gair rhydd - Issue 980

gair rhydd Monday May 21 2012 | freeword – Est. 1972 | Issue 980

It’s a sabb sabb situation

Sheri Hall News Editor Questions have been raised about student awareness of elected Sabbatical officers after only a third of students recognised them, according to a survey conducted by gair rhydd last week.

Only 32.5% recognised their faces when they were shown a photograph of them, and only 19.5% knew that they were sabbatical officers of Cardiff Students’ Union (CSU). Out of those who knew that they were sabbatical officers, only 12.5% could tell us their names. gair rhydd surveyed 200 students in and around Cardiff University campus, asking them if they recognised the faces and if they knew who they were or what they did.

Most shocking was that only 12% recognized the CSU President, whose job description reads ‘the public face of the union’. Mar-

cus told us “I do not think it is particularly important whether officers are well recognised by students. What is crucial is that students know what the Union can do for them and where to go for help!... Being the public face refers more towards external stakeholders.”

Athletics Union President, Ollie Devon, was known by the most students, as 44% recognized him as a sabbatical officer, and 36% knew his name.

Head of Student Media, Oliver Smith, was one of the least well known as he was recognised by just 12% of students and only 4% knew his name. However, he was mistaken for Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg by a number of students.

Welfare and Communications Officer, Chris Davies, who was recognized as a sabbatical officer by 40% of students, was remembered for his ‘care bear’ campaign and

students had witnessed him in action. Fourth year City and Regional Planning student, Cheryl Morley said: “Chris Davies came to our house to warn us about our bins because there were too many and we could have been fined.”

Chris Davies said: “I am pleased to see that almost half of all people asked recognised me; however that still means there is room for improvement. I do a lot of behind the scene stuff so I’m actually quite surprised that I score higher than other more prominent Officers.

“To be honest, I have such a wicked job, looking after our 29,000 students is more important to me than recognition.”

Some thought that as sabbatical officers are elected by students to work for CSU and get paid an annual wage of £19,000, they should at least be recognised by the student population, but they also realised that expo-

sure isn’t everything. Second year business student Joshua Herbert said: “As long as they’re doing their job properly I don’t think it should matter if people recognize them or not. But I do think the president should be more visible.

“I also think that a lot of people don’t know what the roles stand for unless they’ve read the manifestos and, let’s face it, most of them haven’t.”

Societies officer, Harry Newman, who has been elected as next year’s President said: “Personally I’m quite flattered by my result, especially in the context of the scores of my teammates. My remit does lend itself well to becoming fairly well known, being that the Societies Officer is a particularly ‘student facing’ role.”

Continued on page 4...

Check out part two in next week’s gair rhydd to see how well sabbs stuck to their manifestos

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Monday May 21 2012

gairrhydd

EDITOR Oliver Smith CO-ORDINATOR Elaine Morgan Chris Williams NEWS Sheri Hall Henry McMorrow Matt Jones Laura Evans OPINION Izzy Voss Libby van den Bosch COLUMNIST Lydia Davies POLITICS Luke Slade Sophie Gidley FEATURES Ellen Atkinson Ali Ishaq Jenny Kendall SCIENCE Jenny Lambourne Natalie Healey SOCIETIES Isabelle Roberts

Check out our new site XpressRadio.co.uk

LISTINGS Gareth Johnston TAF-OD Caio Iwan Osian Gruffydd SPORT Jamie Evans Zac Cole Jonathan Frank CONTRIBUTORS Ellie Woodruff Nick Evans Abbi Tanton Charlotte Wace Helen Louise Cox Rhys Clayton Max Eshraghi Thom Hollick Cathie Lunn Rosey Brown Alexey Underwood Vanessa Platt Tom Parry-Jones Marc John

news.

Get involved.

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science.

The debate continues online.....

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04News

Monday May 21 2012

gairrhydd

...Continued from page 4 Kit Scouller, third year philosophy and politics student, thought that the entire process of electing sabbatical officers was flawed. He said: “Voting in Union elections is not based on merit. It’s usually based on nepotism. People will vote for whoever they’re asked to, a friend of a friend etc.

“Seeing as the local council election turnout was so low, these elections don’t seem very important.”

In response to the findings, the Sabbatical team said: “Officer recognition is something which we have been working hard on this year.

“We have figures to prove that the Union engages with over 14,500 individual students annually which is well over half of the student body.

For this reason, we would hope that at the very least, all of those students would recognise the Officer team.

“The figures from this survey suggest that there is still room for improvement and we won’t stop trying to engage and be known until we hit 100%.”

Next week, gair rhydd looks at what the sabbatical team have done this year and consider whether or not they have achieved what they laid out in their manifestos.

free

(comment) Matt Jones News Editor Ten weeks ago, the entirety of Cardiff University’s student body was pushed, poked and prodded for the best part of a week into voting for next year’s Students’ Union elected officers. With most of the oxygen in Park Place being used for the purpose of extolling the virtues of the likes of ‘Captain Chris’ and ‘Gandhi’, students could barely breathe

48%

12% of

students

recognised

Marcus of students Coates-Walker recognised Ollie

Devon

for being informed about the importance of making the right choice for next year’s Executive Committee.

A year and ten weeks ago, the same process had happened with this year’s officers. However, after nearly a year in office, the winners were recognised by only 19.5% of students. Why do students not know who their officers are? Does it matter?

While the survey was being conducted, some students raised questions about the importance of the elected officers’ faces being known to the student population. The argument was that as long as work is

being done successfully behind the scenes, it is irrelevant whether students can recognise the people who are doing it. While this reasoning is valid to some extent, it does not apply to all of the elected officers.

Roles such as that of ‘Finance and Commercial’ or ‘Academic and University Affairs’ do not require as much liaison with the average student, so it is perhaps understandable that relatively few students recognise the officers. However, the same cannot be said for Union President. As stated in the article above, the role’s remit is to be ‘the public face of the Union’. If only 12% of

part in academic tests as well as being asked to produce an online video to show their creativity.

This number was eventually whittled down to six finalists, who were invited to an assessment day at the university, where they were asked to give a presentation about their chosen subject. Chris Nation impressed the judges with his presentation on why he has decided to study law.

The scheme has come under criticism because of its perceived marketisation of university selection processes, especially in consideration of the introduction of the £9,000 fees this September. The prize of free tuition extends to any

additional courses that the winner decides to take in the future, so that there is potential for the student to take a PhD free of charge.

Luke Young, President of NUS Wales, said: "While I wish Chris and the other participants well, it is a sad state of affairs when universities feel pushed to use access into higher education as a PR tool.

“Cardiff University has a strong reputation throughout the UK and far beyond. Its real challenge is to give opportunities to those with the talent, who have not had good educational chances in life. This is something that Cardiff Students' Union has worked closely with NUS on this year.

the students being represented recognise this ‘public face’, something is not right.

This is not a personal attack on the current elected officers; rather it is a questioning of a system that rears its head every March in election week then seems to disappear from view for the rest of the year.

If the Students’ Union is going to pay eight elected officers an annual salary of just over £19,000 to look after students’ interests, surely they should be more prominent among their electorate.

The question seems to be whether the results reflect more the dis-

engagement of the elected officers or the apathy of students towards them. Next year’s President and this year’s Societies Officer, Harry Newman, has stated that his team will “not stop trying to engage and be known” until they “hit 100%”. With a decreased turnout in the 2012 student elections, breathing some new life into the relationship between student and officer will surely be one of the biggest challenges that he and his team will face next year.

Thrive comes to conclusion Matt Jones News Editor

The winner of Cardiff University’s Thrive competition has been announced, although the contest has come under criticism from NUS. Thrive, which offers the opportunity for one potential student to win free tuition for life, was won by 18 year old Chris Nation, from Somerset. He will study Law at the University starting in September.

Over 500 young people from around the UK and the EU applied for the scholarship, taking part in a variety of challenges over a fivemonth period to test their suitability. Students were required to take

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Cardiff Student Media Awards 2012 Oliver Smith Editor

Last weekend saw over 100 students recognised for their work with Cardiff Student Media over the past year. Dozens of judges from radio, TV and newspaper publications attended the event at The Hilton to see the awards presented to students.

Hosted by Radio One's Adam Catterall, 29 awards were given out including 'Best Interview' which went to Luke Slade and Sophie Gidley for their interview with Ed Miliband earlier in the year.

The Xpress award for 'Best Interview', judged by Chris Sawyer, Producer BBC Radio One, went to Tom Gherkin and his team behind his show 'The Sheriff and Friends' and their interview with the cast of Avenue Q. CUTV's award for 'Best Programme', judged by Huw Thomas from BBC Wales, went to 'Pigeonhole: The Sketchshow'.

Quench's 'Best Section' chosen by Rod Stanley Editor of Dazed & Confused, was awarded to Fraser Isaac, Matt Ayres and Morten Wright for their work on Quench Film. gair rhydd's award for 'Best Section', judged by Meirion Jones Producer BBC Newsnight and the first

full-time Editor of gair rhydd, was awarded to Jenny Lambourne and Natalie Healey for their work on gair rhydd Science, Meirion added that Natalie and Jenny "have set a seriously good science agenda in their section – and executed it excellently. Outstanding." Jenny told gair rhydd upon receiving the award that, "It was a fantastic night and a brilliant way to end a great year for the paper and student media in Cardiff. It is a great way to receive recognition for all the hard work that we've put in this year, and all the work that our contributors have done to help us produce the best section this year. As we see ourself as more of a niche section, it's fantastic to get this kind of recognition from such a high profile judge from the media industry."

Chris Davies, Welfare and Communications Officer, who attended the night, told us "The Cardiff Student Media Awards are a very special event. It recognises those who throughout the year recognise the work of others. All credit must be given to those who put this excellent night together. It was the perfect way to conclude the array of Cardiff Students' Union Awards, and I was honoured to be part of it."

Joe Shervell

Luke Slade & Sophie Gidley

Quench Fashion

Charlotte Wace

The Cardiff Gazette

The Sheriff with the Cast of Avenue Q

Sophie Gregory

Go Global Live Broadcast

CoppaFeel! Ad

Monsters by Sophie Dutton

Daisy Esther Payne

Tom Armstrong

Chris Browning

Matt Jones

Camilla Flint

Alice Hughes

Danielle Harris

Pigeonhole: The Sketchshow

Dan Potts

Sunday Nights with Rainy Dei

Henry McMorrow

George Dugdale Film

Science

Revision Aid is coming to the rescue Laura Evans News Editor Last week the Cardiff Students’ Union Sabbatical Officer team spent their evenings providing refreshments for students studying late at night.

During May, many students utilise Cardiff ’s late night library opening times to prepare themselves for exams.

Revision Aid, the service provided by the team, visited libraries around Cardiff University campus such as the Cochrane building and the Julian Hodge building, handing out tea and coffee during late night studying sessions.

Over the course of the week, around 150 cups of tea were given out each night.

