Gair Rhydd - Issue 1121 - Monday, October 15

15 hydref 2018 | 15 october 2018 rhifyn 1121 | issue 1121

word free

gair rhydd Cardiff University’s student paper | Established 1972

Tributes paid P to fallen half marathon runners A

Is Welsh independence on the cards?

by Hefin Rees Edwards

laid Cymru leader, Adam Price, fears Wales will be left “at the mercy of Westminster” after Brexit.

But is Welsh independence a realistic option for a Wales that voted to leave the EU? 13

A fydd rygbi byth yn llwyr ddiogel?

gan Sion Ford

r ôl sylwadau diweddar Sam Warburton ynglŷn â diogelwch wrth chwarae rygbi, Taf-od sy’n dadansoddi os bydd rygbi byth yn llwyr ddiogel i’w chwarae?

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Burnt scroll unravelled in Cardiff

by Milo Moran

U

ncovering the secrets of the past can prove difficult, scrolls and papers from history are frequently damaged by accidents or worn out over time.

Now scientists at Cardiff University have developed a way to unravel a burnt one.

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Ben McDonald (left) and Dean Fletcher (right) both passed away after finishing the Cardiff Half Marathon on Sunday, October 7.

by Emma Morgan

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ributes have been made to the two runners who died after completing the Cardiff Half Marathon on Sunday, October 7.

The runners, named as 25-year-old Ben McDonald and 32-year-old Dean Fletcher, suffered cardiac arrests after crossing the finish line.

The medics acted quickly at the scene,

however they later passed away in hospital.

Ben McDonald, 25, worked at Cardiff International White Water Centre and was taking part in the run alongside his girlfriend and family for the first time.

His family are now raising money for ‘Maternity Africa’ a charity in North Tanzania.

Dean Fletcher, 32, a Cardiff alum-

nus, was taking part in the race for the second time as part of the 350 strong Team Cardiff group to raise money for research into cancer, neuroscience and mental health at Cardiff University.

Sadly, reports of cardiac arrest at marathons have been reported at several events this year and as a result organisations have been emphasising the importance of creating awareness about the

health risks of running long-distance.

The safety conditions of the marathon will be assessed, but Run for Wales have made a statement saying they are 100% satisfied with their safety procedure.

There was a full medical team at the finish line, as well as information about health risks being provided in the lead 2 up to the event.

by Jess Warren

A male suspect can be seen on CCTV footage entering the area where the bike was stored, which is only accessible via a locked door. He can then be seen exiting the union via a fire exit, and walking down Sengenydd Road with the bike.

A spokesperson from Cardiff Students’ Union confirmed that “the location did require access via a locked door but not with a staff access key card”.

A spokesperson from Cardiff Students’ Union confirmed they are supporting the police with the

investigation.

Currently, the suspect has not been identified.

A South Wales Police spokesperson said: “We want to speak to a man [pictured left] in connection with the theft of a bicycle from Cardiff Students’ Union in the early hours of Saturday, September 29.

Anybody with any information related to the incident, or who may know the man pictured, can call South Wales Police on 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 and quote reference 1800370914.

Bike theft at union club night required access through locked door

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Police would like to speak with the man pictured above

n the early hours of Saturday, September 29 a bike valued at £600 was stolen from Cardiff Students’ Union.

The bike, a Pinnacle Laterite, belonged to a member of the SU’s crew team who was working that evening at the Charlie Sloth DJ night during Freshers’ Week.

The owner of the bike said: “Everyone in the Students’ Union works so hard, especially during Freshers’, and it is a shame they have to deal with things like this.”

How to get 70% on your essays

by Katie Lewis

F

or some of us, 70% in an essay remains elusive. But gettig that top grade doesn’t have to be unacheivable.

We have you covered, with our guide on how to ace your next essay, and being on your way to a first.

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Kavanaugh appointed

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EDITORIAL

Gair Rhydd 2018/19 Coordinator

Elaine Morgan

Editor-in-Chief Gareth Axenderrie

Deputy Editors Silvia Martelli Jessica Warren

Head of Digital Media Michael Ash

News

Gee Harland Klaudia Jazwinska Emma Ogao Matt Tomlin

Campus Life Ashley Boyle Cerian Jones

Taf-od

Llion Carbis Tomos Evans

Comment

Alys Hewitt Hannah Newberry Emma Videan

word

the free

A letter from the editor

Never forget their sacrifices Cambridge students are conflating military decisions and the brave people who have died for our freedom

Column Road Karis Pearson

Politics

Charlotte King Silvia Martelli Rhys Thomas Sam Tilley

Science

Daniel Brown Jonathan Learmont

Advice

Ashavari Baral Katie Lewis

Saunders’ Corner

Sam Saunders

Five Minute Fun Maria Mellor

Sport

Reece Chambers Rosie Foley John Jones Jack Vavasour George Willoughby

Social Media Editors Indigo Jones Giovanna Coi

Digital Media Editors Maisie Marston Jordan Parker Cadi Thomas

Copy Editors

Gemma Hopley Keiran Manetta-Jones Meg Sharma Elen Fflur Daves

Write to the editor editor@gairrhydd.com

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t was a simple motion. It called on the students’ union of one of the world’s finest universities to promote Remembrance Sunday, the one day of the year when the counry remembers those who have fallen in conflict while protecting our liberty and freedom.

Instead, students at Cambridge University Students’ Union have rejected the motion, taking a stace that doesn’t support the official commemorations of the millions of people who have paid the highest price for us to live in peace and comfort.

To me, it is simply dumbfounding. A decision that I do not understand and one I hope our union here in Cardiff never takes.

Unlike many cultural practices, remembering those who have died in conflict doesn’t become uncool, it doesn’t go out of fashion over time.

In fact, any move to silence how we freely and openly remember those who

have died in conflict sets a dangerous precedent for forgetting history and burying the memory of brave men and women who should be remembered eternally.

What this smacks of is pretentious people attempting to appear to understand something they have little experience of, just to appear intelligent and righteous.

There are of course valid reasons to question and criticise militarism, especially the overseas wars that the United Kingdom has followed the United States into in recent years.

What I believe Cambridge students are conflating however is the difference between remembering the poor soles have have died and continue to die while serving in the armed forces, and the politicians and military leaders who direct them in to battle.

The truth is that very few of us will ever have to face the horrific reality of war.

