gair rhydd - Issue 873 pt1 by Cardiff Student Media

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ISSUE 873 JUNE 09 2008 CARDIFF’S STUDENT WEEKLY free word - EST. 1972

INSIDE...NEWS/JOBS&MONEY/FEATURES/OPINION/SPORT header

at the summer ball

what on earth is

INSIDE: volume III of creative words, the definitive anthology of creative writing by students at Cardiff University m/

THIS ISSUE: hay festival round-up kama sutra rated fashion shoot for the summer ball magical new fruit discovered ATP reviewed blind date goes gay best of the festivals

GET IT OUT PHOTOS: Ben Bryant

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Corinne Rhoades News Editor Students are being asked to ‘Get It Out for Cardiff’ in the biggest ever rubbish disposal operation to be organised for them in the city. Last year the council-run Keep Cardiff Tidy campaign collected 300 tonnes of student rubbish for Get It Out For Cardiff, a scheme which took place at the end of the academic year to

help keep Cardiff’s heavily-populated student areas clean. As students moved out of their term-time homes, extra waste and recycling collections were arranged to avoid the clutter of household waste and abandoned furniture, clothing and books which annually litter the streets. This year, the team behind the initiative, which is run in association with Cardiff, UWIC and Glamorgan universities, have hit 15,000 properties

across Cathays, Roath and Gabalfa with advertising leaflets and charity bags for the children’s charity Barnardo’s. For the first time, recyclable goods will be collected along with the Barnardo’s bags, which can be used to donate clothes, CDs and books to the charity. Kieran McCann, Student Liaison Officer for Cardiff Council and one of the Get It Out for Cardiff organisers, said: “The aim is that if something can’t

be recycled, it can be donated.” But gair rhydd spoke to some students who were sceptical about the scheme. Katie Spiers, a first-year French and Spanish student, said: “I’d be inclined to throw everything into one bag, especially if I’m not sure about what can and can’t be recycled.” Continued on page 3

ALL THE LATEST NEWS ON THE SUMMER BALL: PAGES 9-12

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NEWS

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this week in gair rhydd: JUNE.09.2008

PHOTOGRAPHY

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the year year in pictures pictures Left to right Pendulum, Fun Run 2008, Break Dancing, Duffy, Freshers’ Crew 2007, Go Green Campaign, Gig Crowd, Go Team

JUNE.09.2008

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PHOTOGRAPHY

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Ed Salter

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Sudoku

Ed Salter

60 Ed Salter

Sport: Cricket success at BUSA Ed Salter

PHOTO: Ed Salter

38-39 ?? Ed Salter

Natalia Popova

Ed Salter

Features: Gambling addictions

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JUNE.09.2008

NEWS

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Get It Out for Cardiff “Perhaps it would be more of a hindrance than a help if people recycled the wrong things.” Awareness is a key concern for the campaign this year. Designated ‘Green Zones’ have been set up around all the Students’ Unions involved with the scheme. Posters calling for students to ‘Be A Rubbish Superhero’ also feature Cardiff University Students’ Union (CUSU) President Jonny Cox and CUSU Vice President Rowena Vassallo dressed in superhero outfits fashioned out of binliners and recycling bags. McCann urged students to make an effort to recycle. He said: “If you can put it in a black bag you might as well just put it in a coloured one. “We’re doing our best to make students aware of what goes in what bag.” The campaign comes soon after CUSU’s first ever Go Green week, which saw students take part in a Cathayswide litter pick. One of the aims of the week was to “strengthen bonds with the University and the local community” and raise students’ awareness about the environment.

PHOTO: Abigail Whittaker

Continued from front

There are extra waste collections on Friday June 13, Saturday June 14, Sunday June 15, Friday June 27, Saturday June 28, Sunday June 29, Monday June 30 and Tuesday July 1

Science and Environment find out more about Keep Wales Tidy on page 26

YUVA President honoured

Race Equality Officer decided Abigail Whittaker News Editor

Founder and President of the Cardiff University Youth of India Society has been named winner of the prestigious Honour Roll award Corinne Rhoades News Editor The President and Founder of the Youth of India (YUVA) Society has been recognised by the University as the winner of this year’s Honour Roll award. Shreenivas Raju, who was also named Best President at the Society Awards 2008, was shortlisted for the Honour Roll along with Flashmob Society President Lara Bell, Law Society President Elissa Bowell, and Cardiff University Students’ Union (SU) Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender

Officer Sally Wood. He was awarded the honour by a panel of judges who commended his “infectious” passion and enthusiasm. The Honour Roll seeks to recognise an individual who has gone above and beyond the call of duty in their contribution to student life or who has overcome personal difficulties. Shreenivas said he felt “honoured” to have won the prestigious award in what has been an “emotional rollercoaster of a year”. He hailed Discover India, a YUVA Go Global event, and the biggest ever Diwali ball to be held at Cardiff University, on which gair rhydd reported

in November 2007, as his greatest achievements. The panel of judges praised his “efforts in recruiting international students to the University” and the fact that “Shree has overcome difficult personal circumstances and come out the other side stronger and more determined”. SU President Jonny Cox, who helped to make the decision, said: “The YUVA Society has been fantastic with its efforts in integrating large numbers of Indian students into student life at Cardiff University and a lot of this is down to the brilliant leadership that Shree provides.”

The position of Race Equality Officer on the Students’ Union Executive committee has been announced, following a lengthy appeals process. Candidate Ziad Akbar was initially disqualified during the election campaigning period before the vote took place. Akbar submitted an appeal, which was subsequently upheld by the appeals panel. Thus the election position remained contested between Akbar and fellow candidate Ade Haastrup. 1,802 valid ballots were submitted during voting. Haastrup secured 1,117 votes, Akbar received 573 and RON (Re-open nominations) received 112. The position was therefore decided in the first round of counting, as 902 votes were needed to secure election. Ade Haastrup has been elected as Race Equality Officer on the CUSU Executive 2008-9.

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NEWS Revolutionary technology

JUNE.09.2008 NEWS@gairrhydd.COM

Race for life reflects

lost to cancer, or is affected by it.” To raise awareness of why each runner was taking part in the race, every participant was given a pink piece of paper on which they could write personal messages to loved ones or explain who they were racing for. Joy Harding and Nicole Bunn both took part in the race. They commented that the messages were “poignant” and that it was “really inspiring to know that everyone was raising money to help other people”. Events are still taking place across the UK, with four more happening in Wales over the next few months. There is another Race for Life event in Bute Park on Wednesday July 2 at 7.30pm, in which 7,300 women are expected to race. Prospective participants can enter by visiting www.raceforlife.org. Last year the Race for Life events across the country raised £400 million for Cancer Research UK. It is hoped that this success can be matched or beaten during the 2008 events.

Sarah Powell Reporter

Corinne Rhoades News Editor A super-computer which possesses the power of 2,000 laptops is set to revolutionise scientific study at Cardiff University, researchers have claimed. Last week the University opened its Advanced Research Computing @ Cardiff (ARRCA) high-performance computing facility which aims to transform research in medical imaging, neuroscience, radiotherapy and mathematics, among other areas. According to ARRCA, the SRIF-3 super-computer will be one of greenest and most powerful to reside at any British university. Researchers will be able to use it to make calculations and developments in computing which were previously impossible. The SRIF-3 is part of a £2.9million project funded by the Science Research Infrastructure Funding grant from the Higher Education Funding Council Wales.

One of Cardiff’s major green spaces turned pink on June 1 as 8,000 women descended on Bute Park to take part in the Race for Life. The 5km run around the park is a women’s-only event and aims to raise money for Cancer Research UK, the world’s leading independent organisation for cancer research. Before the race there was a motivational talk from a leading member of the charity. This was followed by a video that showed the stories of people who had beaten cancer, as well as those who had been lost to the disease. After the video the park was silent as the participants thought about their loved ones. Carys Murphy, one of the runners who completed the race, said: “There wasn’t a dry eye out there, it was so moving seeing everyone with a common bond. “We all know someone who has been

Spreading the Downloadable lectures superbug UK universities enlist iconic iTunes service to make lecture materials more readily available to students

Co-ordinated crime

Abigail Whittaker News Editor

Sarah Powell Reporter Students are being urged to take extra care during the coming weeks after it has emerged that organised gang robberies are taking place. Last week gair rhydd reported a spate of robberies in the Roath area of Cardiff. It has since been revealed that the majority of robberies are targeted at specific groups of people. In one instance a team of thieves pretended to be lost tourists with maps, and stole mobile phones from tables in cafés by putting the maps over the tables. Student Liaison Officer PC Bob Keohane said that such crimes, which are organised and implemented by groups, are aimed at stealing personal property. He also warned that 75% of the victims are female and have been targeted in nightclubs. Keohane said: “Teams go into clubs with the specific aim to steal handbags or property that has been left unattended.” He urged students to be increasingly vigilant against such crimes by doing “simple things like keeping bags zipped up”.

Abigail Whittaker News Editor Anti-MRSA wipes are inadvertently spreading the superbug in hospitals, according to a study undertaken by Cardiff University. Hospital staff are reusing the cloths to clean more than one surface. But research has shown that after just one use of a wipe there is the potential for circulation of the infection to begin, as the wipe’s ability to combat the deadly microbes that cause MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) are significantly diminished. The team behind the research, led by microbiologist Dr Jean-Yves Maillard, are now calling for a ‘one wipe – one application per surface’ approach to infection control in healthcare environments. The team also believe that marketing slogans such as ‘kills MRSA’, which claim the effectiveness of the cloths, are ubiquitous on the packaging of

antimicrobial-containing wipes. The research, which was supported by a grant from the Wales Office of Research and Development for Health and Social Care, involved a surveillance programme observing hospital staff using the wipes to decontaminate surfaces. These procedures were then replicated in the laboratory. Dr Gareth Williams, a microbiologist at the Welsh School of Pharmacy, presented the findings at the American Society of Microbiology’s 108th General Meeting in Boston, Massachusetts. He said: “On the whole, wipes can be effective in removing, killing and preventing the transfer of pathogens such as MRSA but only if used in the right way.” The MRSA bug was linked to more than 1,600 deaths in 2007. Last year the government ordered a “deep clean” of every hospital in Britain in an attempt to cut the number of superbugs and other hospital acquired infections.

European universities have started to provide free lecture material to students via iTunes. The venture was pioneered in the United States through the non-charging “iTunes U” section of the music downloading service, which is a free educational area launched by Apple last summer. But now University College London (UCL), the Open University and Trinity College Dublin are uploading video and audio material for students to access and use on iPods or computers. Professor Peter Mobbs at UCL said: “Our students will be able to revisit materials presented to them in lectures, so they can learn anywhere and anytime.” Many UK universities already offer podcasts of lectures, but this will be the first time that such broadcasts have been distribu t e d on the iTunes service.

The move is intended to make lectures more readily available to students at the institutions, but also to a wider public audience. Open University Vice-Chancellor Brenda Gourlet commented: “Our aim is to partner our established distance learning expertise with the power of the internet to provide as mobile, flexible and personalised learning as possible, whatever your current educational level, personal circumstances or technological abilities.” Cardiff University currently uses some podcasts, which are made available to students through Blackboard, Cardiff’s Virtual Learning Environment, and tend to provide supplementary educational materials. A University spokesperson said: “There is also now ‘lecture capture’ equipment in the School of Engineering, which automatically records the audio of a lecture and synchronises it with the powerpoints used.” Cardiff University has no current plans to use the iTunes service, but “would consider it”.

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JUNE.09.2008

NEWS

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City bar in fire drama Abigail Whittaker News Editor Last Tuesday firefighters tackled a blaze at O’Neills pub in Trinity Street, Cardiff. The fire, which is thought to have started in the pub’s kitchen around 11.50am before the venue opened, caused much disruption to the bustling city centre. The pub was evacuated after the owner smashed a fire alarm and shortly afterwards Howells department store, Cardiff market and several nearby shops were also evacuated. On Tuesday afternoon an area around Trinity Street was cordoned off and Church Street was also closed. According to reports from South Wales Fire and Rescue, the roof of the pub was destroyed but officers managed to stop the flames from spreading further. As the blaze reached its height around 50 firefighters and 10 fire officers were present at the scene.

In the afternoon the fire crew managed to gain access to the building to damp down the area. In a statement, O’Neills said: “A fire was detected prior to the pub opening for trading. Our evacuation procedures

were followed and those present on site were evacuated safely. No injuries were sustained to staff and there were no customers on site at the time.” The firm were said to be working with the fire service to establish the

cause of the blaze. South Wales Police said that the blaze was not thought to be suspicious and that they would be conducting a thorough investigation.

Four new platforms at Cardiff Queen Street

£22m new Newport Station improvements

Another Valleys platform for Cardiff Central

William Taylor News Editor The Assembly Government has unveiled plans for £52 million of improvements for the rail network in south Wales. Newport Station is to receive a £22 million major regeneration, which is planned for completion by the 2010 Ryder Cup. Other planned investment includes new platforms, including four at Cardiff’s Queen Street Station and £30 million will go towards extra carriages, with the aim of reducing congested services. Ministers say that these investments will allow for more peak-time commuter services and meet increasing passenger numbers. Cardiff and the surrounding Valleys’ £30 million funding will run alongside Network Rail’s £200 million resignalling project, also focused on the Cardiff area.

The Assembly Government will make up £7 million of the total £30 million worth of investment in Cardiff, with the rest being paid for by the Department of Transport. The Newport refurbishment will receive £7.7 million from the Assembly Government in funding and Network Rail is to contribute £15 million. Welsh Transport Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones said: “It will improve capacity in our capital’s major train stations and have benefits for the Valleys by increasing the number of seats on trains and improving services.” Dave Ward, Route Director for Network Rail, said: “Passengers are the real winners if the proposal goes ahead. “Already, 67% of train journeys in Wales are within South Wales and this number is set to grow. This proposal could address the future demand, by easing capacity issues and improving train services.”

PHOTO: Cormac West

Rail regeneration

Cardiff’s “continental” facelift Emma Barlow Reporter Cardiff city centre’s Charles Street is set to undergo a facelift in an attempt to bring a “continental café” feel to the capital. Cardiff council will spend £200,000 on the makeover, which will include the construction of a seating zone, cycle stands and an eating area and the planting of trees. The street will be re-paved to give it a similar look to Queen Street, and five new twin lantern lighting columns will be put in place to enhance the trees.