Chris Davies, Communications and Welfare Officer at Cardiff Stu-

dents’ Union told gair rhydd: "Revision Aid is such a simple campaign, that’s because when you think about what’s important to students at this time, that too is simple.

Energy, a friendly face and reassuring words go a long way. We are so pleased that this has been well received and we hope that all students know that the Student Union and the Officers are there to support them."

Jo Southerd, 2nd year English Literature student commented: “It's such a great idea. I've had far too many late nights at Julian Hodge over the last few weeks, struggling to get my essays finished.

"Could definitely have done with a cup of tea and a smile from a Sabb to keep me going!”

08Opinion

Breast is best

Monday May 21 2012

gair

A 2:1 and it's still back home to Mum

Ellie Woodruff Opinion Writer ‘Breast is best’, or so we are constantly told by doctors and midwives who hail the benefits of breastfeeding and claim that it is one of the most important things you can do for your baby. Early results of the 2010 Infant Feeding Survey indicate that more than eight out of ten newborn babies in the UK are initially breastfed. Yet, why is it that seeing a woman breastfeeding in a public place, such as a shopping centre, is still a rare sight?

First of all, there are ridiculous claims that exposing the breast in this way is a sexual act, or unsuitable for the eyes of young children, and this is where the problem lies in our society. Breasts are only sexual objects if we present them in such a way, such as pushed-up and plastic on page 3 of a tabloid newspaper with a model in an overtly suggestive pose. The biological function of the breast is to feed our offspring, and there are few things more natural than breastfeeding. If our children were brought up in a society where breastfeeding in public was the norm, they would be less likely to view breasts as sexual objects and young mothers would perhaps be more likely to breastfeed their own children. We do not object to our children watching a cow feed a calf, so why are we so opposed to it when it comes to our own species?

The real reason breastfeeding in public is so often scorned at is that as a society, we are far too prudish and concerned about the opinions of others. Mothers are often scared of breastfeeding their children in public because it’s not the “done thing”, or they’re worried they’ll attract the unwanted attention of others. Breastfeeding horror stories, such as that of Miriam Gwynne in 2010 who was made to breastfeed her four-month-old twins in a hospital store cupboard, do nothing to encourage new mothers that people’s attitudes towards breastfeeding in public have changed.

But with more mums than ever now breastfeeding their babies, it is vital that attitudes change rapidly in order to give women the necessary confidence to feed their children in public without attracting unwanted glares and ludicrous comments. People who are drunk and disorderly in public have a far more detrimental affect on young children than women who breastfeed. More mothers need to breastfeed in public to encourage others to do so and to break the taboo once and for all, while the rest of us onlookers shrug our shoulders and get on with our days: big deal.

Opinion editor Nick Evans investigates why so many graduates are facing the prospect of moving back with their parents, using two recent graduates as case studies.

You've just graduated with a solid 2:1, all that hard work has finally paid off, you're ready to take life by the horns and steer it in whatever direction you want, you're your own woman or man and you've got that plush graduate job in London.

Well, that's the ideal but it will never be a reality for the vast majority of graduates.

A great number of graduates who have lived away at University are having to move back in with their parents, as the financial strain of living away from home is too great to be feasible. The media have dubbed this the 'boomerang generation' and I'm afraid to say we're well and truly the epitome of this generation of graduates.

By contrast, if you were to read the Graduate Report of 2011 by the research company High Fliers, everything seems peachy; the number of graduate jobs available in the UK is up to over 17,000, an almost 20%

increase from 2009. Salaries for graduates are on average £25,000 - £29,000 and some, more exclusive employers were paying over £30,000 pounds a year to graduates.

17,000 places may seem a large number of jobs but when you consider almost 320,000 people graduated from Higher Education last summer it's insignificant. In case you're not studying maths that leaves almost 19 graduates battling for one job and when you take into account course of study, degree classification and nepotism, your chances are dwindling fast.

With these factors in mind, I decided to talk to two recently graduated friends of mine.

Ffion graduated with a 2:1 in Welsh from Bangor and has earned an internship with BBC Wales and Duncan graduated with a 2:2 in Computer Science from Stirling and is currently unemployed. I knew both of these people through A Levels and would personally deem them to be of equal intelligence and capability.

Ffion is a paragon of happiness and sociability, she can talk to anyone and about anything and is fervent once she has her mind set on a goal. Duncan, on the other hand is quiet and reserved and his time at University has made him semidependent on cannabis. Within minutes of talking to them it becomes apparent why one is employed and the other isn't.

Ffion is living away from home, with a flatmate in Cardiff and Duncan has had to

move back with his parents.

When I ask them how I feel about their living situations, Duncan seems content, he isn't a big fan of change. In juxtaposition, Ffion can imagine nothing worse than having to move back home.

When asked about their experiences at uni, Ffion can produce a litany of extracurricular activities, sports and work placements. She was involved in societies, shows and SU politics, she tells me that "A lot of the time, I just agreed to go along to things out of social awkwardness but ended up staying because I loved it" she's the sort of person who will find the best in any situation. Duncan, however, responds with "I just played a lot of Xbox and smoked a lot of weed" in a dour monotone.

I asked Duncan why he feels he didn't get a graduate job or a placement after finishing uni and he's quick to address the same issues I pointed out at the start of this article, he claimed there was nothing out there. He expressed an interest in working within the Video Games industry but it seems developers and producers weren’t interested in anything less than a 2:1, which he claims he wasn't

“

capable of achieving.

I asked Ffion if she thinks she 'lucked out' with her internship and she looks borderline offended. "No, I always knew what I wanted and I went for it" she went on to relate everything she'd done while at Uni to her internship.

These two people are not representative of the entire graduate population but there are glimmers of fact in their stories. The more proactive you are in your degree and your extracurricular activit i e s , the better you look to employers. The more jobs you apply for and the more diverse the field you're willing to work in, the better your chances are of getting a graduate job and making it on your own without having to move back in with your parents.

And this is possibly the one, overarching truth surrounding graduate jobs, independent living and not relying on mum and dad; it's a jungle out there, if it's 19 people to every one job, you need to make sure you're better than every last one of them, in every possible way, you need to stand out by any means necessary.

you need to stand out by any means necessary

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Opinion09

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Poor little rich girl: Made in Chelsea drama moves online

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Abbi Tanton Opinion Writer During Monday night’s episode of Made In Chelsea I watched the drama unfold as Louise Thompson ‘hooked up’ with ex-boyfriend Spencer Matthews in Dubai, while her latest beau, Jamie Laing, waited for her at home. After the episode aired Louise received a huge public backlash on Twitter, angry fans branding her a ‘slag’ and that she should die in a car crash.

While I, of course, don’t condone death threats, I was shocked to find myself cheering Jamie on when he called Louise a ‘f****** bitch’ upon finding out what had happened.

The extent of how much I cared hit me, but why? What is it that makes us believe it’s okay to involve ourselves with the lives of people we don’t know just because we watch them on TV for an hour on a Monday night?

Apparently, since the birth of Twitter, it’s become socially acceptable, encouraged almost to let someone know your opinion of them, even if you think they’re the worst life form on the planet. I’m pretty sure most of us wouldn’t approach a stranger and heckle them for their behaviour, but there is something about Twitter that seems to make

this okay. In fact, the producers of ‘reality’ shows like Made In Chelsea are almost inviting us to do it. The temptation begins when the hashtag ‘#madeinchelsea’ appears on screen, already encouraging us to have our say on their affairs. These seemingly innocent little hashtags

allow us to interact with celebrities like never before, but for reality stars more often than not this takes the form of abuse.

Why is this? Because we genuinely care for a stranger we happen to watch on TV? I think not. At school it was common knowledge

that a playground bully is the way they are, due to their own personal insecurities and jealousy of others.

This case is no different. By criticising someone else’s life we can avoid dealing with the issues in our own.

The cast of Made In Chelsea being portrayed as glamorous and ultra

rich is bound to trigger a niggling feeling of jealousy in the average person sat at home watching. This makes them the perfect target for sniping commentary, as soon as they dare put a foot out of line we jump at the chance to condemn them for their ‘sins’. The Twitter bullies are not angry with Louise because they care for her lover’s feelings, they’re angry because she possesses a lifestyle they can only dream of. We have to ask ourselves, would we care this much if we were watching the lives of John and Mary in ‘Made In Scunthorpe’? I highly doubt it. It’s time we put things into perspective as to why we care so much, and perhaps get back to focusing on our own problems before we judge those we don’t know.

Louise’s real crime? Having a privileged lifestyle and a pretty face.

YouTube brings us Man vs. a very bad idea

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Charlotte Wace Opinion Writer A couple of days ago I watched ‘Man v Booze’ video on YouTube, more specifically, ‘Man V rainbow wine.’

This inventive and exotic beverage sounded like a more civilised version of the student favourite: skittle vodka, or perhaps a fairly tame dirty pint. However this delicacy was merely three cheap bottles of wine - red, white, and rose, chugged back consecutively by a steel-stomached guy in a balaclava with poetic tendencies (“I’ll break the seal, to show its real, that’s the deal”…catchy).

A range of emotions filtered through my mind and also my stomach, once I had observed the consumption of this drink (which would have challenged the most hardened alcoholic). The first was repulsion at the sheer quantity of liquid and the rapidity with which it disappeared. The second was pity, not just for him and his body, but also for the people who share a bathroom with this guy, or potentially a kitchen floor.

If I’m being 100% honest, part of me felt a small spark of respect.

Why? I’m not quite sure; perhaps because I know that I would have failed somewhere in the first third of the first bottle (which was consumed from a vase). However, one thing I definitely didn’t think was: “Now that looks like a fun way to spend my Friday night.”

Of course, some people will watch it and think ‘I can do that’ and saunter off with their mates to the off licence. But these are the people who already binge drink on a regular basis.

The reason the video has had so many views and so many likes is ultimately because it contains someone doing what the viewer wouldn’t want to do themselves: the same reason the programme ‘Jackass’

has an audience. I should mention that both Jackass and the Man Vs Booze videos have ‘do not try this at home’ warnings attached.

There are many illegal activities depicted on the Internet, television and film, which pass unmentioned.

Your standard action film, for example, usually includes at least one car being stolen, with incredibly dangerous driving. Does this encourage crime and risky driving?

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Probably, but it is unlikely these scenes will be replaced with the hero driving a Volvo, explaining to his partner in action: “Sorry mate, can’t catch the bad guy, or I’d have to break the speed limit.”

Ultimately, downing three bottles of wine is not illegal. It goes against the government’s recommendations but it doesn’t break the law. Therefore I put the video in the same category as the footage from the Guinness world record attempt for swallowing knives, or someone surfing a 70-foot wave. Surely the man who demolishes all that booze is showing off his super-human organs and science-challenging ability to take his drink?

Although his insides are probably in a sorry state, he undoubtedly has a better chance of survival than the person who tried to drive his car over five double decker buses, because ‘he saw it in a film’ and if you attempt to swallow a knife after watching a YouTube video then, quite frankly, binge drinking is the least of your worries.

