over a decade, scientists have been researching the impacts of trees on the removal of fine particles which have such a detrimental effect on our health.

Trees not only improve the quality of life of the resident population by decreasing heat stress and improving mental health but urban tree stands also modify the city’s climatic char-

acteristics and air quality. The tree stands remove carbon dioxide by sequestration and remove various air pollutants which are absorbed into the tree.

It has been found that a 10 x 10 km grid in London with 25% tree cover was estimated to avoid two premature deaths and two hospital emissions per year.

In a US study, urban forests typically reduced mortalities by one person per year in most cities with as many as seven people per year being saved from premature death in New York

City.

However, a study conducted in France suggests that although trees can help in the reduction of air pollutants, the method of relying on urban forests should not be the ultimate solution to emission reduction.

Instead they argue that this method should be a complementary one, with focus on reducing emissions from the source, developing more energy efficient technology and building/organising cities to reduce energy consumption and associated emissions.

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MAKE YOUR CHOICE CANDIDATE MANIFESTOS MANIFFESTOS YMGEISWYR

GWNEWCH EICH DEWIS

2

MANIFESTO 2017

ELECTIONS EXPLAINED Your Students’ Union holds elections in order to allow you to choose your student leaders for this academic year. They are your voice and act as your representatives in the Union, University, and wider community, fighting for you on an institutional, local, and national level.

Candidates produce manifestos that contain the ideas and principles of their campaigns. Ask yourself if they display the priorities as well as the key creative and communication skills that you would like to see in someone who is representing you and your needs.

What positions are available?

We will be electing students for the following positions: NUS DELEGATES (UK & WALES): Delegates are responsible for voting on NUS policy and within the elections of the NUS fulltime officers on behalf of Cardiff University students.

STUDENT SENATORS: Students who create and vote on policy to make the student experience at Cardiff University better.

SCRUTINY COMMITTEE: Students who will ask questions of the officers (full and part time) about their objectives and progress.

CAMPAIGN OFFICERS: (6 different positions available). These positions are taken up as soon as elected for the duration of this academic year (2017/2018) and are carried out alongside their studies.

WHY VOTE? Simply put: As a student or postgraduate researcher at Cardiff University you will be affected by the decisions made by those elected in this election. By voting, you have the opportunity to vote for the things that you want developed and improved in both the University and the Union.

Every single student at Cardiff university is entitled and encouraged to vote in the students’ union elections. It doesn’t matter if you are a home or international student, full-time or part-time student, an undergraduate or postgraduate taught student or a postgraduate researcher.

As George Jean Nathan famously said: 'Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote'.

TRANSFERABLE VOTING Transferable voting is a system which allows voters to list the candidates in order of preference. The successful candidate will need more than 50% of the total number of votes in order to win. The candidate with the lowest number of votes is eliminated and their votes transferred.

If you don’t believe any of the candidates standing for a position have the qualities you feel are valuable, or you do not agree with their manifesto, you can vote R.O.N. which stands for 're-open nominations'. For Campaign Officer roles this means, should R.O.N be more popular than any of the other candidates, no one would be elected to this role and the nominations for the role would re-open, giving the opportunity to find the right person to lead your Union for other roles. For roles with multiple positions those who do not receive more votes than R.O.N will not be elected.

MANIFESTO 2017

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ESBONIO'R ETHOLIADAU Mae eich Undeb y Myfyrwyr yn cynnal etholiadau er mwyn eich galluogi i ddewis eich arweinwyr ar gyfer y flwyddyn academaidd hon. Nhw yw eich llais a byddant yn gweithredu fel eich cynrychiolwyr yn yr Undeb, y Brifysgol a’r gymuned yn ehangach, yn brwydro ar eich rhan ar lefel sefydliadol, lleol a chenedlaethol.

Mae ymgeiswyr yn cynhyrchu maniffestos sy’n cynnwys syniadau ac egwyddorion eu hymgyrchoedd. Holwch eich hun os ydynt yn dangos y blaenoriaethau yn ogystal â'r sgiliau creadigol a chyfathrebu allweddol yr hoffech chi eu gweld mewn rhywun sy’n eich cynrychioli chi a’ch anghenion.

Pa swyddi sydd ar gael?

Byddwn yn ethol myfrywyr ar gyfer y swyddi canlynol: CYNRYCHIOLWYR UCM (DU A CHYMRU): Mae cynrychiolwyr yn gyfrifol am bleidleisio ar bolisi UCM ac o fewn etholiadau swyddogion llawn amser UCM ar ran myfyrwyr Prifysgol Caerdydd.

SENEDD MYFYRWYR: Myfyrwyr sy'n creu ac yn pleidleisio ar bolisi i wella profiad y myfyrwyr ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd.

PWYLLGOR CRAFFU: Myfyrwyr a fydd yn holi cwestiynau i’r swyddogion (llawn amser a rhan amser) am eu nodau a’u cynnydd.

SWYDDOGION YMGYRCH: (6 gwahanol rôl ar gael). Mae’r rolau hyn yn dechrau cyn gynted ag yr etholwyd ar gyfer y flwyddyn academaidd hon (2017/2018) ac yn cael eu cyflawni ochr yn ochr â’u hastudiaethau.

PAM PLEIDLEISIO? Yn syml: Fel myfyriwr neu ymchwilydd ôl-raddedig ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd, cewch eich effeithio gan y penderfyniadau a wneir gan y rheini a etholir yn yr etholiad hwn. Drwy bleidleisio, mae gennych y cyfle i ddylanwadu ar y pethau rydych chi eisiau eu datblygu a’u gwella yn y Brifysgol a’r Undeb.

Mae gan bob myfyriwr ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd yr hawl i bleidleisio yn etholiadau Undeb y Myfyrwyr. Nid oes ots os ydych chi'n fyfyriwr cartref neu fyfyriwr rhyngwladol, yn astudio'n llawn-amser neu rhan amser, yn fyfyriwr is-raddedig neu ôl-raddedig ymchwil neu a addysgir.

Fel y dywedodd George Jean Nathan: 'Caiff swyddogion gwael eu hethol gan ddinasyddion da sydd ddim yn pleidleisio'.

PLEIDLEISIAU SY’N TROSGLWYDDO Mae’r system o bleidleisiau sy’n trosglwyddo’n caniatáu i bleidleiswyr restru’r ymgeiswyr yn ôl eu hoffter ohonynt. Bydd yr ymgeisydd llwyddiannus angen mwy na 50% o’r cyfanswm o bleidleisiau er mwyn ennill.

Bydd yr ymgeisydd gyda’r nifer lleiaf o bleidleisiau yn cael eu gwaredu a’u pleidleisiau’n cael eu trosglwyddo.

Os ydych o’r farn nad oes gan unrhyw un o’r ymgeiswyr ar gyfer y swydd y nodweddion angenrheidiol, neu os ydych yn anghytuno a’u maniffesto, gallwch bleidleisio dros A.A.E. sef Ail Agor Enwebiadau. Ar gyfer Swyddogion Ymgyrch. golyga hyn pe bai A.A.E. yn fwy poblogaidd nag unrhyw ymgeisydd arall, ni chai unrhyw un ei ethol a byddai’r enwebiadau ar gyfer y swydd yn ail-agor, gan roddi cyfle i ganfod y person cywir i arwain eich Undeb. Ar gyfer rolau gyda swyddi lluosog, ni fydd y rhai nad ydynt yn derbyn mwy o bleidleisiau na A.A.E yn cael eu hethol.

MANIFESTO 2017

MATURE STUDENTS' OFFICER SWYDDOG MYFYRWYR HYN

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4

JANET WILLIAMS

Hi, I am presently a Post -Graduate Mature student studying LLM Canon Law. I have over 20yrs experience with regards to the special educational needs of young people. I am a Volunteer Carers Wales representative and also attend the Cross Party Autism Group in the Welsh Assembly. I was previously a student representative in Life Long Learning, Cardiff.

I am standing as the Mature Student Representative in order to give a voice to both undergraduates and postgraduate mature students. To speak on their behalf in the Student Senate and to find ways of giving support in relation to issues raised by mature students. Facilitate a society in order to arrange events geared towards various groups including those with families. Producing a booklet with advice specific to mature students. Making sure all societies are inclusive in regard to mature students. To focus on supporting the mental wellbeing of mature students and help alleviate loneliness that can be felt by mature students. Access to study skills if not available through the course. Access to support from student services. Ensure that I am always contactable and within reach of every mature student, run a drop in once or twice a week.

Cheers Janet :) Helo, rwyf yn fyfyriwr h n ôl-raddedig yn astudio Gyfraith Ganonaidd (LLM). Mae gennyf dros 20 mlynedd o brofiad o ran anghenion addysgol arbennig pobl ifanc.

Rwy'n gynrychiolydd Gofalwyr Gwirfoddoli Cymru ac hefyd yn mynychu’r Gr p Awtistiaeth Trawsbleidiol yn y Cynulliad. Roeddwn yn gynrychiolydd myfyrwyr gyda Dysgu Gydol Oes, Caerdydd.

The Mature Students' Officer role is to represent mature student’s interests and to campaign on any relevant issues.

Rôl y Swyddog Myfyrwyr Hyˆn yw cynrychioli myfyrwyr hyˆn ac ymgyrchu ar unrhyw faterion perthnasol.

Rwyf yn sefyll fel y Cynrychiolydd Myfyrwyr H n er mwyn rhoi llais i israddedigion a myfyrwyr ôl-raddedig h n. Siarad ar ran Senedd y Myfyrwyr a dod o hyd i ffyrdd o roi cymorth mewn perthynas â materion a godwyd gan fyfyrwyr. Hwyluso cymdeithas er mwyn trefnu digwyddiadau wedi’u haneli at grwpiau amrywiol gan gynnwys rheini sydd â theuluoedd. Cynhyrchu llyfryn gyda chyngor penodol i fyfyrwyr h n. Gwneud yn s r bod pob cymdeithas yn gynhwysol o ran myfyrwyr h n. Canolbwyntio ar gefnogi lles meddyliol myfyrwyr h n a helpu lleddfu unigrwydd a deimlir gan fyfyrwyr h n. Mynediad at sgiliau astudio, os nad yw ar gael drwy'r cwrs. Mynediad i gefnogaeth gwasanaethau myfyrwyr. Sicrhau bod modd cysylltu â mi bob amser ac o fewn cyrraedd i bob myfyriwr, cynnal sesiynau galw heibio unwaith neu ddwywaith yr wythnos.

Diolch Janet :)

MANIFESTO 2017



SWYDDOG Y GYMRAEG WELSH LANGUAGE OFFICER

5

JACOB MORRIS

Fel myfyriwr yr Adran Gymraeg yn y Flwyddyn Gyntaf, Addawaf i wireddu'r canlynol hyd eithaf fy ngallu pe bai i'n ddigon ffodus i gael fy ethol.

1 - Hyrwyddo'r Gymraeg ym maes astudiaethau, h.y sicrhau bod cynnydd parhaol mewn darpariaeth modiwlau i fyfyrwyr Cymraeg ei hiaith.

2 - Sicrhau bod digwyddiadau cymdeithasol ar gael i fyfyrwyr Cymraeg, drwy rhwymo cysylltiadau y gymuned Cymraeg yma ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd. Hynny yw, gweld cydweithio rhwng Y Gym Gym, Cymdeithas Iolo, CMCC a Chymdeithas yr iaith Gymraeg (Cell Caerdydd).

3 - I frwydro dros fyfyrwyr Cymraeg am unrhyw bryderon sydd ganddynt tra'n y brifysgol.

As a Welsh School student in my First Year, I promise to achieve the following to the best of my ability if I was lucky enough to be elected.

1 - Promote the Welsh language in the field of studies, ie ensure that there is constant progress in the provision of modules for Welsh speaking students.

2 - Ensure that there are social events for Welsh students, through connections with the Welsh society here at Cardiff University. This is, see collaboration between y Gym Gym, Cymdeithas Iolo, CMCC and Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg (Cell Caerdydd).

3 - Fight on behalf of Welsh students about any concerns they have during their time at the university.

Mae’r Swyddog y Gymraeg yn gyfrifol am gynrychioli buddiannau myfyrwyr sy’n siarad Cymraeg yn y Brifysgol o fewn strwythurau’r Undeb a, lle y bo’n briodol, strwythurau’r Brifysgol.

The Welsh Language Officer is responsible for representing the interests of Welshspeaking students at the University within the structures of the Union and where appropriate, the University.

MANIFESTO 2017

ETHICAL & ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER SWYDDOG MOESEGOL AC AMGYLCHEDDOL



6

DEWI CLEWLEY

Hi/siwmae, I’m Dewi and I’m a second-year chemistry student. I’m running for this position as I’m incredibly passionate about improving student welfare through environmental and ethical changes.

How I plan to do this: • Implement therapy dogs in the Students’ Union to improve student welfare.

Offering puppy cuddling sessions for stressed students throughout the year.

• Transform the roof of the Students’ Union into an environmentally friendly garden café, available to all students.

• Improve the Cardiff bins situation by lobbying Cardiff Council to increase the amount of allocated bin bags, to improve the phone app and to educate Cardiff students on the system.

• Host a transition from plastic to renewable wooden cutlery in the Food Court.

• Support the University wide Cardiff Divestment Campaign and decrease the influence of fossil fuel companies.

• Explore more efficient and ethical approaches to food waste, such as donation of all edible food to a local homeless shelter and composting.

• Fill the Students’ Union with plants, greenery, and recycled materials to increase general welfare and positivity.

Thank you so much for reading my manifesto and if you have any questions about my campaign please feel free to email me at clewleyd@cardiff.ac.uk and please say hello during the elections!

Helo, fi yw Dewi a dwi’n fyfyriwr cemeg ail flwyddyn. Dwi’n rhedeg am y safle hwn oherwydd rwyf yn angerddol am wella lles myfyrwyr drwy newidiadau amgylcheddol a moesegol.

Sut rwyf yn bwriadu gwneud hyn:

The Ethical and Environmental Officer works to represent students’ ethical and environmental interests and campaigns on any relevant issues.

Mae’r Swyddog Moesegol ac Amgylcheddol yn gweithio i gynrychioli buddiannau moesegol ac amgylcheddol myfyrwyr ac yn ymgyrchu dros unrhyw faterion perthnasol.

• Gweithredu therapi c n yn Undeb y Myfyrwyr i wella lles myfyrwyr. Cynnig sesiynau anwesu c n bach i fyfyrwyr dan straen drwy gydol y flwyddyn.

• Trawsnewid to Undeb y Myfyrwyr yn gaffi gardd eco-gyfeillgar, sydd ar gael i bob myfyriwr.

• Gwella sefyllfa biniau Caerdydd drwy lobïo Cyngor Caerdydd i gynyddu nifer y bagiau bin a ddyrannwyd, i wella’r ap ffôn ac i addysgu myfyrwyr Caerdydd am y system.

• Newid o gyllyll a ffyrc plastig i rai pren adnewyddadwy yn y Cwrt Bwyd.

• Cefnogi Ymgyrch Ddiddymu’r Brifysgol a gostwng dylanwad cwmnïau tanwydd ffosil.

• Darganfod dulliau mwy effeithlon a moesegol o ymdrin â gwastraff bwyd, megis rhoi’r holl fwyd bwytadwy i loches ddigartref leol a chompostio.

• Llenwi Undeb y Myfyrwyr gyda phlanhigion, gwyrddni a deunyddiau wedi'u hailgylchu i gynyddu lles cyffredinol ac agwedd gadarnhaol.

Diolch yn fawr am ddarllen fy maniffesto ac os oes gennych unrhyw gwestiynau am fy ymgyrch mae croeso i chi e-bostio fi ar clewleyd@caerdydd.ac.uk neu dywedwch helo yn ystod yr etholiadau!

ETHICAL & ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER

MANIFESTO 2017

7

SWYDDOG MOESEGOL AC AMGYLCHEDDOL



Hi everyone! I’m Jess, and I would love to be your Ethics and Environmental Officer.

I am running because I believe it is essential for Cardiff University to protect and promote environmental sustainability, as well as operating in an ethical manner for the benefit of students. I have co-led an initiative to win the Fairtrade School Award, played an active role as part of the CPLAN Society, as well as being Comment Editor for Gair Rhydd, the student paper.

If elected I will campaign on the Following things: 1. Go-Green Week: a week dedicated to promoting sustainability across the university and student union, offering talks, films and events.

2. Do everything in my power to stand against University Tuition fee rises.

3. Fine club promoters for not cleaning up flyers on University grounds and Accommodation.

4. A new food waste scheme: ensuring the university and residences minimise food wastage.

5. Increased green spaces for students 6. Free Speech: Make sure every student can speak freely without fear or harassment Please make sure you remember to go out and vote for me!

Helo bawb! Fi yw Jess, ac byddwn wrth fy modd yn cael fy ethol fel eich Swyddog Moesegol ac Amgylcheddol.

Dwi’n sefyll oherwydd dwi’n credu ei fod yn hanfodol i Brifysgol Caerdydd warchod a hyrwyddo cynaliadwyedd amgylcheddol, yn ogystal â gweithredu mewn modd moesegol er budd myfyrwyr. Rwyf wedi cyd-arwain menter i ennill Gwobr Masnach Deg Ysgolion, wedi chwarae rôl weithredol fel rhan o’r Gymdeithas CPLAN, yn ogystal â bod yn Olygydd Sylw ar gyfer Gair Rhydd, papur y myfyrwyr.

Os caf fy ethol byddaf yn ymgyrchu ar y pethau canlynol: 1. Wythnos Gwyrdd: wythnos yn ymroddedig i hyrwyddo cynaliadwyedd ar draws y brifysgol ac undeb y myfyrwyr, yn cynnig sgyrsiau, ffilmiau a digwyddiadau.

2. Gwneud popeth o fewn fy ngallu i sefyll yn erbyn cynnydd mewn ffioedd Dysgu’r Brifysgol.

3. Rhoi dirwy i hyrwyddwyr clwb am beidio â glanhau taflenni ar lawr y Brifysgol a Llety.

4. Cynllun gwastraff bwyd newydd: sicrhau bod y brifysgol a phreswylfeydd yn lleihau gwastraff bwyd.

5. Mwy o fannau gwyrdd ar gyfer myfyrwyr 6. Rhyddid i siarad: Gwneud yn si r y gall pob myfyriwr siarad yn rhydd heb ofni Gwnewch yn si r eich bod yn pleidleisio drosof!



JESSICA WARREN

MICHAEL WOODLAND Hi! My name is Michael Woodland, and I am standing for the position of Ethical and Environmental Officer in the upcoming byelection. I am a postgraduate student studying politics, and I’m running because I want to improve the environmental and ethical welfare of our university life. You should vote for me because I have experience of the role from when I was my school’s Environmental Officer during Sixth Form. I have also volunteered for Nightline and as a Student Rep on a Staff-Student panel, which has developed my communication and listening skills that will be invaluable in representing the student body.

If elected, I will campaign on the following issues: • Combat street rubbish by creating a ‘Litter Team’ • Provide greater access to mixed recycling bins across campus • Ensure printers use 100% recycled paper across the university • Reduce light and water wastage throughout university • Collaborate with environmental societies to create effective change • Raise awareness about issues of freedom of speech and debate • Improve student engagement by creating a university ‘question time’ I will offer as much time, energy and commitment as I can to achieve these goals. Thank you for reading, and always remember: don’t be lost in the woodsVote Woodland!

Helo! Fy enw i yw Michael Woodland, ac rwyf yn sefyll am y rôl Swyddog Moesegol ac Amgylcheddol yn yr etholiad sydd ar y gweill. Dwi’n fyfyriwr ôlraddedig yn astudio gwleidyddiaeth, a dwi’n sefyll oherwydd rwyf eisiau gwella’r lles amgylcheddol a moesegol ein bywyd prifysgol. Dylech bleidleisio drosof fi oherwydd mae gen i brofiad o’r rôl pan oeddwn yn Swyddog Amgylcheddol fy ysgol yn ystod y Chweched Dosbarth. Rwyf hefyd wedi gwirfoddoli ar gyfer Nightline ac fel Cynrychiolydd Myfyriwr ar y panel Staff Myfyrwyr, sydd wedi datblygu fy sgiliau cyfathrebu a gwrando a fydd yn amhrisiadwy yn cynrychioli’r corff myfyrwyr.