Cardiff Council’s Executive Member for traffic and transportation Delme Bowen said of the plans: “We want these changes to transform the whole of Charles Street for visitors, churchgoers, workers, shoppers and businesses. “This is an improvement scheme in one of the gateway streets leading onto Queen Street and the works will further enhance the city centre as a whole.” As well as the planned changes to Charles Street, a recent survey by the South Wales Echo found that many Cardiff residents would also favour full pedestrianisation of St Mary Street. It is thought that this would allow

Cardiff’s café culture to flourish. Meme Sgroi, a second year Language and Communication student, said: “I think it’s a fantastic idea. “I love the feel of the cafés and outside seating areas you get abroad and it would be great to simulate this in Cardiff, especially in the summer.” But some independent traders are worried that the transformation may detract from the many unique arcades and shops in the area. One shop owner said: “You’ve got to maintain a character and not lose that balance, there is a danger of all the UK’s cities becoming anonymous.”

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NEWS

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Website sells fake degrees

PHOTO: Ed Salter

William Taylor News Editor

Welsh universities are said to be furious following the discovery of an internet site selling fake degrees. A Wales on Sunday investigation found the online website to be selling fake degrees from every university in Wales, at less than £40 a time. The website issues replica certificates which carry official university crests and authentic embossed seals. Operating under the name ‘Fake Cer-

tificate Factory’, the site offers degrees from all of Wales’ top universities, including Cardiff, Swansea, Glamorgan, Aberystwyth and Bangor. A section of the website reads: “We offer high quality and professional looking replicas – our fake certificates are VERY realistic. “These fake degree awards will add an air of achievement to any home or office as they will surely fool your friends and business colleagues. Only you will know that you have a fake certificate.”

Cheating rife among students

However, the website does state that the certificates should only be used for “novelty” value. The company added: “Although they are designed to look very realistic, you – the buyer – take full responsibility for the item once it leaves our presence.” Universities UK, which represents every university in the country, condemned the website as fraudulent and has threatened to take legal action. Chief Executive Diana Warwick said: “The suggestion by those selling fake degree certificates that these are

sold as ‘novelty’ items that should not be passed off as qualifications is as absurd as it is dishonest. “There could be legal consequences for those who falsely produce or supply any document purporting to be from a UK university. “We have taken a strong line on this issue in the past, including legal action against one individual, and we will continue to work to counteract those who attempt to falsify qualifications.” Universities across Wales are now investigating the website after the in-

Toss off

9,000 incidents of plagiarism reported at UK universities

Cheating among university students is more common than ever before, according to a survey for the Higher Education Academy. Out of the UK’s 168 universities and colleges, researchers found that over 9,000 incidents of plagiarism took place last year – the equivalent to 7.2 cases for every 1,000 students. It was also found that figures for postgraduate students were higher at 11.9 cases of plagiarism for every 1,000 students. Researchers claimed this was surprising because “the traditional view is that inexperienced pupils entering higher education are the most likely to commit plagiarism due to a lack of skills in academic literacy and citation techniques’’. The news comes one year after gair rhydd reported that Cardiff students were being threatened with disciplinary action for comments made on a social networking website. Their discussion of coursework via popular website Facebook was seen as an act of plagiarism by the University. But further studies into students who cheat at university have shown that students caught submitting plagiarised work are rarely expelled.

One survey discovered that out of 9,200 cases of students cheating only 143 resulted in expulsion. Almost all universities involved, however, had threatened this punishment. Now researchers have called for more consistent penalties to be put in place in UK higher education institutions, which commonly respond to plagiarism by telling students to resubmit their work. A study of 86 UK universities from the Higher Education Academy and Joint Information Systems Committee also reported “widespread concerns” about students using the internet to copy work or buy essays.

PHOTO: James Perou

Sian Symons Reporter

Abigail Whittaker News Editor A university has warned students to refrain from tossing their mortar board hats during graduation celebrations in the interest of safety. In a statement on their website, Anglia Ruskin University gives advice on the graduation ceremonies and the required attire for graduates but make a specific effort to discourage the tradition of flinging hats into the air. The information detailed that “this could not only cause damage to the hats but can also cause injury if the corner of the hat were to hit the graduand or others who may be nearby”. The University, which has campuses in Cambridge and Chelmsford, has since

defended the move highlighting that they have not banned hat-throwing. A spokesperson said: “We have advised students to be careful since a student had to be hospitalised after he was struck on the head by a hat several years ago.” The student in question received stitches but no other injuries of a similar nature have been recorded. But President of Anglia Ruskin’s Students’ Union Frankie Wiffen emphasised that hat-throwing was part of the student experience. She said: “I understand the University’s concern but I think it’s health and safety gone mad. “What can be done if students start throwing their hats into the air at graduation? It’s tradition.”

vestigation brought the issue to their attention. A spokesperson for Cardiff University said: “Cardiff University takes a strong line on the issue and strongly disapproves of the production of fake degree certificates which devalue the efforts of genuine students who work hard to achieve their degrees. “The University also provides employers, subject to consent, with verification of a student’s academic qualifications.”

Strike No.2 Sarah Powell Reporter In a disagreement over a negotiated salary increase, lecturers have threatened to strike if previous pay arrangements are not met. An agreement, which was made three years ago, entitled university staff to a pay rise that would be in line with inflation. For the academic year 2008-9 this would mean that staff should have a salary increase of 2.5% or the retail price index inflation measure, depending on which was higher in September 2008. However, according to reports from the Times Higher Education magazine, approximately 30 institutions are considering deferring the pay rise. Sally Hunt, General Secretary of the University and College Union (UCU), has warned that this could lead to university staff strikes by those who consider this deferral to renege on the original agreement. This news comes two years after lecturers across the country went on strike to secure a 13.1% rise in pay over three years. The Higher Education Minister Bill Rammell has urged the UCU to “do everything possible” to avoid university staff taking strike action over pay. A Cardiff University spokesperson said: “Cardiff University is not considering a deferment of the agreed pay rise and therefore this is not an issue at the University.”

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JUNE.09.2008 NEWS@gairrhydd.COM

Students swayed by buildings of beauty

NEWS

UK universities are in architectural competition as students prove to be attracted to an eye-catching campus New research has suggested that British universities are using “radical architecture” to attract prospective students. This includes the construction of eye-catching lecture theatres and halls of residences. The research was carried out by Iain Borden, head of the Bartlett School of Architecture at University College London. In a summary of his findings, he asserts that aesthetically attractive buildings not only appeal to future

students, but also ensure that they “will remember a particular university when making their final decision about where to apply”. In a bid to stand out from the crowd, architectural competition between universities is increasing with more money continually being spent. Glasgow Caledonian University, for example, have recently built their Saltire Centre which includes a copper-clad central tower, internal flying-bridge walkways and dramatic lighting to link together study spaces, lecture theatres and social areas. Last year, gair rhydd revealed that Cardiff University spent £150,000 on

the construction of a piece of artwork on the Psychology building (pictured right). The sculpture, entitled the Mind’s Eye, consists of 1,000 terracotta tiles which are arranged to create a number of different visual illusions to highlight the way the mind recognises patterns. It received a controversial reception, with many students complaining about the amount of money that was spent on the project. Plans are also currently underway to design a much more attractive and modern Students’ Union building in a bid to attract both current and prospective students.

PHOTO: Natalia Popova

Samantha Shillabeer News Editor

Your Uni: your words Abigail Whittaker asks students whether architectural aesthetics played a part in their decision to come to Cardiff University

Michelle Kearney Psychology postgraduate

“I don’t have any interest in architecture and so this didn’t affect my decision to come to Cardiff at all. My decision to study here was instead based on things such as the reputation of the University, the structure of my course, and so on.”

Craig Ellis Fourth-year Chemistry

“The Main Building looks cool but I wouldn’t say that some of the other buildings are anything special. But if a university looks good then it tends to have a good public image, so I did consider this when choosing what universities to apply to.”

Jason Lincoln First-year History

“The buildings didn’t influence my decision to come to Cardiff in any way. It is nice to have attractive looking architecture as this reflects a more authentic university style. However, this definitely wasn’t a deciding factor for me.”

Beverley Attfield Psychology postgraduate

PHOTOS: Corinne Rhoades

“The Students’ Union building is bland, boring and uninteresting. But the more historical buildings are much more attractive and fit with the perceived image of university. It’s these buildings that feature in all the university brochures.”

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WORLD NEWS World News in brief Ruth Smith Reporter

Sushi snatcher

A woman has been found squatting in the cupboard of a Japanese man’s home and secretly eating his sushi. The man was so confused about the disappearance of his food that he installed a security camera in his home, whereupon he saw the 58year-old woman Tatsuko Horikawa walking around. It is not known how Horiwaka entered the house but she is believed to have lived in the cupboard for around a year, although not for the entire time.

Pulling the trigger

A man in Alexandria accidentally shot himself when demonstrating to his girlfriend how to use a pistol. The incident occurred in the car park of a fast food restaurant. As he was replacing the gun into the side pocket of his car, he pulled the trigger by mistake. The 21-year-old, who claimed to be ex-military, shot himself in the inner thigh.

NEWS@gairrhydd.COM

Photographic evidence Samantha Shillabeer News Editor One of South America’s few remaining uncontactable indigenous tribes has been spotted in the Amazon jungle. The tribe was photographed by the Brazilian government on the BrazilPeru border, in what is one of the most remote parts of the rainforest. The pictures were shot from an aeroplane and show red-painted tribe members pointing bows and arrows towards the camera. They are standing outside thatched huts and surrounded by dense jungle. Government officials claim that the images were taken to prove that indigenous people in this area do exist, and to help ensure that their land is protected. Spokesperson Jose Carlos dos Reis Meirelles Junior said: “We did the overflight to show their houses, to show that they are there, to show they exist. “This is very important because there are some who doubt their existence.” Survival International, a group that supports tribal people around the world, highlighted the importance of ensuring that the territory of this group is protected. Speaking last week, director Stephen Corry said: “These pictures are further evidence that uncontacted tribes really do exist. “The world needs to wake up to this, otherwise, they will soon be made

extinct.” Following the international circulation of the pictures, authorities in Peru have promised to take measures to stop illegal loggers who travel into the Amazon in search of tropical hardwoods. These are often the first people to encounter indigenous tribes. Contact with outsiders is dangerous for isolated people because, in addition to the possibility of violent confrontations, they lack the antibodies to pro-

tect themselves from illnesses such as chicken pox and the common cold. Corry said of last week’s announcement: “This is a positive first step from the Peruvian government, but it must act fast. “It must stop the logging, remove the loggers and any other invaders from the uncontacted Indians’ land, and ensure that no-one else enters in the future.” According to Survival International, there are approximately 500 isolated

It’s raining rupiah

Till divorce do we part Sian Symons Reporter

Motorway misdirection

An elderly couple in New Zealand drove the wrong way down a motorway for over a mile before crashing their car, according to police. The pair, aged 99 and 100, were driving on a motorway in Wellington when they collided with an oncoming vehicle, receiving minor injuries. The duo will probably have to hand over their driver’s licences. Police are still attempting to establish who was driving at the time and why they were going the wrong way.

indigenous people living in the area. Marco Tulio Valverde, an advisor to the regional government, said: “We haven’t determined if there are three different groups or only one, nomadic, which has been displaced. “They only hunt, gather and fish, they don’t farm, but they know fire.” It is thought that there are approximately 100 uncontacted tribes in the world, with over half of them living in Brazil or Peru.

Sarah Powell Reporter An Indonesian businessman has dropped 100 million rupiah (£5,406) from a plane in a bid to promote his new motivational book. Tung Desem Waringin flew his plane over Serang City four times in order to distribute the money in and around the city. His original plan was to create what he described as “a rain of money” over Jakarta, the capital city 40 miles east of

Serang City. But he was refused permission from police due to security concerns. Mr Tung, a 42-year-old author and businessman, said that although his scheme seemed “crazy”, it was motivated out of a desire to share money earmarked for a promotional campaign with people who needed it most. Famed for his unconventional promotional campaigns, which helped to make his first book a bestseller, the businessman is well known in the area. Millions of Indonesian people live

below the poverty line. Mr Tung’s stunt caused large crowds to gather in the city in the hope that they would pocket some of the banknotes. He said that he hoped that his new marketing campaign would “make people happy”. The radical idea has attracted a great deal of attention as the event has come at a time when Indonesians are struggling to cope with rising fuel and food prices.

An Indian couple who have been “happily married” for 25 years recently discovered that they had in fact been granted a divorce without their consent. Meena and Virender Verma only found out about their divorce when complaining to the authorities about a series of violent attacks on Meena by her brother-in-law. They said that they would never have dreamed of splitting up. Meena described the news as being “the shock of her life” as she was told by a stranger that she had been divorced for nearly a decade. She said: “Sheer injustice has been done to us and our reputation.” Virender alleges that Meena’s brother-in-law, a lawyer, is behind the scandal. The divorce was filed in 1998, the same year that the couple complained against his violent behaviour, and therefore he is suspected of causing the marital problems as a form of revenge. However, the brother-in-law has denied the allegation. With Surinder and numerous other lawyers facing charges of misleading the court, the couple hope that the court will restore their honour.

OCTOBER.22.2007 FEATURES@gairrhydd.COM

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FEATURES

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gairrhydd

JUNE.09.2008

EDITORIAL & OPINION

OPINION@gairrhydd.COM

freewords Est. 1972

Back Honour Roll This year’s Honour Roll has been awarded to the highly deserving President of the Youth of India Society, Shreenivas Raju, for the substantial time and effort he has put into recruiting and supporting international students at Cardiff University. The Honour Roll has proved a major success since it was introduced three years ago in order to recognise stiudents who have made an outstanding contribution to student life or who have overcome personal adversity. It is the ideal opportunity for students who aren’t necessarily in the limelight, but have worked extremely hard behind the scenes, to be put forward by their peers and their efforts counted. So congratulations, Shree, and students of the next academic year, don’t give up the good work - your hard work will be much appreciated and could be rewarded.

Getting creative To top off a year that has seen a massive amount of contributions from students writing and responding, gair rhydd is proud to present its third supplement of creative writing. After the success of Volume One of creative words, published in May 2007, demand was high for a follow-up. So in its final issue of 2007, gair rhydd gave the readers (and the writers) what they wanted with an eight-page second instalment. It is a pleasure to showcase such creative talents to the whole of the student body. Submissions have been of such a good quality that choosing the final selection has been a difficult but highly enjoyable process. Special thanks must go to Ben Bryant, Tom Williams and Roseanna Eastoe for their dedication to producing the supplement. If you feel inspired, email your own work to books@gairrhydd.com for the next volume of creative words.

