Gair Rhydd - Issue 1112 - 19th of February 2018

gair rhydd

gair rhydd | free word Cardiff’s student weekly newspaper Papur wythnosol myfyrwyr Caerdydd Issue 1112 | Rhifyn 1112 19th February 2018 | 19eg o Chwefror 2018

Cardiff Uni’s student paper | est . 1972

Crime in Cathays: Violence and sexual assault make-up a fifth

Has Political Correctness gone too far?

How to plan a holiday with your friends?

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Emma Videan

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olice.UK released the 2017 crime statistics for Cathays last week revealing that over 9,500 crimes were reported to the Police in 2017.

They have found anti-social behaviour to come out as the most common crime, with 2284 reports, with violence and sexual offences being the second most common, with 1790 reports.

The third most common crime in the Cathays area was shoplifting with 1725 counts of this crime.

Shoplifting accounts for 18.09% of the crimes in Cathays, which is almost double that of the Cardiff average, which is 9.15%. This is most likely due to the central location of Cathays and multitude of available shops in a small area of Cardiff. However, the Cardiff average

was higher for anti-social behaviour and for violence and sexual offences than in Cathays According to the most recent census, 44.4% of households do not own any cars, indicating that people use other modes of transport, such as bicycles.

Therefore, unsurprisingly, you are more than twice as likely to have your bike stolen in Cathays than you are in the rest of Cardiff.

When suspects were identified, the most common action to be taken was for the offender to be dealt with by the police, and this most commonly is done making a local resolution or the offender receiving a police caution.

Shockingly, after a complete investigation, no suspect was identify 48.2% of the time and in addition to this and for other reasons, such as the inability to prosecute the suspect a huge 63.29% of crimes that are reported result in no further action. In comparison, only 10% of of-

Student Elections: Candidate manifestos inside p.17-64 fenders are dealt with at court.

In 2017, 2908 reports of burglary were reported. Cardiff University student, Katie Walker, experienced a burglary first hand when she left her laptop at her friend’s house while they went on a night out, only to return at 1am to find the back bedroom window smashed. Two

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of crimes that are reported result in no further action cars, two laptops, money, birthday presents and speakers were stolen.

Katie said; “We were all understandably shook up from the incident. The police arrived 45 minutes after we called them and we were

Double the fun on our puzzles page! p.74+75 told to stay somewhere else for the night.

The police took fingerprints from the scene but were unable to identify any suspects. One car was eventually found through the owner tracking it through her insurance company.”

“This all occurred within the first week of moving to Cathays from Talybont in our first year, and so it was a frightening experience that made us all very wary about our safety, and I even felt uneasy in my own house nearby in Cathays as my bedroom is at the front of the house.”

While burglaries to this extent are not the most common of crimes committed in Cathays, it is understandable that events such as these may make students feel concerned.

The local police are located in the Students Union every Wednesday, should students want to talk to a PCSO about anything to do with crime in the area.

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EDITORIAL Gair Rhydd Coordinator Elaine Morgan Editor-in-Chief Liam Ketcher Deputy Editor George Cook News Emma Videan Rimante Bivainyte

the free word Strike a balance

Comment George Cook Jessica Warren Meg Sharma

Whose self-interest do we support?

Politics Conor Holohan Hannah Woodward Rhys Thomas Science Louange Lubangu Advice Lydia Caunce Accidental Advice Alice Dent Campus Life Laura Price Taf-od Elen Davies Osian Wyn Morgan Aled Huw Russell Sport Rich Jones Mark Wyatt Molly Ambler Reece Chambers Digital Media Editors Alice Dent Reece Chambers Cartoonist Louis Mertens Copy Editors Eva Kwatek Keiran Manetta-Jones Molly Jackson Liz Mills Write to the editor editor@gairrhydd.com

At Gair Rhydd we take seriously our responsibility to maintain the highest possible standards. Sometimes, because of deadline pressures, we may make some mistakes. If you believe we have fallen below the standards we seek to uphold, please email editor@gairrhydd.com.

You can view our Ethical Policy Statement and Complaints Procedure at cardiffstudentmedia.co.uk/complaints Opinions expressed in editorials are not reflective of Cardiff Student Media, who act as the publisher of Gair Rhydd in legal terms, and should not be considered official communications or the organisation’s stance. Gair Rhydd is a Post Office registered newspaper.

Liam Ketcher

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ith many students fast approaching their final exams in the coming months, and some, like myself in our final year, there is growing concern in the student community about how the UCU strikes will affect our studies and our overall degree. It’s not a shock to say that this couldn’t be timed any worse for students, as there are 14 days planned for the strikes which puts a potential fortnight of lectures, seminars and tutor meetings at risk.

I am in full support of my striking lecturers; the cuts proposed to their pensions mount up to a loss of £10,000 a year and this is unfair.

Hopefully the strikes will be effective and there will be a deal made after one to two days of striking, and no student has to suffer longer and feel like their education is at risk.

However, I do have some issues with the strike plan. I disagree with the idea of discouraging students from entering study spaces and other university buildings. Although many students all across the UK are supporting their striking lecturers, I find it hard to believe that some academics will encourage students not to use available study spaces.

Even when many schools have told their students to carry on with independent study whilst the strikes take place. Even more so, essays and exams will be set on these missing subjects and marked as usual. Most of the missed lectures won’t be rescheduled and students are now getting more disadvantaged as we get closer to the end of the academic year. It all sounds good when supporting the strikes when you look at one side of it all.

Considering all these factors I do find it hard to work out where I stand on the upcoming UCU strikes.

As a final year student, I don’t want my lectures to be cancelled or my seminars to be forgotten about. I

should be allowed to use university buildings freely without encouragement not to. It is our lecturers and academics striking, not our university. And if there is no resolution in the early days of the strikes, then I don’t see there being much hope for the next few weeks of study. Should we as a student community be striking for extenuating circumstances?

Because although their reason for striking is fair, it is unfair to put us at a disadvantage, especially when we’re paying £9,000 a year to study.

Hopefully this will all get resolved soon enough, but I hope the outcome is fair to all and that we’re not forgotten about. Which sadly, I think will be the case for most of us.

GOLYGYDDOL

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What’s occurring...?

27th November-3rd December 19th-25th February 2018

Gair Rhydd meets: Peter Tatchell George Cook interviews the world famous equality campaigner

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eter Tatchell is synonymous with the fight for LGBT+ and human rights around the world. He has been a pivotal figure in various equality campaigns for 50 years and has inspired significant social transformations in the face of both abuse and admiration around the world. He has confronted bigotry, hatred and injustice with determination, and has been beaten unconscious for doing so.

But after several decades, what has endured is his bravery and devotion to confront inequality and injustice wherever it manifests itself, even if that means endangering his own life. Yet, he does so in the hope that others will benefit greatly from his own endeavours and sacrifices.

“We expect political democracy, why not economic democracy.”

I have long admired Peter Tatchell, and this interview was a chance to discuss how far society has come. But it was also an opportunity to talk with him about how he believes many people can’t seek mere parity within society as it currently exists, because it does not provide the apparatus to conceive a world that is truly equal for all people.

Many are familiar with Tatchell’s campaigns for LGBT+ rights in a number of countries around the world, but he also has many others and I was fortunate enough to gain an insight into why Peter Tatchell and his Foundation advocates so strongly for such causes.

A campaign that has become increasingly relevant over the past few years is for ‘economic democracy’, and Peter stated, “we expect political democracy, why not economic democracy too”.

This demonstrates his strong desire to radically transform society so that it is more beneficial to all, not just the rich and powerful who make Britain “a de-facto economic dictatorship.” In order to combat this, Tatchell proposes that employees and ordinary citizens have a say in big corporate decisions, and that any company with “more than

100 employees have to have on their management board at least one third employee and consumer directors”, he stated.

Furthermore, Tatchell said, “such a system would give employees a direct input into top management so that their issues can be taken directly to the board.” He believes this will result in better conditions for employees and stronger economic output, and it is also something that should “apply to public institutions like the NHS.” He did admit that it “may make decision making more complex, but the long-term benefits would be more prudent decisions that took better account of the interests of employees and consumers.” Tatchell continued, “it’s time that corporate recklessness and negligence was made a specific criminal offence like other professions like doctors…if we had such a law years ago then I’m certain the bosses of BHS and Carillion would not have made the irresponsible decisions that they did”.

Tatchell is passionate about campaigning for a fairer economic system, and since the 2008 financial crash we have experienced unprecedented levels of cuts to public services and welfare. As such, he has also started a campaign to fight austerity. He stated how it was “the biggest con of the last few decades. We’re constantly told that there is no alternative, yet the truth is that we could plug the deficit and fund public services without austerity if we took a number of measures to raise the necessary cash.” Some of these include the cancellation of the Trident nuclear missile programme, that would save “at least £150 billion over 40 years, as well as scrapping HS2, which would also save another £80 billion.”

In addition, Tatchell would introduce a “Robin Hood tax set at 0.05% on currency, bonds, share and commodity transactions that would raise somewhere between £50 and £100 billion per year, and a one off 20% wealth tax on the richest 5% of the population which would give the Treasury an extra £400 billion”.

These are some radical and transformative ideas in order to help produce a society that he believes

GRBIG TWEET 69%

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represents true equality, but there is no denying in the size of the figures and the significant impact they could have. He admitted that “the very rich would kick up a fuss in the short term” but added that “wise heads among them would know that in the long term if some of this extra money was used to reboot the UK economy, they would gain in the long term”. He also went as far to state that “if Brexit leads to another economic downturn… it could lead to the ruination of very rich people.”

This signifies Tatchell’s firm belief not only in economic fairness for all, but also in his own ideas to cultivate a rapid revolution in the foundations of British society.

As well as his campaigns to provide a more secure and just economic framework that governs the UK, Tatchell also wishes to push for the introduction of a proportional voting system. Within the last few weeks, he was protesting outside Parliament as he firmly believes that “the British voting system is not democratic or representative, as no governing party has won a majority of votes in any election since the turn of the century.”

“Equality is not enough in an unjust society.

Transform society, don’t seek mere parity within it. Equal rights within a flawed status quo is not liberation.”

Despite how much he despises UKIP, he acknowledges the flaws in the First Past the Post system-if elections were held under a proportional system, 80 MPs would have been elected for UKIP in the 2015 election, which would have been far more representative of the 4 million votes they received. Tatchell stated “Scotland, Northern Ireland, London and Wales already have PR in their elections, why can’t we have proportional representation in national general elections?” Under the tagline that he is ‘Hungry for Democracy’, Tatchell believes this correlates with his bigger plan to achieve an equitable society that can provide eve-

Peter Tatchell Fact File - He was born in Australia and has campaigned for equality for over 50 years.

- Tatchell is most famous for his campaigns for LGBT+ equality.

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This week we asked our readers whether they supported the strike by University lecturers. It is something that is going to have a big impact on many of us here.

- He stood in 1983 in the Bermondsey by-election where he was under constant attack for his homosexuality.

- He was beaten unconscious when he tried to perform a citizens arrest on Robert Mugabe.

ryone with the means to reach their full potential irrespective of individuality.

The final campaign that we talked about was pushing for better sex and relationships education. Tatchell stated, “after a long battle, my Peter Tatchell Foundation, working with others, persuaded the government to make sex and relationship education mandatory in every school and to include LGBT issues. The big question now being what will the content of this SRE be?”

After several decades, what has endured is his bravery and devotion to confront inequality and injustice wherever it manifests itself, even if that means endangering his own life.

He believes that “relationship education should start from the first year of primary school and sex education should begin in the upper levels of primary school before kids reach puberty, and obviously it should be age appropriate.” Tatchell is confident that if this education starts before they become sexually active they are “much more likely to make wise sexual choices.” He believes this can radically transform the health and well-being of young people, so that they make more informed choices and it will also lead to more understanding of LGBT issues across society. Many students say their relationship education was of poor quality and didn’t answer the questions that they had.

As well as this, Tatchell wants to give people a relationship framework that is “flexible and adaptable to people’s different needs….and to give them an alternative option for those who want it”.

Peter Tatchell’s desire for change and equality is something that we should all take inspiration from, as if it were not for his bravery then society may look a little more unjust than it does today.

As Tatchell states himself: “equality is not enough in an unjust society. Transform society, don’t seek mere parity within it. Equal rights within a flawed status quo is not liberation.”

NEWS

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news

#GRNews news@gairrhydd.com gairrhydd.com/category/news

IN THE CITY

#BeTheDIFFerence Cardiff MUN Annual conference 2018

Rimante Bivanyte

Pictured: The Human Rights Committee Session by Rimante Bivainyte.

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n 9-11th of February Model of United Nations (MUN) held an annual conference with this year’s theme ‘Pragmatism in the Era of Alternative Diplomacy’. The conference gathered a number of delegates from various different countries to Cardiff city to explore diversity of topics and make different resolutions for particular issues.

Generally, MUN is an educational simulation of the UN where students can learn about diplomatic affairs, international relations, global issues as well as UN as a whole. Many participants and members of MUN would agree that this model helps to develop personal skills such as confidence, public speaking and leadership.

On Friday, the opening ceremony was held in Pierhead building in Cardiff Bay. The ceremony was opened by Deputy

Secretary-General - Ocean O’Hara and Secretary-General - Dea Gagoshidze and was joined by the guest speaker university’s professor of political theory and international relations Peter Sutch. Throughout the next two days the conference was held in the Postgraduate Teaching Centre (PTC) where the delegates were divided into committees such as the Human Rights Council (UNHRC), Security Council European Council, Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) and, lastly, Crisis.

The Human Rights Committee covered the topic of Rights of a Child: Combating and Eradicating Child Marriages. The committees aim was to find numerous solutions by touching upon the aspects of social, economic and political perspectives.

The youngest delegate 16-year-old Hind Dihan who represented Indonesia during

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he popularity of studying in China is rapidly increasing. The Chinese government has been running a number of initiatives and has been supplying funding to help secure China as an educational destination.

The Chinese Ministry of Education aims to attract more international students with the new development of Sino-foreign joint venture universities.

Duke Kunshan University set up by Duke University in the US and Wuhan University in China have given students the opportunity to study in China and in the US. Research has predicted that by 2020, 500,000 international students will be studying in China. In order to make Chinese universities more attractive, there has been an improvement in the halls of residence and teaching facilities.

throughout this discussion. However, according to the Co-Chair of UNHRC, the delegation was really engaging and showed great public speaking skills.

Economic and Financial Affairs Council focused on the topic of addressing the budgetary deficit post-Brexit. Delegation’s purpose was to discuss about how to find the balanced and fair budget for the EU while the UK is planning to leave.

The Security Council covered two topics: The Question of the Disputed Territory of Kashmir and Reassessing Peacekeeping Operations: the Question of the UN Standing Army. And the European Council debated on the topic of Democratic Accountability and the European Citizen.

Lastly, committee of Crisis was exploring a simulation of Europe’s Forgotten War: Revisiting the Ukrainian Crisis.

IN THE CITY

Number of students choosing to study in China increases Emma Videan

the committee sessions said that she struggled to advocate the country’s stand on the child marriage due to her ‘antagonistic view’ towards it and the fact that Indonesia stance is that ‘child marriage actually helps with poverty issues’. It is worth noting that Indonesia’s legal age for girls to marry is 16 while boys can marry at age 19. A Co-Chair of UNHRC Karina Valieva added that the delegation mainly focused on legal aspects and advice how to amend legal frameworks as well as debated on aspects of ‘psychological and medical support for those who suffered from child marriage.’ Also, she pointed the empowerment of women, noting that mostly girls suffer from arranged child marriages. Karina agreed with Hind saying that some of the delegates had difficulties while supporting the state’s that they were representing ideas and positions

They also aim to integrate local students with foreign students by providing more English spoken courses. This should help to open up classrooms more to conversation that can be partaken by all. The universities also aim to employ more English speaking faculty.

The short-term attractions to international study may include exposure to new cultures and to see different parts of the world, but in the long term, postgraduates will have the benefit of experience in China, where the economy is fast expanding. New jobs and employment opportunities would be an exciting transition for international students, especially those who are bilingual and speak Mandarin.

In regards to financial benefits, Chinese tuition fees are no more than $1,000 USD per semester and travel costs are minimal. This makes studying in China very attractive to a student in comparison to ever-rising tuition fees in the UK.

New Cardiff arena location revealed Rimante Bivainyte

Picture: Principality Stadium (Source: Max Montagut (edited) via Flickr).

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here has been a plan to build a new indoor arena in Cardiff and the location has finally been revealed.

After careful considerations and evaluation of a number different locations around the city, Cardiff Council has settled on a 30-acre site, that covers its headquarters at County Hall and the nearby Red Dragon Centre at Atlantic Wharf in Cardiff Bay. A new 15,000-seater indoor arena project is set to bring a great deal of visitors to the Cardiff city and Cardiff Bay. According to the authorities, this project with a cost of approximately £100m, has long been determined as the biggest missing part in the city’s infrastructure. This project is appointed to increase current retail and leisure centres in the city centre and Cardiff Bay. Now, the city’s council is working on a detailed planning and business case for this project as well as the development that their existing building of County Hall would remain with a new arena and other commercial schemes.

It is also known that the council is in talks with the owner of the Red Dragon Centre, British Airways Pension Fund with a plan for this

centre to become a possible financial supporter of the arena complex. Here, the Red Dragon Centre is seen as a potential leisure facility that could be incorporated within this scheme.

Business Secretary Ken Skates stated to WalesOnline that it was ‘crucially important’ for Cardiff to have a bigger arena to attract major events to Cardiff and Wales.

NEWYDDION

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NATIONAL

Over a quarter of students consider starting a business while at university The best entrepreneurs can win prizes of up to £25,000, like Cardiff ’s Jenny Evans did last year

Emma Videan

Pictured: Jenny Evans of Jenny Evans Designs (Source: Santander Universities).

On the right: DNA lab (Source: University of Michigan (edited) (Via Flickr).

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Student enterprises collectively generate revenues of £1 billion per year

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ccording to new research 26% of students currently run or are planning to run a business during their time studying at university, according to new research from Santander Universities.

Those up and coming student entrepreneurs who have already launched their businesses have an average turnover of £11,408 per annum, a collective of £1 billion. These numbers have risen by 32% since the £913 million turnover recorded in 2016.

The most popular business ventures are technology-based solutions (27%) and arts or crafts (17%), followed by clothing and textiles (9%), administration and business services (9%), tutoring (8%) and charity, voluntary or social work (7%).

This research was done to support Santander Universities’ ‘Entrepreneurship Awards’, which aims to recognise and support entrepreneurs from across the UK. Other findings revealed that the most common reason that entrepreneurs started businesses was due to financial motivation, closely followed by the desire to pursue a hobby or interest while others hoped to gain work experience.

One in four students decided to start their own business because of the looming need to pay off their student loan. This incentive has influenced students to aim high, having ambitious plans for business growth. 18% of students expected their turnover to increase by 68% in

the next 5-year period.

Matt Hutnell, Director of Santander Universities UK, said; “Student entrepreneurs play a key role in shaping the UK economy now and will continue to do so in the future.

It is encouraging to see that so many students are inspired to start a business whilst at university from developing software to designing and selling clothing.”

These businesses are not planned to be short lived, as 33% of respondents expected to pursue it as a career when they graduate, with 52% saying that they would continue the business as a second job or hobby once graduating.

Only 4% said that they intended to close the business post-graduation.

Last year, Jenny Evans, student at Cardiff Metropolitan University, won a top prize of £25,000 after founding her fashion-textile business, ‘Jenny Evans Designs’. Miss Evans said; “It took a leap of faith to start my own busi-

ness whilst at university, but I am so glad that I did it. Being the owner of your own business can be difficult but extremely rewarding at the same time. I’ve gained some incredible experience and the encouragement provided by Santander throughout the competition and since the Awards win has been truly invaluable to my business.”

IN THE CITY University student selected for the Young Scientist of the Year Award Rimante Bivainyte

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he Big Bang UK Young Scientists and Engineers Competition is the competition aiming to recognise and reward young people and their achievements in areas of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) as well as provide them with opportunities to develop their skills and confidence in projectbased work.

A student from Cardiff University, Yunzheng Liu, has been selected to compete at the UK finals of a science and engineering competition after her project caught the eye of judges. A student will be competing for the Young Scientist of the Year award. Yunzheng has been announced as one of the winners of the online heats at The Big Bang Fair, with the project entitled ‘Photometry of variable stars using the Faulkes Telescope Project’.

As part of the project, the student analysed data and plotted graphs for different clusters and the same stars at different times, then transformed the results of this analysis into a short report.

Director of Communications, EngineeringUK, Beth Elgood said, “Yunzheng from Cardiff University really impressed the judges with her project and we’re excited to see how she do at the finals at The Fair.’ The Fair, according to Elgood, s an award-winning event of various theatre shows, interactive workshops, exhibits and careers information from STEM professionals and experts.

The female student will be invited to attend the competition finals at The Big Bang Fair at Birmingham’s NEC in March 2018.

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ON CAMPUS

Candidates questioned as elections loom

George Cook

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The result of the election will be announced on Saturday 24th February.

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ith elections week to start on this Monday, two sessions of Candidate Question Time took place in the Great Hall. On Tuesday, candidates standing for Students’ with Disabilities Officer, Welsh Language Officer, Mental Health Officer, BME Officer, Ethical and Environmental Officer, VP Societies and Volunteering, VP Welfare and Campaigns, VP Heath Park and VP Education. Then on Thursday, it was the turn of Women’s Officer, LGBT Women’s, LGBT Officer, Mature Students Officer, VP Postgraduate, VP Sports, and President.

At the event, candidates had to answer two questions from a set of five and then it was opened up to two audience questions. Nick Fox, the current VP Welfare, and Fadhila Al Dhahouri, the current VP Education, are standing to be the next President of the Students’ Union. Nick was keen to stress the positives of there being conflict between Sabbs because

it can be constructive and help make a stronger team. Whereas, Fadhila said she wanted to create a stronger sense of belonging between international students and ethnic minorities, as well as stressing how we all care about our education. However, the crowd at both events was average with only around half of seats full.

There was a lot of different opinions at the event as to how to bring something new to role and take the SU forward. With slight changes to some of the roles this year, such as VP Societies and Volunteering, some newly elected officers will have greater responsibility over activities within their remit.

VP Sports candidates stated how they wanted to make sure IMG football matches were not postponed as frequently, as well as rewarding more clubs who reach the gold tier standard.

Jake Smith is running for VP Postgraduate again, alongwith Victoria Ita,

Victoria Barauna Araujo and Alex Williams.

The result of the election will be an-

nounced on Saturday 24th February, where we will find out who will be leading the SU next year.

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6 COMMENT

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Strikes: Is the gamble worth it for our education?

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Ultimately, they care more about themselves than they do about you.

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Ashavari Baral FOR:

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he job of being an educator is an extremely public spirited one. Educators are held up as heroes of society who put in countless hours of out-of-work marking and planning. But you cannot always have it both ways. You cannot be a hero of society when you will throw the needs of society under the bus when the going gets tough.

I, myself, do not take particular issue with the cause of the lecturers, but their decision to channel their anger in this way has wholly alienated me from the cause. When one of my lecturers told me recently that they would not be taking part in the upcoming strike action, I found myself delivering a solitary and awkward round of applause.

To every lecturer resisting the pressures to strike and standing up to the mob, I stand with you. It is a shame that some of your colleagues

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ou may be wondering what all the talk about on the recent potential strikes is about and you have every right to know. The college union, which includes our university lecturers are unhappy about the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) from a defined benefit scheme, where they would have a guaranteed income after retirement. Changes in this scheme will cause an average paid lecturer left with £10,000 a year after retirement. Overall, academic staff would lose about £200,000 over the course of their retirement.

Cuts in salary after retirement can very well demotivate and demoralize lecturers which can have a very bad influence on the academic progress of their students. Lecturers are not striking for fun and take no pleasure in the procedure, on the contrary this protest

cannot be more public spirited. It really does make the toes curl to think that my English peers are paying in £27,000 in tuition fees only to be fleeced at a crucial moment in their education, all for the privilege of being political currency.

Sam Veal, a fellow History student, and Katie Walters have set up a petition calling for the university to compensate students for the lost hours, either by providing extenuating circumstances or even money.

On their change.org page, they say quite rightly that these strikes have “come at a time of importance and concern for many university students.” This is certainly true of Sam and myself, as we are both in our third year of study.

Sam and Katie are, however, in support of the strikes, saying; “We stand by our lecturers and believe that their demands are justified.”

Their desire for compensation is certainly one I agree with, and I do believe that their demands should be seriously considered, but to stand with the lecturers in their endeavour would only help the cause of adulterating the perception of the role of the educator in society.

We should take this opportunity to say that if you are prepared to act against our interests in this way, you are not someone with our best interests at heart. Cardiff University will be a better educational institution when its staff do not use their students as clout in an argument that the students have no part in.

For one of the first times in my life I found myself agreeing with Cardiff Students Union when they said in their statement on the matter; “We strongly encourage UCU to consider the impact of any proposed action and to ensure that the student expe-

rience is put first.” Despite the Union being for the most part, driven by the typical hysterical leftism that we’ve come to know and love, they seem to have gotten this one right.

To anyone who finds these comments unfair, that the strikers have their families to consider, I say this.

True as that may be in some cases be, the academic university class is not a poorly remunerated one. They certainly do a lot better than the nurses, another public spirited job.

And what is more, it is not the concern of the students to what sort of lifestyles the lecturers choose to lead, or how they manage their finances. Yet they strive to make it our problem.

Why? Because, ultimately, they care more about themselves than they do about you. How’s that for your progressive, expert academic class?

will most likely result in pay deduction.

The UUK (Universities UK) has chronically mismanaged their pension fund.

Eight years ago, even in the wake of the financial crisis, it was running smoothly.

Now, after a seven-year gap we’re told there’s not enough money. UCU (University and College Union) General Secretary Sally Hunt quoted, “Staff will feel utterly betrayed by their leaders. We are disappointed at how talks ended today, particularly after UUK suggested yesterday that it wanted more talks to avoid strikes. Universities must be on notice that unless there are dramatic changes in their negotiators’ position then strike action will be arriving on campus next month.’’

In the interest of our education and our university life it may seem that the odds are against us. Higher power discussions can be the only determining

factor. But if we stand together in support of our academic staff, it is a given that they will consider the university as a whole and bring about the required changes.

Strikes are scheduled to take place between February 22nd to March 8th. For most lecturers, whether to strike or not is going to be a difficult decision because they love teaching their students and they don’t want to let them down, but they also want to show solidarity with their fellow colleagues. It must also be noted that there are signs that this pension “reform” may be the first step towards further cuts to education, which could mean universities cutting staff and downsizing departments.

So, what can we do to help the situation? Well for starters we can show our support to our lecturers by going straight to the cause of the situation. The

heads of Universities and state that we stand with our lecturers. We can also create awareness on social media and get other students in various universities around the UK involved.

Academics don’t get an enormous salary in the first place, so it’s our duty as students to encourage the cause and guarantee a decent pension to the people that dedicate years and years of their lives to research and education. However, there is no pressure on us as students as well as I know most of our concerns are missing three weeks of university that will directly have a negative impact on our performance academically. The responsibility for this strike falls on the shoulders of UUK and the universities that make it up. Unless the UUK can solve this dispute with UCU to prevent the strike, students and teachers alike will have to suffer those consequences.

Pictured: Lecturer strikes will affect thousands of students. Source: Meg Sharma

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If we stand together in support of our academic staff, it is a given that they will... bring about the required changes

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Conor Holohan AGAINST:

SYLWADAU

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Fiat 500, the FBI and Depression?

Meg Sharma

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Do memes make light of mental health?

ocial media has become a huge part of our lives, from how we socialise and communicate with others, to the way to show our lives.

With this, the rise of memes has followed, especially on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. A meme is a usually comedic text post, image, or video that tends to flood social media with recreations in a short space of time.

Among this a recent trend has been depression memes, with jokes surrounding the mental health problem, it’s symptoms and the feelings that surround it.

On Facebook, a page called ‘Depression memes’ has over 520 thousand likes, with the Instagram equivalent receiving 14.9 thousand likes, and the hashtag #depressionmemes receiving over 58 thousand posts. Of course, not all posts and pages label their content, and many more posts receive ridiculous amounts of likes and shares. Has depression become a trend to laugh and joke about?

Memes have developed rapidly in the past few years. What once was a colourful background, with a repeated image and bold text (think socially awkward penguin, doge, and good

It becomes difficult to decipher whether someone is making light of their condition, or making fun of depression

guy Greg) can now be pretty much anything and has led to depression memes.

Out of context, the images or text posts which often concern a lack of will to live, being unmotivated and other serious aspects of depression can come across as concerning, especially when the comedic element is added. It then becomes difficult to decipher whether someone is making light of their condition, or whether they are making fun of and joking about depression.

If this is the case, then jokes about depression should be avoided to stop the mental illness from being perceived as a joke rather than a seen as a serious problem.

Many people use the jokes as a coping mechanism and as the first step in being open about their mental health. Arguably this is better than keeping quiet, but it is not a healthy way to deal with mental health condition, and often puts a halt on the conversation rather than opening it up.

Some commented that joking has made the topic more difficult to approach, as people do not take them seriously, even if they may have suffered themselves. It is important

that we make serious conversations as easy as possible to avoid further stigmatisation of mental health, as memes can give the incorrect insight to those who do not understand.

It is also important to make younger people aware that there are better ways to open, and that they understand that mental health is serious.

As many schools still do not educate about mental health problems or have sufficient support for students, they may think what they see in a meme is what a mental health problem is, or may think that joking about it is the only way to cope with something difficult.

Social media has a stronger impact on younger people’s lives, so it important that they don’t see depression memes and think they are a trend they should follow, as well as understanding how to be open with their feelings and mental health problems.

For those who suffer, it is important not to hide behind jokes or memes, and try to be more open about mental health. We must all strive to make sure memes and jokes do not become a path to further stigmatise mental health, but instead to open the conversation.

Pictured: With memes spreading like wild fire, full consideration is not given on their impact.

Source: Omkar Patayana (Via Pexels)

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Is sex education sufficient?

Jamie Morse

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Sex education classes were just lessons in how we were supposed to do heterosexual sex.

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he debate about Sex Education in schools ‘ended’ years ago. As a society, we concluded that the need to combat the growing problems of teenage pregnancy and the spread of STI’s superseded the fringe fears of parents who believed such education would be intrusive and indecent.

At school it became compulsory to attend sex education classes, during which we sat through powerpoints and talks that made one thing clear above all – the adults had agreed we needed to know about sex, but hadn’t any clear idea of what to teach us.

Those aforementioned fringe parents would be delighted if they knew nothing intrusive or indecent was

Talking about sex and sexuality with children may be an uncomfortable thing for adults to do, but it is part of their duty as teachers. being discussed – because indeed, nothing was being discussed.

In one class, three plastic penises were presented to us. We were told to take it in turns practicing putting condoms on to these newly appeared members. We were then told to remove them. One kid at our table did so, rolling the condom back up verti-

cally. A teacher darted over.

“No, you can’t take it off that way because…” she trailed off – too nervous, unable to dare utter the word ‘semen’ in front of the class. She said nothing and the boy continued. One can only imagine how many hypothetical future spillages that teacher’s silence caused.

I relayed this story to a gay friend the other day, and he had his own criticisms about what he was taught, observing “sex education classes were just lessons in how we were supposed to do heterosexual sex”.

I found myself unable to disagree – the closest thing to queer representation in my classes is when one of the boys picked up one of the plastic penises and began to slap his friend about the face with it.

Having asked a number of queer friends of their experiences, a typical pattern became clear – it wasn’t that we were being taught gay sex was bad, but rather any mention of non-hetero sexualities existing was erased from the conversation.

This sanitising of sexual education into a hetero-normative safe

space can be incredibly harmful.

To use myself as an example, I am a transgender woman – I was never told a single thing about transgender people during my school education.

This meant I spent years not understanding myself, feeling like a freak of nature. I couldn’t conclude that I was transgender until I knew what being transgender was. I didn’t know until I went to university, and actually spoke to transgender people first-hand.

Other people’s experiences became a barometer for my own, and I finally understood myself – seven years too late. I had already gone through puberty - the wrong puberty.

Hormone replacement therapy gets immeasurably easier if puberty has been delayed. To transition I will have to go through a second (and vastly more complicated) puberty.

My experience would have been made so much easier if I had just been given a proper sex education.

This is why sex education reform (which the government is now beginning to discuss again) is so important. Talking about sex and sexuality with children may be an uncomfortable thing for adults to do, but it is part of their duty as teachers. Better, more comprehensive sex education for all gives all children a better chance at understanding themselves.

Pictured: When most schools only teach about condoms, are we doing enough?

Source: Bru-nO ( Via Pixabay)

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COMMENT

8

Colonial past or colonial present?

Did the west ever fully shake away their exploitative behaviour?

Jessica Warren

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In order to recognise the prevalence of colonial and imperialist doctrine, we must question every aspect of the society in which we live.

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Olivia Raciniewska

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The use of art and creativity by conglomerates and local authorities to sell and ‘improve’ places have a manipulative intention.

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ritish imperialism may have technically ended in 1997 with the transfer of Hong Kong to China, away from British powers. Yet, with a considerable lack of education on the widespread impacts of British colonial and imperial rule, there is an absence of discussion surrounding the prevailing scars left behind. As a journalist, it is important to recognise my own standpoint when discussing this issue. Yes, I am a white, middle-class woman from the UK, and amid recognising this, I am hoping to open-up discussion as to the privileges we experience, and the way our imperialist past still exists within society.

Recent revelations have found that aid workers from Oxfam had paid for sex workers, allegedly hosting sex parties with prostitutes whilst on the 2010 mission to Haiti following an earthquake. Embedded within this appalling revelation are themes of exploitation, oppression and domination; themes still remnant from colonial rule and western European slave trade. It seems the western idea of visiting a country with the intent to ‘help’ and ‘better’ it, as well as ‘modernise’ or even ‘civilise’ a culture has not lessened. Perhaps

wrapped up in glossier packaging of ‘aid work’, the underlying message of helping a country because they are unable to help themselves rings reminiscent of colonial discourse.

The power behind NGO’s such as Oxfam is something to marvel at.

With this recent revelation being one of a cover up, it is not unforeseen that further allegations of sexual abuse, bullying, harassment and intimidation in the aid sector soon followed. Whilst admissions of this nature are appalling, this is not the first, nor the last time behaviour of this nature will be revealed. Arguably, there is something intrinsically wrong with the system if behaviour of this nature is being covered up time and time again, rather than being dealt with in the appropriate manner. New International Development Secretary, Penny Mordaunt has stated that she will be writing to all UK charities which receive UK aid and is requesting they detail the steps being taken to ensure the existence and follow-through of safeguarding policies.

Stand-up comedian, and previous aid worker, Shaista Aziz described working for various NGO’s, with all

of them sharing a similar culture of bullying, women being belittled, and casual racism. She argues that there is a “revolving door between many of them”, where male workers who have been picked-up as having unpleasant demeanour go from one agency to another. She says “it’s not a coincidence that most of Britain’s biggest aid NGOs are dominated by white men and some white women at a senior level.”.

The ‘white male’ is often referred to as having the highest level of privilege possible within society, and it is important to question why many of our biggest corporations as well as NGO’s are run by more men named John than women, and come from this advantaged background. When we talk about embedded imperial power dynamics within society, this is where we must look. Capitalism is a huge enforcer of these relations, with the connectedness of globalisation resulting in pollution being exported to countries such as China, up until they recently put their foot down. Outsourcing production to “developing” countries, and I use the word developing in inverted commas, as it is an unfair definition from the west, seeking to measure an-

other country against their own standards, has only led to wage exploitation.

With the exception of a few countries, the world has only become more unequal in the last century.

Where colonialism has ended in its previous form, the power relations still remain, and it has taken on a new face.

As western society, we are exploiting the environment at levels previously unseen, and with the advancement of newly industrialising countries, more of our population will be tapping into these limited resources. Not only are we exploiting various populations, but we are exploiting the very planet we live on. As such, colonial behaviours; a behaviour characterised by exploitation, oppression and domination is only spreading further afield, both literally and figuratively.

The recognition that we buy new clothes instead of repairing them, we get a new phone every year, and that we mindlessly consume western ideals until they become ingrained in our behaviours is essential. In order to recognise the prevalence of colonial and imperialist doctrine, we must question every aspect of the society in which we live, first looking at ourselves.

Pictured: Oxfam workers allegedly hosted sex parties whilst on the Haiti mission in 2010. Source: European Commission DG ECHO (Via Flickr)

Can paintings help poverty?

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Is arts led gentrification all that effective?

rt led gentrification is a process through which places are being developed based on middle class standards. Art led gentrification takes into account aspects such as murals and graffiti in places which may have not been as attractive to look at. It is all around us but we may not necessarily take the time to acknowledge it.

So when taking a break do we realise that the Cardiff which we have grown accustomed to is beginning to change?

Art is beginning to show itself everywhere around us while conforming to the process of gentrification. The use of art and creativity by conglomerates and local authorities to sell and ‘improve’ places have a manipulative intention, therefore leading to societies being ‘cleansed’ of off what they used to be.

Such adaptation to the change of surroundings can transform a person in two ways. Either allowing them to

feel as one with the rest of the community or to feel alienated from it.

