Issue 1155: Freshers Issue 2020 by Cardiff Student Media

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rhifyn 1155 issue 1155

28 Medi 2020 28 September 2020

gair rhydd Cardiff University’s student paper | Established 1972

Inside: Gair Rhydd speaks to students affected by the A-level results algorithm controversy (pages 6 & 7)

Two-thirds of Welsh residents now under local lockdowns

• Cardiff, Swansea and Newport among areas affected • Residents warned to not leave their local area “without a reasonable excuse” Sam Tilley News Editor

Sam Portillo News Editor

rom 18:00 Sunday September 27, Cardiff became the latest local authority in Wales to announce it was going into a local lockdown. The Welsh capital, along with Swansea, are the seventh and eighth local authority to have additional measures imposed after a spike in coronavirus cases. As of last week, Cardiff hit a seven-day rate of 38 coronavirus cases per 100,000 people with a positive test percentage of 3.8%, above the so-called ‘red-zone’ of 2.5%. As a result of the measures, residents will be told not to leave or enter an area of lockdown unless they have a “reasonable excuse”. The extended household system, which allowed groups of up to four households to group together without the need to social distance, has also been suspended. Other measures include mandatory wearing of face coverings when in a public indoor space, a ban on meeting anyone other than members of your own household inside and a requirement for all pubs to stop serving alcohol at 22:00 and to close by 22:20. Students at higher education institutions within Cardiff are being asked to conform to these new measures and to continue to practice social distancing. In an email sent out to all students by Cardiff University Pro-Vice Chancellor Claire Morgan, the university confirmed that if students were “symp-

tom-free and not subject to self isolation”, they can still travel to, and remain in, their student accommodation and attend classes. The email also contained a commitment to still hold some face-to-face teaching sessions and to keep student services, including libraries and student support, as open as possible under the new restrictions. Large swathes of South Wales are also under local lockdown restrictions. Whilst local lockdowns were only initially announced for Caerphilly and Rhondda Cynon Taf, local measures were also implemented last week in Merthyr Tydfil, Bridgend, Newport and Blaenau Gwent. Three more areas: Torfaen, Neath Port Talbot and the Vale of Glamorgan were announced to be under new restrictions from Monday September 28 in addition to the Carmarthenshire town of Llanelli, the first case of a single town being placed back under lockdown. It seems to be the case that many cases can be traced back to different households mixing and socialising indoors without social distancing and enhanced hygiene in place. Contact tracing and testing has attributed rising numbers in Newport, for example, to a single house party, after which guests mixed with the wider community and the virus began to pick up speed. The national figures for cases and deaths are not at the levels seen at the peak of the epidemic in early April, but could very well continue to worsen. The Welsh Government will hope that quick and localised responses to rising cases, as seen in these counties and others, have come soon enough to cut the chain of transmission.

Curie’s laboratory: Seen here with her husband, Pierre Curie, Marie worked tirelessly in their laboratory to discover radium. Source: Wellcome Images (via Wikimedia Commons.)

Marie Curie and the continued development of radiotherapy

Holly Giles Deputy Editor

arie Curie is arguably one of the most famous scientists of all time for her discovery of radium, uranium and the theory of

radioactivity. These discoveries led to Curie winning two Nobel prizes each in a different scientific field, the first person ever to do so. Her work is used in radiotherapy for cancer patients and is currently being manipulated by researchers to make the process more

The year ahead for Ailagor Neuadd UK politics Pantycelyn Hallum Cowell Deputy Editor

his year in UK politics is shaping up to be as eventful as we’re used to. A Brexit deal up in the air with a tight deadline as the UK is set to leave the EU on December 31. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has changed the lives of almost everyone on Earth and is far from over. May’s Welsh and Scottish elections are set to be key moments for the UK as groups set on independence or the union clash. This coming year is set to be a key time for UK politics. To read more about what’s in store for the UK over the next academic year, turn to page 14. 14

Nel Richards Golygydd Taf-od

sgrifenna Nel Richards ar effaith ailagor neuadd Pantycelyn ar yr Iaith Gymraeg yn y rhifyn yma. Ar ôl gorfod cau’r neuadd yn 2013, cafwyd flynyddoedd o ymgyrchu a phrotestio er mwyn achub canolfan sy’n clymu myfyrwyr Prifysgol Aberystwyth at eu gilydd. Medi 2020 oedd yr agoriad swyddogol i 200 o fyfyrwyr newydd ar ol buddsoddi £16.m i’r cynllun. Wrth i gannoedd o bobl ifanc deithio i Aberystwyth ar draws y wlad wrth i’r dymor newydd ddechrau, mi fydd neuadd Pantycelyn yn gartref i nifer o ddigwyddiadau Cymraeg ar draws y flynyddoedd i ddod. 10

efficient. This review looks at the life of Marie Curie and the current trials in radiotherapy through the work of Cancer Research UK. Turn to page 23 to read more about the extraordinary life of one of the world’s most famous scientists. 23

The rise of women in film Molly Govus Deputy Editor

s society grows and becomes more liberal, one would think it would be a natural progression for its facets to follow suit. Film, TV and media play a huge and influential part in setting cultural ideals to the public.Unfortunately, there is still so much more to do to raise the bias against women in film. Whilst charities and incentives work hard to flatten this unfortunate curve by providing education on the inequalities, it is hard to change a bias that is so ingrained into the media. Read more about the rise of women in film on page 17. 17

EDITORIAL

Gair Rhydd 2020/21 Coordinator Elaine Morgan

Editor-in-Chief Tirion Davies

Deputy Editors Hallum Cowell Holly Giles Molly Govus

News

Sam Tilley Zoe Kramer Luthien Evans Sam Portillo Dominic Williams

For more content, head to gairrhydd.com

A note from the Editor Nodyn gan y Golygydd Starting back at university Dechrau nôl yn y brifysgol during COVID-19 yn ystod COVID-19

Features

Tehreem Sultan

Taf-od

Aled Biston Annell Dyfri Alaw Fflur Jones Catrin Lewis Nel Richards

Politics

Hallum Cowell Tom Kingsbury Dewi Morris Morgan Perry

Comment

Molly Govus Sian Hopkins Cerys Ann Jones Izzy Morgan

Advice

Darcy Servais Megan Evans Vicky Witts

Science & Technology Holly Giles Rowenna Hoskin Mili Jayadeep Jack Robert Stacey

@Caerdydd

Natalie Graham Fflur Trevor

Sport

Tom Walker Freddie Bennett Ella Fenwick Ben Lovell-Smith

Head of Digital Media Tom Leaman

Video Editors

Sophia Grace Scarlett Griffith Ellis Lloyd-Jones Daniel O’Callaghan

Head of Design Sam Tilley

Deputy Head of Design Lottie Draycott

Graphics Editor

Ellie Hutchings

Copy Editors

Megan Newberry Amy Saunders Elle Speer

Write to the editor editor@gairrhydd.com editor @gairrhydd.com

At Gair Rhydd we take seriously our responsibility to maintain the highest possible standards. We may occasionally make mistakes, however if you believe we have fallen below the standards we seek to uphold, please email editor@gairrhydd.com. Opinions expressed in editorials and opinion pieces 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

COVID-19: As students return to Cardiff en masse, university during a pandemic will be very different. Source: Armonjones (via. Wikimedia Commons) Tirion Davies Editor-in-Chief

elcome to the first issue of the year! After a few months of us being online, Gair Rhydd is back in print! 2020 has been a bit strange for everyone and I’m sure many of us feel that way in particular ahead of the Autumn term. Starting university this year is undoubtedly a bizarre experience. Whether it’s your first year or your last, this year at Cardiff University will be unlike anything we’ve experienced before. We at Gair Rhydd have already experienced this; we went online back in April, and our new team have had to deal with starting a new position amidst wifi dropouts and crackling Zoom audios. Since Cardiff University moved to online study in March, many students quickly returned home. Now that most of us have returned ahead of the new academic year, it’s odd to see the city without its same exuberance. Cathays seems entirely untouched by the pandemic, but is also a stark contrast to the way it was just mere months ago, with students stumbling home in the early hours of the morning. As students return for the year ahead at the same moment that further restrictions are put in place and other

Welsh counties are put into local lockdown, Cardiff seems as though it’s on a permanent tightrope between being how it always was and finding its new normal. These are unprecedented times and this year will be unlike anything we’ve seen before. But it’s important to remember that whilst we’d all like to go to numerous events and enjoy ourselves in the traditional freshers’ way, we need to be vigilant of the ongoing pandemic. Although we may want to meet the friends we haven’t seen for a few months, we need to remember that the ‘rule of six’ is in place across Wales, limiting the number of people who can meet to six at a time, with social distancing measures encouraged continuously by the Government. It is also mandatory to wear a face covering in indoor spaces in Wales. It’s important that we enjoy ourselves over the coming months, whilst also ensuring we are following the Welsh Government guidelines to keep ourselves and the rest of the population safe. This week’s issue includes more information from our News desk about the changes being made to the guidelines in Wales, responses from students about COVID-19 in our Tafod section, and a Features piece on the response from students who were affected by the A Level U-turn from the Welsh and other UK Governments.

COVID-19: Wrth bod myfyrwyr yn ddychwelyd i Gaerdydd, bydd prifysgol yn ystod pandemig yn anghyfarwydd. Tarddiad:Armonjones (drwy Wikimedia Commons) Tirion Davies Prif Olygydd

roeso nol i rifyn cyntaf y flwyddyn! Ar ôl cyfnod o Gair Rhydd yn gweithio ar lein, rydym nôl yn brint! Mae 2020 wedi bod yn gyfnod hollol od i bob un ohonom ni, ac mae’n amlwg bod pawb yn teimlo hyn cyn dechrau’r tymor nesaf. Mae dechrau prifysgol eleni yn mynd i fod yn brofiad hollol gwahanol. Os mai hyn yw eich blwyddyn gyntaf yn y brifysgol, neu eich blwyddyn olaf, bydd profiad Prifysgol Caerdydd eleni yn annhebyg i unrhyw beth yr ydym wedi’i brofi o’r blaen. Rydym ni yn Gair Rhydd yn barod wedi profi cyfnod anodd; dechreuon ni weithio ar lein yn ystod mis Ebrill, ac oedd rhaid i’r tîm newydd ddelio gyda dechrau swyddi newydd ymysg rhyngrwyd araf a galwadau aflwyddiannus Zoom. Ers i’r brifysgol symud i ddysgu ar lein ym mis Mawrth, bu nifer o fyfyrwyr yn dychwelyd adref am y cyfnod. Nawr bod nifer ohonom wedi cyrraedd Caerdydd unwaith eto, mae’n teimlo fel nad oes gan y brifddinas yr un hen afiaith. Mae Cathays yn teimlo fel nad yw wedi’i heffeithio gan y pandemig, ond mae hefyd yn teimlo’n hollol wahanol i’r ffordd yr oedd hi’n arfer teimlo cwpwl o fisoedd yn ôl, gyda myfyrwyr yn cerdded adref wrth i’r haul codi y bore wedyn.

Wrth i fyfyrwyr ddychwelyd yr un adeg bod fwy o reoliadau’n cael eu rhoi yn eu lle gan Lywodraeth Cymru, mae Caerdydd yn teimlo braidd bod hi’n sefyll yng nghanol dau lwybr - ai aros fel yr oeddem lynedd, neu newid yn hollol i’r dyfodol? Mae’r cyfnod yma’n un hollol anghredadwy ond mae’n bwysig cofio er bod awydd gennym ni fynd allan a joio cyfnod y glas, mae’n rhaid bod yn effro am y pandemig. Er bydd well gan nifer ohonom ni dreulio amser gyda’r ffrindiau nad ydym wedi’i weld am fisoedd, mae’n rhaid bod yn ofalus a gwneud yn siŵr ein bod yn dilyn y ‘rheol chwech’ gan y Llywodraeth, sy’n cadw’r nifer o bobl allai cwrdd ar un cyfnod i chwech ar y tro. Yng Nghymru, mae hefyd yn orfodol gwisgo gorchudd wyneb tu fewn. Bwysig yw hi ein bod yn mwynhau dros y cyfnod nesaf, gan fod hi’n bwysig i bob un aros yn hapus, ond bwysicach byth yw hi ein bod yn dilyn rheoliadau Llywodraeth Cymru i gadw’r boblogaeth yn ddiogel a gwneud yn siŵr bod pob un yn iachus. Yn rhifyn yr wythnos hon, ceir fwy o wybodaeth am y newidiadau yn rheoliadau’r llywodraeth gan ein hadran newyddion, yn ogystal ag ymateb myfyrwyr i’r pandemig COVID-19 yn adran Taf-od, ac ymateb myfyrwyr newydd Prifysgol Caerdydd sydd wedi’u heffeithio gan y newidiadau Lefel A gan Lywodraeth Cymru a gweddill llywodraethau’r Deyrnas Unedig.

Dominic Williams News Editor

Cardiff Students’ Union: Students’ Union President Tomos Evans tells us of the changes being made to the way societies will run this year. Credit: Tehreem Sultan

Freshers’ and societies recruitment is there any news on how it will be running this year? “I think we are really emphasizing to societies, that society fairs should not be the “banking all of our money on it”. I think lots of societies are diverting a lot of diversity, energy, and impunity into making virtual activities so that if the freshers fairs don’t happen, they can offer the same sort of service to students. “I’m amazed at the creativity people to have, but yes, we’re trying our best currently and will keep you posted. ‘’ COVID-19 has undoubtedly affected life in all aspects, and University life is no different. Changes will have to be made to societies this year, but these challenges are being carefully examined by the SU and by the work of society leaders. Cardiff University has a wide range of societies, which are open to students starting university this September.

COVID-19 plastic impact could last forever

Warning that damage of single-use plastic during the COVID-19 pandemic could be catastrophic

Tirion Davies Editor-in-Chief

uring the COVID-19 pandemic, many changes were introduced when it came to safety measures, including banning the use of reusable cups, and introducing disposable face coverings. As plastic cups, gloves and disposable face coverings get dropped on to beaches and littered across cities, the head of The Plastic Research Centre of Wales at Bangor University noted that the damage of single-use plastic during the pandemic could “last forever”. What is now being called the Blue Planet effect was taking a step forward before the pandemic, with refill schemes and sustainable packaging introduced by the Welsh Gov-

ernment to reduce the environmental impact. Yet, during the pandemic, refill schemes were put on hold and more plastic was introduced to avoid the further spread of COVID-19. Although, this increase in the use of plastic is now being called a “back step” in the fight against pollution. According to a UK government report published in 2018, at least 2.5 billion coffee cups are thrown away each year in the UK. Following the ban of reusable cups by many coffee chains in March, July saw 119 experts from across the globe sign a statement, concluding reusable containers posed no threat to the public during the pandemic. Single-use face coverings have been found to have a significant impact on the environment. As these

face coverings are cheap to buy for the general public, the increased use has been seen nationwide. But many have noticed the constant littering of these masks. Clare Reed, of the Marine Conservation Society stated to the BBC, “if you drop a mask today it will remain in the environment for many, many years”. The Welsh Government stated it had promoted the responsible disposal of masks in campaigns, and always encouraged the population to use reusable, washable face coverings wherever possible. Although, while single-use plastic is damaging to the environment, it’s impact has already been felt and introducing further alternative systems with a different kind of PPE could be catastrophic for companies

who have already spent hundreds of pounds on plastic-based PPE to protect their staff. A Welsh Government spokesperson explained to the BBC, “There has been an increase in single-use items during the coronavirus pandemic and we are working with businesses to help reduce their environmental impact and to support recycled and reusable alternatives”. The impact of single-use plastics during the pandemic has already been damaging through the use of plastics and plastic-based items. But with plastic being an important tool in preventing the spread of the virus and saving lives, alternatives will need to be introduced to lessen the environmental impact of single-use plastic for a world postpandemic.

To contact our news desk, drop us an email at news@gairrhydd.com

terms of food court and the Taf will be running table service, like you’d see with establishments in town. We have a tested app where you can order food and have them delivered to you while being socially distanced.” Were you in any societies yourself and if so, how did this affect your university life? “I’ve been in Cardiff a while and this is my 5th year now. But I joined a couple of societies, with the main one being Upride, a society in my first year and I think societies really do make your time at university. “Getting involved in societies gave me a confidence that I’ve never had. I think coming to university can be so scary and even though I’d had older friends that had been to uni, it is really a completely different thing going to uni [than hearing about it] and I think getting involved in societies gave me a confidence that I never knew I was lacking.” Freshers Fair is a huge part of

NEWS

s the forthcoming academic year approaches, it’s important to remember societies are an integral part of University life. Cardiff University Students’ Union President Tomos Evans speaks to Gair Rhydd about how societies will work due to the impact of COVID-19. With COVID-19 massively affecting financial issues within the SU, will society budgets see cuts? ‘’Unfortunately, yes there will have to be society cuts and I think that’s reflected in the whole of society really; companies and organisations have had to make cuts to make do. It’s no surprise the [Students’] Union and the majority of our income for the Union comes from nighttime activities, pub nights and VK sales, so with everything that has happened with COVID and I think the situation we are in, [it] means that societies will have to have their budgets cut. “One of the reasons students get involved in societies is due to the learning opportunities, such as all those transferable skills. But students are creative and innovative, and I’m sure the majority of our students will be able to find new ways and innovative ways of engaging with their students on a slightly limited resource fund.’’ Have the right changes been made to accommodate new social distancing and COVID-19 rules? ‘’Safety is such a priority for us and we want to make sure when students come to Cardiff and to university in general they feel safe and protected on campus and we have a responsibility to do that.

“We’ve been working really closely following the government guidelines to make sure societies are acting in a safe way and it’s quite fortunate actually the Students’ Union has quite a large building so will be able to introduce one-way path systems, and that sort of thing to make sure students are protected and staying safe. “We’ve also got lots of different things we’ve changed around the Union to make sure students can socially distance whilst meeting up with flatmates and having a drink.’’ Has there been any more information on office-based societies and when they could possibly reenter their office spaces? “I wouldn’t want to necessarily say much about on what I’m anticipating, but I guess the only thing I can say is that we are following government guidelines closely to make sure things are safe but I think also the fact that things are potentially or majority virtualized I think that’s can be a benefit to lots of societies. “Societies can now engage with students who might have never got engaged before, distanced learners or students who are on a completely different timetable. I imagine a lot of the changes that have happened now will probably persist long after the pandemic has finished because it just allows you to get involved with a lot more people in a very different way.’’ What changes have been made within the Students’ Union for the upcoming academic year? “The number one thing is that we are encouraging students to do things virtually and also hoping some of the office based stuff can come back when things are eased off slightly. “In general, most of our activity in

NEWYDDION

The Cardiff University Students’ Union President speaks with Gair Rhydd about the future of societies

For more content, head to gairrhydd.com/news

An interview with Tomos Evans

Your news desk Zoe Kramer Dominic Williams Luthien Evans Sam Portillo

NEWS

‘Student Festival Fortnight’ brings student deals to St David’s Luthien Evans News Editor

t David’s is set to hold an extended two-week sale event for students, similar to events held by the shopping centre in previous years. This year’s ‘Student Festival Fortnight’ will be held from September 21 to October 4 for students from across the city. Students will be able to save up to 20% on shopping and dining experiences at the shopping centre. The event, which in previous years has spanned a single day, has been extended to comply with Welsh Government guidelines which have recently been tightened to combat the rise in positive coronavirus cases across Wales. Adjustments have been made by St David’s to allow for proper social distancing measures, as well as accommodating the staggered return of students over the coming weeks ahead of the start of the Autumn term. The aim of the event is to allow for students to feel ‘sorted and organised for the start of term’, according to the St David’s website. This is made possible with sales across clothes, technology and food stores, with prices slashed for students that sign up on the St David’s website. Proof is needed of student ID from the online signup before the discounts can be accepted in store over the two-week period of the sale. Many of St David’s stores are getting involved. Clothing stores from The North Face to Victoria’s Secret are offering 20% off instore, with multiple stores offering varying discounts for those eligible. Restaurants are also getting involved, with Wahaca offering 20% discounts on meals, whilst Shake Shack are offering a buy one get one free meal deal. Once registered online, students are able to recieve discounts from stores across St David’s and will be automatically included in the prize draw. The ‘Survival Bundle’ includes prizes varying from Wagamama £15 vouchers to £100 John Lewis gift cards. As the Festival has been formed with COVID-19 precautions in mind, students will be able to shop on a budget, collecting the deals safely.

Shopping: St David’s shopping centre in Cardiff. Source: Seth Whales (via Wikimedia Commons)

Clwb Ifor Bach closes its doors due to COVID-19 The decision follows changes to Welsh Government guidelines

Tirion Davies Editor-in-Chief

lwb Ifor Bach, the Live music venue and nightclub on Cardiff ’s Womanby Street announced on September 22 that it will close its doors indefinitely. The club, known by many as ‘Welsh Club’ because of its work with Welsh music artists and its appreciation of Welsh culture, was established in 1983 and has been a musical focal point in Cardiff since it first opened. Its mural by Mark James in celebration of Welsh singer Gwenno Saunders’ album ‘Y Dydd Olaf ’ is known by many across the city, and Clwb Ifor Bach was expected to receive many visitors following the easing of lockdown restrictions in August. Yet, since the recent announcements made by the Welsh Government regarding further restrictions due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the nightclub has decided to close for the forseable future. The new guidelines enforce a 10pm curfew on pubs and bars across Wales, and implemented the ‘rule of six’, meaning that patrons at bars, pubs and restaurants would be unable to congregate in groups of more than six, limiting the amount of capacity some establishments

may have. Clwb Ifor Bach, as with many pubs and clubs in Cardiff, were able to reopen in August for seating capacity, in compliance with Welsh Government guidelines. The club gave a statement on their social media pages, announcing, “we have unfortunately taken the difficult decision to close our doors once again. Although we are

confident the measures we have in place provide a safe and welcoming environment, the additional staffing costs associated with running a venue in line with the current guidelines coupled with the new restrictions on opening hours mean that it is no longer financially viable for us to remain open”. Clwb Ifor Bach confirmed that the closure would be temporary and

Clwb Ifor Bach: The club, with its distinctive mural, will close due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Source: Llywelyn2000 (via Wikimedia Commons)

thanked the customers who had returned to the venue before its recent closure, but highlighted the “crisis” the events industry has faced since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since it was established, Clwb Ifor Bach has hosted numerous music stars, and prides itself on having been “an early platform for some of the biggest names in music today”. Such artists as the Stereophonics, George Ezra, Mark Ronson, Catfish & the Bottlemen, Foals and Coldplay have played at the venue over the years, with up-and-coming acts booking the club as its Welsh venue during tours across the UK. The temporary closure of Clwb Ifor Bach is not the first club in Cardiff to close since the COVID-19 pandemic began, but it one of few which has chosen to close voluntarily due to monetary reasons. Despite the setback, the club is optimistic it will reopen in a better position once the threat of the global pandemic has significantly lessened. With live shows lined up for 2021 and bands already booked for gigs, there is an expectation that Clwb Ifor Bach will eventually reopen at a later date, though it’s unlikely it will be soon given the current rate of COVID-19 cases in Wales.

