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FREE
SEPTEMBER.19.2007
FEATURES
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ISSUE 847 SEPTEMBER 19 2007 CARDIFF’S STUDENT WEEKLY free word - EST. 1972
INSIDE...
QUENCH FILLS YOU IN ON EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW TO GET BY IN
FRESHERS’ WEEK
Harder, better, faster, stronger This summer Cardiff University Students’ Union has been taken over by builders, improving the building
for its 25,000 students
Lee Macaulay News Editor A revamped reception area, new Great Hall and increased security for a refreshed Solus are among the sweeping changes made to the Park Place Union building this summer. gair rhydd can reveal the beginnings of a five-year plan to make the Park Place building the best Students’ Union in the country.
This June saw the sweeping plan commence which sees changes all around the Union. Many of these changes are a result of student feedback. Last year the Students’ Union developed a survey focussing on students’ nonacademic experience. These redevelopments are a response to the evidence found in the survey. The first thing that returning students will notice is the wall covered in words that relate to what Cardiff Students’ Union is about includ-
ing support, representation, democracy and, of course, award-winning media. The most notable change is the Great Hall redevelopment. This redevelopment of the Great Hall is only the first phase. By Easter 2008 the hall will house retractable seating so the Great Hall will not only play host to gigs, beer festivals and fayres, but to lectures and the greatly anticipated Student Parliament.__ However, there had been concerns that the new
lecture theatre would affect the entertainments at the Union. This was shown by a commitment to putting gigs before lecture time in manifestos from some candidates in last year’s executive elections. All the new changes but one have been funded out of the Union’s own funds. Only the Great Hall redevelopment has been partly funded by the University.
Continued on page four
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SEPTEMBER.19.2007
NEWS
NEWS@gairrhydd.COM
The summer...
27
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...in numbers
6
new sabbs
114%
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increase on the average MayJuly rainfall for South Wales
15million passengers flew through British airports in July
10
number of weeks Rihanna held the number 1 spot with Umbrella ella ella...
News special
- The struggles faced by British flood victims, and how people are trying to get their lives back to normal
Lock and Key Par ty Great Hall, 22nd Students’ Union Companies Fayre Great Hall, Students’ Union 25 th 26th
to getting gay in
Spor t
Quench
27 - Sport takes a look at some extreme
18 - Gay takes a look at the bars
sports on offer in Cardiff
Official Fresher Par ty Great Hall, Stu den ts’ 23rd Union Societies Fayre Great Hall, Students’ Union
27th
Cardiff
and clubs on offer in the Welsh capital
The Union Show, Great Hall, Students’ Union
24th
AU Fayre Great Hall, Students’ Union
28th
gairrhydd
SEPTEMBER.19.2007
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NEWS
NEWS@gairrhydd.COM
Taking the plunge Students head for the skies in an effort to raise thousands for charity Corinne Rhoades News Editor Cardiff Students will fall from the sky this year as they take part in one of the University’s largest charity events. Around 30 students from Cardiff University have already signed up to jump from heights of 14,000 feet in a bid to raise tens of thousands of pounds for charity. Global initiatives, such as Stop the
Traffik and Teen Challenge, as well as Cardiff-based charities will benefit from the fundraising, which is currently at around £9000. But the project’s co-ordinator, second year student TJ Wheeler, is still keen to get more people involved. He said: “It has the capability to really change these charities, let alone the people they help. Plus you get to skydive for raising some money.” Backed by the Students’ Union and set up by the Christian Union, students will skydive for free throughout the
year when they raise a minimum of £480 in sponsorship. TJ, who is studying business management, said similar events have seen great success in the past. He said: “You can give forms to parents and relatives and get them to go round offices, people have made thousands!” Meanwhile, a Facebook group has been set up for both volunteers and supporters of Cardiff’s charity skydive initiative to join.
Record Breaking Undergrads
More Thinking, Less Drinking? Students are found to drink the least, as researchers study Cardiff’s binge-drinking culture Samantha Shillabeer News Editor Binge-drinking may no longer be part of traditional student life, a groundbreaking study of Cardiff’s drinkers has shown. The 12-month research, in which revellers on nights out in the city were interviewed and breathalysed, is thought to be the first of its kind to capture the ‘true extent’ of alcohol misuse. Cardiff University’s Violence
& Society Research Group, who conducted the study, found men in their late twenties to be the heaviest drinkers. The team of researchers, led by Dr Simon Moore and Professor Jonathon Shepherd, may now have destroyed the notorious relationship between alcohol and student life. They say the findings challenge the belief that ‘the youngest drinkers, such as students, are drinking most.’ But despite these revelations, a warning has been issued about the increasing habits of young binge-
SKYDIVE: Look, no hands!
John Tuscany Reporter drinkers. Professor Shepherd said: “Since Cardiff is one of the safest cities in the country and alcohol-related illness is relatively low, alcohol misuse is likely to be higher in other city centres.” Calls for changes to the way alcohol is served to young people are now being made in an effort to curb excessive drinking.
Cardiff University will welcome 4,500 new undergraduates this September with a record number obtaining the grades required to take up their conditional offers of study. The majority of available places were filled immediately after publication of A-level results by applicants who selected Cardiff as their first choice university. The University, celebrating its 125th anniversary this year,
received in excess of 37,000 applications for places on undergraduate degree schemes in the current academic cycle, placing it as the eighth most popular university in the UK for the second year running. David Roylance, Head of Undergraduate Recruitment, said: “The University has an excellent reputation for teaching and research and this allied with its location at the heart of a vibrant capital city is a winning formula.”
Facebook fracas PHOTO: Sarah Day
Samantha Shillabeer News Editor
FACEBOOK: One cheating invitation
Cardiff University has resolved an official investigation into a group of students accused of cheating and insulting their lecturer on the internet. This comes after more than 20 biosciences students were reprimanded for making offensive remarks about Dr Carsten Muller on Facebook and for using the site to share information about coursework. 20 members received an email on April 30 telling them they would be required to attend a meeting to discuss unfair practice, which took place on May 9.
Although the group, which has now been shut down, had over 100 members, only those who posted on its wall were reprimanded. A University spokesperson said: “The university demands high standards from its students and takes all instances of plagiarism, collusion or other unfair practice very seriously, regardless of the medium used. “We have adopted a holistic approach to prevention, detection and penalties in cases of plagiarism or other unfair academic practice.” The investigation has now been resolved, with the Univerdity warning the syduents involved that if they were to repaeat their actions, there would be serious, official repercussions.
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SEPTEMBER.19.2007
NEWS
Academic Party snobbery? Mayhem Abigail Whittaker News Editor
As a waste of public money university ‘non-courses’ should be scrapped, a group of campaigners for lower taxes has said. Costing forty million pounds a year to fund a report compiled by the Taxpayers’ Alliance highlighted 401 of these courses that will begin this autumn in the UK. A spokesperson for the group said: “[The courses] lend the respectability of scholarly qualifications to non-academic subjects.” But Universities UK, the vicechancellors’ organisation, has hit back saying that these courses are oversubscribed and accused the Alliance of a “rag bag of prejudices and outdated assumptions”. They went on to claim that graduates from these courses are much in demand. The Alliance suggested that the training the courses offered would be more successfully learnt on the job. Equestrian psychology offered at the Welsh College of Horticulture and Manchester Metropolitan University’s
fashion buying alongside golf management and outdoor adventure with philosophy were some of the target courses especially highlighted by the report. Author, Peter Cutherbertson said: “Political priorities have led to a neverending drive to increase the number of students in university. “As a result, there has been a massive expansion of ‘non-degrees’ of little or no academic merit. “The government has failed in its pledge to abolish ‘Mickey Mouse’ degrees.” However Universities UK claim that the Alliance was yet to understand developments in higher education and the labour market. A spokesman said: “Had they done a little more research, they would have found that these so-called ‘non-courses’ are in fact based on demand from employers and developed in association with them. “Students know this – which is why these courses are often over-subscribed and have high employability rates.” “This is academic snobbery, as predictable as it is unfounded.”
GOLF: Down the plughole?
CARBS
Initiative Cardiff University students have founded the first Chartered Institute of Marketing student branch in the city. The working committee of fourteen students created the branch, known as Cardiff’s Insight into Marketing, with a £250 grant from the Chartered Institute of Marketing. The branch is being supported by the Institute’s regional branch of which it is a replica. 19-year-old treasurer Robyn Kimble said; “We set up the student branch to ensure Cardiff marketing students are more aware of current issues. “Rather than learning from a textbook, we want to hear from key people in the industry”
MESS: Party leftovers
William Taylor News Editor The increasing popularity of social networking websites which can reveal details of forthcoming house parties is leaving partygoers at greater risk of being gatecrashed. After using MySpace to invite friends to a party earlier this year a teenager in Sunderland was cautioned by police as the event unintentionally attracted 200 guests and caused thousands of pounds worth of damage. Basheera Khan, a technology journalist in Swansea, said that when she searched Facebook nearing the end of August it took literally a few seconds to find the full details of a Cardiff house party. She said: “I’ve got the person’s name and address, the number of confirmed guests and even their mobile number. It is possible, though often not taken advantage of by many youngsters, to restrict access to the details of events to only those invited or accredited ‘friends’. However Ms Khan wonders whether young people are
selective enough over who they accept as friends. In a bid to make themselves look popular some social network users may pay less attention to who the friends actually are before accepting them. But equally, Ms Khan said that when used properly the technology did make organising parties a lot simpler. A Welsh parent in Swansea with personal experience of the damage caused by gatecrashers said he found the popularity of social networking websites to be “absolutely terrifying”. The parent, who chose to remain anonymous, added: “There are jackals circling around teenagers all the time. I’m sure there are thieves. A lot of it is opportunistic, but who is going to stop organised criminals getting involved? It’s difficult to get the message across to teenagers.” A survey conducted by Zurich Insurance of UK parents with teenagers found that gatecrashers turning up at their children’s parties was a bigger problem in Wales than anywhere else. More than a quarter of parents said gatecrashers had caused a problem in comparison to the 15% average for the UK.
Students’ Union building revamp Continued from front page It’s the first step in a partnership between Cardiff University and CUSU, which has seen the University pay £400,000 to develop the Great Hall as a retractable lecture theatre. However, the money has been given to CUSU on the basis that the Great Hall is to become relief lecture space for the rapidly expanding Cardiff University. The Great Hall isn’t the only
area to see changes though. Solus is being revamped with new flooring that will end the sticky trek from the dancefloor to the bars and, hopefully, stop the smell of the toilets. Junction, the room outside of the main part of Solus, will also see more space set aside for a dancefloor and stage. The Xpress Radio Lounge, known to many as Buffers, hasn’t seen any changes this summer but
current plans see it becoming a cocktail bar in the next half decade. There are also changes to the 4th Floor meeting rooms with the Aneurin Bevan Room becoming the perfect place for meetings and ballroom dancers alike thanks to a new central laminate floor. However, it remains to be seen how these changes will affect students at Cardiff and how welcome they will be.
NEWS@gairrhydd.COM
Cardiff falling Samantha Shillabeer News Editor Cardiff has crashed in a poll of the best student cities – despite topping the league table a year ago. The capital was praised for being the country’s best city last year but has now dropped 15 places to 16th position out of 27 university towns and cities. The Royal Bank of Scotland Student Living Index constructed the league table by comparing weekly rent and costs of living with the average earnings. It was found that Cardiff students spent more than £169 million on living costs, which included around £53 million on rent and £19.6 million on supermarket food shopping. The main reason for the city’s drop in rankings is due to a fall in the average weekly earnings of students from £131 last year to £91.70 this year.
Don’t
intervene Abigail Whittaker News Editor Following alarming attacks over the summer months on members of the public who have confronted youths with anti-social behaviour, South Wales police have issued firm ‘don’t intervene’ advice to the public. Nearing the end of August, 56-year-old university technician Peter Matthews was recovering in hospital after being punched unconscious and suffering a blood clot when confronting youths making a noise outside his home in Swansea. Around the same time two men also died following altercations with vandals. Under the circumstances South Wales Police has issued this advice: “Anyone who may be experiencing problems of anti-social behaviour should report the incidents to the police, and avoid the temptation to confront the situation in person.”
Fancy writing the news??? Find us at the Societies’ Fayre or join us at our recruitment party on October 1st in Solus from 7pm
gairrhydd
SEPTEMBER.19.2007
NEWS
NEWS@gairrhydd.COM
The floods in numbers
5
Flooding chaos
4,000
homes affected by Gloucestershire floods
£55
million repair cost
£600,000 donated to the flood relief fund
420 road
repair schemes in place
Burst drains, drowned power stations and homes evacuated: How Britain dealt with this summer’s dramatic weather William Taylor News Editor This summer saw several British counties severely hit by an unexpected natural disaster. Flooding tore apart communities, businesses and livelihoods across Britain in July. Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and South Glamorgan were among the worst hit areas, where at times a month’s worth of rain fell in just several hours. The clean up process has begun with estimated costs of between fifty and fifty-five million pounds as a result of Gloucestershire’s floods alone. Several Cardiff students travelled home for the summer in hope of a chance to relax and catch up with old friends. However the floods ruined the summer break for many students
whose families live in the flood stricken areas. Sophie Keates, third year psychology student, said: “My family live on the edge of Gloucester and although our house was not flooded, the water was only meters away from our house. “Despite this we still lost power for several days and our fresh water supply was cut off for nearly two weeks, as the treatment plant became flooded and infected with contaminated flood waters. “My boyfriend’s family live just a few doors down from me, and the police ordered them to evacuate – only hours later their house was flooded in water at least a foot deep. “They, and so many other people I know, now face a barrage of problems and upheaval to get their lives back on
“It’s like a river running down the road, it’s been absolutely torrential”
track.” The government has so far pledged £2.5million to assist with the clean up process. Chief executive of the Cotswolds and Tewkesbury, Bob Austin, is pleased with the amount. He said: “The good thing about this money is that it can be spent how we see fit. We might spend it on replacing white goods for those who have lost them, or sending teams in to clear up people's houses.”Andrew North, chief executive of Cheltenham Borough Council, added: “This funding will help people in greatest need to get back on their feet.” “We also need to explore how we might spend some of this money to prevent flooding in the future.” Although many are pleased with the funding that has been made availa-
ble, not all feel that sufficient amounts have been offered. Julie Girling, lead cabinet member for the environment on Gloucestershire County Council, said: “It’s good to see that we’ve got some funding in to help people who were worst hit by the floods but it’s nowhere near enough. “Gloucestershire needs £50 million plus to get back to where we were before the floods hit. “This is welcome, but it’s still just a drop in the ocean.” Gloucester City Council leader Paul James said: “We have a huge task ahead of us and we will need far more from the Government if we’re going to get the economy and infrastructure back on track.”