Os caf fy ethol, byddaf yn ymgyrchu ar y pethau canlynol: • Mynd i’r afael â sbwriel stryd drwy greu 'Tîm Sbwriel' • Darparu mwy o fynediad i finiau ailgylchu cymysg ar draws y campws • Sicrhau bod argraffwyr yn defnyddio papur ailgylchu 100% ar draws y brifysgol • Lleihau gwastraffu golau a d r drwy'r brifysgol • Cydweithio â chymdeithasau amgylcheddol i greu newid effeithiol • Codi ymwybyddiaeth ynghylch materion yn ymwneud â rhyddid i siarad a dadlau • Cynyddu'r ymgysylltu â myfyrwyr drwy greu ‘hawl i holi’ prifysgol Byddaf yn cynnig cymaint o amser, egni ac ymrwymiad ag y gallaf i gyflawni'r nodau hyn. Diolch i chi am ddarllen, a chofiwch bob amser: pleidleisiwch dros Woodland!

MANIFESTO 2017

AMR ALWISHAH

I’m a third-year mechanical engineering student and I want to make a difference.

Being a student mentor and part of the student staff panel taught me the importance of listening to people's needs and taking advantage of opportunities to make a change. Let’s take our issues to the NUS conference!

Rwyf yn fyfyriwr peirianneg fecanyddol yn y drydedd blwyddyn ac rwyf am wneud gwahaniaeth. Roedd bod yn fentor myfyriwr a rhan o’r panel myfyrwyr staff wedi fy nysgu i ddeall y pwysigrwydd o wrando ar bobl a chymryd mantais o’r cyfleoedd i wneud newid. Gadewch inni gymryd ein materion i gynhadledd UCM!

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NUS NATIONAL DELEGATE CYNRYCHIOLWYR I GYNHADLEDD GENEDLAETHOL UCM

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8

ASHFATH IFHAM

NUS delegates represent the views of Cardiff University Students at NUS National Conference, the annual policy making body of the National Union of Students. Cardiff University Students’ Union is currently a member on the NUS and therefore entitled to send eight delegates to attend the conference.

Mae cynrychiolwyr UCM yn adlewyrchu barn myfyrwyr Prifysgol Caerdydd yng Nghynhadledd Genedlaethol UCM, sef corff llunio polisi blynyddol Undeb Cenedlaethol y Myfyrwyr. Mae Undeb Myfyrwyr Prifysgol Caerdydd ar hyn o bryd yn aelod o UCM, felly mae’n gymwys i anfon 8 cynrychiolydd i fynychu’r gynhadledd.

As a passionate politics student, I believe in an equal, diverse and antidiscriminatory university environment, where students can freely express themselves and fulfil their true potential. I want to protect the wellbeing of international students as well as provide support for mental health illnesses.

Fel myfyriwr gwleidyddiaeth angerddol, credaf mewn amgylchedd prifysgol cyfartal, amrywiol a gwrth-wahaniaethol, lle gall myfyrwyr fynegi eu hunain yn rhydd a chyflawni eu gwir botensial. Rwyf am ddiogelu lles myfyrwyr rhyngwladol yn ogystal â darparu cymorth ar gyfer salwch iechyd meddwl.

NUS NATIONAL DELEGATE

MANIFESTO 2017

9

CYNRYCHIOLWYR I GYNHADLEDD GENEDLAETHOL UCM

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No manifesto submitted.

Heb gyflwyno maniffesto.

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DANIEL CARROLL

HANIN ABOU SALEM Hi my name is Hanin Abou Salem. I am a PhD student in the School of Law and Politics. I want to be your NUS National Delegate because I want to make sure that your voice is heard and your interests are addressed on the national level.

Helo fy enw i yw Hanin Abou Salem. Rwyf yn fyfyriwr PhD yn Ysgol Gyfraith a Gwleidyddiaeth. Rwyf eisiau bod eich Cynrychiolydd UCM Cenedlaethol oherwydd rwyf eisiau gwneud yn si r bod eich llais yn cael ei glywed ac yr ymdrinnir â’ch buddiannau ar lefel genedlaethol.

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FADHILA #1 FOR NUS DELEGATE

Hi, I am Fadhila, your Vice President Education. I am running to represent you on regional and national level as NUS Wales and UK delegate.



FADHILA AL DHAHOURI

HANNAH MCCARTHY With the 2017 General election results heavily influenced by student votes, this government is beginning to realise that we as a demographic can no longer be ignored. I want to ensure that this opportunity is seized and NUS provides a powerful voice, standing up for the needs of students.

Vote me in For: 1.Better MENTAL HEALTH 2.Support INTERNATIONAL students 3.Focus on EQUALITY, DIVERSITY and INCLUSION #IHearYou #LetsMakeItHappen FADHILA #1 AR GYFER CYNRYCHIOLYDD UCM Fi yw Fadhila, eich Is Lywydd Addysg. Rwyf yn sefyll i’ch cynrychioli chi ar lefel ranbarthol a chenedlaethol fel cynrychiolydd UCM Cymru a’r DU. Pleidleisiwch drosof fi ar gyfer: 1. Gwell IECHYD MEDDWL 2. Cefnogi myfyrwyr RHYNGWLADOL 3. Canolbwyntio ar GYDRADDOLDEB, AMRYWIAETH a CHYNHWYSIANT #DwinGwrando #GwneudIddoDdigwydd

Gyda chanlyniad Etholiad Cyffredinol 2017 wedi’i ddylanwadu’n drwm gan bleidleisiau myfyrwyr, mae’r llywodraeth hon yn dechrau sylwi nad ydym yn ddemograffeg i’w hanwybyddu mwyach. Rwyf am sicrhau ein bod yn manteisio ar y cyfle hwn a bod UCM yn darparu llais cryf, yn sefyll dros anghenion myfyrwyr.

10

NUS NATIONAL DELEGATE

MANIFESTO 2017

CYNRYCHIOLWYR I GYNHADLEDD GENEDLAETHOL UCM



 HOLLIE WICKENS

JOSHUA PRIOR

As the UK Government tries to suppress the voices of students with empty promises on student fees, we need strong voices to ensure the NUS focuses on the real issues hitting students, like living costs. As your delegate, I will be there to represent you and voice your concerns.

I’m running for NUS delegate to improve its democracy and relevance to ordinary students. As my Sixth Form’s Student President I worked with the NUS so I believe I have the necessary personal requirements to serve in this position.

Remember: vote Josh Prior to anyone else.

Wrth i Lywodraeth y DU geisio celu lleisiau myfyrwyr gyda addewidion gwag ar ffioedd myfyrwyr, mae angen lleisiau cryf i sicrhau bod UCM yn canolbwyntio ar faterion myfyrwyr, fel costau byw. Fel eich cynrychiolydd, byddaf yno i’ch cynrychioli ac i fynegi eich pryderon.

Rwyf yn rhedeg ar gyfer cynrychiolydd UCM i wella ei democratiaeth a pherthnasedd i fyfyrwyr cyffredin. Fel Llywydd Myfyrwyr fy Chweched Dosbarth, fe wnes i weithio gyda’r UCM felly credaf fod gennyf y gofynion personol angenrheidiol i wasanaethu ar gyfer y rôl hwn. Cofiwch: pleidleisiwch Josh Prior.

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 JAKE SMITH

MARWAN HANBALI

Hi, I’m Jake, your Vice President Postgraduate. With your support I will use my experience in the SU and NUS to campaign for better support for postgrads and students with part-time jobs and ensure Wales isn’t forgotten by NUS UK. I will seek your views on all the NUS issues.

Hello, I am a third year Mechanical Engineering Student. I have had a great experience at the University in the past three years, and I seek reflecting back what I have been taught into the voice of being a NUS delegate. I am willing to work to my capabilities to be the deserved elect for this position.

Helo fi yw Jake, eich Is Lywydd Myfyrwyr Ol-raddedig. Gyda’ch cefnogaeth chi fe fyddaf yn defnyddio fy mhrofiad yn yr Undeb a’r UCM i ymgyrchu am gwell cymorth i ôl-raddedigion a myfyrwyr â swyddi llawn amser a sicrhau nad yw Cymru wedi’i anghofio gan UCM DU. Byddaf yn gwrando ar eich barn ar holl faterion UCM.

Helo, rwyf yn fyfyriwr trydydd blwyddyn Peirianneg Fecanyddol. Rwyf wedi cael profiad gwych yn y Brifysgol dros y tair blynedd diwethaf, ac rwyf am gymryd beth rwyf wedi’i ddysgu a’i adlewyrchu ar lais bod yn gynrychiolydd UCM. Rwyf yn barod i weithio’n galed i fod yn haeddiannol o’r swydd hon.

NUS NATIONAL DELEGATE

MANIFESTO 2017

11

CYNRYCHIOLWYR I GYNHADLEDD GENEDLAETHOL UCM



 NICHOLAS FOX

ROSIE CROCKER

Shwmae/Hi I'm Nick the VP Welfare. I'm new to the NUS movement, only recently getting involved through conferences with other SU officers across the country this summer. I want to be a delegate because I want to represent our students' views on a national level.

The power of students has been vastly underestimated in recent years and that needs to change. I hope to continue the work of the NUS in furthering the rights of young people and challenging unfair obstacles to higher education, such as tuition fee rises and escalating living costs.

Helo fi yw Nick eich IL Lles. Rwyf yn newydd i fudiad UCM, dim ond yn ddiweddar yn cymryd rhan drwy gynadleddau gyda swyddogion yr Undeb eraill ar draws y wlad dros yr haf. Rwyf am fod yn gynrychiolydd oherwydd rwyf am gynrychioli barn myfyrwyr ar lefel genedlaethol.

Mae p er myfyrwyr heb ei lawn werthfawrogi yn ystod y blynyddoedd diwethaf ac mae angen newid hynny. Rwyf yn gobeithio parhau gwaith yr UCM drwy ymestyn hawliau pobl ifanc a herio rhwystrau annheg i addysg uwch, megis cynnydd mewn ffioedd dysgu a chostau byw cynyddol.

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

RAPHAEL HILL

No manifesto submitted.

Heb gyflwyno maniffesto.

SHERI-ANN BHIM

#bemerryvotesheri Making sure Cardiff Students are heard at a national level!

Representing Cardiff students including ethnic minorities, self-defining women and Welsh students in a true intersectional voice! I will live-tweet the whole thing, publish my voting record so that you can hold me to account! #Transparency #bemerryvotesheri Gwneud yn si r bod llais Myfyrwyr Caerdydd yn cael ei glywed ar lefel genedlaethol! Cynrychioli myfyrwyr Caerdydd gan gynnwys lleiafrifoedd ethnig, merched hunan-ddiffiniedig a myfyrwyr Cymraeg mewn llais croestoriadol!

Byddaf yn trydar yr holl beth yn fyw, cyhoeddi fy record pleidleisio fel eich bod yn gallu fy nal i gyfrif! #Tryloywder

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NUS NATIONAL DELEGATE

MANIFESTO 2017

CYNRYCHIOLWYR I GYNHADLEDD GENEDLAETHOL UCM

 THOMAS KELLY

Hi! I’m Tom and I’m running to represent your views as the NUS National delegate. I’ve just graduated in Chemistry and as the current VP Sport & AU President I am in a great place to represent what is important to you. Vote Tom Kelly as your NUS delegate.

Helo! Fi yw Tom a dwi’n sefyll i gynrychioli eich safbwyntiau fel cynrychiolydd UCM Cenedlaethol. Rwyf newydd raddio mewn Cemeg a fi yw eich IL Chwaraeon a Llywydd UA a rwyf mewn lle gwych i gynrychioli beth sy’n bwysig i chi.

Pleidleisiwch Tom Kelly fel eich cynrychiolydd UCM.

 TOMOS LLEWELYN

The NUS no longer represents students. I promise to take us out!

I am Tomos, a second year biomedical scientist (and rep).

Universities such as Essex and Surrey have led the charge by leaving, we should to.

Vote for me and I will push for a referendum on our membership.

Nid yw’r UCM yn cynrychioli myfyrwyr bellach. Rwyf yn addo ein cymryd ni allan!

Fi yw Tomos, ac rwyf yn wyddonydd biofeddygol ail flwyddyn (a chynrychiolydd).

Mae prifysgolion megis Essex a Surrey wedi arwain y ffordd drwy adael, dylem ni hefyd.

Pleidleisiwch drosof ac fe fyddaf yn pwyso am refferendwm ar ein haelodaeth.

WHY WILL YOU VOTE?

“ BECAUSE DEMOCRACY = POWER TO THE PEOPLE.” CARDIFFSTUDENTS.COM/ELECTIONS

PAM PLEIDLEISIO?

“ OHERWYDD DEMOCRATIAETH = PWER I’R BOBL.” CARDIFFSTUDENTS.COM/ELECTIONS

MANIFESTO 2017



LGBT+ OFFICER (OPEN) SWYDDOG LHDT+ (AGORED)

15

JOSHUA LEWIS

As Publicity Officer for the LGBT+ Association as well as LGBT+ Officer for a political party, I have experience in representing LGBT+ people through the Student Union and other outlets. I am a Trustee of a charity in support of a Cardiff Library, giving experience of organising, public speaking, communication with people of all backgrounds and an ability to budget and run campaigns. My priorities if I were to be elected as LGBT+ Officer would be: 1) To campaign to tackle LGBT+ homelessness in Cardiff and further afield - LGBT+ homelessness is an issue in the UK that impacts on many LGBT+ people, it is important that we help to tackle this issue.

2) To campaign for a Trans policy for sport within the University, Trans students should be able to participate in sport throughout their time at Cardiff without restriction based on their identity.

3) To campaign against bi-erasure - biphobic attitudes are too common, educating the public, students and staff will create an environment free of biphobic attitudes.

4) To assist the LGBT+ Association in the aims and objectives that the group have (including enacting the manifestos of the elected committee) and supporting CU Pride to maintain a safe space for LGBT+ students.

Thank you for reading and considering voting for me!

Fel Swyddog Cyhoeddusrwydd ar gyfer y Gymdeithas LHDT+ yn ogystal â’r Swyddog LHDT+ ar gyfer plaid wleidyddol, mae gennyf brofiad yn cynrychioli pobl LHDT+ drwy Undeb y Myfyrwyr a ffyrdd eraill. Rwyf yn Ymddiriedolwyr elusen sy’n cefnogi Llyfrgell Caerdydd, yn rhoi profiad o drefnu, siarad cyhoeddus, cyfathrebu gyda phobl o bob cefndir a’r gallu i reoli cyllid a chynnal ymgyrchoedd. Fy mhrif flaenoriaethau os caf fy ethol fel Swyddog LHDT+ fyddai: 1) Ymgyrchu i fynd i’r afael â digartrefedd LHDT+ yng Nghaerdydd a thu hwnt - mae digartrefedd LHDT+ yn broblem yn y DU sy’n effeithio ar nifer o bobl LHDT+, mae’n bwysig ein bod yn helpu i fynd i’r afael â’r mater hwn.

The LGBT+ Officer role is to represent Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans* and Plus students’ interests and to campaign on any relevant issues.

Rôl y Swyddog LHDT+ yw cynrychioli buddiannau myfyrwyr Lesbiaidd, Hoyw, Ddeurywiol, Traws* a Phlws ac i ymgyrchu ar faterion perthnasol.

2) Ymgyrchu am bolisi Traws ar gyfer chwaraeon o fewn y Brifysgol, dylai myfyrwyr Traws fod yn gallu cymryd rhan mewn chwaraeon yn ystod eu hamser yng Nghaerdydd heb gyfyngiad yn seiliedig ar eu hunaniaeth.

3) Ymgyrchu yn erbyn bi-ddileu - mae agweddau deuffobig yn rhy cyffredin, byddai addysgu’r cyhoedd, myfyrwyr a staff yn creu amgylchedd sy’n rhydd o agweddau deuffobig.

4) Cynorthwyo’r Gymdeithas LHDT+ gyda’r nodau ac amcanion sydd gan y grŵp (gan gynnwys cyflawni maniffestos y pwyllgor etholedig) a chefnogi Pride PC i gynnal man diogel ar gyfer myfyrwyr LHDT+.

Diolch am ddarllen ac ystyried pleidleisio drosof fi!

MANIFESTO 2017

LGBT+ OFFICER (WOMEN'S) SWYDOG LHDT+ (MERCHED)



16

CAITLIN CRIMMINS

If elected LGBT+ Women’s officer, I intend to put forward a motion at the AGM for a change to the current system of electing our two LGBT+ officers. I believe the community, as a whole, would be better served with a gender and a sexuality officer. This would represent the two major elements of the community better, and allows representation in a more specialised way than the current system. I am committed to further inclusion of all elements of the LGBT+ community, and believe that this is one way this can be achieved with in the student’s union.

Additionally, I would like to change the way names are displayed on the SU website, during elections, and on society pages. Currently, it displays full, “birth” names, as registered with the university. But this doesn’t allow for many people, LGBT+, and not, for example international students, who do not use these names, and would be more comfortable using a chosen name. A simple change on the SU website would allow for this, and increase many people’s comfort in taking part in Student’s Union life.

I would also continue to support the LGBT+ Association, Enfys, and CU Pride, in their future endeavours.

Os caf fy ethol fel Swyddog Merched LHDT+, rwyf yn bwriadu cyflwyno cynnig yn y CCB am newid i’r system gyfredol o ethol dau swyddog LHDT+. Credaf y byddai’r gymuned, yn ei chyfanrwydd, yn cael ei wasanaethu’n well gyda swyddog rhyw a rhywioldeb. Byddai hyn yn cynrychioli dwy elfen bwysig o'r gymuned yn well, ac yn caniatáu cynrychiolaeth mewn ffordd mwy arbenigol na'r system bresennol. Rwyf wedi ymrwymo i gynnwys holl elfennau’r gymuned LHDT+, ac rwyf yn credu bod hyn yn un ffordd y gellir cyflawni hyn o fewn undeb y myfyrwyr.

Yn ogystal, hoffwn newid y ffordd y mae enwau yn cael eu harddangos ar wefan yr Undeb, yn ystod yr etholiadau, ac ar wefannau cymdeithas. Ar hyn o bryd, mae’n dangos enwau “geni” llawn, fel sydd wedi cofrestru gyda’r brifysgol. Ond nid yw hyn yn galluogi llawer o bobl, LHDT+ a myfyrwyr rhyngwladol i newid yr enwau hyn, a fyddai’n hapusach i ddefnyddio enw o’u dewis. Byddai newid syml ar wefan yr Undeb yn caniatáu ar gyfer hyn, a chynyddu cysur llawer o bobl yn cymryd rhan mewn bywyd Undeb y Myfyrwyr.

The LGBT+ Women role is to represent Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans* and Plus students' interests and to campaign on any relevant issues.

Rôl y Swyddog LHDT+ Menywod yw cynrychioli buddiannau myfyrwyr Lesbiaidd, Hoyw, Ddeurywiol, Traws* a Phlws ac i ymgyrchu ar faterion perthnasol.

Byddaf hefyd yn parhau i gefnogi’r Gymdeithas LHDT+, Enfys a Pride PC yn eu hymdrechion yn y dyfodol.

LGBT+ OFFICER (WOMEN'S)

MANIFESTO 2017

17

SWYDOG LHDT+ (MERCHED)



I am aromantic and asexual, two orientations that are often overlooked by the LGBTQ+ community. My aim as the LGBT+ women's officer would be to draw more attention to the women who are overlooked by the community and by society as a whole. As well as drawing attention to my specific orientations, I would also want to bring attention to any person who identifies as an LGBT+ woman, because some women are also overlooked and not counted as women by society as a whole. This is something that I am extremely passionate about, and I would aim to work to make Cardiff a university that continues to accept women of every orientation. Challenging the way that certain groups are treated in society is something that is important to me, and being the LGBT+ women's officer would allow me to listen to the LGBTQ+ women in the university and help the other levels of Student Union leadership to understand what we need in order to carry on feeling like active members of the Union and the wider university.