So long, farewell... This year has been a whirlwind with plenty of ups and downs. But the one thing that has kept me going this year is the readers. Going out on a Monday and watching students reading the newspaper and magazine really does make the sleepless nights and long hours worthwhile. I hope you have enjoyed reading this year’s gair rhydd and Quench and continue to do so in the future. Right, I’m off to the Taf now for a drink before they get rid of it.

The right to decide?

Samantha Shillabeer discusses Salford Council’s controversial introduction of ‘right to die’ cards

aking a conscious and pre-determined choice to end one’s life is simply the most important decision an individual could ever undertake. The consequence of such a judgment is quite literally a matter of life or death. While some people are firm believers in an individual having complete control over his or her destiny, others see life as something that just shouldn’t be messed with. It’s the same old debate of pro-choice versus pro-life. But now things have grown even more controversial. Last month, a scheme was launched by Salford City Council giving anyone the right to refuse medical treatment in the event of an emergency. The Advanced Decision to Refuse Treatment card can be carried around in a person’s wallet, sitting innocuously between credit cards and the like. It is currently available in banks, libraries, doctors’ surgeries, churches and even pubs (which baffles me slightly, as in my experience I end up regretting almost every decision I’ve ever made while under the influence of alcohol – but that’s a different matter entirely).

Anyone wanting to join the scheme will have to fill out a form on the card and make a statement saying what treatment they do not wish to receive. The statement will be kept by a family member or doctor and is legally binding. This means that once a decision is made, there is no going back. So is this measure a practical way of allowing an individual to make a personal choice about his or her own fate? Or is giving people the opportunity to ‘play God’ with something as sacred as life just plain wrong? From reading the comments on the BBC News website, it is clear that the scheme has already been welcomed by many with open arms. A surprisingly large majority of respondents strongly expressed the attitude that an individual has the right to control his or her life and body, and to determine at what time, and in what way, he or she will die. There are definitely strong arguments in favour of choosing death rather than

Investigations Lee Macaulay

Deputy Editor Ben Bryant

Editorial & Opinion Emma Davies Jamie Thunder

News William Taylor Abigail Whittaker Samantha Shillabeer Corinne Rhoades

HOSPITAL WARDS: New cards allow people to decide in advance to refuse treatmen

Once a decision has been made there’s no going back

Editor Amy Harrison

Co-ordinator Elaine Morgan

being forced to lead a physically or mentally handicapped life. If a person suffers an accident that would completely take away his or her ability to exist independently, or leave him or her in constant pain, perhaps respecting a decision to refuse medical treatment is the kindest thing to do. Anyone who’s seen a loved one beat a potentially fatal illness only to spend their final days in agony can understand that putting an end to such suffering is potentially the best option for everyone.

These cards are too simple a solution to such an unbelievably complicated issue So yes, I can completely understand the appeal of these cards. But for me, there is still something deeply disturbing about them. It is not so much that I am against individual choice, but the fact that the scheme allows decisions of life and death to be made so easily

Science & Environment Sophie Cole

Listings Josie Allchin Dan Jones

Columnists Huw Davies Adam Millward

Sport George Pawley Jack Zorab Stephen Florey Pete Dean Scott D’Arcy

GRAB Tom Bentley Hannah Gurney

Politics Tim Hewish

Letters Emily Akers

Features Emma Thomas

Jobs and Money Jess Best

Taf-Od Gwilym Dwyfor Ffion James Problem Page Ted Handsome Television

TV TV TV TV

Guy Mariam Tim Sarah

Picture Editor Ed Salter Online Editor Paul Springett Sub-Editor Graeme Porteous Proofreaders Laurel Burn

greatly concerns me. I’m not saying that people are so naïve as to sign up without carefully thinking about what they want, but how can anyone understand the complexity of the matter until they actually find themselves in such a situation? When first reading about the scheme, I came across the opinions of Dr Andrew Fergusson from the Christian Medical Fellowship. His claim that “the things people want when they are well are very different to those they want when they are unwell” particularly got me thinking. It’s all very well for a person to be adamant now that they would not want to lead an incompetent life, but this view could completely change if they were ever to face such a reality. By which time it would be too late. Furthermore, the view of David Entwistle, Salford Council’s Head of Social Work, that these cards allow people to make an “informed decision on the medical treatment they would want to receive” is, quite frankly, nonsense. How much does the average person on the street know about medical treatment? Certainly not enough to make any informed decisions, in my opinion, Huw Davies Neil Fairbrother Osian Haines Adam Millward Kath Petty Aisling Tempany Abigail Whittaker Contributors Emma Barlow Henry Burton William Butterworth Robert Clifford Liam Dando Roseanna Eastoe Dave Green

especially when making a choice about a situation which has yet to take place. And call me an optimist, but I’ve always been a glass-half-full kind of person. Medical science and technology is advancing all the time; there are constant reports in the media of ‘miraculous’ recoveries by people who were told that their days were numbered. No one knows what the future holds and, for me, these cards are just too simple a solution to such an unbelievably complicated issue.

Is giving people the opportunity to ‘play God’ with life just plain wrong?

Now maybe my views on this matter would change completely if I was ever to find myself in a situation where life as I know it was cruelly snatched away from me. Perhaps the reality of facing a slow and painful death, for example, would just be too much. But until I know for sure, I’m far from willing to sign my life away.

Jon Hillard Piers Horner Ceri Isfryn Katie Jacobs Llyr Gwyn Lewis Gareth Ludkin Gareth J.S. Mogg Natalia Popova Sarah Powell Luke Rees Ted Shiress Ruth Smith Sian Symons Lucy Thackray Marc Thomas Andrew Tweddle

Ben Walker Wendy Woodhead Jake Yorath Address University Union, Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3QN Web www.gairrhydd.com Email info@gairrhydd.com Advertising 02920 781 474 Location 4th Floor Students’ Union

14 gairrhydd

OPINION Cardiff, Disability and me In his final column Ted Shiress talks about people’s reactions and busty blondes

e all know that all good things come to an end, and that also applies for this column; just like a good thing, it has come to an end. Considering recent issues have discussed topics that had little concern to others, I do accept that it has become more of an internet-style blog. To quote a somewhat close and biased source it is now just ‘very good scrapage’, which I quite appreciate as a description. However, just like last night’s drunken kebab, all things good or bad need to go out with a bang; so this week I thought I’d discuss the weird reactions I occasionally get from people I pass when out. There were two particular instances that caught my attention last week. The first was somewhat typical; it was from a toddler in Tesco, and he was somewhat mesmerised and slightly shocked by me. Now, call me a sadist, but I love these situations as it seems whatever I do gets an awesome reaction of retreating to mummy for a cuddle looking like they have just seen a ghost. However, I insist I am not always that much of a sadist, and there are times when I do genuinely try to be friendly… honest guv! The second instance I found somewhat unusual, and strangely pleasant. I was driving past the Humanities building on my way to The Woodville, rockin’ the laid-back bestubbled music fan look. Suddenly a pair of tall impeccably-breasted natural blondes (sod off, it’s my last column!) approach and walk past. I knew they were natural due to their inability to understand the concept that just because they are no longer in my line of sight does not mean they are out of earshot. I then heard one turn to the other and say, “Yeah, like shit you are really disabled!” Obviously this was a reference to me. I honestly did not know what to think; at first I was horrified they took me for some lazy music-loving student on his way to the pub… but, hang on, that’s true; that is exactly what I am! So in a strange way I was quite touched. However, thinking about it deeper the argument here hinges on the validity of disability = uncool. This, I suppose, I do find slightly unnecessary and wrong. So, that’s it; no doubt I will be writing various contributions next year though… Au revoir, it’s been fun! Plus look, this column is now a mere parody of itself in the way it features stereotypical digs at people for their hair colour!

JUNE.09.2008

Royal assent

OPINION@gairrhydd.COM

Tim Hewish comes out in favour of Liz and co.

odern monarchy. An oxymoron, perhaps? Not if you are Queen Elizabeth II, who has in recent times uttered this phrase in relation to how she wishes to forge our unique British monarchy for decades to come. I commence this discussion over the backdrop of a new Nepalese republic being born out of South-East Asia last week, having dethroned their monarch, King Gyanendra, whose family had reigned for 240 years. Furthermore, there have been murmurs closer to our own Monarchy, regarding a possible attempt at republicanism by the new Australian PM Kevin Rudd. One could even go as far as saying that Scotland’s preparation for an independence referendum will shake the foundations of what it means to have a monarchy in a Dis-United Non-Kingdom.

It is refreshing to know some institutions are timeless In this article you will find no rebuke of our current monarch, rather a staunch advocation will be presented, so if you are of republican leanings you may wish to avert your eyes. Monarchy may be something of an ancient regime, perhaps not fit to govern its subjects after bloody revolutions in America and France, Russia and Germany. However, what I argue is that monarchy is enduring, resilient

and unifying. In the current climate of voter apathy and disgruntlement over politics, our constitutional monarchy can offer a safe shelter and something to rally around and believe in. Once upon a time, it was monarchs who found themselves at the mercy of a baying crowd chanting “off with their heads,” but thankfully such a Gaelic penchant for spilling regal blood never made it across the Channel. It is now elected ministers who find themselves guilty of greed, corruption and vice, while this modern monarchy still towers over Britain. In an age where the military is given a disservice, we should respect the very fact our Royal family have a fine record of military distinction and decades of service. The majority of MPs and their sons or daughters have never given Britain a true public service themselves. Rather it is our monarchy that is engaged in battle, defending our Three Crossed Flag of Freedom. This article finds it ennobling to know our future King (William) has put himself up for the ultimate sacrifice for a nation which he will eventually rule over. Time also features heavily in support for the Queen Elizabeth; she has witnessed first-hand the coming and goings of eight decades (most of them on the throne), and has seen the passing of eleven Prime Ministers. Her seat in which to watch 20th century history unfold has been without parallel. This can give crucial insight to the PMs at the time, as she has lived through countless history-changing moments with a front row seat in power. No politician can ever say they have

dedicated so much of their life to public service, and this gives her the upper hand in worldly affairs. Her power may be diminished as an absolute monarch, but she is more than an old lady on the front of a coin. I refrain from the term figure-head as it implies merely ceremonial functions; rather I believe she acts as a spearhead for this nation and should be seen in a diplomatic mould, keeping close ties with the Commonwealth and other nations. I see Queen Elizabeth as a maternal figure, where the public don’t want a ‘people’s monarch’ who we see everyday walking down the street; monarchy should retain some of its allure and mystery. It is a creation where people can place all their positive ideals of human nature, their hopes and their dreams. On a political note, our monarch still holds Royal Assent, which means she must give approval of all laws passed by her government. This is a powerful argument for maintaining this procedure as it protects against a tyrannical State looking to push through laws which the public may be unable to stop. The military is also under her command, not the Government’s control, therefore safe-guarding against extremist political parties. Modern monarchy has already seen Princes William and Harry serving under the armed forces, with William recently wanting to join the Royal Navy and combat the drug trafficking in the Caribbean. What is more interesting is the Queen’s insistence on William’s girlfriend Kate Middleton securing a

proper job, fostering the impression Kate won’t just live off the King-inwaiting like some useless tarty WAG, who has nothing better to do but preen herself and pen her name on a new ghastly fragrance.

No politician has dedicated so much of their life to public service as the Queen If Britain’s monarchy is to survive it must adjust and adapt to the times, for which it happens to be developing quite a knack. When its citizens are weathering an economic downturn, holding grand balls and majestic ceremonies will foster the impression that it doesn’t know its people. But while MPs make a fortune dodging tax, increasing their own salaries and battling to keep their expenditure under wraps, all this keeps the monarchy in a positive light. In the modern liquid world we live in, it is refreshing to know some institutions are timeless and steadfast, up against anarchic terrorist attacks to rapid uprooting globalisation, we know we can be unashamedly white, black, Asian, Christian, Muslim or Hindu, but most of all British, all united under one entity who presides over us, paving the way for a 21st Century monarchy.

An emotional issue

Lucy Thackray defends emos from the moral majority

mos. We’ve all seen these dreary little teens wandering the streets, dodging sunlight and listening to woeful, self-pitying rock on their iPods. The term, derived from a 1980s punk scene known as Emotional Hardcore, refers to a young, trendy sub-set of the Goth trend, clad in black skinny jeans and Converse, and often sporting dyed hair, eyeliner and pale skin. Until recently, being an emo was considered to be just another branch of teen conformity, but following a new trend in suicides and self harm, many have begun to take this ‘culture’ more seriously. The Daily Mail last year warned parents of the emo ‘cult’ which is based on a ‘celebration of self harm’. In fact, the majority of emo kids are simply a more visually extreme form of the classic teenager – their ‘cult’ is based on loud, angry music, dark clothing, feeling misunderstood and wanting to be left alone. Unlike the often-prevailing crowds of chavvy teenagers pumping hip hop from their stolen vehicles, preoccupied with impregnating or stabbing

everyone in sight, emos take pride in thoughtfulness and an appreciation of the arts. While both cliques are inevitably annoying, the tabloids’ demonising of emos is ridiculously short-sighted. Every adolescent is going to look for some sort of culture to belong to; wouldn’t we rather they were painting sorrowfully in a dark bedroom than terrorising the streets armed with a kitchen knife? As long as parents communicate

A little depth and introspection is hardly the worst thing for the UK with and support their kid’s choices, a generally comfortable, happy kid is not going to top themselves because of a cultural phase. The case of 13 year-old Hannah Bond’s suicide was suggested by her parents to be solely a product of an ‘obsession’ with emo music and websites. There are indeed emo lyrics and sites that portray death and self harm, but although emos are

bound to dabble in the dark side of their fashion and music, attributing a suicide to this alone seems a little suspect.