Funds dried up As the waters subside, Barry (outside Cardiff) picks up the pieces Lee Macauly News Editor The Vale of Glamorgan was also victim to the torrential rain this summer but the cost to the community could turn out to be greater, one month after the floods. Many residents from Barry are unable to return to their homes because of the damage from the downpour. One resident said of the flood: “It’s like a river running down the road, it’s been absolutely torrential”. Local people have launched a campaign in an effort to return to their homes after local authorities were slow to act in providing compensation.
The residents have blamed improper drainage systems for the severe flood that saw 66 homes underwater and caused thousands of pounds in damage. Residents are also angry that no government money has been set aside to repair the devastated community as affected areas in England are receiving payouts of more than six million pounds. The Welsh Assembly government say that they have recieved an application for emergency money from the Vale of Glamorgan Council and that it is up to them to decide how to spend it.
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NEWS World News in brief Abigail Whittaker News Editor
Hello Kitty Cops
SEPTEMBER.19.2007 NEWS@gairrhydd.COM
“Wine therapy” Alcohol is just what the doctor ordered Abigail Whittaker News Editor
Hello Kitty armbands are being issued to shame officers who break the rules by police chiefs in Bangkok. Officers committing minor wrongdoings will be made to wear the large, pink armband with embroidered Hello Kitty motif. They are under strict instructions not to disclose their offences but to leave colleagues guessing instead.
Empty Can Car
Student Jack Kirby has drank 4,000 cans of lager throughout a three-year bid to build a car with the empties. The 23-year-old design student who consumed a Budweiser four-pack every day has created a full-size model of a 1965 Ford Mustang. Budweiser have offered their congratulations, and Jack plans on having a few more cans to celebrate the project’s completion.
WINE: Three times daily
Chinese Potter fans team up to translate
Lego man overboard
Holidaymakers in the Netherlands are left in disbelief as giant Lego man floats ashore Corinne Rhoades News Editor
Heart-Chargeable POTTER BOOK: Flying off the shelves
John Tuscany News Reporter
Scientists believe that heartbeats could be used to charge up mobile phones and music players. They have found a potential way of using magnets to turn vibrations into electricity for powering our everyday gadgets which could make charging them as easy as keeping them in a pocket near your heart. Some believe even the impact of a heel on the floor could be used.
We are ever more frequently being told to avoid drinking too much alcohol, but in the Ukraine a health spa is prescribing patients a course of cocktails. The Crimean Stars Sanatorium in Alushta has devised a new treatment called ‘wine therapy’ which they claim can alleviate medical problems including heart disease. On arrival at the clinic you first have a medical consultation and are advised which cocktail you should be drinking. Medical research has shown that a little wine in moderation can be good for you, and this is promoted by the treatment’s creator Dr Alexander Sheludko. He commented: “Wine is a live product which contains vitamins. It has lots of compounds which are biologically active.” The spa has seven types of cocktails
on offer which are combinations of dried herbs mixed with lots of Crimean wine, and occasionally vodka is added for an extra kick. Patients can then relax whilE taking their ‘prescription’ three times daily for a week or two. But some health experts have reservations about whether there are any genuine medical benefits from ‘wine therapy’. Many believe the sanatorium’s advice not to be a good idea in a country where there is a high level of alcoholism. Dr Iryna Lipych, a specialist in alcohol dependency, commented: “I think that such therapy could lead to someone becoming addicted to drink. “It is also important to remember that alcohol causes lots of medical problems.” But, unsurprisingly, the patients are all only too happy to toast the newfound therapy.
Chinese students have translated the final instalment of the Harry Potter saga months ahead of October’s official publication of the Chinese version, allege media reports. On the same day as the English version’s global release, a Chinese edition appeared on the internet. Fans ‘worked in teams and round the clock, eating nothing but instant noodles’ according to blogs quoted in China Daily. It is believed that teenagers on their summer holidays had purchased the English-language copies of the book as soon as they hit the shelves and began translating soon after. To escape the threat of copyright infringement charges, the students stated clearly on the internet editions that the translations were not for commercial
use. The notices said: “We translated the book because we love Harry, and we do not intend to use it for commercial purposes.” But in a country where piracy is prevalent, publishers fear that counterfeit copies could soon be produced with the official Chinese copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows not due for publication till October. In addition, a French teenager was recently arrested after publishing his own complete translation of the book, but will not be prosecuted. He told police that he had never intended to make money from the unauthorised translation. The French-language edition is also not due to be released till October. The seventh instalment of the Harry Potter collection sold over 11 million copies within the first 24 hours of publication and has become the fastest selling book in history.
Dutch sunbathers shared their holiday with an unusual tourist this summer when they fished a giant Lego man out of the sea. The plastic Lego toy, which was two and a half metres tall, was discovered bobbing in the waves at Zandvoort, a seaside resort town. Workers at the beach were the first to spot it, recognising the smiling yellow head as the trademark of the usually centimetrestall Lego figures. One surprised worker at the nearby Skyline Beach bar said: “We saw something bobbing
about in the sea and we decided to take it out of the water. It was a life-sized Lego toy.” Painted in bright blue and red, the Lego man has now taken up residence on the beach. Onlookers believe that it ‘swam’ across the channel from England to arrive on shore in the Netherlands. When asked what she saw, a woman said: “I saw the Lego toy floating towards the beach from the direction of England. Nobody knows what it is – or means.” The infamous plastic character is now somewhat of a tourist attraction for holidaymakers in the area.
gairrhydd
SEPTEMBER.19.2007
EDITORIAL & OPINION
OPINION@gairrhydd.COM
freewords the voice of gairrhydd
Est. 1972
Facebook Frenzy In April 2006 a friend at another university in the UK asked me if I was on facebook. I looked at her blank and confused. After a bit of searching online I discovered that Cardiff University wasn’t even recognised on facebook. Over a year later the facebook bug has bitten Cardiff hard and is refusing to let go. The last twelve months has seen facebook taking up more and more column inches, not just in gair rhydd but in national newspapers also. Last year a Cardiff student, who was mugged after a night out, found his attacker by tracking him down in tagged photos on the popular social networking site. The University’s relationship with facebook was reported when the University launched official investigations after discovering a group which was deemed offensive against individual lecturers. As you sit in your new Halls of Residences with your shiny new computers and university email accounts please remember to make sure you keep yourself safe when using facebook and other such sites. Facebook is fantastic for organising social events and gatherings, but it is important to limit access to only those people who you actually want to invite. Without restricting access to parties and such like, you are effectively opening your door to thousands of people across Cardiff and Wales who can access the details of your event and gatecrash, potentially bringing with them all sorts of trouble and unessessary hassles. Facebook certainly does have its benefits so use it to organise your social life but use its security options as best you can so you can enjoy yourself rather than worry about who may turn up uninvited. EDITOR Amy Harrison DEPUTY EDITOR Ben Bryant ASSISTANT TO THE EDITOR Elaine Morgan CREATIVE EDITOR Graeme Porteous NEWS Abigail Whittaker, William Taylor, Corinne Rhoades, Samantha Shillabeer, Lee Macauly POLITICS Tim Hewish EDITORIAL AND OPINION Huw Davies, Chris Croissant SPORT George Pawley, Steven Florey, Pete Dean, Scott D’Arcy, Jack Zorab LETTERS Emily Akers GRAB Tom Bentley FEATURES James Temperton, Emma Thomas, Jenny Williams FIVE MINUTE FUN Rhys Trigg, Owen Jones ONLINE EDITOR Paul Springett ADDRESS University Union, Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3QN ADVERTISING 02920 781 474 EMAIL gairrhydd@gairrhydd.com
7
A whale of a time
Some of Earth’s most breathtaking animals are under threat from extinction. Chris Croissant puts it to the leaders of Asian countries to accept their responsibility
T
he 20th century saw a great deal of change. People fought and died for their country, the internet arrived, women started wearing bikinis rather than dresses to the beach and even the lowliest peasant could afford a trip overseas. To think: what developments face us in the 21st century? Of course, most of it we won’t be able to fathom. But one change that will be very tangible in our lifetime is the disappearance of some of the most magnificent animals on the planet. Significantly, it is also within our grasp to put right. Despite efforts to protect endangered species, the hunting of certain animals is worse than ever before. The Indian tiger is under serious threat, shark populations are rapidly depleting and whaling has reappeared on the scene. Many countries are involved in these violations, but Asian countries appear at the heart of it, with the Chinese market in the driving seat. The most recent blow to environmentalists is the revelation of the extinction of the Yangtze river dolphin. In an extensive six-week survey of the mammal’s habitat, a group of scientists from the Zoological Society of London have claimed that the freshwater dolphin, only to be found in China, is ‘likely to be extinct’. The cause has been reported as the consequence of direct human impact upon the dolphins’ habitat. Uncontrolled and unselective fishing have been cited as the main causes, with increased shipping and human activity also suggested. The implication is that this is the first animal to become extinct not through active persecution, but man’s impact upon the environment. Other marine animals – specifically sharks – are also under real threat from the Chinese market. With the growing economy fuelling the nation’s appetite, shark fin soup has become evermore popular. It is estimated that every year 100 million sharks are killed, and with their meat having little commercial value, the fin is the only part to be used.
Japanese prowhalers have responded angrily to Western criticism of a culture that is 400 years old Scientists describe sharks as the “lions of the sea”; yet little action is being taken. Peter Benchley, author of Jaws and now campaigner for Wild Aid, added: “There is complete indifference to the crisis facing these spectacular animals, and this highly wasteful practice of finning must be stopped.” Michael Aw, publisher of Asian Geographic Magazine, added: “We’re talking about eating cartilage, the equivalent of eating your fingernails or your hair.”
It is estimated that every year 100 million sharks are killed, and the fin is the only part used By some evolutionary fluke, we have the responsibility to act as the guardians of the planet, yet it is clear that we are neglecting this duty. Asian cultures are demonstrating a complete disregard for the welfare of these animals, which is surprising considering that this part of the world has always been associated with great wisdom and spirituality. Perhaps money has become the only religion for these poor countries. The global community has responded with apathy and an unwillingness to intervene in this potential ecological disaster. The West actually endorses the practice, with the UK exporting three metric tonnes of shark fins to Hong Kong every year. Norway exports 30 metric tonnes and Spain 2,000. In UK waters, the basking shark population has declined by 80% in 20 years. Campaigners fear that if action is not taken, many shark populations are at risk of extinction. They want the EU to follow South Africa, the US, Oman, Brazil, Costa Rica and parts of Australia in banning “finning” in their territorial waters. Another endangered species in peril due to the Asian economic boom is the Indian tiger. Previously, the plight of this animal had been well documented and publicised. National parks were set up all over India to protect its majestic beauty. Yet due to a lack of funding, underpaid and poorly-equipped staff, poaching has soared to an all-time high. The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) has published a report
stating that the smuggling of tiger and leopard skins is “spiralling out of control”. The EIA have also stated that the tiger population is down to 5,000, half of which live in India. The figure is in stark contrast to the 100,000 tigers that populated forests a century ago. According to the report, well organised trafficking syndicates exist between India, Nepal and China. It said: “Tigers poached in India are ending up as luxury décor in the homes of wealthy Chinese, and are often smuggled through Nepal.” The EIA also shot footage of major Tibetan festivals at which almost every Tibetan official wore clothing made out of tiger skin. Last year, the Dalai Lama denounced the ownership of tiger and leopard skins. Subsequently many Buddhists gave up these status symbols and burnt them in village fires. Yet it seems staggering that those following a religion that promotes peaceful coexistence can justify the procurement of these skins in the first place. Campaigners are calling for a better coordinated effort from the 166 nations that are signed up to the CITES treaty that protects the animal. In 2004 the Chinese intercepted a record haul of 31 tiger skins, as well as the skins of 581 leopards and 778 otters. Last September, a similar amount of skins were seized in India and Nepal. It is suggested that these figures represent only a fraction of the total number poached every year. The figures defy belief. It must be asked how such a disregard for these animals even exists. One explanation can be the influence of Confucius philosophy in Chinese culture. In this 2,500-year-old theory, man is positioned at the centre of the universe with all other beings below him. As such, man does not live alongside other creatures, but has the power to use them for his own means. Hence, if man wants tiger skin, man gets tiger skin. In Asian countries, some have
voiced resentment that their cultures are under threat. They have criticised the West for trying to impose their beliefs upon their lifestyle. On the whaling issue, Japanese pro-whalers have responded angrily to Western criticism of a culture that is 400 years old. Last winter, the Japanese whaling fleet culled 863 whales for “scientific purposes”. They continue to try and lift the ban on commercial whaling. At Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the deputy press secretary Tomohiko Taniguchi said: “There is a consensus in Japan that as part of the natural right for a sovereign nation it is perfectly right to continue whaling.” Jeff Kingston, an academic who has
If man wants tiger man gets tiger... Asian cultures are demonstrating a complete disregard for the welfare of these animals studied the industry, added: “This has become a touchstone issue for Japanese people who are sick and tired of being pushed around and told what to do by other countries like the United States.” However, comparisons between commercial whaling and the farming of pigs and lambs that the Japanese find “cute” doesn’t really hold up. Whales cannot be farmed. The threat of extinction to some of the most incredible animals on the planet is now very real. If the hunting of these animals cannot be curbed then despite the progress we will witness in the next century, there are sure to be some great losses that generations to come will condemn us for. And rightly so.