In total, the ‘Man v Booze’ video has far fewer views than all the websites warning against the dangers of alcohol. Banning car chases in films won’t significantly reduce dangerous driving.

Likewise, banning an entertaining video of an idiot drinking a shed load of alcohol won’t have much effect on binge drinking in our culture.

Columnist Silver Linings

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Monday May 21 2012

gairrhydd

By Lydia Davies Dear All, I usually write my articles from one of the three coveted booths in the Lounge. I sit like a queen, my back cushioned and my ego soaring. I stare triumphantly at passersby as if to say, “Yeah, look at me.

Run along now, peasants.” I am the Gollum of the Students’ Union. It won’t be long before I start eating fish raw and stroking the tables with suspicious affection. But my reign has been usurped by Exam Season. After crawling up to the third floor of the Union, I head on over to the booths to discover that they are filled, each and every one, with people that I instantly assume are the most hateful beings ever to populate the earth. I didn’t know I could feel hate like this. So strong, so potent: something that cannot be soaked up by binge-eating.

Finding a working spot is crucial during Exam Season. I take my hat off to anyone who manages to work in their bedroom and resist the duvet’s siren call. And to those who work in libraries – what is this madness? I can’t think of anything more painful than being divorced from food and fizzy drinks at such a crucial time in my life. Even hiding a packet of gummy bears under something that vaguely resembles work is dangerous: the ominous rustling of the packet is bound to attract attention. If it’s not librarians frowning disapprovingly at you, it’s the dead-eyed gaze of your fellow students, salivating over your open tub of Pringles.

No, cafés and open spaces suit me perfectly. No one judges you for the weird forms of procrastination that inevitably evolve. After Facebook and iPlayer had dried up, I found myself watching footage of people nearly being flattened by trains.

Try getting away with that in the Humanities Library.

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You'll find me curled up in a corner, staring mutely ahead and swaying like an anxious rocking horse.

I’d thought my White Booth would always be there for me, a ha-

ven of sorts. Like Quasimodo in the bell tower, except that I bring apples and chocolate to the party. Now, on the other hand, I have to balance on a plastic white stool, my back framed only by air and the constant fear of leaning back too far. I’m forced to listen to such witty repartee as the following: “You know, by that bagel shop.”

“That’s not a bagel shop. It’s a baguette shop.”

“Oh… do they sell bagels?”

“

I was watching footage of people nearly being flattened by trains. Try getting away with that in Humanities.

Oy vey. My new seating arrangements place me closer to the table football table (who put that monstrosity there?) and mean I’m forced to listen to constant panting, groaning and choruses of “Oh yes” from the players. I kid you not, it’s like watching Game of Thrones with your eyes closed. Just now, for

example, “My back hurts.” – “Yeah, that’ll be the bending over.” The immature 14-year-old boy in my head is killing himself laughing, at the same time as my anxious 20-year-old female self is inwardly hyperventilating. You’ll find me sometime next week, curled up in a corner, staring mutely ahead and swaying back and forth like an anxious rocking horse.

But if you think you cope badly with exam pressure, think again.

Students at Xiaogang High School in Hubei, central China, are hooked up to intravenous drips in preparation for the country’s infamously tough college entrance exam. Every year there are reported incidents of suicides before and during the exam, and last year 44-year-old Liang Shi attempted the paper for the 15th time, in order to fulfil his lifelong dream of going to university.

I can’t seem to find out whether he passed, but with a third of applicants being turned away, I want to send the man a fruit basket and a cuddle.

Although news stories of extreme exam pressure are brushed off as rare, students don’t have to take medication to let things get

“

Hats off to the students who resist the siren call of the duvet.

the better of them. Everyone calls your teens and twenties the “golden years”. We have less responsibility than we will at any other point in our lives. We’re rarely encumbered by families, mortgages and a gruelling nine-to-five office job. But with all this assumed freedom the expectations upon us mount incredibly quickly.

When I was in my early teens I had a very clear idea of how I wanted to be at twenty. I won’t go into too much detail (I embarrass myself enough here) but let’s just say that the fantasy was less Susan Boyle, more Scarlett Johansson. I assumed I’d have everything – the grades, the figure, the endless social circle and a sunny personality to boot. But, on the cusp of twenty-one, I’m still the same anxious, desperate-to-please thirteen-year-old that I was then.

I’ve spent so long chasing goals, academic or social, that I’ve risked side-lining my own personal enjoyment. During this bi-annual hibernation period, it’s important to remember that as far as life goes, there is no glorious golden future. There is only the present, fractured and imperfect, but significant all the same.

Over the past few weeks I’ve encountered students surviving on four or less hours of sleep per night. One of my friends told me he couldn’t remember the last time he’d enjoyed a hot meal, and shut me down mid-motherly-lecture by pointing out my own meagre diet of clementines and Milky Stars (so good, though).

Exam pressure or not, there is never any excuse for letting your physical and emotional health come second. “It’ll be different after this year, I can relax a bit then,” you may say.

But didn’t you say the same thing about GCSEs and ALevels?

There will always be a higher goal, a further deadline; something monstrous looming on the horizon. And, believe it or not, life goes on after nearly failing oh, say, the Grade 4 flute exam that some of us lost weeks of sleep over. The world doesn’t stop spinning if you fail something. The whole of your life will rarely pivot around a single moment. You’ll feel terrible for a few days, maybe eat your weight in pizza crusts. Then you’ll get up, get dressed and get on with it.

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You'll feel terrible for a few days, maybe eat your weight in pizza crusts.

Then you'll get up and get on with it.

I handed in a bunch of essays last Monday and, to celebrate, took to Live Lounge with a few friends. It was great! I did the one hand in the air, swaying hips thing like I was born for that sole purpose. I walked home in the cold, and felt genuinely young for the first time in a good long while.

My friend and I made rice at 4am and went for a stroll as the sun came up. Town was silent; everyone had cleared out. Apart from the two of us, the odd pool of vomit and mobs of scavenging seagulls, Cardiff was silent. We sat on the museum steps for a few minutes, just “being”.

In fact, it was sickeningly poetic.

It was almost a relief to see the heavens open, spilling thick rain, and turning to see the look on one other’s faces as we realised we’d have to walk back in it.

I realise I'm coming across as the kind of motherly-type figure you'd rather swat away with a tennis racket than listen to. Just take some time out to breathe. Then get takeaway from Kama Lounge Lydia x Note: I am not sponsored by Kama Lounge. Unless they are offering. In which case, I'm available.

No pressure, but... please.

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12Politics Helen Louise Cox Politics Reporter

Rebekah Brooks, the ex News of the World editor, has been charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, along with her husband, three of her staff and the News International security head. The charges have arisen from the phone hacking inquiry, which so far has lasted 18 months. Mrs Brooks, her husband and her staff are the first to be charged, with another 40 people remaining on police bail.

Mrs Brooks said: "I can't express my anger enough that those closest to me have b e e n

Monday May 21 2012

Mrs Brooks’ Diary dragged into this unfairly."

Mrs Brooks, 43, is charged alongside her 49-year-old husband, Charlie, personal assistant, Cheryl Carter, chauffeur, Paul Edwards, security man, Daryl Jorsling, and News International head of security, Mr Hanna.

The charged will appear on June 13 at Westminster Magistrates’ Court. Their offences include hiding computers from police and concealing documents. The couple claim Mrs Brooks has been the victim of a "witch-hunt" and that Mr Brooks has been used as a "scapegoat" to "ratchet up the pressure" on his wife.

Mrs Brooks was chief executive of News Inter national, owned by media tycoon Rupert Murdoch, from July 2009 until July 2011 – the s a m e m o n t h that the p h o n e hacking scandal hit, and the paper was

closed down. Mrs Brooks has denied that she had anything to do with the phone hacking, and that it did not happen under her watch.

She became editor of the News of the World in 2000 and became the youngest editor of a British national newspaper. She was also married to her first husband, TV personality Ross Kemp, during this time. When she was 31 she took up the same role at the Sun in 2003. It was during her time as editor of the News of the World, that voicemails on murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler's mobile phone were allegedly intercepted.

Appearing at the Leveson Inquiry, Mrs Brooks said that prime minister David Cameron sent her a "keep your head up" message when she quit News International and it has emerged that he signed text messages to her with LOL, which he believed to mean lots of love.

Mrs Brooks said he stopped when he learnt that it stood for "laugh out loud" not "lots of love."

These developments were likely to be "highly embarrassing" for Mr Cameron. The prime minister has a close relationship with the couple, having attended Eton College with Mr Brooks and developing a friendship with his wife.

The Prime Minister has been trying to distance himself from the investigation but this has proved hard. His advisor, Andy Coulson,

Rhys Clayton Politics Reporter It seems these days that you can’t turn on the TV or open a paper without being inundated with news of economic depression and fiscal woe. As students we can empathise: who better knows the bane of trying to balance the books on a very limited budget? An overspend here or there means tightening our belts a little, or a lot in other areas, and whilst obviously it’s not ideal, it’s just what has to be done. However, this concept of basic economisation seems to have alluded ‘the powers that be’ in some countries who have failed to keep themselves in check. In Greece, they’re far beyond asking for an extension on their overdraft, and with street riots and without a government they are on the brink of being ousted from the Eurozone.

The recent Greek elections and events that have ensued reflect the current economic situation that plagues Greece: disastrous. With no one party managing to acquire enough votes and take power, the Greek President, Karolos Papoulias, invited the four parties with the most votes on the May 6 election to talks in the hope of forming a coalition. This was an attempt to bring stability to the country and escape a return to the polls, which would bring further

gair

economic strain. However, not all parties were willing to participate; the far left group, Syriza, refused to attend the talks. Despite only three parties attending - the centre-right New Democracy, the Socialist Party, and the moderate Democratic Left – they have failed to produce a coalition. On Tuesday, May 15, after nine days of failed talks, President Papoulias announced a provisional government would be established on Wednesday, May 15, which would remain in power until a return to the polls the following month. He also announced that the date of the election would also be known then.

Many are viewing the second election as a referendum on austerity, with economics being the main factor preventing a coalition from being formed. New polls suggest Syriza, which placed second in the last election, as the favourite for the next election. As the far left, they are refusing to join with another party and create a coalition while also refusing to meet the austerity conditions of the economic bailouts. This is an increasing trend amongst the Greek political parties, even including the conservative parties, who do not want to accept the tough austerity measures im-

resigned following allegations of involvement in the scandal last year – he held shares in News International worth £40,000 but did not declare them, leading some to question whether he was influencing decisions surrounding the company to benefit himself. Mr Coulson said he only considered a possible conflict of interest over the shares after he quit. More recently there have been calls for Culture Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, to resign following allegations of improper practice when dealing with the Murdoch empire.