A happy kid is not going to top themselves because of a cultural phase The most hormonal, unbalanced teenager, if surrounded by a generally happy life and supportive family, is unlikely to be tipped over the edge by My Chemical Romance alone. The Sun and The Mail jumped on this case, creating unnecessary worry for parents over their emo teens. America is blamed for this bleak teenage trend, and it is American bands such as MCR who are feeling the brunt of this scrutiny. Their lyrics are undeniably morbid, but they set a standard for releasing dark feelings and thoughts through creativity, and after a few years of moshing furiously to this

black soundtrack, the average emo kid will no doubt emerge as a welladjusted young adult. ‘Sudden’ suicides like Hannah Bond’s are usually the product of a lack of communication and release where depression builds up undetected; many Emo followers protest that their music and camaraderie provide exactly the support and release to counter such dangers. If any self-righteous tabloid journalist delved into their past you can bet there would be stories of harmless experimentation, embarrassing music and fashion tastes. Through the growth in emo popularity, the high-school outsider has become an insider; moronic violence is out, while intelligence, creativity and thoughtfulness are back in. Instead of attacking a new scapegoat, older generations would do better to learn about their kids’ tastes, talk to them without condescension and help them see past the morbid content of their music. No teenager is ideal, but in the current climate of random violence and hatred, a little depth and introspection is hardly the worst thing for the UK to be faced with.

gairrhydd

JUNE.09.2008

OPINION

OPINION@gairrhydd.COM

Are ‘friends’ paralytic? University friends: genuine confidantes or glorified drinking buddies? Two gair rhydd writers share their opinions

Harriet Jameson Opinion Writer

s my final year at university draws to an end I have become quite nostalgic about my time in Cardiff. It feels like all the conversations I have had with my friends recently have begun “Do you remember that night in the second year…” and ended with “I can’t believe how quickly three years has gone.” But the more memories that I relive from the last three years, the more cynical I have become about the student dream and the friendships that this ‘dream’ produces. In my first year at Cardiff I was the stereotypical fresher. I lived a life that revolved around hangovers and Neighbours. My raison d’etre was to drink, dance, and have a good time with my new friends. I embraced the whole fresher experience with open arms, and with the help of multiple Tequila slammers I quickly made lots of new friends. With my new friends I would party until the early hours and then stay up ‘til the sun came up talking about our favourite kids TV shows, discussing the merits of pogs and singing Wonderwall. Because of my anti-social drinking habits I had an amazing social life. I had more friends than I ever had at school and I was out practically every night of the week. Being the only person from my school to apply to Cardiff I quickly got to know a lot of people, which was fantastic, but despite knowing a lot of people, Emma Davies Opinion Editor

love being at uni. I love it all; I love being in Cardiff, socialising and hell, if I’m being geekily honest, I even love the lectures. If nothing else, they give me something to complain about when I’m forced to get up in time for – shock! Horror! – a ten o’clock start. What I love most, though, are the people I’ve met here. I’ve met a range of people that, back at college in Exeter, I never thought I’d get to know and love. At home, my friends are all into roughly the same things as I am – we like the same sorts of music, we go to the same places, we’re friends with the same people. That’s the way you fall into friendships at college, and I wouldn’t change them for the world. Here? Well, here it’s a different social order altogether. My current housemates are a rough amalgamation of flatmates and honorary flatmates from last year: people I was arbitrarily thrown together with, yet have formed the strongest of bonds with. House T in Talybont North has a lot to answer for. At the start of that daunting first evening in halls, sat alone in my little cell of a room, I thought I’d be on my own in there forever. I think that everyone feels a bit like that. Within fifteen

TEQUILA: the stuff of nightmares. And memory loss

Once the hangover of the first year wore off, the majority of ‘friendships’ I made during Freshers’ began to fade also minutes I was in the midst of a large group of people (the majority of whom I’ve never seen since) and, most importantly, within a few weeks myself and my flatmates were firm friends. All of this mainly came about without the help of alcohol. I’m not dissing booze here – if I’m being honest, I’m quite an unashamed fan of it – it’s just not really like that with my housemates and I. We’re all into such different things

there were only a few that I ever really knew. Perhaps the problem here is the term ‘friend’. Looking back, the friends I spent hours with necking VK Traffic Lights (cherry, orange, apple) and dancing to Queen were more bingebuddies than friends, but maybe even the term ‘buddy’ has connotations that are too strong. Once the hangover of the first year

While we may be thick as thieves, we have other drinking buddies that organising even something as simple as a Monday night out (that perennial touchstone of student life) would be a gargantuan act of negotiation and compromise; I’d be rooting for Fun Fac-

ALCOHOL: sweet friendships are not just made of these

If I bump into a former bingebuddy in the street, I often opt to ignore the person rather than face awkward small talk tory, somebody else would want Tiger Tiger, a few more would suggest a trip to Oceana and there’s always someone or other who fancies a night in. Unless it’s somebody’s birthday (birthdays obviously meaning that you get to overrule everybody else), we just tend not to bother. This isn’t to say that we don’t socialise, or even that we don’t go out. We all go out to varying degrees, but just with other people. We’ve accepted that, while we may be thick as thieves, we have other drinking buddies. We do other things instead: we go to the cinema, we cook roast dinners (which tend to take about an hour to eat, as we never quite get the timing right for all the elements) and, centrally, we play on Mario Kart. We play on that game all the bloody time. Even with the friends that I do go out with a lot, alcohol doesn’t necessarily constitute a cornerstone in our relationship – more of an additional building block. Yes, I’m often found clutching my head on a Tuesday/Thursday morning lecture, recounting with my coursemates the events of the night before, but if you take into account the number of hours per week we spend together in lectures, the drunk times suddenly look a lot smaller in proportion. And this is before you take into account the time

wore off, the majority of the friendships I made during Freshers’ began to fade also. In the first year if you bumped into a drinking-buddy conversation would be easy as you could relive the previous night’s antics and comment accordingly. But by the third year the relationships with bingebuddies have degenerated to drunken hugs in Solus, followed by a quick dash to the toilet with the realisation you have absolutely nothing to say to that person. The majority of my interaction with my binge-buddies has now deteriorated into an exchange of occasional facebook messages that are generally the result of an interesting status or birthday notification. If I bump into a former binge-buddy in the street, I often opt to ignore the person rather than face awkward small talk in the middle of Park Place. I have made friendships at university that are worthwhile. I have made friends who I will invite to my wedding, and will maybe even be godparents to my children. But the sad truth is that no matter how much we have been through together (family bereavements, mumps and dodgy landlords), even my closest friendships are borne from bingedrinking. I have loved my time as a student at Cardiff, and in particular I have loved the social life, but it is quite a worrying realisation that I have met the majority of my friends because of the culture of binge drinking.

we spend socialising without drinking. University is that mythical time in your life in which anybody older loves to tell you that you’re making friends that you’ll keep for life. In the future, what is it that I’ll remember? Will it be the games/endurance tests of Centurion, the treks round Cathays for Crusade and Carnage, the ridicu-

Alcohol isn’t necessarily a cornerstone in our relationship lously toxic hangovers? I’m going to put my money on no, especially given that they’re already a bit hazy around the edges. Instead, I’d like to think that it’ll be the trips to Roath Park to act like kids in the playground, the “barbecues” in the lounge in the rain, the endless, stupid catchphrases with roots largely in either Borat or pure filth. Call me the eternal optimist, if you like. I know the difference between a drinking buddy and a friend. The drinking buddies are there when the drinks are flowing, and that’s certainly fun. But to walk in from a bad day and have someone give you a hug before you’ve even had to ask? That’s a friend.

16 gairrhydd

JUNE.09.2008

LETTERS

LETTERS@gairrhydd.COM

letters@gairrhydd.com

Crime doesn’t pay premiums

Dear gair rhydd,

I read this week’s front page of gair rhydd and felt slightly depressed about the subject matter. Of course, there will inevitably be crime and especially in areas with populations of largely middle class students who are seen as easy targets, the thing that gets me the most is that fact that even though students hear it over and over again, they do nothing about it. As you pointed out in ‘Crime Continues’, another four front-page articles have been about crime in the Cathays and Roath area but it still seems that students will make the same mistakes over and over again. Not only does it mean that their laptops and personal possessions get stolen but criminals start to think that us students are soft touches and might come for my, locked up and out of sight, laptop one day soon and don’t get me started on what it does to my contents insurance. It’s ridiculous to think that we, as university educated people, can’t think to lock our front doors and windows and will simply let the thieves get away with it. It isn’t difficult and I seem to manage it all of the time. So rant over but can’t students try to not throw their stuff away?

Yours sincerely,

First year politics student

Political conversation

Dear gair rhydd,

I agree with many of the points that Jamie Thunder raised in his opinion piece entitled ‘Puerile Politics’ in last week’s issue of gair rhydd. He’s right in saying that politics are becoming more and more about the style and the ‘fun’ rather than about the actual policies at the heart of our politicians. The age of New Labour and Cameron’s caring Conservatives are absolute proof of this. But there’s got to be room for a hook to actually get voters enthused in the process. For example, this year’s council elections in Cathays have passed us by but I felt completely detached from the process even though I put myself out there and voted. At this most important time for the political parties of this country, how many attempted to contact me in a way that wasn’t one of their ‘newsletters’ posted through my letter box? The student population of Cathays is literally huge, so I was surprised that council election campaigners didn’t attempt to contact some of them face to face depending instead on mass printed propaganda or faux-handwritten attempts at sincerity. Yes, student elections can be ridiculously gimmicky but that’s what gets students to vote unfortunately. It’s not

a perfect system by any means but I would take it over our recent council elections because at least I knew who the candidates were because as annoying as they can get, they came to talk to me. Maybe some did say, “Who wants to hear about drinking!” but if that’s how they want to present themselves then so be it. It’s up to us to choose them or not. Please take us for the informed citizens that university is meant to be helping us become and talk to us about the political process. Yours, Third year humanities student

Scouting for acts? Dear gair rhydd, Why are Scouting for Girls playing the Summer Ball? I’ve tried to justify the choice in my head ever since they were announced as the ‘headline act’ in March but still I fail to. I understand that the Student Union doesn’t have bottomless pits for pockets but I really worry whether the money has been well spent. I’m not going to lie to myself that the Summer Ball will ever be a match for one of the summer music festivals or even a gig that I could see at the CIA but how much were students’ consulted on the acts that are going to play? I don’t expect as a student to be asked about every single band that plays in the great hall but the Summer Ball is meant to be the pinnacle of our lives at university and for me Scouting for Girls doesn’t quite cut it. Leeds have people like Dirty Pretty Things, Bloc Party and Mutya Buena. Reading have Ash headlining. Yes, musical taste is a matter of opinion but from talk on Facebook, the opinion for not having Scouting for Girls headline seems to be pretty rife. I personally think it would have helped to have a headline act with a bit of experience playing big gigs rather than embarking on the first arena tour soonish. I dread to think how much money has been spent on them this year. Will graduates remember their Summer Ball for the rest of their lives? Most definitely . Will they remember that Scouting for Girls headlined? Not a chance. Ned, Third year Economics

Outrage at student response Dear gair rhydd, If one thing has been shown by the recent ‘debate’ about the new Students’ Union building plans, it is not how dedicated students are to their Student Union bar or to the games room. It’s how little they actually know about their Students’ Union and how uninterested they really are about los-

ing the Taf. Yes, it’s all well and good for more than 3,000 people to join a Facebook group being outraged about the SU plans but does anyone actually have an opinion apart from outrage. Facebook is seriously not the right place to discuss changes that will affect the future of Cardiff Students’ Union more than any other change ever. If students can’t be bothered to take 10 minutes out of their ‘busy’ days to write a proper reasonable opinion on the changes being presented, then what right do we have to be outraged on Facebook. How many of that 3,000 people came to student council? About 60-70. That’s only double the normal turnout for such a enormous issue. We care enough to click accept to a group invitation but not to actually have a real opinion on the building plans Anon

Catching up with the crowd Dear gair rhydd, As the invigilator announced “pens down” at the end of my last ever university examination I was relieved that I’d finally caught up with what was starting to seem like the entire population of Cardiff students. A significant proportion of my friends study courses such as English Literature and Journalism, the deadlines for which are now long passed. (Some

deadlines were indeed the very first day of the exam period.) For several weeks I have been resisting the temptation to go out clubbing with them, despite much persuasion. Just to clarify here, I am not in anyway ‘doing down’ their degree or comparing the workloads of such, I’m just annoyed because I feel like I’m missing out. Having finally finished my exams I have barely a week left in Cardiff to squeeze in one final trip to Oceana, Tiger Tiger, Bounce, Revolution, Clwb Ifor Bach, Liquid, not to mention Fun Factory, Access All Areas and Come Play among many others. It’s fairly clear to see that, disregarding the possibility of dividing an evening between three clubs or indeed being in two places at once, this isn’t really feasible. My friends on the other hand could be described as getting a bit bored of nights out on the town now. Some have been doing little else for the past month. So why do essay deadlines have to be so early? Couldn’t students be given the benefit of an extended deadlines which run into the exam period, and essentially would make me less insanely jealous about all the social gathering which are taking place without me. I understand the issue with regard to the turnaround of marking these coursework assignments to a tight deadline. But, that said, examination papers (many of which contain essaystyle questions) manage to get marked in time for the publication of results so I do struggle to see a difference here.

Time for a change Dear gair rhydd, Having recently spent copious amounts of time in the library, as I’m sure many of the rest of us have, I feel that there’s cause for complaint. I’m not doubting that the library provides us with an indispensable service, that the actions of the staff are well intended and good natured, and that of course, restrictions such as fines are there for a reason. But chinks remain in the system. First of all, libraries and Insrv need to work together to resolve the very simple issue of misdating e-mails. to ‘January 1st 1970’. So, for example if you receive an e-mail notifying you that your book is overdue, or that a reservation is waiting for you, you are often unaware that the e-mail has arrived, further adding to your inconvenience. The reservation system is also flawed. The staff can do little to help you when a book you need is overdue, apart from sending countless, out of date e-mails and increasing fines, which does nothing to solve your problem. Unfortunately I can’t think of a viable solution to this issue. And while the fee system is absolutely needed, not being allowed to take out books because your fines are amounting to a ridiculous some is surely unnecessary. As students with tight budgets, we often cannot afford to pay them off at certain times of the year. Kath Petty, Roath

Sophie Williams, Cathays

gairrhydd

JUNE.09.2008

OPINION

RASPUTIN@gairrhydd.COM

R A S P U T I N Downloading degrees Still, there is no doubting how useful it could be to download lectures

question of value for money, saying, “I think it’s a ridiculous idea. I’m paying over three thousand pounds a year as it is; I wouldn’t want to be paying that much money just so I can spend my

I feel I should emphasise that these iPod lectures aren’t happening in Cardiff yet, though I am informed that the Computer Science and Engineering departments have the hardware and technology for recording lectures, but it is yet to be used because – surprise, surprise – lecturers are concerned about turn-out. The equipment is currently sitting idle, and I’m not surprised: a university would have to reach an agreement with lecturers before implementing such a policy because, copyright issues aside, the lecturers are the ones who will have to stand in front of an empty hall talking into a microphone. If, hypothetically, Cardiff University was to follow suit and make lectures available for download on iTunes, the student population would almost certainly rejoice, and with good reason. There’s no doubting how useful the scheme could be. I also like the idea of a lecture on ‘population cytogenetics and reproductive loss’ making the UK Top 40 singles chart (not that it could, being free to download, but it’s a nice idea anyway). Steps would have to be taken, however, to ensure the downloads were purely back-up revision aids and most importantly, that students still turned up to lectures. So that’s it. Forever. Get your opinions somewhere else. But thanks for reading. It’s been emotional.

lot to answer for). But nothing gets me as righteously angry as Carling adverts. Think what you like of Carling – though I feel inclined to add that if you think it’s anything other than piss, you’re wrong – you can’t deny it’s the drink of the people. And that’s how it’s sold. Through unadulterated peer pressure. Not so long ago, the Carling slogan was, sickeningly, ‘Belong’, which was tantamount to bullying. Everyone else

is drinking Carling; why aren’t you? You want to belong, don’t you? Be like them. Be accepted. Drink the piss. Now it’s ‘You Know Who Your Mates Are’. Yes, you do. They’re the ones drinking Carling. You don’t want to lose your mates, do you? You want to belong, don’t you? Be like them. Be accepted. Etc. It’s disgusting. And so is Carling. So now there are two reasons not to drink it: taste and principle.