Rwyf yn arhamantaidd ac yn anrhywiol, dau gyfeiriadedd a anghofir yn aml gan y gymuned LHDT+. Fy nod fel swyddog merched LHDT+ fyddai tynnu mwy o sylw i ferched sy’n cael eu hanwybyddu gan y gymuned a’r gymdeithas yn ei chyfanrwydd. Yn ogystal â thynnu sylw at fy nghyfeiriadedd penodol, byddaf hefyd yn awyddus i dynnu sylw at unrhyw berson sy'n nodi fel merch LHDT+, oherwydd mae rhai merched hefyd yn cael eu hanwybyddu a ddim yn cael eu cyfrif fel merched yn y gymdeithas yn gyffredinol. Mae hyn yn rhywbeth yr wyf yn frwdfrydig dros ben amdano, a byddaf yn anelu i weithio i wneud Caerdydd yn Brifysgol sy’n parhau i dderbyn menywod o bob cyfeiriadedd. Mae herio’r ffordd y mae grwpiau penodol yn cael eu trin yn y gymdeithas yn rhywbeth sy’n bwysig i mi, ac fe fyddai bod yn Swyddog Merched LHDT+ yn galluogi i mi wrando ar ferched LHDT+ yn y brifysgol a helpu lefelau eraill o arweinyddiaeth Undeb y Myfyrwyr i ddeall beth sydd angen arnom i barhau i deimlo fel aelodau gweithredol i’r Undeb a’r Brifysgol ehangach.



LAUREN BOYS

TAZ JONES

I'm Taz and I'm a Final Year Genetics Student!

I'm running for LGBT+ campaign officer because the LGBT+ community needs to be heard! We are a huge community and our voice is extremely important.

My priority this year is to have gender-neutral toilets throughout both university campuses! It seems that the SU is only place that people who wish to use these toilets can do so. Having surveyed some of the university buildings there are not any gender-neutral toilets at present. This needs to be changed to ensure the university is inclusive to all students.

I am going into my 3rd year of being an academic representative, so I have experience of being in meetings and I’ve learnt how to get my point across. Along with being a student rep, I was part of the Student Team with Advice this year so chatting to students comes easily and I can help solve any issues! This year I am also running a Student – Led Mental Health support group in Biosciences, and dealing with any difficult situations that can affecting students. My experience as a leader with GirlGuiding U.K for 5 years has developed my communication and leadership skills.

Fi yw Taz ac rwyf yn Fyfyriwr Geneteg Blwyddyn Olaf!

Rwyf yn sefyll ar gyfer swyddog ymgyrch LHDT+ oherwydd bod angen codi llais y gymuned LHDT+! Rydym yn gymuned enfawr ac mae ein llais yn eithriadol o bwysig.

Fy mlaenoriaeth eleni yw toiledau niwtral o ran rhyw ar ddau gampws y brifysgol!

Mae’n ymddangos mai’r Undeb yw’r unig le y gall pobl sydd am ddefnyddio’r toiledau hyn wneud hynny. Ar ôl gwirio rhai o adeiladau’r brifysgol, nid oes unrhyw doiledau niwtral ar hyn o bryd. Mae angen newid hyn i sicrhau bod y brifysgol yn gynhwysol i’r holl fyfyrwyr.

Rwyf yn dechrau fy 3ydd blwyddyn o fyd yn gynrychiolydd academaidd, felly mae gen i brofiad o fod mewn cyfarfodydd ac rwyf wedi dysgu sut i gyfleu fy mhwynt.

Ynghyd â bod yn gynrychiolydd myfyrwyr, roeddwn yn rhan o'r Tîm Myfyrwyr gyda’r tîm Cyngor eleni dwi’n gallu siarad â myfyrwyr yn hawdd ac yn gallu helpu datrys unrhyw faterion! Eleni rwyf hefyd yn cynnal grŵp cefnogi Iechyd Meddwl o dan arweiniad myfyrwyr yn y Biowyddorau, a delio â sefyllfaoedd anodd y mae myfyrwyr yn wynebu. Mae fy mhrofiad fel arweinydd gyda GirlGuiding U.K am 5 mlynedd wedi datblygu fy sgiliau cyfathrebu a sgiliau arweinyddiaeth.

MANIFESTO 2017

ALEX THOMAS

No manifesto submitted.

Heb gyflwyno maniffesto.



SCRUTINY COMMITTEE PWYLLGOR CRAFFU



18

CATHERINE CHAMBERLAIN Scrutiny Committee members are responsible for holding the Elected Officers accountable to their commitments, monitoring any ongoing projects and ensuring the officers are at all times striving to improve the student experience and lead Cardiff University Students’ Union in the right direction.

Fel aelod o’r Pwyllgor Archwilio, byddwch yn un o 10 o fyfyrwyr sy’n gyfrifol am ddal y Swyddogion Etholedig i gyfrif o ran eu hymrwymiadau, goruchwylio unrhyw brosiectau a sicrhau fod y swyddogion wastad yn gwneud pob ymdrech i wella profiad myfyrwyr ac yn arwain UMPC yn y cyfeiriad cywir.

Hello

I'm Catherine, a 4th Year Marine Geographer.

I have been involved with societies for 2 years and recently becoming President of SHAG means student welfare is important to me.

Scrutiny is the best way to hold our elected officers to their word and that's what I aim to do.

Helo Fi yw Catherine, rwyf yn Ddaearyddwr Morol 4ydd Blwyddyn.

Rwyf wedi cymryd rhan gyda chymdeithasau am 2 flynedd ac mae dod yn Llywydd SHAG yn golygu bod lles myfyrwyr yn bwysig i mi.

Craffu yw’r ffordd orau i ddal ein swyddogion etholedig at eu gair a dyma beth y bwriadaf ei wneud.

SCRUTINY COMMITTEE

MANIFESTO 2017

19

PWYLLGOR CRAFFU



I am in firm belief that accountability is key in a well-run functioning democracy. I will attempt to adhere to this and perform my duty on the scrutiny committee to the best of my ability.



DANIEL CARROLL

HAIGE CHENG

The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today.

Y paratoad gorau ar gyfer yfory yw gwneud eich gorau heddiw.

Rwyf yn credu’n gryf bod atebolrwydd yn allweddol mewn democratiaeth sy’n cael ei redeg yn dda. Byddaf yn ymdrechu i gadw at hyn a pherfformio fy nyletswydd ar y pwyllgor craffu i orau fy ngallu.



I’m Geoff Jukes. The SU has been an important part of my university life so far and I want to make sure our Sabbatical and campaign officers are working on doing what they should be.

Fi yw Geoff Jukes. Mae’r Undeb wedi bod yn rhan bwysig o fy mywyd prifysgol hyd yn hyn ac rwyf eisiau gwneud yn si r bod ein swyddogion Sabothol ac ymgyrch yn gweithio ar wneud yr hyn y dylent fod yn ei wneud.



GEOFF JUKES

JULIA ROOKE

Hi, I’m Julia Rooke and I’m running for student senate and scrutiny committee.

I’m running because I want to make the SU the best it can be for all students, by promoting policies that will bring people together. Feel free to email me with any comments/questions at rookej2@cardiff.ac.uk -go vote!

Helo, fi Julia Rooke ac rwyf yn rhedeg ar gyfer Senedd Myfyrwyr a Phwyllgor Craffu. Rwyf yn sefyll oherwydd rwyf eisiau gwneud yr Undeb y gorau gall fod ar gyfer pob myfyriwr, drwy hyrwyddo polisïau a fydd yn dod â phobl at ei gilydd. Mae croeso i chi e-bostio fi gydag unrhyw sylwadau/gwestiynau ar rookej2@caerdydd. ac.uk - pleidleisiwch!

20

SCRUTINY COMMITTEE

MANIFESTO 2017

PWYLLGOR CRAFFU



It is amazing that we have many elected officers to represent and support us. I want to be part of the scrutiny committee to ensure that elected officers try to maintain their promise and achieve their manifesto so that our voices are not just heard but also put into action.

Mae'n anhygoel bod gennym nifer o swyddogion etholedig yn ein cynrychioli a’n cefnogi. Rwyf am fod yn rhan o’r pwyllgor craffu i sicrhau bod swyddogion etholedig yn ceisio cadw at eu haddewid a chyflwyno eu maniffesto fel bod ein lleisiau yn cael ein clywed ac hefyd yn cael ei roi ar waith.

TAJKEA CHOWDHURY Hiya/Shwmae! My name is Tajkea and now in my 5th year here (I clearly don't want to leave) I’m hoping to use my extensive experience to ensure that students from all backgrounds are represented fairly for an inclusive university experience.

Please vote as your voice is always important!

Thank you/Diolch!

Shwmae! Fy enw i yw Tajkea a dwi yn fy 5ed blwyddyn yma (dwi’n amlwg ddim eisiau gadael). Rwyf yn gobeithio defnyddio fy mhrofiad helaeth i sicrhau bod myfyrwyr o bob cefndir yn cael eu cynrychioli’n deg ar gyfer profiad prifysgol cynhwysol.

Cofiwch bleidleisio gan bod eich llais chi o hyd yn bwysig!

Diolch!

 RAPHAEL HILL

No manifesto submitted.

Heb gyflwyno maniffesto.



 RANA AL-YANAI

WILLIAM DELVES

Hello |Shwmae

I’m a friendly and enthusiastic History undergrad with a track record of responsibility and working collaboratively in the SU as the LGBT+ Association’s Treasurer, SHAG’s Secretary, and a Student Advice Exec member. In this role, I’d work constructively with officers to ensure they’re best delivering on manifesto pledges.

Shwmae Rwyf yn fyfyriwr israddedig Hanes brwdfrydig gyda record o gyfrifoldeb a gweithio ar y cyd yn yr Undeb fel Trysorydd Cymdeithas LHDT+, Ysgrifennydd SHAG ac aelod o Bwyllgor Gwaith Cyngor i Fyfyrwyr. Yn y rôl hon, byddaf yn gweithio mewn ffordd adeiladol gyda swyddogion i sicrhau eu bod yn gweithio ar eu haddewidion maniffesto.

You asked us to campaign on academic issues, what does it mean for you? share your views with us. tuesday november 7th between 10:00-15:00 Follow @CU_StudentVoice for more information

Fe ofynnoch chi i ni ymgyrchu ar faterion academaidd, beth mae hyn yn ei olygu i chi? Rhannwch eich safbwyntiau gyda ni.

Dydd Mawrth Tachwedd 7fed Rhwng 10:00-15:00 Dilynwch @CU_StudentVoice am fwy o wybodaeth

MANIFESTO 2017

NUS Wales delegates represent the views of Cardiff University Students at NUS Wales Conference, the annual policy making body of the NUS Wales, of which Cardiff University Students’ Union is currently a member.

Mae cynrychiolwyr UCM yn adlewyrchu barn myfyrwyr Prifysgol Caerdydd yng Nghynhadledd UCM Cymru, sef corff llunio polisi blynyddol Undeb Cenedlaethol Myfyrwyr Cymru, yn sgil y ffaith fod Undeb Myfyrwyr Prifysgol Caerdydd ar hyn o bryd yn aelod o UCM.

FADHILA AL DHAHOURI FADHILA #1 FOR NUS DELEGATE Hi, I am Fadhila, your Vice President Education. I am running to represent you on regional and national level as NUS Wales and UK delegate.

Vote me in For: 1.Better MENTAL HEALTH 2.Support INTERNATIONAL students 3.Focus on EQUALITY, DIVERSITY and INCLUSION #IHearYou #LetsMakeItHappen FADHILA #1 AR GYFER CYNRYCHIOLYDD UCM Fi yw Fadhila, eich Is Lywydd Addysg. Rwyf yn sefyll i’ch cynrychioli chi ar lefel ranbarthol a chenedlaethol fel cynrychiolydd UCM Cymru a’r DU. Pleidleisiwch drosof fi ar gyfer: 1. Gwell IECHYD MEDDWL 2. Cefnogi myfyrwyr RHYNGWLADOL 3. Canolbwyntio ar GYDRADDOLDEB, AMRYWIAETH a CHYNHWYSIANT #DwinGwrando #GwneudIddoDdigwydd



NUS WALES DELEGATE CYNRYCHIOLWYR UCM CYMRU



22

HANIN ABOU SALEM Hi my name is Hanin Abou Salem. I am a PhD student in the School of Law and Politics. I want to be your NUS Wales Delegate because I want to make sure that your voice is heard and your interests are addressed in Wales.

Helo fy enw i yw Hanin Abou Salem. Rwyf yn fyfyriwr PhD yn Ysgol Gyfraith a Gwleidyddiaeth. Rwyf eisiau bod eich Cynrychiolydd UCM Cenedlaethol oherwydd rwyf eisiau gwneud yn si r bod eich llais yn cael ei glywed ac ymdrinnir â’ch buddiannau ar lefel genedlaethol.

NUS WALES DELEGATE

MANIFESTO 2017

23

CYNRYCHIOLWYR UCM CYMRU





HANNAH MCCARTHY

NICHOLAS FOX

NUS Wales is an important opportunity to make sure we are heard as a united, powerful voice. I promise to represent Cardiff University, and highlight issues that affect our student community. Together we can ensure students now, and in the future, get a fairer deal during their university career.

Shwmae/Hi I'm Nick the VP Welfare. I'm new to the NUS movement, only recently getting involved through conferences with other SU officers across the country.

NUS Wales plays a major role in lobbying the Welsh Government and I want to be a part of it to represent our students' opinions.

Mae UCM Cymru yn gyfle pwysig i wneud yn si r ein bod yn cael ein clywed fel llais unedig, pwerus. Rwyf yn addo cynrychioli Prifysgol Caerdydd, ac i dynnu sylw at faterion sy'n effeithio ar ein cymuned myfyrwyr. Gyda'n gilydd gallwn sicrhau bod myfyrwyr nawr, ac yn y dyfodol, yn cael bargen decach yn ystod eu gyrfa yn y brifysgol.

Helo fi yw Nick eich IL Lles. Rwyf yn newydd i fudiad UCM, dim ond yn ddiweddar yn cymryd rhan drwy gynadleddau gyda swyddogion yr Undeb eraill ar draws y wlad dros yr haf. Mae UCM Cymru yn chwarae rôl bwysig o ran lobïo Llywodraeth Cymru ac rwyf am fod yn rhan ohono i gynrychioli barn ein myfyrwyr.



As the Tories continue to underfund Wales, I promise to be a strong voice for Cardiff students and ensure that NUS Wales continues to take down the barriers to education put up by the Tories.

Wrth i’r Torïaid barhau i danariannu Cymru, rwyf yn addo bod yn llais cryf dros fyfyrwyr Caerdydd a sicrhau bod UCM Cymru yn parhau i gael gwared ar y rhwystrau i addysg a osodwyd gan y Torïaid.



HOLLIE WICKENS

RAPHAEL HILL

No manifesto submitted.

Heb gyflwyno maniffesto.

24

NUS WALES DELEGATE

MANIFESTO 2017

CYNRYCHIOLWYR UCM CYMRU

 ROSIE CROCKER

The power of students has been vastly underestimated in recent years and that needs to change. I hope to continue the work of the NUS by representing Cardiff, and contributing to the vital discussion around access to higher education in Wales.

Mae p er myfyrwyr heb ei lawn werthfawrogi yn ystod y blynyddoedd diwethaf ac mae angen newid hynny. Rwy'n gobeithio parhau gwaith yr UCM drwy gynrychioli Caerdydd, a chyfrannu at y drafodaeth hanfodol ynghylch mynediad i addysg uwch yng Nghymru.

 THOMAS KELLY

Hi! I’m Tom and I’m running to represent your views at the NUS Wales conference. I’ve just graduated in Chemistry and as the current VP Sport & AU President I am in a great place to represent what is important to you. Vote Tom Kelly as your NUS delegate.

Helo! Fi yw Tom a dwi’n sefyll i gynrychioli eich safbwyntiau fel cynrychiolydd UCM Cenedlaethol. Rwyf newydd raddio mewn Cemeg a fi yw eich IL Chwaraeon a Llywydd UA a rwyf mewn lle gwych i gynrychioli beth sy’n bwysig i chi.

Pleidleisiwch Tom Kelly fel eich cynrychiolydd UCM.

MANIFESTO 2017



WOMEN'S OFFICER SWYDDOG MERCHED

25

DARINA NIKOLOVA

Hello, Zdraveite, Hola!

ME: I have a very varied cultural background and I speak fluently three languages: Spanish, Bulgarian and English. I am currently a second year student of Politics and International Relations with French. I am involved in the Student’s Union volunteer scheme, as well as actively involved in three societies: Model United Nations, Latin-American Society and Salsa.

CAMPAIGN: • WOMAN: Wonderful, Outstanding, Meritorious, Adamant and Near to people's heart. That is the kind of woman that I am and I am confident that any woman can choose the words that are closest to their heart to describe themselves in a powerful and confident way.

• WOMEN IN UNIVERSITY: I want 2017/2018 academic year to be a year of making the unspeakable, known to the world. “It has not happened to me”, does not mean it has not happened to others. I want to make sure there is a safe support system in the university for everyone who has experienced any kind of mistreatment, harassment…Reach out.

• WOMEN AS INSIPIRATION: I want to invite to Cardiff University guest speakers who can inspire everyone at the university about topics that are important in our everyday life and go beyond the everyday headlines.

Helo, Zdraveite, Hola!

FI: Mae gennyf gefndir diwylliannol amrywiol iawn ac rwy'n siarad tair iaith yn rhugl: Bwlgareg, Sbaeneg a Saesneg. Rwyf ar hyn o bryd yn fyfyriwr ail blwyddyn yn astudio Gwleidyddiaeth a Chysylltiadau Rhyngwladol gyda Ffrangeg. Rwyf yn cymryd rhan gyda chynllun gwirfoddoli Undeb y Myfyrwyr, yn ogystal â chymryd rhan mewn tair cymdeithas: Model Cenhedloedd Unedig, Cymdeithas America Ladin a Salsa.

YMGYRCH:

The Women’s Officer works to represent women students’ interests and campaigns on any relevant issues.

Mae Swyddog y Merched yn gweithio i gynrychioli buddiannau myfyrwyr sy’n ferched ac ymgyrchu dros unrhyw faterion perthnasol.

• MERCH: Mawreddog, Eangfrydig, Rhyfeddol, Cyfeillgar a Hoffus. Dyna’r math o ferch ydw i ac rwyf yn hyderus y gall unrhyw ferch ddewis y geiriau sy’n agosach i’w calon i ddisgrifio eu hun mewn modd grymus a hyderus.

• MERCHED YN Y BRIFYSGOL: Rwyf am i’r flwyddyn academaidd 2017/2018 fod yn flwyddyn o gyflawni’r anhraethol, yn hysbys i’r byd. “Nid yw wedi digwydd i mi”, nid yw’n golygu nad yw wedi digwydd i eraill. Rwyf am wneud yn siŵr bod system cymorth diogel yn y Brifysgol i bawb sydd wedi profi unrhyw fath o gamdriniaeth, aflonyddu... Rhannwch gyd ni.

• MERCHED FEL YSBRYDOLIAETH: Hoffwn wahodd siaradwyr gwadd o Brifysgol Caerdydd sy'n gallu ysbrydoli pawb yn y brifysgol am bynciau sy'n bwysig yn ein bywyd bob dydd a mynd y tu hwnt i'r penawdau bob dydd.

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MANIFESTO 2017

VOTE

WOMEN'S vp sport & auOFFICER president

VOTE

SWYDDOG MERCHED

HANIN ABOU SALEM My name is Hanin Abou Salem. I am a PhD student in the School of Law & Politics. I have decided to run for the Women’s Officer Position because I believe in women empowerment.