It emerged recently that Jeremy Hunt sought "private advice" from News Corporation over the phone hacking scandal. Mr Hunt’s special advisor, Adam Smith, resigned following allegations of improper contact. He claimed that any exchanges between Jeremy Hunt and News International occurred without Mr Hunt’s knowledge.

The News International paper closed in July 2011 as a result of the scandal. It included an apology and signed off with headline "Thank you and goodbye."

It has emerged that more than 4,000 people have been identified by police as possible victims of phone hacking by the News of the World, including relatives of dead UK soldiers and victims of the 7/7 London bombings.

Dear diary, Dave keeps texting me. I thought we were getting along but lately he just keeps laughing at everything I say.

Even when he is being serious it is almost impossible to stop him from just laughing out loud.

I think there might be something going on at home with Sam. He might even be going slightly mad. At least it is not as bad as when he was in opposition – that was at least 12 texts a day. I mean, I had better things to do than talk to him and he must have had better things to do.

How many times do I have to drop the hint that I’m not interested in him. I told him, when he finished the leadership debates, that I thought he wasn’t very good.

I’ve been trying to cut my ties with him for so long. I mean, he’s married, I’m married. And his face is unnaturally smooth. I just don’t think I’d want to wakeup to that every morning.

He wanted to give my number to Nick the other week - I told him no, because I shouldn’t have too many connections with politicians (really, I just don’t want to have to listen to him blathering on about things).

Rupert’s the only guy for me.

At least you know what you’re getting with him. He is so simply transparent and a wonderful role model.

Sorry I must stop for now - my phone’s just gone off...

As conceived by

posed by the European community.

One cannot help but question their intentions, many political parties cater to the interests of the people purely for the purpose of election and then default on their promises once they have power. Syriza, however, have made very strong statements on rejecting the austerity measures imposed, and their refusal to engage in coalition talks, suggest that will remain steadfast with their promise. Leader of the party, Alexis Tsipras, has said that “if austerity measures continue, then there will be no social stability,” claiming that this imperative to Greek recovery. However, failure to meet the austerity conditions of the bailout will bring a new problem for Greece, bringing a likely default from the single currency and the Eurozone.

Of course there has been much speculation on the potential event of Greece dropping out of the Euro and returning to the Drachma; none of it is promising. Political instability has already seen the Euro decrease in value against the World Reserve over the past week as Greece remains without a permanent government. However, the default of Greece from the Eurozone would have much lengthier and much deeper effects than just a reversion to the Drachma, which initially would be devalued by 50%.

Greece would have to re-establish

itself as a country, rather than a cog in the increasingly united states of Europe. The entire legal system currently in place would be void, as it is based on European Union law, the banking system would collapse, unemployment would increase instantaneously, and inflation would be rife. Two of Greece’s main sources of income, trade and tourism, would be heavily affected for years to come.

Though what we need to consider as another member of the EU, and perhaps more poignantly as citizens of Great Britain, is whether it is fair that we are expected to continue giving money to a country when we too are in debt, especially if they are not willing to meet the conditions of the bailout?

Should we constantly be providing bailouts to a country that has failed to be financially responsible in the past? Or should we accept the vast amounts of money, time and effort that have been poured into keeping Greece have ultimately been a waste and that Greece now has to default ultimately for it's own good, and for the good of the European Union? Perhaps the seemingly inevitable exclusion of Greece from the Eurozone at this time will be the first marked step towards the failure of the EU super-state and, as I hope, the return to state responsibility and sovereignty.

News Opinion Feature Science Societies Listings Taf-Od 1-5 8 - 10 Politics 15 - 16 18 - 19 21 22 - 23 24 12 - 13

Monday May 21 2012

Sport 26 - 28

gair

Max Eshraghi Politics Reporter Climate talks are desperately needed. Current pledges on climate aid run out at the end of the year and the European Union (EU) is yet to establish what happens next. The UN climate talks have opened in Germany but the EU is struggling to continue its position as a global leader with a prominent role in the talks. Smaller developing countries have linked with the EU last year, in an effort to commit to tougher emission cuts and more finance.

Despite the positive intentions of most developing and EU nations, they have not yet negotiated these deals with Poland, who will most likely be unhappy towards further carbon cuts. Poland’s economy relies heavily on the major coal producing and burning industries and attempts to constrain them will be met with defiance. For 2020, the EU is currently attempting to negotiate the target from 20% to 30% below 1990 levels but it is unclear how willing Poland will be to adhere to these tougher restrictions.

“

The EU is negotiating its target for 2020

The talks follow up from the last annual UN climate summit that took place in South Africa in December of last year. This led to a coalition between the EU and at least 80 smaller nations, including small island states and least developed countries. Dubbed the new ‘rainbow coalition’ they pressed for tougher restrictions for all nations.

Politics13 fans of the Kyoto protocol: Japan and Russia have already stated they will not take that route, whereas Canada intends to leave the protocol at the end of the year. The US isn’t even currently part of the protocol, leaving roughly a decade ago. It means that the EU and the rainbow coalition will be looking to keep remaining developed countries part of climate agreements.

“

AOSIS members are confused by the EUs actions

The Alliance of Small Island states (Aosis) in particular have urged the EU to adopt the 30% target as soon as possible.

The EU doesn’t appear to be stepping up to its role in the coalition, however. Tony de Brum, Minister in Assistance of the Marshall Islands, a part of the rainbow coalition, said "There was agreement that it's got to go up to 30% [...] We don't want to be intrusive or over-reaching, but we said 'we don't think the disagreement in your group is so overwhelming - when 26 say yes and one says no, we think you could probably bring along the dissident.'"

It is obvious that these talks will undoubtedly cause friction within the climate coalition. To further the EU’s issues, EU Climate Commissioner, Connie Hedegaard, said moving to a 30% target this year would “be very, very challenging.” It is not merely Poland who is defiant against the tougher emission cuts, but perhaps the brave few who are

willing to admit their dislike towards the new scheme.

Understandably, some Aosis members and other rainbow coalition states, such as the least developed countries, are confused as to why the EU cannot simply find a way of committing to further restrictions on climate change, without one of its

member states, given that it recently agreed a new fiscal compact that excludes two. It appears that the EU is more willing to hide behind Poland’s disagreements than stand up for climate change. Should they desperately seek these new climate restrictions and challenges they would simply exclude Poland from the deal. The EU’s show of solidarity is merely an excuse to continue operating on the 20% target.

The talks, which last two weeks in total, will take place at the headquarters in Bonn, Germany. It is the annual UN climate convention (UNFCCC) and is planning to work towards a new global deal in 2015, known as the Durban Platform.

Furthermore, the discussions will focus on developed countries, including those within the EU, commitments to cut emissions under the Kyoto Protocol.

The Kyoto protocol already has the 20% target of emissions; one of its key demands. Yet developed countries aren’t big

The EU, Norway, Switzerland, Australia and New Zealand have already submitted plans to the UN climate convention, detailing how they might turn their existing voluntary commitments into the legal form required by the Kyoto Protocol as opposed to joining the actual protocol. This is a step in the right direction for these countries, by bringing a legal element to their climate change concerns. Yet this will make little or no difference to the actual emissions the countries are producing; they already are environmentally efficient enough to take these steps without making significant changes to their current emission standards.

In addition to this, a number of major developing countries including China and India are not too keen about these new restrictions.

In the light of these issues it appears very little progress will be made in Bonn within the next two weeks. It doesn’t look to bright for the annual end of year climate summit in Qatar this year either.

Hain resigns prompting shadow cabinet reshuffle Thom Hollick Politics Reporter The Shadow Welsh Secretary, Peter Hain, has resigned from frontbench politics following 16 years in office.

Since his election to the constituency of Neath in a 1991 by-election, Mr Hain has held positions in the Foreign Office, the Department of Trade and Industry and as Leader of the House of Commons, as well as spending time as Northern Ireland and Work and Pensions secretary. However, he is best known for his recurring role as Welsh Secretary, as which he fought for welsh voices to be heard in Westminster politics.

Mr Hain will continue to serve Neath as their MP, but he has withdrawn from frontline politics, to concentrate on local issues and campaigning. The first issue he is focussing on, is the campaign for

a tidal barrage across the mouth of the River Severn, stretching between Wales and England to provide a source of renewable energy.

He told BBC Radio Wales: "I want to make a different contribution. I want to take forward the vital project, the biggest investment ever in Wales, £30bn investment, for the Severn barrage, and also the biggest single source of renewable energy in Europe and one of the biggest in the world. That's what I want to do and you can't really do that as shadow secretary of state. It's a post that in government I've done for nearly eight years and in opposition for two years and I think it's the right time to make this change."

Tributes have been paid to Mr Hain’s career from across the political spectrum. Current Welsh Secretary, Cheryl Gillan, said: "…I was very sad to hear that Peter Hain is standing down from frontline politics because he's had such a long and distinguished career over many

departments... I shall certainly miss him but hopefully when his successor is appointed, I shall continue to work constructively with them."

Welsh First Minister, Carwyn Jones, has joined many figures across the regional and national Labour Party in thanking Mr Hain for his role in delivering the excellent result for Labour, particularly in Wales. "Peter has a played an important and prominent role in Welsh political life for many years.

I'm sure whatever role Peter chooses to pursue away from the front bench at Westminster, he will bring to it his great skills as a communicator and campaigner.”

Mr Hain’s resignation has prompted a minor reshuffle in the Labour Shadow Cabinet, with the position of Welsh Secretary falling to former Treasury Minister, Owen Smith, MP since 2010 for Pontypridd.

Ed Miliband has also taken this opportunity to move Catherine

Mckinnell into the Treasury, Tom Harris into the environment office, and former Transport Secretary Lord Adonis into Trade and Industry.

The biggest change however, is the replacement of Blairite Liam Byrne, who previously had responsibility for Labour’s policy review initiated back in 2010, with Jon Cruddas the influential backbench thinker. Dr Cruddas is seen as a leading left-wing intellectual with strong links to the Trade Unions, leading many commentators describing this as a leftward step for Mr Miliband’s frontbench team.

Labour supporters are clearly hoping that this minor rejuvenation will only help them build upon their success at the polls on May 3, but there is still a long way for them to go if they are to over-turn the massive defeat they suffered in 2010, and make this current Coalition a one-term government.

News Opinion Politics Science Societies Listings Taf-Od 1-5 8 - 10 12 - 13 Feature 18 - 19 21 22 - 23 24 15 - 16

Monday May 21 2012

gairrhydd

Sport 26 - 28

Features15

What lengths will you go to to get by at university?

This week, Features writer, Cathie Lunn discusses the ways students are making ends meet in light of the upcoming tuition fee rise.

L

ike most girls, I am clothes shopping obsessed. And like most girls living on the student loan, obsessing is exactly what I spend most of my time doing, because there is no way I can actually go to Hollister and buy everything I want on the amount of money the government are kindly lending me – at least, not without being stuck eating Lidl’s 17p supernoodles every day. But it seems I’m not alone in wishing that student loan would stretch a little further each term, as a growing number of students around the UK seem to be turning to more extreme methods in order to bring in the cash.