Some universities have made lectures available for download on iTunes Despite quibbles that the iPod is possibly being used to make learning ‘sexy’ – sexier than most lecturers, anyway – the idea is sound (boom boom). The opportunity to have at your disposal complete lectures – as opposed to lecture material, which can be obtained anyway from a tutor or on the likes of Blackboard – would help students enormously. You don’t always pick up everything a lecturer says, especially when it’s 9am on Thursday morning and your head is still Spin-ning from last night (damn the name change ruining my inevitable “still Ducked from last night” pun). And when the wheezy fat guy behind you coughs and splutters all the way through the most important lecture of the year, it’s nice to know there’s a more constructive option available than taking him for a run. But isn’t there a danger that students

will become lazy? Clearly that’s always a danger, but many students already choose to skip lectures knowing they can get what they need from Blackboard or copy notes and handouts from someone; is it not, therefore, incredibly likely that this iTunes scheme will encourage them to rely upon the downloads and just never go to lectures?

You know who your bullies are

eople complain about adverts on TV, but sadly, they’re here to stay. Luckily, there are a few that raise enough of a smile from the viewer for them to forget it’s the nineteenth bloody commercial in a row, you’ve grown stubble since the first and all you want to do is watch old Scrubs repeats without being sold something.

to fully understand them. With this new proposal, that wouldn’t be necessary. Everything you need from a lecture would be available free on your computer in an easy-to-find, impossible-toconvert format. Lecture theatres would become venues for the Tumbleweed Racing Championships. One student pointed out to me the

Isn’t there a danger that the scheme will encourage students to become lazy? PowerPoint slides on Blackboard are usually just supporting materials, reinforcing or exemplifying what a lecturer is saying. They’re not much help on their own; you need to be at the lecture

Unfortunately, certain adverts have a habit of annoying the hell out of viewers, and specifically me; I find myself getting really quite angry at some of them. Ambulance-chasers demanding you seek compensation. Ringtone commercials that refuse to end. Halifax adverts that get an awful parody of an awful song stuck in your head for the rest of the day (Howard Brown has a

Condemned to the grave once more

days in bed easing my hangover while listening to my lecturer on iTunes.” With university beginning to cost more than a lifetime supply of uncut heroin, value for money in education is a common concern for students, but in this case it is entirely up to them how they use the resources for which they’re paying. You could question the university’s commitment to contact hours, as this student also did, but you can’t really use the money argument against this plan. After all, the lectures still happen ‘live’ before hitting the market.

ILLUSTRATION: Kieran Evans

o it’s come to this: gair rhydd’s last ever Rasputin column. How to write it? An emotional thank-you to my colleagues? A testimonial to past columnists? A Simpsons-esque clip show of the column’s best moments? No, I need to fill the page. Hell, anything – as long as it doesn’t start with an embarrassingly self-serving valedictory introduction (never mind). Yes, it’s my last ever column – but don’t worry, you’ll soon be able to download it on iTunes, read by Chris Barrie (Chris Rock was busy). After all, that seems to be the way it’s done these days. Even university lecturers are getting in on the Apple audio action. UCL, the Open University and Trinity College Dublin are putting lectures onto iTunes for free download in the hope that students can and will access them whenever they want; essentially, that students can learn anywhere and anytime by listening to their iPod – when they’re jogging, shopping, sitting in Social Learning Spaces, travelling or even sleeping.

Annie Mac?

ardiff University’s official Summer Ball warm-up party, held in Solus last Wednesday, suffered a significant blow when Radio 1 DJ and English Literature Master’s graduate Annie Mac, scheduled to be at the mixing desk, was forced to pull out. Rumours abound that she was kidnapped by spurned Xfm DJs, or that she was sacked after suggesting that mixing Song 2 into a set is not a sign of musical genius (someone should tell “our favourite Union DJs” that before they play the Summer Ball). A more likely reason, though, is the one that has been given: “other commitments”. And that’s fair enough. I wouldn’t want to cast aspersion on what other commitments Annie Mac might have. So to complete a continuing theme of late, I’m going to have a go at the Union instead. Not for Annie Mac pulling out, obviously (that would be harsh even by my standards), but their pitiful attempts, if they can be called that, to rescue the situation after her cancellation was announced. No replacement was arranged except for the Union’s regular DJs, but students needn’t have worried – if they arrived before 9.30pm they would get £5 of drinks vouchers for the Summer Ball! Finally, perhaps realising that they could in no way continue to justify a £6 entry price for non-Summer-Ball-ticket-holders, it was decided that the night would have a beach party theme. Unbelievable. I mean, it’s pathetic, isn’t it? It’s almost a con: knowing nobody would turn up before 9.30pm (I’m reliably informed the club was deserted at that time), the Union saved itself a packet. The decision not to get some “C-list celebrity on the decks” made sense because you want a real DJ, but students deserve more than this. I just wonder when they’ll get it.

18 gairrhydd

OPINION the...

LLw o r

JUNE.09.2008 OPINION@gairrhydd.COM

We’re ready for you now

...in the papers

The Guardian

ast week I went for my first job interview since finishing my degree. And suffice it to say – bloody hell. Perhaps it’s three years of learning about semiotics and moral panics, maybe it’s working at gair rhydd or just maybe it’s something to do with Fun Factory and £1.19 doubles at Metros, but I’d forgotten how terrifying the prospect of talking to someone for a short while could be. It was for a temporary contract as a sous chef at a centre in Banff to earn some cash towards buying a round-theworld ticket. Hardly a life-changing job, but one I was determined to get. After catching a disgustingly early Megabus to the fair city, and feeling like the poverty-stricken candidate in the opening credits of The Apprentice (yes I’m plugging The Apprentice again, get over it), the first dilemma I faced was finding the place. I’m the first to admit, I have a fairly feeble sense of direction, but as long as I have a map, I’m invincible. Whether it’s a primitive biro scribble on a napkin or a quality Ordinance Survey beast, I can circumnavigate the universe. Thus, with the two most recurring things in London being Starbucks outlets and tube maps, I made it to Farringdon Station in no time. The problems began as I emerged from the stuffy, subterranean map paradise. I knew the building I wanted was off Farringdon Road, so I had a choice of right or left. Fifty fifty. Of course I chose wrong. It took me half an hour to realise, by which time, I was outside St Paul’s Cathedral. But there was no need to panic. I’d taken such an eventuality into consideration, and a quick call to my sister at work with access to GoogleMaps soon put me right. I arrived with plenty of time to spare, though a little perturbed to find my destination lay in sight of The Guardian offices. After three years studying for a degree in Journalism, and with The Guardian easily my paper of choice, I couldn’t help but think some higher power was having a laugh. Fortunately, a pub was also located opposite, and a quick (extortionately-priced) pint, although probably not the most sensible

INTERVIEWS: Sometimes it’s difficult to know what an employer expects from you thing to consume before an interview, soon abated my paranoia. Fifteen minutes to go and I was finally in the building. Suddenly all the previous interviews I’d ever had came back to me. Sweaty palms. Repetitive strain injury from looking at my watch. Close scrutiny of all who stepped through the door, weighing up potential rivals and if I should challenge them to

Brilliant. Brilliant. Brilliant. Who’d have thought such an innocuous, positive word was going to be the thing that cost me a job? a pre-interview duel… To make myself look committed-but-casual (because I’m sure interviewers always secretly video-record waiting interviewees), I picked up a book about low-cost living in Canada and read about important matters such as where to find the cheapest hostels and the best maple syrup.

That’ll be the day... I’ve decided to opt for a traditional special day for my final column. Friday 13 is – drumroll – Friday 13. Moreover, it’s the only one in 2008. I don’t believe in bad luck. Breaking mirrors, walking under ladders,

“Mr Millward?” The woman didn’t actually say, ‘we’re ready for you now’, but I was reading between the lines; or the two words… After a staircase which would have been adequate for training for Everest, the interview began. Twenty minutes later, despite having forgotten most of the soundbite answers I’d prepared, it was going surprisingly well.

stepping on cracks (a task impossible to avoid in Cardiff!) – these things aren’t going to alter your destiny. Although it might be tempting to blame such things in your darkest hour, the truth is that for the vast ma-

The interviewer was laughing (with me, not at me, I hoped), I’d managed to tell her what I had to offer, hobbies and my sister emigrating there. Eye contact was just about right – not too aggressive-psycho, but not too shy-socialoutcast. Best of all, she hadn’t asked for a breathalyser test. On the negative

jority of the time, we determine where we end up in life. I think there’s a lot of truth in the proverb: No one is luckier than him who believes in his luck. So don’t let superstition befuddle

side, I noticed I kept saying ‘Brilliant’ a lot in response to her spiel. An employee gym? Brilliant. With a climbing wall, you say? Brilliant. Special ski deals? Brilliant. A tenminute walk from Banff city centre? Brilliant. Stop saying that bloody word, I screamed at myself, as it spilled out of my mouth another 50 times. Who’d have thought such an innocuous, positive word was going to be the thing that cost me a job? Which is why – for no reason relating to the earlier pint – I almost fell off my chair when she pulled out a contract. Brilliant! So don’t get too stressed out about job interviews, folks. Remember, the employer can read about your qualifications on your CV; interviews are the time to sell yourself, and in my case, make myself sound like an idiot with a one-word vocabulary. Just remember, don’t do anything embarrassing in the waiting room – they’re watching, I tells you. Above all else, don’t forget to take a map.

your sensibilities this Friday 13. Walk on all the cracks, stride under ladders, greet black felines with joy. Just don’t go breaking your mirror. Why? Well you’d only have to buy a new one, wouldn’t you, dummy?

o the government is looking to crack down on smokers. Again. Cigarettes are going to be brandless, more expensive and kept under the counter alongside hardcore porn, pointy objects and other social taboos. These measures are meant to dramatically cut the number of young smokers, by pricing them out of the market and making the habit both less attractive and accessible. However, having done my dissertation on attitudes towards the smoking ban, I think it’s vital that rather than readily throwing legislation at the problem, the government makes a more concerted effort to educate future generations. This will prove infinitely more effective in reducing smokers in the long-run, without riling the anti anti-smoking brigade, or risking a rise in the ‘forbidden fruit’ effect. A personalised approach which informs youngsters, rather than dictates, has always got to be the better option.

The Times

was furious to hear two academics at Nottingham University – one an employee and one an MA student – had been arrested under the Terrorism Act for possessing an al-Qaida training manual, essential to the MA student’s research. This time last year, gair rhydd reported on initiatives to track library books related to terrorism and requesting lecturers to look out for signs of extremism among students. The situation has only exacerbated. Rather than giving the men in question a chance to explain, they were detained for six days, and one faced deportation, until a last-minute reprieve. Current law is leading academics to feel ‘censored’ in the subjects which they choose to research. As a result, understanding terrorism – something which is desperately needed – is forsaken for fear of legal reprisal. Therefore, confusion, stereotyping and fear persist. If we really want to tackle the complex practice of terrorism, figuratively and literally hand-cuffing those trying to unravel it is only hindering the process.

20 gairrhydd

JUNE.09.2008

FEATURES

FEATURES@gairrhydd.COM

Highlight of the year or a right Summer Ba

How does Cardiff measure up this year in the university tradition of students know what they’re getting, and are they getting what they wa

o: your exams are over, your coursework’s over and for some, university itself may be over for good. All that beckons is a few weeks of celebrating before the big bad world of work begins, or an endless summer toiling behind the counter at W. H. Smith’s. So what is there to look forward to before then? Ah yes. The Summer Ball. But what is the Summer Ball? I’ve heard it described as everything from an evening of class and splendour spent with a loved one and/or very close friends to “a piss-up with a bunch of mates”. It’s a difficult opposition to synthesise, and it creates further contradictions: romantic intimacy vs. drunk people; dinner and dancing vs. fast food and festival music; ball gowns vs. a field. You can’t please everyone. Should the organisers even try? The answer would have to be yes. The Summer Ball is a huge event dedicated to rounding off the year or even students’ university tenure in style. It’s the big coming together of the university calendar. To steer it towards only happy couples or any other specific group of people, such as first-years or graduates, would be resoundingly unfair. Due to size and venue issues, Southampton University’s Summer Ball is only for final-year students; the idea being that it is a graduation party of sorts, rather than an event for all Southampton students. Yet there is an interesting parallel in students’ perception of Cardiff Univer-

sity’s Summer Ball. Cardiff’s ball is, of course, for students of all years, but this should perhaps be better publicised; awareness of the Summer Ball amongst freshers could be higher, or at least more informed. It is a common first-year or even second-year (mis)conception that although the Summer Ball may not be an official Graduation Ball, it is essentially an event for final-year students.

There was some strong demand from students for Scouting For Girls not to play the ball Frances Parry, a first-year medic, said, “I thought it was more for graduates, but I’m not really sure why”, which arguably sums up the mood quite well. Once freshers attend, it might easily change – I am not commenting on the ball’s quality here – but before then the first-year feeling appears to be, if not disenchantment, disenfranchisement. First-year English Language student Jamie Thunder told me, “No one I know is going. It seems irrelevant to me; it feels a lot like it’s for thirdyears (and possibly some second-years) wanting a big party and that’s it. It feels more like a big goodbye bash than anything I’d feel comfortable going to as a first-year.”