8 gairrhydd
SEPTEMBER.19.2007
EDITORIAL & OPINION
Care-free care homes
More than one in five British nursing homes fails to meet even minimum standards. Why? Don’t we care about our elderly? Huw Davies discusses the issue
A
lot of people died over the summer. Apologies for depressing you all, but sadly, it’s true. While we were going out, having fun and steadfastly refusing to research dissertations, men, women and children all over the world breathed their last. Some were heroes of music and film – George Melly, Ingmar Bergman, Boots Randolph and Mike Reid to name but, well, three – and some were true heroes, or martyrs at least: James Oyebola for one, the ex-boxer who was shot in the face attempting to help nightclub staff to persuade a group of patrons to smoke outside.
21% of care home facilities fail to meet even minimum standards on dignity and privacy Meanwhile, a quiet multitude of elderly people suffer through neglect. While they survive, they’re ignored by the press. More tragically, they’re ignored by their own carers. In August, a parliamentary inquiry highlighted the shocking standards of nursing homes all over the country. The so-called treatment by so-called carers provided the most disturbing revelation. The report’s most damning findings were evidence-based and as such are anecdotal in nature, but one
key statistic looms large: 21% of care home facilities fail to meet even minimum standards on dignity and privacy. Call them “horror stories” if you will – Pauline Ford from the Royal College of Nursing did – but suddenly it becomes harder to dismiss them as isolated examples. Elderly patients were found lying in their own faeces, confused and tearful. Many more were ridden with bedsores, either sleeping beneath urine-soaked bedsheets or waiting, sometimes without reward, for a member of staff to help them to eat. It is accepted almost as a fait accompli by the nursing and medical fraternity that an elderly person will lose weight after being transferred to a nursing home, due to such causes as disablement, muscular atrophy and change in diet, but a sad fact is that this can also be due to starvation. As well as carers forgetting which patients require assistance when eating, it is apparently a common mistake for an orderly to leave a meal on ‘the wrong side’ of a stroke victim. The report also revealed that medication was often prescribed without the patient’s family knowing, and even administered without prescription. The very worrying, but very real, implication is that some nurses had given their patients sleeping tablets in search of a quiet life. If only that was an exaggeration. Privacy, too, is an issue, with confidential medical notes being read aloud in front of other patients and residents. Encompassing all of these unsani-
tary and sometimes dangerous errors is a compromising of dignity. One woman described how her husband, on his first day in a care home, begged her to find a bottle in which to relieve himself. He had been calling the nurses for an hour and a half. When his wife pointed this out to a nurse, she replied, “Oh, don’t worry – we would have changed the sheets.”
Private nursing homes should be answerable to the Human Rights Act This is an appalling state of affairs. Of course, it should be pointed out that these cases are not to be found everywhere; that most nurses and carers are conscientious and attentive, and that elderly people tend to be in very safe hands. But we must question why 21% of our nursing homes are not up to scratch, and why our elders are seen fit to live – and die – in filth. Is it a problem with understaffing? In some cases, almost certainly: neglect can come from a simple lack of carers to respond to patients’ calls, or from mistakes made as a result of stress from overwork. But this scapegoat has been bled dry and it is dangerously blasé to assume that more carers provide the solution, especially when evidence suggests that some patients required only the quickest nursing, or a more thorough check on regular rounds
OPINION@gairrhydd.COM
The editors of Editorial & Opinion give you the lowdown on their section and and how easy it is to be part of it
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hy, hello there. It’s Huw and Chris here, your friendly editors of gair rhydd’s most vibrant section, Editorial & Opinion. And we want to make one thing clear: we couldn’t do it without you. No, literally, we couldn’t. Ed-Op, like every other section in gair rhydd, is written entirely by you, the wonderful students of Cardiff University. It is astonishingly easy to get involved with any part of the paper (details later), but for Ed-Op you don’t even have to be ‘involved’. You just write. Now, we know you may not be planning to start working straight away. We’re students here too – we understand that there’s a lot to do in Cardiff, especially in your first year. But writing for Ed-Op is more of an enjoyable pastime; an opportunity for your fine selves to engage the entire University audience with the way you see the world. And the great thing is: there’s no pressure. You don’t have to do it at all. But if you ever feel you want to, we’re here. Ed-Op offers you the platform from which you can deliver your views. Anything in the news that’s made you raise your eyebrows, anything you hear on the grapevine, anything at all – we want to read it. You don’t have to be studying English or Journalism, or even Communications. Anyone can write for Ed-Op. We take articles from anyone, but it may be that you want to join our list of (not to mention that this is only the passive neglect – examples of physical abuse, sexual assault and bullying were also discovered, but being freak occurrences they are less symptomatic of a widespread crisis). Is it a cultural problem? The report does mention an “entire culture change” being needed. But if so, it is needed not just in the UK, for other countries such as China and the USA are guilty of maltreatment in care homes; indeed in New York last year, a hidden camera study showed staff moving call bells away from patients and ceasing to do their rounds so that they could socialise, watch television or even fall asleep. Maybe the difficulty is not cultural, but cross-cultural. Several of my grandfather’s previous carers were from parts of south-east Asia such as the Philippines, where drinking is not really a part of the culture. As a result, excellent carers though they were, they saw no problem in bringing him a cheeky tipple whenever he asked for it. There was no real check on his drinking – which was largely down to boredom – until he had a nasty fall, when it was suddenly discovered he was knocking back the combined equivalent of a bottle a day in gin, sherry and brandy. Even when his drinks were regulated, they poured triple measures. They just didn’t know any better. Nursing home neglect is occurring on a much wider scale than this, however. The Joint Committee on Human Rights, who made the inquiry, have de-
contributors, who receive a weekly e-mail with stories we’ve seen in the news that we think would make a good idea for an opinion piece (just in case you want to write something but are short of inspiration). If so, just e-mail us at opinion@gairrhydd.com or pop up to see us on the 4th floor of the Students’ Union. It is just as easy to write for any other section of the paper. Every Monday at 5.10 p.m. there is a gair rhydd meeting on the top floor of the Union (and an hour later, a Quench meeting) to which absolutely anybody is welcome. It is basically a forum for section editors to request articles and for contributors to suggest ideas. It is very brief – over before Neighbours – and relaxed to the point of falling over. We’ll be there, following up our e-mail with more ideas for articles. We know you are all very intelligent and eager students, so don’t shy away from putting your opinions out there. You may want to write a long piece or just a short piece of a few hundred words. It’s your choice! Long or short, serious or light-hearted, we don’t mind at all. Have a great year!
cided that the reasons for substandard elderly care are of a political nature. The inquiry condemned the Government for failing to provide “leadership and guidance”, and recommended making the Human Rights Act apply to private and independent care homes. Clearly this should already be the case, but as per usual, we can thank the House of Lords that it isn’t. Of course private nursing homes should be answerable to the Human Rights Act. But that still doesn’t solve the problem: it is purely disciplinary, and not the preventive measure we need. Being able to charge the guilty party is a step, sure, but only towards a certain stable door after a certain horse has bolted.
21% of care home facilities fail to meet even minimum standards on dignity and privacy So who knows why some carers neglect the elderly, and how it can be stopped? I don’t. There seem to be many explanations but no obvious solution. Only one thing is clear: nursing staff must be well-trained, in good number and willing to put their patients first. And, to be fair, most of them are. It is a small minority of carers at fault. But when that fault could mean a person’s life, something should be done. What?
gairrhydd
SEPTEMBER.19.2007
9
EDITORIAL & OPINION
OPINION@gairrhydd.COM
Trapped Inside Our Heads
Caleb Woodbridge tells us how even thousands of years after its trailblazer, narcissism infects our culture every day and in every way
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alling in love with your own reflection, like Narcissus in the Greek myth, might seem something of a daft idea, especially to the point of wasting away and dying. But we would do well to heed the ancients’ warning of the destructiveness of self-obsession, because we are all narcissists now. I’m not talking about the clinical condition of narcissism. Rather, I’m talking about how the most powerful religion in the West today is the worship of Self. Seeking pleasure isn’t inherently selfish, but the dominant way of life in our culture today is to seek pleasure not in things themselves, but in the benefits they bring to us. To a greater or lesser extent, we are all caught up in this worldview of Self. “I shop, therefore I am” says Consumerism, one part of this system. We don’t just buy things any more; we participate in the ritual of Shopping, in which what we buy is less about the actual goods, and more about using them to construct our self-identity. A lot of ink has been spilled on the folly of Consumerism, but it is itself only a symptom of a far deeper problem. Look at the cult of celebrity. Everyone wants to be famous, or so we’re told. Not famous for anything in particular, oh no. The appeal of celebrity is not in actually achieving something
worthwhile, but in the second-hand pleasure of receiving the attention of others. Our greatest aim and goal is the elevation of the Self. Narcissism infects everything. Take friendship, or romance, for example. Do they make me feel good, make me look cool, fit in with my image? Other people become just another consumer item to be discarded like old clothes, rather than individuals to be delighted in for their own worth.
From computer games to literary theory, from travel to religion, from sex to epistemology, narcissism corrupts and distorts From computer games to literary theory, from travel to religion, from sex to epistemology, narcissism corrupts and distorts. It cuts us off from real relationships with one another, from any sense of goodness, beauty and truth as greater realities, and ultimately destroys genuine pleasure itself. The roots of our modern narcissism run deep. Intellectually, it can be traced back to Descartes’ famous statement, “I think, therefore I am”, which tried to root knowledge in the human self. So-
cially, since the time of the Industrial Revolution, our institutions of work and power have become increasingly impersonal, a great system in which the individual feels crushed, and so retreats, trapped inside the self. BBC1’s Life on Mars captured something of our situation. Was Sam Tyler mad, in a coma, or back in time? In the finale, he woke from his coma to find his life in 1973 nothing more than a dream. But faced with the oppressive facelessness of modern life, he chose to jump off a tall building. He enjoyed a happily-ever-after ending – in the seconds before he died. And we too spend much of our time in dream worlds of escapist fantasy. What can we do about this Narcissism? The pursuit of pleasure isn’t wrong, but the law of gravity of human behaviour. Everyone, even someone who commits suicide, does what we think is to our best. But what does the unselfish pursuit of pleasure look like? The key is to value things – that is, people, experiences, knowledge, emotions – for what they are, rather than how they reflect on us. This is no easy task when our self-centredness is affirmed on every side in our adverts, entertainment and education. But unless we can find something outside ourselves worthy of our devotion, our entire culture faces the same fate as Narcissus.
Narcissists of today (below), classical narcissists (above)
The key is to value things - that is, people, experiences, knowledge, emotions, for what they are, rather than how they reflect on us
It’s good to talk...
Avoid awkward conversation with Paul Martinovic’s handy guide to Fresher small talk. You’ll be amazed at the results
S
o fair readers, it’s back to school for all of us once more, and whether you’re being introduced to new friends or reacquainting yourself with old ones, inevitably you’ll find yourself having to answer the same old question: “What did you get up to this summer?” Now we understand that the modern student has little time to waste on trivial things such as engaging with other people’s statements and formulating intelligent replies, wasting as it does valuable X-Box seconds. So we’ve gone to the trouble of preparing some ready-made, cut-out-and-keep responses guaranteed to placate any would-be converser, and leave you free to drink yourself into an apoplectic, lusty rage. Use them appropriately, and you may just get the attention of that sexy
lady/man over there...although once you’ve got the attentions of a ladyman there’s no going back.
I went to Glastonbury and had my tent washed away within seconds of pitching it •I went to Glastonbury and had my tent washed away within seconds of pitching it. Navigating through mud in Glastonbury is a bit like treading water, only treading water in a swimming pool full of glucose while wearing a lead waistcoat. I did this non-stop for five days. The only upside is that I contracted trench foot while I was there,
and the doctors say I will never have to walk again, or indeed be able to. •I watched with amusement as another farming scare hit Britain – this time, foot-and-mouth disease among livestock (again). France, Japan, the US and Canada have all banned the sale of pork and beef products from the British Isles. I don’t get it: I’ve eaten British beef since I was three years old, and it’s never done me any British beef since I was five years old, and it’s never done me any British beef. •I gave up smoking, due to worries about my health. I can deal with lung cancer when I’m older, but after considering the amount of time I was spending outside in the freezing rain hunched over a soggy rollie wearing nothing but a jeans and a printed Tshirt, I realised it was only a matter of time before I caught pneumonia, and as diseases go it’s one of the least sexy
(just above piles; below halitosis).