As your women’s officer I will: 1.Encourage female students to voice their concerns I will achieve this by making myself available and recognizable to female students so they can raise their issues with me.

2.Raise awareness about your concerns!

I will achieve this by representing your interests and campaigning on your behalf so that the student union and the university are aware of your concerns. I will also advise them on how they can go about addressing your concerns.

3.Celebrate the achievements of female students I believe our university needs to celebrate the achievements of female students.

I will achieve this by launching an award/s that will recognize the achievements of female students.

Please consider voting for me between Monday 30 of October 2017 (voting opens 9am) and Wednesday 1 November 2017 (voting closes 12 pm). If you have any questions you can email me via abousalemh@cardiff.ac.uk Helo fy enw i yw Hanin Abou Salem. Rwyf yn fyfyriwr PhD yn Ysgol Gyfraith a Gwleidyddiaeth. Rwyf wedi penderfynu ar gyfer rôl Swyddog Merched oherwydd rwyf yn credu mewn grymuso merched.

Fel eich swyddog merched byddwn yn: 1. Annog myfyrwyr benywaidd i leisio eu pryderon Byddaf yn cyflawni hyn drwy gwneud fy hun ar gael ac yn adnabyddus i fyfyrwyr merched fel eu bod yn gallu codi materion gyda mi.

2. Codi ymwybyddiaeth am eich pryderon!

Byddaf yn cyflawni hyn drwy gynrychioli eich buddiannau ac ymgyrchu ar eich rhan fel bod undeb y myfyrwyr a’r brifysgol yn ymwybodol o’ch pryderon. Byddaf hefyd yn eu cynghori nhw ar sut i fynd i’r afael â’ch pryderon.

3. Dathlu cyflawniadau myfyrwyr merched Credaf fod angen i’n prifysgol ddathlu llwyddiannau myfyrwyr merched.

Byddaf yn cyflawni hyn drwy lansio gwobr/au a fydd yn cydnabod cyflawniadau myfyrwyr merched.

Pleidleisiwch drosof fi rhwng ddydd Llun 30 Hydref 2017 (mae pleidleisio yn agor am 9yb) a ddydd Mercher 1 Tachwedd 2017 (pleidleisio’n cau 12yh). Os oes gennych unrhyw gwestiynau gallwch e-bostio fi ar abousalemh@cardiff.ac.uk

NICHOLA BAGSHAW Hello there, I will do you proud if you elect me as your Women's Officer.

Throughout my Psychology Bachelors I have been an active member on the Student Senate, Wellbeing Champions, and Welfare Executive. Currently, I am working full-time with the University's Counselling, Health and Wellbeing services as my year in professional placement.

The equality of the sexes has been a consistent priority. I will focus on statistical inequalities between the sexes. I stand to challenge women's oppression, which are still found in today’s sociocultural 'norms'. I will support women who work, study and live in male-dominated sectors. It is vital women are not only fairly represented but their stories and voices are heard.

In particular, I will integrate the current campaigns on Sexual Violence between the University and the Student Union. Acting as a bridge between the two bodies, I shall correct any discrepancies and encourage the synchronicity of their events. An integrated response to sexual violence on campus will bolster the effectiveness of their actions. After doing an internship with the University on the education and awareness campaign on the topic, this is an especially meaningful goal of mine.

Helo, byddaf yn eich gwneud yn falch os byddwch yn ethol fi fel eich Swyddog Merched.

Drwy gydol fy Maglor Seicoleg rwyf wedi bod yn aelod gweithredol ar Senedd y Myfyrwyr, Hyrwyddwyr Lles a Phwyllgor Gweithredol Lles. Ar hyn o bryd, rwyf yn gweithio llawn amser gyda gwasanaethau Cwnsela, Iechyd a Lles y Brifysgol fel fy mlwyddyn ar leoliad gwaith proffesiynol.

Mae cydraddoldeb o’r rhywiau wedi bod yn flaenoriaeth gyson. Byddaf yn canolbwyntio ar anghydraddoldebau ystadegol rhwng y ddau ryw. Byddaf yn sefyll i herio gormes merched, sydd yn dal i fodoli yn ‘normau’ sosioddiwylliannol heddiw. Byddaf yn cefnogi merched sy'n gweithio, astudio a byw mewn sectorau gwrywaidd. Mae’n hanfodol bod myfyrwyr yn cael eu cynrychioli’n deg a bod eu straeon a’u lleisiau yn cael eu clywed.

Yn benodol, byddaf yn integreiddio’r ymgyrchoedd presennol ar Drais Rhywiol rhwng y Brifysgol ac Undeb y Myfyrwyr. Byddaf yn gweithredu fel bont rhwng y ddau gorff, byddaf yn cywiro unrhyw anghysondebau a sicrhau cysondeb eu digwyddiadau. Bydd ymateb integredig i drais rhywiol ar y campws yn cryfhau effeithiolrwydd eu gweithredoedd. Ar ôl gwneud interniaeth â’r Brifysgol ar ymgyrch addysg ac ymwybyddiaeth am y pwnc, mae hyn yn nod ystyrlon iawn i mi.

WOMEN'S OFFICER SWYDDOG MERCHED

 SHERI-ANN BHIM

I want my term to be informed by you! I plan to hold monthly Women’s Forums, where you can come with any issues you have and discuss them in a safe space, from troublesome housemates to broken streetlights, We have 1000s of members that aren’t being reached. I want to change this by using social media, university-wide emails to make our members aware of our opportunities. Let's hold a ‘#CantTouchThis’ club night where we promote a safe night out whilst raising funds for domestic violence charities. Let's create a ‘#WomensFest’ week where we have tons of events from film nights to offering training for societies on ending sexual harassment, consent and how to make your society inclusive + supportive of women. I plan to work closely with our Liberation Officers to ensure we recognize the additional barriers some women might face. If feminism isn’t intersectional, there can be no true progression. We need to ensure that we are actually sending/electing representatives to NUS Wales and NUS Women’s Events. I want to hold Women in Leadership events in conjunction with academic societies to invite top women in their various fields to panels to impart their tips and tricks, along with opportunities for networking!

Rwyf am i fy nhymor gael ei gyfarwyddo gennych chi! Rwyf yn bwriadu cynnal Fforymau Merched misol, lle gallwch ddod gyda unrhyw broblemau sydd gennych a’u trafod mewn man diogel, o gyd-letywyr trafferthus i oleuadau stryd wedi torri, mae gennym filoedd o aelodau nad ydynt yn eu cyrraedd. Rwyf am newid hyn drwy ddefnyddio cyfryngau cymdeithasol, negeseuon e-bost ledled y Brifysgol i wneud ein haelodau yn ymwybodol o'n cyfleoedd. Beth am gynnal noson clwb ‘#CantTouchThis’ lle rydym yn hyrwyddo noson allan saff tra’n codi arian ar gyfer elusennau trais yn y cartref. Gadewch i ni greu wythnos '#GwylMerched' lle mae gennym nifer o ddigwyddiadau o nosweithiau ffilm i gynnig hyfforddiant i gymdeithasau ar roi terfyn ar aflonyddu rhywiol, caniatâd a sut i wneud eich cymdeithas yn gynhwysol a chefnogol o ferched. Rwyf yn bwriadu gweithio'n agos gyda’n Swyddogion Rhyddhad er mwyn sicrhau ein bod yn cydnabod y rhwystrau ychwanegol y gallai rhai merched eu hwynebu. Os nad yw ffeministiaeth yn groestoriadol, ni fydd dilyniant go iawn. Mae angen i ni sicrhau ein bod yn danfon/ethol cynrychiolwyr i ddigwyddiadau UCM Cymru ac UCM Merched.

Rwyf am gynnal digwyddiadau Merched mewn Arweinyddiaeth ar y cyd â chymdeithasau academaidd a gwahodd merched uwch mewn gwahanol feysydd ar baneli i rannu eu awgrymiadau a chynghorion, ynghyd â chyfleoedd ar gyfer rhwydweithio!

MANIFESTO 2017

27

PAY EVERY STUDENTS’ TUITION FEES? A BIT AMBITIOUS MAYBE...

STAND AGAINST RISES IN TUITION FEES? THAT SEEMS REASONABLE...

STUDENT SENATE

Got a great idea to improve your Union? visit cardiffstudents.com/studentsenate

TALU FFIOEDD DYSGU POB MYFYRIWR? BACH YN UCHELGEISIOL EFALLAI...

BRWYDRO YN ERBYN CYNNYDD MEWN FFIOEDD DYSGU? MAE HYNNY’N RHESYMOL...

SENEDD MYFYRWYR

Oes gennych chi syniad gwych i wella eich Undeb? ewch i cardiffstudents.com/studentsenate

MANIFESTO 2017

Student Senators represent and act as the voice of Cardiff University students. Student Senators are responsible for creating and reviewing Union policies. Student Senate has the power to make policy which ensures the Union works in a way which reflects the values and ideals of the Student Body.

Cynrychioli a gweithredu fel llais myfyrwyr Prifysgol Caerdydd. Fel aelod o Senedd y Myfyrwyr, byddwch yn un o 20 o fyfyrwyr sy’n gyfrifol am greu ac adolygu polisïau’r Undeb. Mae gan Senedd y Myfyrwyr y pwer i lunio polisi sy’n sicrhau fod yr Undeb yn gweithio mewn ffordd sy’n adlewyrchu gwerthoedd a delfrydau Corff y Myfyrwyr.

ADARSH BANSAL

No manifesto submitted.

Heb gyflwyno maniffesto.



STUDENT SENATOR SENEDD MYFYRWYR



30

ADITI GUPTA

Hi, I'm Aditi and I study Sociology and Social Policy. If I was chosen as a Student Senate, my decisions will be based on the feedback I collect from the people the policy affects and my own understanding of it. I am here to represent you and your opinions!

Helo, fi yw Aditi a dwi’n astudio Seicoleg a Pholisi Cymdeithasol. Os caf fy newis fel Seneddwr Myfyrwyr, bydd fy mhenderfyniadau yn seiliedig ar yr adborth rwy’n ei gasglu o’r bobl y mae’r polisi yn ei effeithio a fy nealltwriaeth i ohono. Rwyf yma i gynrychioli chi a’ch barn.

STUDENT SENATOR

MANIFESTO 2017

31

SENEDD MYFYRWYR



 ALANI PADZIL

AMY AYLING

Proactively striving towards women development in career & safety, I also fight for cultural & religious awareness at the University. I want Cardiff University to be marked in the map of our hearts as HOME. With burning passion and adequate skills, I believe change is on the way.

My name is Amy Ayling and I am a third year Business student. I’m interested in becoming a Student Senator because I am passionate about the experience that Cardiff University offers Students. I’d like to take a hands-on role in shaping the experience had by students for years to come!

Ymdrechu’n rhagweithiol at ddatblygiad merched mewn gyrfa a diogelwch, rwyf hefyd yn brwydro dros ymwybyddiaeth ddiwylliannol a chrefyddol yn y Brifysgol.

Rwyf am i Brifysgol Caerdydd gael ei nodi ar mapiau ein calon fel ADREF. Gydag angerdd cynnes a sgiliau digonol, credaf fod newid ar y ffordd.

Fy enw i yw Amy Ayling a rwyf yn fyfyriwr busnes yn fy nhrydedd blwyddyn. Mae gennyf ddiddordeb mewn bod yn Seneddwr Myfyrwyr oherwydd rwyf yn teimlo'n angerddol am y profiad y mae Prifysgol Caerdydd yn cynnig i fyfyrwyr. Hoffwn ymgymryd â rôl ymarferol wrth lunio profiad myfyrwyr am flynyddoedd i ddod!



Throughout my 2 years at Cardiff University, I have taken as many opportunities as I can to engage and support the student community. I can promise that I will listen to what you need, bring your issues forward to the senate and do all I can to satisfy your needs.

Drwy gydol fy 2 flynedd ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd, rwyf wedi cymryd cymaint o gyfleoedd â phosibl i ymgysylltu a chefnogi cymuned y myfyrwyr. Gallaf addo y byddaf yn gwrando ar beth rydych angen, dwyn eich materion ymlaen i'r Senedd ac i wneud popeth y gallaf i fodloni eich anghenion.



AMR ALWISHAH

CALLUM SMITH

Hello, I am Callum and I’m running for re-election to the Student Senate.

As your Senator I will:

• Improve YOUR academic experience; • Enhance YOUR social and community experience; • Speak to students to gauge opinions; • Fight for student interests; • Make a good case for good causes.

Helo, fi yw Callum a dwi’n sefyll i gael fy ail-hethol ar Senedd y Myfyrwyr.

Fel eich Seneddwr, byddaf yn: • Gwella eich profiad academaidd; • Gwella eich profiad cymdeithasol a chymunedol; • Siarad â myfyrwyr i fesur barn; • Brwydro ar gyfer buddiannau myfyrwyr; • Gwneud achos da ar gyfer achosion da.

32

STUDENT SENATOR

MANIFESTO 2017

SENEDD MYFYRWYR



 CAMERON ROSE

CATHERINE IANNUCCI

Having transferred to Cardiff after being forced to withdraw from my previous university, I am well aware of the extra challenges faced by students with disabilities. I want no student to feel excluded for who they are, and for this to be the centre of focus for the Student's Union.

I'm running for Student Senate to ensure that the union works effectively for every student. I want to help hold our VP's to account, for the SU to take action in improving the quality of student housing, and crucially, to start paying a living wage, as per University policy.

Ar ôl trosglwyddo i Gaerdydd ar ôl cael fy ngorfodi i adael fy mhrifysgol blaenorol, rwyf yn ymwybodol iawn o’r heriau ychwanegol a wynebir gan fyfyrwyr ag anableddau. Nid wyf am i unrhyw fyfyriwr deimlo’n ynysig oherwydd pwy ydynt, ac i hyn fod yn ganolbwynt i Undeb y Myfyrwyr.

Rwyf yn rhedeg ar gyfer Senedd Myfyrwyr i sicrhau bod yr Undeb yn gweithio'n effeithiol ar gyfer pob myfyriwr. Rwyf am helpu dal ein Is Lywyddion i gyfrif, i’r Undeb gymryd rhan yn gwella ansawdd tai myfyrwyr, a’n hollbwysig, i ddechrau talu cyflog byw, yn unol â pholisi’r Brifysgol.



Hello

I'm Catherine, a 4th Year Marine Geographer.

I have been involved with societies for 2 years and recently becoming President of SHAG means student welfare is important to me.

Senate is a great way to make changes in the Students Union, which means so much to me.

Helo Fi yw Catherine, rwyf yn Ddaearyddwr Morol 4ydd Blwyddyn.

Rwyf wedi cymryd rhan gyda chymdeithasau am 2 flynedd ac mae dod yn Llywydd SHAG yn golygu bod lles myfyrwyr yn bwysig i mi.

Mae’r Senedd yn ffordd wych i greu newid yn Undeb y Myfyrwyr, sy’n golygu gymaint i mi.



CATHERINE CHAMBERLAIN

CHLOE HEWITT

No manifesto submitted.

Heb gyflwyno maniffesto.

STUDENT SENATOR

MANIFESTO 2017

33

SENEDD MYFYRWYR



In my three years of university, I have been apart of the university on many levels, as a student, representative on open days and now as a Give it a Go exec. I hope to be able to deepen my involvement as a member of the Student Senate.

Yn fy nhair blynedd yn y Brifysgol, rwyf wedi bod yn rhan o’r brifysgol ar sawl lefel, fel myfyriwr, cynrychiolydd ddiwrnodau agored ac yn awr ar bwyllgor gwaith Rho Gynnig Arni. Gobeithiaf gymryd fwy o ran drwy fod yn aelod o Senedd y Myfyrwyr.



CONNOR RADCLIFFE

GEORGE BALDWIN

I’m running for student senate because I believe in a progressive union that supports the needs of all students at Cardiff University.

I’d like the SU to improve access to help and information for students from all backgrounds on personal issues, housing, jobs and the local community.

Rwyf yn rhedeg ar gyfer Senedd Myfyrwyr oherwydd credaf mewn undeb blaengar sy'n cefnogi anghenion pob myfyriwr ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd.

Hoffwn i’r Undeb wella mynediad i gymorth a gwybodaeth holl fyfyrwyr o bob cefndir ar faterion personol, tai, swyddi a’r gymuned leol.



No manifesto submitted.

Heb gyflwyno maniffesto.



DAGAN OMWESIGA

GEORGI IVANOV

I am going to become a Student Senator to represent the Eastern European minority on campus as I believe we have been underrepresented in the past. I also stand for gender equality and affirmative action.

Rwyf am ddod yn Seneddwr Myfyrwyr i gynrychioli lleiafrifoedd Ewropeaidd Dwyreiniol ar y campws gan fy mod yn credu ein bod wedi’u tangynrychioli yn y gorffennol. Rwyf hefyd yn sefyll dros gydraddoldeb rhwng y rhywiau a gweithredu cadarnhaol.

34

STUDENT SENATOR

MANIFESTO 2017

SENEDD MYFYRWYR



The harder you work, the luckier you will be.

Po galetaf yr ydych chi'n gweithio, y mwyaf ffodus y byddwch chi.



HAIGE CHENG

JAC BROWN

I will collaborate with the Capitol Centre in Cardiff City Centre and Cardiff Council for entrepreneurial students to open pop-up shops for any business idea they might have. I will lobby both the Council and shopping centre to offer discounted business rates for students interested.

Byddaf yn cydweithio gyda'r Ganolfan Capitol yng nghanol Dinas Caerdydd a Chyngor Caerdydd i fyfyrwyr entrepreneuraidd agor siopau gwib ar gyfer unrhyw syniad busnes a allai fod ganddynt. Bydd yn lobïo’r Cyngor a'r ganolfan siopa i gynnig ardrethi busnes gostyngol ar gyfer myfyrwyr sydd â diddordeb.



 HENRIETTA PAGE

JANE HOBBS

I'm Henri and I'm a third-year Politics and Philosophy student. I care deeply about student welfare and experience. Therefore, I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to represent my fellow students and their interests to the very best of my ability in a way that is positive and constructive.

I’m running for Student Senate because I care about ensuring that the SU continues to be a force for good that helps enhance the student experience.

Having been on the Student Advice Exec for the past year, I’ve learnt so much about issues faced by students and would love to make more of a difference.

Fi yw Henri ac rwyf yn fyfyriwr Gwleidyddiaeth ac Athroniaeth trydedd flwyddyn.

Rwyf wir yn poeni am lles a phrofiad myfyrwyr. Felly, gwerthfawrogwn y cyfle i gynrychioli buddiannau fy nghyd-fyfyrwyr mewn modd sy’n gadarnhaol ac adeiladol.

Rwyf yn rhedeg ar gyfer Senedd Myfyrwyr oherwydd rwyf eisiau sicrhau bod yr Undeb yn parhau i fod yn rym da sy’n helpu gwella profiad y myfyrwyr. Ar ôl bod ar Bwyllgor Gwaith Cyngor i Fyfyrwyr dros y flwyddyn ddiwethaf, rwyf wedi dysgu llawer am y materion sy’n wynebu myfyrwyr a hoffwn wneud mwy o wahaniaeth.

STUDENT SENATOR

MANIFESTO 2017

35

SENEDD MYFYRWYR

Nid wyf yn mynd i ysgrifennu rhywbeth sy’n ymddangos yn ddefnyddiol ond heb fod. Ond rwyf yn gwrando, gwerthuso a chyflawni’r gwaith.

 JOSHUA PRIOR

JULIA ROOKE

Hi, I’m Julia Rooke and I’m running for student senate and scrutiny committee.

I’m running because I want to make the SU the best it can be for all students, by promoting policies that will bring people together. Feel free to email me with any comments/questions at rookej2@cardiff.ac.uk -go vote!

Helo, fi Julia Rooke ac rwyf yn rhedeg ar gyfer Senedd Myfyrwyr a Phwyllgor Craffu. Rwyf yn sefyll oherwydd rwyf eisiau gwneud yr Undeb y gorau gall fod ar gyfer pob myfyriwr, drwy hyrwyddo polisïau a fydd yn dod â phobl at ei gilydd. Mae croeso i chi e-bostio fi gydag unrhyw sylwadau/gwestiynau ar rookej2@caerdydd. ac.uk - pleidleisiwch!