Like the politicians who make military decisions, we will never have to taste a mixture of blood and dirt as they scramble around in mud, attempting to stop their best friend bleeding out from a bullet wound or a detonated explosive device. We will never have to carry our 20-year-old friend’s coffin down the aisle of a church, looking their family in the eye while and telling them there was nothing more we could have done to save them.

And why will we not have to do this? Because so many have made this sacrifice before us.

Millions of men, women and children have fallen in the fight for liberty against authoritarianism, and not just in the UK. Polish fighter pilots, Indian infantrymen, the millions of American and Canadian soldiers who crossed the Atlantic, the Italian Partisans who overthrew Mussolini: all of them are remembered by the very services that Cambridge University students are

now failing to support.

One student from Cambridge argued that students should be encouraged to engage in productive criticism of war.

We can and should continue to criticise military actions, but we should not lose sight of why events like Rememberance Sunday exist. Unlike in many countries, they aren’t a parade of our military might. Instead they are a sombre reminder of the sacrifices that have been, and will continue to be, made.

Next month, we will continue to remember those who have fallen in battle, as well as those who have been injured and continue to live with the results of war.

Let us not steal their moment of peace and memory and replace it with empty acts of false moral indulgence.

We can remain critical and continue to discuss alternatives to military aggression, but we should never forget the sacrifices made for us.

What you need to know about Gair Rhydd | your student newspaper here at Cardiff University At Gair Rhydd we take seriously our responsibility to maintain the highest possible standards. We may occasionally make mistakes, however if you believe we have fallen below the standards we seek to uphold, please email editor@gairrhydd.com.

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

Opinions expressed in editorials 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.

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8 desks We cover a vast range of content, as you’ll see. You are always welcome to contact any one of

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our desks, and you can find us on the 3rd floor of the

Students’ Union

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Frack Off: Fracking has many negative consequences for the environment. Source: Pixabay action became apparent. Primarily, they all stated that their main reason for signing the open letter was that a prison sentence goes too far for the non-violent offences of the protesters and shows an increase of government support towards controversial techniques like fracking, rather than free speech.

Following on from that, the government’s unwillingness to take the public’s opinion into account on such matters posed a worrying trend in politics

and economics. This was stated by Miss Taherzadeh and Dr. Shevral.

Dr. Shevral as well as Dr. Last add that fracking has many negative environmental consequences, as well as using too many resources, such as one well using between 10 and 30 million litres of water for its operation.

Fracking remains a controversial topic full of debate, although the recent development sheds light on more underlying issues within politics and economics.

Severn Bridge tolls to be removed by December 17

by Gee Harland

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lun Cairns, Secretary of State for Wales, announced at the annual Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham, that the Severn Bridge Tolls will be removed

by Monday, December 17. This came as a surprise as the removal date is ahead of schedule, but Cairns stated it is an “early Christmas Present”.

This will bring an end to 50 years of tolls at the Severn Bridge, which was built in 1966. The bridge is a motorway suspension bridge, over River Severn and River Wye. Queen Elizabeth II stated it was to be the start of a new economic era for South Wales.

The removal of the tolls is estimated to save frequent commuters up to £1500 a year. Laura Wood, a frequent commuter, believes this change to be positive and that the amount of money saved will be significant. She further explained the removal of tolls will have a positive effect on the numbers of visitors and South Wales will be more accessible. Cairn summarised this by claiming: “Wales will be open for business” Cairn further stated he sees this as a stimulus to encourage greater economic and business collaboration between South Wales and South West England. It is estimated to bring Welsh economy a £100m boost.

As well as being a supposed catalyst

To contact our news desk, drop us an email at news@gairrhydd.com

testers, after more than 20 MEPs from the Greens and European Free Alliance group stood up in support of the protesters. Academics from the University of Sussex comprised an open letter, calling for restrictions on fracking and against restrictions on protesting, calling it a threat to fundamental rights to freedom of expression and assembly.

After contacting a number of the academics who signed this open letter, three main reasons for their support

NEWS

n July 25, four anti-fracking protesters climbed unto the cabs of lorries transporting drilling material needed to continue the project. The project is by the energy company Cuadrilla, who are carrying out this work on the Preston new road site, near Blackpool.

The four men were later arrested and became the first environmental protesters since 1932 to be jailed.

Fracking, also called hydraulic fracturing, is a method of obtaining oil or gas. The term originates from the fact that mostly shale rock is fractured by a mixture of water, sand and chemicals being vertically or more often horizontally pumped into the shale at extremely high pressures, for it to release said oil or gas.

There are several environmental concerns, leading to fracking being banned in countries like Germany, France, Scotland and Ireland. Large amounts of water must be transported to site, and there are worries that the chemicals used will sometimes leak into the ground water, effectively contaminating it.

In addition, tests in 2011 at the Preston new road site lead to two unnatural earthquakes of magnitude 1.5 and 2.2.

Aside the environmental concerns, we currently find ourselves past the estimated peak of oil theorised by Hubbert in 1956. This means oil reserves are running out, and shale gas accounts for an estimate of 30% of the worlds total oil reserves, per researched by Dr. Last and Mr O’Donnell.

There has been an attempt to prompt a review of the jail sentences of the pro-

NEWYDDION

by Sai

For more content, head to gairrhydd.com/news

Academics oppose harsh sentencing of anti-fracking campaigners

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No more tolls: Cairns declared Wales open for business with the removal of the Severn Bridge Tolls Source: Lewis Clarke

for an economic boost, Cairn wants the removal of the tolls to be a sign that the UK will thrive after Brexit.

Newport resident Jemima Moorcroft agreed the removal of tolls is a great thing and hopes it will bring economic and business boosts to Newport. However, congestion issues have been bought to attention, with

the M4 from the bridge to Newport, already having numerous problems.

With the removal of tolls, traffic will inevitably increase.

Action has already been taken against this worry, with temporary 50mph limits being enforced whilst the tolls are removed. Moreover, £1.3bn has been invested into M4

road relief in the South of Newport, where issues are most prominent.

However, Moorcroft explains that the M4 is already so frustrating, even with the tolls slowing down traffic.

Carwyn Jones, first Minister of Wales, is aware of the problem and hopes the investment will be a success to solve congestion around Newport.

Your news desk Gee Harland Klaudia Jazwinska Emma Ogao Matt Tomlin

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NEWS

Banksy shreds art moments after it sells at auction for £1M

by Hallum Cowell

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anksy’s Painting “Balloon Girl” shredded itself after being sold at auction for $1.4 million.

A shredder that was built into the frame by Banksy automatically activated as the painting was auctioned.

