Freshers' Edition 2021 (Issue 1171) - Monday, 27th September

rhifyn 1171 issue 1171

27 medi 2021 27 september 2021

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Inside: Gair Rhydd breaks down the World's Wildest Weather and the ongoing climate crisis (page 18)

Gair Rhydd speaks to Hannah Doe, the new Cardiff SU President Jack Robert Stacey Editor-in-Chief

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ow that students are making their return back to campus, Gair Rhydd sat down with Hannah Doe, President at Cardiff Students' Union to talk over her thoughts on last year and the upcoming Freshers' Week .

“Last year was an amazing experience, but there wasn't very much going on in-person," Doe said. “I definitely feel like there's a lot that, you know, people have potentially missed out on... even if people have had a good experience in some cases, it's not been necessarily what they expected."

Reflecting back on her own experiences as “a student in 'normal' times," Doe expressed that she missed being “around students" and having the freedom to “just walk around campus" where “there would be things going on at the Students' Union" and other parts of the city before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Doe added that, during her time as the former Vice-President of Education, “we were so fortunate that so many societies and sports completely transformed the way that they delivered activities," but also highlighted that “at the same time, we have definitely seen that limited amount of opportunity as students haven't been able to go and meet inperson all the time or come to our nightclub events."

According to a report published by the Office of National Statistics (ONS), approximately 29% of students reported feeling either “dissatisfied or very dissatisfied" with their overal social experience.

Since the events of last year, Doe said that the Sabbatical Team at the Students' Union have been cautiously working towards resuming a range of in-person events this year.

With many students now seeking to return back to campus this September, we asked Doe what preparations she has made for the upcoming Freshers' Week.

The SU President told Gair Rhydd that she remains optimistic that the

experience of “being back on campus" will provide a welcome change and reintroduce a sense of 'normality' to student life this year. The Sabbatical Team, Doe continued, are all committed to “getting the student experience back and running and making sure that students: A - feel comfortable to come back to campus, but also B - that their experience is what they want it to be."

With large-scale indooer events and in-person teaching also expected to resume within the next few weeks (providing that Wales' COVID-19 guidelines remain at 'Level Zero'), Doe said that this year is “almost like what we needed: the opportunity to meet new people [and] come together" as a student community.

In addition to holding the usual range of night-time events, Gair Rhydd asked Doe whether the Students' Union was expecting to run a number of smaller-scale day-time activities and 'Give it a Go' sessions for students seeking to experience Freshers' Week at their own pace.

“One thing that I really wanted to do at Freshers'," Doe said “is making sure that we have accessible events for all students who might not want to go to nightclubs" and “to provide almost like a quieter space" for students to chat with others or even “sit and eat cake" if that is how they want to experience Freshers' Week.

Despite the vast variety of in-person events avaliable during Freshers' Week, it is also important not to overlook that some students may understandably be apprehensive about returning back to in-person activities and teaching.

The mental health charity Mind recently conducted a report that suggested that 21% of young people “do not think they will enjoy school, college or university without restrictions" - An aspect that the Sabbatical Team have addressed as one of the key challenges facing life at Cardiff University this year...

To read about the SU President's plans for Freshers' Week and her focuses for the rest of the academic year, turn to page 3.

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A state divided: The introduction of SB8 (also known as the 'Texas Heartbeat Act') has led to a number of demonstrations across Texas. Source: Steve Rainwater (via Flickr)

Texas abortion law faces widespread criticism Ella Lloyd

Politics Editor

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controversial law banning abortion has come into effect in Texas.

The law, known as Senate Bill 8 (SB8), prohibits abortion from 6 weeks into pregnancy, or when what anti-abortion campaigners call a fetal heartbeat can be detected. The American College of Obstetricians

Sut mae arian yn lladd Pel-droed?

Steffan Alun Leonard

and Gynecologists suggests that this is misleading though, arguing this is actually when ‘a portion of the fetal tissue that will become a heart as the embryo develops’.

Other states have attempted to implement ‘heartbeat bills’ however these efforts have been blocked by state courts.

The law offers an exception in the case of a medical emergency, but not for cases of rape and incest.

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oes dim dwywaith amdani fod sefyllfa ariannol rhai timoedd pêl droed wedi trawsnewid y modd y mae'r diwydiant yn cael ei weld, ei chwarae a'i redeg yn y byd modern.

Un affodus mae'r argyfwng COVID-19 wedi rhoi nifer fawr o glybiau i mewn i drafferth ariannol erbyn i'r tymor newydd yma gychwyn. Ond, un agwedd bositif sydd wedi dod allan o'r trafferthion ariannol, yw bod y sgwrs am degwch ariannol.

Ar gyfer darllen ochr ariannol o bel-droed, a'i heffeithiau ar y gem, trowch i dudalen 10.

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Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Dinosaur fossil found by four-year-old

Suraya Kazzuz

Mia Becker-Hansen

Contributor

Golygydd Taf-od

The law would prevent more than 80% of women from obtaining an abortion, as most women don’t realize they are pregnant as early as the 6-week cut off. Many women will now have to travel out of state to access care .

To read more about the impact of the controversial law and the Biden Administration's recent response, turn to page 12.

Head of Science and Technology

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hile Marvel’s oversaturation of superhero films is becoming more noticable, the newest of the bunch, ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’, offers a refreshing break from what we’ve previously come to expect from the studio that has brought the likes of 'Iron Man' and 'Thor' to the big screen.

What is most compelling about the newest Marvel movie is Director Destin Daniel Cretton’s ability to make an entirely unique spectacle while honouring East Asian traditions.

To read Suraya's review of Marvel's new movie 'Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings', turn to page 24.

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significant discovery found by a four-year-old on a family walk on Bendricks Bay is now on display at the National Museum Cardiff.

Lily Wilder, age four, was walking down the beach with her father looking for shells when she spotted what experts are calling "the best dinosaur footprint we've ever found in Britain". The fossil footprint is thought to have been left 220 million years ago by an as yet unidentified dinosaur species.

To read about Lily's find and the significance behind the fossil footprint, turn to page 27.

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EDITORIAL Gair Rhydd 2021/22 Coordinator Elaine Morgan

Editor-in-Chief Jack Robert Stacey

Deputy Editors Tom Kingsbury Vicky Witts Zoe Kramer

News

Zoe Kramer Alex Hughes Beth Williams Shivika Singh

Features

Sarah Anne Griffiths Eva Rodericks

A note from the Editor Nodyn gan y Golygydd A warm welcome back to Cardiff University

Croeso cynnes yn ôl i Brifysgol Caerdydd

Freshers’ Week: Students are beginning to return back to campus for September. Source: Jeremy Segrott (via Flickr)

Wythnos y Glas: Mae myfyrwyr yn dechrau dychwelyd yn ôl i’r campws ar gyfer mis Medi. Tarddiad: Jeremy Segrott (via Flickr)

Taf-od

Nel Richards Gracie Richards Nansi Eccott Steffan Alun Leonard

Politics

Tom Kingsbury Ella Lloyd Luthien Evans Manal Ahmed

Comment

Vicky Witts Catarina Pinto Vicente Katherine Wheeler Megan Evans

Advice

Harriet Lowbridge Megan Shinner Ruth Hoey

Review

Iris Knapman Jessica Clifford-Jones

Science and Technology Mia Becker-Hansen Jemma Powell Theodore Tadros

Sport

Anurag Hegde Harvey Palmer Oscar Lucas Tom Hawkins

Head of Digital Media Sophia Grace

Social Media Manager Ella Lloyd

Digital Media Editors Cinzia Appetecchia Emily Smith Joseph Liu

Copy Editors

Beca Fflur Williams Bonnie Wileman Emily Bryant Jess Henderson Libby Griffiths Lois Campbell Maisie Granger Sam Joseph

Write to the editor editor@gairrhydd.com

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

You can view our Ethical Policy Statement and Complaints Procedure at cardiffstudentmedia.co.uk/complaints.

Opinions expressed in editorials and opinion pieces are not reflective of Cardiff Student Media, who act as the publisher of Gair Rhydd in legal terms, and should not be considered official communications or the organisation’s stance.

Gair Rhydd is a Post Office registered newspaper.

Jack Robert Stacey Editor-in-Chief

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elcome back to Cardiff University and, from all of us here at Gair Rhydd, welcome to our first issue of the year - The Freshers’ Edition. With everything we’ve seen over the last few months, everyone on the team is excited to see all of the new and familiar faces returning to campus!

Put simply, the events that transpired over the last year were unexpected to say the least.

For many students at Cardiff University, 2021 was a year that understandably lacked the authentic university experience that they had been expecting; it was instead dominated by pre-recorded lectures and awkward virtual socials that, although a welcome alternative during the pandemic, often struggled to replicate the real thing.

Over the past few months, however, everyone at Cardiff University and the Students’ Union has been working hard in-line with government guidelines to bring everything closer to a pre-pandemic ‘normal’.

As restrictions begin to ease across Wales, students returning in September can expect to have a more traditional Freshers experience with a huge range of social activities available in the city across the entire

week. Providing that Wales remains at ‘Alert Level Zero’, students will be able to attend indoor events with an unlimited number of other people while face-to-face teaching is expected to make a full, but cautious return within the year.

Whilst many of us may rightly want to leap at the first opportunity to experience everything that Cardiff has to offer this year, we also need to recognise that some students may rightly feel reluctant about returning back to life at the university.

Regardless of however 2021 shapes up for all of us, it is perhaps more important than ever before to follow along with the guidelines set out by the Welsh Government to ensure that everyone at Cardiff University has a safe and enjoyable Freshers’ Week experience.

As part of our first issue of the year, this Freshers’ Edition features three exclusive interviews with members of the 2021/2022 Sabbatical Team at the Students’ Union, an update from our Taf-od desk on all of the events available around the city, and a indepth round-up of this Summer’s Premier League transfer window from our Sports desk - All of this alongside our brand-new section, ‘Review’ which takes a look at a local plant cafe and Marvel’s ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’ on page 24.

Jack Robert Stacey Prif Olygydd

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r ran pob un ohonom yma yn Gair Rhydd, croeso nôl i Brifysgol Caerdydd ac i’n rhifyn cyntaf o’r flwyddyn – The Freshers’ Edition! Gyda phopeth rydym wedi’i weld dros y misoedd diwethaf, mae pawb ar y tîm yn gyffrous i weld pob wyneb newydd a chyfarwydd yn dychwelyd i Gaerdydd!

Yn syml, bu’r digwyddiadau dros y flwyddyn ddiwethaf yn annisgwyl i ddweud y lleiaf.

Yn ddealladwy, i lawer o fyfyrwyr ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd, roedd 2021 yn flwyddyn a ddaeth heb y profiad prifysgol uigryw disgwyliedig; yn hytrach, cafodd ei ddominyddu gan ddarlithoedd a recordwyd ymlaen llaw a chymdeithasau rhithiol lletchwith a oedd (er yn opsiwn i’w groesawu yn ystod y pandemig) yn aml, yn anodd i efelychu’r gwir beth.

Dros y misoedd diwethaf, fodd bynnag, mae pawb ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd ac Undeb y Myfyrwyr wedi bod yn gweithio’n galed yn unol â chanllawiau’r llywodraeth er mwyn nesáu at y ‘normal’ cyn y pandemig.

Wrth i gyfyngiadau ddechrau llacio ardraws Cymru, gall myfyrwyr sy’n dychwelyd ym mis Medi ddisgwyl profiad Glas mwy traddodiadol gydag ystod enfawr o weithgareddau

cymdeithasol ar gael drwy gydol yr wythnos. Ar yr amod bod Cymru’n aros ar Lefel Rhybudd Sero, bydd myfyrwyr yn gallu mynychu digwyddiadau dan do ymhlith nifer anghyfyngedig o bobl eraill. Law yn llaw â hyn, disgwylir i’r dysgu wyneb yn wyneb ddychwelyd yn llawn, ond yn bwyllog o fewn y flwyddyn.

Er y gallai llawer ohonom fod eisiau neidio ar y cyfle cyntaf i brofi popeth sydd gan Gaerdydd i’w gynnig eleni, rhaid cydnabod y gall rhai myfyrwyr deimlo’n amharod i ddychwelyd i fywyd prifysgol.

Pa ffordd bynnag fydd 2021 yn ymddangos, gellid dadlau ei bod yn bwysicach nag erioed i ddilyn canllawiau Llywodraeth Cymru i sicrhau fod pawb yn cael Wythnos Glas diogel a phleserus.

Fel rhan o’n rhifyn cyntaf o’r flwyddyn, mae’r Rhifyn Glas hwn yn cynnwys tri chyfweliad unigryw gydag aelodau Tîm Sabothol 2021/2022 yn Undeb y Myfyrwyr, diweddariad o’n desg Taf-od ar yr holl ddigwyddiadau sydd ar gael o amgylch y ddinas, a chrynodeb manwl o ffenestr drosglwyddo Uwch Gynghrair yr Haf hwn o’n desg Chwaraeon - Hyn i gyd ochr yn ochr â’n hadran newydd sbon, ‘Review’ sy’n bwrw golwg ar gaffi planhigion lleol a Marvel’s ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’ ar dudalen 24.

GOLYGYDDOL

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The New Sabbatical Officers leading the Students’ Union Gair Rhydd sat down with three members of the new Sabbatical Team to talk over the last few months, the upcoming Freshers’ celebrations, and their key plans moving forwards this year.

Hannah Doe

(Continued from Page One)

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oe acknowledged that, in addition to this, many “students are also away from home and some students last year might still be with us remotely, so we’re dealing with the normal barriers that Freshers’ face as well as students coming back.”

In her preparations for Freshers’ Week, Doe said that she is focused on also “delivering events virtually” this year whilst “constantly checking government guidelines and doing as much as we can within that remit and just making sure that it’s a safe campus”. “Every day,” she continued,

the Sabbatical Team are “making decisions that directly impact students,” so will be aiming “to make sure that the experience lives up to their expectations” even if students are uncomfortable with attending any in-person events.

Moving on from Freshers’ Week and onto the Sabbatical Team’s plans for the rest of the year, Gair Rhydd asked what specific areas of student life Doe would be focusing on during her time as the SU President.

Apart from the obvious difficulties of keeping in-person events in-line with Wales’ Coronavi-

Chris Grieve

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s Freshers’ Week remains set to reintroduce students back to a sense of ‘normality’, Gair Rhydd questioned Chris Grieve, the Vice-President of Societies and Volunteering at the Students’ Union, about his role overseeing the return of many societies and in-person events back to campus.

Grieve’s role as the Vice-President of Societies and Volunteering Laying out what his role involves this year, Grieve said that, in addition to championing the work that “societies at the SU” do, he is responsible for supporting these societies as they adapt to the ongoing impact of COVID-19 pandemic.

He continued by noting that, as the result of easing restrictions and the greater level of freedom that this awards the Sabbatical team, his role “probably looks a lot closer to pre-COVID than it did to last year.”

With such a large and diverse range of societies at the Students’ Union, Grieve stated that his role primarily involves being aware on how “societies are going to be affected by” changing restrictions alongside informing these societies of “how could they benefit, and how [these changes] could detriment them.”

As societies at the Students’ Union were suddenly forced to reorganise their social events

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rus guidelines, Doe raised that one of her key priorities will be ensuring that students are aware of the work that the Sabbatical Team is doing for them. She told Gair Rhydd that championing student achievements through social media and “being transparent” about their day-to-day activities “is so important” for the team moving forward.

“It’s also important,” she continued, that students know that “we’ve got [their] back”. “We’re here to represent students,” Doe said, but as “our hardest critics (as they should be)”, students need

to “actually know what we’re doing” for them” this year. In addition to this, she maintained that another one of her key focuses “is making sure that we’re sustainable: whether that’s environmentally sustainable, financially sustainable, whatever it may be”.

Focusing on the experiences that any students returning back to Cardiff in September can expect, Doe told us that she was “excited to see students enjoying themselves at Freshers’ events and seeing what we [the Sabbatical Team] can offer” everyone at the university this year.

VP of Societies and Volunteering

around the Welsh Government’s guidelines last year, Greive recognised that many societies understandably struggled with this early-on in the pandemic. This year, however, he remains confident that all students would be able to reengage with what societies have to offer this year in-person.

“There is,” Grieve said, “a group for you and there is a chance for you to voice that and engage with that.” “We have activity-based groups… We have performance groups …We have political and ideological discussion groups… International and cultural groups, we have those,” so there is a “huge range of societies that students can go and join!”.

The Sabbatical Team’s work as part of the upcoming Freshers’ Week celebrations Following on from the recent easing of COVID-19 restrictions across Wales, Gair Rhydd asked Grieve what the Sabbatical Team had been working on in order to ensure that students can have an enjoyable, but also safe Freshers’ Week.

The team, he explained, are focused on bringing back a more ‘authentic’ experience for students, with “the in-person side of events” set to return in September.

“Again,” Grieve admitted, “there will be exceptions to this”. He noted that even if the “guid-

Charlotte Towlson ith all of these activities and night-time events set to welcome students back to Cardiff University this September, it’s almost easy for students to overlook the range of support and input available at the Students’ Union. Gair Rhydd spoke to Charlotte Towlson, the Vice-President of Welfare and Campaigns, about the importance of student welfare and feedback at a time when many are making the transition back to campus and a sense of ‘normality’.

The Sabbatical Team’s focus for the year “One of our priorities as a team”, she began, “is to be communicating and creating a nice environment” for students in order “to ensure that people know that [support] is there” and available for them.

Focusing on the impact of COVID-19 on the overall “student experience”, Towlson said that “being there for students is very important” this year.

She recognised that, even though there is a “huge range of support” available around the University, one of the key challenges facing the Sabbatical Team is that some students may not “actually know

SU President

ance from the Welsh government changes” and events are required to feature social distancing, masks or a limited attendance capacity, “students can expect an almost entirely back in person provision like we had pre-COVID”.

“If we have to do vaccines, if we have to do tests,” Grieve said, “we’re more than happy to run that and make sure that we’re keeping our students safe at the same as ensuring that we’re putting on as much as we can” for students adding Freshers’ Week in-person.

Speaking to BBC News back in August, Becky Rickets, President of the National Union of Students Wales, asserted that “2021-21 was incredibly hard for students” with many spending “more than half the year learning online” and most being restricted to only socialising “with flatmates that many of them had only just met.”

“The social side of university” this year, she continued, is “a key part of the student experience, and contribute positivity to students’ mental health and well-being”.

“Coming out of COVID,” Grieve also acknowledged this and added that “there is going to be huge pressure” on the team to provide a variety of daytime events and virtual activities for students who may not feel comfortable attending the full-scale of Freshers’ events this

year. Grieve said that, “because [Freshers Week 2021] is so soon after everything, there’ll be a lot of people who are not comfortable coming back on campus yet or back in-person - And that’s fine”.

He explained that, as part of their preparations for Freshers’ Week, the Sabbatical Team, “are trying to give as much as we can through a virtual provision,” so that all students (even those “who choose to attend virtually”) are able to experience what he expects will be “a more proper, full-on Freshers”.

Taking a step back from his preparations for Freshers’ Week, Grieve told Gair Rhydd that the Sabbatical Team are primarily focused on engaging with students through social media. In addition to working closely with societies, they aim to use their online presence to reach students and raise awareness of key issues they may be facing this year.

Grieve’s key focus for the year He raised that, in summary, he wants people to be aware that “there are students sitting at the highest level at the Union” who are working to “support societies” and welcome students back to campus with what he hopes will be “a really good Freshers,” especially after what many may have experienced over the last few months.

VP of Welfare and Campaigns

a lot about the SU unless [they] engage with it” and, as a result, will not “know that there is support” available for them.

As part of her role this year, Towlson asserts that all of her efforts and campaigns will be focused around “listening to students,” providing them with “an input” into what happens at the University, and also “sign-posting them in the right direction for support if they need it”.

According to a recent report published by Randstad, the three most significant factors on the mental wellbeing of students are academic stress, financial pressures and balancing studies with work; with academic stress being highlighted as “the top factor impacting the state of mental wellbeing”.

Amongst other findings, the report also suggested that 42% of university-level students access counselling support during their studies. The report concluded that, overall, these services have a “positive impact” on student mental wellbeing.

With this in mind, Gair Rhydd asked Towlson which key areas of student life the Sabbatical Team are focusing their attention on and what kind of in-

put students can expect to have this year.

Towlson continued that her role this year “is focused around giving students what they’d like to see” by working with other members of the Sabbatical Team and the existing support provided by the University to “improve the student experience.” An “experience” that she recognises may understandably feel different to the one students saw last year as the result of the outbreak of COVID-19.

Although the current Sabbatical Team “haven’t started that long ago”, Towlson outlined her plans to get more students involved with campaigns in order to raise awareness on topics like mental health, consent, student housing, and sexual harassment.

All of this, she said, should run alongside familiar events like ‘Speak Week’ and ‘Mind Your Head’ so that students “can educate themselves” and also “provide their input on a wide range of topics”.

Engagement with students Moving forwards, she said that “engagement” with students “is a huge thing” for her this year.

“Students”, she added, “need to have an input” on what happens at all levels of University life. As an

elected official acting on behalf of Cardiff University students, she raised that it is critical for the Sabbatical team to gauge student opinion and “listen to that” before making decisions this year – Otherwise, she said, “we wouldn’t be doing anything” for them.

Towlson’s key focus for the year In summary, Towlson told Gair Rhydd that she is aiming to make support more accessible for students and intends to structure campaigns around the feedback the Students’ Union receives about life at the University this year. With this focus on student feedback, she hopes that the various campaigns and volunteering opportunities on offer this year will create “positive changes all of our students”.

As “the student support that’s within the University is already very strong”, Towlson concluded by saying that she would be working closely with Cardiff University to support everyone and remains optimistic that, regardless of whatever challenges they may have faced over the last few months, “it will be a good year for students”.

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In-person teaching to commence for 2021/2022 academic year

Small lectures, tutorials and seminars will be in-person, while larger lectures will still be delivered online Aruni Deraniyagala

Zoe Kramer

Alex Hughes

Contributor

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s the start of the 2021/22 academic year approaches, Cardiff University has announced the steps it plans to take to ensure a university experience that, to a certain extent, resembles ‘normal’.

In-person teaching in the form of smaller lectures, tutorials, seminars, lab work and workshops will be delivered on campus. However larger lectures will continue to be delivered online. Teaching methods will remain under constant review in order to ensure the best possible learning

experience. Students will also have access to facilities such as libraries, cafes, restaurants, accommodation, sports facilities and the Student’s Union.

In order to ensure the safety of both the students and the staff, social distancing is encouraged where possible and face coverings must be worn in indoor public spaces.

Clear signposted one-way systems have been implemented in building in the hopes of avoiding packed corridors. Staggered timetables and extra teaching spaces are being used in order to reduce the number of people on campus. These measures have been taken following the Welsh

Government’s guidelines.

Whilst the university hopes to make full use of teaching spaces by January 2022, it is acknowledged that students may not be able to attend in-person classes due to COVID related issues. Therefore, this year remote study will be available under three categories. For those who may be required to self-isolate, remote study for the period of selfisolation is available for students of all programmes. For students whose arrival in Cardiff may be delayed due to travel restrictions or mandatory quarantine upon arrival in the UK, remote study may be available for some courses. Courses for which

this is not available have been listed on the Cardiff University website. In situations where students are experiencing acute difficulties with international travel, extended remote study is available for certain courses.

Courses that are eligible for this can be found on the University website.

If you fall into one of the above categories, you can notify your school via SIMS. Whilst the above may change according to the situation in the country and government regulations, we can look forward to a more normal university experience this year compared to the disruption in learning which occurred last year.

Cardiff University ranks #1 in Wales

Zoe Kramer

Head of News

Beth Williams

Shivika Singh news@gairrhydd.com

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ccording to the Times and the Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022, Cardiff University has been ranked the #1 university in Wales.

Citing the Centre for Student Life as a major investment in student support, the guide, also known as “the definitive rankings for UK universities,” has given Cardiff University the top spot for the second year in a row.