Your Ball: Your Words

A more positive approach is that many students look on the Summer Ball as something to be ‘done’ in their final year. Steve Nicholls, a first-year Mechanical Engineering student, said, “I feel like I could have gone if I’d wanted to, but I’d rather wait until my final year and go as a leaving thing.” As reasonable as this idea is, though, it comes from and contributes to the per-

ceived ‘graduates only’ stigma. The onus should, perhaps, be on the Union team to up their PR towards the fresher contingent. That’s not a criticism of the team’s current work; merely an observation that first-years aren’t necessarily clued up on the details of the Summer Ball beyond the fact that it happens. The Students’ Union cannot put posters in halls of residence, which

SCOUTING FOR GIRLS: Unpopular? is a significant problem, but the personal touch remains an option. In my first year, nobody came to University Hall to tell us about the Summer Ball; at least, not that I was aware, and I practically lived in the promotion-heavy Uni Hall Bar. The situation hasn’t changed: aforementioned first-year Jamie elucidated that “some guy came round Sengh-

“The Ball seems irrelevant to me. It feels more like a goodbye bash than anything I’d feel comfortable going to as a first-year.”

“I don’t mind the line-up but others have said it’s poor. People are definitely having problems with the music this year.”

“I didn’t hear much about it in the first year – just that it exists. Nothing apart from the bands has really been advertised.”

“In the fi people th could go was main third-yea year’s lin so great

Jamie Thunder First-year English Language

Nick Horwood Third-year Archaeology

Jon Hillard Second-year Maths

Grace Harma Second-year L

gairrhydd

JUNE.09.2008

FEATURES

FEATURES@gairrhydd.COM

r alls-up?

the Summer Ball? Do ant? Huw Davies investigates enydd a couple of months back with tickets, but that’s all I know other than the Union posters”, and as the thoughts of several students in the voxpop below illustrate, visual advertisement of the Summer Ball, ubiquitous though it is, doesn’t go much beyond a list of acts (and the odd promise of toilet facilities – as if female attendees were expected to crouch behind a bush – and “state-ofthe-art light and sound”). The Summer Ball website this year has been good, providing details and even advice. It just seems the message hasn’t completely reached first-year students, as there is still a prevailing unease over whether the ball is ‘for’ them. The line-up could persuade other students to have similar concerns. The Union obviously has students’ interests at heart, but there is a suggestion that in booking acts for the event, importance was thrown upon landing the biggest names possible rather than artists Cardiff students actually wanted to see at their Summer Ball. The two don’t necessarily go hand in hand. The announcement that pop trio Scouting For Girls would be headlining the event was a bit of a shock to some students, not because their live performance isn’t the most visceral or even because they are a relatively small band, but because there was strong demand from students for them not to play. This was not mere post-announcement grumbling either. When asked

first year hought you but that it nly for ars. This ne-up isn’t though.”

an Law & Politics

on the Summer Ball Facebook group – for what better way is there to reach students than Facebook – whom they would like to see play the Summer Ball, there was some really quite specific demand from students that Scouting For Girls would not feature. Many would argue you can’t base a decision on the opinions of a few people on Facebook, but then why ask in the first place?

Awareness of the Summer Ball amongst freshers could be higher, or at least more informed The line-up has been criticised by a wide range of students as poor in comparison both to other universities’ summer ball line-ups this year and previous offerings at Cardiff. For the naturally jealous among you: Feeder are playing Leicester University’s Summer Ball, Scouting For Girls are being supported by Athlete at Gloucestershire, Fearne Cotton will be at Kent and Imperial College, London (who, bizarrely, also have a DJ set from The Mighty Boosh’s Naboo) and Varsity rivals Swansea have attracted the talents of Mutya Buena, The Wombats and – yes – The Vengaboys, while in the past, Cambridge

colleges have boasted the likes of Amy Winehouse, The Scissor Sisters, The Kaiser Chiefs, Klaxons, Supergrass, Razorlight, Hot Chip, Röyksopp, The Magic Numbers, Ash, Editors and Fun Lovin’ Criminals, who didn’t turn up. Still, the grass is always greener; it’s petty and unfair to compare Cardiff’s Summer Ball line-up to those of other universities and most importantly, as already mentioned, it is not merely a question of the bigger the bands the better. Far from it. Also, the organisers should be lauded for avoiding the common trap of booking antique bands no students really want to see even for irony’s sake (Right Said Fred, anyone?). The problem is that Cardiff’s line-up boasts neither widespread fame nor student acclaim, nor even the cheesy party spirit offered by the likes of The Vengaboys at Swansea. Non-musical facilities are perhaps lacking too. While Leeds’ offer of “an orgasmic massage parlour” and a “preordered wine speed bar” appears to promise sex, drugs and Mutya Buena (as well as being open from 6pm until 6am), Kent University has embraced a carnival atmosphere, with flame performers, stilt walkers, tattoo artists and a giant chocolate fountain. Many summer balls have casinos. Cardiff’s ball did in 1995, as well as gladiator jousting, sumo wrestling, Jools Holland and corporate sponsorship allowing a film tent, well-known comedians, 50p pints of Guinness and a choice of Chinese, Indian, American or Italian cuisine from successful restaurant outfits. Again, this is not designed to undermine this year’s ball; merely to suggest that a greater diversity of attractions could be provided. And to finish on a positive note, many students I spoke to were optimistic about the Summer Ball, and I particularly like the Silent Disco (great fun). It should be a wonderful night for those who attend. It is just concerning that one sentence I heard a lot was, “It’s rubbish, but it’s a laugh.” As long as there’s alcohol most students will be happy, but there should be more to the Summer Ball than that – and first-years should be in the loop, not out of it. There are issues to be addressed, it seems. But until then, dust off your gladrags and enjoy the show – such as it is.

“I’ve heard about the Summer Ball but it’s expensive. I’d like to see Scouting For Girls, but tickets and a tux cost too much.”

“I know the Ball exists, but I’ve no idea when or where it takes place. It’s expensive and students can’t afford it.”

Alex Martin First-year French & History

Matthew Cheng Third-year Banking & Finance

The Advice & Representation Centre offers confidential and non-judgemental advice from trained advisers. We are always available for a friendly chat and a sympathetic ear. We open weekdays, 9.30am- 4pm 3rd Floor in the SU Email: advice@cardiff.ac.uk

22 gairrhydd

JUNE.09.2008

POLITICS

POLITICS@gairrhydd.COM

Students arrested Blair: the Wo over Terrorist M Manual Tim Hewish Politics Editor

With the number of students interrogated over controversial material on the increase,Wendy Woodhead asks: Is this the beginning of the demise for freedom of speech in universities?

reedom of speech in Higher Education was compromised once again as two students from Nottingham University were arrested under the Terrorism Act. Hicham Yezza, a 30 year-old student and recent employee of the university and his 22 year-old student friend Rizwaan Sabir were arrested on May 14 and detained for six days. The arrest was made after a 1,500page al-Qaeda training manual was found on Yezza’s computer by a member of staff. It emerged that Sabir had asked Yezza – a university administrator – to print the manual because he didn’t have enough money. Despite the fact that two days into the six-day detainment Sabir’s tutors issued statements confirming that the printed pages were directly related to research he was doing for his MA dissertation into terrorist tactics, the two were held for a further four days, but surely it can’t have taken that long to raid the computers and mobile phones confiscated from their families.

If we are restricted from learning about the very thing we fear how are we supposed to combat it? After their release without charges Sabir spoke of his fear that he would end up in Belmarsh, describing his detention as ‘psyhchological torture.’ Following his release Sabir was read a statement, which deemed the manual an ‘illegal document which shouldn’t be used for research purposes.’ What is ridiculous about the debacle is that this ‘illegal document’ was secured by totally legal means via a US governmental website. Google the term ‘US government al-Qaeda training manual’ and you’re on to a winner. I did, however, with many reservations, fearing I might suddenly hear the heavy fist of the anti-terror squad beating down my front door. The government want to reassure us that its increasingly stringent policies on terrorism should in no way dampen

ost former Prime Ministers retire gracefully, often preferring the green of a cricket pitch and a glass full of Pimm’s like that of John Major’s summer pursuits. However, Blair being Blair he has decided to knight himself as a 21st century Global Missionary. He recently unveiled the Tony Blair Faith Foundation, in which its grandiose aim is to unite the world’s religions in addressing the most pressing social issues on the planet. Blair was keen to stress that: “Faith is part of our future, the values it brings with it are an essential part of making globalisation work.” The problem is try telling that to a Europe whose secular thought has been entrenched for almost 200 years, as the Enlightenment’s mind set has indeed become a belief in itself. Blair’s utterances would be considered acceptable if he were a US politician - we regularly see Bush, Clinton, ) (but perhaps Obama not so much) leaving church with a Bible under one arm. Our press have sneered at his recent conversion to Catholicism, but now certain journalists are digging deeper to discover how important Blair’s faith has been to him throughout his life.

In the rich world, without spiritual values, there is an emptiness that cannot be filled by material goods and wealth

Will this be Go

Wendy Woodhead explains h Labour’ now wishes he was

our access to education, but if we are restricted from learning about the very thing we fear how are we supposed to combat it? Instead we end up fearing something we have no knowledge of – and that seems to me a very common symptom of heightened paranoia. As a budding academic, Mr Sabir is precisely the key candidate who ought to be looking into such research as a means of furthering our understanding. Although Yezza was released along with Sabir, he was later re-arrested on apparently unrelated immigration charges. Yezza was faced with the imminent prospect of being deported back to Algeria on 1 June after his 13 years in Britain, but the plans were cancelled by the Home Office as the charges are still subject to a court hearing. However, Alan Simpson, Labour MP for Nottingham South, isn’t the only one who suspects these allegations as an attempt to cover up the government’s embarrassment over such a rash arrest

in the first place. Protesters and campaigners besieged the university campus as students, lecturers and Alan Simpson himself attended the rally against increasing self-censorship in education with some even reciting passages from the manual as an expression of the text’s legality unless used in an illegal manner. Not only has the government proved itself irrational and brutal, but the careers of two aspiring young men have now been tainted by these allegations. If this can happen in a university environment with colleagues and students proclaiming the innocence of the wrongly accused, it doesn’t bode well if ministers win the fight to lengthen the time of detainment without charge from 28 to 42 days (supposing there are any free cells going spare). This is not the first time universities have come under fire for being asked to ‘spy’ on students and it won’t be the last.

s the credit crunch bites it isn’t just house prices that are on a downward slope under Labour, as Gordon Brown’s popularity plummets. The first YouGov poll since Labour’s defeat in the Crewe & Nantwich byelection showed Labour lagging behind the Conservatives with 23% to their 47%. This is hardly surprising considering the wave of failures we have seen from Labour since Gordon Brown took over as Prime Minister. A rebellious fervour is beginning to circulate around Westminster once again, a year since Tony Blair was ousted from the party. When Blair was suffering his worst popularity ratings the country looked to Brown as a ray of hope – a no-nonsense figure to cut through the sleaze. One year on and our perceptions have been reversed: Blair seems to have been reconfigured in the press as a strong leader and political icon for our age. Never did we imagine things could get worse. We all thought that if anyone could deal with an impending economic crisis, Brown could. Yet, in last month’s YouGov poll 22% believe Labour could run Britain’s economy well as opposed to 39% who believe the Conservatives best matched for the job. It is a common mistake to blame one man for the economic troubles and the social policy U-turns, but the

reality is that these problems have been building up for years and now the Labour Party has become detached from the very people it purports to tradtionally represent: low earners and the social sector. The embarrassing issue of MPs’ own salary increases has been allowed to surface at a time when a lack of other public servive pay rises are the order of the day.

Blair seems to have been reconfigured as a strong leader and political icon for our age The police calls for pay rises were shafted by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith and thousands are reeling from losing their jobs and having their businesses suffer devastation after the closure of 2,500 of the ironicallybranded ‘People’s Post Offices’. Moreover, Labour’s refusal to act over non-doms has only led to more questions about where the party’s values lie. It seems to be the lower income and social sector workers who are suffering. Who honestly thought banning the 10p rate of tax was a good idea, replacing it with a system of tax credits in which even the highest earners can claim? With the Henley by-election on the

gairrhydd

JUNE.09.2008 POLITICS@gairrhydd.COM

orld’s Faith Healer A quote from Cherie Blair says: “Religion is more important to Tony than anyone I had ever met outside the priesthood. Tony would spend hours talking about God and what we were here for. I don’t think it would be too strong to say it was this that brought us together.” History has often been a cruel judge with regard to Religion, often highlighting its blood-lust nature, while skimming over its moralising force and, more importantly for Blair, its globalising force. Long before we had TNC’s, NGO’s, the UN and digital communication, faith was the conduit through which markets, peoples and goods travelled through. The major religions have had a global reach for centuries and it is this element that Blair wants to re-capture in a world that is uprooting people and bringing them together physically, but perhaps not so much spiritually. The Foundation’s first active target is malaria prevention and Blair’s response is: “If you got churches and mosques working together to provide the bed nets that are necessary to eliminate malaria, what a fantastic thing that would be.” His other major concern, on a more political front, is how there is a growing attitude of divergence between

Americans and Europeans with regard to faith. He states that it is Western Europe, not the US, who is out of step when it comes to religious observance. But even in the most secular of nations, France’s Nickolas Sarkozy has recently called Europeans to view faith as an asset, not a danger. The fundamentals Blair is trying to get across are that “in the rich world, without spiritual values, there is an emptiness that cannot be filled by material goods and wealth.” He goes further by playing on this globalisation rhetoric “We must be global citizens as well as citizens of our country,” and perhaps co-operation between faiths, not nation states, is a way to galvanise this communitarian spirit. In a somewhat hopeful zeal, Blair tries his hand at another ‘People’s Princess’ moment by exclaiming: “Idealism becomes the new realism.” Such a philosophical transition will be tough for a world that has had its fair share of botched idealism, from Nazi Germany, Soviet Russia and to some extent a faith like reverence for market forces to solve all our problems. But perhaps we should give grass roots religion a try; despite probable retorts form Europeans, it is after all the fabled US notion of separation between Church and State which has been taken

out of context. What the deeply religious Founding Fathers objected to was having One Church gaining hegemony over all others, that is their meaning of religious freedom. Where the State has been seen to have failed us in its demise in the 1980’s, the unfettered market principles put in place hasn’t been the Saviour we all expected it to be, as material progress hasn’t necessarily meant moral or social progress. It is as if we now sit on a two legged stool, one being the State and other the Market, each has tried to support humanity’s full weight, but has been left wanting. This is perhaps why both Brown and Cameron have had to move from their ideological moorings of Left and Right and drifted into the central ground, as neither arguments now seem strong enough; instead preferring a social capitalism over an economic one. Maybe a counter-weight could well be the role grass roots religious and/ or social groups playing a part in helping the global citizen deal with the dilemmas we face each day and Blair’s Foundation might just be that catalyst for change.

ordon’s Finest Hour?

how the once dubbed ‘Saviour of New just a meager ‘Heir to Blair’

horizon, hotly contested by the Lib Dems and Conservatives, the latter are eager to prove themselves capable of running the country, but perhaps it’s a case of better the devil you know. Nick Clegg, eager to take the seat at the election, has been promoting the issue at the top of the Lib Dem agenda. However, YouGov rates them as still being substantially behind in the popularity polls. As for the Conservatives, Clegg argues: “Their strategy is simple enough: why bother choosing policies when the government is shooting

itself in the foot?” To be fair there is a large grain of truth in this: the Tories have become so comfortable with the idea that Labour will lose the next general election that they are bordering on the complacent.