23 Cardiff schools record cases of COVID-19 Schools across Cardiff have recorded positive cases of COVID-19 in September since the reopening of schools

Sam Portillo News Editor

uring September, following the mass reopening of schools across Wales, Public Health Wales has announced that 23 schools across Cardiff have recorded cases of COVID-19. Infected staff and students were ordered to self-isolate at home for fourteen days, complying with Welsh Government guidelines, in addition to individuals who were in close and prolonged proximity with those infected based on a track and trace system. The two-week order covers the COVID-19 incubation period, so if people have not developed symptoms within that time, they are allowed to return to school and usual life. The incubation period is a requirement, and is aimed at halting the spread of COVID-19 to further, more vulnerable parties. Cardiff recorded 136 cases of COVID-19 from 14th to 20th September, an increase of 70 cases in comparison to the previous week. During this period, Cardiff had a positive test proportion of 5.7%, higher than the Welsh average. The Public Health Wales data from September 23 noted Cardiff had a positive proportion of 5.4%, lower than the previous Cardiff average, but higher than the Welsh positive proportion average of 4.5%.

Mount Stuart Primary School: The primary school noted that 60 pupils and 9 staff members were told to self-isolate after an incident. Source: Srsval (via Wikimedia Commons)

It is believed the return of students and staff to school environments and university students moving into shared accommodation have contributed towards this rise in numbers of the past few weeks which have lead to the lockdown of numerous Welsh counties. Welsh Health Minister Vaughan Gething reassured parents at the start of the month, reminding them that children are relatively safe from the disease and that they should continue sending their children to school. Mr Gething expressed, “Children and young people are much less likely to suffer harm and they are much less

likely to spread coronavirus as well. This is in direct contrast to the flu” There was much discussion regarding sending children back to schools before the announcement was made by the Welsh Government on July 9. Although children are relatively safe from the virus, they are more likely to infect more vulnerable members of society. Rather than “locking down” entire schools, the Welsh Government has told that it trusts the schools to keep a record of class groups, so only those who have been in prolonged proximity with the infected person might need to self-isolate.

At Mount Stuart Primary in Cardiff Bay, for example, 60 pupils and 9 staff members were ordered to stay at home after a single Year 1 pupil tested positive for the virus. If they are well enough to do work, self-isolating staff and pupils can make use of online learning technologies like Microsoft Teams and educational websites to complete work from home. With Cardiff now following its neighbouring counties and going under local lockdown, it remains to be seen whether the measures implemented will be enough to ensure that the children of Cardiff remain sage from COVID-19.

Got questions about Academic We Issues? visited Student Advice cardiffstudents.com/advice

ARCHWILIO

The A-Levels Exam Fiasco: Ofqual’s Discriminatory Algorithm I n this month’s feature, Gair Rhydd looks into the unprecedented COVID-19 related challenges faced by the education system responsible for the future of thousands of students in the UK. This feature will shed light on the grade-awarding algorithm that was established by both the Department of Education and the grade regulator Ofqual. The algorithm prompted chaos and protests nationwide due to the allegations of class-divide and it being an unfair method for distributing grades that did not take into account a student’s hard work or intellectual ability. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the entire world order has shifted, forcing individuals to follow social distancing and forcing individuals to switch to virtual teaching and work options. This included cancelling all secondary school examinations. Therefore, on a very short notice, an alternative method was implemented; to prevent any grade inflation based on teachers’ predicted grades, a standardized algorithm was introduced in June 2020, determining the students’

grades using a combination of their predicted grades and previous exam performance by the school or college. As revealed by the 319 page report released by Ofqual, 39.1% of 700,000 teacher-graded assessments were lowered by at least one grade, compared with only 2.2% of assessments which were upgraded. Furthermore 3.3% were dropped by two grades and 0.2% were downgraded by three grades. Directly having an impact on university choices and decisions, UCAS revealed that 15,000 students were rejected by their firstchoice university with their algorithm generated grades. Causing havoc in all four countries of the United Kingdom, this now-infamous algorithm was severely criticized, which eventually led to a number of U-turns; the most prominent being that A-level results will now be based on teachers’ predicted grades rather than the results predicted by Ofqual’s controversial algorithm. In this piece, Gair Rhydd will speak to various students based in England and Wales who suffered as a result of the algorithm, while shedding light onto a more important issue; the im-

Protestors: A-Levels student protests were held nationwide after the algorithm downgraded 39% of students results across England and Wales. Credit: Wiliam Rees

pact of downgraded grades on the minority and disabled students. Furthermore, we spoke to a clearing call

To contact our features desk, drop us an email at features@gairrhydd.com

FEATURE

The Discriminatory Algorithm

Feature this week by Tehreem Sultan

Pkj = (1-rj)Ckj + rj(Ckj + qkj - pkj) Judge Our Potential Not Our Postcode

o further understand the impact of the algorithm, Gair Rhydd has evaluated and broken down its impact on the most affected schools and specific targeted pupil groups. As the variables in the formula indicate, this algorithm was dependent on the cohort size, the school, and its historical performance over the past few years. As exposed by the detailed analysis of Ofqual’s report, the exams regulator found 48.6% of private school pupils attained an A* or A this year – an increase of 4.7%. In comparison, secondary schools saw an increase of just 2%, from 19.8% to 21.8%. Since this formula varied for larger schools, those usually containing classes of greater than 15 students, and smaller schools, it resulted in a clear distinction of grades awarded to different colleges, after taking into account the school and the school’s historical exam performances. Pupils at smaller schools, or those taking more niche subjects offered at private schools, saw a pattern of Ofqual resorting to awarding centre assessed grades (predicted grades) rather than using the algorithm to generate grades. This was in striking contrast to large state schools and sixth-form colleges, some of which have a history of educating more BAME students, who saw their results downgraded as a result of the unfair application of the algorithm.

Igniting an uproar amongst students, teachers and schools, protests were held as students argued the system was unfair and had not done justice to their individual efforts. This led to a rising pressure on both the Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson, and the Welsh Education Minister, Kirsty Williams, who were now forced to fix the exam fiasco. As more and more stories about alleged algorithm injustices came out, the government was forced into making the unavoidable U-turn of allowing the teachers assessed grades to stand rather than the grades created as a result of the algorithm.

Ofqual stated “this moderation was essential to create a level playing [field] for students. Without it, A-level grades would have increased by 12% in a single year”

agent working at Cardiff University, who saw the situation on results day in the UK first hand.

The variables

n : number of pupils in the subject k : a specific grade j : indicates the school Ckj : the historical grade distribution of grade at the school

Gair Rhydd speaks to Kelsey Trevett

One of the fortunate students whose grades matched the teachers predictions.

hile approximately 39% of students’ grades got downgraded as Ofqual stated, Gair Rhydd spoke to one of the fortunate students whose grades matched the teachers predictions. Kelsey Trevett, a former student at the Royal National College of the Blind, now will be joining Oxford University as a result of his achieved A-level grades. “As results day rolled over closer, it was a huge relief to find out my grades were what I was hoping for. After hearing about the 125,000 downgraded results in Scotland, we all were aware of the unfair algorithm, and although suspected, we were not certain of whether our grades would change. “In my eyes this algorithm was a complete disaster; considering it was based on variable factors including school post-codes, academic history of students over the past years, and a variety of other factors to award grades to current pupils. “Clearly the higher achieving grades came from upper class post-codes, since those schools had a better result history, the biased algorithm seemed to follow, and therefore leading to bigger cohort schools being unnecessarily, completely and unfairly downgraded. “The advantage that smaller class sizes received better grades, in fact did work out for me, since

I studied at a residential specialist college. Though I was very lucky does not mean I will not speak about the negative impacts and the disadvantages to specific groups of individuals targeted; and I will help advocate for those who were affected by this.” Kelsey also thinks BAME and disabled students are usually underestimated. “As a disabled student, I really get worried about students like me sitting external examinations, GCSE’s and A-levels. The algorithm just further pushes students down. “Underestimation for us really exists, and it is quite unfortunate.”

“ I worry students from BAME and disabled backgrounds are at a greater risk with this algorithm. This will affect their life opportunities going forward”

ARCHWILIO

Gair Rhydd Interviews Cardiff Clearing Office

Gair Rhydd spoke to a clearing call agent, who has been working in the clearing office for Cardiff University for the past four years, and describes feeling “utterly helpless” for the students.

sen Kupeli found that this year, the number of calls the clearing authorities office received was much greater in comparison to the previous years since students have “failed to achieve their grades”. “I remember in the morning thinking, this isn’t a usual clearing shift.... I hadn’t heard about this algorithm yet. I researched it, along with my colleagues, and found out more about it. We were all fuming. The whole experience was frustrating because we genuinely felt so bad for all the students, we were infuriated at the government and the whole situation, but we couldn’t do anything about it, and felt helpless. “I had students on the phone who couldn’t afford to appeal. Who were predicted As, who were from families with no history of higher education. These students were to be the first generation to get that higher education which is so readily welcome and available to those from higher socioeconomic backgrounds. This classist, elitist algorithm messed these kids up. “These students were stuck with grades that had been nonchalantly handed to them without a second thought as to the impact this will have on their future. My heart would genuinely break every time I had to reject such students. Honestly, the tone and mood in the clearing room was solemn over the first two/three

days. When the algorithm was retracted and students were awarded their centre assessed grades, the phone lines went mad “We were somewhat unprepared but all the callers worked extremely hard and got through all the calls. When I came in the next morning, the atmosphere had shifted to a lot more bright and hopeful - we were eager to hand out offers. The only problem was that most spaces on courses had been filled up, so we didn’t even have a lot of offers to give out. Whenever we did, we’d celebrate, it’d make our day almost as much as the students’.

“The students were stuck with grades that had been nonchalantly handed to them without a second thought as to the impact this will have... my heart would genuinely break every time I had to reject such students.”

Gair Rhydd asked students to summarize their results experience and the algorithm in three words. Credit: Tehreem Sultan

Impact on students coming to Cardiff University

air Rhydd spoke to Jemima Coleman, looking forward to joining Cardiff University this September. Coleman describes the situation as feeling quite confident, due to her close friend’s results which came before hers, and she had achieved straight A*’s in the similar subjects they both have worked on together for the past years. “We came out with nearly identical GCSE results and were on track to be getting very similar grades at A-Level, with As and A*s being predicted for us. But when it came to college, I went to Steyning Sixth Form College, and she went to St Philip Howard Catholic High School. Whilst this isn’t a private college, it is held in high esteem by the surrounding areas and is a much more upper class institution.” “When I received my results later in the afternoon, nothing went according to my expectations and was downgraded to ABBC from expecting straight A’s. I swore. I cried. I panicked. Not only had I lost my entry requirements, I had also missed my Academic Scholarship. Nonetheless, I was shaking and couldn’t see, but I managed to log onto UCAS Track and see that my place had still been confirmed at the University. ‘Overwhelmed’ is an understatement. I was so incredibly relieved.” “When the relief subsided, my

emotions quickly turned to anger. I submitted an appeal based on my higher mock grades. However, then came the centre assessed grades (CAG) announcement which were sadly too late for many. After such a long wait, people who had otherwise got their University place with their CAGs had by now found places through clearing. “For a lot of colleges, the TAGs were the same as the CAGs; the

teachers submitted a grade for a student and it was submitted by the college to the exam board, unaltered. However, my college interfered with these grades before they were even sent to the exam board. My maths teachers actually assigned me a grade A, but leadership at the school - staff that had never taught me nor interacted with me on an academic level - decided to take my grade and move it down.”

“I wasn’t going to give up here. I wanted the grades that the school had taken from me, and I wanted needed - the scholarship. I phoned OFQUAL, and I phoned Pearson, and I still have not heard back from the exam board. The deadline for my grade to be amended so I can be considered for the bursary is the 31st October. Time is running out.” “One of my friends lost her university place, and is forced to

repeat Year 13.” Feeling that a great injustice had been done, I also wrote a letter to my local MP, Andrew Griffith, and I have not heard anything back from him or his office either. I feel that due to coming from an underprivileged background, I already have to work harder to reach the level of my more privileged peers, and now I feel like I have been setback even further, and it’s not fair.”

Freshers: Despite the downgraded grades and the algorithm, students will be joining Cardiff University in September. Credit: Tehreem Sultan

taf od

Barn y Bobol

Wedi i nifer o siroedd Cymru fynd mewn i gyfnod clo lleol gyda Caerdydd i ddilyn yn fuan gyda cyfnod o chwech mis o’n flaenau, Taf-od sydd yn gofyn a fydd Cymru a Phrydain yn mynd i gyfnod clo cenedlaethol arall eleni?

Daniel O’Callaghan

Myfyriwr trydedd flwyddyn, Cymraeg a Cherdd Gyda’r gaeaf yn agosáu gan greu amgylchedd delfrydol i’r coronafeirws, dwi’n credu bod cyfnod clo arall yn anochel. Wedi dweud hynny, annhebygol iawn y bydd y cyfnod clo nesaf yn unfath â’r un a gawsom yn y gwanwyn. Ni fydd yr economi- ar sail Cymru a Phrydain - yn gallu ymdopi gyda’r un ergyd eto. Felly, y ffordd ymlaen yw dilyn canllawiau’r cyfnodau clo lleol (RCT ayb.), ond ar raddfa genedlaethol. Mae achosion ardaloedd a siroedd yn newid yn rhy aml i droi at gyfnodau clo lleol o hyd.

Nansi Eccott

Myfyrwraig flwyddyn gyntaf, Cymraeg a’r Gyfraith Mae’n angenrheidiol, yn fy marn i, fod llywodraethau’r wlad yn cyflwyno mesurau llymach na’r rhai sydd eisoes mewn lle er mwyn ceisio atal coronafeirws rhag lledaenu. Credaf mai cyfyngiadau lleol yw’r ffordd ymlaen ac ni allwn fforddio rhoi cyfyngiadau symud gwbl genedlaethol mewn grym oherwydd effeithiau ar yr economi ac iechyd meddwl trigolion Cymru a’r DU. Rhaid ceisio sicrhau bod y gwasanaeth profion coronafeirws yn rhedeg mor effeithiol â phosib cyn troi at ‘lockdown’ cenedlaethol fel y gobaith olaf.

Siwan Mason

Myfyrwraig ail flwyddyn Cymraeg a Newyddiaduraeth O weld effaith andwyol y coronafeirws dros y misoedd diwethaf ar yr economi ac yn gymdeithasol, byddai cael ail gyfnod clo yng Nghymru a gweddill y DU dros fisoedd y gaeaf yn sialens heriol, yn enwedig wrth ystyried bod tymor y ffliw yn agosáu, ac ein bod bellach yn wynebu tirwasgiad. Yn sicr ni fydd swyn y Nadolig yr un mor hudol y flwyddyn hon, a bydd y geiriau “social distancing” a “self-isolation” yn rhan o’n hiaith bob dydd am sbelan eto.

Yr unig gyhoeddiad myfyrwyr wythnosol trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg. Sefydlwyd: 2003 Am fwy o gynnwys, ewch i gairrhydd.com/tafod

Eich hadran taf-od Aled Biston Annell Dyfri Catrin Lewis Nel Richards Alaw Fflur Jones tafod@gairrhydd.com

NEWYDDION

Arlwy Cyfrwng Cymraeg Prifysgol Caerdydd

Gyda blwyddyn academaidd arall ar droed, dyma gyfle i chi bori drwy arlwy cyfrwng Cymraeg Prifysgol Caerdydd Annell Dyfri

Golygydd Taf-od

yda blwyddyn academaidd arall ar droed, dyma gyfle i chi bori drwy arlwy cyfrwng Cymraeg Prifysgol Caerdydd. Er bod newidiadau wedi digwydd i bob cymdeithas yn sgil y coronafeirws, maent oll yn parhau i weithio’n galed er mwyn sicrhau bod yr ethos Gymreig a Chymraeg yn parhau yn y brif-ddinas a bod myfyrwyr newydd yn teimlo’n gartrefol yn ein plith. Canolbwynt cymdeithasu cyfrwng Cymraeg y brif-ddinas yw’r Gymdeithas Gymraeg neu’r ‘Gym Gym’ fel mae’r myfyrwyr yn ei galw. Martha Owen yw’r Llywydd am y flwyddyn academaidd i ddod a dyma yw ei gweledigaeth ar gyfer y gymdeithas eleni. ‘Mae’r GymGym yn edrych ymlaen i groesawu aelodau newydd a’n haelodau presennol i Gaerdydd flwyddyn yma. Yn amlwg, bydd ein digwyddiadau yn gorfod newid ychydig ond rydym yn ceisio sicrhau fod digon o gyfleoedd i fyfyrwyr Cymraeg Caerdydd gymdeithasu, boed hynny wyneb yn wyneb, neu yn rhithiol.’ Gallwch ddilyn bwrlwm GymGym Caerdydd wrth ymuno â’r grŵp Facebook YGymGym. Yn ogystal â’r ochr gymdeithasol, mae’r Gym Gym yn cynnwys sawl tîm

chwaraeon gwahanol. Nedw Clwyd yw capten y tîm pêl-droed, Owain ap Myrddin yw capten y tîm rygbi a Dionne Morris yw capten y tîm pêl-rwyd eleni. Mae croeso mawr i unrhyw un ymuno â’r timau a gobeithio y bydd modd i Gaerdydd sicrhau buddugoliaeth unwaith eto yn adran chwaraeon yr Eisteddfod Ryng-golegol fis Mawrth. Dyma le mae modd i fyfyrwyr greu cynnwys cyfrwng Cymraeg, boed yn olygu i Taf-od, Gair Rhydd, cynhyrchu a chyflwyno fideos ar CUTV neu greu bodlediad neu sioe radio ar Xpress Radio sef gorsaf radio’r brifysgol. Sara Dylan yw pennaeth cynnwys Cymraeg Xpress radio. Wrth iddi gychwyn ei hail flwyddyn yn y brifysgol, nododd, ‘Yn sicr, ‘dwi’n edrych ymlaen yn awchus at y flwyddyn sydd i ddod, er wrth gwrs fydd yr amgylchiadau ychydig yn wahanol i’r arfer. I’r rheiny sy’n penderfynu dilyn gradd mewn meddygaeth, Clwb y Mynydd Bychan yw’r gymdeithas i chi. Clwb sy’n cefnogi astudio meddygaeth drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd. Llywydd y clwb am y flwyddyn academaidd i ddod ydy Megan Evans. Nododd Megan mai ‘Cymdeithas sydd yn ceisio annog y defnydd o’r iaith Gymraeg o fewn y byd meddygol’ yw Clwb y Mynydd Bychan. Ychwanegodd bod y clwb yn ‘uno myfyrywyr Cymraeg

Cymraeg yn y brifygol: Mae yna nifer o gyfleuoedd i glasfyfyrwyr eleni. Tarddiad: Colin Smith (drwy Geograph) meddygol mewn amryw o weithgareddau academaidd a chymdeithasol’. Os ydych am ymuno â’r criw, ymunwch â grŵp Facebook ‘Clwb y Mynydd Bychan’. Gydag Aelwyd y Waun Ddyfal yn cyfrannu ac yn llwyddo’n flynyddol yn yr Eisteddfod, mae croeso mawr i’r criw nesaf o fyfyrwyr ymuno. Cadeirydd newydd yr aelwyd eleni yw Elen Lois

Jones. Nododd ‘Gan fod taw wedi bod ar y canu ers sbel - dim Eisteddfod yr Urdd na’r Genedlaethol eleni - rydym ni fel Aelwyd y Waun Ddyfal yn edrych ymlaen i roi’r ffidil yn y to ar ganu rhithiol, a phan yn saff fod gyda’n gilydd, aelodau hen a newydd i ganu, llefaru ac ymlwybro draw i’r Pyb Clyb wythnosol!’. Ymunwch â grŵp Côr Aelwyd y Waun Ddyfal ar Facebook’ a Twitter.