These two extremes which stem from arts led gentrification are extremely prominent in Cardiff. One of which being at the Bay, it is not only a tourist attraction but it has also undergone a lot of renovation in the past few years. Such renovations meant drastic changes for some of the inhabitants of

the Bay. Many people have been rehoused in order for the Bay to be renovated, but due to the prices of flats in the area it is near impossible for these individuals to move back. In this instance the gentrification process most definitely divided communities rather than bringing them back together.

But what about the art gentrification we see around the university on a

regular basis? An example is past Senghennydd Court on St. Andrews Place.

We are presented with a very clear example of art led gentrification. Does the graffiti of Dylan the Dragon bring us closer together as a community, or does it divide us? Is there a sense of pride among Cardiff University students? After all, what Dylan is showing us on this mural is our graduation day (which we all doubt will arrive at certain points in our time here).

Such questions don’t necessarily provide a straightforward answer.

However, I do believe that arts led gentrification poses less issues in communities than architectural gentrification as shown in the process in Cardiff Bay. Arts led gentrification allows us to gain a sense of community while also helping to bring people together who don’t necessarily have to be stood in a crowd to feel that way. As I’m sure that we all come together during varsity!

Pictured: Murals can bring the community together. Photo

by Michael Ash

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SYLWADAU

9

Disasters deserve more than a hashtag

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We tweet about these disasters and post messages of condolence...yet we return to our daily lives.

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Ashley Boyle

Pictured: When criminals need multiple identity changes, should they still be protected?

Source: nizz7 (Via Flickr)

I

n 2012, a film produced by the Invisible Children Inc., titled ‘Kony 2012’ took the internet by storm.

Almost every human who had a presence on social media erratically began posting trending statements such as ‘#Kony2012’ and ‘Stop Kony 2012.’ The movement had such a powerful response over social media over the days after it was released, that it was even dubbed as the ‘most viral video ever’

by TIME Magazine. However, almost 6 years later, the video is nothing but a faint memory in the back of our minds and almost 70,000 children have been abducted to become child soldiers and sex slaves under the order of Joseph Kony, who remains the leader of guerrilla group, ‘Lord’s Resistance Army.’

Over the last few years, the world has been a victim to what seems like an endless number of crises’, such as the displacement of millions of African people by Joseph Kony. We as a society have rightly responded with sympathy and empathy, despite the fact that so few of these events have affected our own personal lives. We tweet about these disasters and post messages of condolence for those who have unfortunately had no choice but to surrender their lives to such catastrophes, yet we return to our daily lives. We go back to texting our friends about the plotline of the Netflix season we’re currently binging, or we get ready for pre’s with the intention of getting totally smashed, and

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not being able to remember how you got in to bed and when.

I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with having a good time, but there is a huge problem in the way that we treat world disasters as a ‘trend.’ There are a number of issues, such as the refugee crisis, the Palestine-Israel conflict and genocide in Burma, that have held the spotlight for a sliver of time and then simply been forgotten about as if the problem has been resolved by magic and vanished into thin air.

The careless attitude we as a society hold is not only ignorant, but also incredibly insulting to those who have had their lives ruined, often through no problem of their own.

Maybe it’s because this current generation boasts a carefree and ‘chilled’ attitude towards almost everyone and everything, but it’s essential that we abandon this and address the matters that affect members of the human population every day. This way, we can slowly and eventually begin to solve matters of concern.

Still, a large proportion of the blame has to be on social media and the journalism industry. Journalists need to continue addressing problems as they continue to develop and inform us of what’s really going on in the world, instead of selling us new stories on a daily basis in hopes of maintaining public interest. They should also utilise social media to carry on raising awareness on

pressing issues.

We, as the general public, should make sure we keep ourselves up-to-date with any current situations and utilise social media to make sure our peers are also aware, even if news outlets and journalists have stopped doing so.

It’s important to remember that even if such issues may not affect us directly, they may be affecting the lives of peo-

ple we know and are definitely affecting those of people we don’t know. World crises aren’t trends and aren’t just something that die out with fashion.

Issues such as the refugee crisis are as relevant as ever and it’s important we continue to talk about them so that they eventually can be resolved. The world can’t improve if we treat each crisis as a fad.

Pictured: When a crisis gets forgotten, it doesn’t go away. Source: Fema

Your name. Your Crime.

rimes happen daily in the UK, but for some cases, the crime is serious or obscure and the media cannot resist broadcasting it and consequently all of the revelations that follow. This coverage reveals a lot of information regarding the crime to the public, such as the geographical location, sometimes the victims, possible subjects and then finally the offender. As this information is so easy to obtain, sometimes when cases are closed and culprits are released, new identities are assigned to the criminals involved in order to protect them from anyone who feels that justice was not served. But, whilst everyone’s welfare should be a top priority for the state, could £250,000 of taxpayer’s money be better spent on something else? And should we protect these criminals even after the have reoffended?

The 12th of February 2018 marked the 25th anniversary of James Bulger’s death. The 4 year old was abducted, tortured, and murdered by Jon Venables and Robert Thompson, two ten year old Liverpudlian boys.

The age of all three of the subjects involved was the main reason behind everyone’s interest in the story, mainly the two offenders, which resulted in a media frenzy. Whilst many disputed whether or not the boys knew what they did was wrong and whether it was right to condemn them each with a life sentence, they both received just 8 years. After fulfilling their sentences the boys were then released with fresh new identities.

However, it is believed that Venables is now on his 4th identity since his release for a number of reasons.

Firstly, he was arrested again after breaking parole conditions which

prevented him visiting Merseyside; he was also arrested for possessing cocaine and it was also reported that he revealed his real identity to friends. He was later sent to prison for 2 years in 2010 and again in November 2017 for downloading and distributing child pornography.

Initially I agreed with the decision to give the boys new identities because of the media coverage the case generated as it would’ve essentially been a death sentence for them both without. However, I am less tolerant of the several other identities given to criminals, especially in the case of Jon Venables, after they have reoffended. If the media had not found out about this story, it is likely that these men would have walked away with their own identities and would have to live their lives under the same name.

It is essentially a luxury to start

with a new name because you have a chance to start again somewhere else. Abusing this system of protection is not good enough, however, and I feel that there should be more done to criminals if they do give away their identity, especially after reoffending on several occasions.

Is it fair for him to exploit the system and exhaust resources? I would argue it is not. The money for this service was provided by honest working people. The thousands if not millions of pounds could be better spent on prevention and rehabilitation as well as aiding other sectors such as education or the NHS. The solution here is not to give recidivists the comfort blanket of 9 lives but make them face up to the consequences by withdrawing them from a system that cushions the fall with a new identity each time they reoffend.

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I am less tolerant of the several other identities given to criminals, especially in the case of Jon Venables

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Sarah Harris

student volunteering week Monday 19th February

The Walk Of Fame: Safety Walk Scheme Taster Session 21:00 - 23:00

Periods 'n Party 19:00 - 00:00, The Lodge

thursday 22nd February

“Penny (and a doughnut!)

For Your Thoughts” 12:00 – 14:00, Y Plas

Tuesday 20th February “Penny (and a doughnut!)

For Your Thoughts” 12:00 – 14:00, Y Plas

wednesday 21st February Young Voices: Butetown Youth Forum Resilience Project 09:30 - 14:00

Sort It Out! 10:00 – 15:00, Llanishen

friday 23rd February Paint Party 10:00 - 15:00, Cathays Community Centre

Clean Up Cathays 13:30 – 15:00, Cathays

For more details about events visit: cardiffstudents.com/volunteering For enquiries, please contact: Volunteering@Cardiff.ac.uk

saturday 24th February Get Down and Dirty!

13:00 – 16:00, Global Gardens

UNSAFE SPACE

column

11

@harryheath__ | #UnsafeSpace gairrhydd.com/category/column

Political Correctness Gone Mad? Who’s asking?

Harry Heath

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It is an attempt to put political correctness, an idea that we can understand to have been established by the left and since weaponised by the right, under the spotlight.

W

e Millennials are constantly being told we are growing up in the age of political correctness. When once there was a time that thought and speech ran free, today it is perhaps the not so liberal, lefty elite that wield power over our politics, our culture and our language. And it is also all our fault, especially us university students, the proponents of quashing freedom, crying before we are hurt and melting in the face of reality, in a way that renders us a generation of snowflakes. I should begin by making clear that this is not the warranted though now commonplace critique of campus censorship.

Rather it is an attempt to put political correctness, an idea that we can understand to have been established by the left and since weaponised by the right, under the spotlight.

So what do we mean by being politically correct, or being ‘PC’ to give it its abbreviation that has resulted from its ever presence in the discourse surrounding our culture?

Firstly, we all understand that political correctness concerns identity and most likely collective identity. We are also aware that in practice being politically correct would involve behavioural or perhaps even policy changes; changes that are born out of a duty to basic courtesy or sinister attempts to restrict liberty, depending on which side you approach it from.

What do you think of political cor-

rectness? Would you consider yourself politically correct?

This article is not a defence of political correctness if it is defined by the intolerant and infantile left that seek to use their claimed offence as a stick to beat those they don’t approve of.

By this I mean the mobs who attacked the Canadian clinical psychologist Jordan Peterson who has recently risen to cult stardom due to his objection to complying with Bill C-16, a law that proposed to make not using the correct language regarding gender identity as conflicting with the Canadian Human Rights Act. I won’t pretend that I was aware of Peterson’s work or growth in popularity until his recent interview with Channel 4 News’ Cathy Newman, though I must admit that I do agree with him, on the main point at least.

Peterson’s refusal to abide by a law that demands the use of only permitted words is to be applauded by anyone who believes in the freedom of the individual, though evidently not all were as impressed as I. There is a video on YouTube of Peterson being circled by protesters following a rally held at the University of Toronto. Peterson, surrounded and bombarded with accusations of bigotry and transphobia, remains relatively calm until he is asked one question that appears to me the point where the boundary between PC politeness and PC censorship is crossed.

Peterson explained that whether he will use peoples’ requested gender pronouns may well depend on how they behaved to him, to which one protester asked what gave him that authority.

“WHY DO I HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DETERMINE WHAT I SAY? WHAT KIND OF QUESTION IS THAT?” Yes, that seems to me to be the line in the sand.

It appears that when the news supply is scarce prior to publishing deadlines, the default cliché opted for by the usual suspects in the right-wing press is that political correctness has, in fact, gone mad. This phrase, coined

by Richard Littlejohn who has been a popular columnist for publications such as The Sun and The Mail, now dominates the arguments from the right on this matter. A week after the final murder was committed by the ‘Suffolk Strangler’ who notoriously killed five sex workers in 2006, Littlejohn weighed in on the event demanding that the victims should be referred to as prostitutes, arguing that not doing so was evidence of political correctness going mad.

He states: “We do not share in the responsibility for either their grubby little existences or their murders.” He then proclaims that while it may not be fashionable or acceptable to say so, death by strangulation for sex workers is but an “occupational hazard.”

Finally, he opines “in the scheme of

things the deaths of these five women is no great loss.”

Most of us understand that the victims of such barbarism should not be defined as prostitutes but as daughters, sisters and mothers, as equally deserving of our humanity as any other murder victim. But to Littejohn, this was a prime case of political correctness going too far. He saw his moment and valiantly smeared five dead women for the good old cause, the cause of sticking it to the liberal elite thought police in their metropolitan ivory towers.

Earlier I posed the questions of what do you think of political correctness? And would you consider yourself politically correct? Well it depends on who is asking the questions and who is defining the terms.

If it’s Momentum, the militant mobs of identity politics or the NUS, and political correctness is understood to be eliminating utterances that are inconsistent with a specific worldview, then no, I wouldn’t consider myself PC; and it is in all our interests that the battle against it is victorious. But if the same two questions were instead posed by Nick Griffin or Daryl from Peep Show, then yes, I am an ardent supporter of the cause for increased political correctness in public life, because political correctness to them means being forbidden to write racial abuse on houses belonging to ethnic minorities.

Pictured: Is Political Correctness turning us into snowflakes?

Source: ekemelev (Via Pixabay)

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12 POLITICS

politics

#GRPolitics politics@gairrhydd.com gairrhydd.com/category/poltics

LGBT History Month the ‘Ladies of Llangollen’ to Alan Turing, history is rife with LGBT figures that demonstrate, depsite the puntive laws that were in place across the United Kingdom, that love prevailed. Although society has come a long way in terms of acceptance of the LGBT community, the road to complete equality is still

distant.

A report by ‘Unhealthy Attitudes’ found that ten percent of health and care staff have witnessed colleagues expressing the belief that lesbian, gay and bi people can be cured of their sexual orientation. It is alarming that despite conversion therapy being proven to not work, as well

as being abhorrent, that conversion therapy is even a discussion in the twenty-first century. Discrimination is fundamentally abominable, and LGBT history month is one of the best ways to remember those who challenged gender and sexuality roles and ideas.

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The road to complete equality is still distant

The Ladies Of Llangollen

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leanor Butler and Sarah Ponsonby were commonly known as the Ladies of Llangollen. The pair were two upper-class Irish women whose romantic relationship scandalised and fascinated their contemporaries during the nineteenth century. The pair made several attempts to make a

Pictured: Ladies of Llangollen Source: The Waterfront Museum (Via Twitter)

getaway due to their families disagreeing with their romantic relationship. After many failed attempts, the pair left Ireland on 9th May 1778, arriving in Milford Haven the following day.

Sarah began writing a journal about their escape named ‘An Account Of A Journey In Wales... By Two

Fugitive Ladies’. Through family contacts the pair were introduced into the high society of the area and were slowly accepted.

They shared the same bed for over fifty years and consistently referred to one another as ‘beloved’ or ‘my better half ’. At the end of their lives together Eleanor went blind and

referred to Sarah who became her nurse as ‘My Sweet Love’. Eleanor died in 1829, and Sarah two years later. The pair have always been at the forefront of LGBT history, and demonstrate sheer determination and courage in a period where the LGBT community were not seen as equals within society.

after a break-in—in January, 1952, that he had had a sexual relationship with the perpetrator, 19-year-old Arnold Murray. He was then charged with gross indecency. Following his arrest, Turing was forced to choose between temporary probation on the condition that he receive hormonal treatment for libido reduction, or imprisonment. He chose the former, and soon underwent chemical cas-

tration through injections of a synthetic estrogen hormone for a year which eventually rendered him impotent. Turing died on June 7, 1954. Following a postmortem exam, it was determined that the cause of death was cyanide poisoning. Shortly after World War II, Turing was awarded an Order of the British Empire for his work on what would have been his 86th birthday.

The Man Who Saved The Allies

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lan Turing was arguably one of the leading men throughout World War Two, and without his knowledge Great Britain and the allied forces would have been defeated by the Nazis. During World War Two, Turing was a leading participant in wartime code-breaking, particularly that of German ciphers. He worked at Bletchley Park, the GCCS wartime station,

Pictured: Alan Turing Source: @Alanturingyear (Via Twitter)

1967 Decriminalisation of sex between two men over 21 and ‘in private’.

2001 The age of consent is lowered to 16, the same age as straight people.

where he helped decipher German Enigma encrypted signals. He also wrote two papers about mathematical approaches to code-breaking, which became important assets to the Code and Cypher School. Despite Turing’s heroic efforts for the United Kingdom, Turing was a homosexual during the 1950’s when it was illegal to be a homosexual.

Turing admitted to police— who he called to his house

1974 Maureen Colquhoun came out as the first LGBT MP

2008 Same-sex couples recognised as legal parents of children conceived through IVF

1984 LGSM launched in support of The Miners Strike

2013 Conservatives and Liberal Democrats pass same-sex marriage act

1992 World Health Organisation declassifies homosexuality as a mental illness.

2018 Government issues pardon to all gay and bi men who were convicted of sexual offences laws.

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Turing was arguably one of the leading men throughout World War Two

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S

ince the turn of the 21st century, LGBT rights have been increasingly strengthened and this month is the celebration of what has been overcome in order for the LGBT community to be rightfully accepted into society.

Wales and the United Kingdom have their own LGBT tales from

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Hannah Woodward

GWLEIDYDDIAETH 13 WALES Conor Holohan

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Ever since this tragedy unfolded, the Welsh Government have come under immense scrutiny

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WORLD Alex Leung

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In recent years it has been felt by some that China is violating her promises

Sargeant seeks justice for Carl

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am not the only person in this chamber who wants justice for my father’, said Jack Sargeant, son of the late Carl, in his maiden speech to the Welsh Assembly, having just won his father’s seat by a majority of 6,545.

‘There is no greater tribute I could pay to my dad than can to continue his legacy’ said the new Alyn and Deeside Assembly Member, who told the Assembly he wanted to help to ‘build a better, kinder politics for the future’, before receiving a standing ovation from members.

Jack’s late father, Carl, was found dead just days after allegations of inappropriate conduct towards women emerged, and had been the Assembly Member for Alyn and Deeside since 2003.

The night before Mr Sargeant was found, Carwyn Jones had given an interview in which he mentioned the allegations against Carl.

Ever since this tragedy unfolded, the Welsh Government has come under immense scrutiny, and there are even murmurings that would indicate that some potential successors are already jostling for position.

There have been four independent investigations launched into the events surrounding the passing of Carl who is believed to have taken his own life over the whirlwind of rumours and mental pressure.

One of the investigations concerns

the sacking of Carl and how allegations towards him were handled. Another is a coroner’s report which the First Minister and other AMs are able to give evidence to.

The third investigation is concerning whether or not the First Minister misled the Assembly on the subject of bullying allegations, when it emerged that he had given two contradicting answers in the chamber at different times on the matter.

Darren Millar AM of the Welsh Conservatives also told the Chamber that in October 2014, Carl asked him to table questions on the subject of ongoing bullying within the Welsh Government which had made Sargeant unhappy.

There have also been a number of former Assembly Members and government advisors who have publicly claimed that bullying is at the heart of the Welsh Government.

The other investigation, which has now concluded, was looking into whether or not the government made an ‘unauthorised’ leak to the press saying that Sargeant was going to be sacked before the reshuffle in early November took place.

The report has not been made public, and Welsh Conservative Leader Andrew RT Davies has called for the conclusions of the investigation to be published at least. Mr Jones has thus far been reluctant to do so, lest it

threaten the confidentiality of the identities of participants, but Mr Davies has insisted that it would be possible to avoid this by redacting any identities in the report.

Mr Davies has said: ‘What we need are answers to the many questions that

have built up over the months.’

Meanwhile, Labour Assembly backbencher Jenny Rathbone has further thrown the First Minister’s position into doubt by saying there were ‘certainly plenty of runners and riders already declaring their hand.’

Pictured: The late Carl Sargeant, Assembly Member for Alyn and Deeside 2003 - 2017. Source: RenewableUK Cymru via Flickr

Britain’s duty to Hong Kong

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heresa May had her first official visit to China a few weeks ago. Before the visit, she pledged to raise recent political concerns in Hong Kong with Chinese president Xi Jinping.

However, there was no significant effect on Hong Kong’s situation, with Chinese state-run media sarcastically praising the Prime Minister as she “sidestepped” the issue.

In this context, it showed a new round of political wrestling between the countries. Thus, it may be a good time to look over the relationship between Britain, Hong Kong and China.

Once a British colony, Hong Kong returned to her so-called motherland, China, becoming a special administrative region since 1997.

Under the Sino-British Jointed Declaration, an international treaty signed between Britain and China, Hong Kong enjoys a high degree of autonomy within the “One Country, Two Systems” model, stating that Hong Kong will still run as a capitalist economy, unique from China’s economic system. Furthermore, Hong Kong and China have different language, currency, election system, and even have a separate national football team.

However, in recent years it has

been felt by some that China is violating her promises and is gradually eroding Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy. One stellar example was China’s National People’s Congress, which ‘re-explained’ Hong Kong’s Basic Law in order to disqualify four pro-democracy and two pro-independence lawmakers, claiming that they failed to sincerely take the oath of office.

More recently, British conservative activist Benedict Rogers has been denied entry to Hong Kong without any official reason, and Chinese officials later claimed they have the sovereign right to deter entry from anybody, ignoring the fact that Hong Kong holds the right to immigration affairs based on Basic Law. All of these incidents show that China is attempting to breach the legal relationship with Hong Kong and will no longer respect the city’s status as a special administrative region.

Lord Paddy Ashdown, former leader of the UK Liberal Democrats, had a two-day fact-finding visit some months ago. During his time in Hong Kong, he clearly stated that Britain has a duty to Hong Kong, “The British government has a duty here too. Britain sadly is obsessed with Brexit at the moment, but you

know this is our engagement. I think it was John Major, the British prime minister, who said to the people of Hong Kong: ‘You’ll never walk alone’.”. Unfortunately, there were no further political actions taken over these years.

The potential economic profits that trading with China can bring are indeed attractive, but there is no such thing as a free lunch and the price is to follow China’s set of rules, under which controversal issues such as human rights and sovereignty are often restricted to express. Blindly chasing money and ignoring the ethical responsibility on Hong Kong is definitely not something that a leading country in the world should do.

In fact, millions of Hong Kong peo-

ple actually hold a British passport, and together with those who hold a British National (Overseas) passport, it is a huge community that the British government should treat seriously. As a shareholder of the joint declaration, Britain should always ensure the promises made in the international treaty are being fulfilled.

All of the things that Britain has left for Hong Kong, for instance a well-structured administrative government, an independent judiciary system, and some very important infrastructure, are all precious for Hong Kong.

They are the cores that have made Hong Kong so successful in the past 20 years, but they may soon disappear in a very short space of time.

Pictured: British PM Theresa May Source: Jay Allen (Via Flickr)

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14 POLITICS

The Resurrection of Mitt Romney Rhys Thomas

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His entry into the race is sure to make it a rare statelevel election that garners national attention

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Another Presidential run may not even be out of the equation, with talk of a conservative challenge to Trump in 2020 or even a run in 2024

Pictured: Romney on the campaign trail in 2012 Source: (Via Gage Skidmore on Flickr)

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ormer Presidential candidate Mitt Romney has announced that he is getting back into frontline politics and will be running for a United States Senate seat representing Utah.

Long-term Senator Orrin Hatch is stepping down this year, leaving the door wide open in a red state for a major player. Hatch has been cited as persuading Romney to run, giving the former Republican nominee a formal memo when they met for lunch in Washington DC. He favourably cited Romney’s “personality, his attractive appearance and ability to speak, and the experiences he’s had”, and his entry into the race is sure to make it a rare state-level election that garners national attention. This isn’t a welcome development for Donald Trump, who has stated how much he likes Hatch and was keen to keep him in the Senate as someone to help craft legislation, as shown by his work on the tax bill which has been a big priority for Trump and Republicans.

Despite never having served in elected politics there, Utah provides sympathetic territory for Romney. Its significant Mormon population along with the religion’s spiritual home in Salt Lake City give him a natural grounding in addition to his various other connections to the state – he’s had a residence there for many years, obtained a BA from Brigham Young University and most famously saved the 2002 Winter Olympics held in Salt Lake which were destined for misery and failure until Romney stepped in and saved the day. His private assertion during the 2012 campaign that he was known as the “flipping Mormon” would hardly be a problem in Utah.

So, the Senate seat is practically his. Significant Republican opponents within the state have bowed to the inevitability of Romney’s candidature and stepped aside, with Democrats unlikely to win in the general election (the last Democratic Senator there was Frank Moss who lost his third re-election attempt in 1977 to Hatch).

The likely Democratic candidate is Salt Lake County council member Jenny Wilson, but as former Democratic mayor of Park City Bradley A. Olch succinctly puts it, “It’s Utah, and

she’s a Democrat”. Despite this, sources say that he’s not taking the election for granted and plans to run a heavily localised campaign, avoiding talking about the President and forming a campaign team mostly made up of Utahns instead of those who worked on his Presidential bid in 2012.

Romney has been a well-known figure in American politics for some time now. He served one term as Governor in the liberal state of Massachusetts, rejecting a second-term run in favour of a shot at the Presidency for the 2008 election. He lost that race to eventual nominee John McCain, but he made a national name for himself by winning eleven states and setting himself up as the natural next nominee of the Republican Party. He eased to the Republican nomination in 2012 past an eclectic mix of candidates, and never truly relinquished his early favourite tag despite various media fads around some of his opponents.

Whilst he had little problem with his fellow Republicans, Barack Obama proved a stiffer challenge, and the President triumphed 332-206 in the Electoral College. Romney had been in a perpetual state of running for President from 2006 to his eventual loss as Republican nominee in 2012, and hasn’t formally been involved in politics since that loss.

Losing a Presidential election is a gut punch, especially when you have been building up to it for so many years. After his loss to Ronald Reagan in 1984, Walter Mondale asked 1972 loser and fellow Democrat George McGovern how long it takes to get over an election loss on the biggest stage of them all. McGovern’s response was “I’ll let you know when it happens”. During the campaign Romney noted how any runner-up in a Presidential race was a “loser for life”, and that it was something to be carried forever. In the modern pantheon of Presidential election losers, Romney has appeared to get over it pretty quickly - although it’s easier when you have a net worth of hundreds of millions of dollars.

Greg Whiteley’s 2014 documentary Mitt followed the former Governor from his decision to run in 2006 to his eventual loss against Barack Obama

in 2012. Romney appears polite yet intense, and underneath the sheen was a motivated politician. When he loses in 2008, his family are united in saying that they never want to do this again but it is clear that his mind is whirring with future possibilities especially when one of his son’s states that Romney is the “next guy in line”.

The prospect of power is some motivator.

His next potential shot at high office came after Donald Trump’s victory in the 2016 Presidential election.

Despite repeatedly criticising Trump’s conduct and even refusing to vote for him, when Trump dangled the Secretary of State position in front of his eyes - Romney was only too happy to meet him. This resulted in a very public humiliation, Trump teasing his detractor with the prospect of one of the most significant posts in global politics. Romney was wined and dined at Trump International Hotel and the two were snapped enjoying dinner, with Trump’s Cheshire-cat grin juxtaposed against Romney’s grimace. It was an obvious yet effective political move from the then President-elect, and was damaging to Romney’s credibility who was yet again made to look like an untrustworthy political flipflopper, a charge which has plagued his political career.

The big question is what sort of Senator will he be. There is the potential for him to stand up to Trump from a conservative perspective and be a persistent thorn in the President’s side. What seems more likely though, is that he will acquiesce like so many moderate Republicans in Congress.

Whilst he has readily criticised Trump on a number of issues in the past, Romney was prepared to drop all that for a position in the Trump administration and even the most vocal Trump critics in the Senate like Jeff Flake and John McCain have actually supported much of the Trump agenda. To put it simply, issues like tax cuts for the rich and repealing Obamacare are staple Republican priorities which those Senators will vote for no matter who is in the White House, and Romney is motivated by power - even more so than most politicians and it is likely that he will work with

the President, but possibly speaking out against on Trump’s moral issues like he has in the past.

Romney will be 71 in March, and he certainly wouldn’t be able to serve for as long as Hatch. One possible outcome will see him serving one or two terms, with the former allowing him to “put country before party”, standing up for his beliefs without much worry for his political future. However it is unlikely that Romney would just be content as a run of the mill Senator, and a shot at becoming Senate Majority Leader is possible as the Republican Governor of Utah Gary Herbert has suggested. Another Presidential run may not even be out of the equation, with talk of a conservative challenge to Trump in 2020 or even a run in 2024, which would be the last full year of Romney’s first Senate term.

Romney was due to formally announce his candidature on 15 February, but postponed due to the school shooting in Parkland, Florida. The midterm elections across the United States will be held on 6 November.

Romney Facts

- Born in Detroit, Michigan on March 12th, 1947 - His father George was Governor of Michigan and then served in Richard Nixon’s cabinet - Studied at Stanford, Brigham Young and Harvard Universities - Spent thirty months in France as a Mormon missionary during the 1960s - His successful business career led to him cofounding Bain Capital as a venture capitalist - Ran for Senate in 1994 from Massachusetts against veteran Democrat Ted Kennedy

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15 SCIENCE

science

#GRScience science@gairrhydd.com gairrhydd.com/category/science

Winter Olympics 2018: The science of curling The theory behind the popular sport

Kawser Abdulahi

W

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This ‘pebbled ice’ helps the stone’s grip and results in more consistent curling.

ith the Winter Olympics kicking off in PyeonChang last week the world’s eye turned to the Korean Peninsula. Although we’re all familiar with the big sports like bobsleigh, figure skating and the skeleton, curling is possibly one of the most (if not the most) puzzling sport at the Winter Olympics.

Originating from Scotland in the mid-16th Century, where misshapen stones from riverbeds were used to slide them across frozen waters.

From a game once only played in Scotland alone, Curling made its debut as an Olympic sport during the Chamonix Winter Games in 1924 held in France. However, it wasn’t until 1998, 82 years later, when the sport was added to the official Olympic programme.

Curling is a team sport whereby two

teams made up of four players slide stones on a rectangular sheet of ice towards a target area or house at either end, which is segmented into four circular rings.

Nicknamed ‘The roaring game’ because of the rumbling sound the 44-pound granite stones make as they travel across the ice.

Curling played indoors has the artificially created ice sprinkled with water droplets onto surface, which then freezes into tiny bumps on the ice surface.

This ‘pebbled ice’ helps the stone’s grip and results in more consistent curling. Curling players also use brooms to help the stone glide further.

There are two types of broom, the most common one is a brush known as ‘push broom’ and the Canadian/ straw/corn broom with long bristles

Team GB Women’s fixtures Monday 19th 11.05am: GB vs Switzerland Tuesday 20th 5.05am: GB vs Japan Wednesday 21st 00.05am: GB vs Canada Thursday 22nd 00.05am: Tiebreaker games

Thursday 22nd 11.05am: Semi-finals Saturday 24th 11.05am: Bronze medal game Sunday 25th Gold medal game

which looks more like a normal broom than equipment for an Olympic sport.

The curling rock or stone is made from a dense, rare type of granite quarried from the country of the sports origin in Scotland’s Ailsa Craig and is polished weighing 19.1kg. Players also wear special curling shoes which grip the ice well. Extremely slippery surfaces such as Teflon are used on the sliding foot whilst shooting which are built into some shoes and strapped on.

Aside from the player’s attire the sport which has been often termed as ‘chess on ice’ has increasingly become more high tech and reliant upon the science behind friction as well as the interactions between the stone and ice that determine the outcome of the match.

With dominating teams of the sport originating from Scandinavia, Scot-

land and North America, it’s unsurprising that research into the science behind curling has emerged from scientists from these regions.

Researchers in Sweden, where the Women’s Team has won gold at the Winter Games in Turin (2006) and Vancouver (2010), after being approached by the Swedish Curling Federation were part of a team looking at how ‘The asymmetrical friction mechanism that puts the curl in the curling stone’.

Nyberg and his colleagues used the same approach to work out stone curls as their more typical work on wear and friction in industrial and technical processes.

They looked at the surface in a high resolution to observe the specific machinations and found that the curved path taken by the curling stone is due to the microscopic texture and roughness of the polished stone which created microscopic scratches in the ice.

As the stone glides across the ice it leaves scratches that cause it to turn as the rear of the stone passes over the initial scratches leading to a change in the stones path, changing its direction.

This ‘scratch guiding’ is what generates the force needed for the curl.

John Bradley and his team, approached by the Scottish Institute of Sport(SIS), have also looked at another aspect of curling, the broom and the role of the sweeper, using a sweeperogometer.

The sweeperogometer is a normal curling broom with attachments to measure the movement of the strokes on ice.

Bardley and his team found that sweeping harder is more effective at certain points with faster sweeps at others to gain the best results. They also noted that sweeping hard and fast is physically taxing but is very effective at impacting the stone’s path which is essential in a sport where mere fractions and centimetres are the difference between taking home the gold or silver.

Team GB Men’s fixtures Monday 19th 5.05am: GB vs Denmark Tuesday 20th 00.05am: GB vs Norway Wednesday 21st 5.05am: GB vs USA Thursday 22nd 00.05am: Tiebreaker games

Thursday 22nd 11.05am: Semi-final games Friday 23rd 6.35am: Bronze medal game Saturday 24th 6.35am: Gold medal game

Pictured: Olympic rings

by Public DomainPictures via pixabay Curling by Shabbytochicnz via pixabay

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GWYDDONIAETH

16

Back to reality: research reveals new play-time habits

Ashley Boyle

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Researchers say that it is less appealing to play an imaginary game because it is too different to reality.

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lthough superheroes and mythical characters dominate children’s films, scientists believe that the toys that are associated with these stories are not as desirable as first thought. Recent studies suggest that children are not as interested in pretend games and would rather play games which involved real life experiences.

Researchers say that it is less appealing to play an imaginary game because it is too different to reality.

They suggested that the children, as soon as they can talk, seek the chance to help their parents with everyday tasks, things which adults may find simple or routine. They appear eager to learn and would often prefer to carry out tasks, such as cutting vegetables or feeding a baby, rather than pretend to do so.

Children within tribes and farming villages already take on a lot of these traits, as they are less likely to take part in fantasy games compared to western children. Instead their parents would actually encourage them to explore and use real tools, such as knives and firewood, as so to prepare them for adulthood. The parents feel that whilst it could sometimes be risky, their children will consequently learn valuable lessons by themselves if they are more hands on.

The experiment consisted of al-

lowing some children to take part in an activity, whether imaginary or actual. Some of the children found the actual tasks more appealing to them because they were things that they would not normally do. Because of this, they were seen as fun tasks or novel when they could take part. One child described how they had never actually talked on the phone as a reason for picking the practical over the pretend. Whilst some children were keen to try new things, others who picked the pretend over practical did so because of the fear of the unknown or simply because they were happy with just pretending.

A second test was taken on three to six year olds which monitored the children’s playing habits with real objects, such as a microscope, and the toys that replicated these objects.

They found that whilst the younger children spent an equal amount of time on average playing with both real and pretend objects, the older children among the sample of 16 spent nearly double the amount of time with the real objects than that with the toys.

Ultimately, it seems that children today are eager to be entertained by regular tasks or objects compared to more traditional toys. Perhaps children may start swapping Barbies for some Marigolds in the future.

Pictured: Children prefer more realistic play as opposed to fantasy.

Source: Dagon (Via Pixabay)

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“Can you like, not breathe near me?”

Findings on how the flu travels across university campuses might just shock you Caterina Dassie’

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More studies have been carried out to see how the viral infections are transmitted and why certain people are more infectious than others.

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esearch was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences revealing how simply breathing is enough to transmit influenza. More studies have been car-

ried out to see how the viral infections are transmitted and why certain people are more infectious than others.

Donald Milton, professor and director of the Maryland Institute for Ap-

plied Environmental Health, University of Maryland School of Public Health and leader of the project, argues that these viruses easily spread from one person to another, from different ways including sneezing, coughing and, of course, touching.

Therefore, environment like schools, universities, hospitals, and thus, large community-based public spaces in general, are the perfect habitat for viruses.

In the early study, breath samples were collected using a cubicle-sized machine where patients exhale into a cone. The infectious virus was detected in 39% of 134 samples of fine-aerosol.

The results came from patients who had simply exhaled breath and were not asked to cough on purpose. These fine fluid particles, due to their 5 microns diameter can remain in the air and thus, hypothetically contribute to the spread of the influenza virus. Shockingly, neither coughing or sneezing appeared the main cause of the transmission.

In the research released in early February named C.A.T.C.H. (Characterizing and Tracking College Health), Milton focused firstly on having an insight into the different viral infections, which were mostly respiratory, caused by flu viruses, coronaviruses, respiratory syncytial virus and adenoviruses. The professor, together with his team, utilized

the same machine used in the previous study to capture breath samples which have then been analysed and the outcomes integrated to the ones found via blood tests and nasal cloths from students at the University of Maryland.

Secondly, the team was looking for how much of the air in two dorms of the University of Maryland was actually from people’s exhalations and which percentage of these contained the influenza virus. While in the laboratory, researchers were collecting breath samples and DNA tests to estimate student’s aerial exposure to influenza viruses and the specific virus infecting them.

“The virus mutates reasonably fast,” Milton says and therefore is crucial to “establish who infected whom, and where, and how”. But there are still different factors which must be taken into consideration i.e. prior year vaccinations.

Thus, more research needs to be done in order to have reliable outcomes, a better understanding of the flu virus trajectory and the possibility for new policies.

Once the sample collection will be wider, hopefully with the upcoming flu season, C.A.T.C.H. might be key in detecting the virus transmission not only in university campuses but in every indoor public space.

Pictured: Infectious viruses spread easily through the air. Source: gfhjkm123 (Via Pixabay)

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make your choice CANDIDATE MANIFESTOS MANIFFESTOS YMGEISWYR

Gwnewch eich dewis

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manifesto 2018

ELECTIONS EXPLAINED Your Students’ Union holds elections in order to allow you to choose your student leaders for the next academic year. There are seven full-time Sabbatical Trustees who will work on a fulltime basis, taking a break from their studies or immediately after graduation, and ten part-time Campaign Officers who will work on a voluntary basis alongside their ongoing studies.

They are your voice and act as your representatives in the Union, University, and wider community, fighting for you on an institutional, local and national level.

Candidates produce manifestos that contain the ideas and principles of their campaigns. Ask yourself if they display the priorities as well as the key creative and communication skills that you would like to see in someone who is representing you and your needs.