The crowd then watched as the artwork was destroyed before their eyes.

The moment was caught on film and quickly went viral with many claiming the event was “Banksy-ed”.

Banksy is an anonymous street artist who is believed to have been born in Bristol around 1974. His work focuses on graphite that often criticises the modern world. Active since the 1990s, Banksy has produced many pieces of art such as “One Nation Under CCTV,” “Bomb Hugger” and his interactive pop-up dystopian theme park “Dismaland”.

This most recent artistic statement has been labelled by Vox as “a rebuke of empty consumerism”.

However, some doubt has been cast over this interpretation. Scott Reyburn, a journalist for the Times questioned: “The frame would presumably have been rather heavy and thick for its size, something an auction house specialist or art handler might have noticed. Detailed condition reports are routinely and this Banksy piece had been hung on a wall, rather than placed by porters on a podium for the moment of sale.

And the artwork was also the last of the lot in the auction”.

The value of the piece has increased to at least £2 million. Banksy took credit for the action on his Instagram captioning an image of the event “going, going, gone”.

Tributes paid to fallen half marathon runners Continued from front page

by Emma Morgan

It encouraged preparation through appropriate training and ensured that organisers were aware of any health issues prior to the event.

Run 4 Wales Chief Executive Matt Newman said: “This is a terrible tragedy for the families. Our heartfelt sympathies go out to the family and friends of both Ben and Dean.

“The medical team and emergency services reacted to this terrible situation with great speed and professionalism. Everyone connected with the race is devastated.

“We are in close contact with the families and will continue to support them in every way we can. We ask that their privacy be respected at this time.”

“This news will come as a shock to everybody involved with Team Cardiff and indeed the whole Cardiff University community,” said Deputy Vice-Chancellor Prof. Karen Holford. “We offer our sincerest condolences to the families and friends involved.”

1 in 5 students don’t drink

Binge drinking culture at university appears to be on the decline, contrary to popular belief that binge drinking culture is getting worse

by Matt Tomlin

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any students will have had an experience where they said they wouldn’t go on a night out, and then two hours later ended up in a club fairly drunk. But recent research from the Office for National Statistics shows that the binge drinking culture of university is on the decline, with 1 in 5 students saying they don’t drink.

The reasons for this are believed to be a wider range of cultural beliefs among university students, financial troubles faced by students and awareness of the health risks of binge drinking.

This goes in line with lots of wider research into British and Welsh lifestyles, with more than a quarter of young adults in the UK saying they don’t drink and drunkenness having halved in Welsh teens in the last 12 years. In addition, the 2017/18 National Survey for Wales found the demographic of the population most likely to drink over the recommended weekly consumption was the older generation, and 16-24 year olds have been found to be much more likely to either drink within the limit or to not drink at all.

The overall move away from alcohol is also believed to be associated with money and increasing awareness of the health risks of alcohol consumption, similar to the trend seen over the last few decades regarding smoking and its acceptance.

The trend is likely to continue, with more regulations on alcohol taking place. Within the last few weeks, the Welsh Government approved a minimum price of 50p per alcoholic unit.

Despite the indication that a gen-

Dim diolch: Young people appear to be gradually shifting away from heavy drinking. Source: ivabalk

eral move away from alcohol is occurring, and probably for the better, it is worth noting how a smaller proportion of students are non-drinkers than 16-24 year olds in general. This may be because of binge-drinking and nightlife culture still being ingrained into much of university culture.

Cardiff University Students’ Union was reported by Gair Rhydd last

week to have seen a massive increase in sales for their club nights, with most of which being aimed at students who go out and drink despite the SU having put on a greater variety of events this year.

Overall, there is still a feeling in many universities as well that there are not enough events for students who do not drink and that it is unlikely this will change in the near

future.

For students who are non-drinkers, there are non-alcoholic events arranged by the Give It A Go team.

Details of these events can be found on the SU website. Furthermore, all Cardiff University societies are required to hold a non-alcoholic social at one point in the year, and plenty of society activities do not involve drinking.

Kavanaugh confirmed as Supreme Court justice

by Gee Harland

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ast week, Kavanaugh was sworn in as Associate Justice of the U.S Supreme Court. The votes were 50 to 48, making this the closest high court confirmation battle since the 1990s.

This comes after Christine Ford’s allegations against Kavanaugh for sexual assault.

Ford and her lawyers stated that whatever the outcome of the nomination, Senators deserve to know the truth and Ford would not be si-

lenced.

Many angry protestors flocked the Supreme Court when Kavanaugh had arrived to be sworn in. The protestors waved signs and screamed chants: “Hey, hey, ho, ho, Kavanaugh has got to go” and “No peace, no

Completely displeased: Protesters flock outside the Supreme Court as Kavanaugh in sworn in.

Source: Lorie Shaull via Flickr

justice”.

More than 300 protesters were arrested with many others being forcibly removed. Protesters were made to pay a fine to be released.

Despite the backlash from protestors, Kavanaugh received an apology from President Donald Trump at a ceremonial swearing-in event at the White House.

Trump stated that everyone must always be presumed innocent, until proven guilty and Kavanaugh under historic-scrutiny was proven innocent. He further stated that Kavanaugh endured terrible pain and suffering during his nomination, because of Ford’s testimony, and it violated every notion of fairness and decency.

Kavanaugh toasted his confirmation and claimed that his emotional nomination process has not changed him. He intends to focus on being the best justice he can be, and seeks to be a force for stability and unity.

Trump summarises the accusation as a hoax set up by the Democrats, as protesters still keep up the fight against Kavanaugh.

Postgraduate open day 2018 Wednesday 21 November, 1-5:30 pm Book your place: bristol.ac.uk/postgrad-openday

@ChooseBristolPG

bristoluniversity

UniversityofBristol

BYWYD CAMPWS

For more content, head to gairrhydd.com/campuslife

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Please SU, can we have some more?

Is food served throughout the Union student-friendly?

by Andrea Gaini

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he Students’ Union has been and will be a second home in Cardiff for all students.

A meeting point for all societies and activities happening within the university experience. As such, the SU has always aimed to provide its students with a wide variety of food and drink, raging from the normal pub food at the Taf to the salads and curries in Y Plas. But have they actually succeeded in fulfilling the needs of its students?

One of the most important things students look for in the SU is value for money. We all know the struggle of living on a tight budget and last thing you want to do is pay loads of money for food you won’t even enjoy. Most of the SU shops provide prodcuts that are good enough, but the prices are far from studentfriendly.

