Beth fyddet ti’n ei archebu o’r

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

Dominic Williams

News Editor

As 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

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 terms of food court and the Taf will Freshers’ and societies recruitbe running table service, like you’d ment is there any news on how it see with establishments in town. We will be running this year? have a tested app where you can or“I think we are really emphasizing der food and have them delivered to to societies, that society fairs should you while being socially distanced.” not be the “banking all of our money

Were you in any societies youron it”. I think lots of societies are diself and if so, how did this affect verting a lot of diversity, energy, and your university life? impunity into making virtual activi

“I’ve been in Cardiff a while and ties so that if the freshers fairs don’t this is my 5th year now. But I joined happen, they can offer the same sort a couple of societies, with the main of service to students. one being Upride, a society in my “I’m amazed at the creativity peofirst year and I think societies really ple to have, but yes, we’re trying do make your time at university. our best currently and will keep you

“Getting involved in societies gave posted. ‘’ me a confidence that I’ve never had. COVID-19 has undoubtedly afI think coming to university can be fected life in all aspects, and Uniso scary and even though I’d had versity life is no different. Changes older friends that had been to uni, it will have to be made to societies this is really a completely different thing year, but these challenges are being going to uni [than hearing about it] carefully examined by the SU and by and I think getting involved in sothe work of society leaders. cieties gave me a confidence that I Cardiff University has a wide never knew I was lacking.” range of societies, which are open

Freshers Fair is a huge part of 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 D uring the COVID-19 pandemic, many changes were introduced when it came to safety Tirion Davies Editor-in-Chief 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. Alface 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 Conwho 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 measures, including banning the use of though, this increase in the use of servation Society stated to the BBC, items during the coronavirus panreusable cups, and introducing disposplastic is now being called a “back “if you drop a mask today it will redemic and we are working with able face coverings. step” in the fight against pollution. main in the environment for many, businesses to help reduce their en

As plastic cups, gloves and disAccording to a UK government many years”. vironmental impact and to support posable face coverings get dropped report published in 2018, at least 2.5 The Welsh Government stated it recycled and reusable alternatives”. on to beaches and littered across billion coffee cups are thrown away had promoted the responsible disThe impact of single-use plastics cities, the head of The Plastic Reeach year in the UK. posal of masks in campaigns, and during the pandemic has already search Centre of Wales at Bangor Following the ban of reusable cups always encouraged the population been damaging through the use of University noted that the damage by many coffee chains in March, to use reusable, washable face covplastics and plastic-based items. of single-use plastic during the panJuly saw 119 experts from across the erings wherever possible. But with plastic being an impordemic could “last forever”. globe sign a statement, concluding Although, while single-use plastant tool in preventing the spread of

What is now being called the reusable containers posed no threat tic is damaging to the environment, the virus and saving lives, alternaBlue Planet effect was taking a step to the public during the pandemic. it’s impact has already been felt and tives will need to be introduced to forward before the pandemic, with Single-use face coverings have introducing further alternative syslessen the environmental impact of refill schemes and sustainable packbeen found to have a significant imtems with a different kind of PPE single-use plastic for a world postaging introduced by the Welsh Govpact on the environment. As these could be catastrophic for companies pandemic.