DIWYLLIANT

Gwaith yn cychwyn i amddiffyn wal Tryweryn

Wedi i’r wal gael ei fandaleiddio sawl gwaith dros y blynyddoedd mae gwaith wedi cychwyn i’w hadfer a’i hamddiffyn Catrin Lewis Golygydd Taf-od

rs i’r awdur a newyddiadurwr Meic Stephens baentio’r enwog eiriau ar ochr fwthyn yn y 60au, mae’r geiriau Cofiwch Dryweryn wedi dod yn symbol o wladgarwch a Chymreictod i sawl un. Nid anghyffredin yw gweld y geiriau yn ystod gorymdaith dros annibyniaeth i Gymru neu ychwaith wedi eu paentio ar waliau amrywiol ar draws y wlad. Fodd bynnag, mae’r wal hefyd wedi bod yn destun fandaliaeth dros y blynyddoedd. Mae’r wal, sydd wedi ei lleoli yn Llanrhystud, yn gofeb i Gapel Celyn sef pentref ger y Bala a foddwyd er mwyn creu cronfa ddŵr i drigolion Lerpwl yn 1965. Ym mis Chwefror 2019, cafodd y gair Elvis ei baentio dros y slogan gwreiddiol. Cafodd y wal ei hadfer o fewn 24 awr yn dilyn sawl un yn amlygu eu teimladau dros y digwyddiad ar gyfryngau cymdeithasol. Ddeufis yn ddiweddarach paentiwyd y llythrennau AGARI ar y wal ac wedi iddi gael ei hadfer unwaith eto, chwalwyd rhan o’r wal. Bwriadol oedd y fanda-

liaeth hon mwy na thebyg ond aeth criw o bobl ati i sicrhau bod y wal yn cael ei hailadeiladu’r un diwrnod. Wedi’r fandaliaeth daeth y slogan yn ddelwedd fwy amlwg ar draws y genedl. Mae bellach modd dod o hyd i ryw fersiwn o’r geiriau wedi eu chwistrellu ar waliau ac adeiladau drwy yrru heibio sawl pentref neu dref yng Nghymru. Fis Mehefin 2020 oedd y fandaliaeth ddiweddaraf pan baentiwyd y symbol pŵer gwyn a swastica ar y gofeb. Yn ystod y cyfnod yma, roedd protestiadau gwrth-hiliaeth yn digwydd mewn dinasoedd ledled y byd wedi llofruddiaeth George Floyd. Yn amlwg, dangosodd pobl eu gwylltineb bod y symbol hiliol wedi ei phaentio ar y gofeb ar gyfryngau cymdeithasol a galwodd sawl un bod rhywbeth yn cael ei wneud i amddiffyn y wal. Ar y pryd disgrifiodd Elin Jones, AS Ceredigion, y fandaliaeth fel rhywbeth ‘sinistr a pheryglys’ ac anogodd hi bobl i gysylltu â’r heddlu os oedd ganddynt unrhyw wybodaeth. Cymharodd sawl un y wal â murlun Banksy ym Mhort Talbot. Mae’r cyngor lleol wedi bod yn ariannu amddiffyniad y murlun ond ni chafodd unrhyw beth ei wneud i amddiffyn

Hanes hanfodol: Ar ôl cael ei fandaleiddio dros y blynyddoedd mae gwaith wedi cychwyn i amddiffyn wal Tryweryn. Tarddiad: Ceri Thomas (trwy Geograph) cofeb Tryweryn nes yn ddiweddar. Mae llystyfiant marw o amgylch y wal Cychwynnodd y gwaith i adfer ac wedi cael ei dynnu, hefyd, disodlwyd amddiffyn y wal yn ystod y drydedd gan wrychoedd newydd. wythnos o Fedi a disgrifiodd Elin Jones Yn gyffredinol, mae’r ymateb i’r y gwaith fel cyffrous a dywedodd: gwaith wedi bod yn bositif. Mae’r art‘Rydym yn falch bod yr arbenigwr ist Rwth Jên o Aberystwyth wedi cylleol, Nathan Goss, yn goruchwylio’r tuno i ail baentio’r wal ar ôl i’r gwaith gwaith a bod contractwyr lle- gael ei gwblhau. ol, sy’n gyfarwydd â’r maes trefY gobaith yw na fydd angen rhoi gortadaeth, yn ymgymryd y dasg”. chudd plastig ar y wal gan na fydd yn Fel rhan o’r gwaith bydd y wal yn cael ei ddifrodi eto. cael ei chodi’n uwch gan ddefnyddio’r Dim ond amser all dweud a fydd y cerrig sydd wedi disgyn o’r ardal dros gwaith i amddiffyn y wal yn llwyddiany blynyddoedd oherwydd difrod dŵr. nus neu beidio.

TAF-OD Enillwyr Newyddiaduraeth Gymraeg Orau - Gwobrau SPA Cymru 2019

Aelodaeth mudiad YesCymru yn cyrraedd 7,000

Pryd o Daf-od

Cyd-olygydd Taf-od, Annell Dyfri, sydd yn trafod effaith COVID-19 ar chwaraeon yn y brifysgol, a’i phrofiadau hi ym maes chwaraeon.

yda miloedd yn heidio yn ôl i’r brifysgol neu’n cychwyn ar daith yno yn ystod yr wythnosau nesaf, bydd un elfen amlwg o fywyd myfyrwyr yn absennol o’r arlwy eleni – chwaraeon.

Trafod gyda’r

taf-od

Mae chwaraeon yn chwarae rôl greiddiol ym mywyd llwyth o fyfyrwyr yn y brifysgol. I rai, parhau i hyfforddi a chyrraedd safon benodol yw’r nod, ond i eraill manteisio ar y cyfle i gymdeithasu ac i roi cynnig ar gamp wahanol yw eu bri. Yn bersonol, roedd yn gam naturiol i mi ymuno â thîmau chwaraeon yn y brifysgol y llynedd. Dw i wedi mwynhau chwaraeon erioed ac felly roedd yn benderfyniad pwysig i barhau gyda’r campau hynny yng Nghaerdydd sef nofio, hoci a phêl-rwyd.

Gwahanol chwaraeon yn derbyn gwahanol ymdriniaeth:

Gyda phob camp yn cynnwys nodweddion a rheolau gwahanol, mae’r aflwydd yn effeithio ar rai campau’n fwy na’i gilydd. Yn dibynnu ar sut mae’r gamp yn cael ei chwarae, mae modd parhau gyda rhai e.e. tenis neu fadminton gan fod modd cynnal a chadw at y rheolau ymbellhau cymdeithasol wrth chwarae. Yn yr un modd, mai pyllau nofio wedi ail agor ers wythnosau bellach gan alluogi nofwyr i ail-gydio yn eu

hyfforddi. Yn dilyn y penderfyniad yma, dw i’n teimlo’n lwcus mai nofio yw fy mhrif gamp ac o ganlyniad fy mod wedi medru dychwelyd i’r drefn o hyfforddi’n gyson wedi misoedd o nofio yn y môr. Er fy mod wedi gallu dychwelyd, rhaid nodi nad yw’r profiad yr un fath wrth i ni orfod dilyn rheolau llym a chyfyngiadau amser. Er hyn, yn amlwg nid yw hi’r un mor rhwydd i dîmau chwaraeon sy’n cynnwys cyswllt ailgydio yn eu campau e.e. rygbi, pêl rwyd, pêl droed ac ati. Ond wedi dweud hyn, mae llawer iawn o dîmau’r Brifysgol wedi mynd ati i gynllunio a cheisio addasu’r modd y mae myfyrwyr yn hyfforddi er mwyn sicrhau eu bod yn medru parhau i fwynhau’r campau o ryw fath wrth ddilyn canllawiau Llywodraeth Cymru. Enghraifft o’r addasiad yma yw cynnal sesiynau ffitrwydd yn hytrach na chwarae gêm gystadleuol. Er bod cynnal sesiynau ffitrwydd yn well na dim, ac yn gyfle i’r glasfyfyrwyr ymuno, nid wyf yn gweld y byddwn yn medru cael hyfforddiant

Yn Trafod gyda’r Taf-od wythnos yma mae...

Steffan Leonard

1. Pwy wyt ti a beth wyt ti’n astudio? Fi yw Steff a dwi’n astudio Cymraeg a Newyddiaduraeth. 2. Beth yw’r digwyddiad sy’n codi’r mwyaf o embaras arnat? Gwneud ffŵl o’n hunan o flaen un o chwaraewyr rygbi Cymru! 3. Beth oedd dy air cyntaf?

8. Prosecco neu champagne? Champagne achos ei fod e’n swnio’n fwy soffistigedig! 9. Beth oedd y diwrnod gorau iti ei gael erioed? Gwylio Cymru yn curo Gwlad Belg yn Ewro 2016.

Fydden i’n hoffi meddwl mai Wales. Gollf. Madrid oedd rhai o fy ngeiriau cyntaf.

10. Beth yw dy gas beth?

4. Pe fyddet ti ar yr X-Factor, pa gân byddet ti’n ei chanu a pham?

11. Beth fyddet ti’n gwneud yn ystod dy noson ddelfrydol?

‘Belter’ gan Gerry Cinnamon achos ma fe’n tiwn.

Noson yn gwylio’r pêl -droed.

5. Beth fyddet ti’n ei archebu o’r bwyty Indiaidd lleol? Chicken bhuna, lamb bhuna, and prawn bhuna, mushroom ricebag of chips, keema naan a 9 poppadom. 6. Pwy oeddet ti’n ffansio pan oeddet ti’n iau? Un o’r Spice Girls... 7. Pwy yw dy hoff fand/artist? Fleur de Lys.

Pobl yn bwyta’n flêr.

Crwydro’r Llethrau: Steffan yn joio ar ei wyliau sgio. Tarddiad: Steffan Leonard

12. Pe taset ti’n gallu bod yn unrhyw anifail am ddiwrnod, pa un fyddet ti’n dewis, a pham? Rhyw fath o aderyn, oherwydd eu bod nhw’n hedfan. 13. Disgrifia dy hun mewn 3 gair.

Aled Biston Golygydd Taf-od

cyflawn am amser hir yn anffodus. Amser a ddengys.

Cymdeithasu:

Er bod yr hyfforddi yn rhan fawr o fywyd unrhyw dîm chwaraeon, mae’r dimensiwn cymdeithasol yn rhan allweddol ohono hefyd – yn enwedig yn y brifysgol. Yn anffodus, ni fydd modd cynnal na mynychu nosweithiau allan gyda’n tîmau chwaraeon yn yr undeb mewn gwisg ffansi fel y norm yn y dyfodol agos. Gellid dadlau y bydd y rhwystredigaethau a ddaw yn sgil yr anallu i gymdeithasu yn fwy na’r rhwystredigaethau o fethu â chwarae gêmau cystadleuol. Wedi’r cwbl, mae’r ochr gymdeithasol yn cynnwys y chwaraewyr a’u cefnogwyr (ac unrhyw un arall o ran hynny) ac yn cynnig llwyfan i bawb ddod i adnabod ei gilydd mewn awyrgylch cyfeillgar ac anffurfiol. Dyna ni, dyna’r sefyllfa sy’n ein hwynebu heddiw. Rhaid ufuddhau I’r drefn gan obeithio y cawn ddychwelyd i gystadlu, hyfforddi a chymdeithasu gyda’n tîmau chwaraeon yn y dyfodol agos.

ae mudiad dros annibyniaeth i Gymru, YesCymru, wedi cyrraedd 7,000 o aelodau mis yma. Gwelwyd cynnydd syfrdanol i’r mudiad ers dechrau’r cyfnod clo, roedd YesCymru wedi cyrraedd 6,000 o aelodau ym mis Awst. Ond pam bod yna gynnydd syfrdanol yn y misoedd diwethaf? Yn ôl polau gan YouGov, mae nifer o’r Cymry yn meddwl bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gwneud swydd well wrth ddelio gyda phandemig COVID-19 o gymharu â Llywodraeth Prydain. Dros mwyafrif y cyfnod clo, mae Cymru wedi llwyddo i gadw ‘R rate’ y wlad o dan un, o gymharu gyda Lloegr sydd gyda chyfradd dros un am ran fwyaf o’r cyfnod clo. Dechreuodd Mark Drakeford a’i lywodraeth symud i ffwrdd o ddilyn yr hyn roedd Boris Johnson a’i lywodraeth ef yn dweud, gan ddewis cyfyngiadau ei hun oedd yn siwtio Cymru yn well na Loegr. Gyda Chymru yn estyn y cyfnod clo yn hirach na Lloegr, penderfynu ar gyfyngiadau ei hun a chymryd rheolaeth o faterion ei hun yn ystod y pandemig, roedd llawer o bobl Cymru yn sylweddoli bod Llywodraeth Llafur Cymru yn gwneud penderfyniadau synhwyrol. O ganlyniad i’r cipolwg o estyniad ar ddatganoli, efallai cipolwg ar hunanlywodraeth, roedd pobl yng Nghymru yn dechrau hoffi’r syniad. Yn sicr, mae dal rhai fel Plaid Brexit Cymru, sy’n galw am waredu ar y Senedd a chynnig pwerau i Lundain, ond roedd y syniad o fwy o bwerau i Gymru ymysg y cyfnod clo wedi dod yn drafodaeth brwd. Mae’r drafodaeth dros annibyniaeth wedi dod mewn i wleidyddiaeth bob dydd. Cynhaliwyd dadl gyntaf dros annibyniaeth yn y Senedd, er bod y bleidlais ar ôl wedi diweddu mewn siom enfawr i’r rheiny o blaid annibyniaeth, er bod y canran yn cynyddu o’r canran isel yr oedd hi’n arfer bod. Y gwir yw, mae’r syniad o annibyniaeth i Gymru dal yn y lleiafrif, ac bydd rhaid i Yes Cymru wneud llawer i newid y ffordd mai Cymru’n meddwl maent eisiau annibyniaeth. Roedd dadl Plaid Brexit Cymru am waredu ar y Senedd wedi codi nifer o gwestiynau am annibyniaeth i Gymru ymysg poblogaeth Cymru, yn enwedig yr ifanc. Er nad yw hi’n debygol bydd Cymru’n pleidleisio dros annibyniaeth yn y dyfodol agos, mae’r ffaith bod yr ifanc yn dechrau meddwl am annibyniaeth yng Nghymru yn golygu mae’n debyg bydd y ddadl yn cyrraedd y Senedd unwaith eto.

taf od

Annell Dyfri

Diffyg synnwyr cyffredin! 14. Pwy fydd yn trafod ‘da’r Taf-od wythnos nesaf? Gwion Llwyd Jones

Teithio’r byd: Steffan ar ei wyliau yn yr haul tro ‘ma. Tarddiad: Steffan Leonard

Gorymdaith Caerdydd: Tarddiad: Aled Biston

TAF-OD

Canllaw caffis Caerdydd Nel Richards Golygydd Taf-od

ewydd i’r ddinas? Ddim yn gwybod le i fynd i gyfarfod ffrindiau ar ôl darlithoedd, i fynd am goffi pan ry’ chi’n hungover, neu am baned ar fore oer hydrefol? Dyma ganllaw am gaffis hen a newydd, edgy a cool, bwyd a choffi da yng Nghaerdydd. Arcêd yw un o’r lleoliadau gorau yn y ddinas i ddod o hyd i siopau coffi annibynnol a chyfforddus. Coffee Barker (@coffeebarker) yw un sy’n arbenigo mewn coffi. Er bod hon yn eithaf drud, mae’r awyrgylch yn glyd ac yn gynnes, felly perffaith ar gyfer dêt neu amser i ddal lan gyda ffrind ar ôl cyfnod prysur. Wedi’i leoli yn Arcêd y Castell, lle sy’n llawn siopau annibynnol, ceir digon o gyfleoedd i grwydro o gwmpas â takeaway coffee yn eich llaw. Caffi da sy’n cynnwys llawer opsiynau fegan a llysieuol yw Eartha (@earthastore) ar City Road. Gyda thipi yn yr ardd, a’r lle llond planhigion (sydd modd eu prynu), ceir amrywiaeth o fwydydd a diodydd ffres, gan weithio gyda chynhyrchwyr, tyfwyr, a gwneuthurwyr lleol. Caffi perffaith ar gyfer gwneud bach o waith neu ddarllen yw Uncommon Ground (@_uncommonground) yn yr Arcêd Frenhinol. Gydag atmosffer ymlaciedig, a hamddenol, mae’r siop goffi hon yn gynnes, y staff yn gyfeillgar; ac yn gwerthu’r coffi gorau! Deli bach Cymraeg ar Heol yr Eglwys Newydd yw Cegin Bodlon, (@ ceginbodlon), sy’n berffaith ar gyfer cymdeithasu dros brunch ar Fore Sadwrn. Gyda’r staff yn siarad Cymraeg, ceir awyrgylch cymunedol, lle mae pawb yn adnabod ei gilydd yno. Yn debyg, mae Caffi Jams (@caffijam), ym Mae Caerdydd, sydd hefyd yn gwasanaethu’n ddwyieithog. Os ydych chi’n Coffee Connoisseur, Hardlines (@hardlinescoffee) yw’r lle i chi. O greu coffi ei hunain, i redeg cafe retro yn Nhreganna, sy’n teimlo fel ry’ chi’n camu’n ôl i’r 70au. Gwerthir llawer o’u coffi mewn caffis ar draws Prydain, sy’n gwneud y gwasanaeth yn fwy proffesiynol. Wedi’i leoli ym Marc Bute, The Secret Garden Cafe (@secretgardencf ) yw un o leoliadau mwyaf heddychlon a chudd y ddinas. Wrth eistedd ar un o’i meinciau tu allan, dyma’r lle gorau i fynd ar ddiwrnod braf wrth fynd am dro yn y parc. Dyma gaffi sydd hefyd yn gwerthu coffi Hardlines, ac mae opsiynau bwyd ffres ar gael yma hefyd. Gan taw Cathays yw cartref mwyafrif o fyfyrwyr Prifysgol Caerdydd, ceir llawer o gaffis fforddiadwy a chyfforddus yma. The Early Bird (@ theearlybird_uk) ar Heol Woodville yw ffefryn llawer o fyfyrwyr sy’n byw yn gyfagos. Yn y caffi bach yma, gellir dod o hyd i’w brunch bendigedig, eu coffi’s cynnes a diodydd at ddant pawb. Dyma le perffaith i fynd ar ôl darlithoedd! Yn yr un modd, ar Cathays Terrace, ceir Metchy’s Café (@ metchyscafe_). Dyma gaffi rhesymol lle mae’n bosib cael brecwast mawr, a chinio sy’n fwy! Gydag amrywiaeth ar y fwydlen, dyma gaffi sy’n ddeniadol i bawb. Ond gyda’r nifereroedd o fwytai yn cynyddu, mae rhywbeth at ddant pawb yma, yng Nghaerdydd.

CHWARAEON

Bale yn dychwelyd i Uwch Gynghrair Lloegr Prif sgoriwr Cymru yn ymuno ar fenthyg am flwyddyn o Real Madrid

Aled Biston Golygydd Taf-od

r ôl wythnosau o ddisgwyl, cyhoeddwyd bod Gareth Bale yn ailymuno â’i gyn-glwb Tottenham Hotspur ar fenthyg. Bydd Bale yn ymuno â thîm José Mourinho am y tymor 2020/21 gan obeithio i helpu Spurs gynnal sialens am y teitl. Bydd Bale yn gwisgo crys rhif 9 ac yn siŵr o fod yn chwarae fel ymosodwr gyda Harry Kane, neu ar yr asgell yn lle Lucas Moura. Ond beth mae arwyddo i Spurs yn golygu i Uwch Gynghrair Lloegr ac i Gymru? Yn sicr mae yna gyffro wrth weld Bale yn dychwelyd i Uwch Gynghrair Lloegr. Heb amau, gadawodd Bale yn 2013 wedi iddo greu argraff a sicrhau ei hun fel un o chwaraewyr gorau yn hanes y gynghrair. O 2007 i 2013 sgoriodd Bale 42 gôl mewn 146 gêm, ystadegyn sydd yn fwy campus gan ystyried roedd Bale yn chwarae yn amddiffyn Spurs am bedair blynedd. Wedi iddo symud i’r asgell chwith roedd yn allweddol i ymosod Spurs, gan sgorio a chreu

Dychwelyd i Spurs: Bydd Gareth Bale gallu ailadrodd ei berforrmiadau i Spurs tymor yma? Tarddiad: kimjihihi (drwy flickr) llawer o goliau. Cafodd dymor i’w gofio yn 2012/13 wrth iddo ennill PFA Players’ Player of the Year, PFA Young Player of the Year, FWA Footballer of the Year a Premier League Player of the Season. Tymor campus tu hwnt. Wedi saith mlynedd o lwyddiant yn Sbaen, mae Bale nawr yn dychwelyd i Spurs ar fenthyg ar ôl blwyddyn neu ddwy gythryblus gyda Real Madrid o dan Zinedine Zidane, lle nad

oedd Bale yn chwarae llawer. Roedd hyn yn effeithio ar ei berfformiadau dros Gymru gan nad oedd Bale yn cael munudau i Real Madrid. Wrth iddo beidio chwarae yn gyson, nid oedd ffitrwydd Bale i safon chwarae 90 munud llawn heb unrhyw broblemau, a doedd ei berfformiadau yn y crys coch ddim cystal â blynyddoedd cynt. Ond nawr bod Bale wedi dychwelyd i Spurs, mae’n siŵr bydden yn

ei weld yn chwarae bob wythnos, ac eithrio anafiadau. Bydd pawb yn ysu i weld yr un Bale eleni a welsom o 2011 i 2013, chwaraewr oedd llawn sgil, dawn, a chyffro. Ond yn siŵr bydd e’n cymryd amser i Bale addasu i chwarae yn gyson eto, mewn cynghrair lawer mwy ffisegol a chyflymach na La Liga, felly ni ddylem ei farnu’n rhy llym ar ôl cwpl o gemau. Gyda Bale (gobeithio) yn chwarae’n gyson i Spurs tymor yma, cyfnerth bydd i dîm cenedlaethol Cymru wrth fynd i’r Ewros blwyddyn nesaf. Mae Bale wedi bod yn ganolog i lwyddiant Cymru ers iddo serennu i Spurs, gan chwarae rôl bwysig yn Ewro 2016 a helpu Cymru i gyrraedd yr Ewros blwyddyn nesaf. Bydd ei bresenoldeb yn y tîm yn parhau i fod yn allweddol hyd at ei ymddeoliad, a bydd cael Bale sydd yn chwarae’n gyson yn cychwyn gemau yn yr Ewros fel cael un o chwaraewyr gorau’r byd ar ein ochr. Bydd pawb yn syllu’n awchus ar gemau Spurs i weld pryd fydd Bale yn cychwyn ei gêm gyntaf, a bydd y Wal Goch yn gwylio’n ofalus dros y tymor i ddod, mae hynny’n sicr.