The CSL cost a reported £50 million to build, and is nearing completion.

Additionally, applications for Cardiff University have increased by 12 percent this year.

The guide reportedly factors in teaching quality, student experience, graduate prospects, and competition rate.

In second position is Aberystwyth University, followed by Swansea, Bangor, Cardiff Metropolitan, University of Wales Trinity St David, University of South Wales and Wrexham Glyndŵr University.

Cardiff University was also awarded 35th in the UK-wide rankings chart.

Globally, Cardiff ranks 151st according to QS Top Universities, 189th according to Times Higher Education (THE), and 168th according to US News.

Cardiff University also ranks 4th in the UK for climate action, 5th for good

Number One: Cardiff University received the top ranking in Wales this year. Source: Epaunov72 (via Wikimedia Commons) health and wellbeing, and 12th for responsible consumption and production, according to THE.

While each ranking system employs different metrics, Cardiff University overall made a positive impression.

Tourism sector calls for worker protections against customer abuse customers, this proposed action has been met with opposition. Jim Jones, the CEO of North Wales Tourism, believes that the proposed law is too extreme. He said, “It’s common decency to treat all workers with respect, especially those people that work to create a good experience for

Beth Williams News Editor

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he Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers along with other tourism Leaders in North Wales are calling for tougher measures to be put in place to protect hospitality workers from abusive customers. With the popularity of staycations predicted to continue next summer, those in the sector believe that following Scotland’s lead and creating a new offence will deter the assaults and abuse of staff.

Reports of antisocial behaviour against staff are on the rise as the number of visitors to North Wales have increased over the summer months. Dylan’s, a successful restaurant chain in the area, is one of many local businesses to have spoken out against the abuse of their staff following both physical and verbal abuse from some customers. On their Facebook account, co-owners David Evans and Robin Hodgsonand

Tourist Trap: Portmeirion is a common tourist destination. Source: Mike McBey (via Wikimedia Commons) revealed “We’ve seen friends in other small businesses and hospitality venues suffering too, both here in North Wales and further afield. We hope one thing is abundantly clear.

We DO NOT tolerate abuse in our restaurants.” Following similar incidents, Adam Williams, the owner of Llandudno’s Pier, fully supports rep-

licating Scottish law to protect his staff. Williams said: “No one should be abused for the job they do no matter what they do, my staff work hard enough as it is especially this summer and should be treated with respect at all times.”

Despite 88% of UK business having reported some form of abuse from

No one should be abused for the job they do no matter what they do. their customers.” While some matters have been devolved to them, the Welsh assembly are unable to pass criminal legislation, meaning that the issue will need to be referred to the UK government. However, they released a statement condoning the perpetrators of anti-social behaviour before going on to say, “We support

[The Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers]’s call for greater protections for shop workers, and with criminal justice currently reserved to the UK Government, we urge them to bring forward the necessary legislation.”

As well as calls to protect workers at the forefront of the tourism industry, many have called into question the ability of Welsh infrastructure to deal with such high volumes of visitors. Rural communities are struggling with the influx of visitors, from scenes of overflowing car parks to overcrowding on popular beaches. Preceding the bank holiday weekend, Wales’ economy minister Vaughan Gething urged visitors to “look for quieter locations, plan your visit and treat each other and the places you visit with respect”. This advice comes after North Wales was listed as the most popular holiday destination in Britain for the first time this year.

NEWYDDION

Mermaid Quay redevelopment to continue following COVID-19

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Plans for new indoor arena in Cardiff The refurbishment of the area was put on hold due to the pandemic but is set Bay move to continue and is due for completion in 2022. forward Zoe Kramer

Head of News

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fter delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the redevelopment of Mermaid Quay in Cardiff Bay is set to continue from the week of the 6th of September, according to the Quay’s owners, Schroder UK Real Estate Fund (SREF).

After receiving planning permission in 2018, the first phases of the refurbishment were completed in 2019.

However, the works have since been put on pause due to the Coronavirus outbreak.

The redevelopment of the 150,000 sq ft centre includes a new landscaped public space in Tacoma Square, with waterfront views, and a central location to host events and entertainment.

Lighting will also be added to the Bute Street bridge. Other additions include a new entrance, new projecting signs, banners, seating and street furniture, pavers, markers, and geolights, with the overall appearance following a maritime theme.

Mermaid Quay: The redevelopment is due to be completed in 2022. Source: Elliott Brown (via Flickr) Mermaid Quay originally opened in 1999 and has proved itself an integral part of Cardiff tourism, attracting over 100 million visitors. The dock area originates from the Industrial Revolution, and was known then as Tiger Bay. Communities of migrants from Ireland, Norway, Spain and the Caribbean began to form. The Norwegian Church, now an arts centre, was the site of Roald Dahl’s christening. The

multicultural legacy of the area has created a vibrant arts community, including the work of John Clinch.

After the decline of coal exports, the area received its first redevelopment beginning in 1987, including a barrage which created a 500 acre freshwater lake and a nature reserve. Despite its constantly evolving appearance, pieces of history can still be found, such as Coffi Co, which used to be the queue

shed for tickets to America.

The latest refurbishment, aside from giving Mermaid Quay a new appearance, is also designed to attract visitors.

Harry Pickering, SREF’s Head of UK Retail, commented: “This is a very exciting time for Mermaid Quay. As Covid-19 restrictions ease we have started to see a strong rise in visitors returning to the centre and we are working closely with our retailers and leisure operators to ensure their reopening runs as smoothly as possible.

“The centre has always been the ‘jewel in the crown’ in The Bay, but if we are to continue to be attractive to our customers, it’s important that it continues to evolve. The refurbishment work to Mermaid Quay outlines SREF’s commitment to the Cardiff Bay area and the revamp will enliven the customer experience and create superb new public spaces to match the scheme’s beautiful waterfront setting.

We can’t wait to get started.”

The redevelopment is due to be completed in 2022.

Cardiff will be home to a Rainbow Crossing in support of the LGBT+ community

Shivika Singh News Editor

C

ardiff is set to become home to Wales’ first Rainbow Crossing.

It is set to replace a standard Zebra Crossing with a rainbow version in support of the LGBTQ community. Although the location of the crossing has not yet been announced, it will be in a prominent city location.

The design of the crossing would consist of six colors representing the LGBT community, namely red, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet.

It is believed that the crossing would also include black and brown stripes to represent people of colour as well as baby blue, pink, and white to include the trans flag in its design. It is hoped that the work could be started by the end of summer and completed by autumn.

It is worth mentioning that Pride Cymru has been raising the demand for a permanent rainbow feature in the city centre from time to time. But it was Grangetown Councillor, Ashley Lister, who first formally raised the issue with cabinet member Caro Wild in 2019. The suggestions in that original letter included the demand for either a crossing or painting steps with the rainbow colours.

Expressing thoughts on the inclusion of this feature, Councillor Lister said, “For me, it’s about having a permanent feature of visibility and support for the LGBT+ community and recognising that Cardiff is a welcoming city. We’re doing work to support Fast Track Cardiff and Vale to tackle HIV and staying as a Stonewall-accredited employer so while they may be behind the scenes to some this is about having something visible.”

Extra Colour: A rainbow crossing in Wellington, like the one Cardiff will receive. Source: Gareth Watkins (via Wikimedia Commons) Many other cities across the UK have also taken the same approach in showing solidarity towards the LGBTQ community and presenting the city as an inclusive and welcoming place. Bristol and Gloucestershire

have recently introduced rainbow crossings in the city. It is hoped that such positive steps towards inclusion and representation of marginalized communities would receive positive response from the locals.

Platform 9 3/4 coming to Cardiff Central Station

Tom Sargent Contributor

T

his is a platform alteration; the Hogwarts Express will now depart from Cardiff Central.”

The first Harry Potter film turns twenty this year, and for many Potterheads, the time has flown by faster than a fresh Firebolt broomstick.

It was 2001 when Warner Bros. first brought J.K. Rowling’s classic characters to life, sending us on a jam-packed journey alongside dragons, Dementors and those dastardly Dursleys!

Now, twenty years on, there is an opportunity to make that journey once more – or, at least, visit the place where the journey first began – as Platform 9 ¾ is coming to Cardiff!

The famous luggage trolley that marks the boundary between the Muggle and wizarding world will appear at Cardiff Central station between the 26th and 28th October, giving a rare opportunity for us mere muggles to be photographed en-route to Hogwarts.

Potterheads will be able to re-enact the classic station scenes from Harry

Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone – a must-do experience usually limited to London’s King’s Cross. Tourists gather from far and wide at the city terminus, often queuing for several hours to get a priceless picture of them slamming the trolley into the brick wall. That is, after all, the only way to access the Hogwarts Express!

“I can’t believe it’s been twenty years already,” says Josh, Cardiff student and film finatic. “I’ll pop down to Central Station and get my photo taken; my cousin in the States will be so jealous!”

Naturally, the occasion would not

be complete without an omnium gatherum of outfits, so be sure to arrive at the station in your most eye-catching costumes. Think outside the cauldron; be creative! Who will you arrive as – perhaps Potter, maybe Malfoy? There’s certainly no shortage of characters in the series.

If you’re a true Potterhead, this isn’t an opportunity you want to turn down!

Come to Central Station between the 26th and 28th October; don’t miss out – and please, don’t actually run into a brick wall. If you’re a Muggle, it won’t end well.

Zoe Kramer

Head of News Plans have been put in place for a new indoor arena to be built in Cardiff Bay. Cardiff Council is expected to sign off on a deal with Robertson Construction and their consortium partners to approve the construction of the 15,000 seat arena, which would be situated near the Senedd and Millennium Centre facing Lloyd George Avenue.

The new arena is designed to be a middle ground between the 7000 capacity Motorpoint Arena and the 74,000 capacity Principality Stadium.

It would give Cardiff the opportunity to host mid range events which would be too big for the Motorpoint to handle but not quite big enough to fill the Principality Stadium. The possible demolition of the Motorpoint Arena is another factor in the new build.

The venue reportedly will include tributes to the rich cultural heritage of Wales, including within the design itself, as well as art, music, and heritage displays.

While there have been some timetable adjustments due to the Covid-19 pandemic, consultations with local businesses and residents have gone forward. The £150 million project is set to be approved by the city cabinet on Thursday, paving a way for an eventual opening of the arena at the end of 2024.

The group executive property director at Robertson Construction, Nick Harris, said: “We welcome the report which confirms our status, alongside our partners, to deliver phase one of the Atlantic Wharf, Butetown Masterplan.

“This is a significant step towards delivering the aspirations of the Council to create a vibrant visitor destination within Cardiff Bay. “We were greatly encouraged by the positive feedback received during our public consultations recently, and look forward to working together, with our partners and the Council, to prepare the full planning application which will be submitted in October.”

Backers of the project claim the arena will inject £100 million into the South Wales economy annually. Additionally, the arena is expected to create 2000 jobs during the construction phase and a further 1000 jobs upon opening.

Cardiff councillor Russell Goodway said: “Through the Atlantic Wharf masterplan, significant improvements will be made to the public realm and to transport links, and there is no doubt that the regeneration of this site will kick-start the next phase of regeneration in Cardiff Bay.” “The city’s business community have backed the project for many years, particularly the hospitality sector.

“The new indoor arena will be a top tier UK visitor attraction and the financial benefits that it will bring to Butetown and the wider area will be significant.”

If the build is approved, construction is set to begin in April of 2022.

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FEATURES

FEATURES

Climate Change and the World’s ‘Wildest Weather’ Gair Rhydd breaks down the ‘wildest’ weather occurrences over the last year and investigates the future consequences of climate change on the world at large

Eva Rodericks Features Editor

Jack Robert Stacey Editor-in-Chief

Sarah Anne Griffiths

Eva Rodericks features@gairrhydd.com

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s the globe continues to warm and the frequency of extreme weather events is increasing, Gair Rhydd took a look at the ‘wildest’ weather events that took place over the last few months and investigated what more can be done to reduce the severity of the weather.

All around the world wildfires, floods and storms have led to death and destruction, overwhelming public services as thousands lose their livelihoods.

Whilst it is hard to link isolated events to climate change, a pattern is emerging whereby scientists are connecting the sheer extremity of an event to human induced climate change.

A majority of climate scientistscontend that although storms, for example, have remained to be a common weather-related occurrence, the levels of rainfall now being recorded are marginally higher than former levels - This, as highlighted by numerous studies, is a direct result of increasing global temperatures and rising sea levels.

Previously, discussions around climate change have addressed the prospect of future devastation but, if the events of 2021 are anything to go by, The Earth may already be seeing a dramatic shift in the severity of the weather.

With all of this mind, here is a breakdown of some of the most extreme weather-related events this year, alongside a brief look at the potential mitigation strategies that will be discussed at the upcoming 26th UN Climate Change Conference in Scotland.

‘Wild Weather’: The severity of the weather around the world appears to be increasing. Source: Mike Lewelling, National Park Service (via Flickr)

The ‘Wildest Weather’ that we’ve seen over the last few months

Severe flooding, West Germany Devastating floods hit Germany in July claiming the lives of over 180 people and left many missing. West Germany was left in the dark after power was lost across the region (in some cases for over a week). Cars floated around the streets as rescue services struggled to evacuate citizens trapped in their homes. This is considered the largest mass loss of life in Germany this century.

Record-breaking rainfall in the 24 hour period before the tragedy and a cold low-pressure weather system caused the floods. The river Ahr, which runs through many towns and cities, burst its bank when it could no longer absorb the excess water from the rainfall.

The big question: was the event a result of climate change? According to climate scientists, the extremity of the event would have been less in a 1.2°C cooler world. Essentially, humancaused climate change contributed to a shocking amount of rainfall that the river could not take.

Wildfires in Siberia (Russia) More than 3.7 million acres of forest in North-East Siberia has burnt this summer. For the first time ever, smoke from a wildfire in Russia reached The North Pole.

The blaze began back in June. Residents in the Republic of Sakha (also known as Yakutia) in Siberia have been relegated to their homes as a result of thick smog which is dangerous to inhale - Some citizens have been evacuated.

In August, it was announced the fires burning in Siberia were the largest in the world. The region is no stranger to wildfires, but this season is being described as the worst in living memory.

The average global temperature increase has been 1°C since the beginning of this century; meanwhile, in Siberia, they have experienced a temperature increase of 3°C since 2000.

Whilst over 190 fires have been fought, a significant number of fires are being left to burn. In some places Russian civilians are fighting the fires

180 people

3.7 million acres

dead and many left missing after flooding in West Germany

of forest has been burnt due to the ongoing wildfires in Siberia

themselves without official help. The Russian Government have previously faced criticism for “down-playing” the effects of climate change.

Fires cannot always be clearly correlated with climate change, however according to scientists prolonged droughts and an increase in temperature caused by global warming creates the perfect conditions for wildfires.

Hurricanes (Hurricane Ida), United States of America Late in August, Hurricane Ida hit the state of Louisiana with 150mph winds destroying anything in its path.

Images of collapsed roads emerged showing cars piled up in the debris.

Homes experienced severe flooding and power was lost. Ida was classified as a ‘Category 4’ storm.

A man is reportedly assumed to have been killed by an alligator in the flooding. After the man’s wife dragged him from the alligator’s mouth she went to get help. When she returned, he was gone.

The storm then moved east, hitting New York. Basement apartments

Category 4

Hurricane Ida registered wind speeds of 150mph when it hit Louisiana

flooded leaving 11 dead, including a 2-year-old boy. For years campaigners have highlighted the dangers of living in basement apartments. Flash flooding caused subway stations to be filled with water.

According to Al Jazeera, the total death toll from the storm has now gone up to at least 50 people.

‘Heat Dome’ in Canada On the 29th of June, a temperature of 49.6°C was recorded in the village of Lytton, Canada. Inhabitants of the village were quickly evacuated before a fire destroyed their homes and livelihoods - This was the hottest day in Canada on record.

Cooling stations were set up in airconditioned venues where residents could work and sleep. Homes in the Lytton village are generally not air conditioned as the usual weather is mild.

During this period of extreme heat, the health service became overwhelmed and the number of deaths tripled the average. Most people who died were elderly and lived alone.

Scientists have since investigated if such a heatwave would have occurred without climate change caused by humans. They concluded that the global temperature increases over the last 200 years attributable to rising greenhouse gas emissions made the likelihood of an extreme heatwave 150 times more likely.

Storms (Storm Christoph) in the UK In January this year, 200 flood warnings were issued as extremely heavy rainfall swept across the U.K. The river Mersey burst its banks leading to the evacuation of people living in Manchester, Merseyside and Wrexham.

Many other areas across England and Wales were severely affected.

UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson visited one affected area, Didsbury, warning we should be prepared for similar future events. According to the BBC, the Government has recently pledged to invest £5.2 billion in flood defenses.

More intense storms can be expected as the global temperature increases.

49.6°C

200 flood warnings

recorded in the village of Lytton on the hottest day in Canada on record

issued by the MET Office as heavy rainfall swept across the UK

The Future of Weather and the Changing Climate

Flooding in West Germany: Source: dmytrok (via Flickr)

In recent scientific investigations, the changing climate has been linked to the increasing severity of the weather.

According to a report by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), “a disaster related to weather, climate or water hazard occured every day on average over the last 50 years.” - Every day, the report continues, these disasters result in 115 deaths and a total of US $202 million in losses.

Amongst a number of other findings, the report summarises that “climate change leads to more extreme weather.”

The severity of weather then, is expected to become progressively more dangerous as temperatures rise and the Earth’s climate continues to shift.

With all of this in mind, it’s critical to ask what more can be done to tackle the ongoing climate crisis and save countless lives in the process.

Moving back to WMO’s report, it highlights an important point that, as

a result of “improved early warnings and disaster management,” the number of deaths in these weather events has “decreased almost three-fold.”

Over the last few years, advancements in the accuracy and availability of meterological technology has helped provide many countries with sophisticated early warning systems against potentially hazardous weather-related events. The increased availability of this technology has proven to be especially important for Less Economically Developed Countires (LEDCs), many of which have previously struggled to impliment effective systems without significant financial support.

Arnaut Rayar from France’s Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs has declared that, by bringing “meteorological data to exposed populations”, these systems are fundemental to saving lives and “significantly reduce the economic impact of disasters related

to extreme climate events.”

In addition to these early warning systems, a number of countries remain committed to introducing and abiding by climate-based legislature.

With the 26th UN Climate Change Conference set to take place next month in Glasgow, world leaders will be meeting to outline vital new plans to prevent a global temperature increase of over 1.5°C (a target first set in Paris back in 2015) - According to a range of scientific authorities, a temperature increase greater than 1.5°C will result in more devastating weather across the world.

In order to avoid this disaster and achieve ‘Net Zero’ by 2050, therefore, a number of key countries will have to set out and abide by any plans over the course of the conferance.

In a recent speech to the UN, Boris Johnson recently urged that the summit must bring about “substantial changes” and, critically, needs to be

a “turning point for humanity.” Outlining his expectations for the event, the Prime Minister declared that he would be focusing on four key areas, including “coal, cars, cash and trees.”

For the time being, however, the upcoming summit will provide the world leaders with a chance to reflect on the ongoing climate emergency and focus on introducing new carbon-dioxide reducing legislature.

If these countries are able to effectively pool together their vast financial and scientific resources, the 26th UN Climate Change Conference has the potential to mark (as Boris Johnson claimed) a “turning point” in the fight against climate change.

Without any significant changes, however, the severity of the weather is likely to become increasingly hazardous over time. The weather and weather-related disasters will undoubtedly remain to be a salient issue for humanity moving forwards.

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TAF-OD

Diwrnod Greenpeace: Ydych chi’n barod i ymgyrchu?

TAF-OD

Nel Richards

Pennaeth Taf-od

Nel Richards

Gracie Richards

Nansi Eccott

Steffan Alun Leonard taf-od@gairrhydd.com

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r y 15ed o Fedi, bydd pobl ledled byd yn ymrwymo i ddathlu “Diwrnod Greenpeace”. Dyma gyfle i syllu ar ein cydwybod a’r actifydd mewnol sydd ynom gan myfyrio ar gyflwr ein planed a dysgu sut i wella’n hamgylchedd.

Mudiad amgylcheddol yw Greenpeace sy’n ymgyrchu dros gyfiawnder, gan brotestio’n heddychlon i amlygu problemau ac argyfyngau amgylcheddol byd-eang a chreu dyfodol gwyrdd a chynaliadwy.

Sefydlwyd y mudiad ar y 15ed o Fedi 15, 1971. Hwyliodd 17 o weithredwyr ar y Phyllis Cormack er mwyn ceisio atal y profion niwclear a oedd ar fin digwydd ar lannau Alaska. Er i’r profion cael eu cynnal, fodd bynnag, fe wnaeth y brotest esgor ar symudiad sy’n dal i fod yn berthnasol ac yn tyfu yn ein hoes cythryblus.

Felly, fel anrhydedd a diolch i Greenpeace, cyhoeddodd Gregor Robertson, Maer Vancouver, yn 2011 taw Medi 15ed oedd “Diwrnod Greenpeace” ac mae’r dathlu wedi parhau ers hynny.

Cynhelir sawl ymgyrch yn reolaidd gan Greenpeace i bwysleisio pryderon ecolegol sydd angen sylw ar frys. Yn sefydliad anllywodraethol, mae’n gweithredu mewn o leiaf 55 o wledydd ac mae ganddo grŵp cydgysylltu rhyngwladol sy’n gweithredu allan o Amsterdam, yn yr Iseldiroedd. Mae ganddyn nhw dros dair miliwn o aelodau sy’n cenhadu a rhannu’r weledigaeth. Mae Greenpeace hefyd wedi bod yn hyrwyddo The Greenpeace Fleet ers bron i hanner can mlynedd. Mae hyn yn cynnwys tair llong sy’n hwylio o amgylch

‘Ymgyrchu yw dysgu’: Protestiadau ar draws y byd. Tarddiad: John Englart (via Flickr) y cefnforoedd sy’n codi ymwybyddiaeth o lygredd o bob math megis plastig, gor-bysgota a chloddio am olew, nwy a mwynau.

Felly, dathliad byd eang yw “Diwrnod Greenpeace.” Dyma gyfle i ddechrau ymgyrchu dros y blaned a’i gwneud yn lle gwell i bawb. Yn Vancouver, cartref Greenpeace, mae’r dathliadau’n cynnwys gwyl awyr agored addas i deuluoedd, plannu coed, a gweithdai sy’n canolbwyntio ar ymgyrchu dros yr amgylchedd.

Arsylwi’r diwrnod Mae’r mudiad yn eich annog i ryddhau eich ysbryd adweithiol mewnol a chyfrannu tuag at ddiogelu’r blaned. Mae sawl sgwrs ar y llwyfan byd-eang ynghylch gwarchod ein hamgylchedd. Fodd bynnag, nid yw rhai yn sylweddoli’r brys a pham ei fod yn bwysig i ddod ynghyd i achub y blaned ar fyrder. Ar “Ddiwrnod Greenpeace,” beth am ddysgu mwy am yr angen am ym-

drechion cadwraeth, a sut i leihau eich ôl troed carbon?

Gallwch gymryd rhan i ddiogelu’r amgylchedd trwy wirfoddoli, cydweithio a hyrwyddo.

Pam fod y diwrnod yn bwysig?

Ar ei gwefan, anoga Greenpeace i ni brotestio’n heddychlon a chyfathrebu i sicrhau newid. Mewn byd lle mae digon o drais, mae hwn yn ddull sy’n cael ei werthfawrogi’n fwy i fynd i’r afael â materion difrifol sy’n ymwneud â’n hamgylchedd.

Mae’n darparu llwyfan cyffredinol i weithredwyr amgylcheddol ddod at ei gilydd a sicrhau bod newid yn cael ei gyflawni.

Mewn cyfweliad diweddar gyda’r Guardian dywedodd Farhana Yamin, sydd ar fwrdd rheoli Greenpeace: “Rwy’n credu bod angen i anufudd-dod sifil ddod yn rhan o’r norm.