Not going to write something that seems helpful without being useful. But I listen, evaluate, and get back to work.



JESSLYN PRISCILLA

LEWIS RIGLEY

I’m running to be a Student Senator because our Union should remain the best.

As President of my Sixth Form I have the skills and abilities to work in this role, and if elected I will ensure that Union’s priorities are the students’. Remember: vote Josh Prior to anyone else.

As a committed member of the SU, I would love to have a chance to represent the student body in the Senate. As a Senetor I would do my upmost best to maintain a well rounded outlook on the Union and consider everyobody's opinion fairly to uphold democracy.

Rwyf yn sefyll i fod yn Seneddwr Myfyrwyr oherwydd dylai’r Undeb barhau i fod y gorau. Fel Llywydd fy Chweched Dosbarth mae gennyf y sgiliau a’r gallu i weithio o fewn y rôl, ac is caf fy ethol fe fyddaf yn sicrhau mai blaenoriaethau’r Undeb yw’r myfyrwyr. Cofiwch: pleidleisiwch Josh Prior.

Fel aelod ymroddedig o’r Undeb, hoffwn y cyfle i gynrychioli corff y myfyrwyr yn y Senedd. Fel Seneddwr byddaf yn gwneud fy ngorau i gynnal agwedd gynhwysfawr ar yr Undeb ac ystyried barn pawb yn deg a chynnal democratiaeth.

36

STUDENT SENATOR

MANIFESTO 2017

SENEDD MYFYRWYR



 MAJD MOUZAFFAR

Majd, as an exceptionally experienced student in student governance, will: • Strengthen the Student's Union relationship with other student-led bodies and the university administration as a whole.

• Support a more environmentally-friendly university • Strengthen small and large societies through better funding models • And much more, where possible! *Vote Majd Mouzaffar for Senator

MATHILDE FOUANI

Hi everyone! My name is Mathilde, I'm a French postgraduate student in Law. I strongly believe that your voice should be heard, no matter your gender, your age or where you're from and that's why I'd like to represent you all as a Student Senator.

Helo bawb! Fy enw i yw Mathilde, rwyf yn fyfyriwr ôl-raddedig Ffrengig yn astudio’r Gyfraith. Credaf yn gryf y dylid clywed eich llais, beth bynnag yw eich rhyw, eich oedran, neu o ble rydych yn dod, a dyma pam hoffwn eich cynrychioli chi gyd fel Seneddwr Myfyrwyr.

Bydd Majd, fel myfyriwr hynod o brofiadol o fewn llywodraethu myfyrwyr, yn: • Cryfhau perthynas Undeb y Myfyrwyr â chyrff eraill dan arweiniad myfyrwyr a gweinyddiaeth prifysgol yn ei chyfanrwydd.

• Cefnogi prifysgol fwy eco-gyfeillgar • Cryfhau cymdeithasau bach a mawr drwy modelau ariannu gwell • A llawer mwy, lle y bo'n bosibl! *Pleidleisiwch Majd Mouzaffar fel Seneddwr



No manifesto submitted.

Heb gyflwyno maniffesto.



MARGARITA CHRISTODOULIDOU

MATT MEDVECZKI

Hi guys,

My name is Matt Medveczki and I'm running for the Student Senate beacuse I think it needs more representation from International and LGBT+ students in order to make the SU into an even more inclusive and progressive organisation that is open to all.

Helo bawb, Fy enw yw Matt Medveczki a dwi’n sefyll ar gyfer Senedd y Myfyrwyr oherwydd rwyf yn credu bod angen mwy o gynrychiolaeth gan fyfyrwyr Rhyngwladol a LHDT+ er mwyn gwneud yr Undeb yn sefydliad fwy cynhwysol a blaengar sy’n agored i bawb.

STUDENT SENATOR

MANIFESTO 2017

SENEDD MYFYRWYR



Over the last year I’ve become increasingly involved in CU Pride, SHAG and GIAG – I’m really interested in making positive change for Cardiff University students.

I particularly want to represent the minority demographics at Cardiff such as LGBT+ in the decisions that will affect their university experience.



NIALL YASSEEN

RAPHAEL HILL

No manifesto submitted.

Heb gyflwyno maniffesto.

Dros y flwyddyn ddiwethaf rwyf wedi cymryd mwy o ran gyda Pride PC, SHAG a Rho Gynnig Arni – mae gennyf ddiddordeb mewn gwneud newis cadarnhaol ar gyfer myfyrwyr Prifysgol Caerdydd. Rwyf eisiau cynrychioli demograffeg lleiafrifol Caerdydd megis LHDT+ yn y penderfyniadau a fydd yn effeithio eu profiad prifysgol.



I was the Student Senator for 2016-2017 and found several problems with the senate that I'd like to reform. I am also in the societies executive committee and a committee member for 4 different societies (Namely: Finance Soc, MUN Soc, Economics Soc, Cardiff Students for Liberty). Please vote for me!

Roeddwn yn Seneddwr Myfyrwyr ar gyfer 2016-2017 ac wedi darganfod sawl problem gyda’r senedd y hoffwn eu diwygio. Rwyf hefyd ar bwyllgor gwaith cymdeithasau ac yn aelod pwyllgor ar gyfer 4 cymdeithas gwahanol (Gan gynnwys: Cymdeithas Cyllid, Cymdeithas MUN, Cymdeithas Economeg, Myfyrwyr Caerdydd dros Ryddid). Pleidleisiwch drosof fi!



PRASHANT GARG

RUJUN WANG

No manifesto submitted.

Heb gyflwyno maniffesto.

37

38

STUDENT SENATOR

MANIFESTO 2017

SENEDD MYFYRWYR



No manifesto submitted.

Heb gyflwyno maniffesto.



THOMAS FLETCHER

YE YANG

Dear fellow students:

I will try my best to be the defender for your right and loudspeaker of your voice.

I will try my best to be a competent student senate.

Why not give me a chance?

Annwyl gyd-fyfyrwyr: Byddaf yn gwneud fy ngorau i amddiffyn eich hawl ac uwchseinydd eich llais.

Byddaf yn gwneud fy ngorau i fod yn seneddwr myfyriwr cymwys.

Rhowch gyfle i mi.

 TOMOS LLEWELYN

The Student Union needs reform, it spends too much and affects student life in a way that is against the ethos of university: to encourage free thinking.

I am Tomos, a second year biomedical scientist (and rep).

The Senate is an echo chamber of ideas, I will shake it up.

Mae angen newid Undeb y Myfyrwyr, mae’n gwario gormod ac yn effeithiol bywyd myfyrwyr mewn ffordd sydd yn groes i ethos y brifysgol: i annog meddwl rhydd.

Fi yw Tomos, ac rwyf yn wyddonydd biofeddygol ail flwyddyn (a chynrychiolydd).

Mae’r Senedd yn siambr echo o syniadau, byddaf yn chwyldroi.

WHY WILL YOU VOTE?

“ TO GET REPRESENTATIVES WITH SIMILAR VALUES TO ME.” CARDIFFSTUDENTS.COM/ELECTIONS

PAM PLEIDLEISIO?

“ ER MWYN CAEL CYNRYCHIOLWYR A GWERTHOEDD TEBYG I MI.” CARDIFFSTUDENTS.COM/ELECTIONS

Student Advice Cyngor i Fyfyrwyr

If you’re struggling, don’t suffer Ask in silence for help.

Kate, third year English & History

Speak to Student Advice

cardiffstudents.com/advice

62

ADVICE

advice

Bethany Kharas

‘‘

A meal out with friends is a great alternative to clubbing, and is normally cheaper too!

W

hilst Cardiff is notorious for it’s nightlife, clubbing definitely isn’t for everyone. Whether you don’t enjoy heavy drinking, crammed smoking areas and sticky dance floors, or simply would like to be able to have a conversation with the person sitting next to you without having to yell directly into their ear, Cardiff is a beautiful and bustling city that has a lot more to offer than £1 jagerbombs in Retros on a Wednesday. There are a multitude of different activities that exist outside the clubbing scene, and here’s a brief guide to some of my favorite things to do in the city: For those of you out there that enjoy a few drinks, there are a number of excellent bars and pubs that are definitely worth a visit. These include Buffalo, The Dead Canary and Dirty Martini – all of which are great for a cocktail or two! Another recommendation for a twist on a regular ‘pub night’ is Kongs, situated on St Mary Street. As well as offering an array of food and drink, they also have ping-

pong tables, arcade games and table football – a different and fun way to spend an evening with friends!

Cardiff also has an extensive repertoire of excellent restaurants, offering different cuisines from all over the world. To recommend a few; Mint and Mustard is an award winning Indian restaurant located on Whitchurch Road, and they are renowned for their clever spin on traditional Indian cuisine. The Hellenic Eatery on Crwys Road is another great restaurant; offering delicious traditional Greek dishes alongside a cozy and relaxed atmosphere. This is just a select few of a multitude of different restaurants located all over Cardiff – a meal out with friends is a great alternative to a night out clubbing, and is normally cheaper too!

Another unique and interesting experience that would be great for an evening out is attending the award-winning restaurant The Clink at HMP Cardiff, which is actually staffed by prisoners. Make sure you call and book though because there’s

#GRAdvice advice@gairrhydd.com gairrhydd.com/category/advice

a bit of a waiting list!

Crazy golf is another great alternative to a night on the town. There is a fantastic course called Treetop Adventure Golf, located at the top of St Davids shopping center, which is an enjoyable and inexpensive way to

Cardiff is a beautiful and bustling city that has a lot more to offer than £1 jagerbombs in Retros on a Wednesday. spend an evening. They’re open every day, and, unlike a lot of mini golf courses, this one is located inside.

They also offer a range of alcoholic drinks (the cocktails are awesome) and they do a great student deal too – 2 courses for £10 and a complimentary bottle of beer, cider or a soft drink.

Live music is also rife in Cardiff, and heading to a bar where musicians perform is a great alternative

to a night out. Café Jazz on St Mary Street is just one example of a number of places in Cardiff that stage live music. As the name suggests, this bar stages a number of different jazz acts and they have multiple events every week. I would highly recommend checking them out – it’s great fun and gives you a chance to listen to some really great music.

Lastly, if you are a member of the University, then getting involved with a society is another great way to have fun outside of ‘clubbing’ territory.

No matter where your interests lie, there are societies that encompass everything, from chess to astronomy. Many societies offer opportunities to compete against other universities and clubs, and they’re a great way to meet new people and a stimulating yet social way to spend an evening!

Essentially, clubbing is only a tiny part of what Cardiff is about – there are many, many other ways to enjoy what this thriving city has to offer.

Pictured: The best places to visit in Cardiff.

Source: Top Left: Cafe Jazz Bottom Left: Mint and Mustard Top Right: Cardiff Bay via Simon Bottom Right: Treetop Adventure Golf

‘‘

CYNGOR

63

How to prevent colds and the flu Phoebe Grinter

‘‘

I know its cliché but eating five portions of fruit and veg every day and drinking plenty of water will keep your immune system fighting fit

A

t home, being ill was almost something to look forward to: you’d manage to blag a day off school and some extra TLC from your mum, who would sporadically appear like your own Florence Nightingale armed with different medicinal concoctions. But at university it’s a very different story.

Instead of this, you will end up having to miss lectures that you will only have to catch up on. Your mates will usually be too busy with their own problems to even realise that you’re not feeling great, and quite often you’ll have nobody to help you feel even the slightest bit better. Illness becomes a living nightmare, spent in your sweat-soaked bed sheets with only your used tissues for company. So, how do we avoid this hell?

Before sending me off to live on my own for the first time, my dear mum decided she would buy me the whole of Boots’ supply of vitamins.

You name it, I had it. However, despite thinking vitamins were a placebo, two weeks into the autumn term when all my housemates were dropping like diseased flies I was still standing, albeit high on Vitamin C and Omega 3. Cheers mum! Despite

what many people may think, there is a lot to be said for the odd vitamin or two.

Eating somewhat healthily is essential. I know its cliché but eating five portions of fruit and veg every day and drinking plenty of water will keep your immune system fighting fit, allowing you to say hell yes to your third night out in a week.

Often forgotten when it comes to avoiding the dreaded lurgy is that a clean communal area really does help. If dirty dishes are left on dirty surfaces in your kitchen, of course you are going to get ill. Along with this comes emptying the bins regularly. If you stop and think about how many germs congregate on the bins that you and all your housemates touch daily- it is a terrifying thought.

An obvious one is washing your hands regularly, and not just after going to the loo. Just think about how many people have coughed into their hands and touched the doorknob you’ve just used. As well as this it is a good idea to wash your bed sheets, clothes and tea towels often to avoid spreading germs further.

Another useful tip from personal experience would be don’t neck-on

with someone who’s ill- no matter how fit they are! Coming from someone who has had glandular fever (aka the kissing disease) three times... it is so not worth it!

Lastly but very importantly make sure someone knows you are not well so that they can keep an eye on

you.

If you’re stuck to your sweaty bed sheets, simultaneously boiling hot and shivering, it’s okay to ask a mate to go and grab you some paracetamol. And if over-the-counter remedies don’t sort you out, don’t be afraid to see a doctor!

Pictured: Pills, sprays and the kitchen sink Source: Judit Klein (via Flickr)

‘‘

The truth about one night stands Ellie Taylor

‘‘

Humans are innately sexual beings and embracing this is not a bad thing

L

iving in today’s society, we’re proud to be progressive and inclusive. Society is more accepting of difference; whether that be homosexuality or gender fluidity. People have the freedom to dress how they please, act how they wish and are generally free to push the boundaries of previously restricting ‘norms.’

However, despite this progress, many people are still acutely aware of judgement from others and this manipulates our actions, including many people’s willingness to openly embrace the notion that causal sex is unfairly and unnecessarily demonised by society.

Human Sexuality Expert, Catherine Toyooka, suggests that “far too many people are concerned with how they should act, will be perceived, or what is considered moral, that they never allow themselves to explore casual encounters.

The one night stand; a ritual that mansee as a university rite of passage. Freshers Week is notorious for being a nationally recognised ‘Get Out of Jail Free’ Card for all the questionable choices and bad decisions made at the start of the university year. Casual sex often falls under this bracket, with many experiencing their first one night stand during this period.

However, the question arises; is a one night stand really a bad decision?

Many often feel the need to justify their reasons for no-strings attached sex but in reality, justification should not be necessary. Although the trip home afterwards is commonly known as ‘The Walk of Shame,’ there is nothing shameful about consensual sex between adults.

When viewing sex as an intimate display of affection, no-strings seems like an odd concept but it is also seen by many as a recreational activity. This comes down to the fact that the majority of the time sex is fun and there is nothing wrong with that!

University is nothing if not a time to experiment and there is little more liberating than embracing sexual freedom and feeling completely in control of your own body.

This crucial factor of control is key to an enjoyable one night stand. The whole positive idea is that we have the autonomous ability to decide what we do with our own bodies so if ever you feel like you’re losing control of what is occurring then put a stop to it. There is nothing more important than safety during these encounters so if the situation starts to become uncomfortable for either parties, call it off immediately.

One of the most ruinous parts of the reputation of the one night stand is the idea that they are unsafe. This is often blown out of proportion and as long as a third-party knows where

you are and who you’re with (make sure you at least know their name, I promise that doesn’t contradict ‘no strings,’) then this is not a legitimate reason for anyone to preach negatively at you about you one night stand.

However, whilst on the topic of safety, I would advise to vigilantly use protection especially if with a stranger, as the saying goes “who knows where they’ve been!”

Humans are innately sexual be-

ings and embracing this is not a bad thing, in spite of the fact that there are people who will try and convince you that casual sex is bordering on satanic.

One night stands, whilst admittedly not always amazing, are often exhilarating experiences and as long as both parties are in it for the right reasons, on the same page, and sober enough to consent, the negative stigma against them needs to be abolished.

Pictured: Condom Source: sasint (via Pixabay )

‘‘

ADVICE

64

Badvice: How To Procrastinate Pictured: Studying spiritprince (via Flickr)

I

f there’s one thing I’m skilled at, it’s my ability to procrastinate anytime and anywhere. The art of procrastination takes talent and dedication and over the years, I’ve managed to perfect it. I’m even procrastinating from writing this article by re-watching every episode of Desperate Housewives for the third time. So far today, I’ve managed to watch about 6 episodes whilst coincidentally allowing myself to ‘forget’ about all the readings I need to do for tomorrow mornings lecture.

If you’re a fresher, you’ll soon realise that a large proportion of your time at university will be spent procrastinating. I know I’m not supposed to say this but the truth is,

no one actually does the readings or seminar work (bar the one or two people who are a bit too keen and will probably ending up working a 9-5 job that they absolutely hate).

It’s not to say you should spend the whole year procrastinating, even though I know most of you probably will, but procrastination isn’t that bad. Honestly.

After a while however, you’re going to run out of Netflix shows to binge watch and you may have to become a bit more creative with the way you procrastinate. I would suggest taking up day drinking as a hobby, but it’s a little bit too expensive when you think about it and I don’t want to be held responsible when you end up in

Ask Alice: Alice Dent

‘‘

Put yourself first. This is extremely important for your emotional wellbeing

U

nfortunately, most people will undoubtedly encounter people throughout their lives who make them question their self-worth.

When considering a ‘toxic’ friendship, it should be noted that toxicity is a subjective term, personal to each and every individual. What some people may consider toxic, another may believe to be simply frustrating or annoying. Everyone has different thresholds.

It can be very, very hard to remove yourself from the grasps of a toxic

Alcoholics Anonymous at the age of 21.

Maybe look at joining some societies? Who says you can’t spend your evenings planning an elaborate scheme to take someone you really hate down with the Assassins Society? Or perhaps it’s time to actually figure out how to use the oven in your new place and take part in the Baking Societies weekly ‘Bake Off ’ events.

If you’re anything like me, most of your procrastination will involve lying in bed and staring at the ceiling whilst the light from your laptop shines on your face and beckons you to actually go through all the PowerPoints you just downloaded from

Learning Central.

Personally, however, I don’t think this is the worst thing and although you are definitely wasting valuable time and energy, it gives your body and mind some time to unwind and think about truly useless stuff, like the way your bedroom light isn’t actually in the centre of the ceiling like it should be.

Procrastination takes a lot of skill and effort and I definitely would not recommend it to the weak hearted.

The key to being a master procrastinator is persistence and motivation (or more lack of, should I say) and I assure you, by spending your days doing nothing whatsoever, you will one day be as skilled as I am.

‘‘

If you’re anything like me, most of your procrastination will involve lying in bed and staring at the ceiling

‘‘

Sarah Harris

“I’ve found myself in a toxic friendship.

How can I remove myself?”

friend, especially as quite often they will hold a certain power over you.

However, the first step in eradicating these people from your life is identifying them as problematic- which you have done! Good news. Toxic people can present themselves in a number of ways, but ultimately, they have one thing in common: their manipulative tendencies. They can almost subconsciously make you feel as though your opinions and values are worthless.

They may mock your interests, or the people you socialise with, and in the worst cases can start to morph you into a similar individual to them. It can take a while for you to recognise these people as toxic, but when you do, you’re already on the way to recovery.

First of all, once you have decided that you wish to

remove yourself from their lives, be honest with them. Understand that discussing with them the reasons why your friendship is a problem will typically provoke confusion or anger, but it is still a necessary evil. Being honest and open with your friend may sound like a daunting prospect if you normally avoid confrontation, but the truth is the best way forward.

Put yourself first. This is extremely important for your emotional wellbeing. Toxic friendships can often result in sacrificing integral parts of what make you the person that you are in an attempt to please them. Remember throughout the process that you are doing this for the benefit of you, and you alone. There is no shame in being selfish now and again!