Recently, the Daily Mail published an article describing the trend of the growing number of young women who have been joining “Sugar Daddy” dating sites, where affluent (and, more often than not, old) men date young, attractive and well-educated women for hefty sums of money. The girls are not necessarily expected to sleep with the men; many just go on dates and provide companionship.

However, some enter into what the site call “mutually beneficial” relationships, where they are a conventional boyfriend and girlfriend - except the girlfriend can earn about £2,500 a month. The article reported

that many of these women were graduates, who had chosen to take part when faced with the daunting task of paying off their student loans.

It even ranked the universities that had the highest number of sign ups, with Nottingham, Kent, LSE and Cambridge getting the top four places respectively – somehow I don’t think the Times will be in-

cluding those figures in their “Good University Guide” this year. And on an even more worrying note,

“

Reports suggest -

ther, taking jobs

reports suggest a growing number of young women are going one step further, taking jobs as escorts and in strip clubs in order to pay off the bills.

It’s not just the girls that are at it either. Apparently, there has been a significant rise in gambling amongst men recently.

I’m not against Casinos, I think provided you leave your bank card at home then spending £20 or £30 for a night of entertainment is fine, and if you win, then it’s a bonus. Plus everyone likes a casual bet on the sport now and then, m y -

self included. However, some people are resorting to it when they are already hard up, quite literally a dangerous game. I had one friend (who incidentally you may have seen running round dressed in a jungle costume recently, although I won’t name and shame him!) who found himself with only £10 left in his account, two weeks left of uni and a football social that

night. Undeterred, he took himself off to the casino, won over a hundred quid and went and got hammered with the rest of the Klaw boys that night. That’s not his biggest win either, as he holds the record amongst my male housemates for winning £360 in one night. Now that’s not really the same thing (and it’s quite funny) but it is still a worrying trend when people risk the little they do have, in the hope of getting more, especially when they lose.

And, unfortunately, it seems in the midst of a recession, there are many who wish to capitalise on the growing number of people struggling with money and debt.

Quick cash

companies such as Wonga and QuickQuid have sprung up everywhere, with interest rates so astronomical you are guaranteed to end up losing money if you use them, and with the government now raising tuition fees and the recession entering a double dip, things are only likely to get worse.

The rise in tuition fees is proving particularly difficult for young people. And it’s not just the black cloud of fees hanging over us, but it actually affects people’s life decisions.

Many young people will decide against university in favour of apprenticeships or jobs that provide a decent salary without racking up the debt.

Those who do decide to go to university will also be affected. I myself am currently doing a sandwich year as an unpaid geneticist, and as I have to pay half fees to university to be employed elsewhere, it’s been pricey. However, in my case, it will have been worth it, as I am in a much more employable position in a climate where jobs are few. However, if half fees had been £4500, there was no way I would

have even thought of doing it.

Even a paid placement has less attraction, as the £9000 or so you earn won’t last long when half of it goes straight on fees and

the other half covers l i v i n g and travel expenses. I also considered applying for a medical degree following university, but with the rise in fees this would have given me a student debt worth around £90,000 and that is just too much money to reasonably consider. I’m not alone in this, with a growing number of students rejecting doing additional courses on the grounds of too much debt. Equally, I know several siblings of friends who are taking gap years rather than taking insurance or second choice offers: doing a second degree is a luxury most can’t afford and so they want to get it right first time.

Then those of us that do come to university, seem to be finding that we could still use a little extra income, hence the rise in sugar d a d d y

sites. However, before you all start signing up to Abigails, there are some less extreme ways to raise the cash: Blackwells will buy all those textbooks you bought in first year and only used once, back off you for a 40% return rate, which is better than nothing.

Or there are multiple ways to earn money online, such as completing surveys that pay a quid a time (an hour a day doing that could earn you £50+) or agreeing to test products you then get to keep afterwards. And of course, there are many university bursaries and funding schemes available for those finding themselves in dire financial straits.

Plus, don’t forget you don’t actually have to start paying the debt back until you are earning a reasonable enough salary to get by. Take a look at the tamer options before considering the slightly more adventurous ones, because a spoonful of sugar might help the medicine go down, but I don’t think sleeping with old guys is quite what M a r y Poppins meant.

Features

F

gairrhydd

This week in Features, Rosey Brown challenges herself to live on £1 a day to raise money for the Global Poverty Project.

rom May 7 to 11, people across the UK took part in Live Below the Line. The challenge?

To live on a pound a day for five days; raising awareness about the 1.4 billion people in the world living below the poverty line, as well as raising money for the charity Global Poverty Project.

Day 1. Monday is the first day of the Live Below the Line challenge, and guess what? I forgot to buy my food for the week on Sunday. So on a rainy Bank Holiday Monday morning, with an empty stomach, I head out, armed with my fiver, to Albany Road.

I come back with

away, so I have some pasta with a bit of tomato sauce. Later a friend comes round to “Dine below the Line” with me, so I make us egg tastes okay but it would be so much

left over from the evening before.

I also prepare my packed lunch again. I hastily stuff it into a Tupperware and then rush into uni to prepare for an exam I have at noon.

the door for a free coffee at Greggs, which is just down the road. I am sorely tempted. My flatmate chides don’t have coupons for free stuff.”

She’s right, of course. Sigh. I put

for what is “tasty” may be slipping. probably for the best as I think I’m starting to get ill. Climbing the stairs I feel faint, and my flatmates are worrying about it. But it’s probably partly the stress of the essays food has run out by this point.

“

During my shopping trip, I learnt the importance of a few things while living on a tight budget. First and foremost being the need to shop around. I went straight to Iceland, thinking eggs were cheapest there, but found later, to great devastation,

Dinner is plain eggy rice. I can’t wait for Saturday.

On Saturday morning I celebrate my freedom with pastries and a big mug of coffee. I reflect on the challenge. It was a lot harder than I thought it would be, but it also made me realise that things I thought were essential to my lifestyle, (cof-

list isn’t a problem for me, I’m a vegetarian anyway, however the lack of flavoursome ingredients worries

“ me, and there is no fruit, chocolate or coffee on the list, things I need to

decide I’ll save it to spend on a few pinches of seasoning and a dash of oil here and there, for cooking.

Brunch consists of an overmicrowaved baked potato, with two eggs scrambled on top.

Weird yes, bland certainly, but by now I’m starving. I can’t help thinking it would go down a lot better with a cup of coffee, but alas, coffee is a luxury I can’t afford this week. Water it is, then.

I was hoping I could get away with not cooking until dinner, but by two my stomach is gnawing

sure I get my five a day. The lack of fruit and veg in my life is making me feel tired, and slightly queasy.

In an attempt to add some interest to my limited ingredients, I make a weird curry for dinner, with boiled potato, green beans, a few spoonfuls of baked beans, a spoonful of pasta sauce and a pinch of curry powder.

I eat it with rice, and surprisingly, it

better with some seasoning. He politely says it’s very nice. After that we go and meet a group of friends at the pub to catch up. Everyone else is drinking wine and beer...

I sheepishly ask for a glass of their finest tap water. to my sober evening last night, I don’t have a hangover from the night before, but man I’m craving caffeine. Breakfast consists of cold egg-fried rice

After the exam, some friends and I head to The Kitchen in the Union to celebrate our temporary freedom. Never has a Panini looked so magical. But no, I’ve got some dry pasta and water to enjoy. Luckily we go and sit in the park to eat, and the sunshine makes me think everything’s not so bad.

For dinner it’s a jacket potato, baked beans and green beans (why did I buy two types of beans? That mally enjoy thinking about and cooking, is becoming fuel. again... it’s getting pretty boring.

A coupon has been put through

the coupon down.

Pasta and sauce again for lunch, and for dinner I open the tin of beans and have some on a baked potato. The beans are weirdly chewy and salty... I will never buy value beans from Home Bargains again.

Day 4, and I’m starting to feel ill. The problem with living on one pound a day is not the quantity of ter each meal. However there is no room for variation. Not only does this get extremely boring, it also means I’m not getting a balanced set of nutrients. The only vegetable I’ve been eating all week is green beans, whereas normally I make

actually extremely unimportant.

However a lack of money means a lack of choices. All I had to spend my money on was food. I couldn’t go out with friends or do anything social. People below the poverty line in Africa are forced to make more serious choices... feed your child or send them to school? I often complain about my limited student budget, but Living Below the Line has made me realise just how easy we have it here in the UK. I’m so glad I took the challenge and raised some money for a cause that is so worthwhile.

Visit www.livebelowtheline.com/ uk to find out more.

Follow us on Twitter @GairRhyddFeat

18Science

Alexey Underwood Science Writer A newly developed type of touchsensitive technology has been unveiled by researchers at Disney Research, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The innovative system, dubbed Touché, makes it possible to use virtually any surface as a touch interface.

In recent history, touchscreens have transformed the way in which we interact with modern technology. From mobile phones to supermarket checkouts, most computerised objects we encounter on a day-to-day basis feature the ubiquitous tactile interface.

“

The researchers described using the technology to close doors, answer phones or control other devices

However, just as we were starting to take the technology for granted, Disney Research entered the scene with a revolutionary new piece of technology – and in one fell swoop, the American lab has managed to make contemporary haptic interface technology appear cumbersome and out-dated.

Touché is based on a modified version of the existing technol-

Alexey Underwood Science Writer

A team of researchers at the National Taipei University of Technology in Taiwan have developed a new high-speed wireless network, which utilises widely available laser pointers for data transmission.

The new system, capable of transmitting data at speeds of up to 100 megabytes per second, is surprisingly simple – and can be assembled for as little as $600 (around £370).

Han-Hai Lu, who headed the research, told New Scientist that "hobbyists could do this at home."

At the basis of the system lie two humble laser pointers – one red and one green. Both are coupled to 500Mbps data streams (hence a total transmission speed of 1Gbps, or approximately 100 megabytes per second) and a power source capable of turning them on and off up to 500 million times per second.

- Winner 'Best Section' 2011/2012

ogy already used by most modern smartphones – capacitive sensing.

Unlike conventional touchscreens however, the upgraded system – referred to by Disney as Swept Frequency Capacitive Sensing (SFCS) – allows touch input to be detected on any surface of any object capable of conducting an electrical charge, as opposed to a specifically constructed screen.

SFCS works, by embedding a small electrode, attached at its other end to a microprocessor, into the object which is to be made interactive.

The electrode applies a minor electrical charge over the surface of the object. When the object is touched, the electrical signal undergoes minor changes which the computer is able to detect and analyse.

Unlike a smartphone, which detects touch input on a binary basis – it’s either being touched or it’s not - SFCS is able to detect a variety of pressures and grasps, and measure the area across which they are applied.