The Taf, for example, used to be a really good place to go out and have some decent food for a reasonable price. Since the menu changed however, it seems like it’s not really worth it anymore.

The Co-op is also way too expensive for the quality of its food. A few days ago, I found myself debating whether to bin one of the salads I bought there. I hate food waste, but

Spoilt for choice? Food outlets in the Students’ Union are not as varied as we would like, but just what responsibility does the union have to provide us with alternatives? Source: Ashley Boyle it was that bad.

In terms of variety and nutrition, other food shops in the SU are no better. Being a student and being healthy is a struggle. Most of the healthy places around Cardiff (or healthy options in shops) are madly expensive, while the selection of junk food for a pound or so is endless. In

the SU, the only real healthy options, if we can call them that, would be the falafel place in front of Co-op and the Salad stall on the second floor.

Both of these however are either expensive, or not really as varied and healthy as you would expect, considering the effort the union always puts in promoting healthy living

among students.

I may be exaggerating this simply because of my Italian roots, but food does play an essential role in the life of a student, and the union cannot forget about providing tasty and healthy options to set a good example to its community of chipeaters.

To contact our campus life desk, drop us an email at campuslife@gairrhydd.com

CAMPUS LIFE

Thinking of volunteering with AISEC? “I would say go for it, without hesitation.”

Volunteering: Highlights from Brazil. Source: Dāvids Čivlis

by Dāvids Čivlis oing volunteering abroad with AIESEC, one of the university’s many volunteering societies, was an amazing experience. I don’t really know where to start! This seemed, and still seems, like a huge step for me. Starting with preparation for summer-long living and working in a place I have only heard about

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Your campus life desk Ashley Boyle Cerian Jones

in movies and stories, was full of stress but, at the same time, overwhelming excitement. And when the arrival in Brazil finally happened it was like stepping into a dream. ‘I have made it half way across the world,’ I thought.

I met so many young, friendly and helpful Brazilians who spend their free time from studies and working life to welcome and guide

volunteers, making the transition to a different country a smooth and entertaining one. Trying to find the best ways of being heard by teenagers through teaching and overcoming language barriers was a new experience for many of us volunteers in Brazil. However, despite having different experiences, teaching styles and language barriers we proved working together to be very rewarding in the end. The teamwork we built created something much better and stronger than any one of us could do individually.

During my time in Brazil, myself, and other volunteers who I was working with, had to learn about a new culture and the way how to approach teaching children aged 14-18. Taking into account that we knew nothing about their upbringing, family and problems they faced every day, it was a challenging endeavour trying to teach them topics such ways of reducing inequality within the community. We created interactive, educational and interesting content for the classes every day. But to execute this plan in a class full of kids…let’s just say anyone who has ever been teaching kids will know what I’m talking about.

But its incredible how much can be gained by others from your work without you even realising it. One of the last weeks of the project seemed to be the hardest.

It didn’t feel like we would leave any lasting impact, and this fact made us all sad. But that last week of the project proved us wrong.

The students we taught were so sad that we had to leave, they organised events in school to show their appreciation. They guided us through the school and introduced us to their afterschool clubs. We talked about their passions, dreams and future plans.

We laughed, hugged and said our goodbyes. We gave gifts, received gifts and exchanged contact details for the future. The end was a heart-warming time and the highlight of my experience!

If anyone were to ask me whether they should take up volunteering, especially if it involved going abroad and far out of their comfort zone, then I would say “Go for it” without hesitation. It does great things for both the people you work for and gives you a new level of worth with the perspective it offers you. AIESEC offers volunteering opportunities throughout the year, as do a large host of other volunteering societies available to join via the Students’ Union and Give It A Go. I am so glad to have been a part of this project and to have met a great variety of amazing and talented people, who I have both taught in Brazil and worked alongside of in a team.

BYWYD CAMPWS

Your Guide to Cardiff this week From Starter for Ten to Echo and the Bunnymen

by Ashley Boyle

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alling all avid quizzers! Your time has come to showcase your talents in the Quiz Society’s University Challenge tryouts this week. Who knows? You could be the next Monkman or Loveday. If you don’t fancy facing Paxman, the CSPsychSoc’s Charity Pub Quiz at The Heath Pub might be more your cup of tea.

The Karate club are also raising money for charity with their Pink Belt fundraiser. At the end of their special training session, you also get to take home a Cancer Research pink belt.

There’s a lot on campus for STEM students this week with the STEM Careers Fair in the West Building and

the Engineering Without Borders Society’s Water Rocket GIAG. The likes of TATA Steel, Network Rail, Huawei, Royal Air Force and Atkins will be attending the fair over the 3 days. The After Hours event at Techniquest may also be of interest this week with several virtual and augmented reality experiences.

Also off campus, Cardiff has plenty to keep you toetapping throughout the week. Echo and the Bunnymen kick off the week followed by The Feeling at Tramshed. The first Sŵn Festival gigs kick off this week eaturing music acts Gwenno, Adwaith and Halo Maud.

Cardiff are also hosting both ice hockey and football events this week against Vaxjo Lakers and Fulham.

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Fresh Meat to Flat Mates

by Lucy Pritchard

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uring my first year, I lived in Talybont South and now in my second year – after moving into a student house – I’ve realised both are vital experiences of student life. Of course, both living situations have their positives and the gnarly negatives.

I loved living in Talybont, I think everyone has a soft spot for their first “Home away from Home” no matter how small or overrun with silverfish it may actually be. The social side, however, was the best part and that comes down to knowing that you are surrounded by fellow students that want to enjoy their first year just as much as you do. The friendships you make with your flatmates develop naturally over time, even when going food shopping together or just cleaning the communal kitchen. My flatmates were (and still are) incredibly friendly; we spent a lot of our free time sitting in our kitchen talking for hours on hard plastic chairs which, if they weren’t broken, were at least a little wobbly. I remember we played card games in the evenings and walked the long journey to classes together.

The main down-side was the lack of a comfortable common area where we could socialise; I would’ve given anything to have a sofa so that we could relax as a flat comfortably.

“...we spent a lot of our free time sitting in our kitchen talking for hours on hard plastic chairs...”