Rhaid ei ychwanegu at yr hyn oedd yn cael ei wneud beth bynnag, o ran diplomyddiaeth, ymgyrchu a lobïo.

Rhaid i ni sicrhau bod pob prosiect tanwydd ffosil yn cael ei ganslo, ein bod yn dyfeisio ffyrdd o gyrraedd cymdeithas di-garbon, a hynny ar fyrder. Mae’n bwysig nad yw’r cwmnïau olew a glo yn cael help llaw ariannol eto gan y llywodraeth a’r trethdalwr.”

Ydy, mae’r dydd yma’n dangos pwysigrwydd ymgyrchu a’r angen i gyrraedd y nod i fyw mewn byd cynaliadwy - ond mae hefyd yn ddydd i fyfyrio a gweld beth fydd y cam nesaf wrth geisio ddod yn garbon niwtral, ac yn gyfaill ffyddlon i’r byd naturiol.

Rwy’n credu bod angen i anufudd-dod sifil ddod yn rhan o’r norm.”

Farhana Yamin, Bwrdd Rheoli Greenpeace

Cymdeithasau a Chyfleodd Cyfrwng Cymraeg Prifysgol Caerdydd

Nansi Eccott

Golygydd Taf-od

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r drothwy flwyddyn newydd newydd cymerwn gipolwg ar arlwy cyfrwng Cymraeg y brifysgol. Ceir llu o gymdeithasau a chyfleoedd i fyfyrwyr Caerdydd sy’n sicrhau cadarnleoedd i’r iaith yn y brifddinas.

Taf-od Hoffwn eich croesawu i Taf-od, adran cyfrwng Cymraeg Gair Rhydd lle bydda i- Nansi Eccott, Gracie Richards, Steffan Leonard a’n pennaeth Nel Richards yn rhannu’r newyddion diweddaraf o Gaerdydd, Cymru a thu hwnt. Cewch gyfleoedd i gyfrannu hefyd drwy leisio eich Edrychwn ymlaen at gydweithio gyda chi a hyrwyddo’r Gymraeg o fewn y papur a’r brifysgol.”

barn yn ein hadran ‘Barn y Bobl’ neu drafod pwnc o’ch dewis yn ‘Pryd o Daf-od.’ Cadwch olwg ar grwpiau Facebook Cyfranwyr CMCC a Gair Rhydd Contributors (2021/2022) am wybodaeth wythnosol i chi fedru cymryd rhan. Edrychwn ymlaen at gydweithio gyda chi a hyrwyddo’r Gymraeg o fewn y papur a’r brifysgol.

Undeb Myfyrwyr Cymraeg Caerdydd (UMCC) Mae eleni’n flwyddyn gyffrous wrth i’r brifysgol ail-gydio yn UMCC. Annell Dyfri fydd yn llywyddu’r undeb drwy sicrhau cysylltiad cryf rhwng Undeb y myfyrwyr, y myfyrwyr a chymdeithasau Cymraeg y brifysgol.

Yn ôl gwefan yr Undeb, eu nod yw “sicrhau fod y Gymraeg a’i siaradwyr yn cael chwarae teg o fewn Undeb y Myfyrwyr a’r brifysgol” drwy gynnig “ystod eang o ddigwyddiadau a gwasanaethau Cymraeg” i siaradwyr a dysgwyr Cymraeg Caerdydd.

Y Gymdeithas Gymraeg (Y Gym Gym) Y Gym Gym yw canolbwynt bywydau cymdeithasol Cymry’r brifddinas.

Cewch amryfal gyfleoedd i gymdeithasu trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg boed ar ‘crôls’ o amgylch tafarndai Caerdydd, teithiau blynyddol i Ddulyn neu Caeredin, neu, drwy gystadlu mewn Eisteddfodau Rhyng-golegol yn erbyn prifysgolion eraill y wlad.

Yn ogystal â’r ochr gymdeithasol, mae’r gymdeithas hefyd yn flaenllaw yn y maes chwaraeon. Mae’r timau pêl-droed, rygbi a phêl-rwyd yn edrych ymlaen at groesawu aelodau newydd ac yn gobeithio am flwyddyn arall o fuddugoliaethau.

Clwb y Mynydd Bychan Os ydych chi’n dilyn cwrs gradd yn y maes meddygaeth a gofal iechyd, yna Clwb y Mynydd Bychan yw’r gymdeithas i chi. Mae’r gymdeithas yn trefnu nosweithiau cymdeithasol yn ogystal â sesiynau adolygu i’w

haelodau. Lowri James yw’r Llywydd am y flwyddyn academaidd yma a’i bwriad yw hybu’r Gymraeg a Chymreictod o fewn gofal iechyd.

Cyfryngau Myfyrwyr Cymraeg Caerdydd (CMCC) Mae cyfryngau cyfrwng Cymraeg y brifysgol wedi ffynnu dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf a nod y pennaeth eleni, Anni Davies, yw sicrhau eu bod yn parhau i fynd o nerth i nerth.

Cewch gyfle i gynhyrchu a chyflwyno rhaglenni ar donfeddi Xpress Radio, gorsaf radio’r brifysgol, sy’n gartref i nifer fawr o sioeau a phodlediadau poblogaidd cyfrwng Cymraeg.

Os mai cyflwyno sy’n cymryd eich pryd, yna mae cyfleoedd hefyd ar gael i gyfrannu a chyflwyno cynnwys ar gyfer CUTV, sianel deledu’r brifysgol. Cyfleoedd di-ri!

Aelwyd y Waun Ddyfal Wrth ymuno ag Aelwyd y Waun Ddyfal, cewch gyfle i fod yn rhan o gôr llwyddiannus y brifysgol. Mae’r

Heb os, diddiwedd yw’r posibiliadau i gymdeithasu, ymestyn ar brofiadau a sgiliau, neu geisio rhywbeth newydd yma yng Nghaerdydd.” côr yn cystadlu’n Eisteddfod yr Urdd yn flynyddol yn ogystal â chynnal perfformiadau yn y brifddinas megis cyngherddau Nadolig.

Elin Griffiths ydy’r cadeirydd dros y flwyddyn nesaf- gobeithio daw cyfle i bawb ganu gyda’i gilydd eto yn fuan.

Eleni ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd Gyda’r holl gyfleoedd yma, mae modd i fyfyrwyr gadw’n brysur a chwrdd â phobl newydd o hyd.

Heb os, diddiwedd yw’r posibiliadau i gymdeithasu, ymestyn ar brofiadau a sgiliau, neu geisio rhywbeth newydd yma yng Nghaerdydd. Cyfrannwch, joiwch a chymerwch bob cyfle posib!

CHWARAEON

Ffasiwn cyflym a chaethwasiaeth fodern

Mae Gair Rhydd yn gofyn beth yw effaith ‘ffasiwn gyflym’ ar gaethwasiaeth ledled y byd Gracie Richards Golygydd Taf-od

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n 2018, dangosodd ymchwil gan ‘Walk Free’ taw’r diwydiant ffasiwn, ar ôl y diwydiant technoleg, oedd y gwaethaf o ran cefnogi arferion caethwasiaeth fodern.

Beth yw ffasiwn cyflym?

Mae’r diwydiant ffasiwn cyflym yn defnyddio gweithgynhyrchion rhad a chyflym i gynhyrchu eitemau newydd am gostau isel i greu mwy o elw.

O ganlyniad i’r dulliau yma o gynhyrchu, maent yn gyfrifol am 10% o allyriadau carbon y blaned. Fel cymdeithas o ddefnyddwyr, mae galw’r farchnad ar gyfer cynhyrchion rhad wedi tyfu, gyda chynhyrchu dillad bron wedi dyblu yn y 15 mlynedd diwethaf.

Felly pan rydym yn prynu o fran-

diau fel Primark a Zara, pwy sydd wedi creu’r dillad yma?

Sut mae caethwasiaeth fodern ynghlwm â ffasiwn gyflym?

Amcangyfrifodd ‘International Labour Organization’ yn 2016 fod 40.3 miliwn o bobl mewn caethwasiaeth fodern.

Yr oedd 24.9 miliwn o’r rhain yn llafur gorfodol.

Yn ôl Mark Sumner, darlithydd cynaliadwyedd, manwerthu a ffasiwn ym Mhrifysgol Leeds: “Gallai dilledyn wedi bod trwy bum gwlad wahanol, pob un â deddfwriaeth a diffiniadau gwahanol o gaethwasiaeth fodern, cyn iddo bennu fyny ar lawr y siop.”

Darganfuwyd yn 2020 fod cwmni ffasiwn Boohoo yn talu gweithwyr dillad yn Leicester cyn lleied â £3.50yr awr. Dengys y wybodaeth yma bod ecsbloetio gweithwyr yn digwydd yn agosach i gartref nag yr ydym yn meddwl. Amcangyfri-

fir bod yna 130,000 o gaethweision modern yn y DU .

Ar y 24ain o Ebrill 2013 cwympodd adeilad Ffatri Rana Plaza ym Mangladesh gyda mwy na 3,000 o bobl tu fewn. Bu farw tua 1,132 o bobl, y mwyafrif yn fenywod a phlant. Diwrnod ynghynt, yr oedd gweithwyr wedi tynnu sylw at graciau yn yr adeilad, achoswyd hyn i’r ffatri gau gyda rhybudd i’w osgoi.

Ar ddiwrnod y trychineb nododd perchennog yr adeilad, Sohel Rana ei bod yn ddiogel i ddychwelyd i’r gwaith ac yn bygwth peidio talu unrhyw un oedd yn gwrthod dod yn ôl.

Amlygodd y trychineb hwn yr amodau gwaith gwael mae miliynau yn gwynebu wrth greu dillad i gwmnïau ffasiwn cyflym. Yn benodol, roedd y ffatri hon yn cynhyrchu dillad ar gyfer cwmnïau ffasiwn mawr fel Benetton, Bonmarché, The Children’s Place, Joe Fresh, Mango, Matalan a Primark.

Oes modd stopio caethwasiaeth fodern?

Mae’r model busnes sy’n delio â throsiant uchel a chostau isel a ddefnyddir gan nifer helaeth o gwmnïau yn bosibl trwy gontractau gyda ffatrïoedd cyflenwi.

Mae hwn yn fater mae’n rhaid i gwmnïau asesu, mae’n bwysig eu bod yn newid sut mae eu dillad yn cael eu cynhyrchu gan eu cyflenwyr.

Mae tryloywder ar gaethwasiaeth fodern yn bwysig er mwyn i’r llywodraeth a grwpiau diwydiant gael mewnwelediad ac eglurder ar yr hyn sydd angen gwneud i leihau a dileu caethwasiaeth fodern o’r diwydiant.

Noda Berndaht, arbenigwr ar gaethwasiaeth fodern a Phrif Swyddog Gweithredol Informed 365, “Wrth gael mewnwelediad tryloyw ar gadwyni cyflenwi rydym, yn y pen draw, yn dechrau adnabod cyflawnwyr caethwasiaeth fodern ac yn medru eu cau i lawr.”

Pryd o Daf-od Lois Campbell Lois Campbell Golygydd Copi

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a’ symud bant o gartre’ i’r brifysgol a chwrdd â phobl newydd yn gallu bod yn brofiad eithaf heriol, ond gyda’r ‘top tips’ ‘ma, fi’n siwr wnewch chi deimlo’n ddigon cartrefol o fewn dim!

Gwnewch yr ymdrech i ddod i ‘nabod eich ‘flatmates’ cyn gynted ag sy’n bosibl! Mae’n syniad da i gysylltu gyda nhw ar gyfryngau cymdeithasol cyn symud i Gaerdydd fel eich bod chi a nhw yn teimlo’n hapusach pan yn cwrdd am y tro cyntaf!

Ymunwch â chymdeithasau a chlybiau!

Does dim ffordd gwell i gwrdd â phobl newydd na drwy ymuno â rhai o gymdeithasau’r brifysgol. Mae’n gyfle i wneud ffrindiau newydd, dod i adnabod y brifddinas ac wrth gwrs mwynhau! Mae’r brifysgol yn cynnig dros 200 o glybiau

a chymdeithasau felly mae rhywbeth at ddant pawb!

Lawrlwythwch yr ap Unidays!

Os ‘ych chii fel fi yn hoff iawn o siopa, dyma’r ap i chi! Mae’n cynnig y disgownts gorau ar gyfer siopau ar-lein a siopau’r stryd fawr a byddwch chi’n diolch i’r ap ‘ma pan fyddwch chi’n byw ar ‘student budget’! Mae’r ap ‘ma hefyd yn gallu cael ei ddefnyddio i gael ‘student deals’ mewn clybiau nos!

Prynwch ‘dishmatic’!

Ma’ hwn yn lifesaver pan yn golchi llestri! Un o’r pethau gorau ‘naethom ni brynu yn y fflat llynedd!

Ewch i ymweld â rhannau newydd o Gaerdydd.

Y ffordd orau, yn fy marn i, o ddod i adnabod Caerdydd ac i deimlo’n gartrefol yma yw i fynd i ymweld â mannau newydd. Mae llu o bethau i’w wneud yng Nghaerdydd boed hynny’n ymweld â un o’r nifer o barciau, cefnogi caffis a siopau lleol neu defnyddio’r ‘Next Bike’ i fynd lawr i’r Bae (bydd y ‘Next Bike’ hefyd yn

lifesaver!!).

Peidiwch ofni gofyn am gymorth!

Os oes angen help arnoch chi neu os oes cwestiwn gyda chi i ofyn mae digon o bobl ar gael i’ch helpu! Mae eich tiwtoriaid, mentoriaid a’ch darlithwyr wastad ar gael os oes angen cymorth arnoch chi ac fe wnawn nhw geisio’u gorau glas i’ch helpu.

Peidiwch ofni chwaith gofyn i’ch cyd-fyfyrwyr am help, ro’ ni yn eich sgidie’ chi unwaith felly ni’n ddigon hapus i roi cymorth!

Chwiliwch am y clybiau sydd â’r diodydd rhataf!

Ma’ noson mâs yng Nghaerdydd yn gallu bod yn ddrud felly chwiliwch am y ‘student deals’ gorau neu yfwch ddigon cyn mynd mâs (mae’r ciwiau hefyd yn hir)! Peidiwch talu’n ddrud am goctels achos bo nhw’n mynd i edrych yn neis ar Instagram, ‘dyw e ddim werth e!!

Cymrwch bob cyfle!!

‘Alla i ddim pwysleisio pa mor bwysig yw hi i gymryd pob cyfle sy’n cael ei gynnig i chi - peidiwch

2. Beth yw’r digwyddiad sy’n codi’r mwyaf o embaras arnat?

Mae ‘na ddigon o ddewis ond mae’n rhaid i fi ‘weud pan nes i ddawnsio o flaen pawb yn ‘steddfod ysgol!

3. Beth yw dy hoff albwm?

Anodd dewis ond ‘Jaguar’ - Victoria Monét!

4. Oes hoff ddiod feddwol gyda ti?

Unrhyw beth cryf + Jägerbombs

8. Beth sy’n cadw ti’n effro gyda’r nos?

Y siawns o ddim deffro :)

5. Pwy yw dy arwr?

Caryl Parry Jones yn absolute legend!

9. Disgrifia dy hun mewn 3 gair.

Hanner call

6. Beth yw dy hoff brofiad?

Bod mas ar strydoedd Caerfyrddin!

10. Pam dewis Caerdydd?

Nights out da’r Gym Gym

7. Prosecco neu champagne?

Beth bynnag sy’ rhata!!!

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

Unrhyw beth ‘da ffrindie neu teulu

Barn y Bobl: Ydych chi’n barod i ddechrau’r brifysgol eto?

Deio Owen Cyfrannydd

Ail flwyddyn Cwrs: Cymraeg a Gwleidyddiaeth: rth i mi ddechrau yn yr ail flwyddyn, dwi’n edrach ymlaen i ddychwelyd i Gaerdydd ac i dŷ eleni yn hytrach na neuaddau preswyl.

Gan edrych yn ôl ar y llynedd, dwi’n obeithiol y cawn flwyddyn llawer mwy cymdeithasol a gyda mwy o addysg/digwyddiadau wyneb yn wyneb. Dwi hefyd yn edrych ymlaen i gael ymuno â cymdeithasau’r undeb eleni gan ein bod wedi methu allan ar hyn y llynedd.

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Gan edrych yn ôl ar y llynedd, dwi’n obeithiol y cawn flwyddyn llawer mwy cymdeithasol a gyda.” â difaru peidio gwneud y mwyaf o’r hyn sydd gan Gaerdydd i’w gynnig! Gwnewch y gorau o’r flwyddyn gyntaf, ewch mâs i gymdeithasu a chwrdd â phobl ar eich cwrs chi, pobl sy’n byw o’ch cwmpas chi a phobl o’r blynyddoedd hŷn!

Mae nhw’n dweud mai amser gorau’ch bywyd chi yw’r amser rych chi’n ei dreulio yn y brifysgol a bod ffrindiau coleg yn ffrindiau oes ac o’r flwyddyn dw i wedi treulio yma yng Nghaerdydd, mae hyn mor wir!

Gwnewch y mwyaf o fywyd prifysgol a mwynhewch bob eiliad o’ch cyfnod yn y brifddinas, bydd atgofion prifysgol Caerdydd gyda chi am byth! A chofiwch, ry’ chi byth ar eich pen eich hun, ry’ chi i gyd yn yr un cwch! Pob lwc!

Gwnewch y mwyaf o fywyd prifysgol a mwynhewch bob eiliad o’ch cyfnod yn y brifddinas.”

Trafod gyda’r Taf-od Glain Olwen 1. ​​P wy wyt ti a beth wyt ti’n astudio?

Fi ‘di Glain Olwen a dw i’n astudio’r gyfraith.

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12. Celebrity crush?

Paul Mescal 100% + tîm rygbi Cymru yn cynnwys Ken Owens a Tom Francis!

13. Hoff glwb nos?

Unrhyw le sy’n gadael fi mewn a’n neud drincs rhad!

14. Pwy fydd yn trafod gyda’r tafod wythnos nesa’?

Beca Dalis Williams

Carys Moore Cyfrannydd

Y flwyddyn gyntaf Cwrs: Gwyddorau biomeddygol: r ôl blwyddyn a hanner allan o addysg gallaf ddweud yn onest fy mod yn fwy na barod i fentro nôl mewn i’r byd addysg ac yn gyffrous iawn i ddechrau astudio fy nghwrs i.

Er hyn dwi’n teimlo fel bo’r proses mynd i’r brifysgol yn ddiddiwedd.

Erbyn hyn dwi’n teimlo fel fy mod i wedi bod i bob siop sydd yn y ddinas i dreial prynu pethau ac mae dal gennai rhestr hir o bethau i brynu.

Teimlaf nad oes dim byd yn gallu eich paratoi ar gyfer hyn.

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Annell Dyfri Cyfrannydd

Trydydd flwyddyn Cwrs: Cymraeg proffesiynol: dw. Mae’r ateb yn syml. Dw i’n edrych ymlaen yn arw at gael dychwelyd i Brifysgol Caerdydd i gwblhau fy mlwyddyn olaf. Ar un olwg mae’r ddwy flynedd ddiwethaf wedi hedfan heibio, ond ar olwg arall mae’r misoedd wedi llusgo, yn enwedig y misoedd digyswllt adref yn sgil COVID-19.

Er hyn, rhaid edrych ymlaen at y flwyddyn i ddod gyda hyder y bydd yn un i’w chofio wrth i’r byd ddychwelyd i ryw fath o normalrwydd. Dw i’n edrych ymlaen yn arw at dreulio fy nosweithiau yn cymdeithasu gyda’m ffrindiau, yn crwydro’r ddinas ac yn cwblhau fy astudiaethau.

Dw i’n ffyddiog bydd y flwyddyn ola’ hon yn un arbennig.

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Ar un olwg mae’r ddwy flynedd ddiwethaf wedi hedfan heibio, ond ar olwg arall mae’r misoedd wedi llusgo.”

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TAF-OD

Digwyddiadau yng Nghaerdydd ym mis Medi

Gêm y bêl Gron: Sefyllfa ariannol y Byd Pêl-Droed

Nel Richards

Pennaeth Taf-od

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edi yw un o’r misoedd prysuraf, mae’n siŵr. Daw’r gwyliau i ben a dychwelai’r disgyblion i’r ysgol, dechreuir ar y cynilo a llifai’r myfyrwyr yn ôl i’r dinasoedd. Tu hwnt i’r darlithoedd, beth sydd yn mynd ymlaen yn y brifddinas gyda’r nos?

Un peth sy’n sicr ar feddwl llawer o fyfyrwyr pan fyddent yn dychwelyd i’r brifysgol yw’r clybiau nos; neuaddau llawn cerddoriaeth, dawnsio a chwerthin ymysg ffrindiau newydd.

Mae lleoliadau fel Clwb Ifor Bach a The Moon yn arddangos cerddoriaeth byw mwy neu lai bob wythnos, gan gynnwys gigs Cymraeg. Rhai o’r gigs sydd mis yma yw Tim Burgess (7:30yh) ar 27/09/21, Julia Bardo ar nos Iau 20/09/21 (7:00yh) yn ogystal â Gwilym, Y Cledrau a Mali Haf (7yh) ar 01/10/21 yng Nghlwb Ifor Bach. Ar ochr arall Womanby Street, ceir gweithdai rhwydweithio cerddoriaeth rhwng 6yh-9yh ar 20/09/21 ac mae ‘Excellent skeleton, Nine lives a Winter sun’ yn chwarae am 8yh ar 25/09/21 - yn The Moon.

Mae’r grŵp Facebook Glasfyfyrwyr Cymraeg Prifysgol Caerdydd 2021/22 yn diweddaru pawb am bopeth sy’n mynd ymlaen yn ystod wythnosau cyntaf y flwyddyn academaidd, felly gwnewch yn siŵr eich bod yn ymuno!

Mae cymdeithasau amrywiol yn cynnig profiadau lu boed yn gêm chwaraeon, clwb darllen neu trefnu nosweithiau allan i’r undeb ar nos Fercher. Y Gym Gym yw un o’r rhai sydd yn canolbwyntio ar gymdeithasu cyfrwng Cymraeg gan drefnu crôls wythnosol, gyda’r cyntaf ar nos Fercher, Medi’r 29ain yn ‘Popworld’.

Fe fydd cymdeithasau megis Clwb y Mynydd Bychan, Cymdeithas Iolo, a’r Waun Ddyfal i gyd yn gweithredu drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg.

Yn ôl llawer, dinas y celfyddydau yw Caerdydd, a daw hyn i’r amlwg wrth i ganolfannau fel yr amgueddfa, orielau ac adeiladau crefyddol fel Cadeirlan Llandaf agor eu drysau unwaith eto a chroesawi arddangosfeydd o bob math. Mae’r amgueddfa yn arddangos casgliad ‘Becoming Richard Burton’ ar y funud, tra bod ‘The future has a past’ a ‘Wales is…

Olympics’ ar gael i’w gweld yn Sain Ffagan, 20 munud o ganol y ddinas.

Tafliad carreg o breswylfeydd y pr-fysgol a drws nesaf i Undeb y Myfyrwyr, gwelir Theatr y Sherman sy’n arddangos dramâu Saesneg a Chymraeg drwy’r flwyddyn. Rhwng 29/09 a 02/10 mae ‘Anfamol’ yn cael ei harddangos yno.

Y digwyddiadau yma sy’n gwneud Caerdydd yn brifddinas - y bwrlwm gyda’r nos, pobl yn dod at ei gilydd a’r cyfle i greu ac i fod yn greadigol ym mhob ffordd. I ddarganfod mwy o weithdai, gigs ac arddangosfeydd - ymunwch â grwpiau Facebook, siaradwch ymysg eich ffrindiau a mwynhewch yr hyn sy’n digwydd ar eich stepen drws!