What positions are available?

We will be electing students for the following positions: Full-Time sabbatical trustees: (Seven different positions available). These positions are taken up from June 20th until June the following year. These positions are full-time jobs so students have to take a year out during their time in office, unless they are graduating the same year.

Part-Time campaign Officers: (Ten different positions available). These positions are taken up in the beginning of July for the duration of the following academic year (2018/2019) and are carried out alongside their studies.

WHY VOTE? Every single student at Cardiff university is entitled and encourage to vote in the students’ union elections.

It doesn’t matter if you a home or international student, full-time or part-time student, an undergraduate or postgraduate taught student or even a postgraduate researcher.

Simply put: As a student or postgraduate researcher at Cardiff University you will be affected by the decisions made by those elected in this election. By voting, you have the opportunity to vote for the things that you want developed and improved in both the University and the Union.

As George Jean Nathan famously said: 'Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote'.

TRANSFERABLE VOTING Transferable voting is a system which allows voters to list the candidates in order of preference. The successful candidate will need 50% of the total number of votes plus one in order to win. If any candidate does not receive enough support to win a seat, that candidate’s votes will be transferred to others according to voters’ next preferences.

If you don’t believe any of the candidates standing for a position have the qualities you feel are valuable, or you do not agree with their manifesto, you can vote R.O.N. which stands for 're-open nominations'. This means, should R.O.N be more popular than any of the other candidates, no one would be elected to this role and the nominations for the role would re-open, giving the opportunity to find the right person to lead your Union.

manifesto 2018

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ESBONIO'R ETHOLIADAU Mae eich Undeb Myfyrwyr yn cynnal etholiadau er mwyn caniatáu i chi ddewis eich arweinwyr ar gyfer y flwyddyn academaidd nesaf. Mae yna saith Swyddog Etholedig llawnamser a fydd yn gweithio ar sail lawn-amser, gan gymryd egwyl o’u hastudiaethau neu’n ymgymryd â’r swydd yn syth ar ôl graddio, a deg o Swyddogion Etholedig rhan-amser a fydd yn gweithio’n wirfoddol ynghyd â’u hastudiaethau. Nhw yw eich llais, a byddant yn gweithredu fel eich cynrychiolwyr yn yr Undeb, y Brifysgol ac yn y gymuned yn ehangach; yn brwydro ar eich rhan ar lefel sefydliadol, lleol a chenedlaethol.

Mae ymgeiswyr yn cynhyrchu maniffestos sy’n cynnwys syniadau ac egwyddorion eu hymgyrchoedd. Holwch eich hun os ydynt yn dangos y blaenoriaethau yn ogystal â'r sgiliau creadigol a chyfathrebu allweddol yr hoffech chi eu gweld mewn rhywun sy’n eich cynrychioli chi a’ch anghenion.

Pa swyddi sydd ar gael?

Byddwn yn ethol myfrywyr ar gyfer y swyddi canlynol: Swyddogion Etholedig Llawn-Amser: (mae 7 swydd wahanol ar gael). Mae’r swyddi hyn yn dechrau ar 20fed Mehefin hyd Fehefin y flwyddyn ganlynol. Swyddi llawn-amser yw’r rhain, felly rhaid i fyfyrwyr gymryd blwyddyn allan o’u hastudiaethau ar gyfer ymgymryd â hwy, oni fyddant yn graddio’r flwyddyn honno.

Swyddogion Rhan-Amser: (mae deg gwahanol swydd ar gael). Mae’r swyddi hyn yn cychwyn tua dechrau Gorffennaf, ac maent yn parhau am weddill y flwyddyn academaidd nesaf (2018/2019) a chant eu gwneud ochr-yn-ochr â’u hastudiaethau.

PAM PLEIDLEISIO? Mae gan bob myfyriwr ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd yr hawl i bleidleisio yn etholiadau Undeb y Myfyrwyr. Nid oes ots os ydych chi'n fyfyriwr cartref neu fyfyriwr rhyngwladol, yn astudio'n llawn-amser neu rhan amser, yn fyfyriwr israddedig neu ôl-raddedig ymchwil neu a addysgir.

Yn y bôn: Fel myfyriwr Prifysgol Caerdydd, cewch eich effeithio gan y penderfyniadau a wneir gan y Swyddogion a etholir yn yr etholiad hwn. Drwy bleidleisio mae gennych gyfle i ddylanwadu ar y pethau ‘rydych chi eisiau eu datblygu a’u gwella, yn y Brifysgol a’r Undeb fel ei gilydd.

Fel y dywedodd George Jean Nathan: 'Caiff swyddogion gwael eu hethol gan ddinasyddion da sydd ddim yn pleidleisio'.

PLEIDLEISIAU SY’N TROSGLWYDDO Mae’r system o bleidleisiau sy’n trosglwyddo’n caniatáu i bleidleiswyr restru’r ymgeiswyr yn ôl eu hoffter ohonynt.

Bydd yr ymgeisydd llwyddiannus angen 50% o’r cyfanswm o bleidleisiau ac 1 i ennill. Os oes yno ymgeisydd sydd ddim yn derbyn digon o bleidleisiau i ennill, yna caiff pleidleisiau’r ymgeisydd hwnnw eu trosglwyddo i eraill yn ôl dewis nesaf y pleidleiswyr.

Os ydych o’r farn nad oes gan unrhyw un o’r ymgeiswyr ar gyfer y swydd y nodweddion angenrheidiol, neu os ydych yn anghytuno â’u maniffesto, gallwch bleidleisio dros A.A.E. sef Ail Agor Enwebiadau. Golyga hyn pe bai A.A.E. yn fwy poblogaidd nag unrhyw ymgeisydd arall, ni chai unrhyw un ei ethol a byddai’r enwebiadau ar gyfer y swydd yn ail-agor, gan roddi cyfle i ganfod y person cywir i arwain eich Undeb.

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manifesto 2018

STUDENTS’ UNION PRESIDENT Llywydd Undeb y Myfyrwyr

The Students’ Union President leads the Sabbatical Trustee team and the Union as a whole. They act as the key link to the University Vice-Chancellor, Pro-Vice Chancellors, Council, and Senate, as well as the NUS and other key stakeholders.

The role of the President includes acting as the chair of the Board of Directors and Trustees, along with being responsible for the financial position and performance of the Students’ Union.

Mae Llywydd yr Undeb Myfyrwyr yn arwain tîm y Swyddogion Etholedig a’r Undeb yn gyffredinol. Mae’n gweithredu fel cyswllt allweddol ag Is-ganghellor y Brifysgol, Dirprwy Is-ganghellor Profiad Myfyrwyr a Safonau Academaidd, y Cyngor a’r Senedd, yn ogystal ag UCM a rhanddeiliaid allweddol eraill.

Mae rôl y Llywydd hefyd yn cynnwys gweithredu fel cadeirydd Bwrdd y Cyfarwyddwyr ac Ymddiriedolwyr, ynghyd â bod yn gyfrifol am sefyllfa ariannol a pherfformiad Undeb y Myfyrwyr.

students’ union president Llywydd Undeb y Myfyrwyr

manifesto 2018

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12 NICHOLAS FOX

FADHILA AL DHAHOURI

Hi! I’m your current VP Welfare, over the past year I have managed to progress 9 of my manifesto points including: • Launching a sustainable landlord/letting agent review system and shaming the worst; • Receiving a £10k lottery grant to deliver suicide prevention training; • Organising the first ever sexual health testing in the SU.

FADHILA #1 FOR PRESIDENT. In 7 months as your VP Education, I’ve delivered 14 objectives including FREE PRINTING for compulsory assignments, more STUDY SPACES during exams, FIRST-EVER student representative conference, led numerous events and campaigns, WON £5000 bid and MORE. See my record: bit.ly/fadilasrecord. I have the strongest connections and in-depth experience, so imagine what I could do for you!

I’m running for President for the opportunity to do even more!

If elected I will: • Push for multi-million-pound INVESTMENT IN SPORTS FACILITIES. • Install MORE TOILETS and BETTER AIR-CON in the SU club.

• UPGRADE EDUROAM so it always works.

• STOP unnecessary SINGLE-USE PLASTIC across campus.

• Install another DANCE STUDIO. • Include a CLIMBING WALL in the great hall renovation plans.

• Make MASTER’S COURSES CHEAPER for returning Cardiff students.

• Continue to counter BAD LANDLORDS/LETTING AGENTS. • Make the extenuating circumstances and interruption of study procedure fairer.

• Provide MENTAL HEALTH and SEXUAL HARASSMENT TRAINING for staff and student leaders.

• Renovate the IV LOUNGE and make it 24H. • Ensure all CAMPAIGNS are run at the HEATH. • Increase links between Schools and Alumni.

• Better access to support for distance and placement students.

• Better publicise the UNIVERSITY’S GUARANTOR SCHEME. • BRING BACK THE LASH.

As your SU President, I will: • Represent Your Demands • FREE PRINTING for EVERYTHING in SU • Increase LIBRARY OPENING HOURS • TRANSPARENCY on TUITION FEES • Campaign for SHUTTLE BUSES, especially for PLACEMENT students • MULTI-FAITH ROOM in ASSL LIBRARY • More GENDER-NEUTRAL toilets • Lobby Welsh Assembly for BETTER HOUSING REGULATION • Reform Your University • REDUCE CAMPUS CATERING costs • Refurbish SPORTS FACILITIES across Campus • MENTAL HEALTH training for PERSONAL TUTORS and more 1-2-1 professional counselling • Continue to lobby for LECTURE CAPTURE, especially for STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES • More SOCIAL LEARNING SPACES in HEATH CAMPUS • Revolutionise Your Students’ Union • SU ROOFTOP GARDEN and pioneer GREEN ENERGY • More DIVERSE and INCLUSIVE undergraduates and POSTGRADUATES events • “Your Student Guide” for home, INTERNATIONAL and ERASMUS students • Professional FUNDRAISING training for SOCIETIES AND SPORTS CLUBS • Shadowing, ENTREPRENEURIAL HUBS and Alumni Conferences • Input in Great Hall and Centre of Student Life

If you like what you see then for fox sake, Vote Nick Fox.

#IHearYou #LetsMakeItHappen

Helo! Fi yw eich IL Lles presennol, dros y flwyddyn diwethaf rwyf wedi llwydo i wneud cynnydd ar 9 o fy mhwyntiau maniffesto gan gynnwys: • Lansio system adolygu landlord/asiantaeth gosod tai cynaliadwy a chodi cywilydd ar y gwaethaf; • Derbyn grant loteri £10 mil i ddarparu hyfforddiant atal hunanladdiad; • Trefnu’r profion iechyd meddwl cyntaf erioed yn yr Undeb.

FADHILA #1 AR GYFER LLYWYDD. Yn ystod y 7 mis fel eich IL Addysg, rwyf wedi cyflawni 14 amcan gan gynnwys ARGRAFFU AM DDIM ar gyfer aseiniadau gorfodol, mwy o OFOD ASTUDIO yn ystod arholiadau, cynhadledd cynrychiolwyr myfyrwyr CYNTAF ERIOED, arwain nifer o ddigwyddiadau ac ymgyrchoedd, ennill bid £5000 a MWY. Edrychwch ar fy record: bit.ly/fadilasrecord. Mae gennyf y cysylltiadau cryfach a phrofiad manwl, felly dychmygwch beth gallaf ei wneud drosoch chi!

Dwi’n rhedeg ar gyfer Llywydd am y cyfle i wneud hyd yn oed mwy!

Os caf fy ethol, byddaf yn: • Gwthio am FUDDSODDIAD gwerth miliynau o bunnoedd ar gyfer CYFLEUSTERAU CHWARAEON. • Gosod MWY O DOILEDAU ac AERDYMHERYDD yng nghlwb yr Undeb.

• UWCHRADDIO EDUROAM fel ei fod yn gweithio drwy’r amser.

• ATAL DEFNYDD PLASTIG UNTRO diangen ar draws y campws.

• Gosod STIWDIO DDAWNS arall.

• Cynnwys WAL DDRINGO yng nghynlluniau adnewyddu’r neuadd fawr.

• Gwneud CYRSIAU GRADDAU MEISTR YN RHATACH ar gyfer myfyrwyr Caerdydd sy’n dychwelyd.

• Parhau i wrthsefyll LANDLORDIAID/ASIANTAETHAU GOSOD TAI GWAEL. • Gwneud gweithdrefn amgylchiadau esgusodol a gohirio astudiaethau yn decach.

• Darparu HYFFORDDIANT IECHYD MEDDWL AC AFLONYDDU RHYWIOL ar gyfer staff ac arweinwyr myfyrwyr.

• Adnewyddu’r LOFLA IV a’i wneud yn 24 awr.

• Sicrhau bod holl YMGYRCHOEDD yn cael eu cynnal yn y MYNYDD BYCHAN. • Cynyddu'r cysylltiadau rhwng Ysgolion ac Alumni.

• Gwell mynediad i gymorth ar gyfer myfyrwyr o bell ac ar leoliad gwaith.

• Gwell cyhoeddusrwydd ar gyfer CYNLLUN GWARANTWR Y BRIFYSGOL. • AIL-GYFLWYNO ‘THE LASH’

Fel eich Llywydd yr Undeb, byddaf yn: • Cynrychioli eich Anghenion • ARGRAFFU AM DDIM ar gyfer POPETH yn yr Undeb • Cynyddu ORIAU AGOR Y LLYFRGELL • TRYLOYWDER ar FFIOEDD DYSGU • Ymgyrchu ar gyfer BYSIAU GWENNOL, yn enwedig ar gyfer myfyrwyr ar LEOLIAD GWAITH • YSTAFELL AML-FFYDD yn LLYFRGELL ASSL • Mwy o doiledau NIWTRAL AR RAN RHYW • Lobïo Cynulliad Cymru am WELL RHEOLEIDDIO TAI • Diwygio Eich Prifysgol • LLEIHAU costau ARLWYO CAMPWS • Adnewyddu CYFLEUSTERAU CHWARAEON ar draws y Campws • Hyfforddiant IECHYD MEDDWL ar gyfer TIWTORIAID PERSONOL a mwy o gwnsela 1 wrth 1 • Parhau i lobïo ar gyfer RECORDIO DARLITH, yn enwedig ar gyfer MYFYRWYR AG ANABLEDDAU • Mwy o FANNAU DYSGU CYMDEITHASOL ar GAMPWS Y MYNYDD BYCHAN • Chwyldroi eich Undeb y Myfyrwyr • GARDD AR DO YR UNDEB ac arloesi YNNI GWYRDD • Mwy o ddigwyddiadau AMRYWIOL A CHYNHWYSOL ar gyfer israddedigion ac ÔLRADDEDIGION • “Eich Canllaw Myfyriwr” ar gyfer myfyrwyr cartref, RHYNGWLADOL ac ERASMWS • Hyfforddiant proffesiynol ar sut i GODI ARIAN ar gyfer CYMDEITHASAU A CHLYBIAU CHWARAEON • Cysgodi, canolfannau ENTREPRENEURAIDD a Chynadleddau Alumni • Cyfrannu at y Neuadd Fawr a Chanolfan Bywyd Myfyrwyr

Os rydych yn hoffi beth rydych yn ei weld, pleidleisiwch Fox.

#DwinGwrando #GwneudIddoDdigwydd

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manifesto 2018

VICE PRESIDENT EDUCATION IS LYWYDD ADDYSG

The VP Education represents all of you on academic issues to the University.

They will lobby and negotiate with the University to encourage them to enact your feedback as well as liaising with the Information Services, including libraries.

The VP Education is the Chair of the College Forums and is responsible for overseeing and promoting the Student Academic Rep system.

Mae’r Is Lywydd Addysg yn cynrychioli pob un ohonoch ar faterion academaidd i’r Brifysgol. Mae’r swyddog yn lobïo ac yn trafod â’r Brifysgol er mwyn ei hannog i weithredu ar eich adborth yn ogystal â chydgysylltu â’r Gwasanaethau Gwybodaeth yn cynnwys llyfrgelloedd.

Yr Is Lywydd Addysg yw cadeirydd fforymau’r Coleg ac mae’n gyfrifol am oruchwylio a hyrwyddo system Cynrychiolwyr Academaidd y Myfyrwyr.

vice president education Is Lywydd Addysg

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Hi! I’m Owain and I’m running to be your new VP Education!

Over the last four years, I have been involved with the Students’ Union as a member of the ChemSoc committee, Student Advice Exec, and by setting up the Housing Action Student Led Service.

If elected, these are the changes I would make happen for you: Exams • Earlier release of exam timetables.

• Introduce a minimum time gap between exams.

• Giving you access to your exam scripts and allowing remarks.

Being Fair • More scholarships and grants for home and international students.

• Ending 0% for late submissions of coursework - introduce a sliding scale of penalties.

• Free printing allowances Supporting You • Better Personal Tutor training.

• Improve lecture capture and extend to include workshops and seminars.

• Online timetables for every school.

Vote Owain Beynon for VP Education! The Future’s Bright; the Future’s Owain.

Helo! Fi yw Owain ac rwy’n sefyll i fod yn Is-Lywydd Addysg!

Dros y pedair blynedd diwethaf, rwyf wedi bod yn ymwneud ag Undeb y Myfyrwyr fel aelod o Bwyllgor y Gymdeithas Gemeg, Pwyllgor Gweithredol Cyngor Myfyrwyr a thrwy sefydlu’r Gwasanaeth Gweithredu ar Lety dan arweiniad myfyrwyr.

Os caf fy ethol, dyma’r newidiadau y byddwn yn eu gwneud ar eich cyfer chi: Arholiadau • Rhyddhau amserlenni arholiadau’n gynt.

• Cyflwyno isafswm yn yr amser rhwng arholiadau.

• Galluogi ichi weld eich papurau arholiad a chaniatáu ail-farcio.

Bod yn Deg • Mwy o ysgoloriaethau a grantiau i fyfyrwyr cartref a rhyngwladol.

• Diddymu 0% am gyflwyno gwaith cwrs yn hwyr - cyflwyno graddfa o chosbau.

• Lwfans argraffu am ddim Eich Cefnogi Chi • Gwell hyfforddiant i Diwtoriaid Personol.

• Gwell recordio o ddarlithoedd a chynnwys gweithdai a seminarau.

• Amserlenni ar-lein i bob ysgol.

Pleidleisiwch dros Owain ar gyfer IL Addysg! Mae’r Dyfodol yn Ddisglair; y Dyfodol yw Owain.

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OWAIN BEYNON

manifesto 2018

ALANI PADZIL

Hi there, I’m Alani. I have been engaging with students and staffs and I loved every second of it. I was in the VP Edu Exec Team, Student Senate, Student Mentor, Business School Ambassador and I volunteered into various projects around the university to unravel several issues.

As your VP Education, I will strive hard to achieve a better learning environment for us all through: Standardizing lecture inputs: • Publishing of the lecture recording, and quality notes or a PowerPoint, on Learning Central.

• Systemizing reading weeks by course, to ensure that they don’t vary across modules.

Revising student feedback procedures: • Interim evaluations to improve the learning environment and teaching approaches, mid-term.

Facilities: • Free printing credits every semester for tutorials and assignments.

• More 24hr study spaces during exam season.

• More clean water fountains around schools.

• More quiet rooms.

More engaging and effective student reps: • Clear roles being shared and made known to relevant students and develop better engagement procedures.

For Equity: • Better-planned and well-considered timetable that is Inclusive of various cultural and religious needs.

• Promoting awareness of various cultures.

• Stand for International Student’s welfare.

Vote for Alani cause I #GOTYOURBACK! For extended manifesto: https://alanipadzil.wordpress.com Helo, fi yw Alani. Rwyf wedi bod yn ymgysylltu â myfyrwyr a staff ac rwyf wedi mwynhau bob eiliad. Roeddwn yn y Tîm Pwyllgor Gwaith IL Addysg, Senedd y Myfyrwyr, Mentor Myfyrwyr, Llysgennad Ysgol Fusnes ac rwyf yn gwirfoddoli ar gwahanol brosiectau ar draws y brifysgol i ddatrys nifer o faterion.

Fel eich IL Addysg, byddaf yn ymdrechu i gyflawni awyrgylch dysgu gwell i ni gyd drwy: Safoni mewnbynnau ddarlith: • Cyhoeddi recordio darlith, a nodiadau o ansawdd neu PwyntPwer, ar Ddysgu Canolog • Trefnu wythnosau darllen yn ôl cwrs, i sicrhau nad ydynt yn amrywio ar draws modiwlau.

Adolygu gweithdrefnau adborth myfyrwyr: • Gwerthusiadau interim i wella’r awyrgylch dysgu a dulliau addysgu, ganol y tymor.

Cyfleusterau: • Credydau argraffu am ddim bob semester ar gyfer sesiynau tiwtorial ac asesiadau.

• Mwy o fannau astudio 24 awr yn ystod cyfnod yr arholiadau.

• Mwy o ffynhonnau d r glân o amgylch ysgolion.

• Mwy o ystafelloedd tawel.

Cynrychiolwyr myfyrwyr mwy ymgysylltiedig ac effeithiol: • Rolau clir yn cael eu rhannu ac yn hysbys i fyfyrwyr perthnasol a datblygu gweithdrefnau ymgysylltu gwell.

Ar gyfer Tegwch: • Amserlen wedi’i gynllunio’n a’i ystyried yn well sydd yn gynhwysol o anghenion diwylliannol a chrefyddol amrywiol.

• Hybu ymwybyddiaeth o ddiwylliannau gwahanol.

• Sefyll dros lles myfyrwyr rhyngwladol.

Pleidleisiwch dros Alani oherwydd #DWINGEFNICHI Am fy maniffesto llawn: https://alanipadzil.wordpress.com

vice president education Is Lywydd Addysg

manifesto 2018

12 ANDREW DUNCAN

Hi | Shwmae, I’m Andrew! I believe Cardiff University is your client. We pay thousands of pounds every year, and deserve to have our voices heard. As a committed member of the Student-Staff Panel and Student Advice Executive, I have dedicated myself to acting upon the concerns of fellow students.

As your VP Education, I would implement the following solutions: 1. Communication and Representation • Standardised training for academic tutors in regulations and mental health • Establish an easily accessible, anonymous complaint and feedback system on Learning Central • Ensure supervisors are only assigned if they are available for the entire duration of project • Provide Student-Staff Panel members with professional training 2. Assessments Reduce deadline and exam bunching • Campaign for university-wide option for online submissions 3. Lectures • Sufficient notice for cancelling/moving lectures • Implement lecture recording throughout the university 4. Spaces/Transport • Extend running times for University Halls buses • Increase number of maintained water fountains • Real-time webpage to show study space availability • Increase number of plug sockets and Eduroam connectivity • Free printing for compulsory assessments Thanks for reading my manifesto, contact me for more details!

Facebook: Andrew Duncan Snapchat: PandaDuncan Instagram: @Andrew.Duncan.9699 Shwmae, Fi yw Andrew! Credaf mai eich cleient yw Prifysgol Caerdydd. Rydym yn talu miloedd o bunnoedd bob blwyddyn, ac yn haeddu i’n lleisiau cael eu clywed. Fel aelod ymroddedig o’r Panel Staff Myfyrwyr a Phwyllgor Gwaith Cyngor Myfyrwyr, rwyf wedi ymrwymo fy hun i weithredu ar bryderon cyd-fyfyrwyr.

Fel eich IL Addysg, byddaf yn gweithredu’r atebion canlynol: 1. Cyfathrebu a Chynrychiolaeth • Hyfforddiant safonol ar gyfer tiwtoriaid academaidd mewn rheoliadau a iechyd meddwl • Sefydlu system gŵyn ac adborth dienw, hawdd i gael mynediad ato ar Ddysgu Canolog.

• Sicrhau bod myfyrwyr ond yn cael eu neilltuo os maent ar gael ar gyfer y prosiect cyfan.

• Darparu hyfforddiant proffesiynol i aelodau o’r Panel Staff Myfyrwyr 2. Asesiadau • Lleihau terfynau amser a chlystyru arholiadau • Ymgyrch ar gyfer opsiwn ledled y Brifysgol ar gyfer cyflwyniadau ar-lein 3. Darlithoedd • Digon o rybudd ar gyfer canslo/symud darlithoedd • Gweithredu recordio darlith ar draws y Brifysgol 4. Mannau/Trafnidiaeth • Ymestyn amseroedd rhedeg ar gyfer bysiau Neuaddau Prifysgol • Cynyddu'r nifer o ffynhonnau d r • Tudalen gwe byw i ddangos argaeledd mannau astudio • Cynyddu nifer o socedi a chysylltedd Eduroam • Argraffu am ddim ar gyfer asesiadau gorfodol Diolch am ddarllen fy maniffesto, cysylltwch â mi am fwy o fanylion!

Facebook: Andrew Duncan Snapchat PandaDuncan Instagram: @Andrew.Duncan.9699

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TAz JONES

Shw’mae everyone! I’m Taz! You may know me from my role as Genetics Rep and chair of SSPs in BIOSI, as a member of the Fresher’s Advice Team or as one of the LGBT+ Campaign Officers.

If elected, I plan on initiating #OperationTAZ: Teamwork • To start drop in sessions between VP Education and students • To improve the academic rep system, including training and visibility in schools.

• To represent your views to Cardiff University Academic Issues • Flexible Assessments – you choose coursework or exams for end of your module assessments.

• To encourage more lecturers to use Lecture Capture.

• To start running Fresher’s Workshops about referencing, rep systems, essay writing, feedback etc.

Zest for life • To ensure there is more training regarding LGBT+ issues for personal tutors and academic staff • To ensure there is more training regarding mental health issues for personal tutors and academic staff.

• To ensure that there is more training for physical health issues for personal tutors and academic staff.

I will be here for you, to support you on all academic and education issues. #TeamTAZ #TAZIsListening #TAZIsHereForYou #TAZForABrighterFuture #OperationTAZ Shw’mae bawb! Fi yw Taz! Efallai eich bod yn nabod fi am fy rôl fel Cynrychiolydd Geneteg a chadeirydd y Panel Staff Myfyrwyr yn BIOSI, ac aelod o’r Tîm Cyngor y Glas neu fel un o’r Swyddogion Ymgyrch LHDT+.

Os caf fy ethol, dwi’n bwriadu dechrau #YmgyrchTAZ: Gwaith Tîm • Dechrau sesiynau galw heibio rhwng IL Addysg a myfyrwyr • Gwella’r system gynrychiolwyr academaidd, gan gynnwys hyfforddiant ac amlygrwydd mewn ysgolion.

• Cynrychioli eich barn i Brifysgol Caerdydd Materion Academaidd • Asesiadau Hyblyg – chi’n dewis gwaith cwrs neu arholiadau ar gyfer eich asesiadau diwedd y modiwl.

• Annog mwy o ddarlithwyr i ddefnyddio Recordio Darlith.

• Dechrau cynnal Gweithdai y Glas am gyfeirio, systemau cynrychiolwyr, ysgrifennu traethodau, adborth ayyb.

Zest am byth • Sicrhau bod mwy o hyfforddiant ynghylch materion LHDT+ ar gyfer tiwtoriaid personol a staff academaidd • Sicrhau bod mwy o hyfforddiant ynghylch materion iechyd meddwl ar gyfer tiwtoriaid personol a staff academaidd.

• Sicrhau bod mwy o hyfforddiant ynghylch materion iechyd corfforol ar gyfer tiwtoriaid personol a staff academaidd.

Byddaf yma i chi, i’ch cefnogi chi ar holl faterion academaidd ac addysg. #TîmTAZ #TAZYnGwrando #TAZYmaIChi #TAZAmDdyfodolGwell #YmgyrchTAZ

vice president education Is Lywydd Addysg

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I’m Rebecca Pinder, and I want to be your next VP Education.

If elected I’d: • Work with the University to get past papers and model answers for every school • Aim for published deadlines for exam results and proper feedback • Help build an English Support Service to help pupils with dissertations and essays (Similar to the Maths support service) • Create an Academic Tutoring Scheme – utilising volunteers from across a range of courses to help tutor students who are struggling, with volunteers earning certificates from the Skills Development Service • Create a more supportive environment for students who work part time – helping tutors recognise the benefits of working part time whilst studying, and accommodate the needs of working students • Set up an accredited ‘Student Friendly Employer’ scheme, for businesses in town, so students in need of flexible part time work have more guidance in choosing employers • Encourage the university to invest in a big box of extension leads to keep in each library– it’s a quick and easy fix to the lack of plugs.

JACKIE YIP

! VOTE YEP TO YIP ! Global Opportunities Ambassador // University Student Fundraiser // School of Music Ambassador // Student Advice Commitee Member 1. SAFTEY-NET MODULE SYSTEM: • Take an EXTRA MODULE and exclude the lowest grade from your final mark.

2. IMPROVING STUDY SPACES: • Better LIGHTING in libraries and TABLE LAMPS. • WATER FOUNTAINS in all libraries.

• More PLUG SOCKETS with USB and EXTENSION CABLES to borrow.

• More 24H STUDY SPACES and access to University-wide ROOM BOOKING SYSTEM. • APPEALS for library fines and more ELECTRONIC RESOURCES. 3. ENHANCING ACADEMIC EXPERIENCES: • More RECORDED LECTURES. • Awareness for STUDY/WORK/VOLUNTEER abroad programmes.

• Collaborating with VP Postgraduate and supporting undergraduates in FURTHER STUDY. • Collaborating with VP Sport and VP Societies to engage students in activities BEYOND ACADEMIA. • Better promotion of SKILLS DEVELOPMENT SERVICE.

I aim to help students balance education, work and extra-curricular life.

If you’d like to see this happen, Vote Pinder-Pan for VP Education!

Thanks!

4. IMPROVED TIMETABLING AND EXAM SCHEDULES: • NO SATURDAY EXAMS. • EARLIER release of exam timetables.

• Better exam FEEDBACK

Fi yw Rebecca Pinder, a dwi eisiau bod yr IL Addysg nesaf.

5. CLARITY OVER EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES: • Collaboration with VP Welfare and Campaigns for better academic WELLBEING. • SUPPORT and AWARENESS for vulnerable students.

• SCHOOL SPECIFIC help and guidance.

Os caf fy ethol, byddaf yn: • Gweithio gyda'r Brifysgol i gael papurau’r gorffennol ac atebion enghreifftiol ar gyfer bob ysgol • Anelu at terfynau amser cyhoeddedig ar gyfer canlyniadau arholiad ac adborth go iawn • Helpu datblygu Gwasanaeth Cymorth Saesneg a helpu disgyblion â thraethodau hir a thraethodau (Tebyg i’r gwasanaeth gymorth Mathemateg) • Creu Cynllun Tiwtora Academaidd – defnyddio gwirfoddolwyr ar draws ystod o gyrsiau i helpu tiwtora myfyrwyr sy'n cael trafferth, gyda gwirfoddolwyr yn ennill tystysgrifau gan y Gwasanaeth Datblygu Sgiliau.

• Creu awyrgylch mwy cefnogol ar gyfer myfyrwyr sy’n gweithio rhan amser – helpu tiwtoriaid i gydnabod manteision gweithio rhan amser tra’n astudio, a darparu ar gyfer anghenion myfyrwyr sy’n gweithio • Sefydlu cynllun ‘Cyflogwyr Myfyrwyr Cyfeillgar’, ar gyfer busnesau yn dre, fel bod myfyrwyr sydd angen gwaith hyblyg rhan amser yn derbyn mwy o arweiniad wrth ddewis cyflogwyr.

• Annog y brifysgol i fuddsoddi mewn bocs mawr o estyniad plygiau i’w gadw ym mhob llyfrgell – mae’n ateb cyflym a hawdd i’r diffyg plygiau.

Fy nod yw helpu myfyrwyr i gydbwyso addysg, gwaith a bywyd allgyrsiol.

Os hoffech weld hyn yn digwydd, Pleidleisiwch Pinder-Pan ar gyfer IL Addysg!

Diolch!

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REBECCA PINDER

manifesto 2018

6. MORE STUDENTS UNION PRESENCE AT HEATH PARK: • Working at Heath Park ONCE A WEEK. ! PLEIDLEISIWCH YEP I YIP ! Llysgennad Cyfleoedd Byd-eang // Codwr Arian Myfyriwr Prifysgol // Llysgennad Ysgol Gerddoriaeth // Aelod Pwyllgor Cyngor Myfyrwyr 1. SYSTEM DIOGELWCH MODIWL • Cymryd MODIWL YCHWANEGOL a chael gwared ar y gradd isaf o’ch marc terfynol.

2. GWELLA MANNAU ASTUDIO: • Gwell GOLEUO mewn llyfrgelloedd a LAMPAU BWRDD • FFYNHONNAU DWR ym mhob llyfrgell.

• Mwy o BLYGIAU SOCEDI gyda USB ac ESTYNIAD PLYGIAU i’w benthyg.

• Mwy o FANNAU ASTUDIO 24 AWR a mynediad i SYSTEM ARCHEBU YSTAFELL y Brifysgol.

• APELIADAU ar gyfer dirwyon llyfrgell a mwy o ADNODDAU ELECTRONIG. 3. CYFOETHOGI'R PROFIADAU ACADEMAIDD: • Mwy o DDARLITHOEDD WEDI’U RECORDIO. • Ymwybyddiaeth ar gyfer rhaglenni ASTUDIO/GWAITH/GWIRFODDOLI dramor.

• Cydweithio â’r IL Ôl-raddedig a chefnogi israddedigion mewn ASTUDIAETH BELLACH. • Cydweithio â’r IL Chwaraeon a IL Cymdeithasau i ymgysylltu myfyrwyr mewn gweithgareddau y TU HWNT I’R BYD ACADEMAIDD. • Hyrwyddo GWASANAETH DATBLYGU SGILIAU yn well.

4. GWELLA AMSERLENNU A THREFN ARHOLIADAU • DIM ARHOLIADAU DDYDD SADWRN. • Rhyddhau amserlenni arholiad YN GYNT. • Gwell ADBORTH arholiadau 5. EGLURDER YNGHYLCH AMGYLCHIADAU ESGUSODOL: • Cydweithio â’r IL Lles ac Ymgyrchoedd am gwell LLES academaidd.

• CEFNOGAETH ac YMWYBYDDIAETH ar gyfer myfyrwyr sy’n agored i niwed.

• Cymorth ac arweiniad PENODOL AR GYFER YSGOLION. 6. MWY O BRESENOLDEB UNDEB Y MYFYRWYR YN Y MYNYDD BYCHAN • Gweithio ym Mharc y Mynydd Bychan UNWAITH YR WYTHNOS.

why will you vote? “ To get representatives with similar values to me” Spring Elections 2018 voting opens: 09:00 19th February voting closes: 17:00 23rd February

manifesto 2018

VICE PRESIDENT HEATH PARK CAMPUS Is Lywydd Campws Parc y Mynydd Bychan

The VP Heath Park Campus works to improve the healthcare and medical student experience and the services at the Heath Park site.

They are responsible for ensuring the growth of the Union’s offering at the Heath and also represent interests of healthcare and medical students at all levels of the University and Union.

Mae Is Lywydd Campws Parc y Mynydd Bychan yn gweithio i wella profiad myfyrwyr gofal iechyd a meddygol a’r gwasanaethau ar safle Parc y Mynydd Bychan.

Mae’n gyfrifol am sicrhau twf yr hyn a gynigir gan yr Undeb ar Gampws Parc y Mynydd Bychan a hefyd yn cynrychioli buddiannau myfyrwyr gofal iechyd a meddygol ar bob lefel yn y Brifysgol a’r Undeb.

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vice president heath park campus

manifesto 2018

Is Lywydd Campws Parc y Mynydd Bychan

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Hi I’m Harriet Arscott a third year medical student, who’d love to be your VP Heath Park next year!

I am currently captain of Medics netball 1st team and media secretary, having been social secretary. I have plenty of experience organising events, using social media and interacting with students from all years all over Heath.

Why do I want this position?

Did you know that 1 in 4 students suffer from a mental health condition during their time in university? This increases in Healthcare students – almost 1 in 3 medical students! So almost everyone will know someone who has suffered. If you don’t? Now you do. Therefore, I’m running as I know Heath needs more support!

Support for: Student wellbeing • Introduce student mentors across the schools • Medic support and counselling drop in sessions at Heath • Better awareness of and access to extenuating circumstances Study • Improve communication of room changes and cancellations • More plug sockets in libraries • More rooms available for study Sport & societies • Wednesday afternoons always free • Later games for medic teams • Introduce awards ceremony Heath Park is your campus, yours to change.

Helo fi yw Harriet Arscott a dwi’n fyfyrwraig meddygol trydydd blwyddyn, a byddwn wrth fy modd yn cael fy ethol fel IL Parc y Mynydd Bychan y flwyddyn nesaf!

Rwyf ar hyn o bryd yn gapten pêl-rwyd merched Meddygon tîm 1af ac ysgrifennydd cyfryngau, ar wedi bod yn ysgrifennydd cymdeithasol. Mae gennyf ddigon o brofiad yn trefnu digwyddiadau, defnyddio cyfryngau cymdeithasol a rhyngweithio â myfyrwyr o bob blwyddyn ar draws y Mynydd Bychan.

Pam dwi eisiau’r rôl hwn?