Ailagor Neuadd Pantycelyn ym Mhrifysgol AberystAgorwyd y neuadd wedi misoedd o ddisgwyl

Nel Richards Golygydd Taf-od

artref newydd sbon i nifer o fyfyrwyr Prifysgol Aberystwyth ar ôl cau am saith mlynedd yw neuadd Pantycelyn. Ar ôl buddsoddiad o £16.5m, gan gynnwys £5m o’r Llywodraeth Gymreig, mae yna le i 200 o fyfyrwyr i aros. Yn ychwanegol i’r ystafelloedd gwely a cheginau, ceir ardaloedd tawel i astudio, cyfleusterau cyfrifiadurol, ystafelloedd cyfarfod a 4 ystafell gyffredin, i gyd o dan un to. “Cynnal traddodiad o Gymreictod” Dyma eiriau Llio Heledd, sy’n fyfyrwraig ail flwyddyn ym Mhrifysgol Aberystwyth wrth esbonio effaith ailagor y neuadd hon ar yr Iaith Gymraeg. Dywed hefyd; “Yn sgil yr agoriad, y gobaith yw y bydd yn ysbrydoli cenhedlaeth newydd o Gymry sy’n dewis byw drwy’r Gymraeg.” Ers agor am y tro cyntaf yn 1951, ceir gymuned glos Gymraeg yma ers y dechrau wrth i’r fflatiau fod drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg, a hefyd fod yn gartref i Undeb Myfyrwyr Cymraeg Aberystwyth (UMCA), a’r holl gymdeithasau Gymraeg ei hiaith. Dyma ardal lle gall myfyrwyr gymdeithasu, gweithio, a mwynhau drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg. Yn 2013, roedd rhaid cau’r neuaddau, gyda’r bwriad o adeiladu neuadd breswyl Gymraeg arall yn Fferm Penglais. Er hyn, cafwyd llawer o anghydfod ymysg myfyrwyr wrth iddynt deimlo fel bod y Gymraeg yn cael ei fychanu. Yn sgil hyn, protestiodd ac ymprydiodd nifer o fyfyrwyr, a phobl eraill am fisoedd. Wedi hyn, penderfynwyd newid y

Newydd sbon: Dyma edrychiad newydd Neuadd Pantycelyn. Tarddiad: Morgan Lewis cynllun yn 2014, a chytuno i barhau add; “Wrth i Bantycelyn ailagor yr wrth gael y gyntaf, ail a’r drydedd i adnewyddu hen neuadd Pantyce- ydym yn uno UMCA ac mae UMCA flwyddyn i gyd ym Mhantycelyn, y lyn. Dechreuodd yr adeiladu yn yn adennill rhan o’i hunaniaeth. bydd ein cymdeithas yn dod yn fwy 2017, a thair blynedd yn ddiwed- Llynedd roedd aelodau UMCA wedi clos.” “Mae agoriad Pantycelyn hefyd darach, mae’r neuaddau nawr yn rhannu, rhai o’r flwyddyn gyntaf yn yn dangos parodrwydd y Brifysgol i agored i fyfyrwyr y flwyddyn gyntaf Fferm Penglais, rhai ym Mhenbryn wrando ar lais myfyrwyr Cymraeg ym mis Medi, 2020. “Pantycelyn yw a’r gweddill lawr yn y dre. gan hefyd ddangos ei pharodrwydd calon cymuned y myfyrwyr CymByddai digwyddiadau a chyfar- i gefnogi’r iaith a’r diwylliant. Mae raeg”. Wrth lunio pennod newydd fodydd UMCA wedyn ni yn cael hyn yn mynd i berswadio mwy o fyyn Aberystwyth, dyma beth oedd eu gwasgaru ar draws Aber. Gyda fyrwyr i sefyll yng Nghymru i astugan Morgan Lewis, Llywydd Undeb Phantycelyn yn ailagor bydd pob dio. Ac wrth i niferoedd myfyrwyr Myfyrwyr Cymraeg Aberystwyth peth dan un to felly bydd cartref Cymraeg cynyddu, bydd yr iaith a’r (UMCA) i ddweud am ailagor y neu- i’r iaith Gymraeg unwaith eto. Ac diwylliant yn mynd o nerth i nerth.”

TAF-OD 11 DIWYLLIANT

Trwydded deledu dilys neu cos o ddirwy ddifrifol Rhybudd i fyfyrwyr i sicrhau fod ganddyn nhw drwyddedu teledu dilys

Rhybydd go iawn: Bydd angen trwydded deledu dilys ar fyfyrwyr er mwyn osgoi dirwy. Tarddiad: Piqsels

Alaw Fflur Jones Golygydd Taf-od

rwyddedu teledu sy’n rhybuddio myfyrwyr i sicrhau fod ganddyn nhw drwyddedu deledu dilys cyn dychwelyd i’r brifysgol yr wythnos hon. Mae’n rhagweld y bydd tymor y brifysgol yn wahanol iawn i’r arfer yn sgil effaith y coronafeirws, gyda newidiadau mawr i fyfyrwyr yn academaidd ac yn eu ffordd o fyw. Er bod y sefyllfa yn newid, bydd llawer yn parhau i fwriadu symud i neuaddau preswyl a thai sy’n cael eu rhannu. Ond, mae’n debygol y bydd llawer mwy yn dibynnu ar adloniant teledu yn ystod wythnos y glas eleni

gan fod y clybiau nos yn parhau i fod ar gau yn sgil goblygiadau’r coronaferiws. Felly, gyda mwy yn cyfnewid eu dillad gorau am eu pyjamas ar gyfer nosweithiau clyd o flaen y teledu, mae trwyddedu teledu yn annog pobl ifanc i sicrhau eu bod nhw wedi’u trwyddedu’n gywir. Dywedodd Alaw Mair Jones, myfyrwraig Cymraeg Proffesiynol sydd yn ei thrydedd flwyddyn ym Mhrifysgol Aberystwyth, “Yn anffodus a finnau yn fy nhrydedd flwyddyn, dw i ddim yn rhagweld y byddwn ni’n mynd mas llawer gyda’r clybiau nos ar gau a’r cyfyngiadau cymdeithasu yn parhau. Felly, têc awê o fla’n y teledu fydd hi yn ein tŷ ni mae’n siŵr! “Yn ffodus iawn, rwy’n byw gyda

chriw mawr o ferched, ac felly yn medru rhannu’r ffi drwydded rhwng pawb yn y tŷ. Fel canlyniad, rwy’n medru mwynhau llawer o gynnwys am ychydig llai na £20 y flwyddyn”. Dywedodd llefarydd ar ran trwyddedu teledu, Ellen Leach-Hutchings, ‘Er y bydd profiad wythnos y glas yn wahanol iawn eleni, rydym yn gwybod bod pobl ifanc wrth eu bodd yn gwylio’r teledu gyda’i gilydd a bod hynny’n ffordd wych o feithrin ffrindiau newydd.’ Gyda’r trawstoriad eang o adloniant teledu sydd ar gael, esboniodd Ellen Leach-Hutchigs, ‘Dydyn ni ddim am i fyfyrwyr golli allan, a dydyn ni ddim eisiau iddyn nhw wynebu cael eu herlyn a dirwy. Boed eu bod yn byw mewn neuadd neu’n rhannu tŷ, gall myfyrwyr fynd i tvlicensing. co.uk/students am fwy o wybodaeth.” Dirwy! Mae’r gyfraith yn dal yn berthnasol i fyfyrwyr sy’n byw mewn neuadd neu’n rhannu llety, ni waeth pa ddyfais maen nhw’n eu defnyddio. Mae angen trwydded deledu i wylio rhaglenni wrth iddyn nhw gael eu harddangos ar y teledu yn fyw neu wrth wylio ar BBC iPlayer. Gall unigolyn wynebu dirwy i fyny tuag at

£1000 petai’n gwylio neu yn recordio teledu byw heb drwydded deledu dilys. Felly er mwyn osgoi dirwy, pwysleisia Trwyddedu Teledu ar bwysigrwydd cofrestru am drwydded deledu dilys cyn gynted â phosib. Sut i brynu trwydded teledu? Mae cofrestru a phrynu trwydded deledu dilys ar lein yn gyflym ac yn hawdd, mae’r holl wybodaeth ar gael ar wefan Trwyddedau Teledu. Os oes cytundeb tenantiaeth ar y cyd gan fyfyrwyr sy’n rhannu tŷ neu fflat, yna fe all un trwydded deledu drwyddedu’r holl dŷ. Yn ôl y gyfraith, mae’n rhaid cael trwydded deledu dilys er mwyn gwylio neu recordio rhaglenni wrth iddyn nhw gael eu dangos ar deledu neu’n fyw ar wasanaeth teledu ar-lein (e.e.. YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Now TV, Sky Go, ac ati). Mae angen trwydded hefyd i lawr lwytho neu wylio rhaglenni’r BBC ar iPlayer. Mae hyn yn berthnasol i unrhyw ddyfais, boed yn set deledu, gliniadur, tabled, ffôn symudol neu gonsol gemau. Felly, os ydych chi’n dychwelyd i’r brifysgol yr wythnos hon, cofiwch gofrestru a phrynu trwydded deledu dilys er mwyn gwylio unrhyw adloniant byw neu wasanaeth deledu ar lein.

Y Gymraeg yn llithro?

Yr iaith Gymraeg yn y newyddion eto wedi sylwadau sarhaus Annell Dyfri Golygydd Taf-od

ae’r Gymraeg yn perthyn i bob un ohonom, os ydym yn ei siarad ai peidio. Dylai pawb ohonom fod yn falch ohoni, yn ei pharchu ac yn barod i’w thrysori. Ymhlith yr hynaf o ieithoedd Ewrop gyfan, mae’r Gymraeg yn parhau’n iaith fyw mewn cymunedau led-led Cymru. Dyma sydd yn ein gwneud yn unigryw – y mae’n rhan annatod o’n hunaniaeth ni fel Cymry. Ond iaith leiafrifol yw hi ac fel ymhob cyd-destun lle mae lleiafrif yn bodoli, mae’n rhwydd iawn i’r mwyafrif ei dilorni a’i bychanu. Yn anffodus, diolch i dechnoleg ddigidol yn aml, mae’r Gymraeg yn cael ei sathru ac yn destun sbort i lawer. Mae’n ymddangos fod y tueddfryd hwn ar gynnydd gyda llwyfannau megis Facebook a Twitter yn cynnwys mwy a mwy o gyfeiriadau dilornus at y Gymraeg a’i diwylliant. Yn y gorffennol unigolion oedd wrth wraidd y mwyafrif o’r ymosodiadau hyn. Bellach, mae’n ymddangos fod mwy a mwy o sefydliadau a busnesau’n barod i fychanu’r iaith yn gyhoeddus. Mae hwn yn ddatblygiad y dylem gadw llygad arno. Mae’n siwr y cofiwch y neges honno a drydarwyd gan gwmni ‘Snickers’ yn gynt eleni pan ddisgrifiwyd enwau llefydd megis Rhosllanerchrugog a Llanfairpwll fel ‘a place in Wales or someone sat on a keyboard’. Dilynodd y cwmni Americanaidd, ‘Buzzfeed’, yr un trywydd wrth greu cwis ar ei wefan, unwaith eto yn gwneud hwyl am ben enwau Cymraeg. Gwelwyd enghraifft arall yr wythnos diwethaf pan gyhoe-

Iaith y Nefoedd: Cymraeg. Tarddiad: Andrew Bowden (drwy Flickr) ddwyd cartŵn ym mhapur newydd The Telegraph a nodai ‘We’re testing passengers returning from Portugal to see if they show any signs of being Welsh’ gan ddangos teithwyr yn cario cennyn a gwrthrychau eraill sy’n cael eu cysylltu’n draddodiadol â Chymru. Mae’n siwr y byddai rhai pobl yn dadlau mai cellwair yn unig yw hyn ac nad oes drwg mewn ychydig o sbort. Ond, wrth gwrs, gall ychydig o sbort ac ychydig eto droi’n don bwerus a all wneud niwed sylweddol i’r hyn sy’n cael ei dargedu yn y pen draw. Braf oedd derbyn ymateb mor synhwyrol gan Swyddfa Comisiynydd y Gymraeg i’r hyn sydd wedi bod yn digwydd ar y cyfryngau cymdeithasol yn ddiweddar. ‘Mae’n siomedig fod unigolion o fewn cwmnïau mawr yn gweld ymosod ar y Gym-

raeg fel ffordd hawdd o ennyn sylw,’ meddai llefarydd. ‘Os oes unrhyw gwmni mawr yn chwilio am gefnogaeth i ddefnyddio’r Gymraeg o fewn eu busnes, mae croeso iddyn nhw gysylltu gyda ni trwy e-bost at hybu@comisiynyddygymraeg.cymru.’ Wrth gwrs, nid ar y cyfryngau cymdeithasol yn unig y gwelwyd y fath ymosodiadau ar y Gymraeg yn ddiweddar. Gall llawer ohonom feddwl am sefyllfaoedd lle cawsom ein bychanu neu ein dilorni am i ni siarad Cymraeg mae’n siwr. Un o’r rhai a ddioddefodd yn ddiweddar yw Megan Evans o Fae Colwyn a adroddodd hanes ei phrofiad wrth deithio ar drên rhwng Caerdydd a Bryste ryw wythnos yn ôl. Tra yr oedd hi a rhai o’i ffrinidau wrthi’n siarad â’i gilydd yn Gymraeg yn ys-

tod eu taith, dyma weithiwr yn gofyn iddynt newid i’r Saesneg gan eu bod yn swnio’n ‘amheus’. Nododd Megan ei fod ‘yn siom fawr cael fy ngofyn i stopio siarad Cymraeg ar y trên gan aelod o’r staff er fy mod yng Nghymru gan ei fod yn amheus’. Onid digon yw digon? Onid yw’n amser i ni droi’r drol a sicrhau bod y rheini sy’n mynnu ein bychanu yn profi’r un driniaeth yn y pen draw? Er mor anodd y bydd hynny weithiau, y mae angen i bawb ohonom sy’n profi sefyllfa o’r fath, lle cawn ein dilorni am siarad yn ein mamiaith, fynd â’r mater ymhellach gan sicrhau bod y sawl a dramgwyddodd yn profi cyhoeddusrwydd negyddol a bod ei enw, hyd yn oed os yw’n gwmni rhyngwladol o bwys, yn cael ei lusgo drwy’r mwd am gryn bellter.

Cyfyngiadau’n tynhau mewn ardaloedd lleol Nel Richards Golygydd Taf-od

edi i siroedd De Cymru megis Caerffili, a Rhondda Cynon Taf fynd i gyfyngiadau mwy llym wythnos yn ôl (Dydd Iau, 18fed o Fedi), mae’r llywodraeth wedi cyhoeddu bod mwy o siroedd megis Caerffili, Pen y Bont ar Ogwr, Merthyr Tudful, Casnewydd a Blaenau Gwent o dan yr un rheolau o Ddydd Mawrth, 22ain o Fedi. Golyga hyn nad yw’r boblogaeth leol yn cael teithio i siroedd gwahanol, oni bai ei fod yn orfodol, fel gwaith, addysg a rhesymau hanfodol. Golyga hyn fod chwarter o boblogaeth Cymru o dan gyfyngiadau byw llymach. Dywedodd Drakeford i’r BBC fod mesurau i reoli’r feirws yng Nghaerffili, yr ardal gyntaf i gael cyfyngiadau, yn gweithio. Awgrymodd, os yw’r sefyllfa’n dechrau gweithio yno, mi fydd y cyfyngiadau yn gallu llacio. Dywed hefyd; “Mae’r dyddiau diwethaf wedi bod yn galonogol. Mae’r niferoedd yng Nghaerffili wedi bod yn dod i lawr yn reit gyson yn ystod y tri neu bedwar diwrnod diwethaf.” “Rydyn ni angen ychydig o ddyddiau ychwanegol i wneud yn siŵr bod hynny yn duedd sy’n parhau.” O ffigyrau Dydd Mercher, 23ain o Fedi, RCT yw’r sir sydd â’r mwyaf o achosion yng Nghymru, gyda 93 person wedi profi’n bositif. Dyma beth oedd gan Brynmor James, sy’n astudio ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd, ond yn byw yn Sir Rhondda Cynon Taf ar y funud, i ddweud am y sefyllfa; “Mae’r cyfyngiadau lleol yma, wedi codi ymwybyddiaeth yr achos gan fod mwy o bobl yn ymwybodol o’r sefyllfa bresennol. Gyda mwy o bobl yn gwisgo mygydau, ac yn cadw pellter o’i gilydd yn gymdeithasol, rwy’n teimlo’n fwy diogel. Gobeithio yn y dyfodol, bydd pobl yn newid y ffordd maent yn ymddwyn gan wneud yn siŵr ni fydd sefyllfa debyg i hon yn digwydd eto.” Ydyn, mae’r pryderon yn aros. Yn yr un modd, mae’r meddyg teulu, Dr Rhiain Haf, yn ofni bydd hi’n rhy hwyr i ni ddadwneud niwed y feirws ar gymdeithas; “Gan ei fod mor anodd i blismona’r cyfyngiadau, gobeithio byddant o leiaf yn gweithio i godi ymwybyddiaeth bod y firws yn dal i fod yn beth peryglus ac yn fygythiad real i ni yng Nghymru. Ond yn anffodus, dwi’n ofni y bydd llawer o bobl ddim yn talu sylw tan ein bod ni’n dechrau cael clywed am farwolaethau unwaith eto, ac erbyn hynny bydd hi’n rhy hwyr.”

Y Rhondda: Un o siroedd Cymru sydd o dan cyfnod clo lleol. Tarddiad: Aled Hughes (drwy Geograph)

For more content, head to gairrhydd.com/politics

GWLEIDYDDIAETH

Cardiff University Labour Society Members: 80

Members: 60

Membership Fee: £2

Membership Fee: £3

Events: Aims for one every fortnight.

How are you planning to meet during COVID-19? Our society has had to switch to virtual events, and these include talks with high profile politicians such as First Minister Mark Drakeford and Counsel General Jeremy Miles. For our virtual socials we will have a mixture of online drink-ups, quizzes and virtual films nights. Post-freshers, there will also be a socially distant meet-up, so new members can meet each other in person.

What’s the political event you’re most looking forward to this year? The talk with First Minister Mark Drakeford. It should be an interesting event for new students as he outlines an introduction to devolution and the importance of a Welsh Labour government. What do you think makes politics in Wales so special? The preciousness of devolution makes Welsh politics special. A devolved parliament allows the Welsh Government to more democratically determine its own future, despite recent criticism of the devolved nations.

You can keep up to date with the Labour Society’s events by heading to the SU website, or following them on Twitter: @ LSCaerdydd, or Facebook: @CardiffLabourStudents

Plaid Ifanc

POLITICS

To contact our politics desk, drop us an email at politics@gairrhydd.com

Hallum Cowell Tom Kingsbury Dewi Morris Morgan Perry

How are you planning to meet during COVID-19? Unfortunately, COVID-19 has severely impacted the way in which we would usually go about organising events. We’ve had to scale back the number of in-person events we intended on holding this term, and so the majority of our events will be virtual. What’s the political event you’re most looking forward to this year? It’s got to be next May’s Senedd elections. The latest polls say it’s all to play for so make sure you register to vote. Despite the pandemic, we also hope to be on the doorstep speaking to voters in the run up. What do you think makes politics in Wales so special? Devolution plays a huge part in making Welsh politics so special and important. Issues such as health, education and the environment are all made within the confines of the Welsh Government building opposite Law & Politics. In addition to the student political societies like yourselves, how can students get involved with student politics at Cardiff University? The annual SU AGM is a great way to get involved in student politics, it offers a real opportunity to have your say on the direction of our Students Union.

You can keep up to date with the Conservative Association’s events by heading to the SU website or following them on Twitter and Facebook: @CardiffUniCons.

Cardiff University Liberal Democrat Society

Members: 30

Members: 13

Membership Fee: £2

Membership Fee: Free

Events: Aims for one every month.

Events: No regular schedule; check Facebook.

How are you planning to meet during COVID-19?

Your politics desk

Cardiff University Conservative Association

How are you planning to meet during COVID-19?

Real life meetings are out of the question, but then technology comes in handy. We’re looking forward to Zoom socials, Q&As with MSs/MPs, talks with candidates from other parts of Wales, and even some debates.

We aim to have several meetings in outdoor spaces and over Zoom. Later in the year we hope to visit Brecon to canvas in the Welsh Parliament elections.

In addition to the student political societies like yourselves, how can students get involved with student politics at Cardiff University?

In addition to the student political societies like yourselves, how can students get involved with student politics at Cardiff University? Attend the Students Union AGMs for a chance to vote on motions. It’s quite a fun and interesting experience that will hopefully be possible in some form this year.

There’s something for everyone. We’re keen to start debating sessions in Welsh and English so students can fulfil their political potential at university, as well as making new friends. What do you think makes politics in Wales so special? Plaid makes our politics interesting and distinctive. With a wide political spectrum, as well as having a bilingual government, it ensures that the people of Wales are put first and Plaid Cymru reinforces this. What should students be looking out for in the upcoming Welsh Parliamentary elections?

What do you think makes politics in Wales so special? Wales has a unique and fascinating political history and often defies the wider trends of U.K. politics. Wales is often overlooked so there is a lot of chance for change to take place here. What should students be looking out for in the upcoming Welsh Parliamentary elections?

More talks on Welsh Independence in the election debates; as well as economic strategies to regenerate the economy after COVID-19. As a party, and the government’s strategy to reach the target of one million Welsh speakers by 2050, we’ll be holding more debates on how to reach the target.

The Welsh Electoral System is different than it is for the U.K. in general elections. You have two votes and you vote for a constituency candidate as well as a regional candidate. The allocation of seats can be quite complicated so if you like to vote tactically consider doing some research.

You can keep up to date with Plaid Ifanc’s events by heading to the SU website or following them on Twitter: @PI_Caerdydd, or Facebook: @PlaidStudentsCDF.

You can keep up to date with the Liberal Democrat Society’s events by heading to the SU website, or following them on Twitter: @CardiffLiberal, or Facebook: @CULibDem.

For more infomation about all of the political party socities, visit cardiffstudents.com/activities/societies/

GWLEIDYDDIAETH 13

What is devolution in Wales?