Yn ôl llawer, dinas y celfyddydau yw Caerdydd, a daw hyn i’r amlwg wrth i ganolfannau fel yr amgueddfa, orielau ac adeiladau crefyddol.”

Pel llawn aur: Beth yw ei ddyfodol hi? Tarddiad: Kelvin Stuttard (via Pixabay)

Steffan Alun Leonard Golygydd Taf-od

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oes dim dwywaith amdani fod sefyllfa ariannol rhai timoedd pêl droed wedi trawsnewid y modd y mae’r diwydiant yn cael ei weld, ei chwarae a’i redeg yn y byd modern. Yn anffodus mae’r argyfwng COVID-19 wedi rhoi nifer fawr o glybiau i mewn i drafferth ariannol erbyn i’r tymor newydd yma gychwyn. Ond, un agwedd bositif sydd wedi dod allan o’r trafferthion ariannol, yw bod y sgwrs am degwch ariannol a sut mae goruchafiaeth ariannol yn taenu enw da y gêm.

Dros yr wythnosau diwethaf yr ydym wedi gweld symudiad Lionel

Messi i PSG gyda’i gyflog yn cyrraedd tua £40 Miliwn i flwyddyn gan symud cyfanswm cyflogau PSG i dros 300 Miliwn Ewro’r flwyddyn. Ar yr ochr arall yr ydym wedi gweld cwymp Barcelona gyda sôn fod y clwb mewn dyled syn cyrraedd biliynau o ganlyniadau i orwario a gor-fuddsoddi yn ariannol. Felly, mae’n rhaid gofyn y cwestiwn, lle mae’r system Chwarae Deg Ariannol (Financial Fair Play) wedi ein methu fel cymdeithas pêldroed?

Mae penderfyniad y byd pêl-droed i dderbyn y newid yn y gêm gan gofleidio a derbyn y fath gyfalafiaeth wedi achosi i anrhagweladwyedd y gêm i ddiflannu. Yr ydym wedi gweld y tuedd yn troi at oruchafiaeth gan ambell dim unigol o fewn eu cyn-

ghreiriau nhw. Yn y ddegawd ddiwethaf yn unig, yr ydym wedi gweld : Yr ail ‘trebl’ yn Sbaen ‘Trebl’ cyntaf yn Yr Eidal ‘Trebl’ domestig cyntaf Cynghrair Lloegr Tîm yn cyrraedd 100 pwynt mewn tymor yn Sbaen, Yr Eidal a Lloegr am y tro cyntaf Tri ‘trebl’ domestig olynol mewn pedair blynedd yn Ffrainc.

Mae’r rhan fwyaf o rain wedi cael eu gweld yn anghyraeddadwy am flynyddoedd, degawdau, ond gyda’r goruchafiaeth ariannol yn chwyldroi’r gêm a gyda thimoedd yn dominyddu cynghreiriau, y mae llwyddiannau fel hyn yn amlygu eu hun fwy ac yn fwy.

Os nad yw hyn yn ddigon i ddangos y broblem sydd wedi’i wreiddio o

fewn pêl-droed erbyn hyn, fe ddaeth y cynlluniau’r ‘Super League’ i’n hatgoffa ni gyd. Gwnaeth y cynlluniau cadarnhau i ni, cefnogwyr y gêm, fod y timoedd sydd yn ariannol ffodus yn rhedeg y gêm erbyn hyn, am aros yna ac yn bwysicach iddyn nhw, am wneud unrhywbeth i sicrhau mai nhw fydd ar ben y gêm am flynyddoedd a degawdau i ddod.

Mae’n rhaid i bethau i newid o ben y gêm er mwyn sicrhau ein bod ni’n amddiffyn y timoedd hynny sydd methu cystadlu gyda’r timau sydd â chymorth ariannol anferthol. Os na fydd newidiadau’n digwydd, fe fyddwn yn gweld mwy o achosion fel Bury FC a chafodd ei diarddel o Gynghrair Pêl-droed Lloegr wedi i ddyledion y clwb gynyddu wrth geisio dringo’r system. Mae timoedd sydd yn llwyddo i ennill dyrchafiadau i gynghrair yn uwch yn cael eu gorfodi i wario arian er mwyn ceisio cystadlu gyda’r timau sydd eisoes yn y gynghrair hynny. Mae’r tuedd yma yn achosi perygl enfawr at gyflwr ariannol clybiau os ydynt yn colli ei lle gan ollwng yn ôl i gynghrair is.

Mae’n amlwg fod yna batrwm gwirioneddol pryderus o wario’n ormodol a goruchafiaeth ariannol yn y gêm bêl-droed erbyn hyn. Mae gan gyrff llywodraethu FIFA a’i tebyg gwaith i wneud os ydyn ni fel cymdeithas am gadw’r gêm yr ydym mor hoff ohoni’n fyw ac yn iach.

A ddaw newid i’r gêm? Neu a ydym yn mynd tuag at sefyllfa lle fydd goruchafiaeth ariannol yn lladd y byd pêl-droed fel yr ydym yn ei hadnabod? un agwedd bositif sydd wedi dod allan o’r trafferthion ariannol, yw bod y sgwrs am degwch ariannol a sut mae goruchafiaeth ariannol yn taenu enw da y gêm.”

Dyfodol y radio yn y maes darlledu

Mae radio yn dechnoleg a ddefnyddir mor eang, ond sut y cafodd ei dyfeisio?

Alexa Price Cyfrannydd

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ae datblygiadau y byd modern wedi gweld sawl newid mawr yn y maes darlledu, a phryder cyson sydd yn cael ei chodi yw dyfodol y radio. Er taw pwrpas cyntaf y radio oedd i ddanfon negeseuon o un lle i’r llall, heb wifrau, mae’r bwriad dal yn tebyg heddiw.

Dros amser mae’r radio wedi datblygu i fod yn ddarn o dechnoleg sydd yn cael ei ddefnyddio ar draws y byd i gyhoeddi newyddion, caneuon, yn ogystal â rhaglenni sgyrsiol, a darnau theatr.

Mae’r radio dros y flynyddoedd diwethaf - yn nodedig yn ystod y ganrif yma! - wedi dod yn wyneb i wyneb efo sawl cystadleuwyr sydd wir wedi profi perthnasedd y radio, a pham mae o dal yn poblogaidd iawn heddiw.

Gwelsom ddatblygiadau arwyddocaol ar ddechrau’r ganrif lle cyflwynwyd y radio ddigidol, sydd wedi caniatau y cyhoedd i wrando ar lein yn eu cartrefu trwy ddefnyddio technoleg modern megis ffônau, laptops, a’r teledu. Achoswyd hyn bach o gystadleuaeth rhwng y radio

Hanes y radio: A’i hyn yw’r gorffennol neu’r dyfodol? digidol a’r radio analog, ond mewn byd lle mae technoleg a chyfryngau cymdeithasol wedi tyfu i fod yn elfen naturiol o fywyd, mae’r datblygiad yma wedi sicrhau bod gwrando i’r radio hyd yn oed yn fwy cyfleus.

Yn dilyn hyn, datblygwyd sawl sianel radio i sicrhau bod eu sianelau nhw ar gael yn ddigidol, gan fod hi’n debygol y bydd codiad yn y nifer o bobl sydd yn eu gwrando arnynt.

Yn ogystal â hyn, gwelsom ni gynnydd yn y niferoedd o sianelau radio cymunedol/lleol, sydd wedi bod yn datblygiad positif yn sicr!

Mae sianelau poblogaidd fel Heart efo sawl sianel ar draws y Deyrnas Unedig, sydd yn meddwl bod mwy o hyblygrwydd o ran beth y maent yn cyhoeddi, a bod mwy o gyfleoedd i allu personoli y newyddion a diweddariadau.

Problem bosibl arall sydd wedi codi dros y flynyddoedd diweddar yw’r esgyniad yn y nifer o bobl ifanc sydd yn defnyddio gwasanaethau ‘streaming’, megis Spotify, Apple Music, a Youtube, sydd yn derbyn taliadau misol er mwyn eu defnyddio, lle mae gwrandawyr y radio yn eu defnyddio achos ei fod am ddim.

Felly mae’n rhaid gofyn os ydy’r radio wir yn mynd i ddioddef yn y flynyddoedd sydd i ddod? Efallai, ond er yr datblygiadau positif a negyddol dros y flynyddoedd diwethaf, mae’r niferoedd sydd dal yn defnyddio’r radio yn uchel iawn.

Mae’r radio yn cadw ati i fod yn berthnasol ac yn ddefnyddiol, mae o’n ffordd rhwydd o gadw lan efo’r newyddion, yn ogystal â dangos cymorth i’r maes cerddoriaeth!

Er taw pwrpas cyntaf y radio oedd i ddanfon negeseuon o un lle i’r llall, heb wifrau, mae’r bwriad dal yn tebyg heddiw.”

CYNGOR

The official podcast of Cardiff University Students’ Union.

Find us on Anchor and Spotify: ‘Cardiff Students’.

There’s always time for Clonc!

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POLITICS

POLITICS Controversial abortion law introduced Ella Lloyd

Politics Editor

A Tom Kingsbury

Ella Lloyd

Luthien Evans

controversial law banning abortion has come into effect in Texas.

The law, known as Senate Bill 8 (SB8), prohibits abortion from 6 weeks into pregnancy, or when what anti-abortion campaigners call a fetal heartbeat can be detected. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists suggests that this is misleading though, arguing this is actually when ‘a portion of the fetal tissue that will become a heart as the embryo develops’.

Other states have attempted to implement ‘heartbeat bills’ however these efforts have been blocked by state courts.

The law offers an exception in the case of a medical emergency, but not for cases of rape or incest.

The law would prevent more than 80% of women from obtaining an abortion, as most women don’t realize they are pregnant as early as the 6-week cut off. Many women will now have to travel out of state to access care - an average round trip of nearly 500 miles, providing women are able to secure the time off work, care for existing children, and money to make the journey.

This law is different from previous attempts to curtail abortion rights in America (originally secured by the 1973 Supreme Court decision Roe vs Wade), as it empowers ordinary people to seek action in civil courts rather than criminal courts.

Under the law, any American citizen may sue an abortion provider, or anybody who ‘aids and abets’ someone obtaining an illegal abortion for damages up to a value of $10,000 (£7,200) even if they themselves are not affected by the termination. In theory, any individual, including staff at clinics or family members who assist with transport could be sued.

Abortion providers fear this could lead to a number of vigilante, bountyhunter lawsuits, with some discontinuing services to avoid the costs of these.

Anti-abortion lobby group Texas Right to Life have already created a website, encouraging citizens to ‘whistleblow’ and report violations of the law.

Chelsey Youman, the legislative director of Human Coalition Action Texas, an anti-abortion group, welcomed the ban, saying it would ‘protect the most vulnerable among us, preborn children’. Speaking to BBC Newsnight, Texas Senator Brian Hughes who introduced the Heartbeat Bill emphasized that it was not women who are liable under this law, but doctors who perform illegal abortions.

Speaking to The Guardian Dr Ghazaleh Moayedi, an abortion provider in Texas has called the law ‘unethical, inhumane, and unjust’, and expressed concern that the law will inevitably affect vulnerable women the most, including those with significant financial barriers, and Black and Latina women.

UN human rights monitors have condemned SB8 as ‘sex discrimination at its finest’.

Roe v Wade undermined: The US Supreme Court did not block the Texan law, despite the precedent of its ruling in the case Roe v Wade (1973). Source: Lorie Shaull (via Wikimedia Commons) The Supreme Court has refused to block the law, despite last minute pleas from pro-choice campaigners. Justices ruled against an injunction preventing its implementation 5-4.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor called the law ‘flagrantly unconstitutional’, something which has been echoed by President Joe Biden. The White House’s spokeswoman stressed that the president had previously expressed his wish for Roe vs Wade to become federal law, and stated that SB8 highlighted the importance of that.

Polling from the Pew Research Center suggests that around 60% of Americans support legal abortion in most cases. However, despite a slight shift to the left in recent years, Texas is still

a particularly conservative state, with large regions often considered a part of the ‘Bible Belt’, and in April an poll indicated that nearly half of voters supported a ‘heartbeat ban’.

Pro-choice activists in other states such as Iowa, where a ‘heartbeat law’ was blocked by courts, are speculating that SB8 could lead to renewed efforts to implement similar bans elsewhere in the country.

Both Planned Parenthood and Whole Woman’s Health have stated their intention to comply with the law despite their opposition to it.

Planned Parenthood said in a tweet that they were ‘still fighting’ and confirmed their message that ‘everyone deserves access to abortion’.

Thai Prime Minister faced with second no confidence vote as protests reignite Luthien Evans Political Editor

Manal Ahmed politics@gairrhydd.com

We hope that this vote of no-confidence will lead to some changes.”

Pichai Naripthaphan, Deputy Leader of the Pheu Thai Party

P

rotests in Thailand are heating up, with thousands attending. Activists in Bangkok are demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayuth Chanocha, warning that the action will not cease until he resigns or is removed from power.

Protests have been banned due to Coronavirus restrictions, but despite the rules, August saw one of the biggest protests of the year take place at the Asoka intersection in Bangkok.

The protest was largely peaceful, although a small group of anti-govern-

ment individuals targeted areas close to the Prime Minister‘s residence, setting off firecrackers and burning tires.

The protests are seen as a continuation of last years’ student-led movement that demanded a limit on the powers of King Maha Vajiralongkorn and the dismissal of the Prime Minister.

A wider demographic appears to have joined the protest movement as a result of the economic challenges of the pandemic, despite the risk of being charged with breaking a law against criticising the monarchy.

The number of protesters has reportedly increased, with many citizens unhappy with the Thai Government’s handling of the pandemic. Protesters

are placing blame upon the Prime Minister for his failure to secure timely and adequate supplies of vaccines.

Activists cite the country’s covid vaccination rates as evidence, with only 13% of the 66 million Thai citizens fully vaccinated against COVID-19. In comparison, the UK has over 79% of the adult population entirely vaccinated.

Reports have shown that in Thailand, many of the deaths and infection statistics have been on the rise since April of this year.

The Prime Minister is drawing further media attention as he recently faced the Thai Parliament in a censure debate, on topics such as corruption, economic mismanagement and bun-

gling the coronavirus response.

Five Cabinet ministers also faced this scrutiny during the debate. They have denied all accusations and stand by their actions during the COVID-19 pandemic. This weekend, the Prime Minister survived a no-confidence vote, the second of such votes this year alone.

Following this news, some protesters became more violent, using items such as fireworks and paint bombs. In response, riot police have been using rubber bullets and water cannons on the crowds. The protesters’ promises of continuation are still holding strong, but it seems the Prime Minister still has a foothold in Parliament.

Trudeau’s lead slipping as election looms Haris Hussnain Contributor

O

n August 15, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called a snap federal election, with the idea that it might help strengthen his Liberal Party’s hold on power.

When first elected in 2015, Trudeau successfully formed a majority government, gaining 148 seats for the Liberal Party in Parliament.

In 2019 though, his party lost 20 seats, and has been operating as a minority government since.

Trudeau’s calling of a snap election two years earlier than the fixed elec-

tion date of October 2023 has been a cause for confusion amongst many Canadians, despite the motivation of forming a majority government.

Earlier in August, Trudeau’s plans to solve Canada’s COVID-19 related issues were being fulfilled. His government has overseen one of the highest rates of a vaccine rollout, with around 72% of Canadians fullyvaccinated.

Recently though, the Prime Minister’s support has started to dwindle, even among certain groups of people who the Liberal Party have had successes with in the past, such as women voters.

This has put the Liberals up against the right-leaning Conservative Party,

led by the Leader of the Opposition Erin O’Toole, a former Captain in the Royal Canadian Air Force and lawyer.

The Conservative Party successes are partly due to the Conservatives deconstructing stereotypes associated with their party by openly supporting LGBT rights and adopting a pro-choice stance on abortion.

O’Toole has also expressed support for unionized workers and a genuine concern for Canada’s financial state.

This is a subject on which Trudeau has been criticised, as Canada’s finance and monetary policies are in his words “not a top priority”. This has caused anxiety among Canadians

as the economy is in slow recovery at an uncertain state.

Trudeau’s presence online has not helped, with Twitter deleting tweets aimed at the conservative party, reflecting poorly on Trudeau.

Despite the Conservatives’ new appeal, issues such as institutional racism within the conservative party, climate change and childcare policies have been called out by Trudeau.

With support dwindling it is unclear what position the Liberals will have in government, if indeed any.

Following the September 20 election day, it will become more clear whether this is the last straw for Trudeau and the Liberal Party’s tenure in government.

Under pressure: Trudeau’s lead is now less clear than when he called the snap election. Source: 2017 Canada Summer Games (via Flickr)

GWLEIDYDDIAETH

13

A look at the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan Manal Ahmed Politics Editor

O

n the morning of Monday, August 30, Hamid Karzai International Airport was targeted by rocket attacks. The Islamic State in Afghanistan (IS-K) claimed responsibility for the attack as the United States was in the final hours of withdrawal.

There have been no reported casualties yet, which many believe to be thanks to a US anti-missile defence system that intercepted the rockets, however US President Joe Biden’s administration has not mentioned this system.

This attack came after the United States renewed air strikes in Kabul, following two bombing attacks outside the Kabul airport the previous Friday that resulted in the deaths of 13 US army personnel and at least 169 Afghans, with hundreds left wounded.

The attacks, claimed by an ISIL affiliate ISIS-K, occurred at the airport gate where US Marines had been screening Afghans. Biden addressed the international community after these attacks and was seen bowing his head in frustration. The image was widely circulated amongst media outlets and social media websites as critics took the photo as a visualisation of Biden’s apparent weakness.

Captain Bill Urban, a spokesman for the US Central Command, had confirmed during the weekend preceding the second attack on the airport that a military strike had been conducted, “eliminating an imminent” threat to the airport and its operations. The drone strike had targeted two vehicles parked in a residential building close to the airport, witnesses told The Associated Press. The death toll is uncertain, with claims of as many as 10 people killed.

The world watched as the Taliban continued their thundering advance across the country on Sunday August 15 and narrowed in on the gates of the capital, Kabul, that morning. Throughout the day, many journalists observed a tense atmosphere enveloping the capital as the streets went silent and the roads became empty.

According to Aljazeera, Afghan guards and police that were typically stationed by intersections, controlling traffic, had abandoned their posts, or had begun dressing in plain clothes to avoid run-ins and tension with the incoming Taliban fighters.

he [Biden] and President Trump should be deeply ashamed” Jeremy Hunt, Former UK Foreign Secretary Taliban soldiers remained outside Kabul while a delegation entered the Presidential Palace, aiming to negotiate a peaceful transition of power. A Taliban spokesperson informed Associated Press that it would be from there the Taliban would announce the restoration of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, the official name of the state before the militant group was ousted by US-led forces in the wake of the 9/11 attacks.

This advance by the Taliban occurred two weeks before President Biden’s final withdrawal date of August 31, therefore speeding up the withdrawal of US military and intelligence.

Al Jazeera obtained exclusive footage of Taliban forces entering the Presidential Palace hours after President Ashraf Ghani was reported to have fled the country to an unknown loca-

tion – later revealed to be the UAE, which had granted humanitarian visas to Ghani and his family – to “avoid bloodshed”.

It was from the Presidential Palace that a Taliban high-ranking member announced the “War was over” and that all individuals should hand in their weapons as they would not need them for protection anymore.

Crowds of fearful Afghans were seen on Monday 16, attempting to cling onto a US military plane, departing to Qatar, at the Hamid Karzai International Airport. At least two people are reported to have fallen to their deaths.

Another video showed three individuals lying on the ground in the airport, unmoving. It is unknown whether this occurred from attempting to cling onto the aircraft or from warning shots fired by the Taliban to control the crowds.

Individuals were delayed from boarding the flight as many were climbing the corridor to the plane. Pictures of overcrowded US flights to Qatar and Islamabad showed the depth of fear and the chaos that occurred in the immediate aftermath of the change of power.

In the days following, many Western nations attempted to withdraw as many of their citizens as possible until the withdrawal of US forces was complete, due to the significant strength the US military provided when holding the Kabul airport.

However, Taliban-controlled checkpoints to the airport have resulted in significant limitations to foreign nationals and Afghan residents in peril.

Taliban, Afghan and US troops had been regularly firing warning shots intended to disperse the large crowds gathered.

These events took place amidst significant withdrawal of US personnel from the embassy in the Wazir Akbar Khan district of Kabul. Smoke was seen rising from the area as diplomats were instructed to ensure all sensitive documents, US flags or other materials were destroyed.

Throughout the day, embassy personnel were seen being airlifted from the roof to the airport, reminiscent of the fall of Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh city) in 1975.

The fall of Saigon occurred when the communist forces of North Vietnam, the People’s Army of Vietnam and the Viet Cong, had captured the capital of South Vietnam. While the US military had formally ended active involvement in the war two years prior, the complete withdrawal of US presence from the country became a historically poignant moment for the international community. Many parallels have been drawn between this event and the withdrawal from Afghanistan by US policymakers as the war had become deeply unpopular amongst the American public due to the significant loss in life and the enormous costs.

Later in the day, the US flag had been taken down, signalling the final formal step in the closure of the embassy. The limited diplomatic staff had been operating from the airport until the total US withdrawal on Tuesday, August 31.

Prior to the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul, the Chinese Foreign minister had met with a nine-member delegation in July in Tianjin.

The presence of Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, one of the founders of the organisation and the deputy leader, and the acknowledgment of the significant role they would have in the peace process seemed to be a significant blow to Ashraf Ghani’s government.

Preceding this meeting, General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), Xi Jinping, had informed Ghani of “China’s firm support of the

Afghan government to maintain the nation’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.”

Since the takeover, many suspect that China is among the nations attempting to gain an ally and foothold in Central Asia by encouraging the international acceptance of a Taliban-led government.

In the week of the Taliban’s victory, many embassies announced significant changes to their staff and operation. Germany increased security to their embassy in Kabul, while reducing staff to the “operationally necessary, absolute minimum”, said the German Foreign Minister.

Norway, Finland, and Denmark have now closed their embassies, offering evacuation to Afghan embassy employees and their close relatives with Denmark being the first EU nation to offer residency to Afghan nationals they have worked with.

The Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the country would help EU countries evacuate their citizens and Albania and Kosovo accepted a request from Washington to temporarily accept Afghan refugees.

Britain, Italy, Spain, Sweden, and France had announced they intended to evacuate embassy personnel.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson had claimed earlier in the month that he was confident that all British citizens and Afghan nationals to help the UK would be evacuated before Friday 27, however this operation failed as hundreds remain stranded due to, according to some reports, international citizens being stuck in checkpoints heading towards the airport and the Taliban searching for Afghan nationals who aided NATO allies.

Recently, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France had commenced discussions with the Taliban to explore how further evacuations could take place. The results of these discussions and a proposal by France, the UK, and Germany to establish a safe zone in Kabul for such evacuations were brought to an emergency UN Security Council session of vetowielding powers this past Monday.

The UK Foreign secretary at the time, Dominic Raab, was among those present at the meeting, and intends to visit Afghanistan’s neighbours, starting with a visit to Qatar and then Pakistan, to discuss refugee efforts.

In a press conference with the foreign minister of Pakistan, Raab confirmed that 15,000 people had been evacuated and announced the UK would be doubling its aid to Afghanistan to £286 million while also releasing the first instalment of £30 million aid that would be used to support Afghanistan’s neighbours.

Johnson recalled Parliament from summer break for an emergency session to discuss the situation in Afghanistan. During the session, many MPs expressed their shock at seeing the airport footage in an emergency session on Wednesday, as it portrayed the very real fear of Afghans and the lack of trust in the Taliban’s assurances that they were different from the group of the late 1990s.

MPs called for the family of constituency members to be granted immediate refugee status and be allowed to enter the UK and be reunited, while also giving immediate asylum to stranded aid workers, translators and anyone who had helped British military operations in Afghanistan as their safety was under immediate threat. They also urged the government to support the local councils of constituencies prepared to take on additional refugees.