The spectrum of possible uses for such a system is vast. Disney Research detailed a selection of example applications of the technology in its research paper, available online. In the first, the system was used to create a “smart doorknob” – for example, closing the door with a tight grasp would lock it, to only be unlocked with a sequence of specific grasps of the doorknob. Another application described was a smartphone of enhanced sensitivity, able to infer and respond accordingly to the exact configuration of fingers on the screen, adding another di-

The laser streams are beamed onto light receptors and the resulting signal is amplified. The data, when received, is of a very high quality – it contains less than one error per billion bits, an infinitesimally small fraction of the error rate found in rivalling “conventional” radio Wifi and Bluetooth systems.

“

The system is surprisingly simple and can be assembled for as little as $600 from the humble laser pointer

The inventive network – being based on light – offers the addition benefit of zero radio interference,

mension of intuitive input to the device – for example, adding “right click” functionality in response to a middle finger tap.

In the most striking example, a vessel of water was used as a computer interface, with Touché using the position of the user’s hands in the water to control a computer.

These sample uses can be scaled up or adapted to other objects – for example, electroconductive toys could be given an extra element of interactivity, intelligent beds could

making it a useful for wireless data transmission aboard environments such as aeroplanes.

However, the system is highly directional – much like other lightbased communications such as yesteryear’s infra-red. Because of this, both the transmitter and receiver need to be precisely aligned in order to function – whilst the proudly proclaimed 25-metre range is also somewhat underwhelming.

The network also cannot be used outdoors – any precipitation or physical object would impede or even interrupt the data flow.

In spite of these flaws, the Taiwanese technology does have an interesting range of potential applications.

In the near future it could serve as a method of high speed data transmission between portable computing devices, and could offer interference-free short distance, high data flow communications solutions in hospitals.

Monday May 21 2012 #gair

control lighting and house appliances depending the users’ position, or swimming pools that could sound an alarm in response to the uncoordinated movement patterns of a child who cannot swim. Thanks to the ingenious system, almost any object – or even biological tissue – can obtain an unprecedented amount of interactivity.

The team at Disney Research, a collaboration with the Walt Disney Corporation and a number of research institutions, said the tech-

nology could eventually be used to control smartphones or other devices by simple handgestures or by touching a part of their body.

"One day mobile phones could have no screens or buttons and rely exclusively on the body as the input surface," explains the video demonstration posted online.

To watch the video, check out the Disney Research website, and for the paper: http://www.disneyresearch.com/research/projects/ touchechi2012.pdf

gair rhydd 2011/2012

News Opinion Politics Feature 1-5 8 - 10 12 - 13 15 - 16

Monday May 21 2012

Science 18 - 19

Societies Listings Taf-Od 21 22 - 23 24

Sport 26 - 28

Winner 'Best Section' 2011/2012 -

gair

19Science-

Alexey Underwood

T

wo leading journals – Nature and Science are set to publish two highly controversial studies believed by many to be poorly disguised recipes for global disaster.

The studies – one led by Dr. Ron Fouchier of the Erasmus Medical Centre, the other by Yoshihiro Kawaoka of the University of Wisconsin-Madison – detail the procedures by which the avian flu virus H5N1 can be genetically modified into a highly transmissible strain lethal to humans. News of their impending publication sparked many months of fiery public debate, covered previously in gair rhydd.

Hearing about Ron Fouchier’s study, the more controversial of the two, the US National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB) strongly advised the team of researchers not to publish their data.

The NSABB, alarmed by the potential biosafety implications of releasing such an article to the public, helped highlight the issue on a global scale and bring about a pensive pause to the research. However, the unprecedented move raised concerns among the scientific community about possible censorship.

The H5N1 virus is known to kill 59% of the people it infects, and a highly transmissible version of the disease is the dream weapon of many a potential bioterrorist.

Furthermore, any security breach at a lab working on such a project – unintentional or malignant – would expose the unsuspecting public to the lethal disease.

However, many scientists believe that is necessary to anticipate an analogous evolutionary succession occurring in nature – and that without the research, if such a virus were to ever evolve naturally, we

would be completely unprepared for it. Parallels were drawn to the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918, which is known to have killed tens of millions of people across the world.

"We need as scientists and health officials to stay one step ahead of the virus as it mutates and changes its capability," CNN was told by Dr Anthony Fauci, the head of the NIH agency funding the research. "To anticipate that would be important to determine whether the countermeasures we have available, such as antivirals and vaccines, would actually be effective against such a virus,” he added.

Unfortunately, the only way to find out whether the virus could possibly mutate in such

Researchers at the toxicology lab at the University of Leicester, have published a paper in Nature detailing how they stopped brain death in mice suffering from prion disease.

There is hope that future trials will lead to a similar success rate for human patients suffering from neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

A $1 billion dollar ghost town is being built in New Mexico for scientific research. The town, which will not be inhabited by humans, will be used as a testing ground for a number of different scientific and technological experiments in the fields of energy, internet connectivity, new sewerage systems and traffic control amongst others.

a way was for scientists to attempt to create it themselves.

After raising a global furore, the research was thoughtfully paused and debate followed. After two summits held by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and NSABB, the US security board overturned its earlier decision and advised in favour of publishing the study. The decision was not unanimous – one third of the panel still voted against it.

The story is still far from over.

Having received the all-clear from the NSABB, Fouchier now has to joust with the Dutch government – who are threatening a prison sentence of up to six years if he submits his work without the required

export permit.

Fouchier is adamant that this is censorship on their part. “We simply will never apply for an export permit on a scientific manuscript for publication in a journal,” he told Nature. “We might end up in court indeed if they insist on censorship,” he went on to add.

So what are the implications of the study being published, now that it has received the lukewarm approval of reluctant international security experts? The global debate has raised a number of interesting points.

Firstly, it is nigh-on impossible to release a scientific article to specifically chosen parties without compromising the peer-review process.

An article must either be published worldwide in its entirety, or not published at all.

Furthermore, if some articles were to be circled confidentially amongst a closed community of institutions, it would most likely not remain confidential for long. This reasoning helped give the publishing of the Fouchier and Kawaoka articles the green light.

Inconsistencies in biosafety standards have been highlighted over the past months, which can only be a positive. In response to the debate, the WHO plan to issue updated guidelines on the standards for international biosafety, which must now be adhered to – helping prevent a viral leak.

The positive impacts of the research upon the scientific community cannot, in my opinion, be overstated. Publishing the research, and indeed carrying it out in the first place, is undoubtedly a risk. However, the benefits of the studies, the debate surrounding it, and the lessons we can take away from the resulting discussion and polemic far outweigh the dangers.

A study of some of the largest subway networks in the world has concluded that the majority of them are mathematically similar. The study, conducted across 14 of the world's largest underground systems, found that each eventually conformed to a common structure regardless of when or where they were constructed.

Data from the Dawn probe has suggested that the asteroid Vesta is the only remainig example of the original materials that made up Mars and Earth. The findings, published in Science magazine, suggest that Vesta has an iron core, similar to Earth and Venus amongst others, that measures 220km across, worth about 18% of its entire mass.

600 1997

-

Microsoft have revealed an augmented reality system which allows users in different locations to hold tabletop conferences and share objects which they can both handle.

Creators said the system can "fool the eye" into making users think they have a shared working space.

More developments are needed before it hits the public market.

Listings Taf-Od News Opinion Politics Feature Science 1-5 8 - 10 12 - 13 15 - 16 18 - 19 Societies 22 - 23 24 21

Monday May 21 2012

gair

Vanessa Platt

Societies Writer The Cardiff Students' Bellringing Society (CSBS) saw their 30th Anniversary this year. And so, in true celebratory style, it has been an even more active year for this small society, both at home and abroad. Despite being one of the smallest, if not the smallest, society in the Union, this one can certainly make some serious noise!

It is thanks to the timely appointment this time last year of Jessica Arnold as ringing ‘Master’ (a role equivalent to that of a President) that the society has had a bumper year. She shared her thoughts on the past year with gair rhydd, commenting that ‘This year has been a really enjoyable year to be Master. It has not only been the run up to the Olympics and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, but it has been the 30th active year of CSBS’. Ringers all around the country are playing an important part in the 2 landmark British celebrations of this decade: a ‘Belfry Barge’ laden with 8 bells named after the members of the Royal family will lead the Jubilee flotilla down the Thames (the bells later to be hung and rung in commemoration) and 8 weeks later all the bells in Britain will sound simultaneously for 3 minutes at 8am to mark the launch of the Olympics. Bellringing, especially at a time like this, certainly makes you feel part of the local community – something reflected in CSBS itself, which is merged with the group of local ringers.

“

The heaviest bell in St Johns weighs in at just under 1.3 tonnes.

In general celebration of this year’s occasions, Jessica said, ‘we’ve had a tour to Shropshire, where we stayed at a beautiful Youth Hostel in the countryside, rang at 8 different

Sport 26 - 28

Societies21

bell’s own momentum does the hard work of swinging it. The towers, broke 2 bell ropes, drank many pints and had a thorart of the idea is that the set of bells (the ‘ring’) be rung in oughly enjoyable time!’ This tour over a weekend in October continuously changing patterns, known as ‘change ringing’. included a ring at the awe-inspiring tower of Hereford CatheThere are many different defined sequences or ‘methods’ that dral – the climb up to those bells is certainly an experience 8.00pm -to1.00am, The Heath Pub can be rung in ‘peals’ and ‘quarter peals’ (which, as the name be remembered!

Touring is a unique quality of this society and of the art suggests, are a quarter of the length of a peal). For this 30th Anniversary year, Jessica set a target for the society to ring of ‘campanology’ (to use Bellringing’s technical name): visit30 quarter peals, and one of these was an impressive sponing other people’s bells affords the society a warm welcome sored ring in full-blown fancy dress, which raised over £300 wherever they go to ring. As well as receiving visitors of for Children In Need. And, believe it or not, the method they their own, towards the end of last year they also travelled to rung is actually called ‘Pudsey’. Jess has certainly been ‘ringBath and toured the city’s bells, meeting up at Bath Cathedral to ring with a group from Exeter University, as well as the ing in the changes’ in this society.

A notable characteristic of ringing groups is their openCathedral ringers themselves. The society has also toured to ness – indeed, having one’s activity based in a bell tower rathLondon this year with the Welsh Colleges Society, to which er necessitates this outlook, and Jessica stresses that anyone every member of CSBS is automatically affiliated. And of - 1.00am, Clare Colledge is welcome to visit them atCambridge their practice on Thursdays at course, they never tour anywhere without their1.00pm trusty mas7pm in St. John’s Church (in the City Centre very close to the cot, Rhys the Sheep.