I celebrated the 100th anniversary of scouting by taking a group of young boys into the woods for a week •I celebrated the 100th anniversary of scouting by taking a group of young boys into the woods for a week. Unfortunately I ignored the famous scout maxim of ‘Be Prepared’ and forgot three vital things: 1) tents; 2) food; and 3) to inform their parents. The trial continues. •I went on a six-week bender of
booze and drugs with a Spanish friend of mine. You name it, we did it: weed, crack, heroin, ecstasy, MDMA, ketamine, crystal meth, PCP, steroids, acid, mushrooms, uppers, downers, frowners, bowsers, ravers, Quavers, a pint of raw ether, and dozens of freshly-microwaved banana skins. It’s funny the different ways people react to serious drug abuse: whereas I spiralled into a seemingly bottomless hole of depression, paranoia and self-loathing, my friend became a professional sportsman and was ultimately victorious in this year’s Tour de France. •I celebrated the announcement of a Spice Girls reunion tour by dusting off my old Union Jack miniskirt, hitting the town and zig-a-zig-ahhhing my way into a Bacardi Breezer-induced coma. The irony is, when I came to it soon became clear that I too had been impregnated by Eddie Murphy! D’oh!
gairrhydd
SEPTEMBER.19.2007
11
LETTERS@gairrhydd.COM
letters@gairrhydd.com Welcome and croeso to gair rhydd’s letters page, the place for students to have their say about the things they care about. So, if you have an opinion on any topic we would love to hear from you. Contact us at letters@gairrhydd. com or you can voice your opinions on specific articles at gairrhydd.com. We look forward to hearing from you.
Dear gair rhydd, In response to last term’s article entitiled ‘Punishing the Innocent’, I feel we need to speak out. The people of Palestine are desperate for justice – having suffered viciously from Saxon backed Israeli Occupation:until there is justice for the people there will not be peace – the current dispute between Hamas and Fatah is a direct result of oppression. Remove the oppression, give the workers control of the Palestinian state – institute a socialist societial development – then there will be peace and prosperity, for Arab and Jew. Will Ghaith Nassar responds... Boycotting Israel academic institutions is not pointless and wrong, it is absoletely needed and the right thing to do. Israel has been opressing the Palestinians for so long, and disregarding their human rights. Many Israeli academics have been active in the occupation, an example to this is the Israeli professor in Haifa University who was the first one to bring the idea of the apartheid wall being built today. There are many lectures active against
human rights violations in China, Saudi Arabia etc... yet I don’t see anyone asking why China, or why Saudi Arabia. That question is only asked when we are talking about Israel, the fact that Israel is not the only country in the world abusing human rights doesn’t mean that we should not do anything about it! As academics are the educated elite in any country, it is their writings and their way of thinking that shapes and affects the way of thinking in a country, and leads yo a positive change. One more thing to point out is that the boycott only calls to boycott any academic who does not distance him/ herself from the policies of the Israeli government. There are a few Israeli professors who are against the Israeli policy and the actions of their government, while there are many with it. I believe that a boycott will make those supporting the occupation re-think their support to the inhumane actions of their government, and exert some pressure on it to change their policies.
Ghost-ly life Dear gair rhydd, Cathays has become a…ghost town! The area has gone quiet. Most of the students have left for
Hello gair rhydd are you having a fun summer?
And it burns, burns, burns the ring of fire, the ring of fire.
Ulcers are just way better than toast. I don’t like the new bonjela advert.
Do you want to meet in CF10 at 2? xxx
Summa Luvin Rrrrrraaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Matt Daaaaaamon I have secrets
lots
of
Where have all the funny people gone? Are you on i tunes again?????
we love gair rhydd feeling peckish...? have an apple yo yo yo freshers’ waddup? spider pig, spider pig, does whatever a spifer pig does thats for you BT! What ever happened to the Likely Lads?
text: 07964308150
Punishing the Innocent
home after the end of term. The piles of rubbish will be smaller – there will not be the noisy parties and car doors banging shut late at night – the empty beer cans will cease to be thrown over my back wall – I will not have to wait in noisy queues in my local Kaf and grocers. However, around about September the young students will be returning. Thank goodness for that – I miss them! Barbara MacArthur
Is it really the ‘Summer’ Blues...? Dear gair rhydd, With the sun truly disappearing, I really feel an onslaughter of the ‘summer’ blues heading my direction. Yet can i really call it ‘summer’ blues this year? More like winter blues to me. The exams are finished, your coursework is n and the spirits are really starting to lift. At least, this is what I was thinking at the end of June when I could finally see a break heading around the corner. After the fantastic two week heatwave we experienced in April I knew that for once I would be able to believe the weather reporters predictions of “the best summer yet on record”. The first year that I’ve actually stayed put to earn a bit of much-needed dosh, nerves started to set in that I was going to experience the I-wish-I-was-travelling blues; little did I expect what was going to come! I know we are all probably very bored of hearing friends and family moan on about the bad weather, the record floods, the downpours of winter-esque rain but I feel this has to be made public. If there is a God of the weather or some other higher being in control, then seriously, what are you thinking? It’s bad enough being from a country where you are guaranteed rain pretty much every other day over the 9 months we suffer between September and June, but to be given no break from autumn seems a little bitter and twisted. Whilst lucky enough to live high and dry, a mighty 100 metres above sea level thanks to the rolling hills of the vale of Glamorgan, I’m too disheartened by the distinct lack of sun this year that I can’t even be grateful for the lack of flooding-misery which so many of us have had to suffer around the UK. I’d even take last year’s month of heatwave followed by an August of cloudy-Hell over this year’s possibly 3-day summer? The few days we have had has barely justified the price tag on the three brand-spanking new bikinis I
Letter of the week Going Going Gone...? Dear gair rhydd, Blair has gone, of all places, to be a peace envoy in the Middle East- is that like setting up a kennel next to a Mosque? He’s the only one who can do the job, he’s acceptable to Russia, the US, EU and UN and he has experience in negotiation from Northern Ireland. I think he’s got as much chance of success as anyone else, probably more. Yet people argue the ones who are in charge are the very people who have brought terror to our airports and bomb scares to Cardiff by leading the people of Cymru into an Illegal War, selling honours for cash, robbing the pension pots of ordinary citizens – all whilst giving billions in bonuses to city fats? Three points; firstly there hasn’t been any bomb scares in Wales? One major airport, Cardiff, and nor has their been any bomb threat in Wales at all. In fact the recent attack on Glasgow Airport was the first time a city other than London in the UK had been attacked by terrorists since Ireland. bought from the ridiculously expensive high-street stores. Autumn’s great; the fab colours, the great new clothes, the freedom to eat what you want without having to worry about baring all, but bring back the Summer...we miss you! Ella Harding
The Ripple Effect Dear gair rhydd, I know the weather effects moods, even to the extent where significant changes can be seen in suicide rates and general national-spirit. What I didn’t realise was the amount of little insignificant ripple-effects the black-cloud epidemic would bring to my life! Not being able to sell my miniconvertible (because aparently convertibles don’t sell without sun!), bankrupting my overdraft paying for indoor activities to keep me busy and sun-bed price-tags are to name a few! What happened to the care-free days of hot summer sun spent, more importantly, for free in the park!? Jess Dean
Keen Bean Dear gair rhydd, I am not actually a student at Cardiff yet, but I have just had my A Level results and confirmed my place of study in September at Cardiff University. Naturally I am really excited about starting university. So I’ve spent a few wet afternoons on line finding out all
Secondly since no one can claim to have any deep insight into the mind of the Islamic fundamentalist bent of terror I feel many can safely say that the cash for honours scandal, pensions policy or the pay of city executives is probably not a motivation for them. Thirdly it was the fundamentalist Islamic world who declared war on us by flying aircraft packed with passengers into the Twin Towers and the Pentagon. The current Government has continually slashed waiting times, both before and after devolution. Health in Wales and the UK as a whole has never been better and the NHS has never been as well equipped, staffed and funding. Improvements can always be made. People again still argue that Blair has gone, but the problems affecting Cymru which he left behind have not._ Yet all the socio-economic problems spoken of existed before 1997 and New Labour has had greater success in tackling them than anyone else. I doubt Plaid would have any more success in dealing with them though since they are now the junior party in a Coalition Government. Mark Bentley about the University and city. Cardiff looks so fantastic and there are so many cool things I have discovered. Perhaps one of the best things that I discovered was gairrhydd.com. So I thought I would get in touch for your first issue. I love the fact that you can read the newspaper in full on the internet. And then being able to comment on the articles is really cool. There were some really diverse debates on there which were interesting to read. Everything seems so professional too, I can’t believe it is run by students! I can’t wait to get to Cardiff and pick up a copy and read it in the flesh every week. As part of my Spanish degree I get to spend a year in a Spanish speaking country and knowing that I will still be able to keep up with what’s going on in Cardiff is brilliant. I like the Hall of Shame lots with the crossword and Sudoku. I hope I have lots of pictures of friends to add to the hall of shame, but am hoping there won’t be any of me over the next three years! I know I must sound like a really keen bean but discovering gair rhydd has been great and I am now even more excited to be starting. Who knows maybe I’ll even have a go at writing for gair rhydd one day? Melissa Jason gair rhydd responds... Glad you like what you’ve seen Melissa, we certainly hope you all keep reading throughout your time at Cardiff. If anyone else fancies writing/designing/ photgraphing/illustating/proof reading/sub-editing for gair rhydd look out for us at the Societies Fayre or come to our Recruitment Party in Solus on October 1st from 7pm. You don’t need any experience, just enthusiasm.
12 gairrhydd
SEPTEMBER.19.2007
POLITICS
POLITICS@gairrhydd.COM
Life’s a beach
18
(with 76 days of holiday)
Changing their mind (again)
L
ast month more utterances could be heard from Westminster concerning a student’s worst fear; that of raising the drinking age to 21. Fuelling this fire are certain wings of a fed up police force, which has to deal with numerous drunken antics day-in day-out. Visual proof is Cardiff at the weekend; the main street is closed off with police and ambulance crews always on call and in-force. One Cheshire policeman, commenting on the murder of father-of-three Garry Newlove by three drunk youths, said that “raising the drinking age will send a clear message about the dangers of alcohol” and spoke about how cheap and readily available it was for young children.
Summer time, and the living is easy for Dave and Gord’ Tim Hewish Politics Editor
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hen Sir Cliff sang ‘we’re all going on a summer holiday’ I do not think he envisaged a bunch of overweight and overpaid MPs bounding over the English countryside singing the chorus of this cringe worthy tune. However, each year the privileged that represent the people in Parliament take a 76-day sojourn to rest their weary heads. Just when you, the fresher, were thinking being a student is going to be an easy life, after your ridiculously long break, you read there is actually a career on offer after university, which offers the same length holidays – Politics. As a result, I have struggled to fill this freshers edition with insightful political musings, all because MPs all over the land are sunning themselves away from Blighty’s weathered rocks. This background to the recess is that it is a throw back to when MPs were mainly landed gentry and needed the time off to tend to their flock and till their land ready for the harvest. The same goes for schools and the six-week holiday you have left behind only to be greeted by an even bigger student one. Such days are now over, so why the long break? One political commentator bluntly exclaimed that the 76-days is actually for us, the British public. But should we be giving MPs such a hard time? After all their basic salary of £60,000 p.a. for working 365 days a year, no sorry, make that 289, oh and
not forgetting Easter and Christmas recesses is surely tax payers’ money well spent? Ranting to one side, the physical constraints of such holiday takings are staggering. For a start no bills get debated, no laws can be passed on for royal assent and our political flag ship grinds to a halt in the name of numerous fact finding missions to far flung parts of the globe.
It is a throwback to when MPs needed time off to tend to their flock and till their land In the growing threat of terror, surely a prime time to attack is when Westminster is vacant, for example how quickly can ‘Cobra’ slither into action to protect its citizens? Even when MPs are sitting they get it wrong, for instance Mr. Cameron’s flood-hit constituency didn’t stop him using his air miles; all accounted for by his carbon off-setting of course, to jet off to Africa presumably to woo voters? In this growing age of visual politics, looking to be doing something is actually better than cocking it up. Young people don’t have the blind faith in politics that older generations do; if an MP isn’t getting his hands dirty, so to speak, then we naturally assume he’s doing nothing.
Now along comes Mr. Brown, where does he choose to holiday? After Blair’s favourite haunt to Barbados, Sarkozy’s new American Dream and Putin’s imperialist tour of the Artic Circle, surely Gordon would out-do them all? You bet he did. He went to Devon, natural home of the savvy English traveller, only to be called into action because of the reoccurring bovine disaster that is foot and mouth. However, every story has another side, as being an MP isn’t about being in the Chamber 24/7, as with its multiple bars onsite perhaps it’s better to stay away and go visit some constituents, than reach for another glass of the finest port. They must chair meetings, set up committees, formulate white papers and go back to their constituency and listen to what their people want. If anything it should be a yearly reminder to go back to the people they are meant to represent and get involved at ground level away from the hype and pomp of Westminster. The problem now lies with Labour’s so-called reform policy, i.e. tinkering with every feature of British politics often needlessly, which is that they think reform doesn’t apply to them. Instead of wasting time bickering with the Lords over how ‘undemocratic’ it appears to be, try explaining to the public a 76-day holiday is acceptable when the average hard working Brit can’t get more than three weeks off a year. In the name of fairness, and not so much democracy, a bill should be put forward to reduce this traditional recess. When they get back from holiday that is.