A oeddech chi’n gwybod bod 1 o bob 4 myfyriwr y dioddef o gyflwr iechyd meddwl yn ystod eu hamser yn y brifysgol? Mae hyn yn cynyddu o fewn myfyrwyr Gofal Iechyd – bron 1 o bob 3 myfyriwr meddygol! Felly mae bron pawb rydych yn nabod wedi dioddef. Os nad ydych chi? Rydych chi yn nawr. Felly, dwi’n sefyll oherwydd dwi’n gwybod bod angen mwy o gymorth yn y Mynydd Bychan!

Cymorth ar gyfer: Lles myfyrwyr • Cyflwyno mentoriaid myfyrwyr ar draws yr ysgolion • Cymorth meddygol a sesiynau cwnsela galw heibio yn y Mynydd Bychan • Gwell ymwybyddiaeth a mynediad at amgylchiadau arbennig Astudio • Gwella cyfathrebu newidiadau ystafell ac achosion o ganslo • Mwy o socedi plygiau mewn llyfrgelloedd • Mwy o ystafelloedd ar gael ar gyfer astudio Chwaraeon a Chymdeithasau • Prynhawniau Mercher o hyd yn rhydd • Gemau hwyrach ar gyfer timau meddygol • Cyflwyno seremoni wobrwyo Parc y Mynydd Bychan yw eich campws, eich un chi i newid.

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HARRIET ARSCOTT

JENNIFER KENT

Hey, I’m Jen! As a current 3rd year student at the Heath, I know what it is like to live the hectic life of balancing your course and all the other things university has to offer!

Having been Vice President, Welfare Officer and members of musical, sports and health-related societies I know how to effectively communicate and work for what you want to change.

If elected as your Heath Park Officer I’ll campaign for: • FUNDING = Better funding for INDIRECT COURSE COSTS - e.g. placement travel.

• SERVICES = Push for Student Support Services to provide PLACEMENT FRIENDLY HOURS for accessing counselling and other services (e.g. appointments after 4pm EVERY weeknight).

• SUPPORT = Drive for FREE WEDNESDAY AFTERNOONS for healthcare students, and BETTER FACILITATION by the schools at the Heath for granting time off for BUCS matches/tournaments, musical endeavours and other important life events.

• LOCKERS = Provide ACCESSIBLE, PERSONAL lockers at the Heath - whether it be used for storing your books during revision periods; or to shove your bike helmet and soggy layers in on a daily basis!

Tell me what you want and I’ll take action... If you want a passionate, ambitious person supporting you, BE A GEM - VOTE FOR JEN! Helo, fi yw Jen! Fel myfyriwr 3ydd blwyddyn presennol yn y mynydd Bychan, dwi’n ymwybodol o fywyd prysur yn cydbwyso eich cwrs a’r holl bethau eraill sydd gan y brifysgol i’w gynnig!

Wedi bod yn Is Lywydd, Swyddog Lles ac aelod o gymdeithasau cerddorol, chwaraeon a’n seiliedig ar y mynydd bychan, dwi’n gwybod sut i gyfathrebu’n effeithiol a gweithio ar gyfer beth rydych am ei newid.

Os caf fy ethol fel eich Swyddog Parc y Mynydd Bychan, byddaf yn ymgyrchu dros: • ARIAN = Ariannu gwell ar gyfer COSTAU CWRS ANUNIONGYRCHOL - e.e. teithio lleoliad gwaith.

• GWASANAETHAU = Gwthio ar gyfer Gwasanaethau Cymorth i Fyfyrwyr i ddarparu ORIAU LLEOLIAD GWAITH CYFEILLGAR i gael mynediad at wasanaethau cwnsela a gwasanaethau eraill (e.e. apwyntiadau ar ôl 4yh BOB noson yr wythnos).

• CYMORTH = Gyrru ar gyfer PRYNHAWNIAU MERCHER RHYDD ar gyfer myfyrwyr gofal iechyd, a HWYLUSO GWELL gan ysgolion yn y Mynydd Bychan ar gyfer rhoi amser i ffwrdd ar gyfer gemau/twrnameintiau BUCS, rhesymau cerddorol a digwyddiadau bywyd pwysig eraill.

• LOCERI = Darparu loceri HYGYRCH, PERSONOL yn y Mynydd Bychan = boed os caiff ei ddefnyddio i storio eich llyfrau yn ystod cyfnodau adolygu; neu gadw eich helmed beic a dillad gwlyb yn ddyddiol!

Dywedwch wrthyf beth hoffech a byddaf yn gweithredu... Os ydych chi eisiau person angerddol, uchelgeisiol yn eich cefnogi chi, BYDDWCH YN GEM PLEIDLEISIWCH DROS JEN!

vice president heath park campus Is Lywydd Campws Parc y Mynydd Bychan

12 ALEX RAWLINS

"We’re AL in this together” Dentist, Adventurer, Heath student. Heath Executive Committee 2016-2018 I STAND FOR: Better Social Integration of Healthcare Courses • Regular all-healthcare socials – e.g. Yoga, Picnics • Encouraging student run events at IV lounge • More Students’ Union support for healthcare sports & societies Better Facilities • Lobby Cardiff University to build a dedicated Heath Student Centre to rival Cathays SU building • Better overnight and weekend library facilities • Regulation of ‘Silent Zones’ during exam periods • Bicycle hire scheme Easier Studying • More support for students seeking Dyslexia testing • Dedicated helpline for Disciplinary or Fitness to Practice incidents • Limit Election Candidate shout-outs (to reduce lecture disruption!)

Reliable lectures • Text message notifications of all cancelled lectures • Advanced warning if a lecture will not be uploaded to LC/Panopto Help on Placements • Placement car sharing scheme for facilities used by multiple courses e.g. Wrexham • Dedicated placement helpline in case you run into any problems Access to the NECTAR OF LIFE • Remind the University of its legal duty to provide drinking water • Lobby for hygienic water fountains to be installed in every University building, library and hospital "Pawb gyda’i gilydd” Deintydd, Anturiaethwr, myfyriwr y Mynydd Bychan. Pwyllgor Gweithredol y Mynydd Bychan 2016-2018 RWY’N SEFYLL AR GYFER: Integreiddio cyrsiau gofal iechyd yn well • Digwyddiadau cymdeithasol mynydd bychan rheolaidd – e.e Ioga, Picnic • Annog myfyrwyr i gynnal digwyddiadau yn y lolfa IV • Mwy o gymorth ar gyfer clybiau chwaraeon a chymdeithasau gofal iechyd Ein Cyfleusterau • Lobïo Prifysgol Caerdydd i adeiladu Canolfan Myfyrwyr y Mynydd Bychan penodol i gydymgeisio ag adeilad Undeb Cathays.

• Gwell cyfleusterau llyfrgell dros nos ac ar benwythnosau • Rheoliad ‘Parthau Tawel’ yn ystod cyfnodau arholi • Cynllun llogi beic Astudio Haws • Mwy o gefnogaeth i fyfyrwyr sydd am gael profion Dyslecsia • Llinell gymorth benodedig ar gyfer digwyddiadau Disgyblu neu Addasrwydd i Ymarfer • Cyfyngu Ymgeiswyr Etholiadau yn siarad mewn darlithoedd (i leihau aflonyddwch darlith!)

Darlithoedd dibynadwy • Hysbysiadau neges destun pan fo darlithoedd yn cael eu canslo • Rhybudd ymlaen llaw os na fydd darlith yn cael ei roi ar Ddysgu Canolog/Panopto Cymorth ar Leoliadau Gwaith • Cynllun rhannu car ar gyfer lleoliadau gwaith at gyfer cyfleusterau sy’n cael eu defnyddio gan fwy nag un cwrs e.e Wrecsam • Llinell gymorth penodol rhag ofn bod gennych unrhyw broblemau Mynediad at NEITHDAR BYWYD • Atgoffa’r Brifysgol o’i ddyletswydd cyfreithiol i ddarparu d r yfed • Lobïo ar gyfer ffynhonnau d r glân ym mhob adeilad, llyfrgell ac ysbyty’r Brifysgol

manifesto 2018

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manifesto 2018

VICE PRESIDENT POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS IS LYWYDD Myfyrwyr ol-raddedig

The VP Postgraduate Students will work closely with the Student Voice team and fellow Sabbatical Trustees on issues and policies that affect both Postgraduate Research (PGR) and Postgraduate Taught (PGT) Students. They communicate School and College level feedback from Postgraduate Students at University committees to lobby for change, and work with the Student Voice team and VP Education to facilitate the Academic Representation system for Postgraduates, providing support for the Reps to enable them to carry out their role. They are the principle contact for Postgraduates in the Students’ Union, working closely with and supporting the Postgraduate Students’ Association.

Bydd yr IL Myfyrwyr Ôl-raddedig yn gweithio’n agos â’r tîm Llais Myfyrwyr a’ch chyd-swyddogion ar faterion a pholisïau sy’n effeithio ar Fyfyrwyr Ôlraddedig Ymchwil (ORY) ac Ôl-raddedig Addysgu (ORA), cyfathrebu adborth ar lefelau ysgol a choleg o Fyfyrwyr Ôlraddedig ym mhwyllgorau’r Brifysgol er mwyn lobïo ar gyfer newid, gweithio gyda’r tîm Llais Myfyrwyr a’r IL Addysg i hyrwyddo’r system Cynrychiolaeth Academaidd i ôl-raddedigion, darparu cefnogaeth i’r cynrychiolwyr i’w galluogi i gyflawni eu rolau a bod yn brif gyswllt i ôl-raddedigion yn yr Undeb Myfyrwyr.

Maent yn gweithio'n agos gyda, a chefnogi’r Gymdeithas Myfyrwyr Ôlraddedig.

vice president postgraduate students

manifesto 2018

IS LYWYDD Myfyrwyr ol-raddedig

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Shwmae/Hi everyone! My name is Victoria and I’m delighted to apply for this position. I strongly believe I’m the right individual for this role as I’m very hardworking, approachable and communicative. I’m currently studying a master’s degree in International Journalism, while also presenting two radios shows a week on Xpress Radio which I absolutely love.

I’ve been attending commercial dancing classes in the SU, Spanish classes (part of the LFA programme) and somehow hanging out with Alt Soc on Saturdays, so time management is something I can handle. I really love Cardiff, the music scene, the incredibly nice people I’ve met here, and (of course!) welsh cakes.

I think there are things that can be done to improve postgraduates lives. So here is my manifesto: • Set up meetings once a month with student reps from different postgraduate courses to find out what needs to be done to improve their student experience.

• Increase study spaces, by increasing the opening hours in different buildings (where students have lectures).

• Increase staff in mental health services to secure students welfare, as well as make information better available about these services to students.

• Continue to help postgrads with housing and financial issues, improving the services currently available.

Helo bawb! Fy enw i yw Victoria ac rwyf yn falch iawn i ymgeisio ar gyfer y rôl hon.

Credaf yn gryf mai fi yw’r unigolyn cywir ar gyfer y rôl hon gan fy mod yn gweithio'n galed iawn, yn hawdd dod ataf ac yn cyfathrebu’n dda. Ar hyn o bryd rwyf yn astudio gradd Meistr mewn Newyddiaduraeth Ryngwladol, tra hefyd yn cyflwyno dwy sioe radio yr wythnos ar Radio Xpress a dwi wrth fy modd yn gwneud hynny.

Rwyf wedi bod yn mynychu dosbarthiadau dawns yn yr Undeb, dosbarthiadau Sbaeneg (rhan o raglen Ieithoedd i Bawb) ac yn treulio amser gyda Alt Soc ar ddyddiau Sadwrn, felly dwi’n gallu rheoli fy amser. Dwi wir yn caru Caerdydd, y sîn gerddoriaeth, y bobl hyfryd rwyf wedi cwrdd, ac (wrth gwrs!) cacenni cri.

Credaf bod pethau y gellir ei wneud i wella bywydau myfyrwyr ôl-raddedig. Felly dyma fy maniffesto: • Sefydlu cyfarfodydd misol gyda chynrychiolwyr myfyrwyr o wahanol gyrsiau ôlraddedig i gael gwybod beth sydd angen ei wneud i wella eu profiad myfyrwyr.

• Cynyddu mannau astudio, drwy gynyddu oriau agor mewn gwahanol adeiladau (lle mae gan fyfyrwyr ddarlithoedd).

• Cynyddu staff mewn gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl i sicrhau lles myfyrwyr, yn ogystal â a gwella’r gwybodaeth sydd ar gael am y gwasanaethau hyn i fyfyrwyr.

• Parhau i helpu ôl-raddedigion gyda materion tai ac ariannol, gwella’r gwasanaethau sydd ar gael ar hyn o bryd.

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VICTORIA BARAUNA ARAUJO

VICTORIA ITA

No manifesto submitted.

Heb gyflwyno maniffesto.

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vice president postgraduate students

manifesto 2018

IS LYWYDD Myfyrwyr ol-raddedig

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Hi, I’m Jake Smith, your current VP Postgraduate. In the last 7 months I’ve already achieved much of my original manifesto. I’ve secured funding for the ASSL library to open for longer in winter and Easter, I’ve organised a series of talks to make postgrad study more affordable, run 10 social events for postgrads and I’m making progress on many more issues. If re-elected I will use my experience to build on everything I’ve achieved so far and keep pushing for change. I will continue to be a strong and effective voice for postgrads.

For undergrads • More financial and academic advice, and a simpler postgrad application process, to help you move into postgraduate study.

For postgrads • Continue working on expanding bursaries and financial support for postgraduates in need • Keep pressing for more rights and support for PhD students who teach/ demonstrate, and improve PhD office space.

• More social events for postgrads, including for International Students • Discounted summer accommodation in university residences to help Master’s students during summer dissertations For everyone • More support for students who have jobs alongside their degrees • I will keep pushing for study space to be open for longer in even more locations Helo, fi yw Jake Smith, eich IL Myfyrwyr Ôl-raddedig presennol. Dros y 7 mis diwethaf rwyf yn barod wedi cyflawni llawer o fy maniffesto gwreiddiol. Rwyf wedi sicrhau cyllid ar gyfer agor y Llyfrgell ASSL am gyfnod hirach yn y gaeaf a'r Pasg, rwyf wedi trefnu cyfres o sgyrsiau i wneud astudiaeth ôl-raddedig yn fwy fforddiadwy, cynnal 10 digwyddiad cymdeithasol ar gyfer ôl-raddedigion ac rwyf yn gwneud cynnydd ar nifer o faterion. Os caf fy ail-ethol, byddaf yn defnyddio fy mhrofiad i adeiladu ar bopeth rwyf wedi'i gyflawni hyd yma ac yn parhau i roi pwysau ar gyfer newid. Byddaf yn parhau i fod yn llais cryf ac effeithiol ar gyfer ôlraddedigion.

Ar gyfer israddedigion • Mwy o gyngor ariannol ac academaidd, a phroses gais ôl-raddedig symlach, i'ch helpu i gael mynediad at astudiaeth ôl-raddedig.

Ar gyfer ôl-raddedigion • Parhau i weithio ar ehangu bwrsarïau a chymorth ariannol ar gyfer myfyrwyr ôlraddedig mewn angen • Parhau i bwyso am fwy o hawliau a chymorth i fyfyrwyr PhD sy’n dysgu/ arddangos, a gwella gofod swyddfa PhD. • Mwy o ddigwyddiadau cymdeithasol ar gyfer ô-raddedigion, gan gynnwys Myfyrwyr Rhyngwladol • Llety haf rhatach mewn preswylfeydd y brifysgol i helpu myfyrwyr gradd Meistr yn ystod traethodau hir yr haf Dros bawb • Mwy o gymorth i fyfyrwyr sydd â swyddi ochr yn ochr â’u graddau • Byddaf yn parhau i wthio am ofod astudio i fod ar agor yn hirach mewn hyd yn oed mwy o leoliadau

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JAKE SMITH

ALEX WILLIAMS

As a postgraduate student who did their undergraduate degree at Cardiff, and as a Trustee of our Students’ Union, a ‘Give it a Go’ Team Leader, on the Board of Postgraduate Studies for Law & Politics and an Academic Rep, I’m in an excellent position to be your next VP Postgraduate Students.

The job market is getting increasingly tough and more employers want people with postgraduate degrees. As your next VP Postgrad, I want to: Make Postgraduate Study More Accessible To Cardiff Undergraduates • Lobby the University to offer discounted postgraduate study for Cardiff undergraduates • Expand the existing provision of scholarships and studentships • Campaign for additional financial support for students from low income backgrounds • Provide support throughout the postgraduate application process • Increase the information available about postgraduate study Enhance The University Experience • Increase the amount of social/study space across campus • A variety of social events throughout the year • Improve mental health support • Ensure My-Timetable and recorded lectures are available in all schools • Prevent exam and deadline bunching • Lobby the University to introduce a contract for PhD students who teach • Increase the number of Postgraduate Research Representative Forum meetings If you have any questions, please get in touch. #AlexGator4Postgrad Fel myfyriwr ôl-raddedig a wnaeth ei radd israddedig yng Nghaerdydd, ac fel Ymddiriedolwr ein Undeb Myfyrwyr, arweinydd tîm 'Rho Gynnig Arni', ar Fwrdd Astudiaethau Ôl-raddedig Gwleidyddiaeth a’r Gyfraith a Chynrychiolydd Academaidd, rwyf mewn sefyllfa ardderchog i fod eich IL Myfyrwyr Ôl-raddedig nesaf.

Mae’r farchnad swyddi yn mynd yn anoddach ac mae cyflogwyr eisiau pob sydd â graddau ôl-raddedig. Fel eich IL Ôl-raddedig nesaf, rwyf eisiau: Gwneud Astudiaeth Ôl-raddedig Yn Fwy Hygyrch i Israddedigion Caerdydd • Lobïo’r Brifysgol i ostwng pris astudiaeth ôl-raddedig ar gyfer israddedigion Caerdydd • Ehangu'r ddarpariaeth bresennol o ysgoloriaethau myfyrwyr • Ymgyrchu dros fwy o gymorth ariannol ar gyfer myfyrwyr o gefndiroedd incwm isel • Darparu cymorth drwy’r broses gais ôl-raddedig • Cynyddu’r wybodaeth sydd ar gael am astudiaeth ôl-raddedig Ehangu’r Profiad Prifysgol • Cynyddu’r gofod cymdeithasol/astudio ar draws y campws • Amrywiaeth o ddigwyddiadau cymdeithasol drwy gydol y flwyddyn • Gwella cymorth iechyd meddwl • Sicrhau bod My-Timetable a darlithoedd sy’n cael eu recordio ar gael yn yr holl ysgolion • Atal clystyru arholiad a dyddiad cau • Lobïo’r Brifysgol i gyflwyno contract ar gyfer myfyrwyr PhD sy’n dysgu • Cynyddu’r nifer o gyfarfodydd Fforwm Cynrychiolwyr Ôl-raddedigion Ymchwil Os oes gennych unrhyw ymholiadau, cysylltwch â mi. #AlexGatorArGyferÔl-raddedig

manifesto 2018

VICE PRESIDENT SOCIETIES & volunteering IS LYWYDD Cymdeithasau a Gwirfoddoli

The VP Societies & Volunteering will champion societies, campaigns and student-led activities within the Union, University, and local community. They are also responsible for allocating budgets to our societies. It will be their role to represent the views of our diverse membership of over 200 affiliated groups and 8000 members.

The role also supports the development of volunteering activity undertaken by Cardiff Volunteering.

They will help to ensure the Union continues to develop its support for societies as well as volunteering, and ensure that students as members and leaders have access to high quality opportunities.

Mae’r Is-Lywydd Cymdeithasau a Gwirfoddoli yn hyrwyddo cymdeithasau, ymgyrchoedd a gweithgareddau a arweinir gan fyfyrwyr yn yr Undeb, y Brifysgol a’r gymuned leol. Mae hefyd yn gyfrifol am ddyrannu cyllidebau i’n cymdeithasau. Eu rôl nhw fydd cynrychioli barn ein haelodaeth amrywiol o dros 200 grŵp cyswllt ac 8000 o aelodau. Mae'r rôl hefyd yn cefnogi datblygiad gweithgarwch gwirfoddoli sy'n cael ei gynnal gan Gwirfoddoli Caerdfydd.

Byddant yn sicrhau bod yr Undeb yn parhau i ddatblygu ei chefnogaeth ar gyfer cymdeithasau cymdeithasau yn ogystal â gwirfoddoli, a sicrhau bod myfyrwyr fel cyfranogwyr ac arweinwyr yn cael mynediad at gyfleoedd o ansawdd uchel.

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vice president societies & volunteering

manifesto 2018

IS LYWYDD Cymdeithasau a Gwirfoddoli

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Hey! I’m Elliot Badcock, I’m running for VP Societies! As the current President and former Events Manager of ComedySoc I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate and organise events with course, charity and performance societies. At these events, I’m always impressed by the brilliant work societies do and the amazing range of skills we demonstrate as students. I’d love to help develop all these skills as your VP. Uni isn’t uni without societies, here’s how I think we should improve: Societies • Encourage greater ties between different societies to develop a greater sense of community • Increased promotional opportunities for societies to take advantage of • Enable societies to increase international and postgraduate membership Events • Create a dedicated performing arts space for students to develop and present projects in a professional environment • Develop the room booking system, streamlining access to commercial venues with improved communication with the Events Team • Greater support for course-based Societies in creating a wide variety of events with strong and active engagement Volunteering • Establish a “Green Team” student led service effecting positive and more sustainable changes to our environment • Promote Cardiff Volunteering opportunities to societies • Create an accredited society-based volunteering award scheme Vote Badcock for Student Satisfaction!

Helo! Fi yw Elliot Badcock, a dwi’n rhedeg ar gyfer IL Cymdeithasau! Fel Llywydd presennol a Chyn-reolwr Digwyddiadau ar gyfer ComedySoc rwyf wedi cael y cyfle i gydweithio a threfnu nifer o ddigwyddiadau gyda chymdeithasau cwrs, elusennol a pherfformiad. Yn y digwyddiadau hyn, rwyf o hyd wedi rhyfeddu at waith gwych mae cymdeithasau yn gwneud a’r amrywiaeth anhygoel o sgiliau rydym yn dangos fel myfyrwyr. Byddwn wrth fy modd yn helpu datblygu’r sgiliau hyn fel eich Is Lywydd.

Nid yw’r Brifysgol yn brifysgol heb gymdeithasau, dyma sut y credaf y dylem wella: Cymdeithasau • Annog mwy o gysylltiadau rhwng gwahanol gymdeithasau i ddatblygu mwy o ymdeimlad o gymuned • Mwy o gyfleoedd hyrwyddo i gymdeithasau fanteisio arnynt • Galluogi cymdeithasau i gynyddu aelodaeth ôl-raddedig a rhyngwladol Digwyddiadau • Creu gofod celfyddydau perfformio penodol ar gyfer myfyrwyr i ddatblygu a chyflwyno prosiectau mewn amgylchedd proffesiynol • Datblygu’r system archebu ystafell, symleiddio mynediad at leoliadau masnachol gyda gwell cyfathrebu â’r Tîm Lleoliadau • Mwy o gymorth ar gyfer cymdeithasau sy'n seiliedig ar gwrs yn creu amrywiaeth eang o ddigwyddiadau ag ymgysylltiad cryf a gweithgar Gwirfoddoli • Sefydlu gwasanaeth myfyrwyr “Tîm Gwyrdd” yn gweithredu newidiadau cadarnhaol a mwy cynaliadwy i’n hamgylchedd • Hyrwyddo cyfleoedd Gwirfoddoli Caerdydd i gymdeithasau • Creu cynllun gwobrwyo gwirfoddoli achrededig yn seiliedig ar gymdeithasau Pleidleisiwch Badcock ar gyferBoddhad Myfyrwyr!

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ELLIOT BADCOCK

ADARSH BANSAL

I realise that the Vice President Societies and volunteering is an integral and impactful position to have. I have previously led societies in my previous university where I assisted with events, campaigns and supported students throughout the university experience.

I would strive to promote the work and raise the profile of the council and the societies and represent the profession to the public passionately and tirelessly.

I would raise awareness of all current societies, within the university through effective PR method, including a monthly student wide newsletter. I would want to show all the students that societies are brilliant places for expressing your hobbies, showing your passion for your degree and a great place to meet like-minded people. My goal would be to increase the student participation in various societies and give students a wonderful platform to exhibit their potential.

I can offer commitment, time, energy, enthusiasm and experience the Vice President's role needs today.

Dwi’n sylweddoli bod yr Is Lywydd Cymdeithasau a gwirfoddoli yn rôl annatod a dylanwadol. Rwyf wedi arwain cymdeithasau yn fy mhrifysgol blaenorol lle cynorthwyais gyda digwyddiadau, ymgyrchoedd a chefnogi myfyrwyr drwy gydol y profiad prifysgol.

Byddwn yn ymdrechu i hyrwyddo gwaith a chodi proffil y cyngor a'r cymdeithasau a cynrychioli'r proffesiwn i'r cyhoedd yn angerddol ac yn ddiflino. Byddaf yn codi ymwybyddiaeth holl gymdeithasau presennol, o fewn y brifysgol drwy’r dull CC effeithiol, gan gynnwys cylchlythyr myfyrwyr misol. Byddwn eisiau dangos i’r holl fyfyrwyr bod cymdeithasau yn lle gwych i fynegi eich diddordebau, dangos eich angerdd am eich gradd ac yn le gwych i gwrdd â phobl tebyg i chi. Fy nod byddai cynyddu cyfranogiad myfyrwyr mewn gwahanol gymdeithasau a rhoi llwyfan gwych i fyfyrwyr i arddangos eu potensial.

Gallaf gynnig ymrwymiad, amser, egni, brwdfrydedd a phrofiad sydd angen ar rôl yr Is Lywyddion heddiw.

vice president societies & volunteering

manifesto 2018

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IS LYWYDD Cymdeithasau a Gwirfoddoli

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Catherine Chamberlain Hi/Shwmae! I’m “Cat in the Hat” Chamberlain and I want to be your next VP Societies and Volunteering. Societies have made my time at Cardiff incredible and I want other people to be able to have the same great experience. The change of the role at the AGM means there is more I can do to change the SU to be better for students. Volunteering is an important part of university life, from society and sport committees to helping the local community. I am excited to encompass Volunteering into a sabbatical officers role and help them grow.

For All • Improve inclusion for placement and erasmus students • Improve the use of Great Hall Space • Create a freshers booklet showing students the amazing ways they can get involved in their Students’ Union For Societies • Host a sponsorship fair for societies • Host weekly drop in clinic for society committees • Improve training for Presidents and Treasurers For Volunteering • Increase student engagement with Volunteering by providing and sharing a feedback survey • Start a Volunteer of the Month campaign • Change the structure and differences between societies, student led services and volunteering groups.

So remember to vote Cat in the Hat for VP Societies and Volunteering Shwmae! Fi yw “Cat yn yr Haf” Chamberlain a dwi eisiau bod eich IL Cymdeithasau a Gwirfoddoli nesaf. Mae Cymdeithasau wedi gwneud fy amser yng Nghaerdydd yn anhygoel ac rwyf am i bobl eraill allu cael yr un profiad gwych â mi. Mae newid y rôl yn y CCB yn golygu bod mwy y gallaf ei wneud i newid yr Undeb i fod yn well ar gyfer myfyrwyr. Mae gwirfoddoli yn rhan bwysig o fywyd prifysgol, o bwyllgorau cymdeithasau a chwaraeon i helpu'r gymuned leol. Rwyf yn edrych ymlaen i gwmpasu Gwirfoddoli mewn rôl swyddog sabothol a’u helpu i dyfu.

I Bawb • Gwella cynhwysiant ar gyfer myfyrwyr ar leoliad gwaith ac erasmus • Gwella defnydd Gofod y Neuadd Fawr • Creu llyfryn y glas yn dangos y ffyrdd gwych gall fyfyrwyr gymryd rhan gyda’u Undeb y Myfyrwyr Ar gyfer Cymdeithasau • Cynnal ffair nawdd ar gyfer cymdeithasau • Cynnal clinig galw heibio wythnosol ar gyfer pwyllgorau cymdeithas • Gwella hyfforddiant ar gyfer Llywyddion a Thrysoryddion Ar gyfer Gwirfoddoli • Cynyddu ymgysylltu myfyrwyr â Gwirfoddoli drwy ddarparu a rhannu arolwg adborth • Dechrau ymgyrch Gwirfoddolwr y Mis • Newid y strwythur a’r gwahaniaethau rhwng cymdeithasau, gwasanaethau o dan arweiniad myfyrwyr a grwpiau gwirfoddoli.

Felly cofiwch bleidleisio Cat yn yr Haf ar gyfer IL Cymdeithasau a Gwirfoddoli

POPPY CHARLTON

Hi! I’m (Princess) Poppy and I’m running for VP Societies and Volunteering.

As a President of a large society and a member of several course, sports and performance based societies I’ve got plenty of personal experience with where societies need support. I’m approachable and excited to hear your ideas for your Uni! Here are my aims: Volunteering • Targeted volunteering towards societies' specialisations to effectively reach out to help the local community.

• Mandatory bronze tier society involvement with volunteering.

• Well-Being Officers • Mandatory well-being officers trained in both first aid and mental first aid to ensure that students are supported and protected.

• Increased links between Welfare and Societies to ensure that all members can easily access support if they need to.

Room Bookings • Convert spaces across campus to make them also useful for society use.

• Install seating, sound and lighting in Y Plas and the Great Hall to create proper performance spaces.

Publicity • Training for committees to increase membership and access.

• More support to help smaller societies advertise their events.

• Encourage links between similar societies to target publicity and encourage new opportunities.

Please check out my website (https://poppycharlton.wixsite.com/princesspoppy) to see my full manifesto or message me at poppy.charlton@btinternet.com with any questions!

Helo! Fi yw (Tywysoges) Poppy a rwy’n rhedeg ar gyfer IL Cymdeithasau a Gwirfoddoli. Fel Llywydd cymdeithas fawr ac aelod o nifer o gymdeithasau cwrs, chwaraeon a pherfformiad mae gen i ddigon o brofiad personol ynghylch lle mae angen cymorth ar gymdeithasau. Rwy’n hawdd mynd ato ac yn edrych ymlaen i glywed eich syniadau chi am eich Prifysgol!

Dyma fy nodau: Gwirfoddoli • Targedu gwirfoddoli tuag at arbenigeddau cymdeithasau i helpu’r gymuned leol yn effeithiol.

• Haen efydd gorfodol ar gyfer cyfranogiad cymdeithasau gyda gwirfoddoli.

• Swyddogion Lles • Swyddogion lles gorfodol yn cael eu hyfforddi mewn cymorth cyntaf a chymorth cyntaf meddyliol i sicrhau y caiff myfyrwyr eu cefnogi a'u hamddiffyn.

• Cynyddu’r cysylltiadau rhwng Lles a Chymdeithasau i sicrhau bod holl aelodau yn gallu cael mynediad at gymorth os bydd angen.

Llogi Ystafelloedd • Trawsnewid gofodau ar draws y campws i’w gwneud nhw’n ddefnyddiol ar gyfer defnydd cymdeithas hefyd.

• Gosod seddi, sain a goleuo yn Y Plas ac yn y Neuadd Fawr i greu gofodau perfformio go iawn.

Cyhoeddusrwydd • Hyfforddiant ar gyfer pwyllgorau i gynyddu aelodaeth a mynediad.

• Mwy o gymorth i helpu cymdeithasau llai i hysbysebu eu digwyddiadau.

• Annog cysylltiadau rhwng cymdeithasau tebyg i dargedu cyhoeddusrwydd ac annog cyfleoedd newydd.

Edrychwch ar fy wefan (https://poppycharlton.wixsite.com/princesspoppy) i weld fy maniffesto llawn neu danfonwch neges ataf poppy.charlton@btinternet.com gydag unrhyw gwestiynau!

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vice president societies & volunteering

manifesto 2018

IS LYWYDD Cymdeithasau a Gwirfoddoli

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I’m a member of seven different societies, I’ve been a society committee member (twice!), I’m on the Societies Exec, a Volunteer with Student Advice, and a Student Senator. I’m hopelessly devoted to the SU and its members.

So what do I want to do as VP? Outreach: • Make sure all students know about the activities available to them, and that it’s never too late to get involved.

• Work to make the Freshers’ Fairs more welcoming and less overwhelming, as well as develop a more effective Refreshers’ Fair in January.

• Incorporate course-based society activities into academic schools’ induction timetables Employability and Recognition: • Ensure you have something concrete and legitimate to show for every hour you give to the projects you care about, even outside of the SU. • Attract careers advice and opportunities that are specific to your chosen society or volunteering project, including introducing industry liaison officers.

Committee Support: • Provide specialist wellbeing training and support for committee members and volunteer leaders so they can take care of themselves and their members.

• Cater to the differing needs of Cathays and Heath based activities.

• Help societies and volunteer projects develop consistent branding.

Want to know more? Find me here: https://henparty2018.wordpress.com/ Rwyf yn aelod o saith cymdeithas gwahanol, rwyf wedi bod yn aelod pwyllgor cymdeithas (ddwywaith!), rwyf ar Bwyllgor Gwaith Cymdeithasau, Gwirfoddolwr gyda Chyngor Myfyrwyr, a Seneddwr Myfyriwr. Rwyf wedi ymroddi’n llwyr i’r Undeb a’u haelodau.

Felly beth hoffwn ei wneud fel IL? Estyn allan: • Gwneud yn si r bod holl fyfyrwyr yn ymwybodol o’r gweithgareddau sydd ar gael iddyn nhw, ac nid yw hi byth yn rhy hwyr i gymryd rhan.

• Gweithio i wneud Ffair y Glas yn fwy croesawgar a llai llethol, yn ogystal â datblygu Ffair Refreshers fwy effeithiol ym mis Ionawr.

• Ymgorffori gweithgareddau cymdeithasau cwrs ar amserlenni ymsefydlu ysgolion academaidd Cyflogadwyedd a Chydnabyddiaeth: • Sicrhau eich bod yn derbyn rhywbeth pendant i ddangos am bob awr rydych wedi’i wirfoddoli ar gyfer y prosiectau sy’n bwysig i chi, hyd yn oed tu allan i’r Undeb.

• Denu cyngor gyrfaoedd a chyfleoedd sy'n benodol i'ch cymdeithas neu brosiect gwirfoddoli dewisol, gan gynnwys cyflwyno swyddogion cyswllt diwydiant.

Cefnogi Pwyllgorau: • Darparu hyfforddiant a chefnogaeth lles arbenigol ar gyfer aelodau pwyllgor ac arweinwyr gwirfoddoli fel eu bod yn gallu gofalu dros eu hunain a’u haelodau.

• Darparu ar gyfer gwahanol anghenion gweithgareddau Cathays a’n seiliedig yn y Mynydd Bychan.

• Helpu cymdeithasau a phrosiectau gwirfoddoli i ddatblygu brand cyson Eisiau gwybod mwy? Dewch o hyd i mi yma: https://henparty2018.wordpress.com/

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HENRI PAGE

RORY WADE

As someone who managed to lead a small society to win society of the month, has collaborated with many societies on big events and was on two committees at once, I can emphasise with the struggles many kinds of societies face. I believe I'm the right candidate to make being in any society, big or small, a fun and manageable experience for all. Here is my vision for societies in the next year: • Regular consultancy spaces for committee members, where they can get advice, share issues they have or ideas to support other societies • Ensuring job descriptions are provided to committee members, giving clarity on their role and expectations by the President • Promoting freedom of speech on campus whilst retaining the right to challenge opinions • Re-instating the Re-Freshers Fair • More inter-society events such as Global Village, giving a chance for societies to collaborate with each other and gain exposure • Encourage students to create their own societies and supporting them throughout the process by promoting the start-ups • Increase student volunteering participation with the wider community through measurement and rewarding of society participation in volunteering.

Fel rhywun sydd wedi arwain cymdeithas fach i ennill cymdeithas y mis, sydd wedi cyd-weithio gyda chymdeithasau ar ddigwyddiadau mawr ac sydd wedi bod ar ddau bwyllgor ar unwaith, gallai cydymdeimlo gyda rhai o’r pwysau mae rhai nifer o gymdeithasau yn wynebu. Credaf fy mod y person iawn i wneud bod mewn unrhyw gymdeithas, pe bai’n fawr neu’n fach, profiad hwyl a hygredol i bawb. Dyma fy ngweledigaeth am gymdeithasau yn y flwyddyn i ddod: • Sesiynau cefnogi ar gyfer aelodau pwyllgor, ble gallen nhw cael adborth, rhannu problemau neu syniadau sydd ganddynt i gefnogi cymdeithasau eraill • Sicrhau disgrifiadau swydd i bob aelod pwyllgor, er mwyn rhoi eglurder ar ei rôl a disgwyliadau gan ei Llywydd • Hyrwyddo'r hawl i farn ar gampws gan gadw'r hawl i herio safbwyntiau • Ail-ddechrau ffair 'Re-Freshers’ • Mwy o ddigwyddiadau rhyng-cymdeithas fel Global Village, gan roi siawns i gymdeithasau cyd-weithredu a chael sylw • Hybu myfyrwyr i greu cymdeithasau ei hun a chefnogi nhw trwy'r broses gan hyrwyddo'r cymdeithasau newydd • Cynyddu cyfranogiad gwirfoddoli myfyrwyr gyda'r gymuned eang trwy fesur a chamol cyfranogiad cymdeithasau mewn gwirfoddoli.