Castle), and would also be very welcome to join the group beRingers throughout the UK often rove around like this forehand or afterwards in The Gatekeeper pub on Westgate – it offers the chance to develop skills and gain experience Street. on bells of different weights to the ring of their home tower So, what’s in the air next year for these campanologists? (theirs is St. Johns by the Castle), which is invaluable experiJessica hopes that under the leadership of newly-elected ence for any learners. As well as this, tours also provide the Master Alex Hannam, the society, among other things, shall opportunity to ‘sample’ the local hospitality in beer form – a ‘continue to train new ringers and that more students will welcome change for the taste buds. On that note, the society has also paid its respects to the Real Ale and Cider Festival take the opportunity to ring at other towers in the Cardiff area such as Llanishen, Whitchurch and Llandaff Cathewith enthusiasm, and to the fabulous Barry Island with beers dral’, where the Queen began her Jubilee tour of Wales in and a BBQ. April. I wish next year’s committee all the best, and hope that A large part of Jessica’s work this year has been involved this small but feisty society has just as memorable a year in in the on-going work of raising the profile of this often mis2012/13. understood society in our student population. University is the perfect time to venture into new experiences, and Jessica is very aware that the unfortunate misconceptions under which this society labours need constantly dispelling: ‘Musical ability is not necessary to join our group! Religious belief is not necessary either and you don’t even need muscles like the Hulk to ring the bells!’ (And let’s consider this for a moment - if any such things were stipulations, they would be running something more like a religious sect than a society).

The facts are, nevertheless, impressive: the heaviest bell in St. Johns weighs in at just under 1.3 tonnes - but it is the way the bell is fixed onto a wheel in the belfry which means that, as Jessica says, ‘not too much effort is required to ring’ as the

Wales Psychiatry AGM

SSAGS Society Ball

If you would like to join a society, or see a full list of opportunities, visit: http://groups.cardiffstudents.com/societies/home

22 Listings

w

Monday May 21 2012

The Complete

To

Student Guide

What's On in Cardiff

gair

May 21th - 27th 2012

Feb 13th- 19th 2012

New Theatre, 7:30pm, £14.50

With 150,000 music video views, 600,000 plays on MySpace, a video premier on E! News, a debut show on MTV, a performance at the 2010 Official Pre-Party for the VMAs as one of LA's Breakthrough Artists, radio call-ins, and 3 sold-out headlining Roxy shows under their belt in about 6 months.

Judging by this resume, It Boys! are counting down the days until they are household name. With bright blonde hair, a wide plethora of musical talents and a passion for the ladies too, this are a band set for big things.

Still the best night for students on a Tuesday night, Revolution combines its well know classy interior with a wide variety of drinks and shots to choose from.

Cocktails to choose from include Vodka Moonshine, Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri, the Rev Bull and also the Bison Grass Mojito.

The queues can get rather long so its advised that you turn up nice and early to avoid waiting for half of the night. If you can't make a tuesday "Shotgun Wednesdays" run every week and offer a similarly cracking night.

The Sherman Theatre has put on a range of productions this year, that have ranged from fantasy dramas to soap operas, and this week they will be running with yet another fine show that focuses upon a landlady who once got in trouble with a monkey Phil, the local celebrity, had a couple of drinks, and following some erratic behavior was left with quite a few regrets. Laughter, betrayal, and blood follow to unfold a dramatic and at times hilarious show at the Sherman.

Gareth Johnston

Susan Boyle will make a guest appearance on the New Theatre's stage in this new musical that charts her extraordinary story.

Starring Elaine C Smith, best known as Mary Doll in BBC TV's Rab C Nesbitt, the musical follows Susan Boyle's meteoric rise from humble beginnings to a global icon and features signature songs from her multi-platinum selling albums including a performance from Susan herself.

Described in the Nashville press as the “Scottish Songbird,” Jill Jackson is a singer songwriter from Paisley, whose versatile musical and vocal abilities stretch across genres as diverse as pop, rock, folk and the country music that's in her heart.

As a solo artist, her work is far removed from the music she made as the front-woman of rock band Speedway, with whom she enjoyed three top 40 hits, including a top 10 in the UK Charts with ‘Genie In A Bottle’.

From rock chick to alternative country girl Jill has been gigging and recording as a solo artist since 2005.

There are not many Lashes left this year, so head on down to the Union to enjoy 5 hours of the usual blend of cheap drinks and mainstream music.

There will, more than likely be a theme, so be prepared to splash out on a fancy dress costume of sorts, or do what most people do and head down to Primark and ruin a few T-shirts to get that unique look. Plenty of bottled water will be supplied around the venue, to ensure everyone has a responsible and enjoyable night.

News Opinion Politics Feature Science Societies Taf-Od 1-5 8 - 10 12 - 13 15 - 16 18 - 19 21 24 Listings 22 - 23

Monday May 21 2012

gairrhydd

Sport 26 - 28

Listings 23

Empty Lungs play passionate, angry and catchy music that draws influence from punk, folk, country and post-hardcore.

Relentlessly energetic live shows have gained them a reputation as the ones to watch.

The band are currently working on their next release, which is in the pipeline, but in the mean time they are giving away their first EP 'Identity Lost' for free on www.emptylungs.bandcamp.com.

Jean-Marc Vallée returns to French-language filmmaking with this intense and unconventional love story between a man and woman, and between a mother and her son. In 2011, Antoine is a successful club DJ in Montreal living with his two daughters and doting girlfriend, however, he’s still infatuated with his exwife Carole.

It is a chilling drama that has received praise for its cinematography and script and who's actors will be sure to progress to great things.

Cooper Feilds 5:00, Prices vary

Holy Walsh, one of the finest female comedians on the UK circuit will be supported by a fine group of talented stand ups. The one that has received the most praise of late however, is Chortle Award nominee and BBC New Comedy Award Finalist, Steve Williams.

Steve never fails to surprise and engage audiences with his hybrid of bizarre stories, larger than life physicality, spontaneous improvisation and his off-the-wall take on everyday life.

The Olympic Flame is coming to Cardiff, so join in and get involved with the celebrations.

The Flame will arrive on the outskirts of the city at 5.25pm on Friday, May 25, with the first Cardiff torchbearer starting off on Newport Road in St Mellons. It will then travel down Newport Road to Roath, along Dumfries Place and Boulevard de Nantes, onto Kingsway, Duke Street and Castle Street with a brief stop at Cardiff Castle.

Solus, 9:30pm, £4.00

tigertiger, 9:00pm, £5.00

Very little changes in the Union on a Saturday night and there is nowhere you will find on the weekend that will let you drink and dance away for 6 hours and spend so little money.

Similarly to Wednesdays there will be the usual selection of the Kitchen seating area, the booming box that is Solus and also the indie/alternative music room if you want something a little more chilled out.

Dane Bowers, rose to fame in the hit British boy band, Another Level, one of the most successful boy bands of the 90's, and notched-up several platinum-selling albums and singles. Their celebrity fans included singer Janet Jackson, whom the band toured with in the late 90's.

Following the split of Another Level, Dane went on to pursue a solo music career which included the smash-hit duet 'Out Of Your Mind' with Victoria Beckham. Dane also wrote for Kelis, Jay Z, Ghost Face Killa, TQ, Wyclef, Rodney Jerkins and Dallas Austin.

Clwb Ifor Bach, 7:30pm, £14.50

He’s eaten piranha, dived into freezing bogs full of animal remains, and huddled in sheep carcases for warmth.

Recently having left his job working for the Discovery Channel United Kingdom. Throughout the night, the former SAS member will be sharing all of his crazy and wonderful experiences with the audience and providing entertainment throughout the night for those who want to know how best to survive in a desolate area.

Ozric Tentacles (also known as The Ozrics) are an instrumental rock band from Somerset, England, whose music can loosely be described as psychedelic or space rock. Formed in 1983, the band has released 28 albums as of 2011, and become very successful, selling over a million albums worldwide, despite never having major label backing.

Having been through good times and bad, this band have a wealth of experience and know how to work a live crowd.

24Taf-od

Monday May 21 2012

Perfformiad Cymraeg 'anfoddhaol' cynghorau sir y de

C

yngor Caerdydd yw'r gorau ymysg cynghorau sir de Cymru yn ei gefnogaeth i'r Gymraeg tra mai Merthyr yw'r gwaethaf, yn ôl arolwg a gomisiynwyd gan Gymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg yn ddiweddar.

Yn gynharach eleni, holwyd cyfres o gwestiynau i 12 awdurdod lleol yn ne Cymru ynghylch gweithrediad y cynghorau mewn perthynas â’r Gymraeg megis gwasanaethau Cymraeg, addysg, a sgiliau iaith staff gan

nad yw rhai o gwestiynau’r Gymdeithas wedi cael eu hateb, ac anodd iawn yw sicrhau cymhariaeth deg a chyson rhwng y gwahanol awdurdodau yn yr un modd ag oedd yn bosibl gyda’r 6 arall.’

Yn siarad am yr arolwg a gomisiynwyd gan ranbarth Morgannwg-Gwent Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg, dywedodd Ceri Phillips, llefarydd hawliau'r mudiad, bod y canlyniadau yn dangos bod angen gwelliant sylweddol ymysg cynghorau yn gyffredinol: “Mae angen gwelliant sylweddol ymysg y cynghorau hyn yn dilyn yr etholiadau. Mae'r arolwg gan ein haelodau yn y De yn amlygu'r gwasanaethau amrywiol iawn a ddarperir gan awdurdodau lleol. Caerdydd yw'r gorau ac ar y trywydd iawn, er bod gyda nhw ffordd bell i fynd eto, tra bod Merthyr yn hollol sylfaenol ac yn annerbyniol.

“Mae prosiectau cymunedol nifer o gynghorau yn galonogol – maent yn cydweithio gyda mudiadau eraill ac mae nifer o'r gweithgareddau ar gyfer

aelodau'r Gymdeithas. Casnewydd a Merthyr Tudful a sgoriodd waethaf gan dderbyn marc o 20% yn unig, tra oedd Caerdydd ar y blaen gyda 64%.

Fodd bynnag, nid oedd un o'r cynghorau wedi cyrraedd y safonau a ddisgwylir o dan y Mesur Iaith newydd, yn ôl yr arbenigwr iaith a chyn-gadeirydd Bwrdd yr Iaith Gymraeg, Marc Phillips: ‘Teg dweud bod yna amrywiaeth sylweddol o awdurdod i awdurdod, ac er bod un yn dangos perfformiad cryfach na’r gweddill mewn sawl agwedd, does dim un yn cynnig perfformiad sydd yn debygol o fodloni’r safonau newydd y disgwylir iddynt gael eu gosod gan y llywodraeth, trwy’r Comisiynydd, maes o law.’

‘Roedd 6 o’r cynghorau wedi anfon ymatebion penodol i’r holiadur. Dewisodd y 6 arall peidio ag ateb yn uniongyrchol, ond yn hytrach i anfon copi o adroddiadau monitro eu Cynllun Iaith, fel y’i cyflwynwyd i Fwrdd yr Iaith Gymraeg.* Mae ymateb yn y dull yma yn golygu

pobl ifanc sydd yn beth da – a Chaerdydd yw'r sir sydd yn arwain ar hyn ac a strategaeth glir ar weithredu a sicrhau hyn.