In the US most states have a 21 age limit but that doesn’t stop students However, this is the same police force in which certain members believe, if you have been reading July’s newspapers, that the age of consent should be lowered to as low as 12 and that DNA, finger prints and shoe prints should be taken for anyone who breaks minor laws e.g. dog fouling or littering, so we are all on a database somewhere. Now without going too Daily Mail so early on in the year, the police may have a point about alcohol’s effect on the British youth, which is causing major problems; after all there is scientific proof about the dangers of drinking too young. What is important to note though, is that raising the age limit will not stop teenagers getting alcohol. Home Office minister Ms. Hillier places the blame more in social realms than scientific or legal ones, “It’s not something that government or the police alone can solve; it’s much more of an attitude in society…the buck will stop with parents.” Again she has a point; envisage if you will, a chavved up 15 year old rude-boy with no GCSEs outside
the local offie on his stolen BMX, with an equally chavved up ladette dressed in fetching pink Adidas trackiebums and Lonsdale hoodie, downing cans of Stella, while their parents have no idea/nor care for their offspring’s whereabouts. That is a social ill, but where does this leave us, the student? In the US most states have a 21 limit, but that doesn’t stop the access to alcohol on campus. The result would be, that by raising the drinking age it pushes this problem into the private sphere, which, if we are to believe Ms. Hillier, is a cause of underage dinking. Making it illegal to serve alcohol to students in the Union will only keep students and young people indoors where it can be policed less. This is supported by the Portman Group, a leading drinks industry body which states, ‘It could lead to more unsupervised drinking by young people and an increased risk of accidents and anti-social behaviour and that if 18-year-olds are allowed to smoke, vote and go to war, they should also be trusted to drink.’ Furthermore, surely the problem is supermarkets selling to kids underage, not 18-21 year olds in pubs or clubs? In addition, a British Youth Council spokesperson said that knee jerk police reactions ‘only serve to reinforce negative stereotype young people.’
The government are sending out mixed messages Finally the government are sending out mixed messages, by firstly formulating 24-hour drinking laws, only to now muse with the idea of raising the drinking age. Perhaps the solution may partly lay in restricting 24-hour licenses for supermarkets, as this is the easiest way youngsters access alcohol, but allow the present rules for clubs and bars that run on stricter systems of service. So as you take your first sips of the Union’s dirt-cheap tipples relax and be thankful we don’t have an authoritarian police-state telling us what to do…then again drink some more and forget that we probably do. Cheers.
gairrhydd
13
SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENT
SEPTEMBER.19.2007 SCIENCE@gairrhydd.COM
Enjoying your hangover?
Science offers you tips on minimising that morning-after feeling So the next best thing is to prepare properly, by eating well before going out and drinking lots of water and fruit juice during the night. Other preventatives include eating activated charcoal tablets, which can absorb the poisons that cause the hangover, avoiding the “hair of the dog� analgesics and anything else that might agitate your stomach. But the number one cure is a compound known as Glutathione, which is a source of cysteine. It effectively counteracts the poisonous effects of the acetaldehyde, by bonding permanently to it, allowing it to be removed easily from the body. Just mix some into a smoothie the morning after, or even just some fruit juice. However, these just help you in the short term, the more regularly you have to use a cure like these to help yourself, the more damage the alcohol will be doing to your body. In the long run, your liver, robust as it is, can only repair itself if you give it a break.
This causes neurones to misfire, and slows down the resultant nerve impulses, causing malcoordination, slurred speech and a general reduction of motor control. All this feels great at the time, but for some people, the dampening of inhibitions is a scary experience. This can cause a heightening of emotions, such as aggression and depression and eventually unconsciousness. Should you then make it to the next day, there’s the hangover to look forward to. As the alcohol breaks down in your bloodstream, molecules such as acetaldehyde and different types of Congener - among others - are released to wreak havoc on your body. Many are naturally present in alcohols and can be quite poisonous, which - with the dehydration caused by the ethanol imbibed the prior evening - causes headaches, nausea, and the general feeling of weakness. The sensible way to avoid all of these things is to not drink to excess, but in reality the pressure is on in Freshers’ Week to drink yourself into oblivion.
By Brychan Govier Science Correspondent
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lcohol. Whether it be beer, wine, spirits and cider, at some point over the coming weeks you will enjoy a combination of these by the gallon. Everybody knows the long term effects of alcohol, but you probably know little about what happens in the short term, short of getting drunk and being a bit green the next day. To many, a great night out is characterised by getting wasted with friends. Recent research even shows that the occasional drink, seven to 12 units over the course of a week, can be good for you. However, if all these units are drunk in the course of one evening, the effects differ. In small dosages, ethanol has a euphoric effect on the brain and dampens inhibitions. As ethanol crosses the blood-brain barrier it causes a release of dopamine and endorphins, causing the euphoria, and removing the inhibitions. However, the more alcohol drunk, the greater the effect upon the central nervous system.
Alternate alcoholic drinks with fruit juice and water during your night out
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FEATURESa-z
SEPTEMBER.19.2007 FEATURES@gairrhydd.COM
FRESHERS’ WEEK, FACT OR
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gairrhydd 15
a-zFEATURES
SEPTEMBER.19.2007 FEATURES@gairrhydd.COM
FICTION, MYTH OR REALITY?
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r front room, wake up to find in youafter a night kitchen or bedroomtely rib-tickling you out, that’s so absolu rybody about it for insist on telling eve eks. Trophies can the next fifty-two we student favourite; include the perennial or the supermarket The Traffic Cone ites include conifers trolley. Other favour in the hallway and in the kitchen, sofa poo on the doorstep aking and See also: entering, bre
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of societies large selection al societies and sports nu an e th ake sure join at e Great Hall. M fayres held in th you want or you may you know whatg one called ‘The Big end up joinin ich actually turns out e. Rod’ society, wh club, the sham to be a fishing rhydd, come write for ir ga : lso See A
J
to Cardiff! Caerdydd!
Is for… Trophy object that you Briefly, this is the
F
ere are a Is for… Fayres ir to say that th r you to It’s certainly fa fo
U
Is for… Young
Is for… Univeristy
AKA The Final Fro Hall residence on the out ntier. The halls of skirts of town, rest assured if you don’t liv year, this mythical e here in the first delights will foreverpalace of concrete remain an enigma right up until you lea you who do live here ve. For those of at least you get your in the first year… See also: tower block,own bar. penthouse in the
It’s important to remember that because you’ve got a piece of whit just with NUS on to waggle about, e card you are still only eighteen and therefore goin get ID-ed when buying White Ligh g to You will also get stereotyped by tning. non-student as a drunken layabout every prat. It’s important to remember that are tarred with a collective brush students See also: public, student-hating
K Q
ns Is for… Kitche and, obvifor socialising
The main area erefore, unsurprisingly ously, eating thareas for inter-house conone of the main tip from the word go, it’s flict. Usually a stay on top of the mess as worth trying to ce not all of your house there is a chan ing in squalor. will be happy livmouldy, the bread has See also: gone
Is for... gair rhydd Forgive us for tooting but, beep beep. The our own horn, every students one gair rhydd is stop shop for news, sport, competitio jobs, listings, TV politi ns, features, tial lecture fodder such cs and essenand sudokus. Pick up as crosswords every Monday aroun the new copy d campus and stay up to date. See also: Late nights, many, many
L
Is for… Live Music
A proper treat for all of you who come from ‘the sticks’ as it were, being in a city has some advantages you know. The Union has a large line-up of live acts and most national tours, for bands who won’t sell out the Millennium Stadium, call into the Great Hall. Keep your eyes peeled for the Cardiff union Ents posters, after all, you’re a student now and live music is your life. See also: air guitar, pass me my
Cecilia Quentinst/udent with r… fo Is ho ool lic Sch ncies w
da Pub itchen cial ten homo-so to get the off-ker’s not d th e g fa a n e a it m halls desp room in ntial bribe. a st b su an n u Blair, Eu See also:
V
Is for… Virginity you’re one of the Or the losing of. If
t yet sold your souls lucky few who haven’ hery and high jinx, auc deb to a lifetime of ggle not to begins then your year long stru ate freaks may per des g, now. Slobberin level of tempen Ed of n offer you a Garde s and you’ll gun r you to k tation, but stic get through. cant even See also: stand up, you
Z
Is for…
One of m Zippy From Rain ies televisany rubbish figures bow during alcoion shows that you from eightOthers in hol-riddled bond will discuss Ness, Kn clude Bagpuss, ing sessions. bad, wait ightmare. If you The Family See also: till Neighbours comthink this is Hawkes, C es on. hesney
16 gairrhydd
SEPTEMBER.19.2007
FEATURES
FEATURES@gairrhydd.COM
A rough guide to: Cardi gair rhydd For thirty five years gair rhydd has been reporting news and current affairs to Cardiff students. gair rhydd is Welsh for ‘free words’ and this ethos is kept at the heart of the publication as we endeavour to allow Cardiff students to write about issues that concern them. Personally, I see gair rhydd as a force that brings the Cardiff student community together. Released every Monday, it is the first port of call for sleepy students on their way to lectures. Much of this communal vibe comes from the stories that we print: the news we print is local and student based; the features we focus on raise issues that students care about; our sport section celebrates the successes of many who dedicate hours to training; and the opinion pieces voice the views and beliefs of various students from very different backgrounds. Keeping students at the heart of gair rhydd is, in my opinion, what has kept this newspaper going strong for so three and a half decades. Every week there are meetings for contributors where section editors re-
quest stories for the forthcoming week. Although section editors have their own ideas they are always open to new ideas so you should never be shy about coming forward with your ideas. In my first year I remember being very shy about my writing and ideas and so held back a lot. It was all a little intimidating, but looking back now I wish I hadn’t been so timid. The section editors had all been in the same position as I had been when they first started out and they all has the same initial apprehensions too. My biggest fear was my lack of experience, although I loved to write I’d never had anything published. But experience isn’t everything, the real thing you need to get on in student media is enthusiasm, and with that enthusiasm, experience comes. I remember the first time I saw my first article in gair rhydd it was incredibly exciting and I showed it to anyone who would listen and everyone who wouldn’t. But ‘free words’ is for everyone, not just the people who make the weekly trip to the 4th floor of the Students’ Un-
Editor: Amy Harrison
ion. Beyond the weekly meetings there are plenty of opportunities to express your opinons. If you read something you disagree or agree with in the newspaper you can always write a letter to the letters’ page expressing your own view. gairrhydd.com has a fantastic facility which allows you to comment on articles directly, since this feature has been introduced many heated debates have unfolded. Another misconception of gair rhydd is that it is all for Journalism and English students. This is simply not the case. Our weekly Science and Environment section is always in need of writers who can articulate clearly important issues that all too often get lost beneath jargon. Similarly, medical and health studies students can offer a wealth of knowledge to our features team who deal with health related articles. With opportunities for students from all courses and backgrounds, gair rhydd can reflect upon the diversity of Cardiff’s 25,000 students. Just as important as all of the voices that gair rhydd publishes, are the eyes
that read it. Approximately 25,000 students read the newspaper each week, and ultimately without these readers there would be no newspaper. If you are interested in the student community in which you now live, gair rhydd is the place to find out about current affairs. If you want to see how your IMG
Quench History
Q
uench is the student lifestyle magazine at Cardiff University. Funded by and produced for students, it’s completely uninfluenced by commercial interest. Likewise, the only prerequisite for writers and editors is that they are students. Diverse and sprawling, the content of Quench is only limited by its relevance to the student body. Of course, this freedom can be a double-edged sword: without restrictions on content, student media can quickly devolve into a rag full of injokes, nudity and David Hasselhoff
Since its inception in 2003, Quench has undergone an enormous amount of evolution. It was formed from the ashes of GRip (that’s an acronym for ‘gair rhydd information pullout’), a fairly sparsely designed newspaper style supplement. Although GRip was pretty good for its time, Quench improved upon it drastically. The most obvious changes were visual – a new format was adopted and editing techniques were altered – but the magazine was also expanded to accommodate new sections that form the basic skeleton of the Quench model today. It was still almost completely black and white, but for the first editor Alex Macpherson, it was a huge step.
quotations – a pretty good description of gair rhydd in its early days. This irreverence is part of its charm, but it quickly gets predictable. Conversely, trying to make a student magazine too much like a high street magazine can compromise the very relevance to the student body that makes student media special. Student media should never be about pure imitation; it is not about creating a microcosm of the national media. It’s my opinion that Quench has always succeeded with students and awards judges alike by toeing this fine line between irreverence and narcissism.
Over the years several specialised section pullouts have been produced, including food, fashion and music. Last year saw the first ever Quench Local Mixtape event From these ambitious beginnings Quench has basically snowballed into a bigger, better and more attractive
publication. The unique way in which Quench is edited (a new editorial team takes over each year) means that there is never any shortage of creative input for the magazine. Sections are chopped and replaced yearly, with only faint winces of sentimentality from older editors who have long since moved on to better things. In 2004, James Anthony’s team reworked the logo, and in 2005 Will Dean took the magazine into its contemporary glory. A website quickly followed, and by this time a Quench brand and aesthetic had begun to emerge, which was consolidated under Sophie Robehmed’s direction in 2006. The combined efforts of all of these editors has lead to Quench winning the award for ‘Best Student Magazine’ at The Guardian Student Media Awards for the last two years running. The Quench brand has also expanded to accommodate a number of offshoots. Over the years several specialised section pullouts have been produced, including food, fashion and music. Last year saw the first ever Quench Local Mixtape event, a celebration timed to coincide with Quench’s 50th issue and featuring the cream of local music. Organised by the music section and featuring twelve different bands, this micro-festival was a huge success and was the first event of its kind for the Students’ Union.
team is getting on in the league the gair rhydd will reveal all. Or if you just fancy a quick crossword on a Monday, then gair rhydd can supply you with that also. So whether you want to write or just to read, gair rhydd really does offer something for everyone.