Image Source: Stan Zurek via Wikimedia Commons

Image Source: Kevinquickle via Flickr

Since moving into a house, the differences are clear. The bedrooms are so much larger which helped me feel right at home and most importantly the living room comfortably fits all eight of my flatmates with ease – there is plenty of space on the sofas for all of us! Living in a house allowed us to be more sociable because we finally had somewhere to relax. Equally, we do sometimes end up spending more time in our rooms because they’re more spacious, more personalised, and often cosier (we second years do have more work to do, however, and that is a factor). One aspect to student housing is the responsibility of renting a house: speaking to landlords; remembering bin schedules and general upkeep of the house all included in your expectations. I wouldn’t change living in Talybont South during my first year as the friendships it created with my flatmates wouldn’t exist without it, let alone be as strong as they are now. However, I’m very grateful to be living in a house with them all now.

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taf od

Y Digwyddiadur

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yma’r lle i hysbysu’r holl ddigwyddiadau sy’n berthnasol i fyfyrwyr Cymraeg Caerdydd.

Isod, gwelwch y digwyddiadau sy’n cymryd lle dros yr wythnos nesaf.

17 Hydref (Nos Fercher) - Crôl Degawdau’r Gym Gym. Dewch yn eich dillad mwyaf lliwgar wrth deithio o’r gorffennol i un o nosweithiau allan mwyaf adnabyddus y calendr Cymreig.

Am fwy o wybodaeth am ddigwyddiadau’r Digwyddiadur, cysylltwch â tafod@gairrhydd.com.

NEWYDDION

Seren Newydd Cymru’n Disgleirio

gan Tomos Evans

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ae hi wedi bod yn flwyddyn i’w chofio i Gymru, buddugoliaeth Geraint Thomas yn y Tour de France a newidiadau mawr i dirwedd wleidyddol y wlad.

Ond nawr, mae yna reswm arall y bydd Cymru’n derbyn cynnydd mewn ymwybyddiaeth fyd-eang, wrth i’r wlad gael ei chynrychioli yng nghystadleuaeth Junior Eurovision am y tro cyntaf.

Mi fydd Cymru’n ymuno â gwledydd eraill megis Ffrainc, yr Eidal, Iwerddon ac Awstralia.

Ar nos Fawrth, 9 Hydref, bu rownd derfynol Chwilio am Seren ar S4C, cyfres a oedd yn chwilio am gantor neu gantores ifanc i gynrychioli Cymru yn rownd derfynol Junior Eurovision 2018 ym Minsk, Belarus ar 25 Tachwedd.

Dros gyfnod o bedair rhaglen, gwnaeth Trystan Elis-Morris ein tywys drwy amrywiaeth o leoliadau ar draws Cymru i gyfarfod â detholiad o dalentau mwyaf disglair y wlad. Eu nod? Plesio panel o rhai o berfformwyr amlycaf Cymru; Stifyn Parri, Connie Fisher a Tara Bethan.

Wedi pleidlais gan y cyhoedd yn ystod y rownd derfynol, Manw a ddaeth i’r brig. Mi fydd hi’n canu cân o’r enw Berta yn Junior Eurovision, a gyfansoddwyd gan neb llai nag Yws Gwynedd.

Gyda Chymru’n ymuno â rhengoedd Junior Eurovision, tybed a ydy hyn yn gam yn nes at Gymru’n cael ei chynrychioli ym mhrif gystadleuaeth Eurovision?

Ond gyda seren newydd bellach wedi ei darganfod, mae’n siŵr y bydd Cymru’n disgleirio ym Minsk.

Eich unig gyhoeddiad myfyrwyr wythnosol trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg.

Sefydlwyd: 2003 I gysylltu â ni, e-bostiwch tafod@gairrhydd.com Am fwy o gynnwys, ewch i gairrhydd.com/tafod

GWLEIDYDDIAETH

Arweinydd newydd, cychwyn newydd: dechrau da i Blaid Cymru? gan Lisa Hughes

A

r ôl hir aros, mae prysurdeb cyffrous arweinyddiaeth Plaid Cymru wedi dod i ben. Na, dim mwy o fod ar flaenau eich traed drwy’r nos yn cnoi eich ewinedd; *Spoiler Alert!* Adam Price yw arweinydd newydd y Blaid, gan gipio’r cyfrifoldeb trwm o ddwylo Leanne Wood. Do, fe gollodd hi’r cyfle i ailgydio yn ei phŵer gan ddod yn olaf yn y ras. Beth yn union, felly, aeth o’i le?

Wedi’r cwbl bu ei haraith yn llwyddiant mawr yn y gynhadledd mis yma, gyda chymeradwyaeth yn llenwi’r neuadd a’r gynulleidfa ar eu traed yn falch wrth iddi herio’i beirniaid gyda’i geiriau “No-one in Wales is Niche”.

Dadleuol bu arweinyddiaeth Leanne Wood i ddweud y gwir. Wrth gwrs, mae diolch mawr iddi am fod yn ffigwr gweledol iawn i’r blaid dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf, wrth iddi ymddangos ar sgriniau deledu Prydain sawl gwaith. Gyda hynny mewn golwg, mae ei gwaith hi’n sicr wedi rhoi hwb mawr i statws y blaid o fewn y Deyrnas Unedig. Ond mae’r ffaith fod tri Aelod Cynulliad wedi galw am rywun i herio’i harweinyddiaeth

yn dweud y cyfan. Un sedd yn fwy llwyddodd Plaid Cymru i ennill yn yr etholiad Cynulliad diwethaf, bu llwyddiant Arfon yn boenus o agos rhwng Llafur a Phlaid Cymru ac roedd aflwyddiant Ynys Môn hefyd wedi gadael cefnogwyr Plaid yn eithaf siomedig.

Beth bynnag, mae cyfnod Leanne Wood o arwain wedi gorffen. Mae’r awenau bellach wedi eu trosglwyddo i Adam Price ac mae ei ymgyrch hyd yn hyn yn ymddangos yn addawol tu hwnt. Ymgyrch arloesol ac uchelgeisiol dros ben sydd ganddo, a dyma gyfle euraidd iddo geisio creu gwir gynnydd i’r blaid erbyn 2021.

Mae wedi gwneud argraff wych yng nghynhadledd y blaid heb sôn am ei gydweithrediad â’r SNP, a hynny o fewn ychydig wythnosau yn unig ar ôl ei benodi. Mae hefyd wedi cyhoeddi prosiectau newydd. O’r saith pwynt i annibyniaeth, y deg ymrwymiad o weledigaeth i Gymru Newydd i’r aelodaeth am ddim hyd yn oed; mae’n sicr am fod yn gyfnod cyffrous i’r blaid.