Pam pleidleisio? “ Er mwyn cael cynrychiolwyr a gwerthoedd tebyg i mi” Etholiadau’r Gwanwyn 2018 Pleidleisio’n agor: 09:00 19eg Chwefror Pleidleisio’n cau: 17:00 23ain Chwefror

manifesto 2018

VICE PRESIDENT SPORTS & AU PRESIDENT IS LYWYDD Chwaraoen a Llywydd yr Undeb Athletaidd

The Vice President Sports and AU President champions sport within the Union, University, and local community.

It’s their role to represent students who play both competitive and participation sports to both the University and the Union. They are also the key liaison Sabbatical Trustee with the University Sports Department, as well as working with the student-led sports clubs to assist them in their development.

Essentially, the VP Sports is here to promote health and fitness and to inspire more students to play sport at Cardiff University.

Mae’r Is Lywydd Chwaraoen A Llywydd Yr Undeb Athletaidd yn hyrwyddo chwaraeon o fewn yr Undeb, y Brifysgol a’r gymuned leol. Ei rôl yw cynrychioli myfyrwyr sy’n cymryd rhan mewn chwaraeon cystadleuol a chyfranogol i’r Brifysgol a’r Undeb.

Yr unigolyn hwn hefyd yw’r Swyddog cyswllt allweddol ag Adran Chwaraeon y Brifysgol, ac mae’n gweithio gyda’r clybiau chwaraeon a arweinir gan fyfyrwyr i’w helpu i ddatblygu.

Diben yr Is Lywydd Chwaraeon yw hybu iechyd a ffitrwydd ac ysbrydoli rhagor o fyfyrwyr i gymryd rhan mewn chwaraeon ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd.

vice president sports & au president

manifesto 2018

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IS LYWYDD Chwaraoen a Llywydd yr Undeb Athletaidd

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As an experienced sportsman within Cardiff University, I’ve been through the good and bad in university sport and I want to make sure that YOUR voice is heard whatever the sport, I will make it the best experience for you.

If appointed, I will: • IMPROVE SOCIALS – we all know how big the social aspect of university sports is. I want to create a partnership with the SU, offering more perks for being an Athletic Union member.

• INTRODUCE MONTHLY GYM MEMBERSHIPS – instead of paying a lump sum at the beginning of the term.

• REINFORCE EQUALITY – ensure everyone has equal chance of participation – regardless of gender or sexual orientation, sport will be available for everyone.

• DEVELOP FACILITIES – whether it’s the lights of Talybont, resurfacing artificial grass, or better gym machines, I will look to bring a higher quality of equipment to you.

• REINFORCE GIVE-IT-A-GO SCHEME – increase sporting opportunities for athletes of ALL ABILITIES. • INCREASE IMG PUBLICITY – ensure students have greater access to information on IMG sport through the University’s social media and other platforms.

I also vow to personally involve myself in as many teams as possible, gaining an understanding of their views. #KeepItReal #VoteAddyG Fel chwaraewr chwaraeon profiadol o fewn Prifysgol Caerdydd, rwyf wedi profi’r da a’r gwael mewn chwaraeon y brifysgol ac rwyf eisiau gwneud yn si r eich bod eich llais CHI yn cael ei glywed - beth bynnag y chwaraeon, byddaf yn sicrhau’r profiad gorau ar eich cyfer chi.

Os caf fy mhenodi, byddaf yn: • GWELLA DIGWYDDIADAU CYMDEITHASOL – rydym oll yn gwybod pa mor fawr yw elfen cymdeithasol chwaraeon y brifysgol. Rwyf eisiau creu partneriaeth gyda’r Undeb, yn cynnig mwy o fanteision i fod yn aelod Undeb Athletaidd.

• CYFLWYNO AELODAETH GAMPFA MISOL – yn lle talu cyfandaliad ar ddechrau’r tymor.

• ATGYFNERTHU CYDRADDOLDEB – sicrhau bod pawb yn cael cyfle cyfartal i gymryd rhan – waeth beth fo'u rhyw neu gyfeiriadedd rhywiol, bydd chwaraeon ar gael i bawb.

• DATBLYGU CYFLEUSTERAU – boed yn oleuadau Talybont, ailosod wyneb glaswellt artiffisial, neu gwell peiriannau gampfa, byddaf yn edrych i ddod ag offer o ansawdd uwch i chi.

• ATGYFNERTHU'R CYNLLUN RHO GYNNIG ARNI – cynyddu cyfleoedd chwaraeon ar gyfer athletwyr o BOB GALLU. • MWY O GYHOEDDUSRWYDD IMG – sicrhau bod myfyrwyr yn cael mwy o fynediad i wybodaeth am chwaraeon IMG drwy gyfryngau cymdeithasol y Brifysgol a llwyfannau eraill.

Rwyf hefyd yn addo cymryd rhan mewn gymaint o thimau â phosib, gan gael dealltwriaeth o’u barn. #KeepItReal #PleidleisiwchAddyG

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ADDY GURUNG

GEORGIE HAYNES

Vote Haynes for AU Gains!

As the current President of the Rowing Club, I have been responsible for overseeing the running of one of the largest AU clubs and committees. This has involved day-to-day management of training and coaches, sustaining good relations with National Governing Bodies, local clubs and the AU, fundraising for charities, and maintaining overall member inclusivity and satisfaction. I firmly believe that being involved in sport, whether it is casually or competitively, helps contribute to a fantastic university experience.

As your AU President, my areas of focus would be: • Facilities - Lobby for the renovation of sports facilities at Talybont. This would include a new 3G pitch and the redevelopment of Talybont Social into a studio for AU clubs.

• Physio for all - Develop links to provide discounted physiotherapy services to Athletic Union members who are not on the High Performance Programme.

• Gym reward scheme - Introduce termly rewards for the most frequent gym goers.

• Increase participation - Launch an initiative to run alongside the GIAG scheme to help increase participation across all sports.

• Committee support - Increase contact time and communication with committee members of all sports to help understand the specific needs of each club.

Pleidleisiwch Haynes ar gyfer Enillion UA! Fel Llywydd presennol y Clwb Rhwyfo, rwyf wedi bod sy'n gyfrifol am oruchwylio rhedeg un o’r clybiau a phwyllgorau UA mwyaf. Mae hyn wedi cynnwys rheoli hyfforddiant a hyfforddwyr o ddydd i ddydd, cynnal cysylltiadau da gyda’r Cyrff Llywodraethu Cenedlaethol, clybiau lleol, a’r UA, codi arian ar gyfer cymdeithasau, a chynnal cynwysoldeb aelodaeth cyffredinol a boddhad. Rwy'n credu'n gryf bod cymryd rhan mewn chwaraeon, boed yn achlysurol neu’n gystadleuol, yn helpu cyfrannu at brofiad gwych prifysgol.

Fel eich Llywydd UA, dyma fyddwn yn canolbwyntio arnynt: • Cyfleusterau - Lobïo ar gyfer adnewyddu cyfleusterau chwaraeon yn Talybont.

Byddai hyn yn cynnwys maes 3G newydd ac ailddatblygu Clwb Cymdeithasol Talybont yn stiwdio ar gyfer clybiau UA. • Ffisiotherapi i bawb - Datblygu cysylltiadau i ddarparu ffisiotherapi pris gostyngedig i aelodau’r Undeb Athletaidd nad ydynt ar y Rhaglen Perfformiad Uchel.

• Cynllun gwobrwyo Gampfa - Cyflwyno gwobrau bob tymor ar gyfer y rheini sy’n mynychu’r gampfa amlaf.

• Cynyddu cyfranogiad - Lansio menter i redeg ochr yn ochr â chynllun Rho Gynnig Arni i helpu cynyddu cyfranogiad ar draws bob chwaraeon.

• Cymorth pwyllgor - Cynyddu amser cyswllt a chyfathrebu gydag aelodau pwyllgor holl glybiau chwaraeon i helpu deall anghenion penodol pob clwb.

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vice president sports & au president

manifesto 2018

IS LYWYDD Chwaraoen a Llywydd yr Undeb Athletaidd

12 CALLUM HINDLE

During my time studying at the University I have been an active member of the Men’s Rugby Club. I have held several positions on the clubs Committee, most recently being President. In addition to this, in the last academic year, I worked alongside the previous AU President on the AU Committee. Holding these positions has given me a greater understanding of the impact sport has on us all here at Cardiff University.

Alongside academic studies, sport is important and therefore it is vital to make a difference to how sport is seen across the University. I intend to do this by: • Increase participation in sport to all abilities • Improve inclusivity and equality in sport • Increase provisions given to IMG including training facilities • Improve sporting facilities further, namely Llanrumney • Maintain or better current AU membership prices for club participants • Improve coverage of all sports across Student Media • Improve communication between sports clubs to improve relations • Introduce detailed Committee training to aid transitions in the new academic year Having experience in working alongside a diverse group of individuals, of all abilities, this will prove advantageous if you were to elect me as your VP Sports and AU President. #VOTEHUGGY #SportMattersToo Yn ystod fy amser yn astudio yn y Brifysgol rwyf wedi bod yn aelod gweithgar o’r Clwb Rygbi Dynion. Rwyf wedi cymryd sawl rôl ar Bwyllgor y clwb, yn fwyaf diweddar yn Lywydd. Yn ogystal â hyn, yn y flwyddyn academaidd ddiwethaf, bûm yn gweithio ochr yn ochr â’r Llywydd UA blaenorol ar y Pwyllgor UA. Mae’r rolau hyn wedi rhoi gwell dealltwriaeth i mi o effaith chwaraeon arnom ni gyd yma ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd.

Ochr yn ochr ag astudiaeth academaidd, mae chwaraeon yn bwysig felly mae’n holbwysig gwneud gwahaniaeth i sut mae chwaraeon yn cael ei weld ar draws y brifysgol. Rwy'n bwriadu gwneud hyn drwy: • Cynyddu cyfranogiad mewn chwaraeon i bob gallu • Cynyddu cynhwysedd a chydraddoldeb mewn chwaraeon • Cynyddu’r ddarpariaeth a roddir i IMG gan gynnwys cyfleusterau hyfforddi • Gwella’r cyfleusterau chwaraeon ymhellach, yn enwedig Llanrhymni • Cynnal neu gwella prisiau UA presennol ar gyfer cyfranogwyr clwb • Gwella darllediadau chwaraeon o bob math ar draws Cyfryngau Myfyrwyr • Gwella cyfathrebu rhwng clybiau chwaraeon a gwella chysylltiadau • Cyflwyno hyfforddiant Pwyllgor i gynorthwyo pontio yn ystod y flwyddyn academaidd newydd Profiad yn gweithio ochr yn ochr â gr p amrywiol o unigolion, o bob gallu, bydd hyn yn fanteisiol os wnewch chi ethol fi fel eich IL Chwaraeon a Llywydd yr UA #PLEIDLEISIWCHHUGGY #MaeChwaraeonYnBwysigHefyd

manifesto 2018

VICE PRESIDENT WELFARE & campaigns IS LYWYDD Lles ac Ymgyrchoedd

The VP Welfare & Campaigns represents your welfare needs to the University and strengthens links with key welfare service providers in the local community. It also supports the development of student campaigns as well as campaign officers.

The VP Welfare & Campaigns will work to improve support services in both the Union and University and will campaign on any welfare issues facing our student population.

Mae’r Is Lywydd Lles Ac Ymgyrchoedd yn cynrychioli eich anghenion lles i’r Brifysgol ac yn atgyfnerthu cysylltiadau â’n darparwyr gwasanaethau lles allweddol yn y gymuned leol. Mae hefyd yn cefnogi datblygiad ymgyrchoedd myfyrwyr yn ogystal â'r swyddogion ymgyrch.

Bydd yr Is Lywydd Lles Ac Ymgyrchoedd yn gweithio i wella gwasanaethau cymorth yn yr Undeb a’r Brifysgol a bydd yn ymgyrchu dros unrhyw faterion lles sy’n wynebu ein myfyrwyr.

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vice president welfare & campaigns IS LYWYDD Lles ac Ymgyrchoedd

12 AMR ALWISHAH

#AmrForALL Hello! I'm Amr, final year Engineering student. Throughout my 3 years at Cardiff university I've been a student mentor and consultant, a student senator, a student representative and a GIAG member! If elected, I will: Tackle mental health services for ALL: • Student advisors available for distressed students at ALL times • More counselling and wellbeing appointments throughout ALL schools • Revise extenuating circumstances policy for mental health issues Diversity and Inclusion for ALL: • No Saturday exams for ALL • Increase engagement of BME+ students • Equal opportunities for ALL genders • More social activities for mature students • More gender neutral toilets • Review facilities for students with disabilities • Allow Friday prayer hour • More multi-faith quiet rooms and ablution facilities A campus for ALL: • More 24 hour libraries • More study spaces during exam period • Better value for money cafes- REFILL hot/soft drinks • Work towards completely green SU • Sexual health awareness across ALL campus • Bring back night busses Housing for ALL: • Letting agency approved scheme • Advisors for housing issues • Campaign for cheaper accommodation and cutting agency fees.

Better campaigns for ALL: • Increase support for campaign officers • ""It's your health"", ""Mind your Head"" & ""Diversity=strength"" weeks/demonstrations Vote Amr, for the benefit of ALL bit.ly/vote4amr #AmrIBawb Helo! Fi yw Amr, myfyriwr Peirianneg yn fy mlwyddyn olaf. Yn ystod fy 3 blynedd ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd rwyf wedi bod yn fentor myfyriwr ac ymgynghorydd, seneddwr myfyriwr, cynrychiolydd myfyriwr ac aelod Rho Gynnig Arni! Os caf fy ethol, byddaf yn: Mynd i’r afael â gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl i BAWB: • Cynghorwyr myfyrwyr ar gael i fyfyrwyr mewn trallod BOB amser • Mwy o apwyntiadau cwnsela a lles ar draws BOB ysgol • Adolygu'r amgylchiadau esgusodol ar gyfer materion iechyd meddwl Amrywiaeth a Chydraddoldeb i BAWB: • Dim arholiadau ddydd Sadwrn i BAWB • Cynyddu ymgysylltiad myfyrwyr BME+ • Cyfle cyfartal ar gyfer POB ryw • Mwy o weithgareddau cymdeithasol ar gyfer myfyrwyr h n • Mwy o doiledau niwtral ar ran rhyw • Adolygu cyfleusterau ar gyfer myfyrwyr ag anableddau • Caniatáu awr gweddi ddydd Gwener • Mwy o ystafelloedd tawel aml-ffydd a chyfleusterau puredigaeth.

Campws ar gyfer PAWB: • Mwy o lyfrgelloedd 24 awr • Mwy o fannau astudio yn ystod cyfnod arholiadau • Gwell gwerth am arian mewn caffis - AIL-LENWI diodydd poeth ac oer • Gweithio tuag at Undeb gwyrdd llwyr • Ymwybyddiaeth o iechyd rhywiol ar draws POB campws • Ail-gyflwyno’r bws nos Tai i BAWB: • Cynllun cymeradwyo asiantaeth gosod • Cynghorwyr ar gyfer materion tai • Ymgyrch am lety rhatach a chael gwared ar ffioedd asiantaeth.

• Gwell ymgyrchoedd ar gyfer PAWB: • Cynyddu cymorth ar gyfer swyddogion ymgyrch • Wythnosau/arddangosiadau ""Eich iechyd chi"", ""Gofalu am eich Pen” a “Amrywiaeth=cryfder” Pleidleisiwch Amr, er budd PAWB bit.ly/vote4amr

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manifesto 2018

THOMAS BERMUDEZ Hello, my name is Thomas Bermudez and I am running for VP Welfare and Campaigns. I am a third year Politics and International Relations student and an ex-Coordinator of Cardiff Nightline. My hope is to improve your experiences at University and make sure that you have someone to listen to you.

I would like to; • Improve accessibility and quantity of Student Welfare Centre walk-in appointments, • Increase awareness of mental health challenges, abuse, and sexual assault, • Improve Schools Awareness of Student Mental Health • Work more closely with Student Led Services to increase their outreach and visibility, • Continue to work towards a Night bus for students, • Expand Student Safe Walk to more nights of semester, • Support initiatives to improve inclusivity in all aspects of university life (focusing on liberated groups) within sports, entertainment, and the like, • Help Campaign Officers with their projects, • Increase student services offered in Heath campus, • Support CCard initiative at the Heath.

Why me?

• 2017-2018 Coordinator of Cardiff Nightline • 2018 Public Face Officer of Cardiff Nightline • International Student- New perspective • Politics and IR Student- Understands governance No one at university should feel they are alone. Vote Thomas Bermudez for VP Welfare and Campaigns! Find me at; Email: vote.thomasb@gmail.com Twitter: @Vote_ThomasB Helo, fy enw i yw Thomas Bermudez a dwi’n rhedeg ar gyfer IL Lles ac Ymgyrchoedd. Rwyf yn fyfyriwr Gwleidyddiaeth a Chysylltiadau Rhyngwladol ac yn gyn-Gydlynydd Llinell Nos Caerdydd. Fy ngobaith yw gwella eich profiadau yn y Brifysgol a gwneud yn si r bod rhywun i wrando arnoch.

Hoffwn; • Gwella hygyrchedd a nifer o apwyntiadau galw heibio Canolfan Lles Myfyrwyr.

• Cynyddu ymwybyddiaeth o heriau iechyd meddwl, cam-drin ac ymosodiadau rhywiol, • Gwella Ymwybyddiaeth Ysgolion o Iechyd Meddwl Myfyrwyr • Gweithio'n agosach gyda gwasanaethau dan arweiniad myfyrwyr iddynt estyn allan a gwella eu hamlygrwydd, • Parhau i weithio tuag at gael bws nos ar gyfer myfyrwyr, • Ehangu’r Cerdded Diogel Myfyrwyr am fwy o nosweithiau yn y semester, • Cefnogi mentrau i wella cynhwysedd ym mhob agwedd o fywyd prifysgol (canolbwyntio ar grwpiau rhyddhad) o fewn chwaraeon, adloniant ac ati, • Helpu Swyddogion Ymgyrch gyda’u prosiectau, • Cynyddu gwasanaethau myfyrwyr sydd ar gael ar gampws y Mynydd Bychan, • Cefnogi’r menter CerdynC yn y Mynydd Bychan.

Pam fi?

• Cydlynydd Llinell Nos 2017-2018 • Swyddog Wyneb Cyhoeddus Llinell Nos 2018 • Myfyriwr Rhyngwladol - Safbwynt newydd • Myfyriwr Gwleidyddiaeth a Chysylltiad Rhyngwladol - Deall llywodraethiant Ni ddylai neb yn y brifysgol deimlo’n unig. Pleidleisiwch Thomas Bermudez ar gyfer IL Lles ac Ymgyrchoedd! Gallwch ddod o hyd i fi ar; E-bost: vote.thomasb@gmail.com Twitter: @Vote_ThomasB

vice president welfare & campaigns IS LYWYDD Lles ac Ymgyrchoedd

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Becoming involved with the Give it a Go Executive Committee this year has shown me that there is so much that the Students’ Union has to offer. From day trips to free student advice, our Students’ Union works for its students. I am passionate about these services, and I want to help more students take advantage and make the most of their time at university. If elected for VP Welfare and Campaigns, I aim to: • Create a housing Charter. I think the Students’ Union should formally commit to working towards every student living in safe accommodation.

• Introduce student Welfare Officers to every society. Having students who can listen to students’ concerns and help them figure out who they need to talk to might help students feel like they are able to talk about problems and make them feel like they will be listened to when they do.

• Work with Campaign Officers to improve how the Students’ Union interacts with students. Campaign Officers have been separate from the Sabbatical Officer team, but I want to work with them to understand how the SU can work for every student.

Vote for Hamillauren, leading the revolution for students’ welfare!

Mae cymryd rhan gyda’r Pwyllgor Gwaith Rho Gynnig Arni eleni wedi dangos i mi bod gan Undeb y Myfyrwyr gymaint i’w gynnig. O deithiau diwrnod i gyngor myfyrwyr am ddim, mae ein Undeb y Myfyrwyr yn gweithio dros eu myfyrwyr. Rwy’n teimlo'n angerddol am y gwasanaethau hyn, a rwyf am helpu mwy o fyfyrwyr i fanteisio a gwneud y mwyaf o’u hamser yn y brifysgol. Os caf fy ethol ar gyfer IL Lles ac Ymgyrchoedd, fy nod yw: • Creu Siarter tai Credaf y dylai Undeb y Myfyrwyr ymrwymo’n ffurfiol i weithio at bob myfyriwr yn byw mewn llety diogel.

• Cyflwyno Swyddogion Lles myfyrwyr i bob cymdeithas. Drwy gael myfyrwyr sy’n gallu gwrando ar bryderon myfyrwyr a helpu nhw i wybod pwy maent angen siarad â, gall hynny helpu myfyrwyr deimlo fel eu bod yn gallu siarad am broblemau a gwneud iddynt deimlo fel bod eu llais yn cael ei glywed.

• Gweithio gyda Swyddogion Ymgyrch i wella sut mae Undeb y Myfyrwyr yn rhyngweithio â myfyrwyr. Mae Swyddogion Ymgyrch wedi bod ar wahân o’r tîm Swyddogion Sabothol, ond rwyf eisiau gweithio gyda nhw i ddeall sut mae’r Undeb yn gallu gweithio ar gyfer pob myfyriwr.

Pleidleisiwch dros Hamillauren, yn arwain y chwyldro ar gyfer lles myfyrwyr!

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LAUREN BOYS

manifesto 2018

JANE HOBBS

I’m Jane Hobbs (Hobbs the Builder!) and I would love to be your next VP Welfare & Campaigns!

I’ve been actively engaged with the Students’ Union for the past two years as part of the Student Advice Executive Committee. In this time, I’ve learnt a huge amount about welfare issues faced by Cardiff students. I’m a Student Senator, I lead a volunteer wellbeing committee for Student Advice, and I’m in the process of helping launch a new Student-Led Service aimed at informing students on housing matters. I care deeply and passionately about promoting and improving all aspects of student welfare; here are some of the ways I would do this: • Spread awareness for the incredible support available from our SU. • Introduce a Campaign Officer for First Year students.

• Educate and empower students on housing matters throughout the year.

• Enhance the reach of Student-Led Services, particularly SHAG and Nightline.

• Work closely with Campaign Officers, particularly International, LGBT+, and Mental Health.

• More pastoral care training for Personal Tutors.

• Reduce waiting times for Counselling & Wellbeing.

For more information on how and why I plan on achieving these objectives, have a look at my website: https://hobbsthebuilder.wordpress.com/ Fi yw Jane Hobbs (Hobbs the Builder!) a byddwn wrth fy modd yn cael fy ethol fel eich IL Lles ac Ymgyrchoedd nesaf!

Rwyf wedi cymryd rhan gydag Undeb y Myfyrwyr dros y ddwy flynedd ddiwethaf fel rhan o’r Pwyllgor Gwaith Cyngor i Fyfyrwyr. Yn yr amser hwn, rwyf wedi dysgu llawer iawn am faterion lles y mae myfyrwyr Caerdydd yn ei wynebu. Rwyf yn Seneddwr Myfyriwr, rwyf yn arwain pwyllgor lles gwirfoddoli ar gyfer Cyngor i Fyfyrwyr, ac rwyf yn y broses o helpu lansio Gwasanaeth dan Arweiniad Myfyrwyr newydd gyda’r bwriad o hysbysu myfyrwyr ar faterion tai. Rwyf wir yn angerddol am hyrwyddo a gwella holl agweddau o les myfyrwyr; dyma rai o’r ffyrdd hoffwn wneud hyn: • Lledaenu ymwybyddiaeth am y gefnogaeth anhygoel sydd ar gael gan eich Undeb.

• Cyflwyno Swyddog Ymgyrch ar gyfer myfyrwyr Blwyddyn Gyntaf.

• Addysgu a grymuso myfyrwyr ar faterion tai drwy gydol y flwyddyn.

• Gwella cyrhaeddiad Gwasanaethau dan arweiniad Myfyrwyr, yn enwedig SHAG a Llinell Nos. • Gweithio’n agos gyda Swyddogion Ymgyrch, yn enwedig Rhyngwladol, LHDT+ a Iechyd Meddwl.

• Mwy o hyfforddiant gofal lles ar gyfer Tiwtoriaid Personol.

• Lobio i leihau amseroedd aros ar gyfer Cwnsela a Lles.

Am fwy o wybodaeth ar sut dwi’n cynllunio cyflawni’r amcanion hyn, edrychwch ar fy wefan: https://hobbsthebuilder.wordpress.com/

manifesto 2018

vice president welfare & campaigns IS LYWYDD Lles ac Ymgyrchoedd

12 Thierry Walker

Student welfare is a vital component of the student experience and every student should have the opportunity to maximise their experience and what they get out of university. Having been on the Student Advice Executive Committee, and helped begin the reformation of the Mental Wealth Student-led Service, I am actively aware of the problems students face and how best to combat them.

If I am elected, I will: • Introduce a Student Recommendations system on topics including Housing, Societies and Activities.

• Encourage and support student campaigns to ensure your voice is heard.

• Introduce Student-run Cafés, making cafés cheaper and increasing employment opportunities.

• Increase Cardiff University representation at the Heath Campus, improving the support available to students.

• Create a database of local companies looking to employ students, further facilitating student employment.

• Raise awareness of potential student problems, ie mental health issues, and what the Students' Union has to offer to resolve these, through introductory lectures and better signposting.

• Assign all First Year and International Students a Student Mentor, relieving stress and facilitating settling in.

• Make sexual health testing available to students each semester.

• Raise awareness and improve help available to students with Drug or Alcohol abuse problems.

If this is your cup of tea, vote for me - Thierry ""Tee"" Walker.

Mae lles myfyrwyr yn elfen hanfodol o brofiad myfyrwyr a dylai pob myfyriwr gael cyfle i fanteisio i'r eithaf ar eu profiad a'r hyn maent yn elwa ohono o'r Brifysgol. Ar ôl bod ar Bwyllgor Gweithredol Cyngor i Fyfyrwyr, ac helpu diwygio’r Gwasanaeth dan Arweiniad Cyfoeth Meddyliol, rwyf yn ymwybodol o’r problemau y mae myfyrwyr yn eu wynebu a sut i fynd i’r afael â nhw yn y modd gorau.

Os caf fy ethol, byddaf yn: • Cyflwyno system Argymhellion Myfyrwyr ar bynciau gan gynnwys Tai, Cymdeithasau a Gweithgareddau.

• Annog a chefnogi ymgyrchoedd myfyrwyr i sicrhau bod eich llais yn cael ei glywed.

• Cyflwyno Caffis sy’n cael eu rhedeg gan fyfyrwyr, gwneud caffis yn rhatach a chynyddu cyfleoedd cyflogaeth.

• Cynyddu cynrychiolaeth Prifysgol Caerdydd ar gampws y Mynydd Bychan, gan wella’r cymorth sydd ar gael i fyfyrwyr.

• Creu cronfa ddata o gwmnïau lleol sy’n ceisio cyflogi myfyrwyr, yn hwyluso cyflogaeth myfyrwyr ymhellach.

• Codi ymwybyddiaeth o broblemau myfyrwyr posibl, h.y. materion iechyd meddwl, a beth mae Undeb y Myfyrwyr yn gynnig i ddatrys rhain, drwy ddarlithoedd rhagarweiniol a chyfeirio gwell.

• Paru Myfyrwyr Blwyddyn Gyntaf a Myfyrwyr Rhyngwladol â Mentor Myfyrwyr, yn lleddfu straen a hwyluso setlo i mewn.

• Sicrhau bod profion iechyd rhywiol ar gael i fyfyrwyr bob semester.

• Codi ymwybyddiaeth a gwella'r cymorth sydd ar gael i fyfyrwyr sydd â phroblemau cam-drin Cyffuriau neu Alcohol.

Os mai fi yw’r un i chi, pleidleisiwch drosof fi - Thierry “Tee” Walker.

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George GEORGE Watkins WATKINS

Vote George Watkins for VP Welfare!

As your Mental Health Officer, I know what it takes to get the right support to the people who need it the most. Vote for me if you want: • A mental health revolution: improving waiting times, extenuating circumstances, the availability of support, eating disorder help, and establishing proper peer support.

• Sexual assault to be stamped out and victims to be properly supported: making incident reporting easier and give the support you deserve, as well as establishing links with the community to tackle the wider issue.

• Heath welfare services to be brought up to par with Cathays: scrutinising what’s available and ensuring that no student is short-changed because of where they study, and to establish a pastoral buddy system • International students to receive culturally- specific advice and support: introducing cultural training for advisers, as well as standing up against fee issues.

• Letting agencies to be held accountable for poor service: improving reporting of incidents, and penalising agencies that do a bad job.

• Better specific financial and wellbeing support for postgrads: campaigning for better financial support, as well as ensuring parity with welfare support services for undergrads and postgrads Pleidleisiwch George Watkins ar gyfer IL Lles!

Fel eich Swyddog Iechyd Meddwl, dwi’n gwybod beth i’w wneud i gael y cymorth iawn i’r bobl sydd ei angen fwyaf. Pleidleisiwch drosof fi os hoffech: • Chwyldro iechyd meddwl: gwella amseroedd aros, amgylchiadau esgusodol, argaeledd cymorth, cymorth anhwylder bwyta, a sefydlu cymorth cyfoedion priodol.

• Cael gwared ar ymosodiad rhywiol a chefnogi dioddefwyr yn iawn: gwneud adrodd digwyddiadau yn haws a rhoi’r cymorth rydych yn ei haeddu, yn ogystal â sefydlu cysylltiadau gyda’r gymuned i fynd i’r afael â’r mater ehangach.

• Codi safon gwasanaethau lles y Mynydd Bychan i’r un lefel â Cathays: craffu beth sydd ar gael a sicrhau nad yw unrhyw fyfyriwr o dan anfantais oherwydd ble maent yn astudio, a sefydlu system gyfeillio bugeiliol • Myfyrwyr rhyngwladol i dderbyn cyngor a chymorth teilwredig ar ran diwylliant: cyflwyno hyfforddiant diwylliannol ar gyfer cynghorwyr, yn ogystal â sefyll yn erbyn materion ffioedd.

• Dal asiantaeth gosod tai i gyfrif am eu gwasanaeth gwael: gwella adrodd achosion, a chosbi asiantaethau sy’n gwneud gwaith gwael.

• Gwell cymorth ariannol a lles ar gyfer ôl-raddedigion: ymgyrchu ar gyfer cymorth ariannol gwell, yn ogystal â sicrhau cydraddoldeb gyda’r gwasanaeth cymorth lles ar gyfer israddedigion ac ôl-raddedigion

vice president welfare & campaigns IS LYWYDD Lles ac Ymgyrchoedd

12 ZSOFIA ZAB

Hey, I’m Zsófi and I believe that all students should have equal rights, and experience university to the fullest. This includes involvement with the student union, housing and metal health.

What are my main points?

University as guarantor for non UK students: • The university has an existing guarantor scheme that grants certain students such as international students with a guarantor. Making this scheme known will make housing easier for many.

• Expand Cardiff Universities’ mental health care: • I am committed to expanding the universities mental health care programme. I will reduce counselling waiting times and put emphasis on the advertisement of the wide range of services counselling and well-being offer.

GP at the SU: • Drop in clinic for the Student Union Reduced bus fare for students: • Buses going to and from university residences and university buildings should offer reduced prices for students. This would further Heath students’ involvement with the Student Union.

Societies for Postgrads: • I believe that full student involvement is key to an inclusive university. That includes involving Postgraduate Students in university societies.

Vote for Zsof!

Helo, Zsófi ydw i a dwi’n credu y dylai holl fyfyrwyr gael hawliau cyfartal, a’r profiad prifysgol i’r eithaf. Mae hyn yn cynnwys gydag Undeb y Myfyrwyr, tai a iechyd meddwl.

Beth yw fy mhrif bwyntiau?

Prifysgol fel gwarantwr ar gyfer myfyrwyr y tu allan i'r DU: • Mae gan y Brifysgol gynllun gwarantwr presennol sy’n gymwys i fyfyrwyr penodol megis myfyrwyr rhyngwladol gyda gwarantwr. Bydd hysbysebu’r cynllun hwn yn gwneud tai yn haws i nifer.

Ehangu gofal iechyd meddwl Prifysgol Caerdydd: • Rwyf yn ymroddedig i ehangu rhaglen gofal iechyd meddwl y brifysgol. Byddaf yn lleihau amseroedd aros cwnsela mewn ysgolion ac yn rhoi pwyslais ar hysbysebu ystod eang o wasanaethau cwnsela a lles sy’n cael ei gynnig.

Meddyg teulu yn yr Undeb: • Clinig galw heibio ar gyfer Undeb y Myfyrwyr Lleihau tocyn bws i fyfyrwyr: • Dylai bysiau sy’n mynd i ac o breswylfeydd y Prifysgol ac adeiladau'r Brifysgol gynnig prisiau gostyngol ar gyfer myfyrwyr. Byddai hyn yn hybu cyfranogiad myfyrwyr y Mynydd Bychan gydag Undeb y Myfyrwyr.

Cymdeithasau ar gyfer Ôl-raddedigion: • Credaf bod cyfranogiad llawn myfyrwyr yn allweddol i brifysgol cynhwysol. Mae hynny yn cynnwys ymgysylltiad Myfyrwyr Ôl-raddedig mewn cymdeithasau prifysgol.

Pleidleisiwch dros Zsof!

manifesto 2018

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manifesto 2018

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BLACK AND ETHNIC MINORITIES OFFICER Swyddog Croenddu a Lleiafrifoedd Ethnig

ERIN JOSEPH

Hello, my name is Erin Joseph and I am a chemistry student. I am running for the position of BME officer because I believe there are many opportunities to further improve the university experience of ethnic minority students.

If elected I will: Make it easier for BME students to share the issues affecting them • I will achieve the aim of this through holding drop-in sessions in both the Heath and Cathays campuses.

Campaign and work on the issues raised • I will make sure that the issues raised are heard and that the appropriate strategies are put in place to overcome them.

Represent the interest of all BME students • I will achieve the aim of this through working with the relevant societies to ensure all BME students are at least aware of the officer that represents their interest.

This is incredibly important in achieving a safe and inclusive environment for all BME students.

Please consider voting for me from 9am on Monday 19 February until 5pm on Friday 23 February at www.cardiffstudents.com/elections/. If you have any questions about my campaign feel free to email me at josephea1@cardiff.ac.uk Helo, fy enw i yw Erin Joseph a dwi’n fyfyriwr cemeg. Rwyf yn sefyll ar gyfer y rôl Swyddog Croenddu a Lleiafrifoedd Ethnig oherwydd credaf fod nifer o gyfleoedd i wella profiad y brifysgol ar gyfer myfyrwyr lleiafrifoedd ethnig.

Os caf fy ethol, byddaf yn: Ei wneud yn haws i fyfyrwyr Croenddu a Lleiafrifoedd Ethnig i rannu’r materion sy’n effeithio arnynt • Byddaf yn cyflawni nod hyn drwy gynnal sesiynau galw heibio ar gampws y Mynydd Bychan a Cathays.

Ymgyrchu a gweithio ar faterion sy’n codi • Byddaf yn sicrhau bod y materion sy’n cael eu codi yn cael eu clywed a bod y strategaethau priodol yn cael eu rhoi ar waith i oresgyn y rhwystrau hynny.

The Black and Ethnic Minorities Officer works to represent the interests of black students and students of ethnic minority backgrounds (BEM) and to campaign on any relevant issues.

Mae’r Swyddog Croenddu a Lleiafrifoedd Ethnig yn gweithio i gynrychioli buddiannau myfyrwyr duon a myfyrwyr o gefndiroedd lleiafrifoedd ethnig ac ymgyrchu dros unrhyw faterion perthnasol.

Cynrychioli buddiannau holl fyfyrwyr Croenddu a Lleiafrifoedd Ethnig • Byddaf yn cyflawni nod hyn drwy weithio gyda’r cymdeithasau perthnasol i sicrhau bod holl fyfyrwyr Croenddu a Lleiafrifoedd Ethnig o leiaf yn ymwybodol o’r swyddog sy’n cynrychioli eu buddiannau. Mae hyn yn hynod o bwysig i sicrhau awyrgylch diogel a chynhwysol ar gyfer pob myfyriwr Croenddu a Lleiafrifoedd Ethnig.

Ystyriwch bleidleisio drosof fi rhwng 9yb dydd Llun 19 Chwefror tan 5yh dydd Gwener 23 Chwefror ar www.cardiffstudents.com/elections/. Os oes gennych unrhyw gwestiynau am fy ymgyrch, e-bostiwch fi ar josephea1@caerdydd.ac.uk

manifesto 2018

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INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS' OFFICER Swyddog Myfyrwyr Rhyngwladol

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JULIA ROOKE

Hi, I’m Julia, a second year history student, and I’m running for International Student Officer. I’m passionate about bringing people together and hope to create a community of students that is united in its diversity. Despite not being an international student, I studied abroad throughout last year- so I understand how daunting it can be to arrive in a new country and not know anyone. With Global Opportunities I worked within a team to organise events for incoming international students. These events brought people from all around the world together, which I hope to build upon should I be elected.