Editor: Ben Bryant This year (and beyond)…
This year, new design software has brought with it new possibilities. The aesthetic is being evaluated and the logo redesigned. We’re also looking for designers, illustrators, artists, cartoonists and photographers to contribute to the pages and help make a few changes. This is our biggest priority at the moment. A website redesign will follow, and there will also be a few adjustments to content. Next year we’re also hoping to repeat the success of the Local Mixtape event, and there may be a few surprises in the pipeline, including a couple of special issues. We’re always looking for new contributors, and this year is no different. There will be as many possibilities as ever for anyone to write, so if you’re interested in any aspect of writing or design you should come along to a meeting. They’re pretty informal (we are students, after all) and definitely not intimidating.
Fancy getting inv Come along to o Societies’ Fayre
gairrhydd
SEPTEMBER.19.2007
17
FEATURES
FEATURES@gairrhydd.COM
iff’s student media
Xpress Radio
Station Manager: Rich Collins
for everyone! Xpress has two different sides to its schedule, which allows creative output from both sides in different ways. For example, if you want to be the next Chris Moyles and want to wake up hung over students to your booming voice, you can. If Hannah, our lovely head of mainstream thinks you are up to the challenge, you are given your own daytime show assigned with a producer with the task of creating ideas, stories and gossip to keep the show entertaining.
W
elcome to Cardiff University, and welcome to the time of your life. You are fortunate enough to be a student at one of the UK’s best universities and with so much on offer besides your degree, this is where life becomes interesting! At Cardiff you can throw a ball around the field being chased by an angry mob, or even join some random society celebrating the most obscurest of things… but I would like to intro-
duce you to the realms of student radio. Imagine being the presenter of your own radio show broadcast across the internet and around Cardiff! Or how about producing and managing the station whether through sales or helping the online team. There are lots of different jobs and work to be done in keeping our level of excellence recognised all across the UK. The beauty to all aspects of our Student Media is that they try to cater
Controller: Huw Thomas
T
here’s a revolution in Cardiff’s student media this year - we’re launching the union’s very own TV station, CUTV. Cardiff Union Television is the result of a few students’ determination to get Cardiff on the student TV map. Using the latest cameras, equipment and cutting edge video editing software, CUTV is the latest addition to Cardiff’s award-winning student media portfolio. The mix of programmes broadcast on CUTV is only limited by the imagination of students behind and in front of the camera. It’s a great place to get firsthand experience with the latest equipment, and let your creative side run riot in the studio or on location. From news, sport and entertainment to music, com-
There are lots of different jobs and work to be done in keeping out level of excellence recognised across the UK If you’d rather be the next Zane Lowe or Pendulum, then following auditions our specialist heads Andrew and Oz will assign you a night time show which will allow YOU to choose what music you want to play and discuss. Xpress wants presenters passionate about the music they play who can offer a different edge or perspective to what you necessarily hear everyday.
There are no rules to what type of music this may be, whether heavy metal to gangster rap. We also make a commitment to bring Welsh speakers into the mix, keeping the Welsh roots you will learn to inherit strong Music isn’t the only thing that needs presenting, with news playing a vital role in keeping students up to date with current and local events. We cover sport matches, important student meetings and all other global affairs, with each mainstream show having a bulletin every hour and a whole show dedicated to rounding up the news every week. This is extremely demanding but very rewarding as an integral part of what keeps our station both professional and interesting. Yet presenting isn’t for everyone. As I said before, there are many other parts to creating a successful team. Producers, technicians and sales/IT support are vital to building hype and getting people to listen to the station! No one is excluded from the decision making process, and every department has a role to play. Think of Xpress as a family where we have all become good friends outside of our halls and courses. Anyone will tell you this is the best part of joining any part of Student Media, meeting new people and trying
loads of new things. If you are interested in become part of the Xpress family.. look out for us at the Societies’ Fayre or come to the Media Recruitment Party, where you can sign up to all things media (Xpress being the best of course) or give me an email on stationmanager@xpressradio. co.uk. Or if you fancy having a look just pop into our studios at the top floor of the Union. Stay tuned and watch this space! But if Xpress doesn’t take your fancy give us a listen on our brand new website at www.xpressradio.co.uk and throughout the Union to win great prizes and be the first to know all things Cardiff University Inside your welcome pack you will find a cool Xpress Radio window sticker. Stick it in your window now, because during freshers’ week and throughout the year, if you get spotted with your Xpress Radio sticker on your window or in you car you can be rewarded with tickets for Solus. The rules are simple: Find you sticker Stick on a window Win a prize Do it!
CUTV
edy and drama, CUTV is set to cut up the TV Times and provide you with the shows you want to see – and featuring the people you know! Working alongside industry professionals, new members of CUTV will get full training in how to present, produce and edit their programmes. Using cutting edge technology, all of CUTV’s programmes will be available on demand via www.cardiffunion.tv. The website is easy to navigate, allows you to see the latest CUTV programmes and episodes of your favourite student shows, and even lets you comment on the clips you love – and hate! Programmes will also be shown on the TV screens around the Students’ Union building, and special events and sports updates broadcast to a packed Taf
every week. CU-Tube is where the videos you already have can make their way onto CUTV, without having to step inside the CUTV office. Whether it’s your footage of the footy initiation ceremony, or a clip of your best mate walking into a lamppost on his way out of the students’ union, we want your videos of the fun and frolics you’ve had in Cardiff. So have you ever fancied getting on TV? How about standing behind the camera and calling the shots? CUTV launches on November 5th, and by then we want your great ideas to be online and ready to watch. There are no limits, and if you’re after a career in TV when you graduate, there’s no better place to get a foot on the ladder. Whatever floats your boat, you can do it on CUTV!
volved with student media? our Media Recruitment Party on October 1st @ 7pm in Solus or find us at the on 27th September, or if you miss all that just pop up to the 4th Floor any time.
18 gairrhydd
SEPTEMBER.19.2007
FEATURES
FEATURES@gairrhydd.COM
Staying FRESH as a fresher
When you are a student it is all too easy to fall into bad habits with your health, here are some tips to keep you on track Register with a local GP It’s very important to register with a doctor as soon as you can. A few weeks down the line, when you’re struck down with freshers’ flu, the last thing you’ll feel like doing is rummaging through the pile of paperwork under your bed to find your NHS card. If you are ill, ask your doctor for a medical certificate. Your lecturers will give you a lot less grief for missing lectures or deadlines if you can prove that even reaching for the television remote was too much for you.
Beware of drugs The decision to use any kind of drugs ultimately lies with you. But, remember that although it sounds obvious, drugs are just as illegal in the University as they are elsewhere and their use can carry serious implications. Both excessive and recreational use of cannabis or harder drugs such as cocaine and heroin bring with them health and work-related problems, and the University has an established drugs policy. Don’t feel pressurised into taking anything. If you have any worries, you can get information and support from the Students’ Union Advice Centre and the University Advice Service, both of which are entirely confidential. And remember, being caught with
drugs could not only result in a criminal charge, it could also get you kicked out of university.
Don’t overdo the drinking For many people, Freshers’ week can be an intoxicating time. It is associated with endless socialising fuelled by copious amounts of alcohol. However, with nine out of 10 accidents being related to alcohol, you could end up with more than just a sore head the next morning if you over-indulge. Many a fine fresher has taken the drinking culture a little too far. Don’t be the one that spends half their night with their head in the toilet bowl. No one likes the puker. So, go out, enjoy yourself, but be careful. Never feel pushed, or push others, into drinking. If you drink alcohol, learn to know your own limits and eat well before you drink: carbohydrates such as bread and potatoes help line your stomach and soak up alcohol. Drink plenty of water, as alcohol dehydrates you. Used sensibly, alcohol can enhance a good night out. But bar binges do not
Health Tips for Freshers’ Week
NIGHT BEFORE drink on an empty stomach, always line it before going out - if 1 Never you find you’re out of food, at least neck a pint of milk. to vodka, not as silly as it sounds. It is the purest form of alcohol 2 Stick and is the cleanest in your body. A hangover is not just caused by dehy-
dration, they are also caused by the impurities found in your drinks of choice. If you drink sugary drinks or large quantities of wine (which contain fruit acids similar to sugar) you will be coming down from a sugar high which will do nothing to improve your hangover mood.
drink spirits and mixers it is a good idea when buying your round 3 Ifto you order a glass of water at the same time. You will probably find you can down it before you have even left the bar.
before bed, the student favorite of toast applies here. Soaking up the 4 Eat excess liquid in your stomach will ease the sick feeling in the morning.
MORNING AFTER also to down a pint of water before you pass out and have a 1 Remember reserve next to your bed for morning thirst quenching. reach for the coffee pot. Tempting though this may be to get 2 Don’t through morning lectures, coffee is very harsh on the liver and should not be drunk first thing in the morning. Instead stick to mineral water or fruit juices.
the often overwelming temptation of a fry-up. Greasy food is hard 3 Avoid for your body to digest, especially in an alcohol ravaged digestive system. Stick to fruit, especially potassium-laden bananas, and bio yoghurt until at least lunch
enhance brain activity at next morning’s lectures. Getting legless increases the risk of accidents and violence (particularly in men), and can lead to having sex with someone that you didn’t really want to have it with.
Stay safe Look out for yourself and your friends. Cardiff isn’t downtown LA, but you still have to use common sense and look after your own safety. If you are out late at night, particularly in Freshers’ week when you don’t know the city, make sure you go home in groups, or order a taxi. Also make sure that the taxi you are getting into is registered, and that the driver has an ID badge. Stick to well-lit areas and consider carrying a personal safety alarm, which is available in the Union shops at a very low price. Keep an eye on your drinks too. Drink spiking is on the increase, with men becoming victims as often as women. Don’t accept drinks from strangers and always keep your drink covered.
Don’t be a fool, cover you tool Approximately 25,000 people are known carriers of HIV in Britain. On top of this, there are those carrying the virus unknowingly. The concept of an ‘at risk’ group is outdated and misleading. Anybody who participates in any high-risk be-
haviour faces a very real possibility of contracting the HIV virus or any other sexually transmitted disease. In fact, more people now contract HIV through heterosexual sex than any other single type of behaviour. According to recent surveys, 40% of UK students have sex at least once a week, and two-thirds of sexually active students have had unprotected sex. Think about how you are going to guard yourself against unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, which are all on the increase. You should visit your doctor or local GUM clinic if you experience itching, swelling or redness around your vagina or penis, unusual discharge from your vagina or penis, or pains in your lower abdomen. So, always practice safe sex to protect yourself. Free condoms are available from the Student Advice and Representation Centre, the SHAG office on the Third Floor, or the University Health Centre. All of these services provide free, confidential advice and information on
agencies that offer support to those affected by, or concerned about, HIV and other STDs.
Look after your mental health Your main health concerns as a student will have more to do with learning to adjust to life away from home and family than physical problems. Suddenly, you are responsible for organising your life and everything is new. Some people find this exciting, while others find it confusing and a bit lonely. This feeling should soon wear off - they say the first term is the worst. But if it doesn’t, don’t bottle up your feelings. Talk to someone about it. If you feel that your friends won’t understand, then try your personal tutor. The important thing to remember is that everyone has mental health. One in four people will suffer a mental health problem in the course of a year. There are a few things you can do to protect yours. Eating sensibly can limit feelings of anxiety and depression. Value your friends, as just talking can help you and them. Exercise effects the mood immediately, and can also be good social activity. Sleep, laughter, crying, making time for you, and relaxation all help too.
20 gairrhydd
SEPTEMBER.19.2007
JOBS & MONEY
JOBS@gairrhydd.COM
The fresher, the better
As advertisers gear up for the new term and the new intake, Jobs & Money looks at the effect it has on your wallet Gillian Roberts Jobs & Money Correspondent
A
s students are receiving their student loans this month, advertises are rubbing their hands together with glee. The time of year has arrived where students are being bombarded daily with adverts, promotions, deals, popups, text messages and leaflets. Even if students wish to walk to lectures without knowing that if you buy two
plant pots you get one free, a largerthan-life stuffed animal will definitely push a leaflet in their faces. Yet many students with cash burning in their pockets this September will succumb to spending their much-needed money. The bulls-eye of the student market are freshers, a prime target who are learning how to spend and budget their loan money.