Ond a yw amcanion Adam wir yn ymarferol a realistig? Bydd hi’n her

YN Y LLUN: Adam Price (Tarddiad: Keith Morris, drwy Flickr) anferthol, heb os, i wireddu ei brif dargedau, yn enwedig gan fod Llafur wedi llwyddo i amddiffyn eu harweinyddiaeth dros Gymru am ugain mlynedd bellach. Eto i gyd, beth sydd

i’w golli o fod yn uchelgeisiol? Efallai’n wir mai Adam Price fydd yn cipio’r awenau yn 2021 ac y bydd Cymru yn dechrau camu ar lwybr annibyniaeth erbyn 2030. Pwy a ŵyr?

Barn y bobl: Jodie Whittaker, y Doctor newydd

Gyda 8.2 miliwn o bobl yn gwylio pennod gyntaf y gyfres newydd o’r gyfres, Doctor Who, Taf-od sy’n gofyn am ymatebion myfyrwyr Caerdydd i bennod gyntaf Jodie Whittaker yn y rhan.

Rhiannon Jones

Myfyriwr blwyddyn gyntaf Cymraeg a Newyddiaduraeth

Nia Eyre

Myfyrwraig ail flwyddyn Cymraeg

Sali Moses Nichols

Roeddwn yn falch o weld Whittaker yn cario’r un dewrder a doniolwch â’r Doctoriaid blaenorol i’r gyfres newydd gan nad yw menywod di-ofn mor weladwy yn y byd adloniant. Mae Whittaker yn bendant yn herio’r ystrydeb nad yw menywod yn ddoniol wrth iddi berfformio sawl llinell ffraeth. Mae’r newid yn un cyfforddus gan nad oes gormod o wahaniaeth yng nghymeriad y Doctor. Serch hyn, rwy’n edrych ymlaen at weld mwy o’r cyfeillgarwch a thosturi y mae Whittaker yn ychwanegu at y rhan!

‘Dw i erioed wedi gwylio cyfres gyfan o Doctor Who, dim ond ambell bennod os nad oedd rhywbeth arall mwy apelgar ar y teledu, ond ar ôl gwylio cyfweliadau Jodie Whittaker yn ddiweddar, dwi’n credu y bydd hi’n dod a chynulleidfa newydd i raglen Doctor Who. Mae hi’n siaradus, yn ddoniol ac yn hoffus. Er bod rhai yn credu ei bod hi’n rhyfedd gweld menyw yn chwarae’r rhan, dwi’n siŵr y bydd Jodie Whittaker yn arwres i lawer, yn enwedig i ferched ifanc.

Cyn gwylio’r bennod newydd o Doctor Who, mae’n rhaid i fi gyfaddef roedd gen i deimladau cymysg amdani. Doeddwn i ddim yn gweld sut fyddai Doctor Who yn parhau ar ôl storïau ofnadwy Peter Capaldi, ond roeddwn wedi fy synnu! Roedd Jodie Whittaker yn wych!

Roedd yn egnïol fel David Tennant gyda charisma gogleddol Christopher Eccleston, wrth ychwanegu sbin ei hun. . Roedd yna lawer o ragfarn yn amgylchynu’r bennod yma, ond fe wnaeth Jodie Whittaker brofi fod y Doctor yn gymeriad gwych beth bynnag yw ei ryw.

Myfyrwraig ail flwyddyn Eidaleg a Ffrangeg

TAF-OD

CHWARAEON

9

A fydd rygbi byth yn llwyr ddiogel?

gan Sion Ford

“Ni fydd rygbi byth yn ddiogel” dywedodd Sam Warburton wrth y BBC mewn cyfweliad diweddar ac, yn syml, mae e’n dweud y gwir. O ganlyniad i natur gorfforol y gêm mi fydd yna wastad y perygl o anafiadau i chwaraewyr rygbi ar bob lefel. I ba raddau ydyn ni fel gwylwyr am dderbyn hyn yw’r cwestiwn sydd angen ei ateb.

Wrth ystyried ei benderfyniad i

Mi fydd yna wastad y perygl o anafiadau i chwaraewyr rygbi ar bob lefel. ymddeol o rygbi cyn iddo droi’n 30, gall eiriau Sam Warburton ddarllen fel rhybudd sy’n argoeli’n ddrwg ac yn cwestiynu pa mor gynaliadwy yw rygbi yn ei ffurf bresennol. Ond i’r rheiny sy’n

Pryd o Daf-od Jacob Morris

gyfarwydd ar gêm, yna, does dim syndod i’w gael yng ngeiriau cyn-gapten Cymru.

Yn hytrach, iechyd a diogelwch chwaraewyr rygbi yw’r brif thema sydd wedi dominyddu’r colofnau yn ddiweddar. Mae’r sylw cyfredol ar anafiadau yn rygbi, yn enwedig wrth sôn am drawiadau, wedi bodoli erioed. Erbyn heddiw, mae’r ffocws wedi newid o sut i ddelio ag effeithiau trawiadau, i sut mae modd lleihau eu hamledd.

I ddychwelyd i gyfweliad Sam Warburton, mae’n sôn yn berffaith am sut y mae’r ochr gorfforol o’r gêm yn apelgar.

Dyna oedd y prif atyniad iddo fe, y taclo a’r rycio, y trawiadau a’r gallu i gystadlu ar lefel gorfforol efo’ch gwrthwynebwyr. Does dim amheuaeth taw hynny yw’r elfen fwyaf, os nad un o’r mwyaf, deniadol am rygbi. Pe bai’r agwedd yna’n diflannu, byddai rygbi’n newid i fod yn gêm hollol wahanol.

Oes, mae angen i gorff swyddogol y gêm barhau i ymchwilio i leihau’r nifer o anafiadau. Ers cyflwyniad yr asesiadau anaf pen, mae’r niferoedd o chwaraewyr a buasai wedi aros ar y cae

Jacob Morris sy’n rhannu ei farn ar ddatganoli darlledu i Gymru.

Dychmygwch ddihuno ryw fore heb orfod becso nad yw eich iaith, diwylliant a’ch gwlad yn cael ei hystyried yn israddol gan gynifer o bobl. Heb orfod cyfiawnhau bod y Gymraeg yn rhan greiddiol o’n ffordd o fyw, ac mae gwlad yw Cymru.

I mi, mae Cymru yn wlad ryfedd. Ac rydym ni’r Cymry yn greaduriaid rhyfedd hefyd. Yn wych, ond yn rhyfedd.