They had further critique of the current and previous governments, questioning why the consequences of war

An end to the ‘longest war’: The US completed its withdrawal from Afghanistan before the end of August, bringing an end to its longest war to date. Source: Defence Images (via Flickr) on the public had not been considered and why no budget for nation-building had ever been established.

There was a consensus in the house that Britain must accept the inevitable refugee crisis that will emerge from the situation and play a role in both accepting refugees and facilitating neighbouring and regional countries that may struggle with the financial costs of housing more refugees.

The former foreign secretary and current Chair of the Health and Social Care Select Committee, Jeremy Hunt, criticised Biden’s response to the tumultuous situation, stating that both “he [Biden] and President Trump should be deeply ashamed” of their actions that caused a return to a government that was responsible for the September 11 attacks.

He went on to discuss concerns that China would foster the growth of this government and, as a country that cared little for democratic values, would soon become the most powerful economy in the world.

The Home Office announced a few days after the ‘fall of Kabul’ that a resettlement scheme was underway to aid Afghan citizens. The Afghan citizens’ resettlement scheme (ACRS) aims to welcome 5,000 at-risk individuals in the first year and “up to 20,000” over the next few years.

The Home Office has determined that anyone who had “contributed to civil society” and been a vocal advocate for the democratic process or the rights of minorities would be considered at-risk, though no further information has been provided to aid Afghans as the scheme is not yet open.

Currently, the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy is active to support relocation and other necessities to “current and former Locally Employed Staff” in Afghanistan. Information regarding eligibility and the application is available on gov.uk.

Following the events that occurred at Kabul Airport at the end of the previous month, President Biden faced significant bipartisan criticism at home and international condemnation for the alleged poor handling of the withdrawal.

Despite this, he remained steadfast in continuing with the speed at which US troops had already been operating at, maintaining that the process was never going to be a smooth one.

The president attempted to appear strong and decisive, justifying the rushed withdrawal in a televised address to the US public by stating that the primary goal of US intervention in Afghanistan was “preventing a terrorist attack on American homeland”, and not “creating a unified centralised democracy”.

The statement drew significant critique and fact checks from multiple media outlets. The BBC provided a contradictory statement made by thenSenator Biden at the start of the conflict, saying that the ultimate purpose of intervention was to “see a relatively stable government”, one which would provide the “foundation for future reconstruction of that country.”

While there had been a universal push in the west to ensure the principle of “no one left behind” remained true and all citizens would be evacuated, many nations fell short of the withdrawal deadline from the Hamid Karzai Airport.

In their hasty withdrawal, the US has left behind between 100 to 200 citizens.

International operations have now begun to be conducted from the Mazar-iSharif airport in northern Afghanistan, though there are many reports that the Taliban have prevented flights from the airport for a week. This has placed mounting pressure on Biden to ensure that the American citizens, among the hundreds stranded, return home.

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POLITICS

Independent report finds UK religious groups failing to protect children Tom Kingsbury Head of Politics

Disclaimer: This article covers subjects which some readers may find disturbing. If you have been affected by any of the topics in this article please don’t hesitate to contact student support at studentconnect@cardiff.ac.uk.

A

n independent report has found “egregious failings” by a number of religious organisations in the UK to protect children from sexual abuse.

It states that currently there is “either no or very limited oversight and assurance of child protection in religious organisations.”

The report is a result of an inquiry by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), and looked at evidence from 38 religious organiations with a presence in England and Wales.

The IICSA’s inquiry was established in 2014 following the testimony of 100s of people that they were abused as children by Jimmy Savile. The IICSA has published a number of reports over the course of its inquiry with a final report to be published next year.

According to the IICSA, UK religious organisations “may have a significant and even dominant influence on the lives of millions of children”, and it has “no doubt” that sexual abuse of children is taking place across a range of organisations of different faith.

Whilst it recognised the importance of respect for religious beliefs, the report argued that religion and faith “can never justify or excuse the

ill-treatment of a child, or a failure to take adequate steps to protect them from harm.”

Among the issues examined in the report were the significant barriers preventing or discouraging the reporting of cases of child sexual abuse in religious organisations.

Victim blaming was one such barrier, the report noted, along with the use of religious texts and teachings to manipulate children and justify abuse.

It also explained that a lack of discussion of sex and sexuality lead to fewer reported cases, as do the predomance of men in positions of authority within religious organisations.

Another threat to the reporting of cases is the power of and trust placed in religious leaders. In one case, the report details, a church minister told the mother of a 12-year-old victim that the abuser was “valued” and must be considered “innocent until proven guilty”.

It later became clear, according to the report, that prior to being allowed to volunteer for the church, the abuser had been dismissed from the police after being charged with unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor.

In another case detailed in the report, a seven-year-old was abused by a Sunday school activity leader following the death of his mother.

He was told not to tell anyone, as it would upset his father and nobody in the church would believe him.

This abuse continued for around three years.

The report made two main recommendations, the first of which was that all religious organisations should have a child protection pol-

icy and protection procedures.

In its investigation the inquiry found the level of protection within religious organisations varied significantly, leaving many children unsafe.

It noted that child protection policies and training were especially important in religious organisations, since child sexual abuse is most likely to take place within the family, and families are often part of the same religious community.

The report also detailed the issue of ‘disguised compliance’, where a religious organisation appears to have policies in place protecting children, but in reality implements little if any of the policies.

Other issues identified in this regard include the inconsistent use of Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) background checks, and the “wide variation” in the use of training to help protect and identify abuse of children within religious organisations.

The IICSA states: “The current system for oversight of child protection within religious organisations and settings is one of patchwork influence rather than mandatory standards and enforcement.”

The other recommendation made by the report is that the UK Government amend by law the definition of ‘full-time education’ to include any place that acts as the child’s primary place of education, and that Ofsted is allowed the powers to examine the quality of child protection when inspecting suspected unregistered schools.

An unregistered school is defined

by Ofsted as a “setting that is operating as an independent school, without registration”, and educating chil-

Inadequate protection: The IICSA’s report said there were “egregious failings” by some UK religious organisations to protect children, and argued organisations needed more powers to address them. Source: tamckile (via. Flickr) dren in them is illegal. Ofsted states: “These children are potentially at risk because there is no formal external oversight of safeguarding”.

According to a 2019 Ofsted estimate, of the unregistered schooling settings it inspected, around 6,000 children were being educated. Of these settings, 21 percent were places of religious instruction.

A setting that provides full-time education to at least 5 children is required to register as a school. Although there is no legal definition of ‘full-time education’, guidance from the Department of Education states

that 18 hours a week or more is likely to be considered full-time.

Some providers, however, will operate “on the cusp of the law”, avoiding scrutiny by providing 17 hours and 50 minutes of education a week.

Settings where only religious instruction is given are not required to register as schools, even if they operate full-time and their pupils receive no further education.

After years of investigation and over a hundred million pounds spent, in 2022 the IICSA will publish its final overarching report.

International study opportunities at risk for British students in post-Brexit era Katherine Seymour Contributor

T

he rules of the deal agreed following the UK’s exit of the EU have been causing problems for British students wishing to study abroad. Some students have changed continents or delayed their plans due to the long waiting times for EU visas.

The UK Government has asked Spain, the country with the most reported issues, to create a fast-track process for British students, should the worst happen. However Spain has pushed back on this, stating that British students must go through the same process as other non-EU students.

“There was a lot [to] figure out. Bristol said: ‘We can’t give you advice, we don’t know’”.

Natasha Kerr Modern Languages Student

The Spanish Government has also said that students have been applying for visas much later than the recommended time of 6 months before departure as some were not clear on the rules following the UK leaving the EU. Many students have become frustrated with the allocation of visas, deeming them to be completely random. Some have missed out on visas while their friends with similar placements have been granted them.

The impact of this, particularly on Modern Foreign Language (MFL) students will be huge. Most MFL students are required to study abroad as part of their degree and cannot delay their plans.

Speaking to the Guardian, Natasha Kerr a modern languages student at Bristol University has expressed her frustration regarding the lack of information on the rule changes: “There was a lot [to] figure out. Bristol said: ‘We can’t give you advice, we don’t know’”.

“There was a lot of miscommunication and the university reached out to the consulate but they didn’t get any response and there wasn’t a lot they could do.”

Kerr said the cost of her visa ap-

There was a lot of miscommunication and the university reached out to the consulate but they didn’t get any response and there wasn’t a lot they could do.”

Natasha Kerr Modern Languages Student plication was about £700 in total, which included legalising and translating two documents and obtaining an Acro (criminal records) police certificate. “It was a lot more than I was expecting,” she said. The fee on the Spanish Government website is £54.40.

Following the UK’s departure from the EU, many problems were expected in getting to grips with new visa systems.

However, the impact of these changes coupled with the uncertainty of the pandemic has made it particularly difficult for British students to carry out their plans.

A new era for British students: Following the UK’s exit of the European Union many British students have found difficulties in their visa applications. Source: Marco Verch (via Flickr)

GWLEIDYDDIAETH

What next for Afghanistan?

Following an historic takeover by the Taliban, we consider what the implications might be for the future of Afghanistan Ella Lloyd

Politics Editor

A

s the Taliban celebrate their victory, questions are beginning to be raised as to how they will govern.

The Taliban haven’t been in power since they were ousted by US forces in 2001. Since then, their presence has been as an insurgent organisation, and many are now wondering what the transition to government will look like.

The Taliban have announced an interim government headed by Mullah Mohammed Hasan Akhund, and including the head of the Haqqani network as interior minister. The Haqqani network is an Islamic militant group which fought the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in the 1980s. It has since been allied with Al-Qeada and has been responsible for a number of attacks in Kabul, possibly including an assassination attempt on Hamid Karzai, the former Afghan president. It is a designated terror group in the US, unlike the Taliban.

During their rule in the 1990s, the Taliban enforced a brutal interpretation of sharia law, but have promised to be less severe.

The Taliban claims there will be no reprisals for those who worked with western forces or the former Afghan government. However, many remain skeptical of this claim, especially as the announcement was made from the seat of government spokesperson Dawa Khan Menapal, killed by the Taliban just last month, in what the Taliban called ‘punishment for his deeds’. There are unconfirmed reports that former members of Afghan special forces and soldiers have been killed in Kandahar and Jalalabad.

The future for Afghan women is

also a concern. The Taliban assured reporters that they will respect women’s rights ‘within the framework of Islamic law’- a framework which remains undefined.

Billboards displaying women have been painted over, and women have been instructed to stay home temporarily, as Taliban fighters are not ‘trained’ to respect them. There have also been reports of women being sent home after leaving the house without a mahram or male relative as chaperone.

Senior Taliban told BBC Pashto that women would be allowed to work, however ‘may not’ be employed in top positions, or in the cabinet. Reports out of Badakhshan province suggest that girls of a UK secondary school age are not being allowed to attend schools, whilst The Guardian reports universities will require intense segregation.

Women have staged protests demanding rights in both Kabul and Herat. Recently, they were joined by others opposing Taliban rule. The Taliban fired warning shots to disperse the crowd and stopped journalists filming.

Another concern is the Taliban’s relationship with Al-Qeada. They agreed not to allow them to operate in Afghanistan under the US peace deal, however they may be reluctant to end their long-running allegiance with AlQeada, which cements their popularity with other hardliners.

The US Undersecretary of State Victoria Nuland has said the Taliban would be judged by their deeds, not their words. The former Foreign secretary Dominic Raab has confirmed that the UK will not recognize the Taliban government.

The Taliban have called China their greatest ally, hoping funding from them will help rebuild Afghanistan’s economy. China has confirmed it will keep its embassy in Kabul open, and seek

IN OTHER NEWS The former British Prime Minister Theresa May has backed a potential law that would help protect the relatives of victims of disasters such as the 1989 Hillsborough disaster. The plan - called the Public Advocate Bill - would establish an independent figure who would act on behalf of those whose loved ones are killed in such disasters.

A new dawn for Afghan women: Under the Taliban the exact role of women remains to be seen, but it is clear there will setbacks for many Afghan women.

Source: ninara (via Wikimedia Commons) ‘friendly and cooperative’ relations.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he is open to dialogue with the Taliban and hopes they will become ‘civilized’. The Taliban is still formally recognized as a terrorist organization

by Russia.

Pakistan may prove to be a significant mediator between the west and Afghanistan. The two countries share many cultural connections as well as a border, and western powers may need to cooperate with Pakistan to ensure their remaining nationals can leave Afghanistan, and humanitarian aid can get in.

Both British and German foreign ministers have visited Pakistan in recent days, however US President Joe

Biden has cut communication with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan since taking office.

Many in the US have accused Pakistan of supporting the Taliban, something the country denies. They recognized the Taliban government of the 1990s, however positioned themselves as the US’s ally during the 2001 invasion.

Pakistan has interests in Afghanistan being governed stably as it wants to avoid terror attacks from groups like Al-Qaeda and ISIS-K (an Islamic State affiliate in Afghanistan) being launched over the border. They also cannot afford to take any more than the three million Afghan refugees they already house.

UK Government continues repeals of coronavirus support measures Francesca Ionescu Contributor

T

Levelling up?: Despite these cutting coronavirus support measures, Johnson has said he wants to ‘level up’ the country, looking to reduce inequalities from the floor up. Source: Number 10 (via Flickr)

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he UK Government has announced they will be phasing out the £1,040 a year universal credit and working tax credit increase that was introduced to support low-income families through the coronavirus pandemic.

The cut should come into effect on October 6, the same day as UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson makes a speech at the Conservative Party conference.

If the cuts go through they would be the second government policy to disproportionately affect low-income families, following the recent National Insurance increase that would miss out the wealthiest members of society.

Jonathan Reynolds, shadow work and pensions secretary, has said that the cuts will be “the biggest overnight cut to a benefit rate ever in the history of the welfare state” and will also hit the Midlands and the north more. The combination of credit cuts and 1.25 tax increase comes as a “double whammy” to families struggling with poverty, he said.

The repealing of COVID-19 sup-

port policies have been opposed by a coalition of 100 organisations including Save the Children, the National Education union and Citizens advice; the coalition claims that most families targeted are already in work and the cuts will not serve as any extra motivation.

This contradicts Johnson’s rhetoric that cuts will serve as a way to ‘level-up’ the country.

According to the coalition, 413 constituencies will have at least a third of working-age families affected, and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation has concluded that 500,000 people - including 200,000 children - could be pushed into poverty.

Labour Party leader Keir Starmer argued the money could have come from taxing landlords and “those who buy and sell large quantities of financial assets, stocks and shares.”

The proposition of Rishi Shunak, Chancellor of the Exchequer, may face a vote in the House of Commons, where it has already been opposed by a few Tory backbenchers, and could face further opposition from Conservative MPs in traditional “red-wall” constituencies, which are likely to be majorly affected by these measures.

Paul Rusesabagina - a man depicted in the film Hotel Rwanda as a hero during the Rwandan genocide - has been convicted of terrorism by a Rwandan court, due to his links with the FLN, a group which has carried out attacks in Rwanda. Rusesabagina is credited with having saved over a thousand lives whilst working as a hotel manager during the Rwandan genocide in 1994, though some survivors have contradicted his account.

A deal between Australia, the UK and the US - known as Aukus - has caused a stir internationally. The security pact between the three countries involves giving Australia nuclear-powered submarine technology, and is seen as a way to undermine China’s control over the South China Sea, a contested area. China has accused the countries of having a “Cold War mentality”, and the agreement has been criticised by France, whose own submarine deal with Australia worth £27bn - is now in tatters.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has reshuffled his cabinet, saying goodbye to some ministers whilst welcoming in new faces to his administration. Liz Truss has moved from Trade Secratary to Foreign Secretary, and Dominic Raab, who Truss replaced, was made Justice secretary, as well as becoming Deputy Prime Minister. Gavin Williamson has also been sacked as Education Secretary.

politics@gairrhydd.com

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MEET THE TEAM

Meet the Gair Rhydd Editorial Team 2021/2022

EDITORIAL Jack Robert Stacey Editor-in-Chief

Tom Kingsbury Deputy Editor

From all of us here at Gair Rhydd, we’re pleased to introduce you to our new Editorial Team this year:

NEWS Zoe Kramer Head of News

Alex Hughes News Editor

FEATURES Sarah Anne Griffiths Head of Features

Eva Rodericks Features Editor

Contact ‘Features’ via email at: review@gairrhydd.com

ADVICE Vicky Witts Deputy Editor

Zoe Kramer Deputy Editor

Contact the Editor-in-Chief via email at: editor@gairrhydd.com

POLITICS

Beth Williams News Editor

Shivika Singh News Editor

Contact ‘News’ via email at: news@gairrhydd.com

Harriet Lowbridge Head of Advice

COMMENT

Megan Shinner Advice Editor

Ruth Hoey Advice Editor

Contact ‘Advice’ via email at: advice@gairrhydd.com

Tom Kingsbury

Ella Lloyd

Vicky Witts

Catarina Pinto Vicente

Head of Politics

Political Editor

Head of Comment

Comment Editor

Luthien Evans

Manal Ahmed

Katherine Wheeler

Megan Evans

Political Editor

Political Editor

Contact ‘Politics’ via email at: politics@gairrhydd.com

Comment Editor

Comment Editor

Contact ‘Comment’ via email at: comment@gairrhydd.com

REVIEW Iris Knapman Review Editor

Jess Clifford-Jones Review Editor

Contact ‘Review’ via email at: review@gairrhydd.com

CYFARFOD Y TÎM

Cyfarfod â Thîm Gair Rhydd 2021/2022

TAF-OD

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O bob un ohonom yma yn Gair Rhydd, rydym yn falch o’ch cyflwyno i’n Tîm Golygyddol newydd eleni:

SPORT

COPY

Nel Richards

Gracie Richards

Anurag Hegde

Harvey Palmer

Beca Fflur Williams

Bonnie Wileman

Sport Editor

Copy Editor

Copy Editor

Nansi Eccott

Steffan Alun Leonard

Oscar Lucas

Tom Hawkins

Jess Henderson

Emily Bryant

Copy Editor

Copy Editor

Libby Griffiths

Lois Campbell

Copy Editor

Copy Editor

Maisie Granger

Sam Joseph

Copy Editor

Copy Editor

Pennaeth Tafod

Golygydd Tafod

Golygydd Tafod

Golygydd Tafod

Head of Sport

Sport Editor

Sport Editor

Cysylltwch â ‘Taf-od’ trwy e-bost: tafod@gairrhydd.com

Contact ‘Sport’ via email at: sport@gairrhydd.com

SCIENCE & TECH

DIGITAL

Mia Becker-Hansen Head of Science

Sophia Grace Head of Digital

Cinzia Appetecchia Digital Editor

Direct any ‘Copy’ inquiries to: editor@gairrhydd.com

JOIN THE TEAM Jemma Powell Science Editor

Theodore Tadros Science Editor

Contact ‘Science’ via email at: science@gairrhydd.com

Emily Smith Digital Editor

Joseph Liu Digital Editor

Contact ‘Digital’ via email at: digital.media@gairrhydd.com

If you would like to be part of Gair Rhydd, Cardiff University’s award-winning student newspaper, send an inquiries to: ‘editor@gairrhydd.com’

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COMMENT

COMMENT Checking in on the ‘Centre for Student Life’

Katherine Wheeler takes a look at the current progress on the new campus building

Katherine Wheeler Comment Editor

T Vicky Witts

Catarina Pinto Vicente

Katherine Wheeler

Megan Evans

he Centre for Student Life is hard to miss, whether you’re negotiating building works or just trying to study in Starbucks.

The building has been under construction since 2018 with promises of completion by mid 2020.

At its inception it was touted as providing a whole new boost to the student experience, a beautiful new extension to an already stellar Student’s Union - Construction on the building itself, however, appears to be far from over.

When complete, the Centre for Student Life will become a support hub for Cardiff University students, providing them with new study spaces and a wide range of services like financial advice and employmentbased training I was due to tour the Centre a few days ago, to see what it had to offer and possibly sing its praises, however, when I walked down to see it, a large building site sat in its place.

On the outside, not much had changed since I left for Cardiff in the summer and access had remained pretty much the same if not worse.

Construction has posed a significant challenge to pedestrians on Park Place and accessibility is particularly poor for the visually impaired and those with restricted mobility. It has also meant that access to the Student Union’s third floor has been restricted and to enter via the front requires climbing several flights of stairs and

The building has been under construction since 2018 with promises of completion by mid 2020”.

comment@gairrhydd.com

Ongoing construction: Located across from Cardiff University’s Main Building, The Centre for Student Life is expected to become a vital part of the student experience when open. Credit: Jack Robert Stacey passing some seriously ear splitting drills.

Construction around the campus has been part and parcel of the student experience since the early 2010s with the construction of Talybont Gate and the Postgraduate Teaching Centre.

For the most part, new building construction has taken place on the outskirts of the city centre, though projects that were promised for 2020 are arriving too late for students to properly enjoy them. From my own experience, it’s rare to find a student who hasn’t been driven out of Study Café by the sound of drills and many of my second year friends have never set foot in the SU. So, should constant construction,

noise disruption and accessibility problems be a normal part of the student experience?

Second, third and fourth year students have faced both worldwide disruption and distraction on campus. In the coming year, making up for lost time could be both expensive and emotionally exhausting with those who missed out on a typical first year spending money and time having the fun they never got to have.

It will be a comfort to many that the University are investing in better mental wellbeing support along with the new builds, though how much of the £600m invested will go towards that is yet to be seen.

Student’s Union President, Hannah Doe, promised in her manifesto

that money would go towards ensuring a spectacular Freshers experience for those who missed out last year. Currently, as construction at the Centre for Student Life has yet to finish, all events taking place over the next few weeks will be held within the Students’ Union.

If you head over to the Student’s Union website, you’ll see ‘Returners’ exclusive events such as karaoke and dance, even some Bingo. These events are marketed towards those who missed out on a typical Freshers last year though first year students are still welcome to join.

For now, however, it looks doubtful that Fresher’s Week events will be hosted in the Centre for Student Life until construction finishes.

Are the upcoming Freshers’ events too premature with current COVID-19 rates?

Jack Darlington

Contributor

U

niversity students have been waiting for Freshers’ events for a long time. Most of first year university students last year had a smaller and socially distanced freshers, and it is clear that many students feel that they now deserve more.

The main argument for events to go ahead is that the majority of the student population is fully vaccinated. Despite the risk of getting COVID-19, students being double vaccinated will hopefully reduce the risk of infection.

Freshers’ fair week will have the potential for being a super-spreader event”.

Professor Susan Michie, Director of the Centre for Behaviour Change

Currently in Wales, BBC News states that “the average daily number of cases is 2,354, compared to 1,872 the week before” meaning a 26% increase in covid cases, yet the rise has been claimed to be “slowing down”.

To many, this rise may be concerning, as that the “largest age group, making up 31% of positive tests…are those 19 and under”. Understandably, these statistics have led many people to suggest that Freshers’ events could encourage a spread of the virus and so they should not go ahead.

However, despite the continuous infection rates, the fact that the government have allowed clubs to stay open, (with visitors requiring a Covid Pass from the 11th of October in Wales), may suggest that the government believe students will be safe at Freshers’ events this year.

The coronavirus pandemic has made an enormous impact on students’ mental health in the last year, making it incredibly difficult for

students to meet people. Freshers’ events are usually a great opportunity to meet new people, and so it is important that they go ahead in some form, so long as it is safe to do so.

While some students may understandably wish to distance themselves from large-scale, in-person events, it’s safe to say that many others will be willing to return to ‘normality’ this september.

One student at Bournemouth University, sharing a common view of many students, argued that Fresher’s events “should happen”, and that the negative mental health impact of not allowing people to meet would be far worse than the risk that COVID-19 has in young adults and students.”

A student at Exeter University said that “there should be an official freshers’ week because it’s easier to regulate official events versus not having a freshers week and then students will do what they did last year and have house-parties themselves

in their accommodations, making the chances of covid higher.”