Labour’s time is not necessarily up, unless they give up While David Cameron has been leader of the party, his standard ap-

proach to moan about whatever Labour gets wrong, without offering any kind of alternative, has stood him in good stead, but it is easier to point the finger than take the blame. Cameron mocked Labour is handling of the 10p tax debacle, while refusing to state whether he had voted for it in the first place. Labour have made some genuine mistakes, the double sense of division in the party and from the electorate means that they are leaving themselves open for criticism over failing targets instead of actually getting on and doing their jobs. Labour’s time is not necessarily up, unless they give up. However, the party does need to regroup and re-evaluate a strong line of attack especially in this time of economic uncertainty. Although it is not down to one man alone, it would help if Brown got a backbone and had some conviction about his policies. Let’s face it: what are the alternatives? If Brown continues to be a pushover, he might just find himself toppled before the next general election. Nick Clegg’s premonition that ‘insurrection is in the air’ could prove more than just an empty threat if the Prime Minister doesn’t stand up for what he believes. Britain is notoriously an apathetic nation, but the rising number of protesters taking to the streets indicates things might be about to change.

POLITICS Labour Gunned Down over Teenage Deaths

Gareth Ludkin on guns, knives and Labour’s response to youth anarchy

s I sat down to write this article, I was confronted with the shocking reality of gun and knife crime in the UK. As I began to research the story ,I was greeted with the news that two young defenceless children had been stabbed and killed. Furthermore, another teenager became the latest victim of gun crime: Sharmaarke Hassan, 17, was shot in the head on the 24th May, becoming the 15th victim of gun and knife crime in London since the beginning of the year. Last year only witnessed 28. Recently, in this spate of violence we’ve heard about the deaths of Robert Knox, 18, and Jimmy Mizen, 16. Both were innocent teenagers killed for no reason, caught up in a society which seems to be rapidly descending into a Levithan nightmare – of war against all. New Labour have been criticised for their approach to youth crime and social justice. An internal government report which has just been released provides damming evidence of an ineffective approach to youth crime. Labour, however, promises to clamp down on knives, guns and gangs, claiming that significant progress has been made, while the report states that reoffending rates are still high and have not changed much since ‘97. Labour are set this summer to release a major new Youth Crime Action Plan, which is expected to take a dramatic new stance on youth crime. The Government are also looking to launch a new advertising campaign against youth crime designed by teenagers. The adverts are graphic and shocking, spread across all media formats, notably social networking sites. Channel 4 also is taking a positive step toward gun crime with a new season of shows called ‘Disarming Britain’, which promises to be provocative and eye opening season of programs. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has recently announced that £5bn of investment will be targeted at hotspots across the country, which will see the increase of knife searches and use of targeted

stop and search; action that civil liberty activists are concerned about. The Government are also to work closely with the Crown Prosecution Service to ensure that those carrying knives are actually prosecuted. On their website, Labour criticise the ‘slick salesmanship’ of the Tory opposition and ‘David Cameron’s hug-a-hoodie approach’. The statistics on gun and knife crime are not always conclusive, but what is for certain is that more young teenagers are becoming victims and perpetrators of serious crime, often targeting each other over gang lands. All we need to do is to look back at the past year to recount vast number of deaths and to recognise what this epidemic of crime is doing to society; the tragic story of Rhys Jones last August is the most chilling. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Alf Hitchcock said: “The age of offenders and victims has decreased from midteens to early twenties, to mid-teens”. The Met’s response has seen a two week operation, known as Blunt Two, which seized over 200 weapons, with more than 200 arrests. The police and government are certainly getting tough, but there is still a lot more that needs to be done. In a recent Good University Guide table Nottingham came out as the least safe city. Cardiff came in at 13 out of 20 least safe university cities excluding London. Early intervention is being called for and to some extent this is happening across the country with schemes in place looking to curb youth crime. However, many ethnic minorities feel targeted and this also points toward a much more surveillance heavy society. For example, in Essex, police have been openly filming and photographing youths in an attempt to discourage and catch youth criminals. How much is too much is an important question. New Labour needs to answer if they are to keep hold of power. Prevention and tougher laws need to be worked out in a balanced and constructive way to reduce youth crime.

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SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENT

JUNE.09.2008 SCIENCE@gairrhydd.COM

LOVE WALES, KEEP IT TIDY Sophie Cole presents the Keep Wales Tidy’s campaign and addresses the wider issues which are perhaps ignored by the organisation

s the June 23 approaches you will be unable to avoid the slogan of ‘Keep Wales Tidy’. Even in the first week of the new month ‘please show your love for Wales’ has infiltrated the multi media outlets of Cardiff. With television adverts, Internet sites and posted pamphlets, it is evident that a nationwide campaign has been launched by the organisation. And its aim? Well, it is all in the title. For a week in June, beginning the 23rd and ending the 29th, Keep Wales Tidy are to put the dominant concerns of the population (Wales’ aesthetic appearance needs a spring clean) to the test. They are doing this through inviting the whole Welsh nation to help ‘tidy’ (see what I did there!) the littered and vandalised black spots in towns, villages and the countryside. They are hoping that people from every corner of the Welsh land will jump at the opportunity to be embodied into the community feel of improving the appearance and safety of the Wales’ environments. Last year proved to be a success with over 24,000 people involving themselves with the clean up of their particular neighbourhoods. By the end of the action week, thousands of bags of litter had been recovered by the volunteers at more than 500 locations. Results showed that many long stand-

ing litter blots on the landscape had actually been eradicated. However, this year the organisers have set particularly ambitious targets. They are aiming for 50,000 Welsh inhabitants to voluntarily get their hands dirty. For this to happen it would require more than double last year’s involvement. Nevertheless, Keep Wales Tidy have produced 1,000 free clean up kits. The kits, which have been sponsored by the Welsh Assembly Government, are available on a first come, first served basis.

Last year 24,000 people volunteered in more than 500 destinations during the week long campaign These kits have the power to increase the appeal and convenience of getting down and dirty. They contain posters, local authority contacts and a booklet explaining how to get the most from the week and volunteers. These seem intricate to any community wishing to make a different in Keep Wales Tidy, as the promotional aids provide the potential to use the resources most efficiently

and recruit more individuals. Perhaps the problems of Cathays’ litter issues could be resolved by an inspirational ‘Show your love for Wales’ poster positioned in the Woodie… Tegryn Jones, Chief Executive of Keep Wales Tidy, expressed the importance of this campaign, he said: “We hear constant complaints in the press and on TV about the state of our streets, beaches and rivers.” More specifically he pin points the significance of Keep Wales Tidy’s action week by demonstrating the power that we, the Welsh population, have in our hands (literal) to make a difference, “The truth is that resolving many of the problems highlighted lies in our selves.” It is an inescapable fact that people create litter. In one week’s effort, the Welsh population, collectively, has the ability to positively affect the annual £50 million it costs to remove humans’ rubbish and waste. Tegryn Jones acknowledges that “we live in busy times”, yet asserts that merely a few hours “can improve the visual appearance of our surroundings”. He asks that we as the future generation “help make a difference”. Keep Wales Tidy’s vision is of a clean, safe and tidy Wales. A paramount aim of this campaign, and the organisation as a whole, is to change people’s attitudes. In that individuals do not engage in activities that have

a negative impact on Wales’ environments. The authority recognises that this can range from the issues of litter, fly-tipping and dog fouling to graffiti, fly-posting and abandoned vehicles can all have a negative impact on Wales’ landscape and targets these concerns in their approach to the population.

It is a fact that people create litter. Annually it costs £50 million to remove humans’ rubbish and waste The agreed mission of Keep Wales Tidy is to ‘encourage action to maintain and improve the cleanliness of Wales’. It acknowledges that to maintain and or achieve a ‘tidy Wales’ then people must be encouraged to ‘behave in a responsible manner and take responsibility for their own local environment’. Undoubtedly this is a worthwhile cause and this article definitely asserts that we, the students of Wales, should involve ourselves within it. However, should we even need a week such as this to temporarily ‘change our attitudes’ towards litter and the aesthetic appearance of our neighbourhood?

gair rhydd’s Science and Environment asked some of Wales’ university students what they thought of this campaign in light of the wider issues it momentarily focuses upon. Angharad Ortiz, first year Astronomy and Welsh Cardiff student said: “The week of action is obviously a positive, for people need organizations and schemes like this to remind all of the importance of being litter aware. However, I only see this as a temporary effect. Although it is a good start to, quite literally, keeping Wales tidy.” Whilst Kathrin Muehlegger, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) President of Glamorgan University, commented: “This is a truly fantastic way to project these issues to the forefront of the public agenda. However, it fails to address the slipping conduct of the Welsh nation as a whole, as ultimately it is teaching people the importance of throwing away, a principal value when living within a community; what is next, reminding people how to eat properly?” Keeping Wales Tidy is a thoroughly legitimate organisation whose action week deserves the attention and participation of Welsh students. Its foundations speak volumes about the human race today in light of care for the planet. Lets hope it has the authority to make an impact larger than that of a seven day period.

gairrhydd

JUNE.09.2008

JOBS AND MONEY

JOBS@gairrhydd.COM

Cardiff for FREE

The exams are over but the same can be said for your overdraft limit. Jobs and Money looks for ways to fill your revision-free days in the Welsh capital for next to nothing

t’s a common realisation for students that despite spending one, two or three years in Cardiff, they have rarely explored their host city beyond the bright lights of the union or St Mary’s Street. And with money more an issue than ever at this end of the year, you might be surprised to know how much stuff there is to do for absolutely free. So really, you have no excuse... The National Museum Embrace your inner (Welsh) culture vulture and pay a visit to The National Museum Cardiff. A stone’s throw from the union at the Civic Centre, you don’t have to trek to get there, and inside you will be met with a whole host of exhibitions. Permanent displays include art, archaeology, natural history and geography exhibitions, as well as changing exhibitions throughout the year. Admission is completely free and it’s open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am-5pm. St Fagan’s Newly cultured, you might be feeling brave and go even further a field to St Fagan’s National History Museum. Just a 4 mile drive West of Cardiff, someone very dedicated to Welsh history has moved over 40 different historical buildings from all over the country, such as a farm, school and chapel, to recreate an idea of what Welsh life would’ve been like over the last five centuries.

The museum is set in the pretty grounds of St Fagan’s Castle, so get out of the city and enjoy Even if you’re not overly enthusiastic about demonstrations of traditional Welsh life, the museum is set in the pretty grounds of St Fagan’s Castle, so get out of the city and enjoy. Once again it’ll cost you nothing to

get in, and buses 32 and 320 run regularly from Cardiff Bus Station so you don’t have to worry about parking. Open 10am-5pm every day. The National Assembly for Wales Having explored Wales’ past with the the National Museum and St Fagan’s, take a look where decisions about its future are made at The National Assembly for Wales. Since the devolved government was formed by the Government of Wales Act 2006 it has been a source of both Welsh pride and controversy, not least because of the new environmentallyfriendly Assembly building at Cardiff Bay. Go to the National Assembly for Wales Visitors Centre located at the Pierhead, just next door to the Assembly itself, to find out about the workings of the government you’re living under. It’s all free, as is entry to the Assembly building itself to have a nose around. Cardiff Outdoor Action Show If you fancy yourself as a bit of a water sports expert, or you’re just interested in seeing how its done, then this two-day event could be a perfect

What’s On... Graduating to Enterprise Week 9th-13th June. Includes business planning, building a team, financial management and more. Visit www.g2e.co.uk for details

Graduate Recruitment Day Wednesday 11th June, 11am-3pm at City Hall. Over 50 organisations from all fields will be attending

weekend of free entertainment. Running from the 21st-22nd June at Cardiff Bay the weekend will feature the UK’s largest canoe village as well as a range of demonstrations from all kinds of water sports. There are also chances to have a go yourself, although this may have to be paid for. However, admission is completely free both days between 11am and 5pm. Cardiff’s International Food and Drink Festival Enough with the beans and pot noodles of studenthood. If you’re thinking of sticking around in Cardiff over the summer, or you’re coming up the weekend before graduation, Cardiff’s International Food and Drink festival could be worth a visit. Running from 11th-13th July at Roald Dahl Plass, Cardiff Bay, there’s loads to choose from, and once again, looking won’t cost you a penny (it’s up to you to resist buying some of the wares on offer). A producers fair, farmers market, ice cream workshops, wine tasting and chef demonstrations are just some of the food-based events taking place, whilst musical entertainment including

jazz and tango will also be happening. Some of the more popular events like wine tasting are ticketed. For more information phone 02920 463833. IRB Junior World Championships 2008 Okay, so it’s not exactly free but it is a chance to see world class rugby in Wales at a fraction of the price you would normally pay. The IRB Junior World Championship Wales 2008 is running from 6th-22nd June throughout Wales with the under 20’s teams for all the major players in international rugby including New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, England and of course Wales. The tournament has previously launched the careers of players including Danny Cipriani and Gavin Henson, so it’s a great opportunity to see some of the big names of tomorrow in action. Tickets are £8 which entitles you to two matches at any one venue on the same day. Matches are being played in Cardiff Arms Park, Liberty Stadium in Swansea, Rodney Parade, Newport and the Racecourse Ground in Wrexham. For more details go to www.irb.com/jwc/

Skills 4 Grads Thursday 12th June. Includes workshops on assessment centres from PWC, presentation skills from Deloitte and commercial awareness by KPMG. Visit www.cardiff.ac.uk/ carsv to book

Graduate Programme Running until 17th June. Includes “I haven’t got a clue what I want to do” and CV workshops. Visit www.cardiff.ac.uk/ carsv for more information

Graduate

o Woodbury graduated with a BA Economics in 2006. He now works on a graduate scheme for Bloomberg LP. What is your full job title? Bloomberg LP – Graduate Sales programme. Briefly describe what your job involves i.e your day to day responsibilities. As well as the news and TV that Bloomberg offers, 90% of their revenues are generated through the Bloomberg Professional product which all people involved in finance and the markets in some shape or form tend to use. This is the part of the business that I am involved in. I am currently working on the Analytics desk. The best way to describe my role currently is thinking of it in terms of a help desk. Whenever a trader or analyst needs to know how to do something there is a HELP key which they can press on their keyboard which launches them into a live chat with one of us. This is particularly challenging as you are expected to be an expert with regards to the product. The major benefit is that I get to deal with clients from all assets classes. How did you go about applying for the job? Briefly describe any interview or assessment process that you went through. I applied online then had a telephone interview. I was then invited to a first round interview with two heads of sales. They asked me to tell them about myself and I described how enthusiastic and passionate I am about everything I do. This gave me a great opportunity to sell myself and I was asked back for a subsequent assessment day doing a variety of group work and team exercises. I did general reading to help me with this before hand and a week later was offered the job. What is the best/worst thing about your job? The job is very challenging. I have learnt a great deal and am now very confident with using one of the most complex financial information systems on the market. Bloomberg is a true meritocracy, you get out what you put in, hard work is rewarded and Bloomberg is well recognised within the industry. The worst thing is being expected to work under great pressure, sometimes dealing with up to six clients at a time There’s also lots of home study for various internal exams. What advice would you give to students thinking of entering a similar field? If you are interested in finance then market awareness is the most important thing. The best way to do this is to try and read the Financial Times and Economist when you get a chance. When going to an interview knowing the company web site inside out can be very useful, especially the culture of the company and how you plan to slot in.