• My top priority would be to create a forum for international students to meet each other- and to meet UK students, encouraging people to share their cultures.

• I will increase awareness of the International Student Association, strengthening the existing support system for international students.

I am an approachable and friendly student with a vision to see international students welcomed and integrated into the student community. I am open to new ideas and want to create more opportunities for students to feel at home here. It would be a privilege to represent the international students at Cardiff University. Go vote!

Helo, fi yw Julia, myfyriwr hanes ail flwyddyn, a rwyf yn rhedeg ar gyfer Swyddog Myfyrwyr Rhyngwladol. Rwyf yn teimlo’n angerddol am ddod â phobl ynghyd ac yn gobeithio creu cymuned o fyfyrwyr sydd yn unedig yn eu hamrywiaeth. Er nad wyf yn fyfyriwr rhyngwladol, fe wnes i astudio dramor drwy yn ystod y flwyddyn diwethaf - felly rwyf yn deall pa mor anodd yw cyrraedd gwlad newydd a pheidio nabod neb.

Gyda’r Cyfleoedd Byd-eang, bûm yn gweithio o fewn tîm trefnu digwyddiadau ar gyfer myfyrwyr rhyngwladol sy'n dyfod i mewn. Daeth y digwyddiad hwn â phobl o bob cwr o’r byd at ei gilydd, yr wyf yn gobeithio adeilad ar hwn os caf fy ethol.

• Fy mhrif flaenoriaeth fyddai creu fforwm ar gyfer myfyrwyr rhyngwladol i gwrdd â’i gilydd - a chwrdd â myfyrwyr y DU, gan annog pobl i rannu ei diwylliannau.

• Byddaf yn cynyddu ymwybyddiaeth y Gymdeithas Myfyrwyr Rhyngwladol, gan gryfhau’r system cymorth bresennol ar gyfer myfyrwyr rhyngwladol.

The International Students' Officer works to represent International Students’ interests at Union and University level and to campaign on any relevant issues.

Mae’r Swyddog Myfyrwyr Rhyngwladol yn gweithio i gynrychioli buddiannau Myfyrwyr Rhyngwladol yn yr Undeb a’r Brifysgol ac ymgyrchu dros unrhyw faterion perthnasol.

Rwyf yn fyfyriwr agos atoch a chyfeillgar gyda gweledigaeth i weld myfyrwyr rhyngwladol yn cael eu croesawu a’u hintegreiddio o fewn y gymuned myfyrwyr.

Rwyf yn agored i syniadau newydd ac eisiau creu mwy o gyfleoedd i fyfyrwyr deimlo’n gartrefol yma. Byddai’n faint i gynrychioli myfyrwyr rhyngwladol ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd. Ewch i bleidleisio!

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international students' officer

manifesto 2018

Swyddog Myfyrwyr Rhyngwladol

12 YAMINI RANA

No manfesto submitted.

Heb gyflwyno maniffesto.

why will you vote? “ Because democracy = power to the people” Spring Elections 2018 voting opens: 09:00 19th February voting closes: 17:00 23rd February

manifesto 2018

MENTAL HEALTH OFFICER Swyddog Iechyd Meddwl

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MIm CARMONA-GORDON Hi! I’m Mim Carmona-Gordon, due to having dealt with mental disorders first hand in both my personal life and when training as a Level 2 Counsellor I am familiar with how to empathise with my peers, recognise how mental issues impact their lives and support every individual. If elected, I will introduce more student friendly, student run support sessions to help with the stress and loneliness university can cause. I will collaborate with the newly formed mentor scheme to brief mentors on how to support new students emotionally through getting used to being away from home. I plan to improve the support for all mental health issues; for example, eating disorders are particularly common in those coming to university, as they are responsible for feeding themselves for the first time. To combat this, both at the freshers’ fayre and consistently around the SU I want to provide leaflets and practical advice on how to eat off a student budget and introduce drop in sessions for Cardiff university students providing a safe and judgement free space for all.

Take a stand with me and give a voice to every Cardiff University student. Vote for me from 19th - 23rd of February.

Helo! Fi yw Mim Carmona-Gordon, oherwydd fy mod wedi gorfod delio ag anhwylderau meddyliol yn fy mywyd personol ac wrth hyfforddi fel Cynghorwr Lefel 2, rwyf yn gyfarwydd â sut i uniaethu gyda fy nghyfoedion, cydnabod sut mae materion meddyliol yn cael effaith ar eu bywydau a chefnogi pob unigolyn. Os caf fy ethol, byddaf yn cyflwyno mwy o sesiynau cymorth cyfeillgar, o dan arweiniad myfyrwyr i helpu gyda’r straen a’r unigrwydd gall y brifysgol ei achosi. Byddaf yn cydweithio gyda’r cynllun mentor newydd i friffio’r mentoriaid ar sut i gefnogi myfyrwyr newydd i ymgyfarwyddo bod oddi ffwrdd o adref yn emosiynol. Rwyf yn bwriadu gwella'r cymorth ar gyfer holl faterion iechyd meddwl; er enghraifft, mae anhwylderau bwyta yn arbennig o gyffredin gyda’r rheini sy’n dod i'r brifysgol, gan eu bod yn gyfrifol am fwydo eu hunain am y tro cyntaf. I fynd i’r afael â hyn, rwyf eisiau darparu taflenni a chyngor ymarferol yn ffair y glas ac yn gyson o gwmpas yr Undeb ar sut i fwyta ar gyllid myfyrwyr a chyflwyno sesiynau galw heibio ar gyfer myfyrwyr Prifysgol Caerdydd gan ddarparu lle diogel, heb ragfarn, i bawb. Safwch gyda mi a rhoi llais i bob myfyriwr Prifysgol Caerdydd. Pleidleisiwch drosof i rhwng 19eg - 23ain o Chwefror.

The Mental Health Officer works to represent the interests of students experiencing a mental health condition at Union and University level and campaigns on any relevant issues.

Mae’r Swyddog Iechyd Meddwl yn gweithio i gynrychioli myfyrwyr sy'n profi cyflwr iechyd meddwl ar lefel Undeb a'r Brifysgol ar unrhyw faterion perthnasol.

mental health officer

manifesto 2018

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Swyddog Iechyd Meddwl

12

1 in 4 students experience mental health problems at university (including myself) and I want to make sure support is inclusive and accessible to all via: • better provision of services for Heath and postgraduate students e.g. tailored workshops after 5pm based in the Heath or PG areas.

• greater promotion of the support already available as lots of services go unused!

• weekly drop-in sessions that are open to all students for advice and to address complaints and issues.

• working with the LBGT+, BAME, disabilities, international and mature students officers to recognise not all mental health experiences and pressures at university are universal and, better support and reduce stigma for these disproportionately affected students.

• and helping ALL students recognise the SU is a place they can seek support and feel empowered to make meaningful changes to student services.

Experience-wise I’ve been volunteering as Wellbeing Champion for Cardiff University Student Support for two years and, I am part of their campaign to reduce mental health stigma: What’s on your mind? #letsshare. So, I already have lots of connections and know-how to address the outlined issues.

All that’s left to do is vote Abbie Fridlington and Feel Good with Frids!

Mae 1 o bob 4 myfyriwr yn profi problemau iechyd meddwl yn ystod y brifysgol (gan gynnwys fi) ac rwyf eisiau gwneud yn si r bod cymorth yn gynhwysol ac yn hygyrch i bawb drwy: • gwell darpariaeth gwasanaethau ar gyfer myfyrwyr y Mynydd Bychan a myfyrwyr ôl-raddedig e.e gweithdai wedi’u teilwra ar ôl 5yh yn y Mynydd Bychan neu ardaloedd ôl-raddedig.

• hyrwyddo’r cymorth sydd ar gael yn barod yn fwy gan nad yw nifer o’r gwasanaethau yn cael eu defnyddio!

• sesiynau galw heibio wythnosol sydd yn agored i holl fyfyrwyr ar gyfer cyngor ac i ddelio â chwynion a materion.

• weithio gyda’r swyddogion LHDT+, croenddu a lleiafrifoedd ethnig, anableddau, rhyngwladol a myfyrwyr h n i gydnabod nad yw holl brofiadau iechyd meddwl a phwysau yn y brifysgol yn gyffredinol, a gwella’r cymorth a lleihau’r stigma ar gyfer y myfyrwyr sy’n cael eu heffeithio yn anghymesur.

• a helpu HOLL fyfyrwyr i gydnabod bod yr Undeb yn fan lle maent yn gallu gofyn am gymorth a chael grym i wneud newidiadau ystyrlon i’r gwasanaethau myfyrwyr.

Ar ran fy mhrofiad, rwyf wedi bod yn gwirfoddoli fel Hyrwyddwr Lles ar gyfer Cefnogaeth Myfyrwyr Prifysgol Caerdydd am ddwy flynedd a, dwi’n rhan o’u hymgyrch i leihau stigma iechyd meddwl: Beth sydd ar eich meddwl? #gadewchinirannu Felly, mae gennyf eisoes lawer o gysylltiadau a gwybodaeth i fynd i'r afael â’r materion a amlinellwyd.

Yr oll sydd ar ôl yw pleidleisio Abbie Fridlington a Theimlo’n Dda gyda Frids!

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ABBIE FRIDLINGTON

ESEN KUPELI

I’m Esen, a second year student studying Medicine. I believe mental health concerns everyone and needs to be given the same attention and respect as physical health. Ideally, everyone would be able to recognise the early signs of mental illness and be confident in supporting their friends, housemates, partners should they ever need support. I will work on all campuses so that every student - from engineers to nurses, from chemists to dentists - can feel supported in their journey to good mental health.

My plan: • Increase awareness of the support services available and how to access them, both within the University and at the Student’s Union • Develope the partnership between Student Advice and Student Support.

• Increase the number of students engaging with the Student Support Wellbeing Workshops.

• Develop the training for each society’s Wellbeing Officers as well as the Student Wardens (Resident Life Assistants) in each residency.

• Further the amazing anti-stigma progress made so far.

• Develop the out-of-hours support available to students.

• Continue with raising the profile of eating disorders, developing the support available for those with the illness.

Ask questions, make suggestions and learn more about my manifesto via facebook @EsenMentalHealthOfficer, e-mail or in person. Thanks for reading!

Fi yw Esen, myfyriwr ail flwyddyn yn astudio Meddygaeth. Credaf fod iechyd meddwl yn berthnasol i bawb ac mae angen yr un sylw a pharch arno ag iechyd corfforol.

Yn ddelfrydol, byddai pawb yn gallu cydnabod arwyddion cynnal salwch meddwl a bod yn hyderus yn cefnogi eu ffrindiau, ffrindiau t , partneriaid os byddai angen cymorth arnynt. Byddaf yn gweithio ar y ddau gampws fel bod pob myfyriwr - o beirianwyr i nyrsys, o gemegwyr i ddeintyddion - yn teimlo fel eu bod yn cael eu cefnogi i iechyd meddwl da.

Fy nghynllun: • Cynyddu ymwybyddiaeth o’r gwasanaethau cymorth sydd ar gael a sut i gael mynediad atynt, o fewn y Brifysgol ac Undeb y Myfyrwyr.

• Datblygu’r bartneriaeth rhwng Cyngor i Fyfyrwyr a Chefnogaeth Myfyrwyr.

• Cynyddu’r nifer o fyfyrwyr sy’n ymgysylltu â Gweithdai Lles Cefnogaeth Myfyrwyr.

• Datblygu hyfforddiant ar gyfer pob Swyddog Lles cymdeithas yn ogystal â Wardeiniaid Myfyrwyr (Cynorthwywyr Bywyd Preswyl) ym mhob preswyl.

• Gwella’r cynydd gwrth-stigma anhygoel ymhellach.

• Datblygu’r cymorth allan o oriau sydd ar gael i fyfyrwyr.

• Parhau i godi proffil anhwylderau bwyta, datblygu’r cymorth sydd ar gael ar gyfer y rheini sy’n dioddef.

Gofynnwch gwestiynau, gwneud awgrymiadau neu dysgwch mwy am fy maniffesto drwy facebook @EsenMentalHealthOfficer, e-bost neu’n bersonol. Diolch am ddarllen!

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manifesto 2018

VOTE

mental officer vp sporthealth & au president Swyddog Iechyd Meddwl

12 ORLA TARN

Hello, I’m Orla Tarn and I’m running to be your Mental Health Officer. I’m a secondyear Mathematics student, and believe that nobody should find themselves without sufficient access to Mental Health services and support whilst at University.

I currently am a Student Mentor, a member of the Welfare Exec and also take part in the Wellbeing Champion scheme.

My goals, if elected, will be to reduce the stigma on campus surrounding Mental Health, and represent all students facing difficulties with Mental Health.

I’d aim to achieve these by: • Out-of-hours services: Creating strong partnerships between the university and evening/weekend services to ensure that ample support is available to students 24/7.

• Mental Health Peer Support: Working with SLSs to start anxiety and other peer support groups alongside those already in existence for eating difficulties.

• Drop-in Services: Increasing the number of daily walk-in appointments available with Student Support, and improving provisions at the Heath, especially during exam periods.

• Extenuating Circumstances: Creating a transparent and consistent policy across all schools surrounding Extenuating Circumstances for Mental Health.

• Training: Increasing Mental Health training for student mentors and personal tutors Help me to help you. Vote Orla for Mental Health.

Helo, fi yw Orla Tarn a dwi’n sefyll i fod yn Swyddog Iechyd Meddwl. Rwyf yn fyfyriwr mathemateg ail flwyddyn, ac yn credu na ddylai neb fod mewn sefyllfa heb fynediad digonol i wasanaethau Iechyd Meddwl tra yn y Brifysgol.

Ar hyn o bryd rwyf yn Fentor Myfyriwr, aelod o Bwyllgor Gwaith Lles ac hefyd yn cymryd rhan yn y cynllun Hyrwyddwyr Lles.

Fy nodau, os caf fy ethol, fyddai lleihau’r stigma sy’n ymwneud ag Iechyd Meddwl ar y campws, a chynrychioli holl fyfyrwyr sy’n wynebu anawsterau gydag Iechyd Meddwl.

Byddaf yn ceisio cyflawni hyn drwy: • Gwasanaethau allan o oriau: Creu partneriaethau cryf rhwng gwasanaethau’r Brifysgol a gyda'r hwyr/penwythnosau i sicrhau bod cymorth digonol ar gael i fyfyrwyr 24/7.

• Cymorth Cymheiriaid Iechyd Meddwl: Gweithio gyda gwasanaethau o dan arweiniad myfyrwyr i ddechrau grwpiau cefnogi cymheiriaid â gorbryder a grwpiau eraill ochr yn ochr â rhai sydd eisoes yn bodoli ar gyfer anawsterau bwyta.

• Gwasanaethau Galw Heibio: Cynyddu nifer yr apwyntiadau galw heibio sydd ar gael gyda Chefnogaeth Myfyrwyr, a gwella’r ddarpariaeth yn y Mynydd Bychan, yn enwedig yn ystod cyfnodau arholiadau.

• Amgylchiadau Esgusodol: Creu polisi tryloyw a chyson ar draws yr holl ysgolion sy'n ymwneud ag Amgylchiadau Esgusodol ar gyfer Iechyd Meddwl.

• Hyfforddiant: Cynyddu hyfforddiant Iechyd Meddwl ar gyfer mentoriaid myfyrwyr a thiwtoriaid personol Helpwch fi i helpu chi. Pleidleisiwch Orla ar gyfer Iechyd Meddwl.

VOTE

manifesto 2018

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STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES OFFICER Swyddog Myfyrwyr ag Anableddau

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DIMITRA PSYCHARI

Hello everybody, My name is Dimitra and I study LLM Human rights. Cardiff is a very friendly student city for everyone. Though, as a student with disabilities myself, during the months I study in Cardiff I have noticed a lot of stuff that could be improved to make our student experience even better. There are a couple of things that are crucial to implement : • Tackle ableism and stigma with informational campaigns and events organised in the student union • Make university halls more accessible to students with mobility issues. (The majority of Talybont houses have no lifts at all!!)

• Raise awareness for Autism spectrum disorders.

• Mental health: The waiting lines are long both in NHS and Student Support.

Raise the number of people working at the Student Support in order to accommodate students' issues better.

• Harassment of disabled students: No tolerance policy in university and halls.

• Create a platform where students will be able to report their experience and make proposals on what could be improved regarding to disability issues.

Helo bawb, Fi yw Dimitra a dwi’n astudio Hawliau Dynol LLM. Mae Caerdydd yn ddinas myfyrwyr cyfeillgar ar gyfer pawb. Er, fel myfyriwr ag anableddau fy hun, yn ystod y misoedd rwyf wedi astudio yng Nghaerdydd rwyf wedi sylwi y gellir gwella llawer o bethau i wneud profiad y myfyrwyr hyd yn oed yn well. Mae yna gwpwl o bethau sydd yn hanfodol i’w gweithredu :

The Students with Disabilities Officer works to represent the interests of students with disabilities at Union and University level and campaigns on any relevant issues.

Mae’r Swyddog Myfyrwyr ag Anableddau yn gweithio i gynrychioli buddiannau myfyrwyr ag anableddau yn yr Undeb a’r Brifysgol ac ymgyrchu dros unrhyw faterion perthnasol.

• Mynd i’r afael ag ableism a stigma gydag ymgyrchoedd anffurfiol a digwyddiadau o fewn undeb y myfyrwyr.

• Gwneud neuaddau preswyl y brifysgol yn fwy hygyrch i fyfyrwyr sydd â phroblemau symudedd. (Nid oes gan y rhan fwyaf o dai Talybont lifftiau o gwbwl!!)

• Codi ymwybyddiaeth am anhwylderau ar y sbectrwm Awtistiaeth.

• Iechyd meddwl: Mae’r llinellau aros yn y GIG a Chefnogaeth Myfyrwyr yn hir Codi ymwybyddiaeth o’r nifer o bobl sy’n gweithio yn Cefnogaeth i Fyfyrwyr er mwyn darparu ar gyfer materion myfyrwyr yn well.

• Aflonyddu myfyrwyr anabl: Polisi dim goddefgarwch yn y brifysgol a neuaddau.

• Creu llwyfan lle gall fyfyrwyr adrodd eu profiad a gwneud cynigion ar beth gellid ei wella o ran materion anabledd.

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MANIFESTO 2018

ETHICAL & ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER SWYDDOG MOESEGOL AC AMGYLCHEDDOL

The Ethical and Environmental Officer works to represent students’ ethical and environmental interests and campaigns on any relevant issues.

Mae’r Swyddog Moesegol ac Amgylcheddol yn gweithio i gynrychioli buddiannau moesegol ac amgylcheddol myfyrwyr ac yn ymgyrchu dros unrhyw faterion perthnasol.

Ethical & Environmental Officer

manifesto 2018

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SWYDDOG MOESEGOL AC AMGYLCHEDDOL

12

Hello! I’m Nia and I want to represent you on ethical and environmental issues throughout the union and the University.

I am passionate about ethical and environmental topics and how these can have a huge effect on our day to day lives as students. I am a second year Environmental Geography student. During my time here at Cardiff I have submitted a motion to remove plastic straws from the Union, which was successful, set up a movement encouraging local businesses to cut down on their single use plastic pollution and represent the student body both as an academic representative and student ambassador.

If elected, I would campaign to: • Introduce a plastic bottle deposit return scheme • Empower all students on their right to free speech without fear of unfair consequence • Install more water bottle refill stations within the University • Roll out a food waste scheme across all university residences • Lobby Cardiff University to divest from fossil fuels Thank you for taking your time to read my manifesto, I would love to be your Ethics and Environmental Officer. Don’t forget to vote, and please say hello if you see me around campus!

Helo! Fi yw Nia ac rwyf eisiau eich cynrychioli chi ar faterion moesegol ac amgylcheddol ar draws yr Undeb a’r Brifysgol.

Rwyf yn teimlo’n angerddol am bynciau moesegol ac amgylcheddol a sut gall y rhain gael effaith enfawr ar ein bywydau o ddydd i ddydd fel myfyrwyr. Rwyf yn fyfyriwr Daearyddiaeth Amgylcheddol yn fy ail flwyddyn. Yn ystod fy amser yma yng Nghaerdydd rwyf wedi cyflwyno cynnig i gael gwared ar wellt plastig o’r Undeb, a oedd yn llwyddiannus, sefydlu symudiad annog busnesau lleol i dorri i lawr ar eu llygredd plastig untro a chynrychioli'r corff myfyrwyr fel cynrychiolydd academaidd a llysgennad myfyriwr.

Os caf fy ethol, byddaf yn ymgyrchu i: • Cyflwyno cynllun blaendal dychwelyd botel plastig • Grymuso myfyrwyr ar ei hawl i leferydd rhydd heb ofn canlyniad annheg • Gosod mwy o orsafoedd ail-lenwi poteli dŵr yn y Brifysgol • Cyflwyno cynllun gwastraff bwyd ar draws holl breswylfeydd y brifysgol • Lobio’r Prifysgol Caerdydd i ddiddymu tanwydd ffosil Diolch i chi am gymryd eich amser i ddarllen fy maniffesto, byddwn wrth fy modd yn cael fy ethol fel eich Swyddog Moesegol ac Amgylcheddol Cofiwch bleidleisio, a dweud helo os byddwch yn fy ngweld o amgylch y campws!

12

NIA JONES

CALLUM SMITH

Don’t be like Trump! Ethics and the Environment count!

I am Callum Smith, a history student, and a current member of the Students Union’s (SU) Education Executive. I want to make sure that all students at Cardiff University feel represented from all sections of the student community.

As your Ethical and Environmental Officer, I will: • Ensure an end to the culture of censorship within the SU. • Aim to achieve greater participation inside the SU from all sections of the student community.

• Create new ethical teaching schemes – such as Religious and Spiritual Understanding.

• Secure more food options for students who are vegan and have religious dietary requirements.

• Aim to reduce the use of plastic across the University and SU. • Target that more recycled paper is used over the University and SU. • Ensure that food and drink are provided in more environmentally sustainable products – such as introducing a refillable cup scheme.

• Add more water-saving toilets across the university.

• Lobby the university on greater investment into renewal energy.

• Invite alumni back to discuss ethical and environmental issues.

Vote Callum Smith and let’s make the SU great again!

Peidiwch bod fel Trump! Mae Moeseg a’r Amgylchedd yn bwysig!

Fi yw Callum Smith, myfyriwr hanes, ac aelod presennol o Bwyllgor Gweithredol Addysg Undeb y Myfyrwyr. Rwyf am wneud yn si r bod holl fyfyrwyr ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd yn teimlo fel eu bod yn cael eu cynrychioli gan holl adrannau o’r gymuned myfyrwyr.

Fel eich Swyddog Moesegol ac Amgylcheddol, byddaf yn: • Sicrhau diwedd ar ddiwylliant sensoriaeth o fewn yr Undeb.

• Anelu i sicrhau mwy o gyfranogiad o fewn yr Undeb gan holl rannau o’r gymuned myfyrwyr.

• Creu cynlluniau dysgu moesegol newydd – megis Dealltwriaeth Ysbrydol a Chrefyddol.

• Sicrhau mwy o ddewisiadau bwyd ar gyfer myfyrwyr sydd yn fegan a chael gofynion dietegol crefyddol.

• Anelu i leihau defnydd o blastig ar draws y Brifysgol a’r Undeb.

• Targedu bod mwy o bapur ailgylchu yn cael ei ddefnyddio ar draws y Brifysgol a’r Undeb.

• Sicrhau y darperir bwyd a diod mewn cynhyrchion mwy amgylcheddol gynaliadwy – megis cyflwyno cynllun ail-lenwi cwpan.

• Ychwanegu mwy o doiledau arbed d r ar draws y brifysgol.

• Lobïo’r brifysgol i fuddsoddi yn fwy mewn ynni adnewyddu.

• Gwahodd cyn-fyfyrwyr yn ôl i drafod materion moesegol ac amgylcheddol.

Pleidleisiwch Callum Smith a gadewch i ni wneud yr Undeb yn wych eto!

manifesto 2018

LGBT+ Officer (Women’s) Swyddog LHDT+ (Merched)

12

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HANNAH RYAN

My name is Hannah Ryan, I am a second year student in English Literature with History, a keen member of the Student Advice Executive Team, and someone that wants to ensure that LGBT+ issues at Cardiff are listened to and cared for.

As an LGBT+ student myself, I believe that is essential that all students here at our university should feel comfortable and safe at all times, regardless of their expressions of gender and sexuality. No student should be afraid to live as their authentic self and, as LGBT+ Women’s Officer, I plan to do all that I can to ensure that every LGBT+ individual at Cardiff is made to feel that they can be as open as they like. If I were to be elected as LGBT+ Women’s Officer, I would: • Ensure that more students are aware of the services and support at the Students Union for LGBT+ individuals • Provide regular forums and spaces in which LGBT+ students can discuss the issues that they feel most passionate about and inspire the university to do something about them • Work closely with CU+ Pride to encourage engagement with LGBT+ centred societies from students Fy enw i yw Hannah Ryan, rwyf yn fyfyriwr llenyddiaeth Saesneg a Hanes yn fy ail flwyddyn, rwy’n aelod brwd o Bwyllgor Gweithredol Cyngor Myfyrwyr, a rhywun sydd eisiau sicrhau bod materion LHDT+ yng Nghaerdydd yn cael eu clywed.

Fel myfyriwr LHDT+ fy hun, credaf ei fod yn hanfodol i bob myfyriwr y brifysgol deimlo'n gyfforddus a diogel bob amser, waeth beth yw eu mynegiannau rhywedd a rhywioldeb. Ni ddylai unrhyw fyfyriwr fod yn ofn i fyw bywyd fel nhw eu hun ac, fel Swyddog LHDT+ Merched, rwyf yn cynllunio gwneud popeth o fewn fy ngallu i sicrhau bod pob unigolyn LHDT+ yng Nghaerdydd yn teimlo eu bod yn gallu bod mor agored ag yr hoffent. Os caf fy ethol fel Swyddog LHDT+ Mercher, byddaf yn: • Sicrhau bod mwy o fyfyrwyr yn ymwybodol o’r gwasanaethau a’r cymorth yn Undeb y Myfyrwyr ar gyfer unigolion LHDT+ • Darparu fforymau rheolaidd a mannau lle gall fyfyrwyr LHDT+ drafod y materion sy’n bwysig iddyn nhw ac ysbrydoli’r brifysgol i wneud rhywbeth amdanynt • Gweithio'n agos gyda Pride PC i annog ymgysylltiad â chymdeithasau LHDT+ gan fyfyrwyr

The LGBT+ Officer (Women's) role is to represent Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans* and Plus students' interests and to campaign on any relevant issues.

Rôl y Swyddog LHDT+ (Merched) yw cynrychioli buddiannau myfyrwyr Lesbiaidd, Hoyw, Ddeurywiol, Traws* a Phlws ac i ymgyrchu ar faterion perthnasol.

LGBT+ Officer (Women’s)

manifesto 2018

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SWYDOG LHDT+(MERCHED)

12 AMY GEORGE

12 EMILY MILLWARD

I’m Emily, a lesbian feminist studying Philosophy and English Literature, and hoping to be LGBT+ women’s officer.

In a society that’s traditionally seen women only in terms of what they can be to men, women who deviate from heterosexual or cisgender ‘norms’ may face unique challenges like compulsory heterosexuality- as well as marginalisation within both feminist and LGBT+ groups. The officer’s role is crucial to providing intersectional support between the LGBT+ and women’s initiatives at university.

I will ensure LGBT+ women feel represented by our governing body by listening to any concerns students may have, and by liaising with the women’s and LGBT+ officers to make sure we are given consideration.

Furthermore, I aim to start a dialogue asking whether to create a new role for a transgender officer, and whether there are enough groups and events catering specifically for LGBT+ women.

I’m also currently involved in a group trying to organise a workshop for minorities in Philosophy at Cardiff. I’d love to work with students from other courses to set up similar initiatives wherever needed.

Overall, I want the chance to make sure we’re included and represented in the university, and to raise the voices of other LGBT+ women.

Fi yw Emily, rwyf yn ffeminist lesbiaidd yn astudio Athroniaeth a Llenyddiaeth Saesneg, ac yn gobeithio bod yn swyddog merched LHDT+.

Mewn cymdeithas sydd yn draddodiadol wedi gweld menywod ar ran beth gallant ei fod ar gyfer dynion, gall ferched sy’n gwyro o’r ‘normau’ heterorywiol a cisgender wynebu heriau unigryw megis heterorywiaeth gorfodol - yn ogystal ag ymleiddio o fewn y grwpiau ffeministaidd a LHDT+. Mae’r rôl swyddog yn hollbwysig i ddarparu cymorth croestoriadol rhwng mentrau LHDT+ a merched yn y brifysgol.

Byddaf yn sicrhau bod merched LHDT+ yn cael eu cynrychioli gan ein corff llywodraethu drwy wrando ar unrhyw bryderon sydd gan fyfyrwyr, a drwy gysylltu â’r swyddogion merched a LHDT+ i sicrhau ein bod yn cael ei hystyried.

At hynny, fy nod yw dechrau deialog yn gofyn a ddylid creu rôl newydd ar gyfer swyddog trawsryweddol, ac os oes digon o grwpiau a ddigwyddiadau yn cael eu darparu yn benodol ar gyfer merched LHDT+.

Rwyf hefyd ar hyn o bryd yn cymryd rhan mewn gr p sy’n ceisio trefnu gweithdy ar gyfer lleiafrifoedd mewn Athroniaeth yng Nghaerdydd. Byddwn wrth fy modd yn gweithio â myfyrwyr o gyrsiau eraill i sefydlu mentrau tebyg lle bo angen.

Yn gyffredinol, rwyf eisiau’r cyfle i wneud yn si r ein bod yn cael ein cynnwys a’n cynrychioli yn y brifysgol, a chodi lleisiau merched LHDT+ eraill.

Hello / Shwmae! I’m Amy, a second-year Welsh and History student and I’m running to be your LGBT+ Women’s Officer. As a member of the LGBT+ community, I would like to participate in supporting other LGBT+ students by ensuring that we are properly represented in our University. I’m currently part of the new UMCC (Welsh-Speaking Students’ Union) to represent Welshspeaking students so I have experience in representing voices of smaller student communities but would like to expand this further.

Main areas of interest: • LGBT+ awareness As well as supporting LGBT+ History Month, I would like to work with the LGBT+ Association to run smaller awareness campaigns for each sect of the LGBT+ community to combat stereotypes, so that the wider student population can gain a better understanding of the community and become better allies.

• Supporting all parts of the LGBT+ community Supporting the underrepresented parts of our community such as transgender & non-binary students through various initiatives like lobbying for gender-neutral toilets with the LGBT+ Open Officer, and as well as represent bisexual students and LGBT+ BAME students by raising awareness of the increasing marginalisation of these groups, both on campus and in the wider world.

Shwmae! Fi yw Amy, myfyriwr Cymraeg a Hanes yn fy ail flwyddyn ac yn sefyll i fod eich Swyddog LHDT+ Merched chi. Fel aelod o’r gymuned LHDT+, hoffwn gymryd rhan yn cefnogi myfyrwyr LHDT+ eraill drwy sicrhau ein bod yn cael ein cynrychioli yn iawn yn ein Prifysgol. Rwyf ar hyn o bryd yn rhan o’r UMCC i gynrychioli myfyrwyr Cymraeg eu hiaith felly mae gen i’r profiad yn cynrychioli lleisiau cymunedau myfyrwyr llai ond hoffwn ehangu hyn ymhellach.

Prif feysydd o ddiddordeb: • Ymwybyddiaeth LHDT+ Yn ogystal â chefnogi Mis Hanes LHDT+, hoffwn weithio gyda’r Gymdeithas LHDT+ i gynnal ymgyrchoedd ymwybyddiaeth llai ar gyfer pob rhan o’r gymuned LHDT+ i frwydro yn erbyn ystrydebau, fel bod y boblogaeth fyfyrwyr ehangach yn ennill dealltwriaeth gwell o’r gymuned a dod yn gynghreiriaid gwell.

• Cefnogi pob rhan o’r gymuned LHDT+ Cefnogi rhannau o#n cymuned sydd wedi eu tangynrychioli er enghraifft myfyrwyr trawsryweddol ac anneuaidd drwy fentrau gwahanol megis lobïo ar gyfer toiledau niwtral ar ran rhyw gyda’r Swyddog LHDT+ Agored, yn ogystal â chynrychioli myfyrwyr deurywiol a myfyrwyr BAME LHDT+ drwy godi ymwybyddiaeth o’r ymyleiddio cynyddol o fewn y grwpiau hyn, ar y campws ac yn y byd ehangach.

manifesto 2018

Swyddog y Gymraeg welsh language officer

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Jacob MORRIS

Amdanaf i:

Myfyriwr yn y flwyddyn gyntaf sy'n astudio Cymraeg a Gwleidyddiaeth, brodor o Lanelli, yn eistedd ar Senedd Cymdeithas yr Iaith. Yn llwyr angerddol dros Gymru a'r Gymraeg.

• Pe bawn i'n ddigon ffodus i gael fy ail-ethol i'r swydd, addawaf i wireddu'r canlynol: • I ymchwilio i farn myfyrwyr ynghylch y posibilrwydd o un Bloc Cymraeg yn Senghenydd yn hytrach na fflatiau Cymraeg ar wasgar.

• Parhau i weithio yn erbyn y drefn bresennol o orfod cofrestru flaenllaw i sefyll arholiadau yn Gymraeg.

• Hyrwyddo digwyddiadau cymdeithasol i fyfyrwyr Cymraeg y brifysgol a Chaerdydd: UMCC, YGym Gym, Cymdeithas Iolo, CMCC, Cymdeithas yr Iaith.

• I frwydro'n ddiflino dros fyfyrwyr Cymraeg y brifysgol am unrhyw bryderon sydd ganddynt.

About me: I’m a first year Student studying Welsh and Politics, from Llanelli, and I sit ond Cymdeithas yr Iaith’s Senate. I am fully passionate about Wales and the Welsh Language.

• If I were lucky enough to be re-elected for the role, I promise to achieve the following: • Research students’ opinion about the possibility of having one Welsh Block in Senghennydd instead of seperate Welsh flats.

• Continue to work against the current procedure of having to register before hand to sit exams in Welsh.

• Promote social events to the university’s Welsh students and Cardiff: UMCC, YGym Gym, Cymdeithas Iolo, CMCC, Cymdeithas yr Iaith.

• Fight on behalf of the university’s Welsh students about any concerns they have might have.

Mae’r Swyddog y Gymraeg yn gyfrifol am gynrychioli buddiannau myfyrwyr sy’n siarad Cymraeg yn y Brifysgol o fewn strwythurau’r Undeb a, lle y bo’n briodol, strwythurau’r Brifysgol.

The Welsh Language Officer is responsible for representing the interests of Welsh speaking students at the University within the structures of the Union and where appropriate, the University.

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LGBT+ Officer (open) Swyddog LHDT+ (Agored)

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JOSHUA LEWIS

Shwmae!

I’m Josh – your current LGBT+ Officer and Co-President of the LGBT+ Association!

I’m standing to be your LGBT+ Open Place Officer again so that I can carry on the work I have already done! With my experience as a current charity trustee, LGBT+ and Youth Officer for a political party, I know how to represent YOU! If I were re-elected I would: • Continue to run weekly drop-in sessions for all LGBT+ students and allies to come and ask questions, get advice and help!

• Continue to campaign alongside ENFYS to install gender neutral bathroom facilities in Cardiff University buildings!

• Ensure a heavy presence during LGBT+ history month around the Student Union.

• Continue to encourage the LGBT+ Association to work on educational and supportive events throughout the year.

• Continue the push to end bi-erasure.

• Ensure a positive and supportive network for all LGBT+ students within CU PRIDE and the LGBT+ Association.

I have loved my time as LGBT+ Officer and don’t want it to end! Thank you for considering voting for me! Any questions, please email LewisJ63@cardiff.ac.uk Shwmae!

Fi yw Josh – eich Swyddog LHDT+ presennol a chyd-lywydd y Gymdeithas LHDT+!

Rwyf yn sefyll ar gyfer y rôl Swyddog LHDT+ Agored eto fel y byddaf yn gallu parhau â’r gwaith rwyf wedi’i wneud yn barod! Gyda fy mhrofiad fel ymddiriedolwr elusen bresennol, Swyddog LHDT+ a Phobl Ifanc ar gyfer plaid wleidyddol, rwyf yn gwybod sut i’ch cynrychioli CHI!

The LGBT+ Officer (Open) role is to represent Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans* and Plus students’ interests and to campaign on any relevant issues.

Rôl y Swyddog LHDT+ (Agored) yw cynrychioli buddiannau myfyrwyr Lesbiaidd, Hoyw, Ddeurywiol, Traws* a Phlws ac i ymgyrchu ar faterion perthnasol.

Os caf fy ail-ethol, byddaf yn: • Parhau i gynnal sesiynau galw heibio wythnosol ar gyfer holl fyfyrwyr LHDT+ a chynghreiriaid i ofyn cwestiynau, cael cyngor a chymorth!

• Parhau i ymgyrchu ochr yn ochr ag ENFYS i osod ystafelloedd ymolchi niwtral o ran rhyw yn adeiladau Prifysgol Caerdydd!