“With actual events, it’s easier to control numbers and those spaces are more likely to be sanitised, more likely to have more precautions, and is the right thing to do”.

Although many students may be expecting a full return to a ‘prepandemic normal’, a number of guidelines will still remain in place in order to reduce the possibility of a resurgence of COVID-19 cases in the UK. Of these guidelines, the Welsh Government maintains that people should continue to practice social distancing and that face coverings must be worn in plublic places, including shops and public transport.

Professor Susan Michie, working with the government as a part of their COVID-19 behaviour science team stated that “freshers’ fair week will have the potential for being a super-spreader event”.

In response to this. one student

jokily replied with “if reading festival can go ahead, so can freshers”.

This same sentiment has been shared by many of those working in entertainment sectors and nightclub venues who, due to the impact of COVID-19, have been placed under increasing financial pressure to re-open to the public.

Recently, BBC News showed a positive statistic from ONS claiming that “it is estimated more than nine in 10 adults, or 92% of the adult population in Wales, have antibodies, which can offer protection from COVID-19”.

Surely this statistic will offer those who are anxious the assurance that, for those who have already received two doses of the vaccine, the risk of getting coronavirus and dying from it is minimal.

Therefore, the government’s decision to let fresher’s events occur will most likely not backfire, making the student populations’ wellbeing as safe as possible.

SYLWADAU

Private halls: are experiences different living in non-university accomodation?

Robyn Pierce Contributor

B

eing a new student can be stressful, with an overwhelming number of new experiences to be had on a daily basis.

Perhaps one of the most well-known is life in university halls, and the social aspects of living with a large number of other students.

However, those living in private, rather than university-owned accomodation may be concerned about whether their experiences will live up to those of other halls students.

The Location University halls are typically on campus or placed near the main University buildings which does mean that students living in halls are in the centre of the student community.

That being said, the large number of private options available does mean

the university social experience is essentially determined by how a student chooses to live.”

that new students can be more flexible about where they want to live, and thus they do not need to feel isolated or far away from the rest of the university.

In Cardiff, private housing can be found all over the city, some of which are closer to town than the Talybont residences, and others being slightly further away like university halls.

The available facilities No two residences are the same, and with that, they offer completely different facilities. Usually university halls offer basic essentials such as a bed, bathroom, and kitchen, as well as simple utilities.

Comparatively, private accommodations are renowned for often offering more luxurious features, from TVs and higher quality wifi, to gyms and games rooms. Private halls are not thus necessarily a limitation to student satisfaction, but may in fact enhance experiences depending on the place they choose.

The social experience University halls often have a reputation for being bustling social centres, which may understandably make some students in private accomodation feel that they are missing out.

I

Housing: The choice between university halls and private accommodation can shape the overall student experience. Source: Roger Blackwell (via Flickr) Both options, however, will essentially offer students a simillar chance to mix with other residents and form relationships with likeminded people - A key part of the overall student experience for many of them.

Whilst it is often believed that the

higher number of mature and international students in private accomodation will make first year students feel more isolated, the university social experience is essentially determined by how a student chooses to spend their time.

How you can get involved in student-led activism and help make social changes as part of your university experience

Catarina Pinto Vicente Comment Editor

W

As always though, there is a lot to do to become a student activist, and the best time to start is now. ”

Student-led activism: At university, there are a wide variety of ways for students to get their voices heard. Source: Roger Blackwell (via Flickr) very useful to keep up with events - I suggest UK- centric Instagram accounts, such as @StopCambo and @GreenpeaceUK, or even Cardiffspecific ones, such as @BLMCardiff.

Promoting a cause and getting your voice heard Then you can choose your preferred way of partaking in this activism. If you don’t feel comfortable with gatherings of people, there are other ways to contribute. Volunteering can be done offline and online, in so many forms: fundraising, spreading awareness, even mundane tasks like gardening or social media work.

Social Media: Connections, or just distractions?

Katherine Wheeler Comment Editor

Why we need student activism more than ever hen people think of student activism, they picture crowds and protests, sit-ins and run-ins with the police – noble acts that have achieved much, but not the whole picture, and especially not during a pandemic. If you feel you can’t contribute because of COVID, it’s important to remember that most student activism is mundane people doing small acts that create change over time - there are always ways to get involved.

Choosing a cause to get involved with at university The first step is to pick the cause you want to get involved with. This can be a specific cause or initiative; narrowing it down is key, as choosing to commit to too many causes can leave you burnt-out.

Once you have picked, it’s time to educate yourself, on the issue itself but also on the different ways you can help out. This can mean getting involved with a society’s events, following activists on social media, or finding books and other resources on the issue. I’ve found social media

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Cardiff has many local charities for different causes that are worth getting involved with.

Otherwise, you can attend events and protests. Stay up to date with activist’s and society’s social media to know about any upcoming events, and if it’s your first event, it’s always good to take a friend with you, as it can feel quite daunting.

Student activism can also include having a role within the university to institute change. This can mean a role in a society or in the Student Union, but it does require more focus and work than casual volun-

teering. The Student Union holds elections every year for Campaign Officers, who represent the interests of minorities and certain groups within the university. But if you’re a first year who is starting off, you can become a member for a society related to your cause, such as the Feminist Society, Amnesty, and more.

Activism can also mean something as simple as voting. This can be in the yearly elections for Campaign Officers, as previously mentioned, or for council elections. The next scheduled elections are the County Council elections, which are to take place in May 2022.

Making a difference Despite all these opportunities, there can always be that doubt that student activism does not achieve much, that as students we are limited in our power. With such doubt, it’s important to remember what student activism has achieved in the UK alone.

In City University, for instance, a number of students took part in protests calling for the removal of John Cass’s name, an 18th century merchant linked to the slave trade, from the university’s business school - These protests led to the school being renamed to the ‘Bayes Business School’ after the theologian and mathematician of the same name.

As always though, there is a lot to do to become a student activist, and the best time to start is now.

t’s the phones, they say.

If you have a baby boomer in your family, you’ve likely heard this phrase before. The comment usually comes at the Christmas table, like a vegetable on a roast, mandatory but not especially welcome. Exasperated tech users bemoan how little their parents and grandparents understand the draw to technology and why, in a pandemic led world, it is increasingly difficult to avoid.

There’s no denying that advances in social media have come on in leaps and bounds, right alongside a snowballing youth mental health crisis… but is it the technology that’s really changing us or has our culture changed so dramatically that depression and distraction are inevitable?

In the last year, it has become increasing obvious why a technologically literate population need the comfort of social media.

It’s where every friend they have resides, accessible and now stored neatly in a little black rectangle.

‘We’re forever interrupting ourselves,’ says Dr Anna Lembke, addiction psychiatrist, ‘we rarely concentrate on tasking activities for long nor get into a creative flow.’ As soon as we get a dopamine hit from checking social media, we inevitably come back down again. When you’re constantly scrolling and being fed information, the hit never stops. You no longer have to squirm through the discomfort of being apart because your phone is an arm’s length away.

The pandemic has all but cemented the idea that having access to the internet is now a necessity and that connecting with others over the internet isn’t just an option anymore, it’s a requirement. Modern jobs rely on connecting with others, whether via recruitment or networking and earning a spot as an employee can now require scouring social media.

Scientists are investigating the possibility of the phone as an ‘extended mind’, as a device we rely on for information, interaction and emotional upkeep much like our own brains. Although it’s hard to see how you could classify your phone as part of your very own mind, it’s not hard to see how phones and social media are already fulfilling basic human functions. When we post about a new dress or some late night Maccies, we have tens, maybe even hundreds or thousands of other humans to process that information for us. People who are taking time out of their day, probably distracted from an important job, to churn through interactions and present their findings in a neat 280 character response.

In the last year, it has become increasing obvious why a technologically literate population need the comfort of social media.”

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COMMENT

COVID-19’s impact on the student experience Pui Kuan Cheah Contributor

T

he start of COVID-19 seems like a blur now, but I do remember reading about it in the news just as the spring semester of my first year began. I didn’t give it much thought - it was halfway across the world, it couldn’t possibly be anything serious in the UK. Fast forward to present day, I’ve barely had two semesters worth of in-person teaching, and I’m now already going into my final year.

My relationship with the university and its campus barely exists, and is primarily evident through email exchanges. I came to university fresh-faced, excited to move to a new country, getting that much-talked about university campus experience, and basking in the final years of formal education.

Instead, the only relationship that grew was the one with my laptop - as if I needed that bond strengthened any further.

Second year was no better it turned out to be even more disappointing. While there were a handful of in-person seminars at the start, and I tried my best to attend all to get a sliver of pre-COVID-19 normalcy, many times I found myself in a room of 4 or less students. In one memorable seminar, I was the only student in the room. The 1-to1 session was interesting but also really saddening to be in.

The class interactions I had become accustomed to in every year of education up till now was nowhere to be seen. Zoom/ Microsoft Teams emulate the classgathering environment, but the lack of physical interaction made me feel disconnected from my cohort. The people I was meant to get to know better as each year passed, I only met and saw properly for about a semester.

Within the 1.5 years that COVID-19 has directly impacted my time at university, I have gone through endless worry over a multitude of things that sometimes distracted me from my academic work more than I would have liked.

On a more positive note, I did get to take virtual language classes with the university while in hotel quarantine, which was a unique experience.

Overall, this ‘COVID-19 university experience’ was unexpected and frustrating a lot of the time, and I look back on the past two years and wonder what could’ve been. With restrictions lifted as I approach my final year at university, I am trying to stay optimistic.

Within the 1.5 years that COVID-19 has directly impacted my time at university, I have gone through endless worry over a multitude of things.”

University Rankings: beneficial or harmful?

Vicky Witts asks if ranking UK Universities provides students and employers with a fair, reliable indicator of the quality of a degree

Vicky Witts

Head of Comment

A

s the new academic year arrives, many sixth form and college students will be beginning to prepare their UCAS applications, and plan visits to various university open days.

University Ranking systems Some students may already have decided where they want to study, but many prospective undergraduates will likely still consider rankings and league tables when applying to universities.

Times Higher Education annually produces a comprehensively ranked list of universities on a global scale, based on “13 carefully calibrated performance indicators that measure an institutions performance across four areas: teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook”.

This year’s 2022 rankings by the Complete University Guide saw the University of Oxford taking the top position on the list, with Cardiff University placing at number 189 globally, and 25th within the UK. Like the Times’ rankings, the Complete University Guide also summarises its score system as four categories: entry standards, student satisfaction, research quality, and graduate prospects. These are perhaps more student interest-focused than the Times’ table, but it’s clear that rankings and tables have become a large focus for students and higher education providers.

it’s clear that rankings and tables have become a large focus for students and higher education providers.”

University Rankings: These rankings have been shown to be a significant factor for students when they are considering which universities they want to apply to. Source: pasedion (via Pixabay) The wide-reaching impacts of University Ranking systems How important are university rankings in selecting a university for higher education?

It is evident that students do look at university rankings as part of their university application. Numerous universities choose to display their rankings as part of their advertising material and on their websites.

The criteria that websites such as the Complete University Guide use to break down their rankings are mostly focused on the interests of students, in that they look at student satisfaction and graduate prospects as a large part of their judgement. These are important aspects of life as a student.

League tables also allow students to see the opinions of other students about the universities that they are applying to, so that they can decide on one which meets their needs and generally produces high numbers of

Degree ‘value’: Education institutions are a common point of focus in interviews. Source: Alan Cleaver (via Wikimedia Commons)

satisfied students.

In the 2017 International Student Survey carried out by Hobsons, 30% of the students they questioned stated that a high quality of teaching was the most important factor for them when selecting a university.

However, university league tables may not be suitable or necessary for all prospective university applicants.

Rankings typically only consider academic criteria, which may not be of interest to all students. Instead, some students may find that the social aspects and atmosphere of a university are equally or more important in their decision making, and in which case, university league tables may not be helpful.

These specific tables also do not consider individual subjects, and so it may be the case that whilst one university may be highly ranked overall, it may not be considered the ‘best’ in every subject that it offers.

League table and so-called ‘educational elitism’ There has been a wide amount of criticism towards university rankings, and towards the 24 Russell Group universities specifically, that promoting some universities as ‘the best’ or better than others encourages elitism and a negative view of degrees obtained from lower-ranking universities.

Whilst 7 of the top 10 UK universities in this year’s Complete University Guide rankings are part of the Russell Group, there were other universities that did not score as highly overall but still recorded high levels of student satisfaction.

Aberystwyth University, ranked 58th overall, placed second for student satisfaction, with a rating of 86%, suggesting that many students enjoy their university experience regardless of how their university ranks in the league tables.

Ordering universities in a format which implies that there are ‘good’ and ‘bad’ places to study also presents the issue that degrees from lowerranking degrees may be viewed as less

it may be the case that whilst one university may be highly ranked overall, it may not be considered the ‘best’ in every subject that it offers.” valuable, or not as valid as those from top universities.

The ‘value’ of University-level degrees to employers With all of this in mind, it’s important to consider the impact that University rankings may have on the percieved ‘value’ of a degree, especially for students seeking to obtain employment directly after graduating.

It may be that some employers will look for graduates from highranking universities, so is it really fair to suggest that where you choose to study makes your work and education less valid?

Whilst university rankings do provide employers with an insight into their applicants, there is also a range of other criteria for them take into account. This may include valuable characteristics like previous experience, personality and workethic (not merely the status of an applicant’s place of education).

Speaking back in 2019, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said that, “it’s crucial that students, graduates and employers can trust the value of a university degree.” With university ranking playing a role in employment success, he urged employers to take into account “the achievements of students who put in the hard work.”

University rankings: are they beneficial or harmful?

Clearly there are benefits and flaws to current university ranking systems, and their usefulness differs depending on each individual student’s main priorities.

The process of selecting a university, however, is evidently not as simple as just reading pre-existing league tables.

Consent.

It’s crucial.

Without it, it’s rape. #ItsNotOn

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ADVICE

ADVICE

How to make the most of your time at University

Everything you can do to keep yourself happy, healthy and productive this year Umaima Arif Contributor

U Harriet Lowbridge

Megan Shinner

Ruth Hoey

niversity can be a wonderful time full of opportunities and experiences you may not come across again - whether it be studying towards that degree you’ve always dreamed of to volunteering for causes you care deeply about.

So here are list of ways you can make the most of university life, especially the first few weeks!

Take advantage of everything provided by the University From different student societies to career fairs, university is a prime place to explore and discover new ways for you to build your experience, supplement your education and improve your life.

Try out new things - extracurriculars and sports you may be interested in, as well as “taster” events for activities you might not be sure about. This will also help you get more comfortable with the environment and connect with new people!

Cardiff University’s Students’ Union offers a variety of societies, employment opportunities, support services and student spaces for this.

Explore the city Get acquainted with the city where you’ll be studying and surrounding areas - beyond just knowing where the essential grocery stores and GP surgeries are, there may be natural resorts, parks, and malls that could suit your interests.

Even if you can’t get out much due to your studies or other commitments,

it can help to explore the areas around your living space and get comfortable with where you’ll be spending a lot of your time.

Remember to pace yourself as you ease back into student life While it’s recommended that you make the most of this time to try new things, connect with new people and adjust to this new era of your life, it is also important to remember that this is not a race, and different people might adjust to it in different ways.

Don’t dwell on things if you feel you’re not getting the same experience as your friends or others around you, or that you feel you have not been able to do as much as you had hoped - look for possible ways to spread your activities, studies and other commitments out over organized spans of time.

Prepare to participate in in-person lectures and seminars Whilst it’s easy to get caught up in extracurricular activities and personal life, it is also important to remember that your studies are one of your top priorities. Find flexible ways to effectively study, complete assignments, and prepare for exams/class activities alongside your other responsibilities.

Actively participating in seminars and lectures gradually tends to beat leaving all of the studying to the final week before exams!

Find out where to look and who to ask if you need help No life is without issues, which is why it’s important to know who to turn to when in need. Cardiff University’s student support and wellbeing services are

Preparing for September: With everything on offer this year, it’s important to make the most of your time at University. Source: nastya_gepp (via Pixabay) there to help you make the most of your student life - from support for funding and bursaries to disabilities and mental health.

Furthermore, it is important to be able to identify support networks and trusted people you can lean on, whether they be friends and family, personal tutors, peer mentors, therapists, or others. Student mentors are also a good first point of contact if you need help as many will be able to sign-post you in the right direction.

Make the most of your holidays and weekend breaks While it’s good to take a break and spend time with family/oneself, you can

also utilize the holidays for research, internships, volunteering and more opportunities both within the university and abroad in global programs. It can help expand your perspective and experience alongside skills you may need for your future career (as well as general life).

These tips cover the basics of how to make the most of your time at university - however, don’t let that stop you from searching for more ways to make your time the best it can possibly be. Perhaps most important of all is to take care of yourself, and be sure to ask for help if or when you need it.

advice@gairrhydd.com

Making yourself feel ‘at home’ in your student accommodation Harriet Lowbridge Head of Advice

M

oving into university accommodation can seem both exciting and daunting at the same time.

You get to experience a whole new lifestyle of living away from home and working to your own schedule.

Then, you’ll likely experience the anticlimactic let down once you finally arrive to actually find dull, lifeless rooms, old, stained carpets and just drab interiors.

A study in the Journal of Psychological Medicine found that “six times more young people” experience and live with “psychological problems today than [they did] a generation ago”.

The stress of university life is often a contributing factor to this, as well as the effects of COVID-19. Many students have likened returning to university accommodation as like living in a prison, especially during the previous lockdowns. However, your university experience doesn’t have to be like this.

Here are some ways to make your university accommodation feel more like a home away from home.

Brighten up your room with some Lighting Use warm lightbulbs in your big light if you can or at very least in your lamps to create a cosy atmosphere. It’ll be more relaxing to work in and make the room a little more hospitable than the harsh white light of uni halls of residence.

Lamps are also a huge part of bringing home to your room. A lava lamp adds a little quirkiness while fairy lights bring a bit of mood lighting.

A ‘home away from home’: Your room at University is a blank canvas for your own creativity, so be sure to express yourself and make it a comfortable space. Source: Texas Tech University/Jack Ewing (via Flickr) One of my best purchases was Ikea’s BÖJA lamp, the wicker shade adds to the lamp’s cosy glow and makes my bedroom that much nicer to hang out in.

Bring the outside inside in with a few plants A simple potted plant does wonders to make a room homey.

Whether you fill the room floor to ceiling with potted plants and 6ft butterfly palm or just a simple potted basil to scent the room and use for dinner.

Having a few of these plants around the place can really make the room feel so much more alive, and they can do wonders for cheering up your mood.

Introduce a few ‘cozy bits’ to keep yourself comfortable Bring along your favourite blanket, plush toys (though I wouldn’t recommend more than 2-3), cushions, duvets, pillows.

Soft and squishy things to cuddle into when you’re feeling down, or ill, or hungover, are ideal for lifting your mood.

At the end of the day, who’s to know that you spend your evenings binge-watching shows wrapped in your childhood blanket and cuddling a 4ft grizzly bear?

Add some scents to welcome you back after a hard day of studying So, most accommodations won’t let you have candles burning. It’s

easy enough to get creative and still bring in your own life to the place.

Potted herbs, reed diffusers, and scented pot pourri are great at bringing some freshness from your flat mate’s old sneakers and fish dinners.

But also bring some freshness to your clothes by putting scented tumble dryer sheets into your drawers. They’re cheap, smell great when you open your drawers and when you wear your clothes. What’s not to love?

Inspire yourself with some creative artwork and photos Bring in a bit of colour to your life!

It’s vital to have something so that you’re not just staring at uni’s blank walls day in and day out.

Most halls won’t let you hang up anything on your walls but, there are always ways around this. Many will be fine with stick on hooks for a small picture or hanging art.

A lot of rooms will have pin boards to stick up your own art, photos or posters.

Don’t forget some cheap printed out pictures of your family, friends and pets. Sometimes it’s just nice to bask in the memories of a good time out.

Search around charity shops for cheap, but quirky decorations If you’re reading this, you’re likely to be coming to Cardiff University, but even if you’re not - Charity shops are always a great place to find something great for a bargain!

We live in such a great city for students and every year students are leaving and donating their furniture to local charity shops.

Fill up your room with some fresh and fun furniture and ‘knick-knacks’ that you find in your local shops.

Don’t forget that by doing this you’re bringing money into local charities, bringing something new and exciting into your place and it makes it feel like a home you’ve made without blowing all your student finances. Rather than a repeat of your childhood bedroom.

Transform your student house into your own special place As somewhere where you can relax and unwind after a long day at University, the importance of making your room into your own space cannot be more clear.

There are also loads of great places for you to see what previous students have done to make their accommodation a home, so there’s bound to be something that makes it shine for you.

Overcoming post-lockdown anxiety

Moving on from lockdown: Some people may understandably feel anxious about returning back to ‘normal’ as restrictions continue to ease around the UK. Source: tumisu (via Pixabay)

Ruth Hoey

Advice Editor

A

s the end of year Since 2019 the world has been gripped by a global pandemic.

According to data collected by the New York Times, the COVID-19 pandemic has touched the lives of every person, with 80 million people having contracted the virus across the world and at least 1.7 million have died. The world was brought to a standstill as national lockdowns were imposed.

However, the vaccination roll-out continues and the number of cases is beginning to decrease. The world seems to be moving back towards normalcy.

This has left many people, especially students, feeling anxious and struggling to adjust to this post-lockdown world.

Mind.org has stated that, “Nearly three quarters (73%) of students said that their mental health declined during the lockdown.” With most students claiming to have experienced lockdown anxiety to varying degrees, post-lockdown anxiety is inevitable as the product of attempting to bounce back into the pre-lockdown way of life.

Not everyone is excited to return to socialising freely as the past year’s isolation and lockdown has left deep rooted fears ranging from worry for physical health to the stress of awkward small talk with people they haven’t seen in months.

This post-lockdown anxiety is a completely natural response to the dramatic events of the past months. It’s important to acknowledge with your fears about the future and this transition back into normalcy: It’s a daunting

prospect. However, it is equally important to address these fears. Learning to adjust to a new way of life rather than avoiding reality entirely is the healthiest pathway out of this time.

With all of this in mind, here are a few practical steps that you can take to overcome post-lockdown anxiety: Go at your own pace Everyone progresses at different speeds; you don’t have to jump straight back into your pre-lockdown life. But, it is important that you keep progressing, however slowly that may be.

Start off small and work your way up to the big things As I’ve said, you don’t have to dive right back into the middle of things.

Start small, maybe meeting up with a close friend who you trust for coffee.

Build up from there until you feel comfortable meeting up with a few of your

friends again.

Be clear about your boundaries It is important for you to feel that you can avoid any unexpected interferences with your personal space and physical comfort zone.

Try sending a text to whomever you are meeting. Or just gently stating your boundaries at the beginning of your meet up. These simple actions can make the world of difference to your anxiety levels. Your boundaries may differ from person to person but, it’s essential that each person you meet is aware of what will make you feel most comfortable so that you both are on the same page.

Set some time aside for yoursefl It’s important to begin getting used to socialising again. But, spending some time by yourself to relax is also important. By spending time alone, you can avoid becoming overwhelmed by your growing social life and take time to evaluate your progress.

Challenge any unhelpful or negative thoughts Having a healthy mindset is important. Allowing constant negative and fearful thoughts in your mind will only increase your anxiety levels and make it all the more challenging to face moving back into society.

Try to recognising when your thoughts turn towards a negative spiral. Distracting yourself with something else will start some more positive thought processes, making this journey all the easier.

Be kind to yourself Moving on from last year, it is important to be kind to yourself and try to avoid self-criticism. As clichéd as it may sound, this is an ‘unprecedented time’.

Everyone is going through this period of reacquainting themselves with social interaction. There will be awkward moments, laugh them off and accept them in this journey into the new normalcy.

The post-lockdown student experience A retrospective on the impact of COVID-19 and the new academic year

Megan Shinner Advice Editor

C

OVID-19 has affected our lives in more ways than we could have possibly predicted.