Harriet Swain from The Guardian has said that for students, ‘their loan is virtually spent’ because of advertising. The rising student population representing more than 40% of 18-24 yearolds according to The Guardian, so no part of student-ville is left untouched by the money-itching businesses. Students are unable to stop scratching. Shops and businesses tempt students to take out store cards to gain money off their purchases, creating more areas where students owe money. According to Luke Mitchell, a managing consultant for Reach Students, some students are relaxed with the idea of debt. “Since fees started coming in and loans were made available, students have been able to access quite a lot of money to get them through,” says Mitchell. “Their attitude is that these are the best years of their lives, they are going to have fun now and think about paying for it later.” The National Union of Students (NUS) advise all students to budget this September when receiving their loans. They suggest that you work out exactly what essential costs will be needed each month, divide this up into weekly amounts and then take this money out each week, avoiding several trips to the cash machine. The NUS also warn students that they must not give into peer pressure and must
not believe that they can afford to do everything that they want. However, recent research has shown that adverts for alcoholic drinks are able to persuade buyers subconsciously. Items which are presented with brightly coloured packaging or have eye-catching displays in supermarkets have been seen to affect consumer buying trends, say researchers from The University of Wales Bangor. Research also claims that simply noticing alcohol imagery without even wanting to get drunk can make you
“Their attitude is that these are the best years of their lives, they are going to have fun now and think about paying for it later” want another drink. Professor W Miles Cox of Bangor’s School of Psychology said: “The act of drinking becomes increasingly automatic, so that the person is unaware of the chain of processes leading to drinking, after he or she has encountered the triggering stimuli.’” Advertisers and businesses use Freshers’ Week to encourage students to push their usual drinking boundaries and stretch their finances.
Dr. Andrew Dearden, Chairman of the British Medical Asoociation (BMA) Welsh General Practitioners committee, said: “Advertising really only has one purpose and that is to sell more of one particular product.” A Cardiff History student, commenting of the influence of advertising, said: “I often take leaflets from the promoters outside the Humanities building but only from feeling pressured into it. I find it very annoying. “Sometimes I see a useful drinks promotion, but it is harder not to get tempted after having a couple of drinks, making it difficult to budget your money on a night out.” In the future, new technology will allow advertisers to use table tops to screen news, moving advertisements and interactive services in Students’ Unions. Based at Loughborough University, Zest Promotions claim that students will eventually be able to click the screen to order a takeaway from an advertisement, leading to students being enticed to spend even while enjoying a pint at the Union bar. As graduates will possibly earn a third more than non-graduates, today’s students are seen to be the high spenders of the future, leaving students being the number one consumer target for a while longer.
Dealing with Debt
Debt is a problem for many students yet is rarely spoken about. Jobs & Money looks at the support on offer to students struggling with their finances
I
t is estimated that the average student leaves university with around £12,000 worth of debt. When you get given your student loan it is very easy to fall into the trap of excessive spending. But many students think they need to spend a lot to have fun. It is best to try and live on a budget, but of course this is easier said than done. The most important thing is to make sure you are aware of your finances. Living in ignorance is really not bliss when it comes to debt, as it has the potential to come back and catch up with you later in life when applying for mortgages and even jobs. Support is available for students struggling with Financial Contingency Funds available from the University. Applications for these funds are available from the Student Advice Centre on the 3rd floor of the Students’ Union and from Student Support at 50 Park Place. The Advice Centre also offers support for students and can make referrals to the Citizen’s Advice Bureau to ensure students with money problems have all the support they need.
real life...
L
ast year Mark* graduated with a 2.2 in History. But he didn’t leave Cardiff with his degree alone, he also took with him an unhealthy amount of debt. Mark had to fund himself throughout university as his parents could not afford to support him throughout his degree. The summer before university he managed to save £1,000 which he hoped would help him get started at Cardiff. He opened a student bank account, where he was offered an interest free overdraft. Everything was set up right to help him through university, he knew he would have to get a job once he arrived and was prepared for that. When Mark arrived at Cardiff he immediately got into the swing of student lifestyle. He loved going out with all of his new friends and with that came the inevitable spends on alcohol. By day he would discover the new shops in Cardiff and of course would buy the occasional new top, and jeans
and jackets. “I justified it all to myself, and at the time it seemed perfectly rational. I would buy new jeans from Topshop and would think, well at least I don’t have to pay full price with my student discount card. When it came to drinking, I justified it by thinking this is the only chance I get to be a fresher I’m going to make the most of it. I saw my student loan debt as part of my university experience. It was something that everyone else was going to have as well, so that made it easier to spend.” “Living off your loan like this was OK for a lot of my friends. They had full financial support from their family and their loans were effectively their spending money. But I didn’t have that same support. Another of my friends was in a similar position to me financially but she got a job and didn’t live so extravagantly. I didn’t get a job because I didn’t want to miss out on the fun everyone else was having.” Mark’s student loan was spent
within five weeks, by Christmas he had maxed out his overdraft. “Once I maxed out my first overdraft I opened another student account with another overdraft.”
Once I maxed out my overdraft I opened another account, with another overdraft Although Mark knew he was getting into all this debt he just chose to ignore it. Credit cards quickly became part of his life. “I always used to think it would be fine, and that I would just get a job when I graduated and pay it all off. This mentality stuck with me for three years.” “I don’t really want to admit how much I am in debt by but I am working now and starting to pay off the debt. It certainly isn’t easy. I live with my
parents so don’t have to pay rent, but I know it will be a long time before all that debt is gone.” “In my final year I found about the support funds from the University. I was successful in my application and used the money to cover part of my rent. At this point I was starting to come to my senses about my finances and saw the contingency fund as a real aid. Had I known about it earlier in my degree, I hate to say it, but I would have probably just spent it enjoying myself.” “I chose to ignore my situation, which I know was the worst thing I could have done, but I was just out for a good time. It is really important that you don’t ignore your debt and you do try to budget your spending. I do this now with my wages and I do wish I had done this at university.” * Name has been changed for privacy purposes.
gairrhydd
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TAF-OD
SEPTEMBER.19.2007 TAFOD@gairrhydd.COM
GWNEIR POB YMDRECH
Mae gair rhydd yn rhoi cyngor am sut i gael y gorau o’chaddysg uwch trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg
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WNC SYDD wedi cael sylw mawr ar dudalennau gair rhydd yw'r iaith Gymraeg, gyda'r Cymry Cymraeg yn cwyno na ddefnyddir digon ohoni gan brifysgol prifddinas Cymru, a'r diGymraeg yn dadlau bod gormodedd ohoni. Mae gan y brifysgol gynllun iaith sy'n nodi'n ddigon eglur bod 'cyfle cyfartal' i'w weithredu. Gellir gweld y cynllun ar wefan y brifysgol, http://www.cf.ac.uk/cymraeg/welsh/studyCardiff/langPolicy.sh tml, ond hoffwn dynnu eich sylw at ambell bwynt penodol ar ddechrau'r flwyddyn academaidd newydd. Er mai Ysgol y Gymraeg yw'r unig adran sy'n dysgu trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg, mae gan bob myfyriwr yr hawl i gael tiwtor personol sy'n siarad Cymraeg. Hyd yn oed os nad oes aelod o'r adran honno'n medru'r iaith, 'gwneir pob ymdrech i ddefnyddio aelod priodol o staff Ysgol gysylltiedig' (7.3.1.). Mae gan bob myfyriwr hefyd yr hawl i ysgrifennu ei draethodau asesedig yn Gymraeg, a sefyll ei arholiadau drwy gyfrwng yr iaith, gyda'r brifysgol yn darparu cyfieithydd. Felly gwnewch ymholiadau â'ch adran cyn gynted â phosibl - dyw pawb ddim yn ymwybodol bod hyn yn bosibl, ond mae gennych eich hawliau. Bydd gofyn i chi anfon cais ar ffurf llythyr cyn dyddiad arbennig er mwyn sicrhau'r trefniant priodol. Bydd y cyfeiriad a'r dyddiad perthnasol yn rhifyn nesaf Taf-Od. Ifor Gruffydd sy'n rheoli Cynllun Iaith y brifysgol, ac os oes gennych unrhyw ymholiadau pellach, cysylltwch ag ef, naill ai ar 02920 874 792, neu trwy anfon e-bost at GruffyddI@caerdydd.ac.uk
Croeso i Taf-Od Welcome To Taf-Od CROESO I GYFROL cyntaf Taf-Od o 2007/08. I’r rhai ohonoch a fu’n ddarllenwyr y flwyddyn diwethaf disgwyliwch Taf-Of i adeiladu ar waith y flwyddyn ddiwethaf. I’r rhai ohonoch sy’n newydd i’r papur, disgwyliwch lond het o erthyglau yn Gymraeg ar gyfer Cymry’r brifysgol. Eleni fe fydd Taf-Od ar ei newydd wedd, gyda chyfle i'r darllenydd gyfrannu at ei chynnwys. Yn ogystal â'r erthyglau arferol, gobeithiwn gadw mewn cysylltiad â gwahanol weithgareddau dros y flwyddyn a drefnir gan gymdeithasau sy'n gweithredu trwy'r Gymraeg. Felly os hoffech gyfrannu, anfonwch ef atom ar tafod@gairrhydd.com; byddwn yn falch clywed gennych. Gwahoddwn i chi hefyd i gysylltu â ni ynglyn â phynciau y teimlwch a ddylai gael sylw yn TafOd.
WELCOME TO the first edition of TafOd for 2007/08. To those who have been avid readers in the past you can expect Taf-od to build on the work of former Edtiors and contributors. To those of you who are new to the paper, expect a page packed full of articles in Welsh for the Welsh. This year Taf-Od, in its new guise, will give you the reader more opportunities to contribute to the section.We hope to extend the scope of the section beyond the usual articles. If you wish to contribute email: tafod@gairrhydd.com; we look forward to hearing from you. Should you wish to express your views on the content we publish on Taf-Od or issues you’d like to see on this page please contact us.
Have you ever wondered how evolution really works? In his new book, Derek Hough uses reasoned argument and simple arithmetic to attack both neoDarwinian orthodoxy and Creationist dogma to argue that there is in fact a ‘third way’ to explain the existence of complex life, such as the human species.
Evolution: from copying errors to evolvability (ISBN 978 1 84624 113 0) is now available from Amazon.
gairrhydd 23
FIVE MINUTE FUN/GRAB!
SEPTEMBER.19.2007 FMF@gairrhydd.COM
found on facebook
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1. Log onto the book of face. 2. Join the group ‘found on facebook’ 3. Upload embarrassing photos 4. Grab gair rhydd on Monday and laugh
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HOW TO PLAY SUDOKU: Put your left leg in. Pull your left leg out. In Out. In Out. Shake it all about. Do the hokey kokey and turn around bright eyes. Every now and then I fall apart. And I need you more than ever, and we only be making it right, peanuts.
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GRAB! GRAB! GRAB! GRAB! GRAB!
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Normally we have an entire page of prizes to give to you lovely people, but sadly we are downsized this week to the corner, but our prizes will definitely have you sorted for freshers’ week.
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Welcome to GRAB! the place for all sorts of incredible goodies and fun stuff!
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WIN A PAIR OF TICKET FOR ALL OF THESE FANTASTIC FRESHERS’ NIGHTS OUT
THE LOCK & KEY PARTY
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22.09.07 Great Hall
THE FRESHERS’ PARTY ACROSS 1 South coast resort (6,5) 8 Humble (6) 10 Increase threefold (6) 12 Savage killing (9) 14 Have a wager (3) 15 Male cat (3) 16 Make cold (5) 17 Part of a relay race (3) 19 Twenty cwt (3) 20 Travelplan (9) 21 Motor (6) 23 Indicate (6) 24 Advised (11)
DOWN 2 Most senior (6) 3 Normally (3) 4 Decay (3) 5 Bring in from another country (6) 6 Car security device (11) 7 British Houses of Parliament (11) 9 Supporting pole (9) 11 Strike back (9) 13 Complain (5) 18 Laugh nervously (6) 19 Old Northern Ireland county (6) 22 Diseased tree? (3) 23 Expire (3)
23.09.07 Great Hall
All you have to do is answer this simple question: What is the name of the nightclub inside the Students’ Union?
Rubber Duck: CHAVTASTIC 25.09.07 Solus
Rubber Duck: BEACH PARTY 26.09.07 Solus
Rubber Duck: TRAFFIC LIGHT PARTY 27.09.07 Solus
Send your entries asap to competitions@gairrhydd.com The first five people to email in the correct answerwill win a pair of tickets for each night of Freshers’. Good Luck!
gairrhydd
SEPTEMBER.19.2007
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SPORT
SPORT@gairrhydd.COM
Sport the difference
George Pawley guides you through the weird and wonderful world of alternative sports you can have a crack at in Cardiff
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Caving
Water Polo
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Cannot be described basically – it involves ups and downs and rocks and water as you go exploring through the underground labyrinths in search of escapism or just a bit of exercise. Get to grip with those stalagmites and stalactites. Not literally, please.
Is definitely something for an all-rounder to tackle, provided they have graduated from rubber armbands. Apparently, it involves elements of football, basketball, ice hockey, rugby, wrestling and you also need the tactical nouse of a chess grandmaster.
Korfball
Fencing
Is a mixture of skills used in basketball and netball with the exception being that Korfball involves mixed teams of four men and four women. Internationally, the sport has been dominated by The Netherlands. Can you change that?
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Is a way you can take out some of the stress after a day of lectures and seminars, as it is an art of armed combat using a foil,
a light, one-handed sword. It’s also a great way to exercise, far more interesting than going to the gym. And James Bond plays it.So you can do exercise and be cool.
Riding You don’t have to be a fool to ride a horse, honest. If Sarah Cox and Matt from Blue Peter can do it, anybody can. There are different ride groups which are dependent on your ability. Cardiff has entered two BUSA teams this season. And on top of that, there are socials too.
Ultimate Frisbee The classic game of Frisbee, made really competitive. Imagine
that. It’s another sport created by fusing elements of other sports, with the need for supreme agility, speed and stamina added into the bargain. So don’t wait for summer to play frisbee- sign up now and play throughout the year.