Devolution plays a huge role in the lives of us living in Wales. But, what is Welsh devolution and how did it come to be? Hallum Cowell Deputy Editor

he political systems that governs the United Kingdom (UK) can often be confusing and shrouded in legal jargon. The UK is a political and economic union of four nations: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. While all of these nations are under the control of the government at Westminster, where the UK Parliament sits, each has its own individual governing body. Each devolved parliament has a varying amount of control over their devolved nation. No two nations within the UK are the same, and their political history has helped shape the powers they have today.

What is devolution? Devolution is the process where political power is decentralised from the UK Government to the other nation states within the UK. Often this happens as the result of a referendum, where people in each country are asked if they would like their government to have more power to make their own independent decisions. This means that different parts of the UK can have different laws; for example, medical prescriptions are free in Wales, but you would have to pay for them in England. This is because health is a power that has been devolved to the Welsh Government rather than managed by Westminster.

Slow and steady journey Devolution in Wales has been a slow and steady journey. The first referendum on whether power should be devolved to Wales oc-

curred in 1979. This referendum asked the people of Wales if they wanted their own devolved government, though the motion was voted down by nearly 80% of those who voted. It was not until 1997 that another referendum on Welsh devolution was held. In much the same way, the people of Wales were asked if they wanted a devolved Welsh government: a “National Assembly for Wales”. This time, however, the motion was passed, with a yes vote of 50.30%. As such, in 1999 the Welsh Assembly was created as Wales’ first devolved government. A majority of Welsh voters do seem to be in favour of keeping the devolved powers. Recent political events such as the Brexit Party pledging to abolish the Senedd have resulted in major backlash, and the dismal vote share of the Abolish the Welsh Assembly Party have shown that many in Wales are – at least – happy with the devolved government’s structure and powers.

Welsh devolved powers Over the past 20 years a number of referendums have been held on expanding the powers given to the Welsh Parliament. When the devolved government was established in 1999 it held relatively little power. It was not until the 2011 referendum that the – as it was called at the time – Welsh Assembly gained the power to pass “Acts of Assembly” on 20 devolved areas. These new powers were devolved to the Welsh government, allowing them to pass their own laws within these areas. Recent events such as the cancellation of the M4 relief road and the domestic Welsh COVID-19 response are examples of the Welsh government exercising their powers.

Credit: Ellie Hutchings

The Welsh Parliment / Senedd Cymru facts.

The Welsh Government’s Budget, £15.3 billion (as of 2015/2016)

Established on, May 12, 1999

The Senedd: The Welsh government sits at the Senedd, located in Cardiff Bay. Credit: Mustakim Hasnath One reason there is less support for independence in Wales, in contrast to Scotland or Northern Ireland, could well be Welsh history.

Welsh political history

Wales was conquered by England in the late 13th century, making it the first of what we would know today as the four nations of the UK. This is in sharp contrast to Scotland, who were rivals to the English until the unification of the two nations in the early 18th century. After Wales was annexed, a number of laws were passed restricting Welsh culture and regional Celtic law. This reached a peak in the mid16th century when Wales was fully annexed into England, with the aim of turning Wales into “Western England”. Now, of course, Wales has a parliament and devolved government, but the effect of centuries of English rule has provided less of a foundation for Welsh independence to build from. While Welsh independence has seen a resurgence in recent decades, Plaid Cymru was founded in 1925 and has seen a steady rise in support since. This is noticeable in comparison to Scotland, where independence is a defining issue of modern politics. Or even Ireland, who gained independence from Great Britain in 1922. Northern Ireland is still deeply divided between those wishing to remain part of the UK and those wanting to unify with the Republic of Ireland. In both these nations, independence is a hotly debated topic, and while support for independence does seem to be on the rise in Wales, it is far off from being the deeply defining issue it is in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

But that’s not to say Wales does not have their own long history of independence on the British Isles. During a revolt against the English in the 15th century Owain Glyndwr established the first Welsh Parliament. Before the Conquest of Wales, Gruffydd ap Llywelyn became the first and only person to unite Wales in 1057. It would seem that the actions of the English law makers of the past has left a considerable impact on the modern political landscape of Wales. While there is support in Wales for independence, its support remains firmly rooted in younger voters; according to YouGov polling 46% of 18-24 year olds support independence.

An independent Wales?

Leaving the UK has however, not proved especially popular with the wider electorate in recent polling, with 25% of participants supporting independence as opposed to 52% in favour of remaining in the UK. Despite a large amount of opposition,, it is worth noting that this is the highest support Welsh independence has ever received. It is therefore possible that in the future we will see an increase in support for Welsh independence. Much as the Thatcher government’s controversial policies helped drive support for devolution in many other parts of the UK, future UK governments may decide to push agendas that drive Wales out of the UK. The recently announced Internal Market Bill, which would allow Westminster to bypass devolved government decisions and directly fund projects in the other nations of the UK, is one such point of friction.

Appointed by, The UK Monarch

Headquaters, Crown Buildings Cardiff

Welsh Parliment (in English) Senedd Cymru (in Welsh)

Current majority party Welsh Labour

Current First Minister Mark Drakeford

14 POLITICS

The coming year in UK politics

The September Welsh political Barometer Constituency vote share Labour: 34% (no change) Conservatives: 29% (-2) Plaid Cymru: 24% (+2) Brexit Party: 4% (+1) Liberal Democrats: 3% (-2) Greens: 3% (no change) Others: 3% (no change) Changes with June’s poll shown in brackets Regional vote share Labour: 33% (+1) Conservatives: 27% (-1) Plaid Cymru: 23% (-1) Abolish the Assembly: 4% (no change) Brexit Party: 4% (+1) Greens: 4% (+1) Liberal Democrats: 3% (-2) Others: 3% (no change) Changes with June’s poll shown in brackets Projected Senedd seats Labour: 25 (20 constituency, 5 regional) Conservatives: 19 (10 constituency, 9 regional) Plaid Cymru: 15 (9 constituency, 6 regional) Liberal Democrats: 1 (1 constituency)

As the new acedemic year begins so does the next political year. But, what can we expect from the year ahead? Dewi Morris Politics Editor

Dealing with COVID-19

ith no surprise, this upcoming year will likely be dominated by the governments’ response to the coronavirus pandemic. Scrutiny of both the devolved governments’ and UK Government’s response to COVID-19 has dominated politics for over six months. How restrictions, curfews, lockdowns, and eventually vaccines will be implemented will perhaps be the biggest challenge to governments across the UK this year. In Cardiff of course, the response to the pandemic is devolved to the Welsh Government who have implemented additional restrictions across the whole of Wales on September 22. Six counties in the South East also have local lockdowns in place. Testimony to government response will be how society may react to further restrictions. Some MPs argued the public should call the police on their neighbours if they break lockdown rules, and a proportion of the public would agree. On the other extreme, ‘anti-maskers’ are angered by curbs on social life imposed to limit the spread of coronavirus. There is an argument that COVID-19 is here to stay and so we should learn to live with it. How restrictions will balance limiting the virus with justification for its effects on mental health and welfare is another challenge. An extra question is, of course, how restrictions will be balanced with the economy. Furlough, while keeping countless businesses afloat during lockdown, is by no means sustainable in the long run. How the UK Government will end the job retention scheme, while balancing the need for restrictions, and the loss of earnings is another political minefield for the Government to manoeuvre. While still unknown, vaccines could be ready as soon as November at the best, during 2021 at a more likely outcome, or at a worst-case scenario vaccines may fail to pass safety testing at all. However, if we are to assume the likelihood that vaccines may become available in about six months time, then how the UK will be vaccinated, and who will be eligible at first, will be a huge question for government to debate. On top of the complications coronavirus has brought to politics this year, it has been rumoured that Boris Johnson may be planning to leave his position as Prime Minister in the new year. Allegations have also emerged that Boris Johnson went on a ‘secret holiday’ to Perugia, Italy on September 11-14, however Downing Street has denounced the claims as “completely untrue.” A YouGov poll on September 21, shows only 27% of the public approve of the UK Government’s record to

date - a sharp decline since March 23, when support was at a level of 52%. It seems consistent government Uturns over their response to the pandemic and its implications has damaged the UK’s trust. While the news has been focused

A Brexit deal?

on the pandemic for months, Brexit will increasingly demand attention, as October 15 (the deadline for the UK-EU agreement on trade) looms closer. The controversial Internal Market Bill, which was voted through the House of Commons despite breaking international law, has kickstarted the re-emergence of Brexit in the news; rest assured Brexit will be a defining feature of UK politics this year. The UK is no longer a member of the EU and has not been since January, but it is still in the EU’s single market and customs union until the end of the transition period. Despite being 8 months through the 11-month transition period, the UK is seemingly nowhere closer to establishing the rules of a new relationship with the EU. The transition period ends on December 31. It cannot be extended as the deadline for extension has passed. On New Years Day, 2021, the UK will drop out of the EU’s single market and customs union either with or without a deal. October 15 is the date of an EU summit, and the deadline Boris Johnson has announced a deal must be reached by for it to be implemented before the end of the transition period. Meaning there are only a few weeks for a deal to be agreed upon between the UK and the EU. A no-deal scenario is becoming increasingly likely, and how the Government will deal with the effects of such a possibility will be another matter to look out for this year. The Irish border is one more major issue in the Brexit negotiations. The Republic of Ireland remains a part of the EU and therefore how goods will travel between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland is still being negotiated. In 2018, Theresa May proposed the ‘Irish Backstop’ however this was not supported by her MPs. Boris Johnson has instead negotiated the Northern Ireland Protocol, which became part of the withdrawal agreement. However, the Internal Market Bill threatens to overturn this and establish checks at the Irish border which would break the Good Friday Agreement. How the Government negotiates issues along the 310-mile border will be a major political subject this year. It questions Britain’s commitment to maintaining peace in Northern Ireland as well as the UK’s reputation. Theresa May has claimed that the Government is “acting recklessly and irresponsibly” in regard to the Internal Market Bill, and claims the Government did not “really understand what it was signing up to when

Boris Johnson: The Prime Minister is set to lead the UK government untill at least the next general election in 2024. Source: Number 10 (via Flickr) it signed the Withdrawal Agreement.”

Welsh Senedd elections

In May, the Senedd election will take place. For the first time individuals above the age of 16 will be able to vote. Each registered voter will have two votes, one constituency vote (to elect an MS to represent their constituency using a ‘first past the post’ system – the same as in a general election). And one vote for a regional MS, (Wales is split into five regions. The regional member vote uses a system based on proportional representation to elect four MSs for each region). Since the last election in May 2016, the political landscape has altered dramatically. Since March, it would seem awareness of devolution in Wales has increased greatly due to Wales’ response to the pandemic. In June, the Welsh public preferred the Welsh Government’s handling of COVID-19 over the UK Government’s. Could this play to Welsh Labour’s advantage? With the highest ever recorded share of the Welsh electorate in favour of independence, reaching 26% in August, and the first Senedd debate on independence in July, could this translate to a rise in votes for Plaid Cymru? In December, the general election saw the Conservatives turning some traditional Labour constituencies in Wales blue, could this be expected to result in more seats for the Welsh Conservatives in May? Will the Brexit Party and UKIP be eliminated this year, as mostly singleissue parties? Or will the Brexit Party’s campaign to abolish the Senedd –despite being largely an unpopular stance in Wales, shape the election? The polls predict Labour in the lead, followed by the Conservatives and then Plaid Cymru.

However, public opinion can change dramatically in seven months, especially considering the fast-pace of 2020 politics. With the coronavirus pandemic, Brexit, and the state of the union, as Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all now have major parties rooting for the devolved nations to leave the UK, it really could not be predicted what political climate Wales may find itself in by next May.

Scottish elections

The Scottish Parliament elections will also be held in May 2021. This election will be crucial and could accelerate the possibility of another Scottish independence referendum if it results in another SNP Government. Since the first Scottish independence referendum in 2014 Scotland has voted to remain in the EU and is now being taken out of the EU as part of the UK. Nicola Sturgeon says this is a mandate for a second Scottish independence referendum. In the SNP’s manifesto for the 2019 general election, the party promised to campaign for a second referendum to take place during 2020. The campaign was however paused in March due to the pandemic. In January, the Scotland (Referendums) Bill became law, meaning that the Scottish Parliament could hold referendums on devolved issues without needing permission from the UK Government. However, it is debated whether Holyrood or Westminster have powers over the Union. Either way, the question of Scottish independence will shape the campaign leading up to the Scottish Parliament elections in May. This would likely have profound implications for the rest of the UK, igniting further debate on independence for Wales, and re-unification with Ireland for Northern Ireland.

The

GWLEIDYDDIAETH 15 FinCEN files – a major document leak In other news... of suspicious financial activity

A major document leak from the US government has revealed the illegal financial activity of many banks and organisations. Tom Kingsbury Politics Editor

ver 2,500 documents have been leaked from the US Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), revealing roughly two trillion dollars of suspicious transactions. The files are mostly made up of suspicious activity reports (SARs), made by banks to FinCEN, the part of the US Treasury that handles financial crimes. More than 3,200 UK registered companies are referenced in the SARs – more than any other country. The files reveal activity by British and international banks on behalf of individuals and organisations acting illegally. The banks often processed payments despite knowing this. Below are some of the cases which have been uncovered by various journalists, who have been going through the files.

HSBC in hot water HSBC was shown to have facilitated transfers totaling $80m (£62m) into accounts in Hong Kong from a Ponzi scheme in the US, even after it found out about it. The scheme involves duping investors into joining and then getting them to recruit new members themselves, with the money funnelling upwards until the scheme collapses. In this instance, the scheme, started by Chinese national Ming Xu, was called WCM777. One investor was killed as a result of the scheme, which he unwittingly roped another individual into, and thousands of people in poor communities were scammed out of their money. The UK’s largest bank moved the money through its US business in 2013 and 2014, even after it learned of the scam from Californian regulators. The scheme was set up months after HSBC said it would improve its procedures, following US criminal prosecution for laundering billions of dollars of Mexican drug cartel money.

Conservative donor The husband of the biggest female Conservative Party donor in British history received $8m (£6.1m) from a Russian oligarch with ties to Vladimir Putin, the Russian President. Lubov Chernukhin has donated £1.7m to the Conservative Party and spent time with the last three Prime Ministers. Her husband received the sum from Suleyman Kerimov, a former member of the upper chamber of Russian parliament and former Deputy Minister of Finance under Putin. Kerimov was sanctioned by US authorities, who said they were targeting those who “play a key role in advancing Russia’s malign activities”. The majority of Chernukhin’s donations to the Conservative Party came after the payment was made to her husband, though there is no evidence it was the same money she donated.

UAE Central Bank

The Central Bank of the UAE failed to act after learning a local bank was helping Iran avoid sanctions. The local bank – Gunes General Trading – was shown by the FinCEN documents leak to have used the UAE’s financial system to move $142m (£110m) on behalf of the Iranian government, circumventing sanctions placed upon it. Gunes General Trading is alleged to have been under the control of Turkish-Iranian gold trader Reza Zarrab, who in 2017 pleaded guilty to fraud, conspiracy, and money laundering. The central bank was contacted regarding suspicious activity from Gunes General Trading, but it was able to continue its activity after this point using two different accounts, processing a further $108m on top of what it had managed until then.

Barclays and Russia

Barclays is thought to have been used to launder money and avoid sanctions by billionaire and childhood friend of Putin Arkady Rotenberg and his brother Boris. The brothers were labelled by the US Treasury department as “members of the Russian leadership’s inner circle”. The two are thought by the US senate to have made secret art purchases through a Barclays account to avoid sanctions and launder money. The leaked documents show that a company suspected by UK investors as belonging to the Rotenbergs – called Advantage Alliance – moved a total of £60m, with many of the transactions coming after the brothers had been sanctioned.

investments in rival players. Through an offshore company, Abramovich had been taking stakes in players’ transfer fees in a process called third-party ownership (TPO). The process was banned by the English Premier League in 2008, and internationally in 2015. This led to a case where Chelsea’s owner had a stake in a player – Andre Carrillo – playing against Abramovich’s own team in two games during the 2014 Champions League.

Years of financial leaks

The FinCEN files are unique for their wide range of transactions from several different banks. Generally, a leak would only reveal the files of a small number of banks or organisations. But the FinCEN leaks are only the latest in a significant number of leaks in recent years. In 2017, the Paradise Papers were leaked. The documents were mostly from an offshore legal service provider called Appleby, and exposed the dealings of a range of politicians, public figures and members of the corporate world. The 2016 Panama Papers leaked documents from a law firm called Mossack Fonseca, which helped the wealthy hide their money in tax havens, launder money and avoid sanctions. The Swiss Leaks came in 2015, when it was revealed that HSBC’s Swiss private bank was helping its clients avoid millions in tax. Prior to this are other prominent leaks, such as the 2014 Luxembourg leaks, the 2012 offshore leaks and the

2010 Wikileaks cables release.

UK commits to change

The government announced on September 18 that it will make reforms to “clamp down on fraud and money laundering”. It says company directors will not be appointed until the director’s identity has been verified, which the government suggests will make it easier to trace illicit activity. The Minister for Corporate Responsibility, Lord Callanan, said: “Mandatory identity verification will mean criminals have no place to hide – allowing us to clamp down on fraud and money laundering and ensure people cannot manipulate the UK market for their own financial gain, whilst ensuring for the majority that the processes for setting up and running a company remain quick and easy.” The UK has been accused of being too soft on illegal financial activities, with 3,282 companies that appear in the FinCEN documents being UKbased. The Intelligence and Security Committee’s July Russia report (LINK) noted a significant amount of Russian wealth was used for influence in the UK. It said that London “offered ideal mechanisms by which illicit finance could be recycled through what has been referred to as the London ‘laundromat’.” The report also stated that there were a number of links between the House of Lords and Russia, and that they should be “carefully scrutinised, given the potential for the Russian state to exploit them.”

Alexei Navalny has been discharged from the Berlin hospital he was recovering in after being poisoned with Novichok nerve agent. Navalny’s team alleges that he was poisoned by orders of Russian President Vladimir Putin, though the Kremlin denies any involvement.

Anti-government protests have been held across Cameroon this week, with the Cameroon Resistance Movement (CRM) demanding institutional reform. The government has been accused of using the coronavirus pandemic to crack down on protests, with reports of one protestor killed and others injured, as well as journalists being arrested and the CRM leader being confined at home by police.

UK banks and terrorism

British banks may have moved money with links to terrorist activity Standard Chartered, a British bank, moved almost $12m (£9.4m) of money that may have had links to the financing of terrorist activity. The bank moved the money to Jordan’s Arab Bank between 2014 and 2016. In 2014, a US jury ruling found that Arab Bank had knowingly worked for Palestinian militant group Hamas, providing banking services to it and the charities it controlled. In the case, evidence was put forward suggesting that in the early 2000s Arab Bank had been used by Hamas to move money around and to pay the families of suicide bombers. The verdict was overturned due to the judge giving the jury incorrect instructions. However, in 2015 Arab Bank agreed a settlement with victims and relatives of the victims of 22 attacks made by Hamas in Israel. Hamas is considered a terrorist organisation by the US, EU, and Israel, though not the UK.

Palestine has quit its role to chair Arab League meetings in protest against Arabic countries normalising relations with Israel. The Arab League is an association of Arabic countries across North Africa and the Middle East. Palestine was meant to chair their meetings for the next six months. However, Palestine’s Foreign Minister has declined the opportunity, claiming normalising relations with Israel for Arabic countries is dishonourable.

Chelsea owner’s stakes

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has been revealed to have held secret

The Belarusian President has been inaugurated in an unannounced ceremony on September 23. The President’s sixth term has been the source of controversy with critics claiming the election was rigged and demanding greater freedoms. Protests have rocked the country for months with the police cracking down hard on those opposed to Lukashenko’s government.

US Treasury: The leaks came from the financial crimes branch of the US Treasury department. Source: R Boed (via. Flickr)

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COMMENT

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SYLWADAU

Your comment desk Molly Govus Sian Hopkins Cerys Anne Jones Izzy Morgan

Is government strategy causing confusion? The government’s coronavirus communication strategy is sending ‘mixed messages’ to the masses

Cerys Jones Comment Editor

he British Government has become subject to scrutiny regarding their unclear instructions and contradictory attempts to halt the surge in COVID-19 infections. Confirmed COVID-19 cases have risen from 12.5 infections per 100,000 people to 19.7 per 100,000 across the UK within the last week, resulting in the enforcement of new government requirements and restrictions. The British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson stated that “we must act” to avoid a second lockdown. The introduction of the “rule of six” restricts social gatherings to a maximum of six people, enforced by the police who can issue fines or make arrests if requirements are not adhered to. Venues such as restaurants and pubs will be legally required to collect the contact details of each customer which are to be kept for 21 days and provide the data to the NHS Test and Trace service. The Metropolitan Police Federation (MPF), who represents the police force in London, has criticised the government’s communication to the public throughout the pandemic. The association calls for “clear and unambiguous laws” encompassing what people “can and can’t do”. This statement was issued just hours after the daily Downing Street COVID-19

news briefing on defeating the virus, where Britain’s home secretary, Priti Patel claimed that the government’s message “has been clear and consistent from day one”. Ken Marsh, the chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, stated: “Contrary to the view we heard today from Downing Street, the Metropolitan Police Federation does believe mixed messages are coming out from the government around the lockdown for the public. This makes our already difficult job of policing this unprecedented crisis harder”. The Eat Out to Help Out economic recovery measure was a scheme that encouraged social gatherings. This scheme operates in a contradictory fashion to the government’s guidelines found on the official government website. This poses the question of whether economic certainty is worth more than our lives and well-being in the eyes of the government? National confusion occurs when society is encouraged to return to normality through attending business venues which fuel the hospitality sector, yet we are told to “avoid crowded areas with lots of people; and touching things that other people have touched”, factors which are difficult to control upon entering these venues. The dissemination of the slogan “don’t kill granny” by Preston City Council has created a controversial dialogue nation-wide. Parliament’s decision for children

Mass confusion: How do we know if we’re doing the ‘right’ thing under these guidelines? Source: Sergio Boscaino (via Flickr) to return to school despite the increasingly high risk remains contradictory within society. The decision does not comply with the government’s implementation of ‘the rule of 6’, announced on September 14. The University and College London accuse the government of “encouraging a public health crisis” as an expected one million students return to higher education. Despite the limited contact hours that students will receive, the youth population is still considered the “generators of a second wave”, though placing 30 young children in a classroom together with limited space for social distancing is considered ‘safe’. The exemption of shooting parties from the rule of six has fuelled public debate, as ministers have been accused of making COVID-19

exceptions. The government made a decision to allow shooting parties as an organised sport, but families are prevented from seeing their loved ones consequent to the rule of six. Television personality Denise Welch, criticised the government and media’s communication strategy during her interview with Ruth and Eamonn Holmes, she explained why we should look to scientific data for an accurate representation of the current climate regarding the virus. Society’s behaviour mirrors the government’s poor communication method, and this is a reflection of the unclear instructions provided by the government. Clear clarification and indication are imperative during such a new experience.