26 gairrhydd

MEHEFIN.09.2008

TAF-OD

TAF-OD@gairrhydd.COM

Doniau Disglair yn Difyrru Doniau Disglair Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Urdd Gobaith Cymru Sir Conwy 2008

Llyr Gwyn Lewis Adolygiad Mae’n debyg mai’r un llyfr a chanddo’r gwerthiant gorau yng Nghymru’n flynyddol yw Cyfansoddiadau a Beirniadaethau’r Eisteddfod Genedlaethol. Mae’r holl ddyfalu blynyddol a’r statws dyrchafedig a roddir i enillwyr y prif wobrau’n golygu bod yna fynd go fawr ar y gyfrol hon, wrth i’r darllenydd awchu am gael profi o’r arlwy sydd, yn aml, wedi’i ganmol i’r cymylau gan y beirniaid, neu’n fwy awyddus, efallai, i nodi gwendidau’r darn a oedd o fewn trwch blewyn i gael ail. Ond bellach, daeth diwedd Mai hefyd yn gyfnod o flysio am gynnyrch arobryn ieuenctid y wlad. Mae’r safon yn cynyddu’n flynyddol, a’r rhagolygon am gyfansoddiadau Eisteddfodau Cenedlaethol y dyfodol yn argoeli’n dda iawn. Eleni yr un modd, chaiff y darllenydd mo’i siomi wrth bori drwy weithiau llenyddol buddugol Eisteddfod yr Urdd. Un a fu’n byw yng nghysgod ymrafael Eurig Salisbury a Hywel Griffiths â’i gilydd am y gadair yn y blynyddoedd diwethaf yw Iwan Rhys. Y mae, fel hwythau, yn un o’r genhedlaeth newydd, gynhyrfus o feirdd a fu’n cynhyrchu cerddi caeth o safon aruthrol yn ystod y blynyddoedd diwethaf. Mae’n aelod o dîm Talwrn Y Glêr gydag Eurig a Hywel, ac er ei fod yn fardd ifanc addawol, ac er iddo ennill cadair Gw^ yl yr Urdd yn ôl yn 2001, bodloni ar y trydydd safle a fu raid am rai blynyddoedd. Ond gydag Eurig a Hywel bellach yn rhy hen i gystadlu, bron nad oedd rhai yn disgwyl i Iwan gipio’r

Gadair eleni. Ni siomwyd y rhai hynny. Dyma awdl aeddfed, ddirdynnol, wir, ar adegau, a ddisgrifiwyd gan y beirniaid fel ‘Awdl aeddfed, awdl ddofn, lân a grymus’. Dwy farwolaeth yw ‘Colli’ y testun ganddo, ac mae’r cywydd deuair byrion, sy’n fesur go brin bellach, a geir pan yw’r bardd yn clywed am yr ail farwolaeth, yn cyfleu yn y nifer lleiaf posib o eiriau, ergyd ddirdynnol y golled: ‘… blew’n rhew ar war … … Aled … galar …’ Mae’r cyfan wedi’i gynganeddu’n fedrus, a rhai trawiadau ffres yn taro’r darllenydd, a pheri i ni feddwl yn ddwys: ‘rhaid derbyn nad oes neb / a w^yr yr ateb i gladdu crwtyn’. Wrth ddefnyddio delweddau o longau hefyd i gyfleu mynd a dod bywyd, a holi sut mae mesur gwerth bywyd, sicrhaodd Iwan Rhys na fydd yn gorfod byw yng nghysgod ei gyd-glerwyr eto. Un aelod o’r tîm sydd ar ôl – Osian Rhys – ac ef a ddaeth yn ail eleni. Ei dro ef, efallai, yma yng Nghaerdydd y flwyddyn nesaf? Blwyddyn i’r bechgyn oedd hi eleni gyda gw ^r ifanc yn cipio’r goron hefyd am ei gasgliad crafog a chywrain o ryddiaith, ‘Gwerth’. Un ferch yn unig a ddaeth i’r brig yn y prif seremonïau, a thestun llawenydd i ni yng Nghaerdydd yw mai merch o’r ddinas, Rachel Perry, oedd honno, a gipiodd y wobr am gasgliad glân, medrus, yn ymdrin â marwolaeth Llywelyn ein Llyw Olaf. Ond efallai mai’r llawenydd mwyaf yw mai myfyriwr o Brifysgol Caerdydd, Huw Alun Foulkes, aeth â hi ddydd Mercher yn ystod defod y Fedal Ddrama.

Byddai’n ddigon hawdd ei gadael yn y fan yna, ond braf yw gallu dweud nad dim ond oherwydd ei fod yn fyfyriwr yma y dylid dathlu ei fuddugoliaeth. Dyma ddrama aeddfed, lân sy’n bleser i’w darllen. Ceir cymysgedd o hiwmor ffraeth yr awdur, a rhai golygfeydd cofiadwy sy’n bygwth dod â deigryn i’r llygad. Portreadu perthynas go wahanol a wneir yma, ond y mae hi’n berthynas gynnes, annwyl ac o’r cychwyn cyntaf mae’r darllenydd yn eistedd yn y dafarn gyda’r hen w^r a’r bachgen ifanc. Mae’r diwedd yn un teimladwy dros ben, hefyd, a’r gêmau geiriol a chwaraeir drwy gydol y ddrama’n cael eu hatseinio i ddibenion tipyn mwy difrifol na phan y’u hynganwyd am y tro cyntaf. Braf gwybod y darlledir y

ddrama, maes o law, gan y BBC, ond er mwyn gwneud cyfiawnder â drama lwyfan, rhaid ei llwyfannu, a thristwch o’r mwyaf fyddai peidio â llwyfannu hon. Cyfle i gwych i Aelwyd y Waun Ddyfal, efallai, i ehangu ei gorwelion ar ôl llwyddiant yr wythnos ddiwethaf, yn enwedig o ystyried y rhan allweddol a chwaraewyd gan Huw ei hun yn y llwyddiant hwnnw? Mynnwch gopi o’r gyfrol hon, p’un ai a ydych yn adnabod unrhyw un o’r awduron buddugol ai peidio. Dyma ddangos doniau llenyddol ifanc Cymru heddiw ar eu gorau, a phwy a w^yr na’ch sbardunir i lunio’ch gwaith eich hunan ar gyfer Eisteddfod yr Urdd, a hithau’n dod i’r brifddinas y flwyddyn nesaf.

Soniwyd eisioes am lwyddiant Huw Foulkes yn y ‘steddfod. Bu TafOd yn cyfweld â’r arweinydd côr a’r dramodydd buddugol Medal Ddrama neu ennill y wobr gyntaf hefo’r côr? Y wobr gyntaf hefo’r côr! Tarian neu faton? Baton. Ysgrifennu creadigol neu newyddiaduriaeth? Ysgrifennu creadigol dwi’n meddwl. Aelwyd y Waun Ddyfal neu Aelwyd yr Ynys? (Yn chwerthin) Aelwyd y Waun Ddyfal siw^r iawn! Bethel neu Gaerdydd? Bethel. Crôl Canton neu Crôl Cnau? Crôl Cnau – dwi methu aros tan wythnos nesa’. Jumpin’ Jacks neu Walkabout? Walkabout! ‘Chinese’ neu ‘Indian’? Hm…’Chinese’. Wine Gums neu Skittles? Wine Gums.

Huw Foulkes: Enillydd medal ddrama Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Urdd,Gobaith Cymru, 2008

Blwyddyn Gampus i’r GymGym

Southern Comfort neu Jack Daniels? Southern Comfort. Oeddech chi’n gwybod mai hen resait o Sir Feirionydd ydi un SouthernComfort? Tesco neu Asda? Tesco – bob tro!

Gyda blwyddyn arall yn tynnu at ei therfyn i fyfyrwyr Cymraeg Caerdydd beth am daro golwg yn ôl ar ddigwyddiadau’r GymGym dros y flwyddyn a fu

Sbectol neu ‘contact lenses’? Sbectol.

Gwilym Dwyfor Golygydd TafOd

Bocsars neu ‘Y-Fronts’? Bocsars.

ae’n debyg i rai gael trafferth cofio’r crôl teulu y diwrnod ar ôl iddo ddigwydd heb sôn am fisoedd ar fisoedd yn ddiweddarach! Ond hwnnw oedd digwyddiad cyntaf eleni fel pob blwyddyn arall a pha ffordd well i fyfyrwyr y flwyddyn gyntaf ddod i adnabod gweddill y criw Cymraeg. Doedd dim rhaid aros gormod wedyn tan y trip blynyddol i Aberystwyth ar gyfer y ddawns ryng-golegol. Dyma ymweliad digon difyr, ond eto digon tebyg i’r flwyddyn diwethaf. Tybed a ddylai’r ddawns ryng-golegol fel yr eisteddfod symud o un lleoliad i’r llall o flwyddyn i flwyddyn? Yn sicr, tydw i ddim yn gwneud yn fy nhrowsus wrth edrych ymlaen am gael mynd i Aber eto flwyddyn nesaf! Maddeuwch imi os ydw i bellach

wedi colli gafael ar drefn gronolegol yr adolygiad yma o’r flwyddyn ond fe fu trip i Abertawe hefyd, rhywdro cyn y ‘Dolig rwy’n siw^r! Tyrfe Tawe oedd yr achlysur a cafwyd diwrnod i’w gofio. Rwy’n amau mai yn ôl yn 2007 cynhaliwyd noson y Cawl o’r Waun Ddyfal hefyd sef noson o gawl a chân yng nghaffi CF10 yn yr Undeb. Mae’n rhaid bod y cawl yn un go lew achos mi gladdais i bowlen er nad ydw i’n foi am gawl fel arfer. Ac afraid dweud bod y gerddoriaeth yn dda gyda Fflur Dafydd ymysg eraill yn diddanu. Fe gofiwch mai’r unig beth oedd ar feddwl pawb am dri mis cyntaf 2008 oedd y ffaith anhygoel, syfrdanol o ddiddorol fod y Pasg yn fuan eleni! Buan hefyd oedd dydd Mawrth crempog felly, ac yn wir, digwyddiad crempogaidd oedd un o rai cyntaf y GymGym ar ôl dychwelyd wedi’r Nadolig. Cynhaliwyd noson ‘Yfwn Gymru’n Sych’ yn Dirty Sue’s ar

ddechrau mis Chwefror a dyma un o uchafbwyntiau’r flwyddyn i mi. Cafwyd cwis, cafwyd crempog a chafwyd chwalfa! Oedd, roedd y gwin yn llifo, a’r cyfan am bum punt yn unig! Buan iawn y daeth hi’n amser am yr eisteddfod ryng-golegol wedyn a gynhaliwyd yng Nghaerfyrddin eleni. Bu Caerdydd yn llwyddiannus gan ddod yn ail yn yr eisteddfod am yr ail flwyddyn yn olynol. Aeth popeth yn ddigon hwylus tan amser mynd adref pan lwyddodd y GymGym rhywsut i anghofio ein llywydd, Lly^ r Gwyn Lewis yng Nghaerfyrddin! Tyda ni’n betha’ diddiolch dudwch! Fyddai’r flwyddyn ddim yn gyflawn heb drip rygbi ac Iwerddon oedd y gyrchfan eleni. Rwy’n siw^ r fod pawb wedi cael penwythnos i’w gofio yn yr Ynys Werdd, ond fe adawan ni ‘Werddon yn ‘Werddon! Tua’r un pryd cafwyd stomp yng nghaffi CF10, gyda thîm o aelodau’r

GymGym yn herio tîm o staff yr adran Gymraeg. Cyfartal oedd hi yn y diwedd ac roedd hi’n noson gwerth chweil. Braf hefyd oedd clywed y Prifardd Mererid Hopwood, stompfeistred y noson yn datgan mai myfyrwyr Caerdydd oedd myfyrwyr mwyaf diwylliedig Cymru! Mae nosweithiau fel hyn yn brawf o hynny. Cafwyd dau grôl cofiadwy o bopty’r Pasg gyda chrôl sgym-gym cyn y gwyliau ac yna crôl Canton ar ôl dychwelyd. Dyma ddau hen ffefryn a wnaeth ddim siomi. Blwyddyn i’w chofio felly i’r GymGym, ac wythnos eto i ddod. Rwy’n siw^ r fy mod yn siarad ar ran pawb wrth longyfarch a diolch i Lly ^r, Anni, Steff a Manon am eu gwaith caled dros y flwyddyn, heb anghofio criw y llynedd am drefnu’r trip i’r Iwerddon. Dim ond gobeithio y bydd y flwyddyn nesaf yn flwyddyn cystal i aelodau cymdeithas fwyaf myfyrwyr Prifysgol Caerdydd.

Tei neu dici bo? Tei. Smart neu ‘casual’? Smart.

Enwogrwydd a thlodi neu fod yn gyfoethog a ddim yn adnabyddus? Bod yn gyfoethog a ddim yn adnabyddus. Rygbi neu bêl-droed? Rygbi. Deryn bore neu dderyn y nos? Deryn y nos. BBC Radio Cymru neu ‘Red Dragon’? BBC Radio Cymru. Petrol neu Ddisel? Disel, ‘b’law bod o’n blydi drud! Gofyn neu ateb? Gofyn bob tro.