After you’ve been honest about your intentions, it is time to remove yourself from the situation. Often it can help to inform mutual friends that you are spending time away from each other in order to avoid any awkward encounters. You may also need to delete them off social networks if this helps. During this time, resist the urge to fall back into a friendship with the other person.

Just like you would in a romantic breakup, the end of a friendship can include heartache.

Remind yourself why you wanted to remove yourself from the friendship, so you don’t fall back into old habits. Find alternative ways of making yourself happy, spend time with other friends or look at making new ones. Join a society or chat to the person sat next to you in a seminar. Remember that friends should never make you feel guilty for being yourself, and there are many people out there that will accept you for who you are.

Sometimes, this break of friendship may not be forever. If there is evidence that they have truly changed, then you may wish to reconcile your differences with them. However, make sure you only do this if it is something you desire – do not be guilt tripped by them!

The key is removing yourself from the overbearing situation that you are finding yourself in, gaining clarity and getting a fresh perspective. Remember that there are loads of facilities available if you are struggling– search the Cardiff Intranet to find all the options available to you.

Pictured: Alice Dent, giving you the advice you need (Photographer Charlie Knights)

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column

ASK AT YOUR OWN RISK

65

@KnightsCharlie | #AskAtYourOwnRisk gairrhydd.com/category/advicecolumn

What is the

Banter or

Campaign?

Charlie Knights

Pictured: Bullying, even these kids get it Source: Saint John’s School (via Flickr)

I

Where do we draw the line?

n the office recently, as we sit, tap away at our keyboards, and edit our designs, there seems to be a bit of banter that flows from desk to desk. I don’t know about you, but I personally hate the term banter, but cannot for the life of me think of any better way to reference it. It’s cutting remarks, from calling the guy that comes in wearing something by Trespass a geography teacher for the rest of the day, or the weird fact that for some reason one of the editors that sits on our advice desk is now known as “planethead”.

Banter goes backwards and forwards, and we all consider each other friends. We know what we like, and at the punchline of each terrible often repeated jokes and shit puns we laugh, make our way down to The Taf, and enjoy a pint together.

We debate backwards and forwards about the articles coming through to politics, about conspiracy theories, about the price of VKs and what miscellaneous scandal happened the night before.

There is always a line drawn in the sand in front of us though. Something that moves with the times as we get to know each other better.

This unspoken rule of what is actually acceptable to talk about, when we can make these jokes, and what isn’t completely unacceptable between colleagues; between friends. Where is the thin line between banter and bullying?

I remember sitting in an assembly when I was in Year 8, about this exact premise, the idea of banter vs bullying. When does a funny comment about good ol’ planethead become bullying? Is it something that is to do with how well we know the person? Is it an established thing and we slowly push the boundaries, or something that never seems to be fully understood. Back in the assembly in my secondary school we came

to much the same conclusion as I do now, that it is all about whether someone finds it funny when you say it or not.

I am sick of someone doing something, getting upset because I didn’t enjoy it, and to be told ‘it’s just a joke mate, calm down’. Maybe I can be oversensitive to some things some times, but as I have said, the line is on what the recipient thinks is funny, not on what the pisstaker does. It’s a tough distinction to find, but if you do push it just apologise and move on, don’t try and dwell on it, and don’t keep pushing the same agenda.

Remember your setting as well. In large groups, or any more than just you and the person you are having this back and forth with, don’t make jokes about the person who is just getting used to it even if you know them really well. It’s that classically done thing of being dragged along to a society event by a housemate, and they treat you like you would anyway, but it is awkward because you are in front of a crowd of people you have never met before. Try not to embarrass your friend in a perhaps misguided attempt to include them, or show off in front of your friends, it isn’t worth it if people get hurt over it.

Here at Cardiff University, we launched an anti ‘campus culture’ campaign called It’s No Joke back in 2015. Campus culture, or lad culture as it is more commonly known, was the idea of going out and drinking, of violent initiations, and binge drink addled bullying by those in positions of power within their societies or clubs. This is something that we consistently run campaigns on and candidates dressed in pirate costumes yell about, but come a Wednesday evening and the doors to YOLO open, nothing has changed.

And it seems to me that this has

come about because banter, drinking, and this potentially harmful back and forth is an intrinsic part of our culture. With students being repeatedly hospitalised for over drinking, fights in club nights at our own Students Union, and the fact that we here at Gair Rhydd write articles about it every year, and nothing seems to change. There is no real accountability for this anymore. We aren’t in school any more, so when someone tells you to chill out because it is just a joke, there isn’t a teacher to run to anymore, or someone you can really address it with, so most of the time we will just sit there, laugh it off, and allow it to happen because we cower at continuous confrontation.

My only advice would be to stand up and talk about it. Don’t be afraid of sticking out and people getting annoyed about it. The few times I have stood up for myself and talked about it, people apologise and we move on (it is almost like we are all grown ups working together on this or something). Mention it, don’t dwell on it, and move on. Life moves faster than embarrassment, and everyone will move past it quickly and be better for it.

This isn’t to discourage the jokes however, if everyone is laughing, then all of this is okay. The pub chat, the inter office banter, the back and forth between friends. Just try not to take it too far, and if you do, be open to apologising so that everyone can move on.

If you do feel like you need to talk to someone else about it, call Nightline, or talk to a union representative, such as a society president or club captain. It’s alright to not be comfortable with this behaviour, and okay for you to talk about it, if thats what you need to do.

What do you think about all of this? Remember to tweet in, and just #AskAtYourOwnRisk.

It’s No Joke is a student led campaign launched in 2015 to promote inclusivity on a safe university campus with the aim of changing culture and behaviour for the benefit of everyone. It is a preventative measure that educates students not to take banter “too far”. As a result of this, students should be encouraged to show respect for each other and the environment in which they live.

The Main Messages Banter can be hurtful Prejudice isn’t funny Respect each other When someone says no, they mean no Know your limits

The Facts It’s No Joke utilises three main surveys for background information on culture for university students to shape policy:

Hidden Marks research One in seven survey respondents experienced a serious physical or sexual assault during their time as a student. More than four in ten victims of serious sexual assault had told nobody about what had happened to them.

That’s What She Said 50 per cent of study participants identified “prevailing sexism, ‘laddism’ and a culture of harassment“ at their universities.

Lad Culture and Sexism Survey (2014) Almost two thirds of respondents said they heard rape / sexual assault jokes on campuses If you want to find out more information, look online at cardiffstudents.com/itsnojoke/

Looking for casual or part time employment while studying at Cardiff University?

The Jobshop is a free student employment service run by your Students’ Union

Temporary and part-time work that will fit around your studies, giving you valuable work experience.

CardiffJobshop and CardiffJobshop 2nd floor, Students’ Union

029 2078 1535

Jobshop@cardiff.ac.uk

Deaf Havana

The Charlatans

Machine Head

November/Tachwedd Cardiff Cabaret Club 03/11/17, £15 ADV Father John Misty 04/11/17 - SOLD OUT/ WEDI GWERTHU ALLAN The Cadillac Three 12/11/17, £18.50 ADV Happy Mondays - SOLD OUT/ WEDI GWERTHU ALLAN Newton Faulkner 20/11/17, £22 ADV Deaf Havana 24/11/17, £16.50 ADV The Divine Comedy 25/11/17, £30 ADV

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February/Chwefror The Damned 09/02/18, £26 ADV Bars and Melody 15/02/18, £25 ADV £70 VIP

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May/Mai

Kerrang! Tour 2017 12/12/17, £17.50 ADV

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68

CAMPUS LIFE

campus life

#GRCampusLife campuslife@gairrhydd.com gairrhydd.com/category/campuslife

Stereophonics return to ‘Diff Pictured: Stereophonics live gig

Gets Around’. So for us ing back and doing a great charity be bringback lots fond memories. Hopefully it’s still £1 a pint in the student uni bar!”

Matt Deverson, Radio X’s managing editor, said: “Stereophonics returning to South Wales to play an intimate gig especially for Radio X is very exciting. They’re one of

to be coma gig for it will i n g o f

the biggest bands in the country and huge favourites of our listeners.

With a major UK arena tour lined up for 2018, to have them perform for just 1200 fans in Cardiff is very special indeed.”

The gig is in support of Radio X’s charity, Global’s Make Some Noise, a national charity, established in 2014, that gives a voice to small charities and projects across the UK that struggle to raise awareness. Stereophonic’s intimate gig is just one of the many projects run by Global’s Make Some Noise.

Social Sciences

Ben Parker SOCSCI President

S

OCSCI Social Society represents the School of Social Sciences which encompasses several BSc degree schemes from Social policy to education to Sociology to Criminology or Social Science. SOCSI were awarded a Bronze level award last year. SOCSI has seen a lot of change a new committee are beginning their

first term with Ben (President), Monica (Social Sec), Naomi (Treasurer) and Sophie (Secretary) pushing the society forward towards potentially a Silver award for the society. SOCSI society were represented at the Societies Fresher’s Fair.

The emphasis is on bringing SOCSI together and a potential partnership with SOCSI Netball is exciting.

SOCSI netball play in the IMG league and Charlotte Brailey is keen to get players on board of all abilities. A key focus is getting everyone involved whether it be socials or non-alcoholic socials such as curry club, trips to lo-

cal amenities such as trampoline park visits and Give it A Go sessions. Further socials are in the planning phase and Give It A Go trips are being looked into. Course related conferences are also being considered and contacted as potential extra experience for our members. Other societies have spoken of their interest in providing events with us which is positive. We will aim to meet fortnightly, but this is subject to change. Socials will be on Wednesday to begin with and then expanding to other days of the week to suit member’s needs. SOCSI annually have an end of year ball which

was held in the Hilton last year. This year is being planned already and we have some exciting news in the pipeline for members and non-members.

Our Facebook page is Cardiff University SOCSI Society 2017-18 request to join to receive updates on our latest events and everything SOCSI related.

To join it’s £4 on the Cardiff Students Society subpage. This gives members access to exclusive promotions in the Vulcan, discounts on merchandise and much more. Elections for a firstyear officer are upcoming and we will be looking as a society to add a vice president to our team.

‘‘

I don’t think we’ve played there since 1997. It’s going to be good, and Cardiff Uni is great craic!”

‘‘

SOCSI annually have an end of year ball which was held in the Hilton last year

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S

Cwmaman band set to play a huge sold-out arena tour in 2018, tickets for their intimate South Wales show for Radio X and charity Global’s Make Some Noise are expected to be in high demand.

Kelly Jones said: “We’re going to be playing a small intimate show in Cardiff University, the place I used to throw cassettes on the stage to other famous bands to hope they would open them. I don’t think we’ve played there since 1997. It’s going to be good, and Cardiff Uni is great craic!”

Richard Jones said: “Cardiff Uni was the place for us to check out quite a few bands when we were younger, and it’s the venue where we were given our first gold records for ‘Word

‘‘

Radio X

tereophonics are to play an intimate gig in Cardiff for Radio X on Thursday 2nd November.

Just 1200 tickets will be available for the band’s intimate show at Cardiff University’s Great Hall, which is in support of Radio X’s charity Global’s Make Some Noise.

With six number one albums and sales of more than ten million albums worldwide, Stereophonics are one of the biggest Welsh acts of all time. Having celebrated twenty years since the release of their seminal debut ‘Word Gets Around’ earlier this year, they release their tenth studio album ‘Scream Above the Sounds’ on October 27th, the week before their intimate Radio X gig. With the

BYWYD CAMPWS

69

What are the Sabbs Saying?

This week Campus Life spoke to Jake Smith Vice President Postgraduate about what’s been happening in the world of the Cardiff University Postgrads and how they’ve kicked off the semester.

To find out more about your candidates and their thoughts on various issues, look them up at cardiffstudents.com/your-voice/elected-officers. There you can read their manifestos and official bios, and even use the campaign tracker to see how good a job they have been doing so far.

H Jake’s Hot Takes With Jake Smith Vice President Postgraduate

Caiff dy

i, I’m Jake, your VP Postgrad.

It’s been a busy few weeks for postgraduates at Cardiff University. At the start of this academic year I was really keen to organise a programme of postgraduate social events to start the year with, so with some much valued help I was able to organise and run eight Postgraduate Welcome Events over the Freshers’ period. We had everything from a scavenger hunt in the city centre, meet and mingles, a quiz and pizza night and more. It was great to see so many people at the events so thanks to everyone who attended.

Back in the office I’ve been working on contributing to a UK wide review of postgraduate mental health and examining Cardiff University’s services

WASTRAFF BWYD

in this regard, recruiting for my Postgraduate Executive committee to help me run campaigns and of course attending numerous committees in the university including the Academic Standards and Quality Committee where we examine proposals for new degrees and review academic regulations.

The biggest projects I have been working on for postgraduates recently have been the pay of PhD students who teach in the university and the affordability of postgraduate study. As of the 2nd of October a new university-wide pay tariff now determines the pay of PhD students who teach undergraduate seminars. I have been working with Cardiff University HR and PhD students to ensure the new

system is communicated and implemented well. I’ve also been working with NUS Wales to respond to a HEFCW consultation on the proposed future postgraduate loan system in Wales. Making postgraduate study more affordable will require many changes, but the week before last saw some really good news on this when the Welsh Government announced funding for postgraduate bursaries and grants. I’m excited for what this means for current undergraduates considering postgraduate study and I welcome that this will make further study more affordable for students from less privileged backgrounds.

As always, please contact me if you think I can help you with anything, and have a great November!

Your

mae'n dd a ca gwybod el

go od to know

FOOD WASTE

ei droi’n

is recycled into

YNNI

ENERGY

Darganfydda sut mae dy wastraff bwyd yn cael ei droi’n drydan i bweru dy fywyd coleg

Discover how your food waste is turned into electricity to power your student living

StudentFoodRecycling.org.uk Recycle for Wales @Recycle4Wales Recycle4Wales

70

TAF-OD

taf-od

@cmccaerdydd | #GRTafod tafod@gairrhydd.com gairrhydd.com/category/tafod

Mae pob haul yn machlud, ond mae gwawr y brifysgol wedi tanio Yn y llun: Prif Adeilad Prifysgol Caerdydd (Tarddiad: Stan Zurek)

N

id oes un ohonom yn unfath i’r llall, mae pawb yn meddu ar bersonoliaethau a diddordebau amrywiol. Ond yn achos dechrau pennod newydd o’n bywydau academaidd, mae’n debygol roedd glas fyfyrwyr Prifysgol Caerdydd yn profi’r un emosiynau ar ddechrau ein gyrfaoedd yn y brifysgol. Roedd pawb yn waddoledig â chyffro heintus, yn ogystal ag elfen o ansicrwydd am yr hyn oedd i ddod. Mae modd ddweud yn ddiymwad bod y profiad wedi bod yn hynod o gadarnhaol hyd yma.

Un o’r prif argymhellion a gafodd ei gynnig ar ddechrau ein cyfnod yn y Brifysgol oedd ymrwymo at fywyd academaidd Caerdydd, gan uchafu pob cyfle a oedd yn cael ei ddarparu gan y nifer helaeth o gymdeithasau a mudiadau.

Rwy’n siŵr bod myfyrwyr JOMEC

wedi hen ddiflasu gyda’r gyfatebiaeth o ymdrin â’r brifysgol fel aelodaeth campfa, ond mae’r neges yn un arbennig o berthnasol sy’n gosod sylfaen cynhyrchiol ar gyfer bywyd yn y brifysgol. Mae rhaid ymroi’n ffyddlon i brofi holl ffrwyth y cyfleoedd sydd ar gael.

Fel unigolyn sy’n astudio Newyddiaduraeth a Chyfathrebu yr wyf wedi cael fy niddori’n fawr gan y cwrs, yn enwedig wrth ystyried bod y testun yn cwmpasu sawl elfen o bynciau gwahanol boed hynny’n astudiaethau cyfryngau, gwleidyddiaeth neu economeg.

Yn ogystal â hyn, mae fy mhenderfyniad i ymuno â’r Gym Gym - rwy’n annog pawb sydd ddim ynghlwm gyda’r gymdeithas i ymaelodi - wedi bod yn brofiad cyffrous a diddorol. Mae fy sgiliau pêl-droed - neu

brinder ohonynt - wedi cael eu profi mewn amodau gormesol. Yn unol â hyn, mae fy ngallu i aros yn bwyllog wrth dreulio alcohol wedi cael ei fesur, ond rwy’n hapus i ddatgan fy mod wedi gorchfygu’r her yma gyda hawster.

Er gwaethaf yr holl gyffro a’r cynnwrf sy’n deillio o’r digwyddiadau yma, y teimlad aruthrol o fod yn rhan o’r gymdeithas yw balchder a pherthyn. Mae’r faith bod casgliad helaeth o bobl yn ymfalchïo yn y Gymraeg, boed hynny mewn gosodiad cymdeithasol neu ffurfiol, yn rhywbeth sy’n andros o galonogol ac sy’n ysgogi teimlad o hyder a ffyddiogrwydd am ddyfodol yr iaith.

Mae’r gwladgarwch yma wedi helaethu ers dechrau yn y brifysgol. Rwy’n ddigon ffodus bod traean o fy nghwrs yn cael ei ddarparu trwy gyfrwng fy

mamiaith, felly treuliaf y buddion sy’n gysylltiedig â derbyn addysg bellach trwy’r Gymraeg.

Bwysicach fyth, yr wyf wedi cwrdd â sawl unigolyn o ledled y byd sydd wedi cael ei hudo gan yr iaith, ac sy’n synnu gyda’r nifer sylweddol sy’n ei ddefnyddio’n rheolaidd. Yn wir, mae’r iaith yn arddangos dyfodol hynod o ddisglair.

Wrth agosáu at gyfnod y Nadolig - mae’n anghredadwy bod mis wedi gwibio heibio ers ymuno â Chaerdydd - mae sawl digwyddiad sy’n deilwng o ennyn cynnwrf ar y gorwel, megis gemau rhyngwladol tîm rygbi Cymru neu gewri Chris Coleman yn erbyn Ffrainc a Panama.

Mae’n anodd prosesu bod y mis agoriadol yn y brifysgol wedi diweddu, gobeithiaf fod y misoedd dilynol yn meddu a’r cyffro cyfatebol!

‘‘

Rwyf wedi cwrdd â sawl unigolyn o ledled y byd sydd wedi cael ei hudo gan yr iaith

Dysgu Cymraeg gyda Taf-od | Learn Welsh with Taf-od Halloween | Calan Gaeaf

Ghost | Ysbryd

Cah-lan Gay-ave

Us-brid

Pumpkin | Pwmpen

Fancy dress | Gwisg ffansi

Poomp-en

Goo-eask Ffan-see

‘‘

Llion Carbis

TAF-OD

Crystal Thomas

‘‘

Y band ar lwyfan Libertino a wnaeth adael yr argraff fwyaf arnai oedd Los Blancos.

W

71

Gŵyl Sŵn yn swyno Caerdydd

edi talu £33 am docyn i Ŵyl Sŵn, nid oeddwn yn siŵr beth yn union i ddisgwyl.

Yn fuan fe ddaeth hi’n amlwg bod ystod eang o gerddoriaeth wahanol ar gael.

Roedd yna rywbeth i bawb, ac roedd gallu symud rhwng lleoliadau gwahanol i ddarganfod cerddoriaeth. Gyda dros 40 o artistiaid yn chwarae trwy gydol y dydd, a minnau heb glywed am y mwyafrif ohonynt, teimlais fel fy mod i wedi’w sbwylio.

Er bod yna nifer enfawr o opsiynau, efallai taw llwyfan Libertino ar lawr gwaelod Clwb Ifor Bach oedd seren yr ŵyl; yn arddangos talent bandiau megis ARGRPH a Phalcons. Trwy gydol y prynhawn bu’r ‘stafell yn orlawn heblaw am yr adegau o seibiant rhwng bandiau lle fydd pawb yn mudo i fyny’r grisiau.

Ond gyda’r llawr dop wedi ei lenwi hefo perfformwyr fel ‘Shame’, grŵp cyffroes a mynegiannol a fu’n cefnogi’r ddeuawd lewyrchus ‘Slaves’ yn ddiweddar, yn bendant roedd yn cyrraedd yr un safon a’r llawr gwaelod.