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Kite Surf
The fastest growing water sport in the world is on offer in Cardiff for anyone who loves excitement and action on the waves. Don’t forget, getting involved will also mean trips to the beautiful beaches in the UK, and possibly further afield.
Rambling Surely the best way to keep fit
and take in the gorgeous scenery around Cardiff is to have a go at rambling, a challenge for anyone to undertake if they want to explore the countryside in a rather unique way. Singing optional.
American
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Football
Train and play with the Cardiff Cobras if you want t o participate in the brutal, hard-hitting world of ‘Football’ imported from across the pond. It’s the most popular spectator sport in the US, with Superbowl attracting a world record 138.5 million viewers in 1996.
Get involved!
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SEPTEMBER.19.2007
SPORT
SPORT@gairrhydd.COM
IMG: explained Steven Florey explains why IMG is so special W
ithout a doubt, the IMG, otherwise known as the Intra Mural Games, represents one of the most essential parts of sporting life at Cardiff University. For those unaccustomed to the delights of IMG, it exists as one of the largest branches of the Cardiff’s Athletic Union. Comprised of Football, Rugby and Netball leagues, IMG offers a highly appealing alternative to the competitive BUSA leagues. In fact, with the estimated number of student participants said to be in excess of 1,000, most would agree that there is plenty of competition available. The popularity of the sports on offer is certainly a factor in making IMG so successful. This is, however, by no means the only explanation. It takes little time to realise that IMG is actually one of a kind. Anything that contains such a variety of teams, such an assortment of people, can never just be about sport. The truth is that, once registered, you are thrust into a social network that immediately becomes your own.
IMG: Come rain or shine the teams are out
Everything, from the selection of the team name - which, in IMG Football has included such timeless creations as ‘Inter-Me Nan’ and ‘Arse’Alona’right up to the post-match banter, demonstrates how IMG irresistibly fuses student culture with sport. This blend most noticeably manifests itself on IMG social nights, which are organised by the vast majority of teams. Whether you are celebrating victory, or lamenting a disastrous display, the team social offers a space for each team to gel that little bit more. With the majority of games played each Wednesday afternoon, IMG offers every student the chance to break up their week. You might participate in the match, the social, or even both, but, whatever your input, you can be assured that you will feel more refreshed for the ensuing lectures. In addition to its social attraction, the whole IMG experience is assisted by its structure. The inclusion of preliminary leagues, for example, ensures that the teams are appropriately sorted. The eventual placement of your team into a league of similar ability ensures that the prospect of
victory is ever-present. This is vital in retaining the spirited approach that is so unique to IMG. Whilst IMG does possess this upbeat atmosphere, it is still the place for serious players to compete as well. The constant arrival of a number of talented players guarantees that a competitive edge is brightly stamped on each league. This, coupled with an overall desire to avoid an opposing team’s jibes makes it certain that every team will be aiming for the greatest outcome. The recent inclusion of paid referees has also made an important contribution to IMG. With the insertion of a large number of well-qualified, neutral figures, the seriousness of IMG can hardly be doubted. So, with IMG proving to be greatly competitive, as well as a crucial social network for students, what more could you ask from sport? Currently, there are 32 teams of football, 24 of Netball and 9 of Rugby, on offer. With such a selection as this, there must surely be a team for every individual looking to take on sport at Cardiff. Make sure that you register at this year’s IMG Fayre.
LADIES RUGBY: IMG not just for boys
The idiot’s guide to setting up an IMG team
Last year Ian Jones set up his own IMG football team, he reveals all to Sport about how he went about it
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fter a year playing 5-a-side matches with friends, we decided to take the next step and to take part in competitive 11-a-side football. Instead of looking to join an established team, we decided to undertake the adventure of registering our own IMG team. A horrifically drunken night with a rather intoxicated Welshman led to the creation of our name. The next steps involved pumping our ‘hard earned’ student loans into buying kits and providing the enrollment fees. We had to start queuing for the registration meeting at 2am to guarantee our place in the leagues even though the actual start time of the registration is 9am. As soon as we joined the queue, we became immersed in the banter and social culture that makes IMG the competition it is. We then set up trials and a messy social night out to help the team
bonding process. Both sides of the IMG culture soon ran my life. Surprisingly for a new team, our quality of football was of a consistently high quality. The matches, every Wednesday at Pontcanna, were followed with team socials. These were without a doubt the highlight of my week, with the banter between rival teams making every week different. Setting up the team originally seemed like a lot of work, but any lows we faced were genuinely trounced by the highs. When you and your underestimated team brush aside an established IMG side, the feeling is indescribable. With IMG, in whichever sport, you get the true grass roots experience: a weekly game with a bunch of friends, plus some ridiculously good nights out too.
Hundreds of sports players take to the pitches each week
gairrhydd
SEPTEMBER.19.2007
SPORT
SPORT@gairrhydd.COM
BUSA: explained Jack Zorab on BUSA athletes
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o you’re thinking of playing sport at Cardiff? Well you’re next decision is probably whether to play for the University teams in BUSA (British Universities Sports Association) leagues or whether to play in the IMG (Inter-Mural Games). My advice is to definitely, definitely try out for a BUSA team first. You won’t be restricted to just football, rugby or netball, and with around 50 AU clubs the opportunities to try something new and meet people are endless. Don’t just try out for one session though; make sure you give it a good amount of time; a month of playing and training will be perfect to determine whether you want to carry it on for the whole season. That may sound like a lot, but to try out for most of the BUSA sides you have to have paid a joining fee so you don’t want to leave after one session just because there were too many people training and you didn’t get as much of the ball as you’d hoped. After the first two weeks of training the numbers of people turning up to training
may die down significantly and then you can make a clearer judgement of whether the team, training and coaches are what you expected. Also during this time you may have played one or two matches against other universities, so you’ll be able to determine the standard of the league you’re involved in and whether you’re side will challenging for honours or dogging it out to avoid relegation come the end of the season.
BUSA gives you the chance to do something new
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ing is pretty easy. You’ve just got to be slightly on the ball during the daylight hours of Freshers’ week, which you may not be seeing very many of. But make sure you haul yourself down to the Union on for the Sports Fayre in the Great Hall, where every sport and club will be represented and you can sign up for whichever take your fancy. BUSA provides an opportunity for any talented sportsman to test themselves out against other universities and other students and if you’ve never given the particular sport a try, it give you the chance to try something new.
Giving a BUSA side a go first means that if you decide in the end you don’t want to do it you can join a IMG team with consummate ease and with only a small or non-existent joining fee. However attempting this process in reverse is trickier and means that by the time you join you’re the BUSA team it will a lot harder to break into the team. Signing up for sports clubs and making it to the right pitch for train-
BUSA: Cardiff finished 16th last year
Time to Turner round the AU
Scott D’Arcy speaks to this year’s AU President Ben Turner about the year ahead for the Athletic Union What was the motivation behind you running for AU (athletic union) President? After coming to terms with the fact that I am never going to be a professional sportsman I settled for the next best thing. I feel that students and clubs should be given great representation regarding sport and exercise and I feel these areas have room for much improvement.
What are you hoping to change or improve about AU facilities this year? Good question. You may not be aware that the facilities here are barely adequate for such a large, highly regarded university like our own, with over 25000 students. There are only 60 gym stations, two inferior tennis courts, NO swimming pool and only one all-weather pitch. So what can we do as a student body? - a high profile campaign will continue this year titled ‘INVEST IN SPORT’. This campaign aims to show the university that students believe the provision of top class sport and exercise facilities to be a priority. This will create pressure for the University to provide such facilities. Following the Invest in Sport campaign last year the University committed to building an all-weather rubber crumb training pitch, but the fact is that the university must keep investing in sport and exercise. A common misconception is that all sports are university lead – in fact it is the students themselves that run the
diverse sport and activities at universities. Also the facilities are owned by the university and the students rent the facilities off them. The important fact is that I cannot do anything without the support of the students. You are now all members of the Students’ Union and together we can force great change; we can do anything if we band together.
Cardiff finished well in the BUSA rankings last year but what improvements could be made to boost our position this year? Last year Cardiff finished 16th which was an unbelievable achievement, but no doubt the talent we have can propel ourselves further up the board. However without the continued investment in sport facilities and the increase of the overall profile of sport at Cardiff University the clubs will suffer. Also the provision of more coaches for the clubs will aid development. Which sports clubs, if any, are you involved in? I tried to be involved in as many as possible – I’ve played rugby and IMG football and used the gym during my time at Cardiff. The aim is for everyone to be involved in at least one club or activity; we have a lot to offer with 57 clubs in BUSA (British University Sports Association) - the leagues where we compete against other universities around Britain. And for those looking to play “less”
competitive sport there are the IMG (intra mural games) for inter school matches on a Wednesday. There are leagues in netball, football and rugby, and all in all there are over 5,000 students who participate each week.
What would your advice be for any Freshers wanting to play sport at Cardiff? The advice I would offer is to attend the sports fayre on the 28th September at the Students’ Union building in the Great Hall. There you will be able to see what clubs the Athletics Union have to offer. I would say definitely join at least one club, and even if you don’t know anyone else joining you will find everyone helpful and friendly and when you join you will be guaranteed to have a great time this year. What are your other interests other than sport? Other than sport I enjoy socialising, especially in the ‘Taff Bar’ and ‘Solus’ night club. The best night in the Student Union building is obviously ‘Rubber Duck’ where after a Wednesday afternoon’s activities you can enjoy a couple of jars with the team. While there is a lot of diversity in the sports available at Cardiff, will there be any expansion to accommodate more clubs? We encourage as much participation as possible and will make it our priority to cater to whatever the students want, so if you and some mates can’t see anything you like and want to set
up your own club that would be great, even without the facilities we hire out other external venues. For example, a table tennis club has been added this year and will be competing in BUSA.
What are your aspirations for the future? Ideally more participation – the aim is for a record number of students to join the athletic union and get out and active, exercising regularly and having a good time. A higher placement in the BUSA rankings would also be great. Towards the end of the sporting
calendar there is the annual duel with Swansea in the Varsity where we do battle in many sports with a showpiece rugby match at Cardiff Arms Park. Hopefully we can retain the Varsity Shield This can all be achieved by us with the hard work of the students and the continuation of the ‘Invest In Sport’ campaign. But basically this is your union and you can change things if you want to see things happen.
Sport gairrhydd
Inside: The lowdown on all things sport at Cardiff University
SHOOTING
STAR
SHOOTING SUCCESS: Mark Hampton in Bangkok
“It was a brilliant atmosphere; the Thai people were so incredibly friendly, the Great Britain headquarters were brilliant and the village was buzzing”
This summer Physics student Mark Hampton made Cardiff proud with his success at the World University Olympic Games George Pawley Sports Editor Cardiff University’s sole representative at the World University Games, Mark Hampton, finished a creditable 8th place in the Men’s Trap Shooting event in August. As one of the ten shooters selected to represent Great Britain, third year Physics student Hampton fought through four qualifying rounds, narrowly missing out on the final, which was eventually won by Simone Prosperi of Italy.
The 24th Games, this year held in Bangkok, are open to students between 17 and 28 who attend university, or have not been out of university for more than a year, provided they are selected to represent their nation. Speaking to gair rhydd Sport on his return to the UK, Hampton believes that despite his top ten placing, he could have placed higher in Bangkok; “I’m not happy with eighth, I’m actually angry with my performance as I found form in my last round. I’m easily capable of scores that won the gold.”
Other representatives of Great Britain also enjoyed success at the Games, with the British team winning ten medals in all events, though this was only enough to reach a disappointing 18th in the medals table, a long way behind overall winners Russia who gained a staggering 92 medals. China took the most gold medals country-by-country, securing 32 in the 12 day competition. The only gold for the GB team came in the 100 metres athletics, courtesy of Simeon Williamson of Middlesex University.
Unfortunately, the Games have received international media coverage for the wrong reasons, after Dr Lawrence Rink, Chairman of the Medical Commission for the International University Sports Federation, admitted that several athletes had failed drugs tests throughout the competitions, stating; “We can’t provide details at this point but there have been some positive tests.” Hampton did not have to undergo the testing process, explaining; “I wasn’t tested as I didn’t win my event and wasn’t subjected to random
selection.” In addition to the sample failures at the Games, a brawl involving players and spectators of a quarter-final football match between Thailand and Mexico, have tarnished an event designed to showcase the best of University sporting prowess. Despite this, the Cardiff student was upbeat about the Games, saying; “It was a brilliant atmosphere; the Thai people were so incredibly friendly, the Great Britain headquarters were brilliant and the village was buzzing.”
GAIR RHYDD AND QUENCH MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED BY UNIVERSITY UNION CARDIFF, PARK PLACE, CARDIFF CF10 3QN REGISTERED AS A NEWSPAPER AT THE POST OFFICE GAIR RHYDD RESERVES THE RIGHT TO EDIT ALL CONTRIBUTIONS THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF THE PUBLISHERS THE GAIR RHYDD IS WRITTEN, DESIGNED, TYPESET AND OUTPUT BY STUDENTS OF CARDIFF UNIVERSITY n WILL: ‘I WANTED TO SCALE HIS COCK... I MEAN CLOCK TOWER’ nBRYANT COPYRIGHTS GASH ON THE LASH n BRING ON LASH OUT WITH YOUR GASH OUT n BRYANT: ‘OOO HE’S LIKE A CONDOM STUFFED WITH WALNUTS’ n CAN’T WAIT FOR OCTOBER BOYS AND GIRLS n