Are Freshers being supported enough?

Starting university during a pandemic is incredibly hard without support Izzy Morgan Comment Editor

or many freshers, the move away from home can be troubling as it is, without the extra difficulties that the COVID-19 restrictions are causing. How is the university coping with these restrictions and how are new students being supported? Many students consider online learning to be a good thing; there are no more early starts to walk to lectures, there is an ease of access to materials remotely, and the ability to work from anywhere with an internet connection is a plus. This is easy to say when you have access to the necessary materials which make this a viable option. There is a very strong argument to the fact that there should be serious monetary help given to those who may be disadvantaged this year. New policies for library use including limited hours, and limited spaces will have a huge effect on a large part of the student cohort who rely on these resources to complete assignments on time and in an effective manner. It would be naive to assume that all students - especially those in halls of residence - have ac-

cess to personal laptops, as well as strong enough internet connections to facilitate multiple online lectures a day not to mention the software to complete many required tasks. Unfortunately, due to the unknown nature of how the next few weeks, let alone months, will play out there isn’t a lot of guidance that can be given to students. Reassurance from universities at this time is definitely needed to ensure the students that they will be getting their money’s worth from the £9,000 tuition fees as well as the majority of students taking on extra maintenance loans to be able to live and study in Cardiff. There are student support services in place. However, especially at a time where social interaction is discouraged, many feel the service is faceless and impersonal to the struggles of individual students. There is also the struggle of being a new student which is tough enough without having to factor in the fact that many opportunities to meet new people and form lasting friendships has been taken away. The new ‘rule of six’ has effectively cancelled all plans for freshers with many societies having to completely adapt their approach to finding new members and sports clubs not

having the majority of practices and competitions. The importance of having these clubs and societies cannot be understated in making students feel at home and allowing them to settle into university life. As a society we have been getting used to increased isolation but the effect on students’ mental health especially as a new term begins could pose serious concerns. The suspension of counselling andwellbeing drop-ins until further notice is a concerning development for students even those without previous mental health issues who might

need guidance and support once they start university. Support for students so far is lacking and more options need to be considered especially when it comes to students being disproportionately affected by the pandemic academically. Online learning will undoubtedly come with its challenges that students will be expected to weather in the coming months, but there’s a chance it could be potentially disastrous for universities if they fail to properly protect and aid students in their endeavours.

Freshers: Starting university during a pandemic is undoubtedly extremely difficult. Source: https://www.vperemen.com/

17 COLUMN

Molly Govus

COLUMN ROAD

The rise of women in film

Is 2020 the year of the female in film?: There is still a long way to go, but we may be on the right track. Source: PickPik

e are a lucky society. As time goes on, many aspects of our society are changing. Some for the worst, but some for the best. For example, the film industry is one of those facets of our global culture that is adapting and moulding to the people within it. As we become more liberal and more diverse in our views, it is only right that industries follow suit. With film having such a huge part in making an impact onto our culture, it is only right, in this day in age, that women get to make an input like never seen before. Albeit there is still a long way to go in regard to female representation of power within the industry. It is disheartening to remember that we have only come so far in the last 90 years, since the Academy Awards have been running. For instance, in that time, only five women have ever been nominated for best director Oscar, and only one has ever won (Kathryn Bigelow, 2010, for The Hurt Locker). Do not feel disheartened when you hear these facts – this is by no fault due to a lack of talented women within the industry. ‘The Wedding Party’, directed by Kemi Adetiba, was Nigeria’s highest-grossing movie of 2016. In China, women directed three out of the top ten grossing movies of 2018. It doesn’t take a lot of research to see that there is an upward trend in the world of women directors in film. Only one question remains: why is it taking so

much time for women to be heard in a position of directive power in film?

Unfortunately, directing has been a role where women have seen many other female role models. Time’s Up UK is a group that was founded in 2018 by Hollywood’s most prolific actresses o the #MeeToo movement. Chair of the group, Dame Heather Rabbatts, gives brilliant reason behind this disappointing fact. Rabbats stated that ‘people tend to recruit in their own image’, and where the majority of directors in film have been male, it is arguably in their image, and nature, to hire men. Adding to this, she states that directing ‘has not been a role where women have seen many other women role models’. As you can see, a vicious cycle starts to form where directing has been a solely male preserve. It is only now that other women are starting to see that there is a space for them within the industry. This could be seen as a snowball effect going forward in the age of film – as more women brave the societal jump into directive power, it is only a natural progression for others to follow in their footsteps. So, where is the evidence of this?

Streaming platforms gain a lot of credit in the rising opportunities for female filmmakers in the world. Netflix could very well be the turning point which will give women a new platform to make their mark on. For example, streaming services are beginning to expand their plans in North Africa and the Middle East, gaining a new market for original content. In good news, a 2016 report by the Doha Film Institute showed that independent Arab films are twice as likely to be directed by a woman. Whilst they tend to be excluded from mainstream cinema, this will not hinder the fact that Netflix and other streaming services will give women a new opportunity to rise. Whilst there is still undoubtedly more to be done to raise the voices of women in film, there are now many worldwide initiatives to increase the number of female directors, producers, writers, and cinematographers. One solution, launched by director Alma Har’el in October 2019, served as a significant tipping point. Har’el stated that ‘we’re going to do for film what we did for commercials’, which is a hard pill to swallow, knowing that there is still so much more that needs to be done. We have seen a huge increase in the amount of of diversity within modern advertising; why is it not the same for the film industry? Nevertheless, incentives, tactics and education on the topic have provided a starting point. Har’el’s initiative had

enormous success, increasing the number of women directors at some agencies by a turnaround of 400%.

2020 must be a year of resolve. This isn’t about how we get women directors up in terms of their recognition - now it is about them staying up there. Dr Martha M Lauzen is a Professor and Executive Director of the Centre for the Study of Women in Television and Film at San Diego State University and author of The Celluloid Ceiling. Her work calls into question that stereotypes surrounding women’s skills and ambition are a powerful barrier to their entry to the film industry. Supporting this, lobbying is also another tactic used to boost inspiration and the need for change. In 2019, Time’s Up and The Annenberg Inclusion Initiative launched the 4% Challenge. This is in response to the harrowing statistic that women directed just 4% of the top films in the past decade. The challenge asks producers and actors to commit to a project with a woman at the helm within 18 months of signing

the pledge in attempt to boost statistics. Major studios such as Universal and Working Title have signed the pledge, which is encouraging. There appears to be a more positive and upward trend, which supports Rabbatts in saying that recognition of women in film ‘won’t change overnight sadly, but we all feel that the industry is responding positively’. As aforementioned, the lack of adequate recognition towards women in media is not due to a lack of talent. Within the UK, one of the most iconic female directors is Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who is also writer and producer of the BBC hit ‘Fleabag’ and executive producer of the first series of ‘Killing Eve’. Avid TV watchers will be aware that her directing style stole our hearts, whether that be through tears or the love for the characters she created. One of the things I believe is that female directors have an edge that is hard to replicate elsewhere. The emotion and integrity is almost untouchable, and it creates a rapport in film between the characters and the audience that is unlike anything else. For example, Waller-Bridge used the breaking of the fourth wall. In simple acting terms, her character speaks to the camera as though the audience are in the room with her, and this creates an intimacy unlike no other. It is the most intense connection that can be constructed through a screen, which is ultimately remarkable.

ADVICE

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CYNGOR

Pressure on the Fresher

What to do if you find yourself feeling pressured at university Vicky Witts Advice Editor

tarting university as a new student can bring many new experiences and opportunities that you might never have had before. Whether it is joining a society, trying out a sport that you have never heard of, or having a new type of food that you have never tried, there is a freedom in trying new things as a student. With new opportunities, however, can come feelings of anxiety and being overwhelmed, meaning that you may be reluctant to go and attempt these new experiences, which in some cases can lead to pressure from your peers to participate, whether in a negative or positive way. Taking encouragement from your flatmates and friends is often a good way to reduce any anxiety you may be feeling about a new experience. But feeling forced by your peers so that you do something that you really do not want to do can be damaging to you and your mental health. It is therefore important that you can distinguish between positive encouragement and negative peer pressure from those around you. Although there are many negative implications of peer pressure that are commonly shown throughout the media, the general idea of your peers encouraging your actions can actually help to benefit you and your university experience. For example, in my first year there were two occasions where I was anx-

Peer pressure: It’ s important to be careful to note when it’s trying to fit in and when it’s peer pressure. Source: Orlando Imperatore (via Flickr) ious about going to the give-it-a-go session of a sport I wanted to try and was considering not going because I was afraid that I would be judged for never having played before. It was one of my new flatmates who encouraged me to go by saying that she had signed us both up for the session so I had to go and that it was worth going just to try something new. Though at the time it felt like I was being pressured to do something I thought I did not want to do, this encouragement ultimately led me to attend the sessions and enjoy myself, which I would not have done without the small amount of pressure I was given. Your friends strongly encouraging you to go to places you are uncertain about or making you go to a restaurant that you are not sure you will like can help you to push your boundaries and try things that you may have been previously too scared to try.

Let’s talk about contraception

A simple guide to understanding different kinds of contraception Darcy Servais Head of Advice

tarting university is a new beginning for many of those involved. Whether it’s your first taste of independence, or the beginning of your self-discovery, living away from home opens a new world of opportunities. However, one of the most important things to remember when starting or returning to university is to stay safe. We live in a world where it’s be-

coming more acceptable to be liberal when it comes to sex and trying new things, but it is vital that you receive the correct information on contraception in order to practise safe sex. Contraception is free of charge and there are numerous ways that you can get your hands on it. You can visit contraception clinics, sexual health clinics or your local GP surgery in order to get contraception. Universities tend to have lots of resources regarding sexual health, so it may be worth visiting your student

Your advice desk Darcy Servais Megan Evans Vicky Witts

Many cases of pressure from your peers, however, are not so positive Conventional ideas of peer pressure at university are usually focused on being forced to try drugs, or drinking or generally just being pressured into situations that you do not want to be in because your peers have told you that you have to. Often, new students can mentally pressure themselves into situations because they feel that they have to fit in with new people. For example, you may feel like you have to smoke just because your flatmates do, without them ever directly forcing you, because you want to impress them or just fit in with them. Ultimately, how you respond to peer pressure comes down to you simply saying yes or no to a situation. But there are some methods you can use to determine if the encouragement you are receiving from your peers is constructive or negative, as well as ways you can react in situations where you experience

peer pressure. A good way to help you evaluate your actions at university and know if you are acting by your own conscience or due to peer pressure is talking to your friends and family. This can allow you to think about how you used to act before coming to university and help determine whether the people around you are influencing your actions in a positive or negative way. If it is the case that you find you are constantly pressured by new uni friends, peers, or flatmates, it can sometimes be good to distance yourself from them. Although in many cases people become good friends with their new flatmates, there is no requirement that they have to be your only friends at university, or even that you have to spend much time with them at all. If you find that within your university housing you are constantly in situations where you experience peer pressure, it may be useful to spend some time out with other friends such as within a club or sports team, as this can remove you from pressure situations. Whether you feel that you have a strong hold on your sense of self and morals, or know that you are more likely to succumb to peer pressure, it is important to remember that becoming a student at university is a good time to express and develop aspects of your own personality, not to act differently because of the judgement of others. Just relax and be yourself. You’ll do brilliantly!

Research what’s best for you. Source: Anqa (via Wikimedia Commons)

union website to see if there is any advice on the best places to go. There are 15 different types of contraception, so it is important that you choose the right method for you. One method that works for someone may not work for someone else, so there are a few ways that you can see which method suits you. The NHS website has a contraception tool that allows you to find out the best methods of contraception for you. It shows you the effectiveness, positives and negatives of each choice, and possible side effects that you may experience. It also shows which methods need to be incorporated into your daily routine, such as the combined pill, and which one last multiple years, such as the implant. Once you start of a form of contraception, it doesn’t mean you have to stick with it. Many people go through numerous forms of contraception before finding the one that is most suited to them. With the right advice and monitoring from your GP, you can try multiple methods to find the best one for you. People not only use contraception to avoid pregnancy, but also to change their periods.

Some forms of contraception can make your periods lighter, and some even prevent you from having periods at all. Some of these alternatives include the combined pill, the contraceptive patch, the injection and the vaginal ring. If you are looking to lighten your period, then your GP may suggest trying one of these in order to do so. One of the most important things to remember about these forms of contraception is that they do not prevent you from catching any sexually transmitted diseases. The safest way to practice sex, especially if you have multiple sexual partners, is to use condoms. They are the most effective form of protection when used properly and are often handed out for free in your Students’ Union. It is always sensible to have some to hand just in case. Lastly, if you are worried that your particular form of contraception has failed, or you have forgotten to take your contraception, there is always the option of emergency contraception. You can get the contraceptive pill (better known as ‘the morning after pill’) from your GP, local pharmacies such as Superdrug pharmacy, or any sexual health/contraception clinic.

Mental health conditions can vary from loneliness, depression, anxiety, and stress amongst other issues. It is important to remember that you are never alone, and there is support available through both the Studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Union and University. For help and support you can visit cardiffstudents.com/advice to see all the services available to you. You can also check out the University Intranet for more information.

SCIENCE

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GWYDDONIAETH

Your science desk Hollly Giles Rowenna Hoskin Mili Jayadeep Jack Robert Stacey

Technology to engineer self-spreading vaccines now available Scientists may now be able to use self-spreading vaccinations within animal communities rather than culling

Rowenna Hoskin Science Editor

ith COVID-19 on the rampage, vaccinations are at the forefront of everyone’s minds. While scientists are working on a cure for COVID-19, the benefit of prevention of disease is obvious. Many diseases – like rabies, COVID-19, SARS and Ebola – originate in animals and are then passed onto human populations. In the past, the only methods to reduce transmission between wildlife and humans was to reduce human contact with disease-harbouring species, or to cull the species. There have been vaccination programs in the past, a classic example being rabies: by vaccinating dogs and other carnivores, rabies was suppressed in those populations which reduced the risk of humans contracting rabies. This was a very successful program and virtually eliminated rabies in the US and Europe. Rabies still kills more than 55,000 people a year across Africa and Asia where the cost of vaccination projects are preventing a sufficient level of immunity. The problem that arises with these programs, the reason why they are very expensive, is because of the rapid population turnover and large population sizes of species. This makes maintaining immunity within populations very difficult and expensive – fortunately another solution is now available. Scientists have created vaccines that spread themselves; these self-disseminating vaccines can be developed in two ways. The convenient approach relies on

The word on everyone’s lips: Everyone is talking about vaccinations but this research may allow animals to self vaccinate. Source: University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (via Flickr) applying the vaccine to the fur of the captured animals and releasing them back into the wild. When they return to their natural homes, the vaccine will spread as social grooming takes place. As the individuals groom each other they ingest the vaccine which magnifies the level of immunity that populations can reach. This process shows promise for reducing the threat of rabies transmitted from vampire bats. The second approach is a bit more radical: it relies on inserting a small piece of the genome of the infectious disease agent into a benign virus that spreads through the animal population. As the transmissible vaccine spreads from animal to animal, it immunises them against the target infectious dis-

ease. Immunity will increase within the population and the threat to humans will be heavily reduced. The technology to create self-disseminating vaccinations now exists and has already been taken to field trials. Currently experiments are focused on protecting wild rabbit populations from a viral haemorrhagic fever using this technology. Scientists are now looking at developing prototypes for several human pathogens like Ebola and Lassa. This technology could be revolutionary in reducing the threat of disease that is transferred from animals to humans. Another benefit to this technology is the fact that disease would be able to be controlled, meaning that extermina-

tion of wildlife species would no longer be necessary. Ecologically important disease reservoir species populations will be conserved which maintains a healthy interdependent environment. There is still a lot of work left to do before this technology is widely implementable; field trials will be testing effectiveness and possible unexpected consequences of self-disseminating vaccinations. Considering the money being spent on a cure for COVID-19, prevention is unarguably a better method than waiting until it is too late. Vaccines that prevent pathogen transmission to human populations from the start are certainly a better investment than their cures.

Potential immunotherapy effective against cancer

Researchers at the University of Louvain de Duve Institute have neutralised a molecule that hinders the immune system from fighting cancer

Mili Jayadeep Science Editor

he human body has an immune system that acts as a defence against harm, whether this is against foreign pathogens or cellular change that can lead to cancer. However, cancer can overcome these defenses and result in uncontrollable cell division. Cancer treatments can involve a method known as immunotherapy, which targets the body’s own immune system. Immunotherapy can be used to halt cancerous growth and spread. Similarly, it can also help facilitate the body’s immune system to kill cancerous cells. A team of researchers led by So-

phie Lucas at the University of Louvain de Duve Institute have been able to neutralise a molecule that hinders the immune system’s ability to fight cancer. This therapy was also shown to encourage the action of another immunotherapy. Their findings published in the journal Nature Communications demonstrate that tumour regression is possible with this therapy. Lucas began the study in 2004 by looking at immunosuppressive cells that are responsible for inhibiting immune responses by the body. The aim was to identify and understand these cells in order to remove them hence restoring the immune system’s ability to kill cancer cells. The cells responsible for inducing

immunosuppression in cancer patients are known as regulatory T lymphocytes(Tregs). In 2009, Professor Lucas identified a molecule on Tregs’s surface called GARP. Research conducted on the molecule GARP helped understand its role in acting as a signal messenger for Tregs by inhibiting immune response signals. Professor Lucas’s progress, published in the journal Science, involves developing a biological mechanism using anti-GARP antibodies to target the messenger molecules and help prevent the delivery of these inhibitory signals. By 2020, the team was able to perform the first tests on mice with cancer. They were able to utilise anti-GARP antibodies to neutralise

the messenger molecule. Their results show great promise as this results in preventing immune system inhibition, thus enabling its ability to destroy cancerous cells. Their research also involved the use of another known immunotherapy using anti-PD1 antibodies, which when combined with their own novel approach results in tumour regression. The team’s approach offers a new potential immunotherapy shown to be effective against cancer. However, there is more research to be conducted before this treatment can be included in current cancer therapeutics. The next stage involves trial on humans to test its safety and effectiveness before the therapy can be used as standard practice.

Word of the week: Immunotherapy • Immunotherapy is the standard treatment for some types of cancer. It works by stimulating the immune system to fight cancer, helping it to recognise cancer cells • There are different types of immunotherapy and they sometimes make up components of targeted therapy • It can either activate or suppress the immune system depending on what type of cancer it is fighting

GWYDDONIAETH 21

New system to diagnose bipolar four years before onset of symptoms Results from a recent study, using machine learning, shows high accuracy predicting bipolar in young adults

Holly Giles Deputy Editor

ipolar is a mental health condition that is characterised by severe mood swings including “manic highs and depressive lows” as described by BipolarUK. Despite many people not being aware about the condition, it affects over 3 million people in the UK and equates to 1 in 50 people. A large problem with bipolar disorder is getting a diagnosis; many people experience a delay of six years between the onset of symptoms and receiving a diagnosis. This is not only frustrating for the patient but can be clinically important as this delay in support leads to a progression of symptoms, less time between episodes and increased harm to the patient’s mental health. The ability to diagnose bipolar more rapidly would transform the experience of many patients. This is the hope that has been offered by researchers in Brazil who have been able to predict bipolar disorder four years before symptoms start. This would allow four years of preventative treatment, which could mean a decrease of symptoms when they do appear. The team looked at 3810 individuals born in Pelatos, Brazil in 1993. They took measurements and interviewed

the participants aged 11, 15, 18 and 22, looking at the general physical health as well as their mental health and lifestyle. At the end of the study, when participants were 22, 255 people in the study had been diagnosed with bipolar. When looking back retrospectively at the interviews, they were able to highlight several factors which increased the risk an individual would go on to be diagnosed with bipolar. Some of these risk factors included showing suicidal tendencies, anxiety, parental abuse and financial problems, all of which correlate with an increased risk of bipolar. During the study the team used the same software used to predict weather to input the data and predict the risk of bipolar. “It was the job of the machine learning to weigh these factors and estimate the risk of developing bipolar disorder” explained Lead Researcher, Francisco Biego Rabelo-daPonte, when reflecting on the highlighted risk factors. When thinking about the future implication of the research, Rabeloda-Ponte continued: “It’s very difficult and expensive to replicate such a longlasting study, but what we have found indicates that we need more of these longitudinal studies. We’ve already learned a lot from the study itself, for example if we were to set it up now we would include many more mental

Medical support: The extra four years provided by the study would allow preventative measures to decrease symptoms and support patients. Source: Edwintp (via Pxhere)

health parameters, which we hope would allow us to identify even more psychological benefits. We see too many false positives (indicating someone is at risk when they are not) to rely 100% on this system alone. Nevertheless, this system will allow doctors to see who might be at risk, and the gain of 4 years before diagnosis could make a huge difference to the life of a young person.” In the future it is hoped that this machine learning will be used to highlight those at risk, to enable them to see a doctor before reaching breaking point. “This may be a new additional tool for the diagnosis of bipolar dis-

order; this will not replace a doctor’s diagnosis, but may allow them to take preventative measures to slow or avoid the onset of the condition, and so gain 4 years of preventative treatment” explained Rabelo-da-Ponte. Despite its promising results, the study is of a small cohort and is only in one area so it is yet to be determined if the results can be replicated; an example of this is that there may be different risk factors in different areas. The need for more longitudinal studies is apparent but with their high cost and length, it may be some time before we see the fruits of this labour in practice.