“Yn gyffredinol, mae cynghorau yn cynnig darpariaeth arwynebol ac yn disgwyl fod hynny yn ddigon – mae hyn yn enwedig o ran eu delwedd i'r cyhoedd. Mae'r mwyafrif o gynghorau yn cynnig darpariaeth sylfaenol o ran brandio, ateb ffonau ac yn y blaen ond ychydig iawn o wasanaethau pellach sydd ar gael. Mae yna fethiannau sylweddol mewn gwasanaethau a ddarperir gan drydydd partïon a'u gwasanaethau ar-lein newydd.

“Wrth edrych i'r dyfodol, mae angen gweld sefyllfa ble mae gwaith mewnol y Cyngor yn digwydd yn gynyddol yn Gymraeg yn hytrach na chyfieithu iddi yn unig. Mae cyfleodd staff i ddysgu Cymraeg yn amrywio'n fawr ac mae polisi nifer o'r cynghorau wrth recriwtio staff yn wan. Mae'n ymddangos nad yw mewn gwirionedd yn cael ei ystyried ac nad oes strategaeth ar gyfer cynyddu'r niferoedd.”

Y graddfeydd:

Cwbl anfoddhaol, neu dim gwybodaeth perthnasol ar gael = 0.

Anfoddhaol = 1. dangos arwyddion o gynnydd = 2.

Yn dangos cydymffurfiaeth â’r Ddeddf = 3.

Arloesol ac yn dangos arweiniad = 5

Yn is na’r disgwyl ond yn Gwell na’r disgwyl = 4.

Mae’r atebion a roddwyd yn dangos sgôr fel a ganlyn (y sgôr mwyaf posibl yw 55):

Pen-y-bont Torfaen Mynwy Caerdydd Merthyr Tudful Rhondda Cynon Taf Caerffili Abertawe Nedd-Port Talbot Blaenau Gwent Casnewydd Bro Morgannwg

1(i) 4 4 0 3 2 3 0 3 0 0 3 0

1(ii&iii) 2 3 2 2 4 0 2 3 3 0 3 3 4 0 4 2 2 0 3 0 2 0 1 0 3

3 2 2 1 3 1 3 2 2 2 3 1 3

4 2 3 2 3 1 4 4 4 4 4 2 3

5 0 0 1 3 1 3 0 2 2 2 0 0

6 2 1 1 4 0 3 2 3 2 4 1 2

7 3 2 2 3 1 3 2 2 3 2 2 4

8 2 1 0 3 1 2 1 3 3 3 0 0

9 2 2 2 3 1 2 3 4 3 4 1 3

10 3 2 1 4 0 2 0 0 4 3 0 3

CYFANSWM 25 23 12 35 11 32 18 27 26 27 11 21

gair

tafod@gairrhydd.com

Taf-Od 27ain Mai. Cwis. 8yh.

Y Mochyn Du, Treganna. £1 3ydd Mehefin. Gwyl Nyth - Creision Hud, Trwbador, Cowbois Rhos Botwnnog.

Gwdihw Cafe Bar. Mwy o fanylion i ddilyn.

16eg Mehefin. Al Lewis, Paper Aeroplanes.

Snails, Caerdydd.

23ain Mehefin. Ffair Tafwyl.

Cerddoriaeth, Llenyddiaeth, Celf, Bwyd a Diod, Comedi a mwy. 12yh-8yh.

Castell Caerdydd. Am ddim.

23ain-26ain Mehefin. Tafwyl.

Lleoliadau amrywiol o gwmpas Caerdydd.

13eg Gorffennaf. 'Sneb yn Becso Dam.Cwmni theatr ieuenctid yr Urdd.

Canolfan Sherman Cymru. £13.50.

26Sport

Monday May 21 2012

gairrhydd sport@gairrhydd.com

Blue Moon

Rhys Clayton reviews an action packed Premier League season Persie won every player award going, and Kyle Walker won the PFA Young Player of the Year. Norwich were praised for their fantastic first season, and Swansea won unreserved admiration for their beautiful style of play, and picked up the prized scalps of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City. Wolves, Blackburn and Bolton bit the dust, and somehow, Wigan put together a remarkable final quarter of the season to once again defy the drop.

One team that I felt deserved more credit was Fulham. Martin Jol has gone about his business with his usual decorum, and their team included one of the player’s of the season in the form of Clint Dempsey. After losing their pre-

mium striker in Bobby Zamora, Jol will be desperately hoping to start next season with Dempsey, as well as Pavel Pogrebnyak, the quickest player to five goals in Premiership history.

After a hard 10 month slog, it all went down to the last weekend.

Along the way, there were terrific highs – fantastic games, 6-1, 8-2, wonder goals; intense drama – Tevez sulking, anything Mario Balotelli did, Capello resigning, Harry Redknapp’s requital all in the same day, which meant ‘Arry would be the next boss... or so we thought; as well as some awful lows – racism allegations, the tragic passing of Gary Speed, and the illnesses of Fabrice Muamba and Stiliyan Petrov.

It looked for so long like it would be United’s day yet again. But perhaps the two most important minutes in Manchester City’s history ensured that their name would be forever etched on the famous trophy. As Gary Neville put it, Fergie will “absolutely hate losing the title on goal difference,” and the fact that City won it in “fergie time,” which was added thanks for the idiotic actions of Joey Barton, will make it an even more bitter pill to swallow.

With their unlimited resources, it could be a long period of blue domination, and it may not be long until we are pining for a decent challenger to emerge.

gair rhydd Sport's best XI:

A

mere few weeks ago, we were told that the Premiership race “was over”. And with nine points between Manchester United and Manchester City, everyone believed Roberto Mancini.

We believed him less when the gap was reduced to five points. Then the gap was three points, and the smirk across Mancini’s face when he continued his claim of a title already over told its own story.

The finale was befitting of a crazy 2011/12 campaign. The quality of the football might not have been the best, with arguably Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester United fielding their weakest teams in many seasons, but this lead to leaky defences, and some high scoring classics.

In fact, a record 1,066 goals were witnesses by 12 million fans, and billions more watching on televisions worldwide. Included in that 1,066 were some absolutely stunning strikes. The logic defying Cisse swerver, the beautiful Bale whipped-chip against Man City, Crouch’s wonder volley, Robin Van Persie’s poetry in motion volley against Everton, and I never got tired of seeing Ben Arfa’s amazing run from inside his own half. Personally, I’d say that Suarez’s mesmeric loft over John Ruddy from just inside the Norwich half is the pick of the bunch, simply because it required pin-point accuracy, sheer

audacity, and the fact that he is one of very few players that would attempt and pull off such genius.

For a league often touted as the best in the world, where “anyone can beat anyone,” it is easy to forget that there is 19 points between second and third. Many pundits were starting to believe that Tottenham could be genuine contenders for the title before eventually slipping away. Arsenal recovered well from a shocking start, mainly thanks to Mr. Van Persie.

“

Cisse's logic defing swerver

Whilst Chelsea endured a tumultuous season with another change of manager, but by the time you are reading this, we will know if they have achieved a historic double.

Should Chelsea win the Champions league, they will take Spurs’ place in next season’s elite competition.

It will also continue a trend of parallels with the 09/10 season, where Bayern Munich came runners up in the Champions League, Chelsea won the FA Cup, Manchester United were just piped to the title, Spurs finished fourth, and Atletico Madrid won the Europa League.

Alan Pardew won the LMA Manager of the Year and Robin van

News Opinion Politics Feature Science Societies Listings Taf-Od 1-5 8 - 10 12 - 13 15 - 16 18 - 19 21 22 - 23 24

Monday May 21 2012

Sport 26 - 28

gairrhydd

Sport27

Blues back to Arms Park

Tom Parry-Jones Sports Writer

The Cardiff Blues have agreed a deal to make a permanent return to Cardiff Arms Park from the start of next season, having spent just three years at the new Cardiff City Stadium in Leckwith.

Cardiff Arms Park, with its history dating back as far as 1881, has played host to a wide variety of sporting events, from boxing to cricket, and of course rugby.

The team had been suffering from poor home attendances, particularly in domestic competitions, prompting a move back to the Arms Park for two games in February.

The move proved popular with fans and has resulted in the club being released early from their agreement to play at the City Stadium.

When the Blues followed Cardiff City FC in their move to the £46m

City Stadium in 2009, they were tied into a 20-year contract that would see them play up to 18 games at the 27,000-seater ground.

“

Richard Holland conceded a return to Arms Park was imprtant for sustainability

This season however, has seen them bring in an average of just under 7,000 spectators to each game, only reaching five figures on two occasions.

Despite dwindling attendances, Blues chief executive Richard Hol-

land described the original move to the City Stadium as being “for all the right reasons,” but conceded that returning to the Arms Park was “important for our future sustainability,” particularly when money troubles affect all clubs, as demonstrated by the introduction of the regional salary cap.

This return to the Arms Park will be a welcome one for Cardiff rugby fans, due in no small part to the stadium’s location, close to the centre of town and Cardiff Central train station, resulting in better infrastructural links. Students living in Cathays and Roath will also be pleased as Blues games will now be within a reasonable walking distance.

For games with an increased demand for tickets, however, the Blues will still have the option to move matches to the City Stadium.

Sport

Premier League round-up << Inside

Cardiff get a taste of the Olympics

Above: BUCS pole vault

Above: The 4 x 100m relay Marc John Sports Writer Between the 4th and 8th of May, the BUCS Outdoor Athletics Championships took place at a venue that is set to be one of the most important venues of the summer.

But before the likes of Usain Bolt, Mo Farah, Dai Greene and Jessica Ennis get the chance to compete at the London Olympic Stadium in August, University students from all over the country – and including Cardiff - participated in the stadium’s first competitive event.

Speaking to gair rhydd sport, civil engineering student Corin Bowen said "the whole event was really cool, considering it was the official opening of the Olympic stadium, it was an amazing opportunity to be one of the first people to run on the flawless track.

The facilities were first rate, and the team was outstanding. Most of us were carrying injuries, but

none of us were going to give up the chance of running on the Olympic track.

“

The facilities were first rate and the team was outstanding

Rachel Underhill for example, ran an incredible race in the 10,000m, smashing her personal best, despite being on crutches the

day before.’’ Corin competed in the 5,000m, and ran a terrific time of 18:12.

It was a great opportunity for the athletes, but also for spectators – just £10 for a day at the Olympic Stadium – a bargain compared to prices for the games itself, for those lucky enough to receive tickets in LOCOG’s ballot. The cold weather may not have portrayed the Stadium in the best light, but the high quality of it cannot be denied – with eight BUCS records broken over the course of the event.

The Saturday also saw crowds of up to 40,000 in the evening – an unprecedented amount for such an event, with some being drawn by the prospect of a Vernon Kay led ‘2012 hours to go’ celebration event.

As it turned out though, the Athletics was the more high quality event of the evening.

Above: 4 x 400m relay