• Sicrhau presenoldeb trwm yn ystod mis hanes LHDT+ o amgylch Undeb y Myfyrwyr.

• Parhau i annog y Gymdeithas LHDT+ i weithio ar ddigwyddiadau addysgol a chefnogol yn ystod y flwyddyn.

• Parhau i wthio i gael gwared ar ‘bi-erasure’.

• Sicrhau rhwydwaith cadarnhaol a chefnogol ar gyfer holl fyfyrwyr LHDT+ o fewn PRIDE PC a’r Gymdeithas LHDT+.

Rwyf wedi mwynhau fy amser fel Swyddog LHDT+ ac nid wyf am iddo orffen!

Diolch am ystyried pleidleisio drosof fi! Unrhyw gwestiynau, anfonwch e-bost at LewisJ63@caerdydd.ac.uk

manifesto 2018

MATURE STUDENTS’ OFFICER SWYDDOG MYFYRWYR HYN

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MARTHA HUGHES

If elected, I aim to:

• Ensure mature students, no matter what their age, feel represented and involved in student life.

• Build a stronger community amongst mature students both on campus and online to support one another and make new friends.

• Provide clear guidance to both new and existing mature students as to services available at our university such as mental health services, financial support, math and writing support.

• Ensure that these services continue to consider the specific needs of mature students.

• Be an active presence on campus, and online, for all mature students to approach by making myself available weekly to students who may require support.

• Ensure activities and societies are considering the needs of mature students by holding socials which allow students of all ages to participate, connect and integrate.

• Let people know that mature students come from a range of backgrounds and ages but can still be fun and contributing members of university!

Os caf fy ethol, byddaf yn:

The Mature Students' Officer role is to represent mature student’s interests and to campaign on any relevant issues.

Rôl y Swyddog Myfyrwyr Hyn yw cynrychioli myfyrwyr hyn ac ymgyrchu ar unrhyw faterion perthnasol.

• Sicrhau bod myfyrwyr h n, beth bynnag eu hoedran, yn teimlo fel eu bod yn cael eu cynrychioli ac yn cymryd rhan mewn bywyd myfyrwyr.

• Adeiladu cymuned gryfach ymysg myfyrwyr h n ar y campws ac ar-lein i gefnogi ei gilydd a gwneud ffrindiau newydd.

• Darparu canllawiau clir i fyfyrwyr h n newydd a chyfredol yngl n â gwasanaethau sydd ar gael yn ein prifysgol megis gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl, cymorth ariannol, cymorth mathemateg ac ysgrifennu.

• Sicrhau bod y gwasanaethau hyn yn parhau i ystyried anghenion penodol myfyrwyr h n.

• Bod yn weithgar ar y campws, ac ar-lein, fel bod holl fyfyrwyr h n yn gallu dod ataf, drwy fod ar gael yn wythnosol i fyfyrwyr sydd angen cymorth.

• Sicrhau bod gweithgareddau a chymdeithasau yn ystyried anghenion myfyrwyr h n drwy gynnal digwyddiadau cymdeithasol sy'n caniatáu i fyfyrwyr o bob oed i gymryd rhan, i gysylltu ac integreiddio.

• Rhoi gwybod i bobl bod myfyrwyr h n yn dod o wahanol cefndiroedd ac oedran ond yn dal i gallu fod aelodau hwyl sy’n cyfrannu at y brifysgol!

MATURE STUDENTS’ OFFICER

manifesto 2018

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SWYDDOG MYFYRWYR HYN

12 JANET WILLIAMS

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JURA NEVERAUSKAITE No manifesto uploaded.

Heb gyflwyno maniffesto.

Shwmae, I am running for the Mature Student to continue and reinforce my last manifesto but also to expand it to encompass extra support for mature students.

So far, I have run meetups, met with individuals and involved others in support of mature students. I have worked with other sabbatical and campaign officers to organise events for mature students and Parents including Family Day. I have consulted University tutors in relation to the support they can give. I am presently consulting with others on a number of issues including Mature Student Booklet, Extenuating Circumstances and the recognition of Carers. As I was only elected in November, I feel I have achieved most of what I set out in the last manifesto, however there is still loads to achieve. I would like to add in extra goals, one of them to get a committee together to help me organise more events, e.g. Film Night. I will be going around various mature student groups where they exist in order to collect your thoughts. I am particularly keen to help part time/ distance learning and those at the Heath and Llandough. I will be working with others to achieve these goals.

Cheers Janet.

Shwmae, dwi’n sefyll ar gyfer Swyddog Myfyrwyr H n i barhau ac atgyfnerthu fy maniffesto diwethaf ond hefyd i’w ehangu i gwmpasu cymorth ychwanegol ar gyfer myfyrwyr h n. Hyd yma, rwyf wedi cynnal digwyddiadau cwrdd, wedi cyfarfod gydag unigolion a chael eraill i gymryd rhan i gefnogi myfyrwyr h n. Rwyf wedi gweithio â swyddogion sabothol ac ymgyrch eraill i drefnu digwyddiadau ar gyfer myfyrwyr h n a rhieni gan gynnwys Diwrnod Teulu. Rwyf wedi ymgynghori â thiwtoriaid y Brifysgol mewn perthynas â’r cymorth y gallant ei roi. Rwyf ar hyn o bryd yn ymgynghori gydag eraill ar nifer o faterion gan gynnwys Llyfryn Myfyrwyr H n, Amgylchiadau Esgusodol a chydnabod gofalwyr. Gan fy mod ond wedi cael fy ethol ym mis Tachwedd, rwyf yn teimlo fel fy mod wedi llwyddo i gyflawni’r rhan fwyaf o’r hyn a oedd ar fy maniffesto diwethaf, fodd bynnag mae dal llawer i’w gyflawni. Hoffwn ychwanegu nodau ychwanegol, un ohonynt i gael pwyllgor at ei gilydd i helpu mi i drefnu mwy o ddigwyddiadau, e.e Noson Ffilm. Byddaf yn mynd o amgylch grwpiau myfyrwyr h n gwahanol lle maent yn bodoli er mwyn casglu eich barn. Rwyf yn benodol yn awyddus i helpu’r rhai sy’n dysgu rhan amser / o bell a’r rheini sydd yn y Mynydd Bychan a Llandough. Byddaf yn gweithio gydag eraill i gyrraedd y nodau hyn.

Diolch Janet.

manifesto 2018

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HANIN ABOU SALEM

Women’s Officer SWYDDOG MERCHED

The Women’s Officer works to represent women students’ interests and campaigns on any relevant issues.

Mae Swyddog Merched yn gweithio i gynrychioli buddiannau myfyrwyr sy’n ferched ac ymgyrchu dros unrhyw faterion perthnasol.

No manifesto submitted.

Heb gyflwyno maniffesto.

student volunteering week monday 19th - sunday 25th February 2018

Wythnos Gwirfoddoli Myfyrwyr Dydd Llun 19eg - Dydd Sul 25ain Chwefror 2018

For more details about events visit: Am fwy o fanylion am y digwyddiadau ewch i: cardiffstudents.com/volunteering For enquiries, please contact: Os oes gennych unrhyw gwestiynau, cysylltwch â: Volunteering@Cardiff.ac.uk

Pam pleidleisio? “ Oherwydd democratiaeth = pwer i’r bobl” Etholiadau’r Gwanwyn 2018 Pleidleisio’n agor: 09:00 19eg Chwefror Pleidleisio’n cau: 17:00 23ain Chwefror

Astroid Boyz

Hannah Wants

The Rend Collective

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ADVICE

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advice

#GRAdvice advice@gairrhydd.com gairrhydd.com/category/advice

A guide to booking holidays with friends

Lydia Caunce

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It’s better to speak up and find a middle ground

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t’s that time of year again, everybody is sick of the rain and starting to look for the perfect sunny location that will become a beacon of hope and get them through their 9ams. Booking holidays with friends is something that can be a nightmare.

A lack of communication and different ideas is almost always a recipe for disaster, and if not executed properly, this whole process will end in tears and fallouts. Something nobody wants, especially with their friends.

Whilst it’s easy to fall into the trap and end up with no holiday booked at all, it can all be avoided by following a few simple steps.

Set a time that you all can meet and properly discuss your ideas. Talking over the whatsapp group is never going to work, as there’s always going to be someone who doesn’t like any of the ideas suggested but never speaks up, and they will be the first to complain. Meeting over a takeaway and having a casual chat about who

wants to go where is always the best way to establish what type of holiday you’re going on. Whilst it may be awkward at first saying you don’t want to go somewhere a friend has got their sights set on, it’s better to speak up and find a middle ground that you’re all happy with than going along with it. Whether you’re interrailing, travelling around the world to Australia, or literally just want a pool holiday in a hot country without communicating properly you’ll end up bored and at home all summer. Or even worse, paying for a holiday you don’t even really want to go on.

When having the conversation about location, never forget to mention that all important detail - budget.

In an ideal world money would be no object when picking your perfect holiday, but this is the real world and for the most part we’re all broke students.

Holidays can be as cheap or expensive as you make them, however if you have £400 in the bank and you all decide

you’re going to Bali, it has to be accepted that it just isn’t possible. Speaking up and telling your friends that you can’t afford a certain place isn’t something to be embarrassed about.

However, if you establish a budget in the first place you can avoid these expectations being crushed when it just isn’t feasible, and you can all be on the same page from day one.

Without communicating you’ll end up bored and at home all summer You’ve finally reached a milestone now, you’ve all decided on where you want to go, your budget has been established and finally the end is in sight.

You almost have a holiday booked with no fatal injuries. There’s just one thing left to do - actually book it all. At this point, if you haven’t been super organised and been able to do all of this

in one night, bring back your friends and reconvene once again for the final time. For some holidays it is better to book in at a travel agents, and if this is the case make sure your whole group can come to the meeting, as there is always that one that says they’ll ‘book onto the holiday next week’ and never does. It’s not the end of the world, but still not ideal. However, if this holiday is something you’re booking yourself online, you want everyone to be there to make sure that the hotel you pick is up to everybody’s standard. No one wants to have the blame put onto them because they were in charge of hotels.

Whilst it may be easier said than done, it is more than possible to book a holiday with your friends and come out with little to no battle scars. By following this guide you should be able to book the holidays of all your friends dreams, and have something to help you get motivated to finish the term.

Pictured: Life’s a beach Source: wka (flickr)

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Harry Dixon

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Restrict your social media use gradually each day

T

Decluttering Your Life: 3 Steps to Rejuvenation

he act of decluttering may to some seem reserved for the hoarders seen on TV as we sit aghast at the mountains of junk in which they live; or it may feel a bit too eccentric an endeavour to take seriously as something only a quirky uncle or hermit living in the forest might undertake. But I propose that that a moderate amount of decluttering need not be a chore or a difficult task, but one in which any individual can find a degree of rejuvenation in body and mind, along with spades more spare time to invest in worthwhile pursuits.

The first and foremost aspect of decluttering is going to be the physical downsizing. The old clothes piled up in your wardrobe and room, the once loved books and films, the various trinkets and ornaments collected over the years, are they really necessary anymore? Now, it is not the idea to immediately discard all your belongings in one frantic go, no. A gradual process of deciding what still plays a valuable role in your life is a more practical and realistic method of decluttering. Try letting go of a few disused items each day.

Admittedly it is difficult at first, but ruthlessness is key here. If you don’t wear that old pair of dungarees anymore, or haven’t used that old lava

lamp you got for your 13th birthday, perhaps it is time to say goodbye.

Not only will you have more space ,but there will be simply less ‘stuff ’ to fill your eye-line and worry about in your living or working space; you should feel happier and less overwhelmed in whatever environment.

Next comes an equally important, perhaps even more so step: digi-

Are the various trinkets and ornaments collected over the year really necessary? tal decluttering. This is a means by which you can mentally declutter and make space, to accompany the newfound physical space you have. A reasonable first step might be trying to restrict social-media use gradually each day, or only using it at certain times. This will in turn shift focus from the lives of others, which the hours of mindless scrolling encourage, and onto your own life, hopefully instilling more focus, and a greater enjoyment, for the activities you like to pursue. A further step is to reorganise your phone’s layout: are there a slew of old apps stagnating in your

CYNGOR

phone acting as eyesore and obstacle when you need to find something?

Remove them. Seeing how important the phones are to daily existence now, it would make sense to declutter it with the same assiduity that you would your bedroom.

A final step which is conjunction with the previous, and may not apply for everyone, is the practice of mindfulness and meditation. There are a lot of misconceptions surrounding these practices and you needn’t be a monk isolated in a Tibetan monastery to enjoy a little meditation. The Scientific backing behind meditation is growing daily and among its many benefits are reduced anxiety, reduced stress, greater concentration, and for us – the one’s seeking less clutter – a greater sense of awareness regarding our mental space. Starting with 10 minutes a day and being consistent should see your head feeling clearer and tidier, and with acclaimed free Apps like ‘Headspace’ it has never been easier.

Decluttering is something that I’m sure most of us need in our lives and with these steps it has never been easier. It will not only help you physically, but also assist you in organising your studies and having an all round easier time whilst at uni so there’s no excuse not to start now.

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Pictured: a cluttered bookcase Source: planningqueen (Via Flickr)

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How to get motivated for the term ahead A few tips for final term...

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Pictured: a girl reading about how to get motivated Source: ruby Tuesday (Via Flickr)

new year, a new term, a new you. Except it isn’t. You and I both know, deep down, we haven’t changed an iota since we shovelled down that first mince pie last November. Nevertheless, here we are, halfway through February, promising ourselves that this year isn’t going to get the better of us. So, how are you planning on doing it?

What is it going to take for you to go to every lecture and seminar? It might just be that you’re not feeling your best, and that’s okay, all is not lost.

Like all things, it’s good to know where and when problems started so you can more easily rectify them.

The same applies to motivation. Say that last year you caught a cold and as a result you were tired for the following week(s), somehow missing that crucial piece of advice for the exam in that last lecture. Now, understandably, you didn’t choose to catch that cold. But you could have perhaps made a few changes to your routine so that you weren’t constantly thinking of sleep. This doesn’t necessarily mean you should

immediately start stockpiling industrial amounts of Berocca for the next time you get a case of the sniffles, just consider the things that may have been keeping you back, and might be stopping you from feeling pumped up for the rest of the year.

It could be that 2017 ended with you feeling slightly jaded and as a result, you’re generally unmoved by the possibilities and sights that lay ahead. That’s understandable, Cathays isn’t exactly Cannes.

So, although you can’t exactly up and travel the world, you can still make a few changes to your lifestyle which might make you feel slightly better about yourself (and/or the world). For example, as much as I enjoy deriding joggers, I do understand why they always seem to be so happy when telling me about their unrequited love for kale. Walking does make me feel more relaxed, less stressed and overall slightly less neurotic.

Getting up early on a Sunday morning and walking to Pontcanna bridge and back again (I never said I adored walking either) does clear the mind ready for the week ahead.

Even walking around town is good, as there is always something going on. In any case, virtually anything is better than staying in bed until 3pm

regretting every life decision that got you there.

It might be that the workload is getting to you or seems unnervingly daunting. Now, I’m not going to start

You could perhaps make a few changes to your routine... pontificating “useful work tips”, but just remember the first paragraph, figure out what’s keeping you back, or that has kept you back before and think of ways to counter it.

Your life might be stressful for other reasons too. You could be a fresher in a long distance relationship, living with disruptive housemates, or even be a third year humanities student who has no idea what to do after next summer. As someone who has been in similar situations, I can guarantee that a conversation with either a counsellor or an employment officer (or even both) can do a world of good.

Get that weight off your shoulders and start to get motivated. No-one likes feeling stressed, and, for me, that’s the main reason why the end of the year sometimes seems so far out of reach.

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Seeing how far you’ve come motivates you to keep going

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Anthony Stonestreet

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Martha Hughes

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It may be worth considering getting a smart meter

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How to save money as a student

s we move further into the term, the ever-shrinking student loan is looking more depleted by the day. Saving money is something I never really mastered until my 20’s, but here’s a few words of wisdom I have acquired along the way for when it comes to making that loan last a little longer.

The first, but perhaps the hardest thing to do: quit the meal deals (particularly those extra expensive ones from Bute café). This might sound simple but over a year, these lunches out can rack up a ghastly bill of up to £500 over a year’s time! Try to do as much meal prep as possible throughout the week so that you’ll have leftovers to take with you for lunch instead.

Another way to save on food is to cook together with flatmates or friends. By planning meals together, not only is this great for money-saving, it’s also great for a fun night in (for when you don’t want to spend a small fortune on a Wednesday night at the SU). ‘BBC Good Food’ has a student section with affordable, but delicious, meal ideas.

A great way to keep on top of your finances is to download a free money tracking app. A lot of these are quick and easy to use and let you instantly

see how you’re spending a lot of your loan. This can even be useful to pinpoint any spikes in your spending that could be avoided in the future.

There’s also apps that will help you set a budget, and hopefully stick to it. Take a look at ‘Goodbudget’ ‘OnTrees’ or ‘Money Dashboard’.

Planning meals together is not only great for saving money, but also a fun housemate activity

of course, it’s totally free!

Energy-saving is another easy way to save on the loan if you’re living in a student house. Simple things such as turning off all the lights when you leave the room, taking shorter showers and all using the oven at the same time can make a difference.

It may also be worth considering getting a smart meter; you don’t need to ask your landlord for permission for this but it may be best to

let them know. Installation should be free and it’s a brilliant way to accurately track your usage and help keep costs low.

These may only be small changes but they do add up over time; by the end of the term you’ll hopefully find yourself a little less stressed over finances and with more time and energy to focus on your studies and even have a little extra money in your pocket.

Pictured: money, money, money Source: 401(K)2013(Via Flickr)

Something else to consider is switching bank accounts; there are student bank accounts with great offers of larger overdrafts such as CoOp, or NatWest offer free railcards or even cashback when you pay your bills. Not to mention some banks such as Nationwide offer a lovely lump sum of up to £100 for switching.

If you’ve not yet heard of Unidays, you’ve probably be living under a rock! Unidays has hundreds of offers for both high-street and online shops, restaurants, gyms and more.

It also comes in handy when you’ve misplaced your student ID and you need to prove you’re a student, and

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Badvice: How to get your ex back Pictured: a couple that shouldn’t be together Source: sole treadmill (Via Pixabay)

Sarah Harris

‘‘

Figure out where you went wrong in the first place

A

s famous literary scholar, Dua Lipa, once said, ‘if you’re under him, you ain’t getting over him.’ Yes, this is the same Dua Lipa who just recently broke her own ‘new rules’ and ended her current relationship with her boyfriend and has ironically, gone back to her ex. As Badvice columnist, I condone a lot of unacceptable actions, yet, even I firmly believe that once they’re an ex, they should be just that. Even then, I shall continue to give you poor guidance and hopefully, score you a post Valentine’s Day date with your old beau.

The first step to getting back your ex, is figuring out where you went wrong in the first place. Identify the problems you faced as a couple and see if they’re something you can resolve on your own. Maybe the prob-

lem was that you were too crabby all the time? If so, try and learn how to relax, if you want to be given another chance that is. However, if the problem was that your ex couldn’t keep it in their pants and had serious commitment and faithfulness issues, then maybe it’s better that you just block their ass and move on. As unfortunate as it is, some people just can’t be changed.

However, if you do single handily resolve the issues your relationship faced, you can move on the next step and that is making yourself irresistible as possible. If your glow up is still pending, then this is the time to make sure you can get yourself to the best you possibly can be, whether it be physically or mentally, make your old partner realise what they’re miss-

ing out on.

As bitter as it sounds, making your ex jealous is usually the way to go if you want them to come crawling back. Flaunt your new-found independence and happiness in their face and maybe even flirt with a stranger or two. Nothing will make their blood boil more than seeing you laugh with and enjoy the company of someone else, when it really should be them putting a smile on your face. So, make sure they think you’ve moved on and your happy, even if really you cry in to your pillow every night.

By this point hopefully, they will have reached out to you and made it clear that they’re interested in giving it another go. But don’t just jump straight in to the boat. Make sure they’re aware of what needs to

change in order for the relationship to be successful and they acknowledged that you’ve grown as a person.

If they don’t then seriously consider whether they’re worth taking back (even if you really want a spooning buddy).

I’m sure if you’re reading this, you’ve put a great deal of thought and consideration in to what may seem like an impossible task but it’s very much possible and achievable so don’t give up hope just yet. You’ll get them back eventually and hopefully this time, it’ll stick. But first, let me part you with some advice and tell you not to bring down your own self-worth in the process. And alas, I promise to give you worse advice next week because in all honesty, this may prove to be more useful than not.

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column

ACCIDENTAL ADVICE

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#AccidentalAdvice gairrhydd.com/category/advicecolumn

8,058 Days Later

Lessons I’ve learnt after 22 years

O

n the 24th January 2018, I celebrated my twenty-second birthday. The days approaching this date were filled with a mix of emotion; whilst I appreciated that I wasn’t going to be attending linedancing classes and applying for a bus pass any time soon, I knew that the year I turned twenty-two brought with it a lot of change that simply couldn’t be ignored. For me, twenty-two means graduating, job hunting and career planning. Twenty-two means postgraduate applications and hunts for funding. Twenty-two means moving away from Cardiff and into a flat with my boyfriend. I’ve been enrolled as a student at Cardiff University since September 2014, and the end is now in sight. But what have I learnt in the past 8,058 days on this planet?

It is very easy to overlook how quickly you mature year on year. I like to think I’m exactly the same person that as I was when I started university, but when I reflect I realise that it’s not just my alcohol tolerance that has altered. As the years pass by, our priorities change and so does our attitude.

One of the most important things I’ve learnt in the past three years is how to stay true to myself. Without sound-

ing like a High School Musical extra, I can’t stress how important it is to make sure that everything you are doing is entirely authentic. If you’re not interested in taking the drugs that your flatmates have told you that “everyone does”, then that is totally fine and you shouldn’t feel any pressure to do so. If you don’t want to go to that party, or spend time with that group of people, then don’t. I understand that this can be difficult when you’re literally placed into a house with a number of people and expected to play happy families.

However, there are always likeminded people around you, and the chances are that if you think that a certain person is a bellend, there will be someone else who thinks so, too. This particular life lesson passed me by in my first year, and I largely acted in a way that I thought I should. In fact, I think I’d cringe if I had to be a fly on the wall watching myself weave through the Glam smoking area in September 2014. What I’m trying to say is that as long as you’re not harming yourself or anyone else (I’m sounding like my Mum) you should do whatever you want to do, and not what other people think you should.

In a similar vein, I have recently

learnt how important it is to broaden your mind-set. Many of our degrees teach us how to critically assess, but these skills often pass me by in real life.

I have been guilty in the past of nodding my head and glazing over when particularly complex issues arise, and when pressed for my opinion I usually just replicate those found in my own echo chamber. Therefore, as of late, I have been attempting to take my own initiative, form my own opinions and research the topic at hand. Just because you read one Independent article on an issue does not mean that you are fully informed. Read widely, listen to podcasts and form your own conclusion.

However, that being said, we cannot all be experts in every field. Know that it is okay to ask for help or clarification on a topic, whether that be politics or pop culture. I’ve often felt intimidated by those I consider to be more knowledgeable than I, but have learnt how to feel confident in asking for help. You shouldn’t let anyone make you feel stupid or unworthy for failing to understand a concept, and you should equally acknowledge that you’re allowed to love the Kardashians and be interested in the latest goings-

on in Westminster at the same time.

Being interested in one does not eliminate the other. If you’re interested in learning about current affairs in an accessible manner, I recommend having a listen to The High Low podcast or reading Lauren Duca’s Thigh High Politics column.

There are many other things I’ve learnt over the past twenty-two years, of course. I’ve learnt that skincare can be expensive, but higher quality clothes are worth investing in. I’ve learnt that everyone should buy a diary to record everything you need to do; even if you think you can remember everything yourself (you can’t). I’ve learnt that gossip is inevitable, but you should pick your battles, know when to give your two-pennies-worth and when to walk away. Finally, and most importantly, I have come to the conclusion that Earth, Wind and Fire’s September is the best crowd-pleaser that there is. Many of you may be fooled, as I was, into believing that the crown goes to Come on Eileen, but I can assure you that you are mistaken.

Next time you’re at a social event and feel the mood beginning to dip, whack that on full blast and see the mood change in front of your eyes.

Pictured: What have I learnt since being in Cardiff?

Source: Simon & His Camera (Via Flickr)

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I have been guilty in the past of nodding my head and glazing over when particularly complex issues arise

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Alice Dent

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CAMPUS LIFE

campus life

#GRCampusLife campus.life@gairrhydd.com gairrhydd.com/category/campuslife

Tamil Society:

Breaking the silence

Shamini Baskaran

B

reaking The Silence, a campaign conducted by students across the nation to raise awareness about the Sri Lankan Civil War, made a return this year to Cardiff University, raising £218.60 for an orphanage in Sri Lanka.

Cardiff University’s Tamil Society launched this year’s campaign with a two-day exhibition, on the 14th of November at the Cathays campus in

the Students Union and on the 16th of November at the Heath campus in the IV Lounge.

The exhibition comprised of members of Tamil Society educating and informing students and the general public about the Sri Lankan Civil War, a civil battle between the government and its civilians in an attempt to achieve an independent state.

The Sri Lankan Civil War, a 26 year-

long combat which started in 1983 and ended in 2009, has seen an outrageous death toll of over 100,000, with civilians having to flee their countries to escape the terrors of the war.

From the bombings in ‘No Fire Zones’ to the rapes of innocent women, the aftermath of the war still impacts many people to this day. In the efforts to raise awareness about such atrocities, the members of Tamil Society held these exhibitions, which invoked reactions of shock and horror amongst the students.

Moreover, Tamil Society wanted to have a direct impact on those affected by the war and so held bake sales during the exhibitions which collected a huge sum of £218.60. This was donated to the childrens’ orphanage Serendip, who provide for children affected from the war, by aiding with their educations, supporting children with special needs, and constantly conducting projects to help create a stable future for those children.

In addition to the successful exhibitions, Tamil Society held a talk, called ‘A Tale from Eelam’ on the 22nd of November presented by Boris Hamilton, an MA Photography

student from South Wales University, who has been capturing post-conflict landscapes.

This talk aimed to present the history of the war and its aftermath, through a presentation of his photography work, and invoke a discussion about identity amongst second generation children, whose parents had fled the war.

This eye-opening experience led to many thought provoking discussions and was deemed a success amongst all those present.

Tamil Society is proud of the success of the Breaking The Silence campaign this year, as this year marks their highest sum of money fundraised yet.

Furthermore, Tamil Society would like to extend its gratitude to Amnesty International Society, who partnered up to advertise the talk and to all the volunteers who took part in the exhibitions to break the silence and spread awareness.

Pictured: Above: Different nationalities Source: Alexas_ Fotos, Pixabay Left: Breaking the silence exhibition Source: Cardiff Students’ Union

BYWYD CAMPWS

71

Languages for all: ‘I’d highly recommend it’

Mel Lynch

‘‘

Not only does Languages For All improve your employability but it’s proven to improve the functionality of your brain

T

he UK has arguably seen a lull in academic enthusiasm for language learning, where students are electing to study in other fields. According to a recent analysis by the Press Association, the numbers of applications for degree courses linked to European languages have fallen by almost a quarter in the past five years. Similarly, the analysis revealed that there has been a decline in the numbers studying languages traditionally offered by schools, such as French and German, to GCSE and A-level.

The British Council has expressed its concerns over this decline in language study in post Brexit UK, where Vicky Gough, school’s adviser said: “As the UK comes to reposition itself on the world stage, language skills matter now more than ever.

And with the country already facing a languages shortfall, we must do everything we can to encourage more people to acquire these vital skills”.

From my own experience, I have witnessed student apathy towards languages. For instance, in my year

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Wednesday 7th March 5:30pm

Language Cafe run from the ‘I Want To Ride My Bike’ cafe on Park Place.

during A-levels, only three students opted to study French and shockingly only two students took German.

This lack of in interest is probably due to a number of factors such as quality of teaching available and the time commitment required, although personally I strongly believe the benefits of language learning far outweigh the negatives.

Not only does having knowledge of another language enhance your employability but it has been proven to improve the functionality of your brain by challenging it to recognise, negotiate meaning, and communicate in different language systems.

I was one of the few that opted to take French throughout secondary school as I’ve always been interested in language in general. So upon hearing about Languages for All that Cardiff University offered, I knew I wanted to try it out.

Languages for all is an organisation Universities opt into, where they provide students with weekly lessons, intensive courses and online material to aid them in learn-

ing a language of their choosing, free of charge. All levels of ability are accommodated for and taking part in languages for all is basically like having an extra mini module.

Each course runs for one semester, so even if you can’t dedicate the hours for the whole year, it could be an option to participate for just the autumn or spring term. I ended up signing up for their French course during both semesters of my first year and really enjoyed it.

The structure of each two-hour lesson is very interactive focusing on oral written and reading of the language. I found the content of the lessons incredibly useful, and unlike many other language courses, languages for all promotes the teaching of functional French with specific vocabulary and grammar that would prove useful in everyday life.

This ranged from how to rent out an apartment and phrases/vocabulary necessary when travelling.

With regard to fitting in the lessons around my studies, I found it relative easy.

There are a number of slots to

sign up for so it’s likely there will be one to suit you. From my experience, the majority of the classes ran during the evening so it would be unlikely to clash with your normal university timetable.

Not only did attending the weekly classes improve my fluency but it also gave me the confidence to apply for a school in Paris over the summer to continue learning French.

This turned out to be one of the most rewarding and challenging experiences of my life. I intend to continue studying with Languages for All into my third year and perhaps learning a new language entirely, whilst I still have the support of the University.

Despite statistics reflecting poorly on UK students’ motivation to learn another language, my fellow class mates were all very enthusiastic and happy to have a break from their usual schedule.

In all honesty, I’d highly recommend giving Languages for All a try whilst you still can – it’s completely free and realistically only a commitment of a few hours each week.

Pictured: Highly reconmended LFA is available to all Cardiff Uni Students.

(Via Pixabay)

Which Languages?

Going Abroad?

Currenlty offered are weekly and intensive modules in Arabic, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.

They work closely with Global Opportunities, to help you prepare your linguistic skills before your work, volunteer or study placement abroad.

TAF-OD

ENNILLWYR NEWYDDIADURAETH IAITH GYMRAEG GORAU YNG NGHYMRU 2017

taf-od

Eirian Jones

M

@cmccaerdydd | #GRTafod tafod@gairrhydd.com gairrhydd.com/category/tafod

Perfformiadau cymysg i garfan Cymru hyd yn hyn

ae’n teimlo fel bod y Chwe Gwlad wedi dechrau ers amser maith bellach, gyda môr o grysau coch yn ymddangos ar strydoedd Caerdydd bob dydd Sadwrn.

Carfan ifanc, gymharol ddibrofiad oedd gan Gymru wedi i nifer o’r hen bennau dynnu allan o’r garfan gydag anafiadau. Ond sut y mae Cymru wedi gwneud hyd hyn?

Daeth yr Albanwyr a’u kilts i strydoedd Caerdydd ar ddechrau mis Chwefror, wrth i’r Alban wynebu Cymru. Roedd llawer o bobl yn gymharol ofn wrth i’r gêm ddynesu yn enwedig wrth ystyried eu canlyniadau yn erbyn mawrion hemisffer y de, ac wrth ystyried y canlyniad yn Murrayfield y llynedd. Ond, cafodd cefnogwyr Cymru siom o’r ochr orau, gyda Chymru yn rhoi crasfa i dîm Gregor Townsend.

Llwyddodd Aaron Shingler a Josh Navidi i reoli’r ryciau wrth i Rhys Patchell serennu yn safle’r maswr.

Rhaid rhoi clod i’r asgellwyr amhrofiadol wrth iddyn nhw achosi hafog i amddiffyn yr Albanwyr, ac wrth i Halfpenny orffen dwy gais yn daclus. Gyda phwynt bonws a sgôr o 34 – 7, aeth y Cymry adref yn hapus, ac mi roedd dathlu ar strydoedd Caerdydd.

Roedd y Cymry yn hynod o hapus gyda pherfformiad y tîm

cenedlaethol a dechreuodd y wlad i feddwl am y frwydr yn erbyn yr hen elyn, Lloegr. Drwy gydol yr wythnos cyn y gêm roedd wyneb Eddie Jones i’w weld ar draws tudalen gefn bron pob papur newydd yn cwestiynu gallu’r tîm amhrofiadol yn enwedig y maswr, Rhys Patchell.

Gwelwyd ddechrau tanllyd i’r gêm gydag Owen Farrell yn gweld bwlch enfawr y tu cefn i amddiffyn y Cymry a Johnny May yn croesi’r gwyngalch am ei gais cyntaf. Croesodd unwaith yn rhagor wedi iddo

dderbyn dadlwythiad pert oddi wrth Joe Launchbury. Er yr ymdrech i dorri amddiffyn y Saeson, roedd Gatland yn amlwg wedi rhoi cyfarwyddiadau i’w dîm i gicio i dri ôl y Saeson.

Wedi i Leigh Halfpenny dynnu allan o’r tîm funud olaf, collwyd y frwydr yn yr awyr, gyda’r Cymry yn ei gweld hi’n anodd torri’r llinell amddiffynnol.

Llwyddodd Gareth Anscombe i dirio ond ni chafodd y cais ei ganiatáu gan y dyfarnwyr, er i’r camerâu ddangos bod y cais yn un

dilys! Ffyliaid. Er holl ymdrechion y Cymry, ni lwyddwyd i dorri amddiffyn y Saeson yn aml heblaw am ambell i doriad trwy’r amddiffyn gan Aaron Shingler. Roedd y gêm yn un hynod o rwystredig ac yn anffodus gorffennodd yr hen elyn ar y brig.

Felly, mae’r Chwe Gwlad wedi bod yn bur debyg i deitl nofel Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities.

Gwelwyd llwyddiant ysgubol yng Nghaerdydd, tra gwelwyd colled hynod o siomedig yn Llundain.

Tybed beth a ddaw yn Nulyn?

Yn y llun: Stadiwm y Princiapality (Tarddiad: Phil Rogers frwy Flickr)

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Gwelwyd llwyddiant ysgubol yng Nghaerdydd, tra gwelwyd colled hynod o siomedig yn Llundain.

Barn y bobl: Rhagfynegi gêm Cymru-Iwerddon

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72

Gyda nifer o gefnogwyr Cymru yn teithio i Ddulyn y penwythnos hwn, tybed pa fath o gêm mae bechgyn Cymdeithas Gymraeg Prifysgol Caerdydd yn ei ddisgwyl wrth iddynt gyffroi am benwythnos yn Iwerddon

Ilan Hedd Jones

Lleu Bleddyn

Steffan Davies

Tomos Rees

Rhydian Jenkins

Myfyriwr Bioleg, blwyddyn gyntaf Prifysgol Caerdydd:

Myfyriwr Cymraeg a Newyddiaduraeth, ail flwyddyn, Prifysgol Caerdydd

Myfyriwr Cymraeg a Newyddiaduraeth, trydedd flwyddyn Prifysgol Caerdydd

Myfyriwr Mathamateg, ail flwyddyn, Prifysgol Caerdydd

Myfyriwr Cymraeg, trydedd flwyddyn, Prifysgol Caerdydd

“Ar ôl gêm galed a chanlyniad siomedig yn erbyn y Saeson, rhaid cadw’r ffydd at y gêm yn erbyn yr yfwyr Guiness gwalltgoch! Dwi’n siŵr y bydd Cymru yn fwy penderfynol nag erioed o sicrhau’r fuddugoliaeth yma, a gyda chefnogaeth myfyrwyr y Gym Gym yn crwydro’r strydoedd yn Nulyn, dwi’n siŵr taw ennill a fydd eu hanes, ond o drwch blewyn - rhyw 10 pwynt’’

“Mae pedair mlynedd ers i Gymru guro yn Nulyn, ond er bod y Gwyddelod bellach yn drydydd yn y byd ac wedi curo nid yn unig Lloegr ond Seland Newydd hefyd ers hynny, rhaid cofio mai ni oedd yn fuddugol yn ei herbyn llynedd. Rydym eisoes wedi curo’r Albanwyr a dod o drwch blewyn yn erbyn y Saeson yn y bencampwriaeth eleni, gallwn felly ddisgwyl gêm gyffrous a hynod gorfforol wrth i’r tîm ifanc newydd hwn wynebu eu her fwyaf eto’r penwythnos yma. Cymru o chwe phwynt.’’

“Er gwaethaf siom gêm Cymru v Lloegr, fi’n disgwyl buddugoliaeth addawol yn erbyn Iwerddon. Fe ddangosodd bois Cymru lot o galon yn ail hanner y gêm ddwetha ac rwy’n credu bydd hynny’n parhau yn erbyn y Gwyddelod. Fi’n disgwyl gem anodd yn erbyn tîm cryf Iwerddon ond rwy’n credu bydd ein steil newydd, cyffrous yn ormod iddynt - Cymru i ennill o ryw 20 bwynt i 10!’’

“Yn bersonol, fi’n credu bydd Iwerddon yn ennill oherwydd ei mantais o chwarae yn Nulyn.