From doing the food shop to walking the dog, our daily tasks would never be carried out the same.

When this thought is placed into the context of starting university, it can seem quite overwhelming. New home, new city, new people, and a big new chapter in your life!

Mentally preparing yourself for such a big step can be difficult, let alone in unforeseen circumstances.

Just because we’re facing a pandemic, however, doesn’t mean the freshers university experience we had all imagined must be completely chucked out of the window.

From being a fresher in 2020, I’ll share with you my experience of starting university in the unprecedented times and how it really doesn’t have to be so different from what you expected.

My first concern was where my new home was going to be and who I was going to be living with.

Society socials were being cancelled or postponed and I knew meeting people would be more difficult and I’d have to do more than just join a few Facebook group chats. Believe me this was a great

start as I managed to meet 5/8 of my flatmates before I even arrived!

When I arrived my flat and I had a takeaway and just got to know each other over the weeks by propping our doors open, walks, shopping trips together and having drinks in the kitchen.

My biggest tip: a pack of cards can go a long way! We spent hours playing card games and it’s a great icebreaker teaching someone a new game.

Even when people on my course felt hard to reach, it was comforting to know I was able to create a support bubble in my new household in such a difficult time.

With the relaxed restrictions this autumn clubs and bars are now fully open.

Going to bottomless brunch or simply hitting the closest spoons after a hard day is a great was to strengthen relationships and meet new people.

Some of you, however, may not be comfortable with eased restrictions which is perfectly okay!

Cardiff is a huge city filled with parks, lakes, and gardens to explore.

My favourite places to spend my daily walks where definitely Roath Lake and Bute Park. Other great places to visit are Cardiff Bay with its stunning views and St Fagans for some peaceful wandering around Welsh cultural history.

Post-lockdown life: Moving on from the impact of COVID-19 there is a lot to look forward to this year. Source: Marco Verch (via Flickr) What about the actual classes? I hear you say. Zoom is not all doom and gloom!

I could never complain about rewinding my lectures as many times as need be or waking up 10 minutes before an online seminar was about to take place. However, in person

seminars were fantastic and I’m glad university teaching is returning a lot of its classes in-person with safety measures in place.

If you bring some open-mindedness along with you, you really can make the best of a bad and unexpected situation!

CYNGOR 23 Packing for University: Getting the ‘Essentials’ Erian Jones Contributor

N

ow that exams results day and university admissions are all over and done with, it’s finally time to move into your term-time accommodation and work out what you need to take with you.

Although there are a hundred things you might want to take with you, most of these will not be necessary (and you might not even have space for everything!) - Here’s a general list of items that may help lessen the panic of packing.

Things you will not need One of the biggest mistakes freshers make is taking far too much stuff as most rooms are already outfitted with furniture for them. It’s important to realise that you won’t need: Your old textbooks or A-Level work – unless specified, there will be no need for them as reading lists will be provided at the beginning of term.

A car – most spaces will be limited and a permit (which may be costly) will be required. Most universities are within walking distance anyhow Specific kitchen equipment – such as toaster, fridge, freezer, kettle, microwave etc.

A printer – most universities provide a printer at the school or library.

Candles – most, if not all, university halls forbid candles on the basis that they are fire safety hazards.

If you’d like the same lighting as a candle, battery-powered LED fairy lights/ tealights can be used, and if you’d like the scent of a candle try using a reed diffuser.

The ‘Essential’ things you will need Now that you’ve got a little more space to pack, here a are few items that are a must in any student room: A mattress protector – unless you’re lucky enough to have a new bed, this is a must!

A door stopper.

Stackable food containers, Tupperware and microwavable containers.

Extension Chords.

Slippers or sliders – shared kitchens and bathrooms can get very unclean and walking around barefoot is not recommended!

A pack of cards (an absolute socialising must!).

Laundry bag or bin.

There are a number of important documents that you’ll likely need to use over the year too, so remember to take a passport or driving liscence too (you never know when you might need it!)

A few packing and room improvement tips Try not to buy any expensive kitchen equipment or utensils. These will probably go missing or break throughout the year and so the cost may add up. Wilko and charity shops are great places to buy cheap items!

If you can, try to get in contact with your flatmates before moving in. You may be able to agree about who will bring what – this may prevent the little storage you have to be filled up with 4/5 of the same items!

Remember – you aren’t moving to the middle of nowhere! If you have forgotten anything you feel like you might need, you can always pop down to Queen Street or Albany Road to buy anything new or second-hand.

24

REVIEW

REVIEW

Boyfriend Dungeon - a “charming, feel-good game”

Jess Clifford-Jones takes a look at Kitfox Games’ unique dungeon crawler/dating sim Jess Clifford-Jones Review Editor

B Iris Knapman

Jess Clifford-Jones review@gairrhydd.com

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings Suraya Kazzuz Contributor

W

hile Marvel’s oversaturation of superhero films is becoming more noticable, the newest of the bunch, ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’, offers a refreshing break from what we’ve previously come to expect from the studio.

What is most compelling about the latestMarvel movie is Director Destin Daniel Cretton’s ability to make an entirely unique spectacle while honouring East Asian traditions.

The film often and expertly references other important films such as House of Flying Daggers during the bamboo forest scene and even references Kill Bill through the character of Xailing, Shang Chi’s sister, who wields a meteor hammer, or a rope dart, reminiscent of Gogo Yubari’s own meteor hammer in Tarantino’s infamous film.

These references to other iconic East Asian characters are clearly intended to either honour or reclaim the cinematic traditions that are so definitive to this culture.

Beside these cinematic traditions, the film does offer itself too generously to superhero traditions in terms of time spent on action sequences.

Whilst the film has been praised for its fight scenes and choreography, it does admittedly suffer from an over-use of computer generated effects.

For a film with such multi-faceted and realistic characters, it’s almost a pity to spend so much time watching CGI characters fight for extensive periods of time. The relationship between Shang-Chi and his friend Katy, or his sister Xailing or his father Xu Wenwu have so much to offer that when the focus isn’t on these relationships it’s hard not to yearn for more.

Cretton does, however, infuse humour and emotion into this actionpacked 2-hour long film and certainly knows what he’s doing in terms of character development.

Shang-Chi has certainly made the impact that was intended by its creators and will likely stand the test of time in a very similar way to one of Marvel’s earlier films, Black Panther.

oyfriend Dungeon is a quirky mash-up of a dungeon crawler and a dating sim, released by indie gaming company Kitfox Games for the PC, Nintendo Switch and Xbox One. It’s unique and bizarre concept is that the player character has to fight through dungeons using sentient weapons (humans – and animals, in one instance– that can transform into weapons) who you can level up by developing your relationship with them outside of combat.

The game alternates between visual novel-style scenes with gorgeous art (as well as several stunning animated sequences) and isometric roguelite dungeon levels.

The story follows the player character, whose name, appearance, and gender can be changed by the player, who’s staying at their cousin’s apartment for

the summer at Verona Beach. Your cousin encourages you to go on dates and suggests that a way to meet people is to try teaming up with shapeshifting weapon-humans to fight through ‘dungeons’.

This strange urban fantasy setting doesn’t take itself seriously or explain itself all that much, which I found a strength rather than a weakness. The game asks you to go along with its wacky premise, rather than think about it too deeply.

The plot consists of pursuing romances or friendships (depending on the player’s choices), fighting through the dungeons, and dealing with your irritating stalker Eric, who is the closest the game has to a proper antagonist.

If you are someone who prefers your game to be plot-heavy and complex, then Boyfriend Dungeon is not for you.

It’s a simple, charming, feel-good game you can beat in an afternoon but still has some replayability due to the many routes.

Early after its release, Boyfriend

Dungeon faced backlash.

At the beginning of the game, it warns the player that it ‘may include references to unwanted advances, stalking, and other forms of emotional manipulation.’

This led many players to believe that rather than a depiction of aforementioned themes, they would simply be referenced in dialogue.

However, this wasn’t the case, as these themes are actually a significant part of the plot. The creators apologised and changed the content warning to be more specific, but the discussion continued online. Some pushed for an option to opt out of the triggering content. Others pointed it’s unfair to the developers to expect them to change their story because it explores some dark themes.

Personally, I believe that the developers were right to update the content warning to be more specific, as the original warning was misleading, but shouldn’t be pushed into making significant changes to their story to cater to

people who are uncomfortable with it.

While this controversy died down eventually, it’s a shame it overshadowed the game itself, because it’s an absolute delight.

With its colourful art design, gorgeous soundtrack, and enjoyably varied gameplay (not only is it a dating sim and a dungeon crawler, it also has crafting features and an unlockable arcade minigame!), it’s an all-round wonderful experience.

My main complaint is that there isn’t more, as the game feels like it’s over far too quick. Luckily, the creators are going to add more to it in an upcoming update, including two new weapons/ romances. I’m personally hoping for more dungeons as well, as there’s only two in the game so far and, while fun and fairly substantial, it feels as if there should be more.

Even with its short length, Boyfriend Dungeon is a quirky, fun and all-round enjoyable game well worth playing, especially since there is more to look forward to!

Eartha - a “thoroughly enjoyable” experience Iris Knapman pays a visit to Eartha, Cardiff ’s Local Plant Café on City Road Iris Knapman Review Editor

W

hen meeting up with a friend for lunch, I had the luxury of visiting the Eartha café in Cardiff.

While thinking of places to go, I remembered walking past this cute little place on City Road quite a few times, but had never given them a try.

If the headline didn’t give it away, Eartha is a plant café - Essentially like a cat café, but full of plants instead (some of which are for sale, too, if any of them catch your fancy!).

Before visiting, I’ll admit that I did a little research into Eartha’s website to assess the company itself in more detail.

I discovered that Eartha prides itself on being a community interest company by injecting into the local economy, using the profits to produce public workshops or reinvesting into other Cardiff enterprises.

Although there were tables indoors, the best seating (in my opinion) to be found was outdoors”

For example, the café employs locally sourced goods from various businesses here in Cardiff including (but not limited to) Waterloo Tea and the Bute Park Nurseries.

If you are someone who values sustainability and well-being then their approach to business may appeal to you.

Eartha’s Aesthetics and Ambiance - 5 stars In short, when we arrived, all I saw was green.

Not literally, but as you would expect in a plant themed café, there was lots of green and wood accenting to the design of the place. It created a light and airy atmosphere that somehow reminded me of a garden centre.

Although there were tables indoors, the best seating (in my opinion) to be found was outdoors; either: A - in the garden on these cute picnic tables, surrounded by plants and a little greenhouse, or B - in a Mongolian -inspired yurt.

When faced with this tough choice, we picked the yurt.

It was well-lit without being in direct sunlight, and could make a good place for a group outing because of its long tables - or, alternatively, quite a nice location for a more intimate meet-up with its cosy and comforting atmosphere.

A view of Eartha from Cardiff’s City Road: “I had the luxury of visiting the Eartha café in Cardiff.” Credit: Eartha (via Facebook)

The outside seating area at the back of Eartha: “In short, when we arrived, all I saw was green.” Credit: Eartha The service and experience at Eartha - 5 stars From the moment we sat down service was quick, and café staff were perfectly kind and helpful.

One of the waiters immediately served a pitcher of water with ice and lemon which was a massive relief as sitting inside the yurt was surprisingly warm.

Furthermore, I appreciate businesses that are fully prepared to box food.

As I couldn’t finish all my food so the waiter readily took my left-overs and packaged it to go. Embarrassingly, I will admit that I then proceeded to forget it at the table, but the waiter (going over and above of what we expected from him) came running after us and happily returned the left-overs - Overall, I felt well-looked after by the staff here.

Eartha’s food and drink - 4 stars The menu at Eartha is entirely meat-free which is great for vegetarians who might find a limited selection at other cafés.

Although I myself am not vegetarian, the options all sounded pretty pleasing. They actually have two menus for lunch and evening meals.

As mentioned earlier, I actually didn’t manage to finish my food onsite because I didn’t have a huge ap-

petite that day, but what I had was definitely delicious once I got back home.

Honestly, my only possible complaint is about the physical menus themselves; they’re unprotected paper sheets which could quite easily get wet, marked or damaged.

However - I think this might be because the menu changes frequently and so they opt not to get more permanent menus, which I think is entirely forgivable for any local, community-focused café or restaurant.

From the moment we sat down service was quick, and café staff were perfectly kind and helpful.

Eartha’s overall rating - 5 stars In summary, I had a great time when I visited Eartha; while I’m sure my company helped, the café experience itself was thoroughly enjoyable so it gets a big recommendation!

As I already mentioned, the atmosphere and food were just right for me and I’ll definitely be taking more of my friends there to try out their evening menu at some point soon.

FEEL UNSAFE AND HAVEN’T GOT THE CASH TO GET HOME? Call Dragon Taxis on 029 20 333 333 quoting ‘Cardiff University Safe Taxi Scheme’, giving your name and student number.

cardiffstudents.com/safetaxi

26

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

SCIENCE

Life aboard the ISS challenged by ‘Irreparable failures’ Mia Becker-Hansen

Head of Science and Technology

A Mia Becker-Hansen

prominent Russian rocket engineer has warned that the International Space Station (ISS) could suffer significant failures due to outdated equipment and hardware.

Humans have had an unbroken presence in space since the first Expedition 1 flight crew went aboard the ISS on the 2nd of November 2000. It was a joint project between Russia, America, Canada, Japan and several European countries, originally intended to only last for 15 years, yet it continues to provide innovation and wonder for an additional decade.

Literally a day after the [in-flight] systems are fully exhausted, irreparable failures may begin.”

Jemma Powell

Theodore Tadros science@gairrhydd.com

Vladimir Solovyov Chief engineer at rocket and space corporation Energia According to Russian rocket engineer Vladimir Solovyov, there are newly discovered cracks on the Zarya module, the oldest part of the space station used these days only for the storage of Russian equipment, which could “begin to spread over time”. He also stated that at least 80% of the inflight systems on the Russian segment had passed their expiry date, “literally a day after the [in-flight] systems are fully exhausted, irreparable failures may begin.”.

The date for the ISS’s retirement

was pushed back to 2030, though now it appears uncertain whether it will hold for that long. In July this year a malfunction caused the jet thrusters on one of the research modules to fire without warning, destabilising the ISS. It has also experienced several air leaks since 2019 in the living quarters of the ISS crew.

Since its launch, the ISS has provided useful research into understanding how humans could survive in space and on other planets.

Scientists have learnt a plethora of information, including growing plants in space, identifying unknown space microbes, and devising methods to combat muscle atrophy and bone loss, a major issue for humans in space for long periods of time.

It is important to recognise that, the process of de-orbiting the International Space Station is not a simple task.

Current plans suggest that the space station could be safely returned back to Earth as part of a planned reentry over the South Pacific, an vast area of the ocean where the station would cause minimal impact damage and would have a lower risk of catastrophe.

Private firms such as SpaceX have even more adventurous plans for the future, including venturing into further space to build colonies and bases on the Moon and Mars. China are already working on their own space station, and Russia also announced plans for their own orbiting lab from 2030. The two countries have also invited the European Space Agency (ESA) to cooperate with them to develop a lunar base in the coming years.

‘Irreparable failures’: The future viability and safety of the International Space Station is now at risk. Source: NASA Johnson (via Flickr) NASA administrator Bill Nelson says, “We expect to expand the space station as a government project all the way to 2030, and we hope it will be followed by commercial stations”.

NASA is forbidden by law since 2011 to open discussions with China to pursue a space project. The law bans the space agency from collaborating with US geopolitical rivals. Roscosmos, the Russian space agency, has previously criticised the US for imposing sanctions against the Rus-

sian space industry, meaning that when the ISS is no more, NASA may have had their last meaningful international collaboration in space for the foreseeable future.

Even after the ISS is eventually decommissioned and thrust out of orbit to burn up in the atmosphere, humankind’s most prolonged presence in space thus far will be treasured as a great example of how collaborative work can excel our potential as a species to space and beyond.

The unexpected way that trees could change construction and help save the planet Jemma Powell Science Editor

W

hen discussing reducing our carbon emissions for climate change, we tend to focus on areas such as travel and consumerism. However, with the annual production of cement accounting for 8% of global emissions (more than aviation), perhaps we should question construction too.

Unbeknown to most people, there is a viable alternative to concrete.

According to some recent research by a team of engineers at the University of Maryland in College Park, our answer, is wood.

Specifically, planks of pine laid sideways on top of each other and glued together to form a material known as ‘cross laminated timber’ (CLT).

CLT has “exceptional strength and stiffness” and is very versatile. It’s also eco-friendly, as the carbon sequestered by trees during their lives remains stored in the timber. The Physical construction also generates less CO2. As a result, CLT buildings have 22% lower global warming potential than an equivalent building It is as strong as steel, but 6 times lighter. It takes 10 times more energy to fracture than natural wood” Teng Li, Associate Professor at the University of Maryland

Climate-conscious construction: Wood has historically proven itself to be a sturdy and relatively inexpensive building material, but it also has a range of other important benefits. Source: Ess Threefive (via Wikimedia Commons) made from reinforced concrete.

Previous research published in the Journal of School Psychology has also highlighted that wooden buildings have measurable physiological benefits. For example, it was found that students in wooden schools have lower heart rates and higher productivity than their concrete counterparts.

What are the negative impacts of building out of wood, rather than other materials?

For many, the initial reaction to wooden buildings always spring the same questions:

Firstly, fire risk. Wood itself has its own anti-fire mechanism by the formation of charcoal, which is insular enough to prevent the majority of forest fires. The CLT itself is also additionally fireproof thanks to its thickness and varnish.

Trees are sustainably logged for CLT. They’re taken from specially planted forests and when one is cut down, three or four more are planted to replace it. Every seven seconds enough wood grows to make a three bedroom house in these European forests. The amount of timber needed to make a 300ft tall sky scraper

currently grows every four hours.

In terms of longevity, wooden buildings can (and have) last for hundreds of years. Currently, every grade one listed building in England has a wooden roof, including churches, palaces, and parliament buildings.

With all of this in mind, what is the future of wood?

Wooden buildings have recently started to be incorporated into green policy. For example in France, all new public buildings must be at least 50% wood or other organic materials from 2022, including the

new Olympic buildings.

In the UK, over 100 educational buildings have been constructed from CLT between 2003-2011.

Alongside this, over 50 buildings between 5-14 stories tall made out of timber were completed by before 2017, and the London borough of Hackney introduced a ‘timber first’ policy in 2012 in regards to buildings higher than 18 stories.

There are many different fronts the climate change battle is being fought on, and an accessible, viable solution such as this gives us one more area of positive impact.

GWYDDONIAETH A THECHNOLEG

27

COVID-19 Vaccine to be given to 12-15-year olds Aquarium Theodore Tadros Science Editor

T

he government’s recent decision to begin distributing the COVID-19 vaccine to children in the 12-15-year age group has sparked controversy amongst both health officials as well anti-COVID lobbyists, with the government’s independent vaccine advisers saying that it is entirely up to parents to decide whether or not to vaccinate their children.

This move, however, has not prevented a recent bombardment of criticism from both sides of the vaccination argument. This, all happening in the midst of mass debate over the concept of vaccine passports; something that Scotland has begun to enforce for entry into mass events and nightclubs. News recently broke out with a statement

from health secretary Sajid Javid saying that he will not be introducing the idea in England.

A COVID-19 vaccine (or ‘the vaccine’, as it has become synonymous to) has been developed by both Pfizer and AstraZeneca for mass distribution in the UK. The vaccine has been given out to a substantial portion of the adult and at-risk population, and has been given the go ahead as safe by health officials in response to concerns over the ‘clinical trial’ phase that both vaccines are currently in.

Scientists from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) have refused to endorse the vaccine for this age group on health grounds alone, due purely to the minimal risk associated with the virus and children, as well as some unknown risks that could be associated with the vaccines. The consensus from them is that

any potential benefits from vaccinating this age group are too few to justify the potential risks as well as other ethical implications. However, despite this Wales is preparing to start vaccinating children in this age group, with English ministers seeming more and more likely to follow suit in the near future.

The World Health Organisation director-general has condemned the distribution of the vaccine as a global failure, with many third world countries such as India having a scarce few number of vaccines and being ravished the worst by the virus as it stands.

Pressures from the general public as well as the strain of COVID-19 on NHS hospitals has forced the hands of politicians to allow this age group to receive the vaccine. The motivation for most parents will likely be the ‘superspreader’ argument, where it’s thought that young people who are asymptomatic

will unwittingly spread the virus the worst; as well as the general belief that there’s a necessity to vaccinate absolutely everyone in order for the vaccine to have a reasonable degree of efficacy.

COVID-19 cases and deaths have been steadily dropping and is seeming to coincide with the release of the vaccine. However, many fear that these numbers are just due to the warmer weather, and believe that a potential spike could occur in the coming winter months.

We will now move with the same sense of urgency we’ve had at every point in our vaccination programme.”

Nadjim Zahawi Minister for COVID-19 Vaccine Deployment

Dinosaur on the beach - Fossil footprint found by four-year old goes on display Mia Becker-Hansen

Head of Science and Technology

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significant discovery found by a four-year-old on a family walk on Bendricks Bay is now on display at the National Museum Cardiff.

Lily Wilder, age four, was walking down the beach with her father looking for shells when she spotted what experts are calling “the best dinosaur footprint we’ve ever found in Britain”.

It was at just the right height for an observant child to see. The footprint is thought to have been left 220 million years ago by a currently unidentified dinosaur species. The first dinosaurs appeared 230 million years ago, fossils previously found on this beach are a mix of early dinosaur and crocodilian species.

The museum’s palaeontology curator Cindy Howells described the find to us as “unbelievable”, the clarity of the footprint being remarkable compared to any other fossil found in Britain, “you can see the little muscle pads on the underside of the foot, you can see where the joints were, you can see the claws where they are coming to a point at the end, and we just don’t get that normally”.

Shortly after the discovery it was found that there was also a second, less discernible footprint on the same piece of rock. The footprint could provide insight to palaeontologists about early dinosaurs and how they walked.

The identity of the dinosaur responsible still remains a mystery. Cindy Howells continued, “The best we can do is compare it with footprints in other places, to tie it down exactly you need bones in the rock itself and there were just no bones in these rocks. So, we need to find something of the same sort of shape and size living nearby at that particular age”. The track is a type of footprint called Evazoum, similar footprints of this kind have previously been found in Italy and North America, but not in the UK. It’s likely the dinosaur stood around 75 (29.5 inches) tall and 2.5 meters (about 8 feet) long, with

A Prehistoric Print: Although the exact species of dinosaur has yet to be identified, Lily’s find is still of great scientific significance and now on display at the National Museum Cardiff. Credit: Cindy Howells a slender build and tail that walked on two feet and would have actively hunted small animals and insects for food.

Bendricks Bay, near Barry, is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSI), known for being a fossil rich beach where many other fossils have been found before. Howells continued saying the beaches of South Wales are “actually one of the most important fossil footprint sites in Europe”. The rocks found in this area, including Lily’s fossil, were formed in the late Triassic period, the first and shortest of the three dinosaur ages. It was during this period that the giant supercontinent Pangaea began to gradually rift into two separate landmasses, and dinosaurs had only then started to evolve. At this time, Wales was part of a desert where there existed numerous mud pools. It was these mud pools that dinosaurs walked over, leaving an imprint which would then bake and dry in the hot sun, providing a “perfect environment” for the preser-

vation of footprints which we can still find today.

Karl-James Langford from Archaeology Cymru, told us “the geology has been protected by the geology, in other parts of Britain we’ve not been as lucky to have this, otherwise across the whole of Britain there would be dinosaur footprints absolutely everywhere”.

In order to remove the fossil, after permission was granted (it is illegal to remove otherwise), the rock was carefully split with hammers and chisels to lift the top part with the footprint without affecting the surrounding environment.