Mysterious benefactor funds research to geoengineer the planet Billionaires may be investing in the planet, but what’s the catch?

Rowenna Hoskin Science Editor

he majority of the population see climate change as a prominent looming threat; although reducing our carbon footprints or recycling are steps in the right direction, it is thought that these actions as individuals will do very little to neutralise the impending doom on the horizon. While this is true, some individuals are taking it upon themselves to alter the course of history by funding geoengineering research that could help to combat climate change – the catch? They are Silicon Valley billionaires whose projects are shrouded in nondisclosure agreements. This means they could change the face of the planet, and with it all kinds of interdependent factors such as species population sizes and the climate to name just two. While this research is welcomed by some, other scientists caution the lack of international agreement and legislation surrounding these projects. The question that arises is should billionaires be able to play around with the environment without the other billions

of people consenting, or even knowing about it? In September 2019, scientists, policy makers and benefactors met in California to discuss the idea of using a newly developed technology known as Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement (OAE). Scientists are able to reduce ocean acidification - currently threatening fragile ecosystems such as coral reefs - and atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. This degree of planetary alteration would be a colossal undertaking; the report from the conference says that one OAE process requires the extraction of five billion tonnes of rock each year, which is double the quantity currently used in global cement production. The rock has to be finely ground up to increase its reactive surface area and for this to be deployed globally it would take fleets of ships, which would create an immense carbon footprint. Essentially, the planetary benefits are complicated by its polluting effects. The attendees of this conference discussed these problems and brainstormed solutions. Little did they know, the benefactor of the conference – Oceankind – is under the affluent influ-

ence of a Silicon Valley billionaire who would be able to fund the geoengineering projects out of their own pocket. Oceankind was founded in California in 2018 as a limited liability company (LLC); charities in the US have to file public financial documents each year with the International Revenue Service but LLCs are impenetrable to public scrutiny. Not only are their finances hidden from the public, all information about the people behind Oceankind is concealed. The only contact information relating to Oceankind is a post box address whose manager is Rosewood Family Advisors. They are a California based firm whose accounts and lawyers are dedicated to ultra-affluent people – suggesting that the mysterious benefactor is indeed a very rich and powerful person. The Paris Climate Agreement emerged because of the growing necessity to do something about rising temperatures; while 189 countries have ratified the agreement, at least 130 - including four of the five largest emitting countries - are falling dangerously short of the goal. If the

intense fires ravaging US and Australian states aren’t enough to persuade governments to increase their efforts to cut emissions and save the climate, it appears that rich individuals will find solutions themselves. Billionaires shrouded in non-disclosure agreements with unimaginable funds behind them are planning on dramatically changing the face of the planet. With no legislation to enforce projects to publicise their findings and research, these geoengineering projects have the potential to combat climate change. However, the actual aims and goals of these billionaire funded projects are unknown and their environmental tinkering could in fact be for personal gain as opposed to saving the planet and the billions of people that live on it. With governments falling behind their targets, have we been thrown from the frying pan into the open flames of the private sector? WIll they help to save the planet, or merely their private islands? Without public scrutiny to enforce accountability, Silicon Valley billionaires can play with the planet without suffering the consequences.

Smiling could be the key to happiness Alex Brown Contributor

rom songs and films to books and art, the smile is always emphasized as being one of an individual’s most powerful assets in tackling the world. With abilities ranging from improving wellbeing to mood elevation, a smile is our unassuming, everyday superpower. However, research now shows there may be something to this claim and that it more than just hocus pocus. This research could not have come at a better time, with over half of the British population feeling anxious or worried due to the effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic, and significant mental health deterioration seen worldwide. Research from the University of South Australia has shown that the mind can be tricked into having a more positive outlook simply by moving the facial muscles. The study used covert smiles to assess the differing perceptions of face and body expressions, by looking at participant responses whilst undergoing one of two scenarios: one where people held a pen between their teeth and one with no pen. When a pen is held between the teeth without touching the lips, the facial muscles are forced to replicate a smile. The study asked participants to interpret facial expressions, ranging from frowns to smiles, as well as having them interpret point-light motion images, from sad walking to happy walking videos. The interpretations were then evaluated to see how emotion recognition differed between the pen-in teeth and without-pen groups. It was found that when facial muscles were engaged, not only was the perception of facial expressions affected, the subject’s perception of body language was similarly affected - both of which generated more positive emotions Lead researcher and Human and Artificial Cognition expert Dr Fernado Marmoljo-Ramos believes these findings potentially give us important information for improving mental health: “Our research found that when you forcefully practice smiling, it stimulates the amygdala (the emotional centre of the brain) which releases neurotransmitter to encourage an emotionally positive state. If we can trick the brain into perceiving stimuli as ‘happy’, then we can potentially use this mechanism to boost mental health.” The findings highlight the strong link between action and perception. Dr Marmolejo-Ramos explains that when we emotionally process stimuli, the perceptual and motor systems are intertwined, meaning ‘fake it ‘til you make it’ may have more truth to it than we originally thought.

If we can trick the brain into perceiving stimuli as ‘happy’, then we can potentially use this mechanism to boost mental health

Dr Fernado Marmoljo-Ramos Lead Researcher

22 SCIENCE

Google claims zero carbon emissions for life Holly Giles Deputy Editor

n 2007 Google became carbon-neutral, meaning the amount of carbon emissions released each year by the company are counteracted through renewable projects to trap carbon before its release. However, now the company has gone one step further with the declaration that it has wiped out its entire carbon footprint, meaning it has compensated for all the carbon the company has ever created since it was founded in 1998. The company explained that they have been able to make this change by investing in “high quality carbon offsets”. Simplified, this means that Google has invested in renewable energy projects to remove carbon from entering the atmosphere at sites including farms and landfills. Supporting these projects has meant Google is responsible for removing this carbon from the atmosphere so can counteract the carbon they have previously added as a company. The declaration that they have removed all the carbon created since the company’s origin means that the amount of carbon they have released over time is equivalent to the amount they have now captured through renewable projects. Despite this massive achievement, Google is not satisfied; the new goal is to run all data centres and offices on carbon-free energy by 2030. This is different to offsetting the carbon emissions produced as means the company would not be creating any carbon emissions and would be running entirely on renewable resources. Whilst many technology companies have expressed this as a goal for the future, Google is the first company of its size to give a specific target of 2030, providing a fixed deadline for the project. Chief Executive, Sundar Pichai, explained that this goal is the “biggest sustainability moonshot yet” and will encompass all of the offices, campuses and data centres for Gmail, Google Search, YouTube and Google Maps. Furthermore, the company plans to offset the emissions created by employees’ commutes to the office and more. “We’ll do things like pairing wind and solar power sources together and increasing our use of battery storage … And we’re working on ways to apply AI [artificial intelligence] to optimise our electricity demand and forecasting.” There are still many barriers to overcome between now and 2030 for Google’s dream to be realised. These include technological advances in batteries, artificial intelligence and increasing energy efficiency, whilst simultaneously creating over 12,000 jobs devoted to helping Google achieve its goal. When reflecting on the project, Greenpeace said Google was setting a “new high-bar for the sector”. Whilst the realities of the project may be challenging, it is an important milestone in technology that the most popular search engine in the world has a net carbon emission for its lifetime of zero.

Smart technology could revolutionise rural areas of Wales New report says smart technology could significantly aid the country’s prominent agriculture and tourism sector

Jack Robert Stacey Technology Editor

ccording to a new report by BT, the incorporation and use of smart technologies in rural Welsh communities could significantly aid the country’s prominent agriculture and tourism sectors. British Telecoms (BT), the UK’s largest provider of fixed-line voice and broadband services, recently commissioned a study to evaluate the potential opportunities for the incorporation and continued use of smart technologies in the Welsh countryside. Modern smart technologies - like smart security cameras, smart bulbs and smart refrigerators - are centered around increasing the connectivity between people and their environment and allow devices to be remotely accessed and controlled via any internetconnected device. The new report was published by the social and economic research company Wavehill and, in reference to Wales’s agricultural industries, contested that the continued support of new hightech systems could greatly increase the profitability and efficiency of farming. In rural agriculture, internet-connected sensors could help farmers digitally locate livestock, whilst temperature-sensitive probes maintain industrial fridges which contain vaccines and animal products. Both technologies benefit a fundamental industry in Wales that operates across 1.8 million hectares of land, roughly 88% of the to-

Smart technology: The study by BT claims smart technology, like the drone above, could revolutionise rural areas of Wales. Credit: DJI-Agras (via. Pixabay.) tal land in Wales. Additionally, Wavehill’s report featured an extensive analysis of rural tourist destinations which, including the Dioni Holiday Cottages in Snowdonia, raised the importance of linking online booking systems and websites to cloud services to increase their accessibility for staff. The report suggested that a specific tourist-focused app be created to map specific and tailored routes through Wales’s countryside and rural settle-

ments. Nick Speed, BT’s public affairs for Wales, spoke on the outcome of the report: “Connected, smart technology could offer real benefits to rural communities in future. It has the potential to help rural economies grow and encourage young people to stay in these areas.” While tourism and agriculture continue to be fundamental sources of income in Wales, BT’s new report highlights the significant potential for

smart technologies to boost the efficiency and profitability of these sectors, potentially revolutionising life in rural Wales for the better. It has the potential to... encourage young people to stay in these areas Nick Speed Public Affairs for BT Wales

UK universities under “increased” threat of targeted cyber attacks

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has recently issued an alert warning against a rising number of ransomware attacks against universities Jack Robert Stacey Technology Editor

s the UK’s education establishments return back into operation, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has recently issued an alert warning against a rising number of ransomware attacks. Since August 2020, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has conducted several extensive investigations into the recent ransomware attacks made against schools, colleges and universities in the UK. According to security experts, the return back to universities this year represents a significant concern for the integrity of online teaching which, the NCSC contests, could “de-rail their preparations for the new term”. Ransomware, a variant of malware software, refers to an intentionally malicious program that prevents users from accessing their devices and commonly demands a ‘ransom’ transfer of money or bitcoin in return for restoring access to the device. This form of cyber blackmail is

a steadily growing and, critically, a constantly evolving threat that can gain access to computers through a variety of methods, including but not limited to: spam email, spearfishing, watering hole attacks and scare tactics. In its independent worldwide study into malware attacks, Sophos, a British security software and hardware company, found that 51% of organisations had experienced an attack in 2020 with an increased number of attacks made against academic institutions. This study, applying statistics provided across 26 countries, also concluded that, often, the cost of appropriately dealing with a major ransomware attack (US$732,520) is approximately half the cost of the ransom (US$1,448,458). Chester Wisniewski, a Principal Research Scientist at Sophos with over twenty years of professional experience, highlighted that “the reality is, ransomware is not going away” and continued by saying that “the longer attackers are in the network, the more damage they can inflict […] This is why human intelligence and response are critical security compo-

nents to detect and neutralize early indicators that an attack is underway.” The NCSC’s warning highlights the recent cyber-attacks made against Newcastle and Northumbria University; both are conducting internal investigations into how their systems had become compromised by malware. This is why human intelligence and response are critical security components Chester Wisneiwkski Principle Research Scientist

While these universities had experienced and overcome similar cyberattacks in the past, the ever-evolving strategies adopted by hackers require constant vigilance and bolstering of existing cyber security measures. The ransoms featured in recent attacks against educational institutions have ranged considerably in price; commonplace demands for bitcoin ransoms and/or money transfers have now also included threats to leak

intimate student information if the ransom is left unpaid. Jack T at Cardiff University’s Cyber Society, CyberSoc, spoke on the recent cyber-attacks and described ransoms as “another weight” on the shoulders of universities, many of which are already “under financial pressure in the wake of COVID-19”. He continued in reference to the potential for cyber-attacks against Cardiff University’s online services, noting that CyberSoc “currently have no concrete reason to believe that the IT security teams within the university are not equipped to safeguard against these disruptions.” Although educational institutions are currently facing cyber-attacks at an increasing rate, the IT security teams at UK universities are becoming more alert to the common intrusion techniques used to access computers and, subsequently, are working to mitigate against future attacks. Additional information for staying safe online and mitigating the risk of malware intrusions is available from the National Cyber Security Centre’s website.

GWYDDONIAETH 23

Scientists of the past & future: September 2020

Marie Curie and the continued development of radiotherapy

Looking back on the work of Marie Curie and at the ways researchers are using her work today as part of cutting edge research Holly Giles Deputy Editor

arie Curie is arguably one of the most famous scientists of all time. She is a household name, not only for her research but also thanks to her association with the Marie Curie charity and most recently, with the blockbuster 2020 film Radioactive. The film looks at the life of Marie Sklodowska-Curie and the research leading her to win two Nobel prizes. I must admit despite being a scientist myself, I learnt a lot from the film and have since chosen to look into her work more for this month’s feature. Marie Curie was Polish and moved to France for her research, after being barred from studying in Poland because she was a woman. She was a physicist and moved to Paris after an opportunity arose for her to study a doctorate there. She was then catapulted into fame after discovering two new elements with her husband Pierre Curie; their discovery of polonium and radium and their unusual behaviour, which she defined as radioactivity, shocked the scientific community. This discovery led to Curie being awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1903. She then won this again in 1911 after creating a way to measure radioactivity. After these discoveries Curie changed direction in order to find a way to use what she had found, initially working to diagnose injuries with mobile X-ray units in the First World War. She invested fully in the war effort and even tried to give away her Nobel medals, but the bank refused. It was not long after her discovery that people began using radioactivity to treat cancer, showing that exposing cells to radioactive elements caused them to shrink. Radiation therapy uses the waves given off by radioactive elements to damage and destroy cancer cells. Radiation works specifically by making small breaks in the DNA of cancer cells, meaning they are no longer able to divide and replicate. Radiation poisoning is when the body’s own cells are exposed to high levels of radioactive waves, causing their DNA structure to change. If the body’s own cells cannot divide and replicate they die and when this occurs in vital organs and at high levels, like in the case of Marie Curie, the patient is diagnosed with radiation poisoning. Overexposure to radiation can also lead to cancers, due to the DNA damage it causes. It is also important to recognise the sacrifice Marie Curie made for her work. Now, the risks of radioactivity exposure are well known, and hospi-

Curie was the first woman to receive a Ph.D. from a French university, as well as the first woman to be employed as a professor at the University of Paris . The first woman in history to win a Nobel Prize was Marie Curie She was the first person ever to win the Nobel Prize twice and for achievements in two distinct scientific fields After discovering radium with her husband, Pierre, the couple refused to patent it in order to earn money. She explained “Radium is an element, it belongs to the people”

Curie’s laboratory: Seen here with her husband, Pierre Curie, Marie worked tirelessly in their laboratory to discover radium. Source: Wellcome Images (via Wikimedia Commons.)

I am one of those who think like Nobel, that humanity will draw more good than evil from new discoveries. Marie Curie Scientist

tals and labs work hard to control exposure to these elements. However, at the time Curie was working this was not known, meaning radioactive exposure eventually led to her death by radiation poisoning in 1934. The Curies worked so closely with a material called pitchblende (which they used to extract the uranium and radium from) that it is said that even now Curie’s books are too dangerous to touch due to their exposure levels. Nowadays, radiation therapy is not only safe but is common practice in cancer treatment with around one in three patients receiving it. Despite looking very different now due to technological advances, it is undeniably linked to that first discovery by Curie. In fact, in France radiotherapy is named ‘Curietherapy” in tribute to her. Despite the many challenges Curie faced in her life - both as an immigrant, a female scientist and a rebel for the time - she remained focused on science and her work. This is especially seen in her famous quote: “Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing must be attained.”

The journey into radiotherapy is far from over, with research now focusing on the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) to radiotherapy treatments. The charity Cancer Research UK has invested £56 million to explore the links between these two, with the hope of accelerating advancements in the field. Michelle Mitchell, Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK, said: “Radiotherapy is a cornerstone of cancer medicine, with around three in 10 patients receiving it as part of their primary treatment. The launch of our network marks a new era of radiotherapy research in the UK. Scientists will combine advances in our understanding of cancer biology with cutting-edge technology to make this treatment more precise and effective than ever before.” The project will focus on new techniques that deliver radiotherapy using AI, as well as radiotherapy-drug combinations and ways to minimise the long-term effects of the treatment. One specific researcher working for Cancer Research UK is Dr Emma Harris at The Institute for Cancer Research in London. Her work with radiotherapy hopes to make the delivery to patients more efficient so that the rays are more precisely targeted onto cancerous cells. “Radiotherapy can be targeted to a specific area, but sometimes internal organs can move, such as when the patient breathes. We want to be [able to] develop a way to see where the tumour moves and move the radiotherapy beams to stay with the tumour” says Harris. Being able to increase the efficiency of the treatment may not only increase the benefits but may also decrease the side

effects experienced by patients. Her goal of guiding radiotherapy more efficiently has been titled by Cancer Research UK as “teaching an old dog new tricks”. Another clinical trial underway is being run by Professor Emma Hall at the Institute of Cancer Research. Hall is looking at the combination of treatments used for patients and whether some medications can increase the efficiency of radiotherapy. It is hoped that an increased efficiency would reduce the amount of healthy tissue that is damaged and, as a result of this, that the side effects would be reduced. There are many different clinical trials underway for improving the use of radiotherapy that are running alongside the projects by Cancer Research UK. It is amazing to see how far scientific progress has come since that first radioactive discovery by Curie just over one hundred years ago. Radiotherapy, or Curietherapy to the French, is a well-established treatment option for cancer patients and with increasing research and understanding is likely to be used more and more in the future.

Radiotherapy is a cornerstone of cancer medicine, with around three in 10 patients receiving it... (research will) make this treatment more precise than ever before. Michelle Mitchell Executive of Cancer Research UK

During some of her hardest years, Einstein wrote to cheer her on: “I am impelled to tell you how much I have come to admire your intellect, your drive, and your honesty,” he wrote, “and that I consider myself lucky to have made your personal acquaintance”

As part of the war effort, Curie had tried to donate her gold Nobel Prize medals to the French National Bank, but they refused Because they were unaware of the dangers of radiation poisoning, Curie used a vial of Radium as a nightlight in her bedroom Curie’s daughter Irène went on to win a Nobel Prize in Chemistry for continuing her work on radioactive elements

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Your @Caerdydd desk Natalie Graham Fflur Trevor

Wicked Women's Institute

The Women's Institute which is unapologetically female Natalie Graham @Caerdydd Editor

ne century after women obtained the right to vote in the UK, many women still don't identify themselves as a feminist. Wicked Women’s Institute, the Cardiff based brain child of Emina Redzepovic has embraced the changing face of feminism with open arms. At the start of September handsoffclub released their findings from a study looking at the percentage of female students at UK based Universities who had experienced groping in a club; 91% of which had. Cardiff University sits in second place, where 95% of female students had experienced groping on a night out. Gair Rhydd interviewed Wicked Women’s Institute founder Emina Redzepovic at the beginning of the month, in which we discussed all things WWI, experiences of sexism, student safety and the trials and tribulations of the word feminism. What is Wicked Women Institute, and why did you set it up? It's a bit of everything - a movement, a podcast, events and an online platform. I had attended some women focused events and just felt they weren't for me. I craved something real so I had an idea to create a movement for women who were more like me. What does it mean to be a member of WWI? It means that you’re a badass who rejects the boundaries and confinements of what a woman is or should be. You are open and accepting of other people, you want to learn, support your community and you really like putting your middle finger up to the patriarchy. What does feminism mean to you? I feel like feminism is in a very divisive place, we have radical femi-

Emina Redzepovic: Emina is the founder of Wicked Women's Institute. Source: Emina Redzepovic nists who denounce transgender and non binary people and then we have intersectional feminism which is what I strive for; acceptance, understanding and inclusion. Feminism to me means learning, growing, being as fearless as possible and not apologising for knowing what you want. What has your experience of feminism and/or Sexism been whilst living in Wales (Cardiff )? Cardiff is far more liberal than where I grew up (Neath) and I would say the majority of my friends class themselves as feminists. Sexism is just everywhere, wherever you’re located and there have been numerous times I’ve been judged, or made to feel stupid or ignorant because I’m a woman. In Cardiff I feel more confident of being understood. Last academic year saw a consistent stream of posts to ‘Overheard at Cardiff University’ warning female students to not walk home alone. How would you like to see the safety of female students improved? Students need to feel that they are being listened to and taken seriously, it would be good to tackle this with a co-productive attitude. I think Brook Cymru who are a sex positive charity could do excellent

work around this and provide training to help the situation. It’s almost the start of the University Autumn Term. What advice do you have for young women who experience or are concerned about experiencing any form of sexual harassment? Please don’t ever feel shame and guilt, it’s not your fault. If anyone does encounter sexual harassment then please tell someone straight away and do whatever you can to feel safe. Reporting this to the University and Police is a good thing but I know that it’s scary. Statistics were recently released stating Cardiff came in 2nd place for the worst Universities in terms of groping on a night out. How do you feel about this? I’m disgusted by this stat, but not surprised. I think it's fundamental that everyone is educated on sexual behaviours. These conversations are hard but they need to happen as early as possible, we cannot leave sex education too late Do you think by openly discussing topics on your podcast, it will help to normalise taboo issues and help promote for example self confidence in sex, body image and pre-

vent the idealised images of women? The feedback I get is really positive and people get a lot out of conversations and topics that are very open and honest. They are the conversations I craved as a younger woman and never really had. I mean, talking about the grossest thing your body has ever done is a stark reminder that we are all human and the Instagram version of ourselves isn’t real. Women are allowed to be real. I’ve seen on your linktree page the Ruby Tandoh essay “Eating, Health & Guilt”. It discusses the potentially dangerous way the Government has decided to tackle obesity, in an age where eating disorders are on the increase amongst young women. Does the body positivity movement goes far enough? The body positive movement is divisive and a movement started by black women that has been made profitable. For more progress to be made, radical change has to happen and a lot of it comes from us rejecting the thin ideal, diet culture and the beauty industry. What can women do to protect themselves from a skewed societal view towards ‘the right body’? I unfollow or unfriend any account or person that makes me feel bad about my body and I replace them with very real and honest accounts of body positivity and self-love. If I feel bad about my body one day, I give permission to myself to feel bad but know that I will move on. I wrote a letter to my body to thank it for all the wonderful things it does. Having previously hosted in-person events, WWI has had to adapt to the hostile pandemic environment we now endure. However, the movement continues to thrive in the virtual world, organising online events. Most recently hosting "Body Talks: Health, Diet Culture & FU UK Govt", an online seminar discussing the Government's obesity campaign

Cardiff to become first Welsh Fast Track City

Wales joins the fight against HIV by joining the Fast Track Cities organisations Fflur Trevor @Caerdydd Editor

ardiff has become a Fast Track City in the fight against HIV. The Fast-Track Cities initiative is a global partnership between cities around the world and four core partners – the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC), the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UNHabitat), and the City of Paris. In September 2020, Cardiff became a Fast Track City by signing the Paris Declaration on Fast Track cities. Consequently, Cardiff will work with 300 other cities in the partnership to towards sustaining the 90-90-90 UNAIDS target. Simplified, this means the targets aim to have 90% with the virus

formally diagnosed, 90% of people having treatment for HIV and 90% of people having undetectable and un-transmittable viral loads. The Paris Declaration was signed virtually due to COVID-19 restrictions, with activists and medical professionals present during the signing. Huw Thomas, Leader of Cardiff County Council, said: "I am pleased that we are signing this declaration today signifying that Cardiff too is joining the network and also expanding the Fast Track Cities network into Wales” Many of the campaigners present at the signing saw this has a huge positive step in combating HIV. Both in terms of reducing death and transmission but also in removing the stigma that has surrounded HIV for decades. Moreover, it will support those in

Wales and Cardiff who are already HIV positive. In 2019, Gareth Thomas, the Welsh Rugby Union player, revealed that he was HIV positive. Since his announcement, he has become a HIV Commissioner with aims to combat the stigma of HIV. He said in an interview: “I believe what I do now is really what I care about because there’s not many people from a simple life that I come from who can have the power to change other people’s lives” Wales has taken a progressive step by allowing Cardiff to become a Fast Track City. It highlights the positive progression of Welsh society since the epidemic struck almost 4 decades ago. Hopefully, this will end the stigmatisation of the disease and offer support to those in Wales who are living with HIV.