18-7 falle. Fi’n credu bydd e’n gêm gorfforol, a fydd e’n ddiddorol gweld a fydd newidiade i’r ddau dîm ac a fydd siarad rhwng yr hyfforddwyr cyn y gêm.’’

“Yn dilyn y gêm ffyrnig erbyn y gelyn, Lloegr, a’r dadleuon parhaol ynglŷn â chais Gareth Anscombe, mae’r gêm erbyn y Gwyddelod yn ymddangos i fod yn sialens fawr eto i Gymru. Gyda’r ddau dîm yn ceisio chwarae rygbi cyflym ac eang hyd yn hyn, dwi’n tybio mai gêm i’r olwyr y bydd hi, er bydd brwydr y rheng-ôl rhwng Peter O’Mahony ac Aaron Shingler yn un diddorol.

Os yw Cymru gyda Liam Williams a Taulupe Faletau nôl o’i hanafiadau yn erbyn y Gwyddelod, yna dwi’n meddwl y bydd Cymru yn fuddugol yn hwyr yn y gêm”

TAF-OD

73

#DyddMiwsigCymru yn profi llwyddiant unwaith eto

F

u dathliadau hyd a lled Cymru ddydd Gwener ddiwethaf ar gyfer Dydd Miwsig Cymru, diwrnod i ddathlu amrywiaeth y sin Gerddoriaeth Gymraeg. Bellach mae’r ŵyl yn ei drydedd flwyddyn a’i phoblogrwydd ar gynnydd ers ei sefydlu yn 2015. Gyda 1.3 miliwn awr o gerddoriaeth Cymraeg eisoes wedi ei chwarae gan ddefnyddwyr Spotify, fe wnaeth y diwrnod ddenu diddordeb cenedlaethol. Cafwyd cryn sylw i’r ŵyl dros wefannau cymdeithasol gyda #DyddMiwsigCymru yn trendio at drydar yn ystod y dydd, a thrydarwyr brwd wrthi’n datgan eu hoff ganeuon boed yn indie, roc, funk, gwerin neu ganu corawl - doedd dim modd dianc rhag y bwrlwm.

Yma yn y brifddinas cynhaliwyd dathliad yn y Castle Emporium ar Stryd Womanby ag oedd yn llwyfan i gerddoriaeth byw drwy gydol y dydd.

Cynigodd y digwyddiad wledd o artistiaid o’r sin gerddoriaeth Gymraeg gan gynnwys Y Cledrau, Papur Wal a Meic Stevens. Roedd CUTV ac Xpress yno’n dilyn hynt a helynt y dathlu gan gyfweld ag amryw o artistiaid a chefnogwyr presennol gan gynnwys y DJ poblogaidd Huw Stephens. Dywedodd Huw Stephens, sydd bellach yn llysgennad dros Ddydd Miwsig Cymru yn ogystal â’n DJ poblogaidd Radio 1 a’r newydd Radio Cymru 2: ‘Rydym bellach mewn Oes Aur ar gyfer cerddoriaeth Cymraeg gyda bandiau newydd yn ymddangos ar y sin o fis i fis.’ Trefnwyd y digwyddiad gan Elan Evans, sef un hanner o ‘DJ Mari ac Elan’ a sydd nawr yn Gyfarwyddwr Adloniant Yng Nghlwb Ifor Bach. Dis-

1. Pwy wyt ti, a pa flwyddyn prifysgol?

Seren Haf, blwyddyn gynta’

grifiodd hi fod y digwyddiad yn ffordd i ni gyfleu’r dalent ifanc sy’n prysur ymddangos’. Yn ogystal â’r strydoedd roedd yna gerddoriaeth Gymraeg i’w clywed wrth ffonio’r Cyngor Caerdydd gyda bandiau cyfoes y sin roc yn chwarae dros y ffon.

Nid nepell o Gaerdydd roedd un o gwmnïau ffôn fwyaf Prydain ‘EE’ wrthi’n chwarae cerddoriaeth Cymraeg i’w cwsmeriaid ym Merthyr Tudful. Gwêl y cwmni’r diwrnod fel modd ‘i ddathlu diwylliant Cymraeg’ a hwy oedd y cwmni ffon gyntaf ym Mhrydain i gynnig gwasanaeth drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg. Yn ôl y prif weithredwr maent wedi ymrwymo’n llwyr at hybu gwasanaeth Gymraeg yn eu siopau. Tu hwnt i Gymru roedd llecyn o Gymreictod yng nghalon dinas Efrog Newydd yng Nghaffi’r ‘Sunken Hundred’. Mae’r caffi ar sail themâu Chwedl Cantre’r Gwaelod a bu gerddoriaeth Gymraeg yno’n swyno cwsmeriaid drwy’r dydd.

Ond beth felly yw pwysigrwydd diwrnod o’r fath i gyrraedd y Filiwn erbyn canol y Ganrif? Fe ddywedodd Owain Evans, gohebydd Newyddion 9, wrth Gair Rhydd fod ‘amrywiaeth i sin gerddoriaeth heddiw yn rhywbeth i ddathlu a bod unrhyw beth sy’n dathlu’r diwylliant Cymraeg a Chymreig yn gadarnhaol i gyrraedd miliwn o siaradwyr erbyn 2050’. Er ystyrir fod y sin Gerddoriaeth bellach yn cynnig rhywbeth at ddant pawb roedd Gweinidog y Gymraeg, Eluned Morgan, yn gweld fod yna arwyddocâd ehangach i ŵyl fel hon. Dywedodd ‘mae angen inni ddarbwyllo pobl fod y Gymraeg yn iaith byw sy’n ymestyn y tu hwnt

Treulio oriau yn y dydd yn siop Tiger yng nghanolfan Dewi Sant

2. Beth wyt ti’n astudio?

Seicoleg

Defnyddio gormod o bapur tŷ bach

3. Pam dewis Prifysgol Caerdydd i astudio?

8. Beth yw dy hoff ddiod?

Dwi’n dod o Lanuwchllyn ger y Bala, tref fach gartrefol iawn. ‘Oni eisiau cael profiad o gael byw mewn dinas fyrlymus sy’n cynnig cyfleuoedd di- ben draw

Pink gin a lemonêd

4. Creision neud siocled?

Gareth Potter y dj, isaac newton, neil armstrong, eden, a ffrindiau a theulu i ymuno yn y parti

5. Fel Glasfyfyriwr, ble yw dy hoff le/ dy hoff beth am Gaerdydd hyd yn hyn?

Dwin mwynhau treulio nosweithiau sadwrn yn dawnsio yn llawr canol Clwb Ifor bach.

6. Beth wyt ti’n hoffi gwneud yn dy amser hamdden?

‘‘ i’r stafell ddosbarth, a’i bod yn iaith y medrir cael hwyl gyda’.

Parhau gwnaeth y dathliadau hyd hwyr yng Nghaerdydd gydag Alys Williams yng Nghlwb Ifor ynghyd ac ‘Xpress Radio’ yn darlledu tri sioe cerddoriaeth arbennig o 6yh tan 12yb, yn eu plith roedd rhaglenni ‘O Wleidy-

ddiaeth i Gerddoriaeth’, ‘Glesni a Sara’ a ‘Cymru Cool gyda Rob ac Aled’.

Gyda’r ŵyl yn tyfu o nerth i nerth, teg yw dweud fod Dydd Miwsig Cymru wedi hen ennill ei phlwy ymysg y gwyliau mwyaf poblogaidd y genedl ac mi fydd hi’n parhau’n llwyddiant am flynyddoedd i ddod.

Teg yw dweud fod Dydd Miwsig Cymru wedi hen ennill ei phlwy ymysg y gwyliau mwyaf poblogaidd y genedl

Yn Trafod yr wythnos hon...

Seren Haf

7. Wrth fyw yn Senghennydd, beth yw arferion drwg gweddill y fflat?

Dwi’n stiwdant ag yn methu bod yn ffysi, felly mi gymrai beth bynnag sydd ar gynnig arbennig yn tesco boed yn siocled neu yn greision!

Yn y llun: Huw Stephens yn mwynhau Y Cledrau yn Castle Emporium ar Ddydd Miwsig Cymru (Tarddiad: Jacob Morris)

‘‘

Jacob Morris

9. Pwy fyddet ti’n ei wahodd i dy bryd fwyd delfrydol?

10. Pe byddet ti’n ennill y loteri, beth fyddai’r peth cyntaf i ti brynu?

Dwi wastad wedi deud y buaswn yn prynu peiriant sy’n golygu y gallwn gael par o sanau newydd bob dydd- dim teimlad gwell na par o sanau newydd! Ond dwi di sylwi ei fod yn syniad eithaf gwirion felly dwin meddwl y baswn yn bodloni ar brynu ynys yn y Caribi!

11. Pa air wyt ti’n ei ddefnyddio amlaf?

Ma’ Elin sy’n byw yn y stafell drws nesa i fi yn trio dadle bofi’n gor-ddefnyddio y gair ‘snags’!

12. Beth yw’r ‘hangover cure’ gorau?

Codi allan o’r gwely, cael cawod, a gadael y fflat cyn 11 ar ol noson allan- hangovers lot gwaeth wrth aros yn y gwely yn teimlo’n sori dros eich hyn drwy’r dydd!

13. Pwy oeddet ti’n ffansio pan yn iau?

Zac Efron 14. Steddfod neu Royal Welsh?

Er fy mod wedi cael nosweithi go gwyllt a gwallgo i lawr yn y Royal Welsh, does dim i guro wythnos yr Eisteddfod!

15. Person trefnus neu funud ola?

Dwi’n licio bod yn drefnus a dwi wastad ar amser i bob man ond mai’n amhosib peidio bod yn funud ola’ yn y Brifysgol!

16. Pe byddet ti ar ynys ac yn cael mynd a thri pheth yn unig, beth fydden nhw?

Bwyd (chicken kiev) , Sanau glan, a cwmni da 17. Pe byddet yn gallu bod yn rhywun arall am ddiwrnod, pwy fyddai ef/hi?

Pry ar y wal neu anturiaethwr enwog fel Captain Cook 18. Cwrs cyntaf, prif gwrs a pwdin - beth fyddai’r dewis?

Bwyd ydi fy hoff beth i yn y byd felly mae dewis yn annodd, fel cwrs cyntaf byswn yn cymryd paté, cyw iar gyda saws gwin gwyn gyda tatws mash o’r Eagles yn Llanuwchllyn, crymbl afal a mafon a cwstard 19. Beth yw’r noson orau i ti ei chael erioed?

Y nos Wener yn ‘Steddfod Ynys Môn ble gesi ddathlu fy mhenblwydd yn ddeunaw 20. Pwy fydd yn Trafod gyda Tafod Wythnos nesaf?

Ilan Hedd Jones

hard / anodd

medium / canolig hard /

medium / canolig

Last Issue’s Answers

easy / hawdd

easy / hawdd

FIVE MINUTE FUN

Sudoku

74

Woah!

Whattoisthe this?weekly Where’sCardiff the crossword?

How am I going Welcome and Welsh themed tocrossword survive mycourtesy coffee-fuelled day? of Gair Rhydd.

Got them all right? Tweet us @gairrhydd to let us

Well we thought we’d spice it up a little bit with a Codeword! know!

M

Across / Ar Fill in the grid withdraws the letters A-Z. Each number corresponds to4.one letter.

We’ve decoded a few letters Power grab, usually by military (4) to get you started!

7. Kung-Fu star of Around the World in 80 Days (6, 4)

S

11. Highest peak in Wales (7) 12. Dragon mascot of Xpress Radio (6) 14. 300,000,000 m/s (5, 2, 5) 15. Cardiff area east of City Road (5)

1

4

3

1

4

2

5

2

4

3

4

1

2

2

1

4

1

4

2

5

1

2

5

1

4

Down / I lawr I

R 1

1 R R 2 2 R R R 1 2 R 3 R R 2 R R 3 3 1 R 0 R 1 2 2

Clue: Switch on

1 R 2 R 1

Can you find the 9 letter conundrum?

R R 3 R 1

Using the central letter, find as many 4+ letter words as you can.

R R 1 2 1

Word Wheel

1. I’m doing this instead of my work... (15) 2. Recently-resigned world leader (6) 3. Cliff Richard’s favourite day (8) 5. It’s coming... (9) 6. The only reason to leave YOLO early (4) 13. Gair Rhydd’s sister publication (6)

Hitori

Cardiff Codeword

Hitori is a simple puzzle!

Eliminate numbers so that there 8. National Treasure (7, 4) are no duplicates in any or column.

No eliminated 9. Unreactive component row of atom (7) 10.

Previously...

In Thailand (4)

numbers can be touching adjacently.

Last Issue’s Kakuro

Solutions Enjoyed this week’s Five Minute Fun? Have a suggestion for a future puzzle? Tweet us your views @gairrhydd #FiveMinuteFun #FMF

4-letter: Avid, Cave, Diva, Dive, Vade, Vice, Vied 5-letter: Caved, Civet, Davit, Evict 6-letter: Active, Advice, Caveat, Vacate 7-letter: Vacated 8-letter:Activate 9-letter: Activated

PUM MUNUD O HWYL Ooh, what’s this?

A second page?

Yes, that’s right, since we’ve been gone for so long we thought we’d treat you to a few extra bonus puzzles!

Each number in the grid indicates the number of mines in its adjacent squares. No mine can be horizontally, vertically or diagonally adjacent to another and no mine can appear in the same square as a number.

Can you find all the mines? We’ve given you one to get started.

Minesweeper

2

Answers over the page.

75

1

2

R 3

1

2 2

3 1 1

3 0

1

2

2 1 3

1 2 1

2 1

1

Kakuro

Last Issue’s Codeword solution Using the numbers 1-9 complete the grid of sums. Each Using the numbers 1-9 complete the grid of sums. Each number can only be used once per calculation. number can only be used once per calculation.

Dingbats

These little puzzlers are the pictorial form of common words or phrases.

Can you figure them out?

86

DOUBLE IT

+13

3/8

x6

5/6

TRIPLE IT

÷30 +46 x7

OF

÷2

x8

OF

5/8 OF

80% OF

3/4 OF

-2

-52

TRIPLE IT

-27

x6

HALF IT

+53 ÷4

Let us know if you think you have got it right, or if you are a member of one of these groups and enjoyed seeing it on there! Tweet us @gairrhydd #FiveMinuteFun #FMF

2

HARD

16

+21 ÷11

÷7

1

MED

7

HALF IT

4

EASY

x12

3

Here are a few brainteasers to give your maths mind a little run-out.

Can you solve all three?

1. Dominoes 2. Syrup 3. Three Musketeers 4. Frank Sinatra

Quick Maths

Answers will be printed in next weeks issue! Keep your eye out, and tweet us @gairrhydd to let us know if you have got it all right!

Got a puzzle you want to see in Gair Rhydd next week? Let us know!

We are always keen to try new ideas.

WELSH WORD OF THE WEEK

PLEIDLAIS

VOTE

76 SPORT

Feature: Inside the most competitive career path in the UK Gair Rhydd Sport speaks to the father and son who have seen it all from the inside.

‘‘

A lot of kids now are losing their love for the game because they’re being told what to do from such an early age and they hate it.

Aaron Barnes

T

hey say there’s a better chance of being struck by lightning than becoming a Premier League footballer, yet every year a new generation of wannabe-superstars begin their journey down the most competitive career path in the UK. Whilst the cameras are firmly fixated on the stars of English football’s most valued elite league (The Premier League recently sold 5 live packages of TV rights for £4.464bn to Sky and BT) there is next to no light shown onto the journey to becoming a professional football player.

Youth football has developed so much over the last 25 years that it’s now become a turf war between the top clubs to unearth the next ‘big thing’.

Soaring wages and bumper contracts are the outcome for these teenage players but with the cut-throat nature of the modern game it’s what happens when these players fall by the wayside that is of the biggest concern.

With the chance of success so slim, there are players cast aside at every age level all the time who are either too young to understand or too stubborn to accept that they won’t become professional players.

The academies that are tasked with producing the next wonder kids are acting in the interests of the club first and foremost but there is less and less regard for the children and teenagers that are released and forgotten about.

The added pressures that money has brought to the game means it is becoming more and more difficult for players to handle being dropped from their boyhood clubs and adjusting to life without football.

Dr Albert Barnes is the founder and CEO of Peace Enterprise, a community interest company that specifically deals with helping young people at risk of offending and ex-offenders who experience significant hardships at gaining sustainable employment.

Many of the people that have been helped by Peace Enterprise and Dr Barnes are well paid ex-football players who have been given ‘too much too soon’ and find themselves struggling financially, many of whom then resort to crime.

“Some of them call me at two or three in the morning with their problems, maybe they’ve had a fight with their girlfriend or they need some money.

“I always am there to listen to them and help them, not too many people are,” Dr Barnes said.

“At the end of the day it’s the money that does the talking. A 17-year-old being given £10,000 a week is crazy and they don’t know what to do all the time with that money, “For me it’s all about one thing; parental guidance. It’s so important that parents support their child in this industry because without that, a player can lose his head very quickly.”

Dr Barnes and his charity have helped countless athletes over the years and his invaluable role in the sporting community should not be down-played.

Simply put, you can see why there is a very, very long list of ex-players who see ‘Barnsey’ as a father figure in the football world.

For Dr Barnes his job draws on personal experiences too, his son Aaron was released from the Arsenal youth

2006

Pictured: The long career of a youth footballer. (via Aaron Barnes)

2017 Making his Charlton debut v Swindon Town

Age 10

Age 20

Wins Kent Senior Cup with Charlton Reserves against Gillingham 1st Team

‘‘

should iron out of their game.

“We’re not preparing our footballers healthily on or off the pitch by doA 17-year-old ing this.”

After leaving Arsenal, Barnes spent being given time at Charlton Athletic where he spent time in their youth teams regu- £10,000 a larly. week is crazy Whilst there he met Ademola Lookman, currently playing in the German and they don’t league with RB Leipzig on loan from know what Premier League Everton after he was signed for nearly £11m. to do with all He was instantly identifiable on the pitch as he hadn’t ever been in an that money. academy before.

Dr Albert “He played with that natural cuff and swagger that the academies try Barnes and beat out of you,” Barnes recalled.

“With Ademola he had come from such a raw background in terms of football ability and so he was different from the academy boys and he stood out.

“A lot of kids now are losing their love for the game because they’re being told what to do from such an early age and they hate it.

“You see kids who live and breathe football, they love the game but you can see sometimes the stress just drains the passion away from them and they end up hating the industry of it all so much that they want to quit.”

For Aaron and his father it’s been a very long road, one that has been littered with tough decisions and ‘make or break’ moments.

After a youth career that has stretched for over 11 years, Aaron can now finally make a name for himself playing regular football at a professional level, something that not too many people can say.

Signs for the Arsenal Youth Team.

2015

Age 18

academy at the age of 16 and now plays at Torquay United, on loan from League 2 outfit Colchester.

It’s been quite the journey for the now 21-year-old but he is now featuring regularly for the National League team and is thankful to be where he is.

“I’ve just worked as hard as I can really, I’m so glad to have my family and friends around me and supporting me and I can just do the best I can do for them. I’ve had a few setbacks during my time in football but they’ve motivated me to keep going.” Barnes said.

Having his dad to keep him on the right path seems to have been vital in Barnes’ career.

“There’s been times when I could’ve quit but he keeps encouraging me and supporting me. He knows so many people in the game too and he’s always working with ex-players so he’s got the first-hand experience that many players don’t ever get.”

As a product of the Arsenal academy Barnes has been involved in the football industry since the age of ten and has witnessed it’s harsh nature.

Of the 22 players that made up his youth team only a small handful are still playing and only one has remained at the club and has played in the Premier League, Ainsley Maitland-Niles.

And he was critical of the process used to forge his own career, arguing that playing in academies and youth teams could only take your career so far.

“In this country we pick up players at very young ages and we put them onto a conveyor belt to process them as if they are factory made. We tell them how to play and what they

‘‘

Mark Wyatt

2018 In action for Torquay United on loan from Colchester United Age 21

‘‘

CHWARAEON

77

Opinion: Football’s finances could be their ultimate downfall

Why financial regulation must be put in place for the good of football.

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It is important to understand how Europe’s elite stay at the top of the financial ladder, and what this says about modern day football.

T

raditionally, football has been based on three key principles: respect, honesty and passion.

However, just 26 years after the creation of the Premier League, football has transformed into a playground for the rich, millions of miles away from the respect, honesty and passion that once underpinned Britain’s most watched sport.

If one is to understand the sheer influence of money in British football, there is no better place to start than the battle for Premier League broadcasting rights.

The latest auction of rights, in 2016, saw Sky claim five of the seven TV packages with BT purchasing the other two in a record-breaking selloff.

More specifically, the latest TV rights deal – spanning from 2016 to 2019 – increased by 71% from the 2013-2016 package costing an astronomical £5.14bn.

Sky were pushed to their limits with rival BT showing increased interest in the rights – meaning Sky increased their financial commitment to the Premier League by 83%.

For fans, it would be all too ignorant to dismiss rising finances in football. For, as shown by the recent increases in TV rights deals, finances in football only seem to be going one way.

Subsequently, the impact this has on fans – who have to pay more for match-day tickets, merchandise and TV subscription fees – is undeniable.

If football as we know it is to have a future, such dramatic increases in spending needs to be regulated.

Next, it is important to understand

how Europe’s elite stay at the top of the financial ladder, and what this says about modern day football. In the UEFA Champions League, Europe’s most successful teams compete for unprecedented riches.

With that in mind, the finances earned after Real Madrid’s 1-0 win over Manchester City in the 2015/16 semi-final, make for a fascinating read.

Even though Real Madrid went on to win the tournament (£15m reward), Manchester City still earned £3.8m more than Real’s £80.1m overall earnings.

How, then, can a team who won the tournament earn less than the semifinalists they defeated?

In sum, the Champions League demonstrates a complex reward system that hinders on many different factors.

For instance, a club’s overall earnings at the end of the tournament comprise of: participation fees, group position rewards, tournament advancement rewards and, most crucially, a share of their country’s television pool.

Paying close attention to the television pool, it becomes clear why Manchester City earned more than Real Madrid.

With British broadcasting company BT boasting a £299m deal with UEFA, English clubs have the largest cut of television finances.

Therefore, the Champions League is a tournament that allows the financial superpowers of football to reign supreme over their domestic counterparts who struggle to keep up with such financial progression.

From a football club’s perspective, keeping up with the investment from multi-billion-pound broadcasting companies requires sophisticated strategies of making money. This is perhaps best executed by Roman Abramovich’s Chelsea.

It is a well-known fact that Chelsea have very few youth team players make it through to the first team.

And, even with FA Youth Cup wins in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017, in addition to 37 players out on loan, Chelsea manipulate their academy products solely for financial purposes.

By farming a large number of players out on loan, Chelsea see their players gain valuable game time else-

where whilst paying just a part of their salary.

In reality, just a couple of sales from these players equals profit.

Indeed, the ethics behind such a strategy is questionable, but in an industry where business overrules any degree of sentiment, Chelsea manipulate the loan market better than any other team.

Overall, there is no doubting that fans still enjoy football as a spectacle.

However, in an industry that is now dominating by increasing finances, fans should be aware of how astronomical spending by clubs and broadcasters alike is changing the face of the game.

Pictured: Top: Chelsea prepare for a Premier League game.

Bottom: Sky Sports Studio. (via Flickr)

‘‘

From a football club’s perspective, keeping up with the investment from multibillion-pound broadcasting companies requires sophisticated strategies of making money.

‘‘

Reece Chambers

‘‘

78 SPORT

Encouraging Six Nations start for Wales

One win, one defeat and plenty of positives for Gatland’s injury-hit side

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There remains a sense of optimism despite the defeat; on another day it could have been Wales’ day and the momentum from the remarkable Scotland success should still manifest itself in Dublin next time out.

A

‘‘

Keiran ManettaJones Cardiff Blues Columnist

A

the decision to disallow a Gareth Anscombe try, with the TMO ruling there was no clear evidence of grounding despite footage appearing to show the Welsh player beat Anthony Watson to the ball.

There is no doubt a try at that stage would have changed the outlook of the game, but that is all ifs, buts and maybes.

The fact of the matter is Wales missed chances which a side of England’s quality tend to take. A sensational break from Aaron Shingler ended with a misjudged kick and chase, whilst a three-on-one breakaway out wide was foiled by a truly magnificent try-saving tackle by former Cardiff University student Sam Underhill.

There remains a sense of optimism despite the defeat; on another day it could have been Wales’ day and the momentum from the remarkable Scotland success should still manifest itself in Dublin next time out.

The opening game in Cardiff was always going to define the direction of this campaign for Wales. A defeat, as many were predicting against the Scots, would have most likely led to two more heavy losses against England and Ireland and a scrap to avoid the wooden spoon.

Instead, a comfortable victory paved the way for another encouraging performance at Twickenham which will lead to high hopes of earning a win at the

fter yet another week of Cardiff Blues’ news on both the international and club level, the search for a head coach to succeed Danny Wilson might finally be heading in the right direction. The Cardiff Blues board announced that chief executive Richard Holland has held an interview with South African coach Gert Smal.

Smal was part of the coaching set up that lead the Springboks the world cup victory in 2007, and now seems to be in pole position to fill the vacant head coach role when Danny Wilson leaves at the end of the season.

Previous news suggested that assis-

Aviva Stadium.

With their well-documented injury problems, Gatland’s hand has been forced with regards to certain players and changes.

The results have been generally positive. Whether those in question will hold out the returning old guard after their lay-offs remains to be seen, but at the very least the injury crisis has generated some much-needed depth within the squad.

Fly-Half Rhys Patchell was in spellbinding form against Scotland, pulling the strings at 10, and whilst he struggled against England, late addition to the side Gareth Anscombe displayed his potential when he stepped in at outside half.

The Scarlets combinations across the back line have proved promising, with their clear understanding and chemistry manifesting itself both in attack and defence.

The only non-Scarlet to start in the backs against Scotland, Josh Adams, has also appeared right at home in a test jersey.

Two of the most impressive performers are also those who have, realistically, only got their chance due to injuries.

Back row pair Aaron Shingler and Josh Navidi have been imperious thus far, keeping Justin Tipuric out of the starting line-up and making the 6 and 7 jerseys respectively their own.

tant Leicester Tigers coach and former Ireland international Geordan Murphy was the front runner to replace Wilson, but this announcement seems to suggest that the WRU are trying to acquire a much more experienced and decorated coach.

Could the appointment of Gert Smal be the light at the end of such a convoluted search for a coach, or are the Cardiff Blues’ board just trying to sign a deal before they run out of time? This question can only really be answered during next season if Smal is appointed of course, but he definitely has the rap sheet and pedigree to inspire a

Cory Hill has been a rock in the second row alongside the colossal Alun Wyn Jones, whilst returning No.8 Ross Moriarty has been the bruising, physical presence expected at the back of the scrum.

A settled front row has been another strength, with Ken Owens also pivotal to a solid line-out.

The accuracy Gatland’s side had against Scotland would more than likely be enough to get them over the line against Ireland, and their title hopes are certainly far from over.

Two perhaps unexpected bonus points from the first two fixtures have left Wales right in the hunt. A win over Ireland would keep their chances alive, and with France and Italy unimpressive so far you would have to expect two further wins in Cardiff to follow.

Such a scenario would require Ireland to defeat England in Dublin on St Patrick’s Day to open the door for Wales, but stranger things have happened.

Regardless of whether they can lift the crown, Wales will be looking to build on their bright start with a revamped side and system which could well provide sustained, top-level success.

Unlike 12 months ago, there is a genuine sense that things have changed and that the right steps are being taken to ensure Wales could head to Japan for the 2019 World Cup with realistic hope.

lot of confidence from the WRU. The 56-year-old has nine years of assistant coaching experience at international level with South Africa and Ireland, and is currently the director of rugby for the South African provincial side, Western Province. Smal has managed to accumulate five trophies in his coaching career which is no small feat.

These include three Currie Cups, a Tri Nations trophy in 2004, the Six Nations championship title and grand slam in 2009, and the best of all, the Rugby World Cup (Webb Ellis trophy) in 2007. I personally think he would be an absolute stellar appointment as

Pictured: Wales and England line up for the anthems in their 2015 Rugby World Cup clash at Twickenham.

‘‘

Regardless of whether they can lift the crown, Wales will be looking to build on their bright start with a revamped side and system which could well provide sustained, toplevel success.

‘‘

Rich Jones

fter the first two games of their Natwest 6 Nations campaign, there is an overwhelming sense of positivity surrounding the Welsh camp.

One win, one defeat and countless positives provide the backdrop heading into the first mini-break of the campaign, a week off before heading to Dublin on Saturday, February 24.

A convincing 34-7 win over Scotland at the Principality Stadium in the opening round showed what this revamped side are capable of.

But on the flip side, a brave and controversial 12-6 defeat against old enemy England at Twickenham served as a reminder that their transformation remains a work in progress.

As expected, Warren Gatland’s side took the physical challenge to their opponents and never appeared to visibly match their underdogs tag.

Yet they simply lacked a cutting edge and accuracy in attack which they had possessed against the Scots, whilst England showed their class in the opening 15 minutes as well as with their second half defensive stand.

Owen Farrell’s majestic kick to set up Johnny May’s opening score, plus Joe Launchbury’s expert offload to allow May to cross again just moments later, meant Wales were always up against it.

Debate will continue to rage on over

coach for Wales’ capital region, but surely the exec board will have to fight extremely hard to obtain such a valuable signature for the region. Smal is believed to be in advanced negotiations with the Cardiff Blues which hopefully means we can expect an announcement soon to name the South African as head coach for next season at least.

Most of all, I will be glad that the decision has finally been made and preparations can officially start for the 2018/19 season behind the scenes, while Danny Wilson attempts to get the Champions Cup qualification spot that we all desperately hope for.

CHWARAEON

BUCS Highlights

79

Best of Social Media

Davies: “Everybody is pushing for places” “It was always my ambition to create a performance group and a situation where everybody is pushing for places and nobody is safe.

“I feel like we’ve done that this season, and I’m proud of everyone in that first team group for the results we’ve seen in the 1sts and 2nds.”

FINAL SCORE | Plymouth Blitz 32-8 Cardiff Cobras.

Congrats to @Plymouth_Blitz on a deserved win. Good luck for the rest of the season! @CardiffCobras

Two straight defeats for struggling Cobras

Pictured: Top: Cardiff in action in their recent fixture with Swansea (via XO Photo) Bottom: Cobras Quarterback Max Milburn in action last season (via Tallboy Images)

Dan Gibson Cardiff City Columnist

C

ardiff Cobras have suffered three regular season defeats for the first time since 2013/14 after they went down 32-8 at Plymouth last weekend.

The Cobras were striving to get back to winning ways after a disappointing defeat against old rivals UWE a fortnight earlier.

But they came unstuck against a top of the table Blitz side who secured a playoff place in their first season since promotion from Division Two. After conceding an early touchdown, the Cobras marched down the field to respond with Max Milburn finding Jak Canham in the back of the end zone.

A successful two-point conversion pass to Max McNeil left the scores tied at 8-8, but Plymouth quickly bounced back to move 20-8 up thanks to a score right on the stroke of half-time.

In desperate need of a response, the Cobras received the ball to start the second half and made plenty of ground with Ross Ludlow bursting a big run down the left to take the ball down to the 10 yard line.

Yet they were made to pay for some costly mental errors, moving backwards in their next two plays and failing to add

W

ho would have predicted Cardiff would find themselves a point off second place come February at the start of this season? After their incredible streak at the start of the year, the dire December run that saw four successive defeats in very winnable matches convinced many doubters that the blue bubble had burst. This was it, they said. This is the part of the season where money tells, as injuries and fatigue take their toll on the starting XI. And yet, here we are. Not only do Cardiff not look like throwing in the towel, they seem to grow in resilience with every match. Leeds were riding high coming

to their score.

When Plymouth scored on their very next drive it left the Cobras staring defeat in the face – and they fizzled out in the closing stages as injuries took their toll.

It leaves the Cobras facing a gruelling final week of the season in a bid to reach the play-offs.

They were due to host Exeter at Llanrumney yesterday (Sunday) searching for revenge against the side who con-

demned them to a last-gasp defeat in the first game of the season.

They will then face off with UWE again in a re-arranged fixture on home soil on Wednesday (1pm) before facing the long trip to struggling Solent on Sunday.

Two more wins would most likely see them edge into the play-offs and keep their season alive in the run-up to a Welsh Varsity showdown with Premiership Swansea on April 25.

‘‘

East London 1s 0-2 CUFC 1s.

Goals: @DanMartin7 , Leigh Allen 🏆MOTM: Matt Evans #MagicOfTheCup @Cardiff_UniFC

‘‘

We made it! (again) 126-104 against @UniofExeter now we are in the semifinals #BUCS @PerettiCostanza of @CUFencing

into their game with Cardiff at Elland Road two weeks ago, but Warnock’s men smashed them 4-1; the second time this season that they’ve made Leeds look like a soft touch. A hard-fought draw at Millwall has since been followed by a comfortable 2-0 win over Bolton, a complete reversal of the same fixture two months prior. In football, momentum is everything, and right now south Wales is keeping it all.

The effect of Warnock’s experience in completing the turnaround cannot be understated. After seven promotions with six different clubs, few know how to construct a promotion-winning

squad better, and the strength in depth he’s built at Cardiff is commendable.

Every role has competition now; Joe Bennett’s suspension has seen him replaced

by Armand Traore at left-back, Callum Paterson has proven his favourite position is anywhere delineated by the pitch and even Mendez-Laing, the Championship’s player of the month for August, is now being kept out of the team by Feeney and Jamie Ward. Warnock surprisingly brought in a wealth of new forward talent over January (albeit at unsurprisingly little expense), and is now reaping the rewards: Liverpool loanee Marko Grujic is proving the perfect foil to Joe Ralls in the

heart of midfield, while the more permanent signing of Gary Madine adds some much needed competition to Zohore up front.

In short, Cardiff now have a team capable of withstanding the numerous injury blows that blighted their winter, and suddenly automatic promotion has re-entered the spotlight. The win over Bolton means they now sit just a point behind Aston Villa, who have lately been enjoying a resurgence of their very own.

Sean Morrison has described the gruelling task ahead of Cardiff as “15 cup finals” – but with this squad, there’s a real suggestion that it won’t be beyond them.

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Rich Jones

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H

e stated: “There were a few targets we set at the start of the season which have perhaps gone under the radar.

“We put a lot of value on the second team this year. The first and second teams train together as our senior group, and they’re sitting top of the table as well.

“Getting promotion for our second team was a big goal, and at the moment we’re on course to achieve that.

“That would underpin us in the league structure, and if I’m honest their performances have given us a lot of headaches.

“The boys in the 2nds are really pushing the first team boys now, and that was shown this week with a lot of movement in terms of selection.

“A few boys were promoted into the first team to give them an opportunity they deserve because of playing well.

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Rich Jones

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Cardiff on verge of historic title triumph C

Rich Jones

ardiff University RFC are on the verge of their first league title since 2011 after a 24-0 win over Bristol last Wednesday.

Alun Wyn Davies’ side again conquered tricky conditions at a wet and windy Llanrumney to move within touching distance of the BUCS South A crown.

Tom Bell opened the scoring from a driving line-out early on, before the forwards again came into their own to allow No.8 Chris Williams to power over from a scrum.

A pick-and-go from Jordan Viggers gave them breathing space before scrum-half Dan Brooks broke clear from a scrum to secure the all-important bonus point try.

The result means they are five points clear of second placed Hartbury with just one fixture remaining at local rivals

USW this Wednesday.

After just missing out on the crown to Bristol last year, Director of Rugby Davies has spoken of his pride at the achievements of his side.

“It puts us right in the driving seat,” Davies said after their latest impressive triumph.

“It does go down to next week, but mathematically it looks almost impossible for us to be caught after the Swansea v Hartpury game was called off.

“I know what the guys are like, they’ll want to go into next week and beat USW anyway to finish it off in style and ensure we go into the play-offs the right way.

“I was really pleased with the guys. It was quite a professional performance.

Tactically and technically the boys were spot on the first 40 minutes, and I felt we were pretty dominant in all aspects of the game really.

“For the second week running the conditions were tough, but credit to the boys for dealing with those conditions so well again.

“The guys had the bit between their teeth this season after losing out narrowly last year.

“The weather wasn’t our friend last season, and we had to play five games in two weeks just to get the fixtures done by the cut-off date.

“That date is next Wednesday this year, so it was imperative that we played against Bristol and credit to the ground staff at Llanrumney for allowing that to happen.

“The grit that the guys showed, especially defensively, was a proud moment for me as a coach because you could see how enthusiastic they are about every aspect of the game.

“We’re winning ugly at the moment

and that’s a sign of a good team, so it’s got to mean something.

“I’m massively proud of them as a group, it’s been great to coach them and I hope we can continue to achieve great things here.

“We go into the play-offs now, and winning the league next week will give us a better play-off run.”

There is a real chance of an unlikely double for Cardiff University RFC, with the 2nd XV sitting top of the Western 1A with three fixtures remaining.

And Davies believes their results along with the creation of a genuine squad depth has been one of the unheralded success stories of their campaign.

Continued on p39

Pictured: Cardiff take a line-out in their recent win over Swansea Credit: Xander Opoku Facebook.com/ TheOriginal XOPhoto