Sadly, on the beaches of South Wales there are still many undiscovered fossils which may never be studied before they disappear. Langford continued “there are other dinosaur footprints that are being eroded away, unstudied, not loved, not protected… that footprint of Lily’s might be the last footprint ever to be found on that coastline,

or it could be one of thousands, we don’t know”.

What should you do if you think you have found a fossil? Members of the public should only collect small loose fossils in small quantities. If you think you’ve found something special, you should directly contact Natural Resources Wales or a museum. “Contact Natural Resources Wales or a museum and tell us about it because we just want to help” says Cindy Howells, “notify people if you think you found something really special because we rely on the general public to find things, like Lily. We wouldn’t have seen that!

That was on a loose rock way down the beach, we wouldn’t have gone down there, it was fortuitous that she found it at that particular point where storms has turned that rock over and over and over and it just happened to land with the footprint on the top.”.

Lily’s find can be see on display at the National Museum Cardiff.

Word of the week: Parthenogenesis • ‘Parthenogenesis’ is a form of reproduction where an egg develops into an embryo without being fertilized by sperm.

• Several species of insects (including bees and ants) have been found to reproduce using Parthenogenesis.

• Current research into Parthenogenesis hopes to use the process as a tool to produce stem cells, special cells that can potentially be used to repair degenerating or damaged tissues in the human body.

shark born in ‘miracle’ virgin birth Anna Thomas Contributor

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he arrival of a baby shark in an Italian Aquarium has been dubbed a ‘miracle’, after she was born into a tank of only females in the first recorded case of asexual reproduction amongst smoothhound sharks.

This unusual occurrence is thought to be an example of parthenogenesis, or virgin birth, a phenomenon whereby females can reproduce despite the absence of male gametes. Whilst some species exclusively reproduce by parthenogenesis, smoothhound sharks can switch between asexual and sexual reproduction according to the presence or absence of males in their environment.

The science behind the shark’s ‘miracle’ birth There are two types of parthenogenesis, automixis and apomixis.

To produce an egg ready for fertilisation, cells undergo several steps known as oogenesis. During this process, polar bodies - an excess of genetic material - are formed which typically degenerate over time.

In automixis, polar bodies instead combine with the egg forming an embryo. Reproduction by this process results in offspring which are genetically similar to the mother but not identical. Alternatively, apomixis produces genetic clones of the mother, but this route is seen more commonly in plants than animals.

In addition to various invertebrates and plants, more than 80 species of vertebrates have been observed to be capable of reproducing in this way. However, since it is challenging to track occurrences in the wild, this data is mostly reliant on incidences recorded amongst animals in captivity, making it probable that this is an underestimate of its prevalence.

Why don’t all other organisms reproduce this way?

Self-fertilisation results in a lack of genetic diversity through generations. Consequently, progeny may carry the negative genetic mutations present in the mother, as well as being predisposed to the same diseases. This absence of variation has the potential to make populations more vulnerable than those reproducing sexually.

Despite being genetically less advantageous, asexual reproduction is a necessity for females estranged from the males of their species.

Whilst in the past, fluctuations in male populations could be attributed to natural selection pressures, presently human interference such as fishing and climate change are putting increasing stresses on shark populations. A recent study in Nature found there has been a 71% global decline of oceanic sharks and rays in only half a century. Drastic population changes such as these may lead to an increase in the necessity of asexual reproduction amongst sharks in the future.

The aquarium has reportedly sent the DNA of the new pup, Ispera, for laboratory testing to confirm her status as a parthenogenetic birth.

This may well result in the addition of smoothhounds to the growing list of animals capable of self-impregnating.

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SPORT

SPORT

Summer Signings: Ones to watch as £1bn spent by Premier League Clubs Harvey Palmer Sport Editor

Anurag Hegde

Harvey Palmer

Oscar Lucas

Tom Hawkins

T

he Summer transfer window of 2021 saw Premier League clubs spend approximately £1.04bn, the lowest spend in the league since 2015. Clubs negotiated around Financial Fair Play guidelines and losses from the COVID-19 pandemic to improve their squads for the coming season. Big names such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Jadon Sancho were all on the move.

However, in this article I’ll look at three signings who have the potential to truly show why their clubs signed them.

Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea) £97.5 from Inter Milan It’s rare that a player can cost just shy of £100m and still be looked at as someone who could justify such a fee.

Romelu Lukaku, however, joins Chelsea on the back of a title-winning campaign with Inter in Italy, where he regained form that he somewhat lost during a hit-and-miss spell at Manchester United.

During the 2019/20 season, Chelsea relied upon Timo Werner as their main goalscorer and, despite notching 12 goals and 11 assists in all competitions, he sometimes lacked the clinical finishing needed from a top

striker at this level.

Romelu Lukaku, despite criticism he has received in the past, has shown prowess in front of goal throughout his career.

For Inter last season, he scored 30 goals across all competitions. He also matched the 11 assists of Timo Werner, even while playing in a strike partnership with Lautaro Martinez rather than as a sole striker.

He has proven himself in the Premier League, being a prolific goalscorer for Everton and West Bromwich Albion, never dropping below 10 league goals per season in his senior career.

As such, he will be a focal point for the Chelsea attack, and in my opinion places them as firm favourites for the Premier League title.

Marc Cucurella (Brighton) £15.4m from Getafe Marc Cucurella is another product of Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy who has struggled to find gametime at the club in recent years.

His move to Getafe proved successful, as he became one of the stars of the club despite a lowly 15th place finish in the league.

He has proven to be a useful and adaptable player along the left hand side, this season generally playing as a left-sided full back, displaying his ca-

£97.5

£38.0

million

million

pabilities not only going forward but also defensively.

His move to Brighton, despite somewhat surprising due to his Barcelona pedigree, is a shrewd piece of business for the South Coast side.

Often playing a five at the back formation with attacking full backs, Brighton manager Graham Potter has lacked a naturally gifted left wing back since arriving at the club in 2019. Last season, he often used centre-back Dan Burn on the left who, despite his defensive capabilities, lacked any real pace or attacking threat, and as such proved a weakness in Brighton’s progressive style of play.

Cucurella compares well defensively in comparison to Burn, with a similar number of tackles per 90 minutes (1.96 and 2.05 respectively) and blocks per 90 minutes (1.90 to 1.70).

Cucurella wins significantly less aerial duels and makes less clearances, but this is because he is more capable at winning the ball and taking it forward himself or passing to a teammate than perhaps Burn is.

As such, Marc Cucurella could well prove to be the perfect wing back for Brighton that Potter had needed and could help the team climb the table in the way they are expecting to.

Connor Roberts (Burnley) £2.5m from Swansea

£1.7

Last on this list is Connor Roberts, a classic right full back signed on the cheap from Swansea, who finished 4th in the Championship last season.

The Welshman was one of the stars of a defensively sound Swansea side, who conceded just 42 goals in the Championship in 46 games and the play-offs.

Alongside his defensive ability, he also possesses a decent threat level going forward, scoring 5 and assisting 7 goals in the championship last season. He also has experience at a higher level, playing all 4 of Wales’ games at Euro 2020, and even scoring against Turkey in the group stages.

Sean Dyche is notoriously strict on the players he signs fitting into his style of play and this signing of Roberts is no different.

He will be a solid defensive full back who can also whip in a good cross for their target men such as Chris Wood, and at £2.5m this signing can hardly go wrong.

Big names such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Jadon Sancho were all on the move.”

£73.0

million

million

Romelu Lukaku

Emiliano Buendia

Demarai Gray

Jadon Sancho

From Inter Milan To Chelsea

From Norwich City To Aston Villa

From Bayer Leverkusen To Everton

From Borussia Dortmund

Source: Codescrip1 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Source: Super17 HD (via Wikimedia Commons)

Source: Antoon Kuper (via Flickr)

Source: Brett Jordan (via Flickr)

To Manchester United

sport@gairrhydd.com

Emma Raducanu breaks new ground The 18-year-old made history for Britian in the Final of the US Open

Oscar Lucas Sport Editor

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n Saturday 11th of September, Emma Raducanu made history, ending Britain’s 44year wait for a female open champion, as she beat Leylah Fernadez 6-4 6-3 in the final of the US Open.

By securing this win over Fernadez, she has become the first ever qualifier to win a grand slam.

Raducanu managed to win the tournament without dropping a single set. Although this has been done before, Raducanu had to play an extra 3 games in qualifying which

[Emma Raducanu’s] victory secures her position as one of 6 female players ever to win the title the first time they played in that particular Grand Slam tournament.”

makes the achievement so much more astonishing.

Finally, her victory secures her position as one of 6 female players ever to win the title the first time they played in that particular Grand Slam tournament. These few facts show us just how stunning Raducanu’s victory is and highlights the success of the investment into the game since Andy Murray won his first grand slam in 2012.

Emma will become the face of British tennis for years to come, being the youngest grand slam winner since Maria Sharapova in 2004, and her recent success catapulting her up into the top 25 and British Number 1 will make her an easy poster girl for the LTA. What makes this even more interesting, that in today’s current climate where racism in sport is at the forefront of most professional athletes minds having a multi-cultured pioneer leading the way. After the horrific abuse of Marcus Rashford

and Bukayo Saka after the Euros final defeat, it is with much delight that Raducanu who has a Romanian father, a Chinese mother and was born in Canada, can be celebrated by all Brits, making her a perfect role model and hero of future stars, alongside Rashford, Biles and even Greta Thunberg it is great to see such young role models.

Emma’s win has thrown her into the spotlight even more so than her spectacular run into the second week at the Wimbledon Championships earlier this summer. What makes the win even more impressive was the eye-catching, dominant performances Raducanu showed A new champion: Raducanu went on to beat Fernadez without dropeach game. Not only was she just ping a single set. Source: Alexisrael (via Wikimedia Commons) beating players with a higher rank, higher prestige and a wealth of ex- it is our first grand slam win since many more grand slams but the first perience she dominated every game Murray in 2016 and the first female one will always be special to Emma with her power and fearlessness. since Virginia Wade in 1977, ranks herself, but even more so to the fuTo beat the reigning Olympic this at the top of the tree for Brit- ture stars of the British game to have champion is impressive enough but ish tennis achievements. A well-de- a female role model to inspire them to dominate her showed the talent served, spectacular champion with to their greatness. and skill Raducanu possess. The fact plenty of potentials to go on to win

CHWARAEON

England’s cricketing summer brought to a premature end

Due to an outbreak of COVID-19 in the visitors camp, the England cricket team’s 5th Test against India was called off

A premature end: England’s 5th Test against India was called off, drawing the team’s cricketing summer to an end. Source: Anthony O’Neil (via Wikimedia Commons

Anurag Hegde Head of Sport

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ngland’s home summer was brought to an abrupt end after the 5th Test between England and India scheduled to begin on 10th September at Old Trafford, Manchester was ‘cancelled’ owing to a Covid-19 outbreak in the visitors’ camp.

Earlier, during the 4th Test at The Oval, 3 members of India’s support staff including head coach, Ravi Shastri returned a positive result on a lateralflow test before subsequently testing positive for Covid-19 on an RT-PCR test.

The support staff who tested positive and their close contacts were quickly identified, and they were required to self-isolate for 11-days as protocols demanded. Fortunately, none of the players from the Indian camp tested positive for the virus and the 4th Test remained unaffected.

However, in a move that attracted a lot of criticism, the Indian team decided to pull out of the tour after winning the 4th Test and going 2-1 up in the series.

With their team physio also forced into self-isolation, the Indian team cited ‘concerns of a further outbreak’ prompted them to withdraw from the tour with one Test still to go.

This, naturally, did not bode well amongst English fans and experts alike

Of course, this is about the IPL, but this is about players who are thinking: If get down positive here now, today, I have to do another 10 Nasser Hussain Former England Cricket Captain

as the general impression was that the Indian players had pulled out of the tour in order to be ready to play the much more financially lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL) that’s set to resume on 19th September.

Former England captain Nasser Hussain had this to say: “Initially, the BCCI was always very concerned about this Test match. They wanted everything moved to make sure the IPL is a huge financial issue hanging over the game, over Indian cricket.

They have already moved it, then moved it half of it this time around. Of course, this is about the IPL, but this is about players who are thinking: If get down positive here now, today, I have to do another 10 days.”

A Disappointing Cricketing summer overall Despite setting the disappointing and abrupt end aside, English cricket fans did not have much to ride home about this summer. It started off with a 2-match Test series back in June against New Zealand which England went on to lose 1-0.

There was a long break between Test matches as the 1st Test between England and India didn’t begin until 4th August. While The Hundred, which was sandwiched in between the two tours, provided fans with something fresh, it received mixed reactions.

The highlight of the summer was undoubtedly the 5-match Test series (subsequently a 4-match series) against India. The series began with the 1st Test at Trent Bridge being drawn due to poor weather, but things heated up once the bandwagon reached the Home of Cricket at Lord’s.

While that game was closely contested, it was India that emerged triumphant at the end of a 5-day tussle to go 1-0 up in the series.

England, however, made a resounding comeback at Leeds after they claimed a comprehensive win to level the series.

The troupe made its way back to London for the 4th Test at The Oval.

On what was touted as the ‘best batting surface’ of the series, England claimed a 99-run first innings lead over the visitors after asking them to bat first.

However, a massive batting effort, spearheaded by opener Rohit Sharma’s century, helped India set a mammoth 368-target. It proved to be a little too much for England’s rather flimsy batting order on a deteriorating surface and on the 5th day of a Test match as they fell 157-runs short to hand India an unassailable 2-1 lead in the series.

Undoubtedly for England, the overarching issue of the summer was their shaky batting order. Despite poor performers like Dom Sibley and Zak Crawley being axed, England’s batting order looked far from convincing.

Their captain Joe Root, however, was the obvious exception as he was riding an incredible purple patch. He scored 3 hundreds in the series and amassed a total of 564 runs in 7 innings at a whopping average of 94. The rest of England’s batting order (no.1-7) collectively averaged under 30.

Ben Stokes, who took an indefinite break from cricket owing to mentalhealth reasons, was sorely missed throughout the summer. With England’s top order failing to do their job of weathering the new ball more often than not, the middle order found itself exposed relatively early in the innings.

While Stokes and Root were considered to be two of England’s best batsmen and the engine room their batting, the absence of the former meant that captain Root often found himself in a situation where he had to single-handedly carry his team’s batting.

The fact that Root sore to occasion and shouldered all the responsibility is another matter altogether. While players like Rory Burns, Dawid Malan and Jonny Bairstow showed glimpses of form, none of them went on to play big, match-winning knocks and it was reflected in the fact that Root was the only English batsmen to score a hundred all summer long.

The collective failure of their batsmen will haunt England as the winter looms in the not-too-distant future when they will head downunder to play The Ashes. England will mull over their batting combination and it could lead to players like James Vince, who did relatively well during England’s previous tour to Australia, being recalled.

Whatever England decide to do, they require answers and they require them quickly for Australia await hoping to retain the coveted trophy once again on home soil.

Cricket Captain: England’s Joe Root has put in a consistent performance all summer. Source: naparazzi (via Flickr)

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Football’s shocking transfer window Will Seager Contributor

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defining summer transfer window saw two of the greatest footballers of all time leave their clubs in historic moves.

Lionel Messi has completed a move to French giants, Paris SaintGermain, after signing a twoyear contract, with an option for a third, after leaving Barcelona. A few years ago, it would have been unfathomable to think that Messi would play club football anywhere else besides the Camp Nou; but under La Liga’s financial fair play rules, Barcelona were unable to renew his contract. The 34-year-old says that he is “determined to build … something great for the club and the fans” and that he “can’t wait to set foot on the Parc des Princes pitch.”

Messi’s transfer comes as a shock to the world as the Argentine looked set to retire in Spain after spending his entire career at Barcelona, the club he joined at 13-years-old.

Despite reports suggesting a transfer to Manchester City, a 36-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo has re-signed for Manchester United in a deal worth an initial £12.8m. Like Messi, Ronaldo has signed a two-year contract, with the option to extend for another year. The Portuguese forward became the most expensive teenager in English football history when he originally joined Manchester United from Sporting CP for a £12m fee. During his first spell at the club, Cristiano went on to score 118 goals in 292 games, cementing himself as an Old Trafford legend. After undergoing six years in Manchester, Ronaldo sensationally left for Real Madrid, breaking the world record transfer fee in a deal worth £80m.

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are two of the most decorated players of all time and are considered the greatest to ever play the game. Messi scored an incredible 672 goals in 778 games for Barcelona, amassing a record six Ballon d’Or awards during this period. These figures are almost identical to those of Ronaldo, who totalled 674 goals and five Ballon d’Or victories during his career.

These astonishing stats have led to fierce debate over who is superior, with the individual battle between the two having defined football for the past 15 years.

Both players have made their debuts for their new clubs. Lionel Messi came on for PSG as a substitute in the 66th minute in a 2-0 win at Reims. Ronaldo delivered a dream second debut for Manchester United after scoring two goals in a 4-1 win over Newcastle.

With retirement looming, there is little time left to appreciate football’s greatest ever players.

A few years ago, it would have been unfathomable to think that Messi would play club football anywhere else besides the Camp Nou”

CHWARAEON

An interview with the Cardiff University Athletics Club

Gair Rhydd sat down with ‘CUAC’ to talk over their plans for making 2021/2022 “a year to remember” for student athletes Harvey Palmer Sport Editor

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s COVID-19 restrictions continue to ease across Wales and interest in athletics rises on the back of a successful summer at the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Gair Rhydd spoke to Maddie Elliott, President of the Cardiff University Athletics Club (CUAC); James Meiklejohn, Treasurer of the Cardiff University Athletics Club; and James Heneghan, longterm club member and 1500m Welsh Champion about their plans for the year.

The impact of COVID-19 on CUAC last year Following on from the last year where most sporting activities were put on hold, we asked what students can expect to see from the club over the next few months.

The club acknowledged that the outbreak of COVID-19 understandably created a number of challenges for participation in sport, mainly culminating in a reduced engagement with teambased sports and in-person competitions as large-scale activities were put on pause.

Maddie Elliott, President of CUAC explained that that due to “rules changing all the time” it meant that some “freshers last year struggled to get involved” in the club and, as a result, some of the progress athletes had previously made was set back.

A lot of people are only here at University for three years, a lot have missed that full year or year and a half.“ Maddie Elliott President of Cardiff University Athletics Club

CUAC: Now that COVID-19 restrictions are beginning to ease, the club said that they were optimistic about the year ahead. Credit: Cardiff University Athletics Club Despite this lack of opportunity for newcomers to get involved with sport, Elliott maintained that many professional-level athletes were still able to train and progress during the pandemic.

As for the succeses that the club has already seen over the past few months, all the interviewees were keen to praise last year’s committee for the way they persevered through difficult changes and still managed to achieve strong levels of success throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

This success included Jake Heyward, a Cardiff alumnus who graduated in 2021, qualifying for the Olympic 1500m final with a personal best and Welsh record time and placing 9th.

On top of that brilliant result, two runners, James Heneghan and John Howorth, ran sub-4 minute miles and Beth Moule, the Athletics Union’s Sportswoman of the year, became Welsh javelin champion.

A season of success for CUAC: Beth Moule, James Heneghan, Esther Adikpe, and Lauren Cooper. Credit: CardiffUniSport (via Instagram)

CUAC’s plans for the upcoming academic year This year, however, the team said that they are aiming to “cater for every ability” with James Heneghan suggesting that the Athletics Club would be focusing on reaching out to students who may have previously missed out.

“Second year students,” he added, “are now asking to get involved” with athletics and have been sharing their interest via the club’s various social media channels. This will, they hope, increase participation in sport after a difficult year.

With this increased participation and focus on bringing in-person activities back, Gair Rhydd asked what students can expect to see from CUAC this year, and how exactly they were going to “push” members “to the next level” - Evidently something that all the committee were looking to improve, with their eyes firmly set on the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, as well as Welsh Nationals, BUCS events and Welsh Varsity, among others.

One way in which they are focusing on improving their results is through new coaching ideologies. The first of these was put forward by James Meiklejohn, who informed us that this year they were looking at “adding more to endurance coaching.”

They aim to do this by “partnering with James Thie, one of the UK’s top endurance coaches.” Thie is a Welsh middle-distance runner, who competed in World Indoor and Outdoor Championships, finishing 4th in the 2004 Indoor Championships.

When asked about whether they would be doing more for field events, James Heneghan stated that he understood that “other sides of athletics” such as these events were “often ignored”, and that they were “keen to get more people involved in field events” as there are “not a lot of grassroots opportunities” in these sports. With Beth Moule succeeding in the javelin last year, and being Athletics Union Sportswoman of the Year, it is clear this is already a strong area for the club, but there appears there is still more they want to do.

CUAC’s plans to promote a diverse participation in sport At a time when promoting positive sporting environment is more important than ever before, Gair Rhydd asked what steps CUAC would be taking to make itself an inclusive and diverse club.

One of their focuses, the team asserted, is to “get as many people involved as possible” involved in their activities, especially those from groups who are not always featured in mainsteam sport.

The issue of involvement for differently abled athletes was also discussed, particularly on the back of such a strong showing at the Paralympics from Team GB. Maddie Elliott stressed that this, firstly, was already a strong area, and mentioned Nils Rehm, a Cardiff student who is now ranked 1st in the UK for the T46 200m.

She echoed the idea, as with field events, that often these sports are “ignored” and that they have facilities in place for para-athletes to get heavily involved both casually and competitively.

She also stated that they have a “new sprint coach” who “does Paralympic and wheelchair training too”, and therefore this is an area of athletics in which they are strengthening and developing.

What this year represents for CUAC and sport in general Reflecting back on the last year, Maddie Elliott concluded by saying that this year would be a better opportunity for people to get involved with sport and, hopefully, will be a positive year for the club overall.

We just want to get everyone involved, do as many events as we can, as many competitions. We just want to go in, full force, and make it a year to remember.”

Maddie Elliott President of Cardiff University Athletics Club

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Djokovic denied in US Open Final Tom Hawkins Sport Editor

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ovak Djokovic was denied the opportunity to complete his dream of monopolising all four majors in one season and put his name alongside Rod Laver who achieved this accolade in 1969.

Djokovic was also denied the chance to win a record 21st major and overtake tennis greats and former rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

The Serbian ended up being thrashed by nextgen star Daniil Medvedev who beat him in three sets 6 – 4, 6 – 4, 6 – 4. The young Russian had been knocking on the door of the big three for a while, threatening to win his first major having made it to three finals previously.

Medvedev managed to mark this momentous occasion on the day of his third wedding anniversary when he beat Djokovic on Sunday.

The victory sees Medvedev rise to No.2 in the world, ranked by the Association of Tennis Professionals a career high.

When collecting the trophy Medvedev showed his respects to Novak, stating “we all know what he was trying to achieve. For me, you (Djokovic) are the greatest player in history”.

Conversely, when the final point decided the final outcome, the ice cold Serbian showed rare signs of sensitivity, crying into his towel. The final did not live up to Djokovic’s usual standards, perhaps feeling exhausted after leaving his best out on the court the week previous in a five set thriller against the young German Alexander Zverev.

This was not the same Djokovic who beat Medvedev in the Australian Open seven months prior.

The world No.1 was not moving as freely as we are used to seeing and portrayed a frustrated figure, slamming his racket into the court surface on several occasions. His performance was summed up by the silence of the crowd when they were shocked to see Djokovic 4 – 0 down in the second set.

Daniil also showed signs of nerves on a few occasions. The Russian found himself with a match point at 5 – 2 in the third set but produced two double faults and an unforced error which resulted in an early missed opportunity and a change of serve.

This was soon followed by another match point and a double fault.

However, Medvedev was finally able to see the tournament out with another ace which took his tally to 16 for the match. On his way to the final, Medvedev beat the likes of Gasquet, Koepfer and Andujar before disposing of Dan Evans in the round of 16. He then went on to beat van der Zandschlup and Auger Aliassime in the semi–final.

Djokovic beat Rune, Griekspoor and Nishikori before Brooksby in the round of 16. He then beat Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini in the quarter final and Alexander Zverev in the semi–final.