Y band ar lwyfan Libertino a wnaeth adael yr argraff fwyaf arnai oedd Los Blancos. Band rhesymol newydd, cyfrannodd Los Blancos egni a phresenoldeb unigryw.

Mae’n amlwg bod Diwrnod Darganfod Sŵn wedi llwyddo i ganolbwyntio’n bennaf ar wthio talent newydd ac artistiaid lleol, yn ogystal â rhoi cyfle i’r rhai sydd wedi dechrau sefydlu enw ym myd cerddoriaeth yn barod. Profwyd yn

anodd tynnu fy hun i ffwrdd o set ARGRPH er mwyn neud y daith fer draw i’r ‘Big Top’ i weld yr Eira.

Ar y ffordd yno, pigais yn gyflym i ‘Undertone’, i ddal deng munud olaf o set ‘Island’. Yn bendant nath y band amgen ddarparu perfformiad cymhellol i’r islawr prysur. Er gwaethaf benu lan yn y lleoliad anghywir, cerddais i ffwrdd o’r gig gyda band newydd i ychwanegu tuag at y playlist Spotify.

Parhau a wnaeth y safon uchel dros y lleoliadau i gyd, ond mae’n amhosib gwadu bod yr awyrgylch a maint y gynulleidfa heb fod yr un mor gyson.

Roedd rhai a fynychodd set Yr Eira, gan gynnwys fy hun, braidd yn siomedig. Dim i ddweud bod y set ei hun wedi bod yn ddiflas, mae eu halbwm diweddaraf ‘Toddi’ yn wych. Ond o gymharu’r perfformiad efo gigs arall fe welais dros y flwyddyn ddiwethaf gyda thyrfau Cymreig a chyffro, roedd yna awyrgylch weddol ddigynnwrf.

Yn ei gyfanrwydd roedd yr ŵyl yn ddangosydd gwych o’r amrywiaeth sy’n bodoli o fewn y byd cerddoriaeth leol.

Yn fwy penodol, roedd y bandiau Cymreig a oedd wedi eu dewis i chwarae yn enghreifftiau o dalent pur tu hwnt i rheini sydd yn gyson yn headlineo Maes B. Esiampl sy’n sefyll allan i fi yw Adwaith.

Llwyddodd y band i ddal y gynulleidfa’n annisgwyl trwy chwarae sawl cân a oedd yn syrthio mewn i wahanol fathau o gerddoriaeth.

Roedd un o senglau newydd y band,

‘Lipstick Coch’, wedi’w treiddio gyda synau ‘post-punk’ac ar y llaw arall ceir Colli Golwg, lle arbrofodd y band gyda sŵn reggae.

I’r ŵyl i gyd, sylweddolais erbyn y diwedd bod y mwyafrif o bobl heb gynllun clir ynglŷn â phwy roeddynt yn mynd i weld, roedd gormod yn digwydd ar yr un

pryd ar adegau. Ar ddiwedd y dydd sain meddwl bod llawer o le i gwyno. Roedd digon yn digwydd i gadw pawb yn hapus a chefais brofiad hollol bositif.

Mae’n anodd prosesu bod y mis agoriadol yn y brifysgol wedi diweddu, gobeithiaf fod y misoedd dilynol yn meddu a’r cyffro cyfatebol!

Yn y llun: Phalcons yn chwarae ar lwyfan Libertino yng Nghlwb Ifor Bach (Tarddiad: Takura Aldridge)

Yn Trafod yr wythnos hon... Wiliam Jac Rees 1.Pwy wyt ti, pa flwyddyn prifysgol a beth wyt ti’n astudio?

Wiliam Jac Rees, yn y flwyddyn gynta ac yn astudio Gwleidyddiaeth a Chysylltiadau Rhyngwladol.

2.Pam dewis Prifysgol Caerdydd i astudio?

Y ffaith bod Caerdydd yn derbyn y Bac fel Lefel A a hefyd mae’r cwrs yn un rili da sydd gyda chysylltiadau byd eang. Hefyd, wrth ystyried ein bod ni mor agos i’r bae gyda’r Senedd, Caerdydd oedd y dewis amlwg imi felly.

3.Fel Glas-fyfyriwr, ble yw dy hoff le yng Nghaerdydd hyd yn hyn?

Wel, fel un sy’n hoff o’m mwyd rhaid dewis y ‘Snack shack’ yn yr Undeb, sydd â chyflenwad di-bendraw o ‘southern fried chicken fillets’ a ‘chips’.

4. Beth yw’r ffilm orau i ti weld erioed?

Interstellar – Er sai’n ffan sci-fi mawr, mae’n ffilm hollol amazing.

5.Beth wyt ti’n hoffi gwneud yn dy amser hamdden?

Darllen llyfrau gwleidyddol, a hefyd paratoi ar gyfer sioe radio rwy’n cyflwyno ar y cyd gyda Jacob Morris a Tomos Evans, bob Dydd Iau rhwng 7 a 8 y.h ar www.xpress-

radio.co.uk. Tiwn in bois!

6. Wrth fyw yn Nhalybont, beth yw arferion drwg gweddill y fflat?

Rhaid imi fod yn onest a dweud dwi heb ddod ar draws unrhyw arferion drwg - eto! Rydyn ni gyd yn pitcho mewn i gadw’r gegin yn lan a rhoi’r bins allan pan fo angen.

Gobeithio bydd hi’n parhau fel hyn!

7. Beth yw dy hoff ddiod?

Wel dwi ddim yn un sy’n hoff o alcohol, wy’n addo sai’n berson sych! Felly bydd rhaid imi ddweud ‘sdim byd gwell na gwydred o ddŵr oer i gadw fy hun yn ‘hydrated’.

Ond cawn weld os wy’n rhoi’r un ateb ymhen tair blynedd!

8. Pwy fyddet ti’n ei wahodd i dy bryd fwyd delfrydol?

Barack Obama, Boris Johnson a Dafydd Wigley – Wrth reswm ddim gyda’i gilydd! Fydde ca’l swper gyda Barack, y dyn mwya cŵl yng ngwleidyddiaeth y byd yn brofiad a hanner. Dafydd Wigley – I drafod sefyllfa Cymru yn yr oes bresennol a Boris, wel pam lai!

9.Petaet ti’n ennill y loteri, beth fyddai’r peth cyntaf i ti brynu?

Bydde Mam am i mi dalu’r holl ddyled o’m ffioedd dysgu, ond gan mai yn fy nghyfrif i fydd yr arian,

heb os byddaf yn teithio’r byd ac ymweld â phob Senedd posib. Fi’n gwbod, fi MOR wyllt!

10.Pa air wyt ti’n ei ddefnyddio amlaf?

‘Wela i’ 11. Beth hoffet ti wneud ar ôl graddio?

Prif Weinidog ieuengaf Cymru gan arwain ein gwald ar ein hymdaith i annibyniaeth. #CymruRydd.

12. Pa ddigwyddiad gododd y fwyaf o embaras arnat ti erioed?

Rhedeg trwy’r lobby canolog yn San Steffan fel ffan girl ar ôl Jacob Rees Mogg er mwyn ceisio cael llun.

13. Pwy oeddet ti’n ffansio pan oeddet ti’n iau?

Taylor Swift – dal yn i fod yn onest.

14. Person trefnus neu funud ola?

Mae’n bosib mai fi yw’r person mwyaf trefnus yn y byd. Erioed.

15. Petaet ti ar ynys ac yn cael mynd a thri pheth yn unig, beth fydden nhw?

Ffôn symudol, charger panel solar i’r ffôn, a pouch enfawr o Milkybar buttons.

16. Disgrifia dy hun mewn tri gair.

Perffeithydd, Gwleidyddol, Cymro.

17. Petaet yn gallu bod yn rhywun arall am ddiwrnod, pwy fyddai ef/hi?

Ben Lake. Aelod Seneddol ifancaf Plaid Cymru erioed!

Efe a fy ysgogodd i brofi fy ngoleuedigaeth i gefni ar Y Blaid Lafur ac ymuno â Phlaid Cymru.

18. Cwrs cyntaf, prif gwrs a phwdin - beth fyddai’r dewis?

Fi’n benodol iawn gyda fy newis pan fo bwyd yn y cwestiwn. Byth starter, syth mewn i’r prif gwrs sef Stêc a Chips, ac i orffen pwdin crymbl afal Mam. 19. Beth yw’r noson orau i ti ei chael erioed?

Noson olaf Maes B eleni!

Hollol wefreiddiol. Fel Nifer o Gymry ifanc, roedd cael gwrando ar fand gore’r sin roc Gymraeg yng nghanol y babell fawr yn ystod yr oriau man yn un bythgofiadwy! Dwlen i ailfyw’r cyfan!

20. Pwy fydd yn Trafod gyda’r Tafod Wythnos nesaf?

Mari Hedd Lewis.

‘‘

WEDNESDAYS AT Y PLAS FREE ENTRY BEFORE 11PM ADVANCE £4 ON THE DOOR £5 FOLLOW US Y PLAS NIGHTCLUB

YPLASCSU

hard / anodd

easy / hawdd medium / canolig hard / anodd

medium / canolig

Cardiff Quick Crosssword

Welcome to the weekly Cardiff and Welsh themed crossword courtesy of Gair Rhydd.

Get them all right? Tweet us @gairrhydd to let us know!

Across / Ar draws 1. Istanbul’s name, before Constantinople (9) 5. Creme ____, also known as Custard (8) 6. Part of a tv show (8) 8. Tea in Welsh! (5) 9. The Principality has the largest what roof? (11) 10. A thing that increases the rate of an event (8) 13. Sport invented in Wales in the 1800s (4,6) 14. Shared by Mary, new vaccinne out recently (7) 15. Half and Half is half chips, half ____ (4)

Down / I lawr 1. Cate ____, Antagonist of new Thor movie (9) 2. Back with another Blue Planet soon! (12) 3. Technical name for Anticlockwise (11) 4. Cymru Patron Saint (4,4) 7. ____ boys, Musical about Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons (6) 11. Largest peak in Wales’ Welsh name! (2,6) 12. Translation of Gair Rhydd (4,4)

Croesair Cyflym Caerdydd

easy / hawdd

Last Week’s Answers

FIVE MINUTE FUN

Sudoku

Last weeks answers: Across 3. castles 6. pivac 7. glamorgan 8. minstrels 9. butt 13. falcons 14. vks Down: 1. teak 2. morgan 4. stdavid 5. wales forever 9. bassey 10. sherlock 11 iris

Dot to what?

1. What flies without wings?

2. I pass before the sun, yet make no shadow. What am I? 3. I’m simple for a few people, but hard for them to hear.

I live inside of secrets, and I bring with me people’s worst fears. What am I? 4. Take off my skin - I won’t cry, but you will!

5. Rwy’n dal pan rydw i’n ifanc, rwy’n fyr pan rydw i’n hen. Beth ydw i?

Riddles

74

Last weeks answers: 1. A Map 2. Fire 3. A Clock 4. A Shadow 5. Troedion

Answers will be printed in next weeks issue! Keep your eye out, and tweet us @gairrhydd to let us know if you have got it all right!

Got a type of puzzle you want to hear in Gair Rhydd next week? Let us know! We are always keen to try new ideas.

WELSH WORD OF THE WEEK

COLOFNYDD

COLUMNIST

PUM MUNUD O HWYL

75

With this being Gair Rhydd’s 45th year celebration we looked back through the archives, and discovered that once upon a time within our Five Minute Fun pages we ran a satirical horoscope section, and decided as a throwback we should bring it back, and see how it tests.

Therefore, ordinary Journalism student Emma McGuigan by day, but today she is only known as...

C I T S MY G I U G MC Aries - March 21st to April 19th This month, Aries, you’re in for a treat. Mystic McGuig foresees a cornucopia of pleasure in store for you in the weeks to come. Whether this be some free VKs from a mysterious benefactor at the lash, or some smokin’ sexy time with a PYT – Mystic McGuig senses you’ll be one happy camper these next few weeks. Mazeltov!

Leo - July 23rd to August 22nd The sign of all of Mystic McGuig’s soulmates. Keep working hard these next few weeks Leo, your efforts will certainly pay off. You are a beautiful sunflower and smell like Cinderella minus the mouse friends. Your stunning good looks inspire everyone around you to spend longer in front of the mirror every morning. I love you with all my heart. Over and out.

Sagittarius - November 22nd to December 21st Uh-oh girl (or not girl). Looks like you’ve been spending a little too much time going out and not enough time investing in your DREAMS AND GOALS. It’s time to get cute, get serious, and get real. In the words of Dizzee Rascal: fix up, look sharp. Mystic McGuig is out here for you, you can do it. Stop reading this and read for your seminar tomorrow.

Gemini - May 21st to June 30th Hello there, my fickle friend. Let’s not beat around the bush here, you’ve been in a bad mood for a hot minute. Whether it’s your flatmates annoying you, the Jonas Brothers STILL being on hiatus, or the weather being too poor to run through ANY fields of wheat, you’ve had it rough lately and you’ve been taking it out on those around you. Sorry for your suffering but wise up and be nice, dude. Peace and love, Mystic McGuig.

Libra - September 23rd to October 22nd Hey there pal, I know you’ve had a tough time in your love life lately. Would it really be October if you weren’t being ghosted by at least one person? All I’m here to say is, you are long overdue for some sweet caressing and some emotional intimacy!!!!!! If homeboy comes through with “I don’t like to wear condoms” it’s quiet… But if homeboy comes through with “thinking of you, let’s go for dinner soon” homeboy’s gonna like, get it. You deserve it dude. Mystic McGuig says KNOW YOUR WORTH. Aquarius - January 20th to Feburary 18th Interesting… anything you’d like to share? Anything you’d like to get checked out? Think wisely about your answer to that one. Mystic McGuig knows what’s up down there, but do you?? Remember to stay safe when you’re having fun… is that hottie with a body worth the trouble in your stubble? …Choices.

Cancer - June 21st to July 22nd Oh honey… oh HUN-KNEE. You are looking better than ever!!!! Is that a new blouse? Has your beard finally started coming in?? Whatever it is, keep on keepin’ on. You are lookin’ fresh to death and fancy-free! Mystic McGuig is LIVING for your recent confidence and style. Please feel free to post extra selfies and linger extra long in front of mirrors. I’m in love with you.

Scorpio - October 23rd to November 21st IT’S SCORPIO SEASON, Y’ALL! Mystic McGuig would just like to take this moment to say that Scorpios hold a special place in her heart, being one herself (of course I’m a Scorpio, is anyone really surprised?). For you, my dear Scorpios, you can have it all. We are a massively underappreciated breed, though I do relish in the fear others have of me. Just keep doing you! Make some coin, turn some heads, and be kind to everyone that looks like they might have a dog you can pet.

Pisces - Februrary 19th to March 20th Listen up, dude. Mystic McGuig senses that you’ve been feeling a bit more stressed than normal. Who would have thought that we come to uni to get a degree?? Make sure you’re taking the time to relax!

Take long baths in that grimey student house and watch Mark Ruffalo films for your own leisure – you deserve it! My third eye sees that you aren’t feeling the best at the moment, but these next few weeks should bring about change. Also, watch out for that seagull outside your window, my senses tell me he’s out to get you.

Taurus - April 20th to May 20th Hello, Taurus, fancy seeing you here. This month your Jupiter moon boots are in Retros – I mean retrograde, but you should head down to Retros this week! I’m sensing you need to let loose and if there’s one thing Mystic McGuig knows, it’s that a good boogie always helps. Get up offa that thing, remember how well you think you can dance after an entire bottle of blossom hill at pres, and get out there if you know what’s good for you. (This horoscope not sponsored by Retros) Virgo - August 23rd to September 22nd Mystic McGuig knows your secret. Don’t think you can keep it hidden forever. They’ll find you.

Go sort your life out.

Capricorn - December 22nd to January 19th One thing you’ll learn about Mystic McGuig is that she always saves the best for last. Capricorn, I sense a mixed month for you. On one hand, glad to see you’ve kicked the freshers flu but make sure to keep up that Vitamin C, because I foresee many a snog

with a stranger in your near future. And Capricorn, if you have to ask if something needs a wash, it does. Only looking out for you.

76 SPORT

Club football has no hopes on the managerial merry-go-round

Reece Chambers

‘‘

It must be stressed that football clubs cannot continue to axe managers within ten games.

I

n the most competitive league in world football, the Premier League has turned into a managerial merry-go-round. Managers face an almighty battle with substantial pressure from the club’s hierarchy, fans and the media.

With just ten games played in the Premier League, two managers have already lost their jobs. Frank de Boer, the first to go, staggeringly lost his job within the space of 4 games at Crystal Palace, whilst Ronald Koeman lost his job at Goodison Park after 9 games.

The problem lay not just with the managers, but also with the impatience of senior figures at clubs to remove managers after a couple of poor results.

Admittedly, there becomes a point where a manager must be replaced.

There is far too much money in the football industry to allow a team to fail miserably. With estimations that promotion to the Premier League is worth £170million, it is partially understandable to see why clubs become impatience with failure.

Despite this, it must be stressed that football clubs cannot continue to axe managers within ten games. The rate at which managers are expected to get results is ludicrous. Ronald Koeman, for example, lost his job after just nine games in charge.

True, results and performances were bad for Koeman’s side.

But, when one looks at the fact that he lost Romelu Lukaku, their main man last year, it is understandable that they did not instantly return to last season’s heights. £140million of sum-

mer spending may indicate that results should have been better. But, with several young players in the side, instant success was never going to be achievable.

It is perhaps most concerning that football fans fully backed his departure.

Yes, results were poor. And, yes, the side was underperforming. But, surely he had earned some respect from last season’s impressive 7th place finish to warrant more time to turn things around.

More notably, Frank de Boer’s sacking after just 4 games at Crystal Palace raises further cause for concern. Having never managed in the Premier League before, the Crystal Palace hierarchy must have anticipated a slow start from the Dutchman. On top of that, he was aiming to completely change the way in which the team played.

Nevertheless, Steve Parish, Palace chairman, got rid of de Boer just 4 games in. The lack of patience is at, perhaps, the most concerning rate it has ever been. Chairmen no longer give managers the time they need in order to find the right players and integrate them into an effective formation. The circus that is club football will continue on the managerial merry-go-round until club’s take a step towards patience and consideration.

Moreover, a reflection between managerial treatment at club football and international football creates further reason to be anxious. On the international stage, managers are given time to embed their ideas on players and secure results - a notion that is all

too scarce at club level.

We need not look any further than the Welsh national team. Fans may forget that Coleman was the first Welsh manager to lose his first five games in charge. And, in essence, this is down to the time and patience he received from Wales’ hierarchy that allowed him to turn things around - of course, he certainly did that.

Therefore, club football must take

note from the international scene.

The continuous cycle of managers being hired and fired in the space of ten games is damaging the reputation of football.

In a job that seemingly requires instant success; owners, fans and the media alike, must stop the encouragement of such a foolish managerial merry-goround in order to allow the game to return to some degree of normality.

Pictured: Ronald Koeman was sacked by Everton last week.

(Source: Ronnie Macdonald via Flickr).

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Snowsports impress in first round of Kings

Pictured: Ronald Koeman was sacked by Everton last week.

(Source: Ronnie Macdonald via Flickr).

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ardiff Snowsports provided a string of good results last week in the first round of the Kings Western League.

Four teams took part in the event at

Pembrey Ski Centre near Swansea; two mixed teams, one ladies team and one snowboarding team.

Universities from across the West of England and Wales joined the com-

petition including Cardiff, Swansea, Bristol, Bath, Plymouth and Exeter.

Cardiff were looking to start the competition fiercely, defending the titles that they won last year in the snowboarding and women’s ski.

1st Team mixed team member Tom Simmons spoke to us after the event about how the day panned out for Cardiff.