Hope: A red ribbon is the universal symbol of awareness of HIV. Source: Artsybee (via. Pixabay.)

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Sport’s response to the Black Lives Matter movement

Tom Walker Head of Sport

he Black Lives Matter movement started back in 2013 when Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi decided to create a ‘Blackcentered political will and movement building project’ in response to the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s murderer, George Zimmerman. The organisation aimed to build local power to intervene in violence suffered by Black communities from the state and vigilantes. Since the killing of George Floyd on May 25 2020, the movement’s taken hold of the entire world as we continue to fight against social injustice and police brutality. Sport has played a significant role in ensuring this message is on full display. From the NBA boycotting games in protest of the killing of Jacob Blake, to Naomi Osaka wearing masks emblazoned with the names of Black victims of police brutality and racial injustice; the sporting world has come together to support this incredibly important cause. In this article we will detail the work being done by different sports and their organisations to support the Black Lives Matter movement, explore the importance sport can have in social movements like this and what more can be done.

an increased amount of race-related incidents last season (e.g. Haringey Borough choosing to walk off the pitch during an FA Cup game after Yeovil Town fans racially abused their players), it is time to iron out those issues and inconsistencies before preaching injustice in other areas of society. The players themselves have been generally unionised in their support for the movement. Individuals like Marcus Rashford and Raheem Sterling have been fighting social injustice for years now, with the former focusing his work primarily on child poverty, and the latter being a spokesman for racial discrimination in football and wider society.

Fighting for change: Sterling has recieved wide aclaim for the work he has done off the pitch. Source: Антон Зайцев (via. Wikimedia Commons.)

The Premier League: performative or genuine? Take a knee Upon it’s restart following a coronavirus enforced break, football returned looking to show its support and solidarity to the cause. The Premier League elected to replace the players names on the back of their shirts with the message Black Lives Matter, and supporting the notion for staff, officials and players to take a knee for a few seconds at the start of the game. English football and the corporations in which dictate its proceedings have often been highly reluctant to getting on board, or even acknowledging any sort of political activism or discourse. When Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola sported a yellow ribbon in support of the independence movement in his native Catalonia in 2018, he was fined by the Football Association. In late 2019 Arsenal distanced themselves from star midfielder Mesut Ozil following his comments on China for its treatment of Uighur Muslims. And more recently Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters said footballers may have set “uncomfortable precedents” by being politically active. It is difficult to withdraw a complete sense of sincerity from these sentiments towards the Black Lives Matter movement when the organisations and clubs have been so quick to disperse any attempt for social injustice awareness in the past. English football has been quick to jump on the gesture train. However, only five of the current 91 (5.5%) managers and head coaches in England’s top four divisions are from a Black, Asian or minority ethnic background, no BAME representation among referees and

Taking a knee was originally a protest at the unfair treatment of Black Americans, but is now recognised as a globalised symbol against racism. The gesture originated in 2016 by American Football quarterback Colin Kaepernick who first sat on the bench during the US national anthem of a preseason game, before electing to take a knee in the next game, in protest of police brutality and racism. Kaepernick said at the time: “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of colour.” Following the death of George Floyd and the stark numbers of protests about social injustice around the world that preceded, the take a knee sentiment featured heavily among those fighting for justice. Similarly, many sports looked to include it in their own acts of support for the movement. The Premier League, Premiership Rugby and the NBA just to name a few, all gave its players the opportunity to kneel and show their solidarity for Black Lives Matter. The gesture was not forced upon the participants, and there were a few examples of players who opted not to take the knee which was met with some backlash. England international Billy Vuinipola was one of those who chose not to take a knee ahead of Saracens’ game against Bristol, explaining that doing so would contradict his religious beliefs. “What I saw in terms of the Black Lives Matter movement was not aligned with what I believe in. They were burning churches and Bibles. I

Making a statement: 49er players take a knee during the national anthem. Source: Keith Allison (via. Wikimedia Commons.) can’t support that,” Vunipola said. Before Sale Shark’s game against Harlequins, 11 of Sale’s 15 players chose to stand as opposed to taking the knee. What ensued became rather messy, as fellow Sale player Marland Yarde claimed that his teammates received death threats for not kneeling, and the South African contingent of the team were criticized by their country’s Sports Minister Nathi Mthethwa. Former Harlequiens player, and fellow South African Renaldo Bothma reacted to the minister’s statement with a fiery message on Twitter: “I will never take a knee to anyone else than GOD! Where are all these ministers when we need to take a knee for farm murders in South Africa and take action against corruption? We all can decide what we want to do!” At the time of writing, no Sale player has responded, but perhaps Bothma’s words illustrated the complex political backdrop that inspired the decision not to take the knee. The decision to take a knee or not should not be an issue, and every athlete’s choice on the matter should be respected, otherwise the attention turns away from the actual issue at hand. Exeter Chiefs’ Director of Rugby, Rob Baxter, said that rugby should stop trying to be a “political tool” and get back to being a sport. I don’t believe this is true, however when the fixation turns to something so minuscule such as whether an individual player partakes in a small gesture, sport loses all its credibility as a political tool. When asked why his QPR team had opted not to take the knee in their first two Championship fixtures, Les Ferdinand, the clubs Director of Football explained that the gesture’s impact has now been “diluted”. “The taking of the knee has reached a point of ‘good PR’ but little more than that. The message has been lost. It is now not dissimilar to a fancy hashtag or a nice pin badge.” He said in a club statement. “Taking the knee will not bring about change in the game - actions will.” It is hard to disagree with Ferdinand, especially given that QPR are one of the most progressive clubs in England in terms of diversity of hire, with Ferdinand himself being one of the few Black directors of football in the country. Our priorities seem to be in the wrong order. In the NBA, Miami Heat player Myers Leonard elected not to

take the knee due to his family’s military heritage. Instead of that dominating the news cycle for the next few days, he simply gave his explanation and with the support of teammates and league executives moved on. It is important to keep sight of the real problem.

Athletic Union’s response

I spoke to the Athletic Union President, Jude Pickett, to find out its stance on the movement, as well the Athletic Unions procedure upon any racial abuse or discrimination within University Sport. “The Athletic Union, as part of Cardiff University Students Union, stands in solidarity with our black students.” She said. “Silence is an unacceptable response to racism and now more than ever, we need to tackle racism and discrimination as there is no place for it in modern society.” “The Athletic Union and Cardiff University Students Union takes complaints regarding student behaviour and conduct very seriously. This includes any reports of racial abuse or discrimination. All reports are dealt with and resolved in line with our Student Members Complaints Procedure, Code of Conduct & Discipline and Appeals Procedures.”

The next steps

We are now in the influencer generation. What celebrities and athletes preach is now received and taken on by more people than ever. For all the downfalls that can have, when their platform is used correctly and is aligned with the right message, it can have a brilliant effect. As much as the athletes and players can preach the message, reality dictates that it is still those in the highrise boardrooms who hold the power to real change. The FA, Rugby Football Union, England and Wales Cricket Board, Lawn Tennis Association, England Golf, Rugby Football League, UK Athletics, British Cycling and England Hockey have just one black board member between them, so that is certainly a place to start. There is still a long way to go in this battle for social justice, and sport is only one fragment of the social and political spectrum that requires more action. But if it continues to produce outspoken and passionate individuals on social and political issues and we as a society encourage them to speak out more, we might well be on the right path.

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2020 Season Review: Glamorgan Glamorgan fail to meet expectations in disappointing return

Freddie Bennett Sport Editor

his season saw the rebranding of the County Championship into the Bob Willis Trophy, named after the late Bob Willis, the former English fast bowler who passed away earlier this year. Following their successful 2019 campaign which saw them challenging promotion to the first division, Glamorgan would have been hoping to go all the way in this five-game competition. Unfortunately, this was not the case as they finished winless at the bottom of the table, picking up three draws against Worcestershire, Warwickshire and Gloucestershire. This disappointing red ball campaign unearthed some clear issues with the bat as Glamorgan were skittled for low scores throughout their five games, including being bowled out for only 115 against Gloucestershire. It is worth mentioning that without the pandemic, Glamorgan were going to play host to Australian batsman Marnus Labuschagne who would have definitely strengthened their batting lineup. Nevertheless, the Bob Willis trophy was not all doom and gloom for Glamorgan as the veteran bowler Michael Hogan reached the milestone of 600 first-class wickets. This tremendous accomplishment would appear to be a silver lining in what has been a difficult season for his county. Alongside this feat, there looks to be hope for the future of the batting line-

up as Callum Taylor hit a century on his first-class debut against Northamptonshire. The Welsh side will be hoping that this promising prospect can help the team push for promotion again in the coming seasons. In the Vitality Blast T20 competition Glamorgan did not fare much better, finishing second from bottom in their group only bettering the Worcestershire Rapids. Glamorgan lost half of their ten games, picking up four wins and seeing one no result. This below par white ball performance from Glamorgan meant they were unable to qualify for the quarter finals set to take place at the start of October, but they may be able to take some solace in the fact their 2020 campaign had been an improvement on their 2019 T20 campaign, with the

Welsh side only registering one win in the competition last year as opposed to four this season. The county will be looking to build on this improvement in the competition and push for the quarter finals, and Finals Day slots in the future. Next season could feature a new look starting lineup for Glamorgan. Three Welsh talents; Kieran Bull, Owen Morgan and Connor Brown, have all not had their contracts renewed, representing the financial strain some sides are under and the difficulty of keeping young players. As well as this, with Brexit around the corner many counties will be having to review overseas players as new rules could be put in place to limit foreign players. For Glamorgan this could mean that players like the county jour-

neyman Colin Ingram who were born overseas but have been in this country so long they qualify effectively as local players may have to fit into the overseas category which only accounts for two players per team in the 2021 season. However, the prospect of Marnus Labuschagne coming in next year will be a major boost for the side. The Australian is already signed up and it will be exciting to have such a talented young international player in the county circuit. In short, this campaign has presented many difficulties for Glamorgan who have struggled in the various red and white ball competitions. However, with talented prospects rising up, Glamorgan will hopefully fare better in the 2021 season.

Glamorgan vs Warwickshire: 2018. Source: Pjposullivan (via. Wikimedia Commons).

The return of sports teams to Cardiff University

How will both sports and facilities look in the the new semester? Ben Lovell-Smith Sport Editor

ith the new semester round the corner, and a new load of sport enthusiasts entering the Cardiff scene, we explore the current state of university sport and what you can expect from the new term in a sporting capacity. After the outbreak of COVID-19 the university have been working hard to ensure all aspects of sports are in line with government regulations.

BUCS

Last month BUCS announced a ‘Return to Play’ programme which allows for regional competition, in line with government protocols surrounding the coronavirus pandemic. The BUCS leagues and knockout tournaments will remain suspended until the new year, with the idea of focusing on ‘participation and playing, rather than performance and reward’, essentially allowing a form

of competition to take place. These temporary leagues will contain at least six teams each in order to adjust to potential lockdowns or outbreaks. Confirmation of the leagues and fixtures are to be confirmed. A number of Cardiff University squads are already deep into preparations for the new season. Cardiff Uni RFC’s elite squad began preseason training on September 9th. The squad have had to observe the Welsh Rugby Union’s ‘return to play protocols’, which has involved the sanitisation of equipment, and a significant reduction in physical contact between the squad. Similarly, the Cardiff tennis club got their season back underway with a socially distanced knockabout in preparation for the new term.

University campus

There are plenty of sports facilities at Cardiff University to look out for with a range of high-quality gym equipment.

Around the university, various opportunities exist to work on health and fitness. In the Talybont residence area, there are a range of full artificial pitches as well as indoor facilities nearby that offer indoor courts. There is also a full gym located at the Students Union which is utilized by many students. It offers a full range of fitness and conditioning equipment. Currently, you have to book in order to visit the Fitness and Conditioning gym due to the coronavirus restrictions put in place. One can only book a 50 minute session and social distancing is restricting the number of people at the gym at any one time.

IMG

With regards to recreational sport, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved at Cardiff University. IMG Leagues are set up allowing for students wishing to participate to create their own team with flat mates or course friends and enter into a

sports league. The main IMG sports at the moment are football, either seven or eleven aside games, as well as netball. This is a perfect option for students who want to participate in more social, but lightly competitive games. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, many of the changing and shower facilities will not be available. Therefore, it is being advised that gym goers and players arrive ready for their game or gym session. The circumstances are far from normal or set in place. Sport is a significant part of university life, but the ever changing nature of coronavirus makes it difficult to predict what will happen next week, let alone a few months down the line. But the University, and similar institutions around the country understand the value of sport at university, so will make sure eventually it can be carried out in a safe but effective manner on a regular basis.

Blues Column

Ben Lovell-Smith Sport Editor

he Pro14 is back this weekend and the Cardiff Blues begin their season with a trip to Italy, where they will face Zebre, followed by the visit of Connacht the following week at the Arms Park. Two very winnable fixtures which could be the springboard to a successful season in the Welsh capital. Last season was hit and miss for the Blues, only winning seven out of 15 games which left them second bottom of conference B. However, failures can be put down to a broken squad, impacted by the international call ups of a number of players, as well as the squad adapting to a new coaching set up. This season will certainly offer more stability. Despite this disappointment, John Mulvihill’s men have had cause to celebrate during the short pre-season break. A number of key players signed new contracts; Liam Belcher, Will Boyde, Aled Summerhill, Jason Tovey and stalwart Lloyd Williams have all committed their future to the region. Whilst the arrivals of Welsh internationals Rhys Carre and Cory Hill boost the squad for the upcoming season, after moves from Saracens and Newport Gwent Dragons respectively. Exciting Welsh youngsters Sam Moore and Luke Scully have also joined the club. Clearly, the squad is full of competition this season. The Blues have a wealth of talent in most positions. Including a number of Wales internationals, Dillon Lewis, Tomos Williams, Hallam Amos, to name just a few. However the Blues are by far the strongest in the back row. Ellis Jenkins, Josh Navidi, Will Boyde, Olly Robinson and Josh Turnbull were all key players last season but none of them are guaranteed a starting place. After Nick Williams’ retirement, there are some big boots to fill and the arrival of Sam Moore from Sale Sharks could be the answer. Moore is a hefty ball carrying number eight, with a great reputation, having been selected for the England senior squad in 2018. The continuing emergence of James Botham is enough to heighten the senses alone, Botham performed fantastically in the last match against Ospreys, making 17 tackles and eight carries. Shane LewisHughes is another exciting young option. Cardiff will be boosted by the success of star wing Josh Adam’s ankle surgery. The Welsh international returned to play in fine form in the two post lockdown derby matches against Scarlets and Ospreys, scoring two tries. In a Lion’s year, Adams will be looking to do everything he can to get on the plane. The academy squad for this season includes Cardiff University’s very own Theo Bevacqua. A loose head prop with a very bright future. Having already made his Blues first team debut at the age of 18, Bevacqua is tipped for the top. Working alongside legendary 100 cap former Wales international and fellow loose head prop Gethin Jenkins, there is no reason he can’t achieve international honours. Look out for him in this season’s Celtic Cup. Such a talented squad should be performing better than second bottom of the conference. Hopefully after a settling period and off the back of victory against the Ospreys the Blues will hit the ground running against Zebre.

To contact our sport desk, drop us an email at sport@gairrhydd.com

sport Cardiff Blues Pro14 season preview Page 27

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The return of sport to Cardiff BUCS, IMG, new restrictions and more Page 27

Glamorgan fail to meet expectations in disappointing return Freddie Bennett Sport Editor

ith cricket being one of many sports to make a return following the devastating effects of the coronavirus pandemic, we take a look at how the season has gone for the Welsh based side Glamorgan since coming back. It is fair to say that this campaign has been a mixed bag for the team with underwhelming league finishes in the renamed Bob Willis Trophy, as well as the Vitality Blast T20 competition. Nevertheless, there are promising glimpses into the future. Next season it looks as if Sophia Gardens will play host to the young Australian batsman Marnus Labuschagne who will hopefully bring some of his international experience to the struggling 27 county side.

In action: Lauren Cooper in action at the British Championships earlier this month. Source: British Athletics (via. Getty Images)

Lauren Cooper: “Just enjoy being back on the start line” Ella Fenwick Sport Editor

ncoming local lockdowns and new restrictions set by the government have seemed to put everything back on standby. After the sporting world was returning with a good start and many athletes getting stuck back into their sports the ever-changing rules are bound to have an effect on the participation at sporting events. Training and competing during a global pandemic was one thing athletes doubted they would ever come face to face with in their careers. Many sports have only just been found to return back to the scene after a long six months off, and for Wales it saw the return of road racing on September 18 with the Cardiff Sunset 5km run. Following new restrictions, the race was held on a socially distanced flat course around Cardiff, which is a step in the right direction for runners in Wales. Two of the runners who competed were in fact from

Cardiff University. Cardiff alumni and former BUCS Champion, Alaw Benyon came in fourth with a time of 17.05 minutes. While Charlotte Arter, a member of staff from Cardiff Uni Sport, came in at first place with an impressive time of 15:59. Unlike the other two representatives, Cardiff University’s high performing athlete Lauren Cooper was unable to join in with the return of road racing having been put into local lockdown. Despite spending months in a national lockdown, motivation was far from low by Cooper and she continued to stay positive in her training and still push towards her future goals. “My motivation remained pretty high during lockdown, which surprised me. I had no access to the track or gym facilities and was unable to train with my coach, which was difficult to deal with at the start. I also use racing as my primary motivation, and all races were cancelled indefinitely. Luckily, lots of organisations put on virtual races and I ended up ‘racing’

every week! It’s not the same as real racing, but when I was progressing week on week, it gave me a reason to keep pushing.” Even though Cooper couldn’t return for the Cardiff Sunset 5km, she was lucky enough to put back on her club’s vest and compete in a couple of competitions. Although she was disappointed with the result of her first race back and finding she could not catch a break after her second race being held in the middle of Storm Dennis, it was all made up for Cooper after her performance in the British Athletics Championships. “In my short season, I managed to take 12 seconds off my 3000m PB time and 13 seconds off my 3000m steeplechase, leaving me two seconds off the Welsh Record and two seconds behind Bronze medal at the British Championships.” For Cooper the near future of racing seems uncertain, with no races planned anytime soon, she is relying on the changes in guidelines of her Borough but remains eager to contin-

ue racing and is adapting her training to the circumstances. “Unfortunately, I don’t have access to track facilities at the moment, which is hindering my ability to train effectively for shorter distances. I am doing a lot of strength work at home, and trying to find the flattest parts of road for sessions (not easy when you live in the valleys). I am grateful though, it is far easier for a distance runner to train in lockdown than a jumper or thrower for example.” Having stayed motivated and positive no matter what has been thrown her way Cooper gave advice to other athletes that might be struggling during these times on how to manage their training: “Have specific goals and make sure your training is geared towards that. In the past, I have been guilty of wanting to race every distance, but it’s just not feasible. Your training will look very different if you want to run an 800m versus a 10k. Keep your goals in mind, write them down and plan how you’ll achieve them.”

Sport’s response to the Black Lives Matter movement Tom Walker Head of Sport

he Black Lives Matter movement has dominated the political and social landscape since the killing of George Floyd by an American policeman in May 2020. The world came to a halt, and many millions took to the streets and social media to protest social injustice towards the black community, as well as police brutality. Sport is one of the arenas that have shown their support for the movemnt. From the Milwaukee Bucks and Orlando Magic choosing to boycott their NBA playoff fixture, to Naomi Osaka wearing masks emblazoned with the names of Black victims of police brutality and racial injustice; the sporting world has come together to support this incredibly important cause, and made use of the large platform it possesses. Head of Sport Tom Walker explores how the sporting world has shown it’s support for the movement in more detail, and what more can be done to combat 27 racial injustice within sport.

Issue 1155: Freshers Issue 2020

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