Hynny yw, rydym yn wlad sydd â chymaint i’w chynnig, yn genedl falch sy’n daer dros ein

gydag anafiadau wedi gostwng. Ond does dim ateb syml i ddelio’n uniongyrchol ag anafiadau, a sut i’w lleihau.

Ym mis Mawrth, penderfynodd Sam Jones, a oedd yn chwarae i’r Wasps, ymddeol o ganlyniad i anaf anghyffredin a gafwyd yn ystod sesiwn ymarfer yn 2016. Yn ddiweddar, mae Rob Horne, a oedd wedi chwarae dros Awstralia, wedi colli’r defnydd o’i fraich dde ar ôl tacl anarferol rhyw ugain eiliad mewn i gêm. Yn gyfatebol, does dim modd rheoli anafiadau. Yn ogystal, does dim modd rheoli’r amodau sy’n achosi anafiadau, yn sicr nid yn ei gyfanrwydd.

Yr hyn sy’n bosibl, ac sy’n hollbwysig, yw sicrhau bod gan chwaraewyr y gefnogaeth i drawsnewid o’u bywydau ar y cae i fywyd wedi anaf difrifol.

Un o’r esiamplau gorau sydd i’w cael o’r ymdrech yma yw Matt Hampson, cyn-chwaraewr Lloegr, a gafodd anaf i’w wddf a’i asgwrn cefn pan fu’n ugain mlwydd oed. Wythnos diwethaf, agorodd ei elusen, ganolfan ar gyfer cyn-chwaraewyr sydd wedi’u hanafu, gyda’r bwriad o gynnig rhywle i’r cynchwaraewyr a’u teuluoedd fynychu am

diwylliant a’n chwaraeon gyda thîm rygbi a phêl –droed uchel eu parch, i enwi ond ychydig.

Pa wlad fach arall sydd wedi penderfynu codi pac a hwylio i ben draw’r blaned i Dde America, er mwyn sicrhau dyfodol ein traddodiad a’n hunaniaeth yn wyneb bygythiad yr Ymerodraeth Brydeinig?

Does dim gwadu fod seiliau ein diwylliant wedi hen wreiddio yn y tir, ond cyhyd y mae ein gwleidyddiaeth yn y cwestiwn, rwy’n amau nid dyna’r achos. Er a oes newid ar droed?

Yn ddiweddar iawn y mae yna chwa o awyr iach wedi

YN Y LLUN: Sam Warburton yn y Senedd (Tarddiad: ‘National Assembly for Wales’ drwy flickr) seibiant a dihangfa o’r heriau maent yn eu hwynebu’n ddyddiol.

Mae ‘na wastad sôn am ystrydebau yn chwaraeon, ond os mae ‘na unrhyw gasgliad i’w canfod o’r pwyn-

cydio yng ngwleidyddiaeth Cymru. Ers cwta bythefnos erbyn hyn, ‘dw i’n methu’n deg a gwadu fod yna bennod newydd ar droed yng Nghymru a hynny ers i Adam Price gamu i’r adwy fel arweinydd newydd Plaid Cymru. Yn ei gyfnod byr iawn fel arweinydd y mae eisoes wedi gwneud cryn argraff ar y llwyfan gwleidyddol gyda’r sgwrs am annibyniaeth i Gymru yn ennyn fwyfwy o ddilysrwydd ac ystyriaeth.

Hynny yw, y mae’n ymddangos fod y cwestiwn o annibyniaeth yn tyfu’n fwy normal ymysg y drafodaeth wlei-

tiau uchod, mae’r gymuned rygbi’n llwyr ymwybodol o’r peryglon sy’n wynebu chwaraewyr. Maent hefyd yn barod i sefyll ochr yn ochr gyda’r chwaraewyr i’w hwynebu yn gytûn.

dyddol. Ai dyma yw’r Mab Darogan i arwain Cymru yn ei phennod newydd? Efallai’n wir, ond does dim gwadu fod ganddo dipyn o dasg i gyflawni hynny.

Am wn i, yr her bennaf i Adam Price yw datganoli darlledu. Dim ond trwy hynny y mae modd iddo ddarbwyllo pobl Cymru fod annibyniaeth yn bosibl. Wythnos diwethaf cefais y cyfle i holi Jo Stevens AS ar sesiwn Syrjeri Stryd ‘Y Byd yn ei Le’ ynglŷn â datganoli grymoedd darlledu i Gymru. Ei dadl hi oedd bod gan Gymru ITV Wales a BBC Cymru a

bod hynny’n ddigon. Er, pa obaith sydd inni bobl Cymru ddeall yr hyn sy’n digwydd yn ein gwlad ni ein hunain os nad oes brand Cymreig a chyhoeddiad ein hunain gennym? Nid yw’n syndod fod cyfran go sylweddol o’r gymdeithas yn methu â deall fod materion megis iechyd ac addysg yn faterion datganoledig pan fod dau draean o’n newyddion yn dod o ffynonellau wedi’u canoli yn Llundain. Drwy ddatganoli darlledu y mae modd amlygu a chyfleu materion Cymreig a gohebu ar yr hyn sydd o bwys i bobl Cymru.

Yn Trafod yr wythnos hon... Amy George 1. Pwy wyt ti a beth wyt ti’n astudio?

5. Pa seleb(s) fyddet ti’n gwahodd i dy dŷ am goffi?

9. Noson mewn neu noson mas? Pam?

Amy George ydw i ac rydw i’n fyfyriwr trydedd blwyddyn, yn astudio Cymraeg a Hanes

Cwestiwn da iawn! Yn gyntaf, buaswn i’n dewis Matty Healy o’r band ‘The 1975’. Ac yn ail, buaswn i’n dewis Lady Gaga.

2. Fel Llywydd Cymdeithas Iolo eleni, beth yw dy obeithion am y gymdeithas y flwyddyn hon?

6. Beth yw dy bryd bwyd delfrydol?

Noson mas bob tro! Rydw i’n mwynhau paratoi ar gyfer noson mas, rhoi fy ngholur ymlaen, dewis dillad neis, mynd i ‘predrinks’ – mae’n wych.

Fel Llwydd, rydw i’n gobeithio annog mwy o siaradwyr ail iaith Cymraeg i gymryd rhan yn y gymuned Gymreig ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd.

3. Beth yw dy hoff le yng Nghaerdydd?

Fy hoff le yng Nghaerdydd ydy’r Starbucks ar ddiwedd Heol y Frenhines, yn agos i’r Spar, oherwydd rydw i’n dwli ar goffi.