“The day started a bit late but ran smoothly from there. The rain made the day a bit miserable but because the slopes were wet the skiing was much faster and therefore a lot more fun,” “We raced against Aberystwyth to begin with and that was a fairly easy victory, after this we went into the top group whilst Cardiff 2 went into the middle group.”

“In our last round of races we lost to Swansea but as we had won more races throughout the day we still managed to beat them overall!”

“It was a really enjoyable round for the whole team and we think we’ve got a good chance of doing even better when we race in Cardiff for round 2.”

Cardiff managed to secure 3rd spot overall for their 1st team after a very close race against Bristol 2nd team.

The 2nd mixed team then finished 9th overall, which was the highest position out of the teams in their group.

The Ladies team managed a 5th place finish and will be sure to kickon in the coming rounds to defend their 2016/17 title.

The snowboarding team finished with a respectable 3rd place finish.

There are three more rounds of Kings with the next round falling on Saturday 18th November in Cardiff.

Looking forward in the year, Cardiff Snowsports will be representing the university at the annual Welsh Varsity in 2018.

Last year the teams locked horns in an unofficial capacity at Varsity where the skiers from Cardiff came out on top but the Swansea snowboarders took the bragging rights as they won their race.

This year the event counts towards the Varsity Shield and Cardiff will be looking to win both events and help take the crown to the capital.

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The rain made the day a bit miserable but because the slopes were wet the skiing was much faster and therefore a lot more fun.

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Mark Wyatt

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Cardiff Crackers: Welsh rally icon Phil Mills recalls his co-driving career and four Wales Rally GB victories

Rich Jones speaks exclusively to a range of sports stars about the golden moments in their careers which took place in the Welsh capital.

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I’ve always enjoyed maths and geography, so I suppose it was the perfect role for me being a petrol head as well.

Phil Mills

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here are not many more selfless roles in sport than that of a rally co-driver.

The fate of both yourself and the driver rests in your hands – just the slightest mistake in navigating the winding turns of the forest can lead to disaster.

Credit for success will largely be attributed to the driver, but anyone who knows the sport will understand they are inextricably linked to the expertise of the man in the passenger seat.

Few rally duos have been more successful than legendary Norwegian Petter Solberg and his co-driver Phil Mills.

Mills, a proud Welshman, was known as one of the best in the business as he helped Solberg win the World Rally Championship in 2003.

It may seem a somewhat niche role, but growing up amongst the winding roads of Powys in Mid Wales, Mills admits the role suited him perfectly.

“I grew up in Mid Wales, so rallying was kind of unavoidable,” Mills recalled.

“There’s a lot of events in the area, and I just got into it because it was always in your face and on your doorstep.

“It was an easy thing to fall into because motor clubs were so strong at that time, and there was so much action in Mid Wales whether it was motorbikes or rally cars.

“I’ve always enjoyed maths and geography, so I suppose it was the perfect role for me being a petrol head as well.

“It was something I was passionate about and enjoyed, so I was lucky to be able to do it at such a high level and be pretty successful.”

Mills and Solberg raced to victory

in the Wales Rally of Great Britain for four years in succession.

It was in Cardiff that the pair secured their first ever victory in 2002, kick-starting a run of dominance in the Welsh capital.

Mills said: “To win that Rally anyway is always quite special, because it’s up there as one of the biggest rally events in the world.

“But to win it four times, at home as

a Welshman was really special I must be honest. They are all equally good memories in their own right.

“They each posed their different challenges, but I have to say the first one, as you would expect, was very, very sweet.”

The Wales Rally of Great Britain was headlined by the special stages held indoors at the Principality Stadium between 2005 and 2008.

Mills says the events rank up there amongst the proudest moments of his career – and he believes the sport would benefit from a revival of the occasions.

He commented: “The stages at the Millennium Stadium are something I wish they would bring back actually, because they were a real highlight for everyone.

“It was such a spectacle, being in the national stadium a few weeks before the rugby. It was a big, big night out for everyone and it was done fantastically well.

“I feel the sport could definitely benefit from having those back, but I suppose I was lucky to have the chance to be involved in them whilst they were going.”

Mills called time on his rallying career in 2010 to focus on his business, Viking Motorsport Ltd. But he remains in close contact with former colleague Solberg, with whom he shares countless unforgettable memories.

“We could be on the phone for 20 hours talking about all the memories I have,” he added.

“The whole time it was just a great big rollercoaster really. We had a lot of ups and downs, but I had a great time.

“There are countless stories I could tell, but rest assured they’ll all be in the book!

“Me and Petter speak almost every other day, we’re still good friends.

“We shared lots of good times together and had plenty of success, so we’ll always have that bond I suppose and we’ll keep in touch.”

Pictured: Petter Solberg and Phil Mills in action in their iconic Subaru Impreza (via Flickr)

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To win it four times, at home as a Welshman was really special I must be honest.

Phil Mills

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Rich Jones

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IRFU Women’s Head Coach Controversy

Molly Ambler

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fter a successful World Cup in Ireland in August 2017, there was a hope that it would leave a lasting legacy in the country.

However, there is little evidence of this legacy with the IRFU appearing to downgrade the role of head coach offered on a “6-month contract, on a part time basis.”

This part time head coach will be used to cover the Six Nations, arguably one of the biggest tournaments in rugby aside from the World Cup. There is now a protest in motion spreading across the sea into English clubs.

The protest began in Ireland, with Irish players wearing a wristband saying “#legacy.” This is made in reference to players questioning the legacy the Women’s World Cup has left Ireland.

Wasps FC Ladies showed their support for the Irish players, with Ireland international hooker Sarah Mimnagh playing for Wasps.

This level of support has been welcomed on social media and across the Premier 15s. There has also been a high level of support in Ireland for

the national side. A unified stance was taken by Old Belvedere RFC and Blacklock College players with the Women’s director of Rugby, Anthony Eddy, present at Anglesea Road, however no attempt to communicate with the players was made, many of whom are internationals.

Dr Claire Molloy, Ireland captain tweeted in response to the IRFU’s offer, “Six month part-time is such a disappointment to hear when our Six Nations opposition, including Italy, have full time coaches.”

Anthony Eddy also holds positions within the Sevens programmes for both men and women and it is said by the IRFU that Tom Tierney, outgoing head coach, only held a full-time position as he doubled up as Eddy’s assistant in the Sevens programmes.

These revelations seem to suggest that the IRFU has little to no regard for Women’s rugby, something that drastically needs to alter. The IRFU have released a statement clarifying their stance on the role, stating that “has not downgraded the coaching role in rela-

tion to Ireland Women’s team.”

The IRFU state that they are in the process of fully reviewing their Women’s set up, but this news is coming too late for those who have retired. There appears to have been a significant lack of communication between the IRFU and players, with the only communication they have had from the union is an email asking who is retiring. There appears to be an unhealthy attitude towards Women’s rugby in the IRFU, an attitude that is not going to progress the game.

The 2017 World Cup brought the best teams to Ireland and really showcased what Women’s rugby is all about. This move by the IRFU is sending out a message to younger girls that there is little interest in Women’s rugby on a national level, potentially discouraging them from even taking up the sport.

If the male professional players in Ireland wear the “#legacy” wristbands in their interpro games in Galway and Belfast, the Irish Women no longer have a protest, they have a movement.

BUCS Highlights Mark Wyatt

CUFC lose local derby 3-2

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ardiff University Men’s Football 1st team fell to a third successive defeat at the hands of local rivals Cardiff Metropolitan University 2nd team last week.

It was the second time Cardiff lost with a score line of 3-2 after their defeat against UWE 1st team in midOctober.

The result leaves Cardiff rock bottom of the Western 1A Division, languishing with zero points from their three matches and with a goal difference of -4.

Their next fixture comes against table toppers Exeter 1st team, who recorded an impressive 3-0 victory over 2nd place Bristol in the last round of games.

Invincable CURFC celebrate quadruple-win

Pictured (clockwise from top): CUFC in action last week (via Colin Ewart) CURFC 3XV before their victory (via Twitter) Ireland lock heads with Soctland in 2013 (via Craig Marren)

Kieran ManettaJones Cardiff Blues Columnist

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sensational day for Cardiff University Rugby Club last week as they won all four of their men’s fixtures.

Firstly, the fresher’s team successfully tore apart the University of Wales Trinity St David with a 48-0 victory.

The 3rd team overcame fierce rivals Swansea University 3XV 54-21 (pictured).

Continuing the club’s fine form, the 2s travelled all the way to the English capital to take on University College London RFC 1XV where they were victorious 43-23.

Finally, the 1XV put the icing on the cake with a tightly contested 21-19 victory over USW 1XV in Pontypridd.

It’s the first time this season that all four men’s teams have returned to Cardiff all-conquering and the club will be hoping to continue their form next week for another round of fixtures.

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, like many other Cardiff Blues fans would not have thought I was being too pessimistic, when I predicted that losing bonus points would be the only thing we could have potentially come away with from the first two rounds of the Challenge Cup. After all we were against the current top two teams in France, which given our current form in the Pro14 was a huge task. I can’t explain how ecstatic I was when I looked at my phone and saw the result, Toulouse 15-17 Blues.

A decisive score by Macauley Cook in second half, converted by Jared Evans nudged the Blues ahead at 52 minutes.

Now we are sitting at the top of pool 2 with back to back victories in Europe and 9 points written next to our name.

This is an exceptional start to the Challenge Cup, but now the question is, can we take this momentum forward to Parc Y Scarlets, as the second Wales derbies take place in round seven of the Pro14.

Danny Wilson and his team have proved that they have an incredibly versatile backline that can effectively attack from anywhere on the pitch, with a current three game winning streak.

The Scarlets on the other hand are exactly what people think of when you

say, ‘expansive attacking rugby’. They have the best stats when it comes to clean breaks and defenders beaten. Trying to isolate dangerous players like Steff Evans and Johnny McNicholl is not an easy task by any means.

However it is crucial to controlling the speed of the game, and only by setting the pace can the Blues create their own opportunities to score against the current champions.

The Scarlets will provide a very different task to the French clubs but hopefully Cardiff are up to the task with all the momentum behind them.

With the announcement of the Wales

squad for the autumn internationals, Gatland and his coaching team have selected four Blues players for the international tests.

Young Seb Davies has had a very busy week, signing a senior contract and getting a call up to Wales ahead of experienced locks Bradley Davies and Luke Charteris.

Josh Navidi has also gained an unexpected but long overdue chance to play in a full-strength Wales team after touring the Pacific Islands over the summer.

Alex Cuthbert and Kristian Dacey make up the other half with Rey Lee-Lo also getting named in the Samoa squad.

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Continued: Gatland makes bold decisions

Rich Jones

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Times have changed in international rugby, and with an ongoing risk of falling behind the top nations Wales need to develop.

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he back three also offers both flexibility and excitement, with the experience of Leigh Halfpenny, Liam Williams and Alex Cuthbert combined with the inclusion of youngsters Hallam Amos and Steffan Evans.

Cardiff University student Amos has finally enjoyed an injury-free run and made the most of the chance with the Dragons and will now aim to build on the promise he has shown in his early international appearances.

Evans, meanwhile, has been paramount to the Scarlets’ attacking expertise in the last 18 months and now retains his place in the squad after making his international debut in the Pacific Islands over the summer and scoring two tries against Samoa.

The forwards have also been somewhat shaken up by Gatland, with some exciting talent emerging and ready to take the next step on the international scene.

Hooker Elliot Dee, prop Leon Brown and flanker Sam Cross are uncapped inclusions, plus in-form Cardiff Blues second row Seb Davies is being tipped for big things as he looks likely to partner captain Alun Wyn Jones at lock.

Blues team-mate Josh Navidi gets

a chance at openside with the likes of Sam Warburton and Ellis Jenkins sidelined through injury.

But whilst few could begrudge Navidi or Aaron Shingler for their inclusions, it must be said that Wasps’ Thomas Young can consider himself extremely unfortunate not to be given a call-up.

Despite the recent controversy over the change in selection policy, Rhys Webb is included alongside Scarlets’ pair Aled Davies and Gareth Davies at scrum half.

The selection of Tomos Francis is also significant given he has missed the last few weeks due to failing a Head Injury Assessment.

It remains to be seen whether the new formula adopted by Gatland will work, but they will certainly be tested as they face Australia on November 11, Georgia on November 18, New Zealand on November 25 and South Africa on December 2.

The much-maligned “Warrenball” – a physical and direct style of play adopted by Wales under Gatland – has certainly brought noticeable success over the years including two Grand Slams and a handful of quality displays against top opposition.

But times have changed in international rugby, and with an ongoing risk of falling behind the top nations

Wales need to develop.

There has been an acknowledgement of this fact for some time, but Gatland has seemingly learnt some lessons from his recent Lions’ tour and the way in which they drew 1-1 with the best side in the world.

He has subsequently opted to make some bold selections which could well give Wales an extra edge,

particularly in the back line, as they look to overcome their recent struggles against Southern Hemisphere opposition.

With less pressure on this year’s autumn internationals with the World Cup draw already made based on last year’s rankings, there is an opportunity to experiment and attempt to turn a corner.

WALES AUTUMN INTERNATIONAL SQUAD Forwards: Rob Evans (Scarlets), Wyn Jones (Scarlets), Nicky Smith (Ospreys), Leon Brown (Dragons), Tomos Francis (Exeter Chiefs), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Kristian Dacey (Cardiff Blues), Elliot Dee (Dragons), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Jake Ball (Dragons), Adam Beard (Ospreys), Seb Davies (Cardiff Blues), Cory Hill (Dragons), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys, capt), Sam Cross (Ospreys), Taulupe Faletau (Bath Rugby), Dan Lydiate (Ospreys), Josh Navidi (Cardiff Blues), Aaron Shingler (Scarlets), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys).

Backs: Aled Davies (Scarlets), Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Rhys Webb (Ospreys), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Rhys Patchell (Scarlets), Rhys Priestland (Bath Rugby), Owen Williams (Gloucester), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Tyler Morgan (Dragons), Hadleigh Parkes (Scarlets), Owen Watkin (Ospreys), Hallam Amos (Dragons), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), Steffan Evans (Scarlets), Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets), Liam Williams (Saracens).

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CULRFC suffer narrow defeat to Southampton

Rhys Thomas Cardiff City Columnist

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ardiff Ladies RFC took the long journey down to Southampton University on the 26th October in the hope of continuing their winning start to the BUCs season, however the team were narrowly defeated 10-12 by a strong Southampton side.

The game was fast paced, with both teams looking for the victory.

Southampton had had a heavy defeat to Swansea in the week previous to meeting Cardiff, so were looking for a comeback.

The Cardiff team were coming off the back of a large victory and were hoping to continue their winning form.

The Cardiff team dominated the set piece, with scrummages being particularly commanding. South-

ampton, however, were strong in the breakdown area with Cardiff struggling to maintain their own ball.

The game was fairly even with Cardiff scoring the first try through Morfudd Ifans, with strong carries from the forwards throughout the whole game.

Southampton soon levelled through a line break.

Cardiff played much of the game in Southampton’s half, with the second try coming from Anna Mawhinney. Cardiff errors led to the rest of Southampton’s try’s and conversion.

Despite this loss, there were positives to take from the game.

The forwards carried strongly allowing the backs to use their speed to try to penetrate the Southampton defence, which was solid through-

The Bluebirds are back at Cardiff City Stadium after a prolonged period away from their home ground. Their match against Millwall will have been nearly a whole calendar month since their last home fixture, a no-score draw against Joe Ledley’s Derby County. The International break came after that, followed by a disappointing loss at Birmingham City and a win up in Middlesborough. It has been an aim of manager Neil Warnock to make the Cardiff City Stadium something of a fortress where teams will face an organised team and a raucous home support. City have been unbeaten at home in the league this season (with a

out. Cardiff did apply plenty of pressure to the Southampton defence, however, there were few chances to break through.

The Cardiff defence was thoroughly pressurised, with only two breaks, leading to scores.

While this is a disappointing result, there are clear elements of improvement to be made, again in the breakdown area.

There were chances for the Cardiff side to score, but unfortunately these were not capitalised on but Cardiff did gain momentum throughout the second half, with performance improving, but they were unable to score any further tries.

Despite the loss, the squad put in their all and played until the last

loss against Burton in the Carabao Cup being their solitary home loss in all competitions), and the next three matches up until the end of November offer a great chance to continue that unbeaten record with Millwall, Ipswich Town and Brentford being the visitors during that period. City should also be looking forward to the return of forward Kenneth Zohore and Iceland talisman Aron Gunnarson , both of whom will make for a much needed boost for the next set of matches.

By the time of publication, the Bluebirds will have faced off against Millwall, who are spending their first season back

whistle, with each player leaving everything out on the pitch. The errors were unfortunate and there will be a chance to improve on this performance.

Next week the squad take on Bournemouth at home.

This will be a good chance for the squad to correct the errors that have been made against Southampton and come away with the victory.

There are lessons to be learned from this game and plenty of work to be done in training before the next game.

Last season, there were good results for the Cardiff team against Bournemouth, coming away with two victories, and the hope is that these victories can be replicated this season.

in the Championship after winning the League 1 play-off final last term. Ipswich are the highest placed of all the teams (currently 11th) and are managed by the veteran Mick McCarthy, former manager of clubs such as Sunderland, Wolves and most infamously the Republic of Ireland national team. He is an experienced opponent that Warnock knows well - however, the Tractor Boys have lost four out of their last five matches and will travel to Cardiff in desperate need of stopping their slide. Whilst City should probably be looking at two victories there, one of the biggest matches of the season comes on the next Saturday. Bristol City are the

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The squad put in their all and played until the last whistle, with each player leaving everything out on the pitch.

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Molly Ambler

Bluebirds’ biggest rivals in the league, and this will be the first Severnside clash of the season. It will be even tastier with both sides doing so well and being in with a real shout of finishing the season in a fabled top-six spot. Warnock’s first match as Cardiff manager last season came against the Robins and saw a victory for the Welsh side, setting the tone for the manager’s reign thus far. Another win last January at Ashton Gate which included a memorable long-distance Anthony Pilkington strike completed the double over Bristol City last season, and City fans will be desperately hoping for a repeat of that performance.

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@gairrhyddsport | #GRSport sport@gairrhydd.com gairrhydd.com/category/sport

Wales squad marks major shift ahead of autumn internationals Rich Jones

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ales unveiled their squad for the upcoming autumn internationals last week – and it was perhaps the most significant squad of Warren Gatland’s tenure.

There appears to have been a noticeable shift in approach from Gatland and his staff, as they continue to attempt to evolve and develop a more expansive brand of rugby.

Whilst they have been vocal about this

goal in recent years, the latest squad signals a clear change in personnel, particularly in the midfield area.

New Zealand-born Hadleigh Parkes, who has been in scintillating form for Scarlets, is handed his first Wales call-up and will be eligible to make his debut on residency grounds on the day of their final game against South Africa on December 2.

He is joined in the squad by a number of uncapped players including youngster Owen Watkin, who has long been earmarked for a place in the squad and starred for Ospreys in their European

Report: Cardiff football team suffer close defeat P38

Champions Cup clash with Saracens earlier this month.

The inexperienced Owen Williams and Tyler Morgan also add to their options at centre, whilst Scott Williams and Jamie Roberts both miss out in a major shake-up which also features talented fly-half Sam Davies and experienced second row Luke Charteris as high-profile casualties.

Jonathan Davies looks like the only familiar face in midfield, although he is almost a sure-fire starter after his brilliant performances on the Lions’ tour over the summer.

There also seems to have been a concerted effort to establish flexibility amongst the backs. The decision to select four outside halves is bold, but Owen Williams gives a different option to play an extra playmaker at 12 in a manner similar to the Jonathan Sexton-Owen Farrell axis which dictated the Lions’ play as they went toe to toe with the All Blacks.

Rhys Priestland is handed a well-deserved recall after his performances for Bath early in the campaign, including a dominant display to defeat the Scarlets in Europe a fortnight ago.

Pictured: Wales will host New Zealand for the first time since 2014.

Source: Marc via Flickr

Continued on p39

Opinion: The role of pressure on football managers P38>>