4. Beth oedd dy air cyntaf?

Fy ngair cyntaf oedd ‘Po’, un o’r Teletubbies, yn ôl fy Mam (jyst roedd rhaid i mi anfon tecst iddi hi i ofyn).

Pan oeddwn i ym Mhatagonia dros yr haf, bwytes i lawer o stêcs cig eidion. Felly buaswn i’n dewis stêcs cig eidion yr Ariannin gyda sglodion a ketchup.

7. Beth oedd dy swydd ddelfrydol pan oeddet ti’n iau?

Pan oeddwn i’n iau, roeddwn i eisiau bod yn gyfreithiwr fel fy nhad, ond nawr hoffwn i fod yn athrawes.

8. Beth yw dy hoff raglen deledu?

‘Dw i’n dwli ar wylio unrhyw beth y mae Louis Theroux yn gwneud ar Netflix.

10. Beth yw dy hoff ddiwrnod o’r flwyddyn a pham?

Fy hoff ddiwrnod o’r flwyddyn yw diwrnod Nadolig – ‘dw i’n dwli ar ginio Nadolig.

11. Oes gennyt unrhyw arferion drwg?

Mae gen i arfer drwg iawn o gnoi fy ewinedd pan ‘dw i’n teimlo dan straen.

12. Beth fyddai dy leoliad gwyliau delfrydol?

Fy lleoliad gwyliau delfrydol yw Efrog Newydd, oherwydd ‘dw i wedi eisiau mynd yna am amser hir.

13. Pe taset yn gallu bod yn rhywun arall am ddiwrnod, pwy fyddet ti’n dewis?

Buaswn i’n dewis bod yn Donald Trump ac ymddiswyddo yn syth.

14. Disgrifia dy hun mewn tri gair.

Byr, ffyddlon a heb rhagfarn.

15. Pwy fydd yn Trafod gyda’r Tafod yr wythnos nesaf?

Katy Wills.

Eich adran taf-od Llion Carbis Tomos Evans tafod@gairrhydd.com

SYLWADAU

For more content, head to gairrhydd.com/comment

10

Do reality TV shows really show reality?

by Emma Videan

Taking a look at Channel 4’s The Circle...

C

hannel 4’s The Circle finished last week with *SPOILER ALERT* catfish Alex, 26, winning a total of £75,000. If you’ve missed this brand new reality game show, the concept is that people enter an apartment block and live in solitude but talk to others through a constructed social media platform, ‘The Circle’. The aim of the game is to be voted the most popular by the other players, by any means necessary.

To summarise the type of activity that went on within the show, in the first episode a gay man, Freddie, 20, who was pretending to be straight, was flirting with Kate, who was actually a man called Alex, 26, using his girlfriend’s pictures.

To contact our comment desk, drop us an email at comment@gairrhydd.com

COMMENT

Did the Circle give an accurate representation of how people use social media today?

Your comment desk Alys Hewitt Hannah Newberry Emma Videan Columnist Karis Pearson

With 44 million social media users in the UK alone, The Circle’s concept

is something that the majority of peo ple would relate to but did it give an accurate representation of how people use social media today?

A good comparison of the behaviour seen on The Circle and in real life can be reflected in the dating app, Tinder.

I think it’s fair to say that users portray themselves in the most attractive way possible.

This could mean that they include pictures of dogs, nights out, family and friends and other details such as their age and occupation. This tactic could definitely be seen in The Circle for example, Scotty, 36, claimed that he was 31 and businesswoman, Jennifer, 40, pretended to be a 34 year-old junior oncologist.

Critics claimed that The Circle was in poor taste and encouraged ‘catfishing’. I would disagree with this, as the social media savvy generation are

generally aware that not everyone is truthful online and the show helps to shine a light on this issue. Another reality show that addresses dishonesty is MTV’s Catfish where the presenters give people the opportunity to meet who they have been speaking through social media.

Each Catfish episode looks at an individual who has formed a friendship or even relationship and reveals the truth about who the other is. The contestants in The Circle quickly formed cyberfriendships, similar to those on Catfish, indicating just how easy it is to feel safe and trust someone that you’ve never met. Players spoke to each other in much the same way that my peers speak to each other, using emojis, slang and abbreviations.

When they eventually met at the end of the show, the overriding emotion appeared to be excitement and an acceptance that people were going to lie in this situation as money was

at stake.

However, the reaction of Dan, 28, when he met online best friend, Kate/ Alex, was anger at being lied to. I think that this is a very real reaction as he put all his trust into Kate/Alex and it turned out that the woman he thought he had befriended was actually a man. For the most part, I think that The Circle did reflect much of the behaviour that can be seen online but this also reflects how many people make their first impressions in real life.

Online we have the opportunity to lie and not get caught...

Generally, we feel an urge to be liked and this can sometimes lead to exaggerating the most attractive features of our personalities.

This is only amplified online when we have the opportunity to lie and not get caught and I believe that The Circle has successfully shown these human traits.

City Road: under threat of

by Rhiannon Humphreys

gentrification?

street. Property prices and rent are rising in the area, which is pushing current residents out, much like in Bristol. In 2016, the beloved Poet’s Corner pub was demolished to make way for a block of luxury student housing and private flats. The owners are struggling to fill the flats they are unaffordable for local residents and not enough students are interested, but the pub, a popular music venue in the 1980s, is already lost.

T

he Bristol arts scene is currently quaking at the plans to partially demolish Hamilton House, a cultural centre in Stokes Croft which Banksy calls his spiritual home, to make way for 50 private flats. This development is happening with little to no care for the impact that it will have on the local community.

According to the operator of the building, Coexist, the centre provided a space for 500 artists, social enterprises and businesses and over 1,260 employment opportunities in 2017 alone. These include support groups for those with learning disabilities, drug addicts and degenerative brain diseases such as Parkinson’s.

We should be concerned about gentrification closer to home Bristol boasts property prices that have risen more than any other city in the UK over the past 5 years and because of this, gentrification is creep-

Is gentrification stifling Cardiff ’s local communities?

Source: Emma Videan ing into poor areas, such as Stokes Croft, forever changing them in the name of re-development.

But we should be concerned about gentrification closer to home, too. Our beloved City Road, part of the cultural centre of Cardiff ’s large BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) community, is also under threat. It is a thriving street, full of food shops

and restaurants offering a fantastic variety of cuisines from around the world and fashion stores that cater to the different needs of the diverse ethic communities living in the area.

Importantly, most of these stores are BAME owned. But developers are slowly closing in. Over the past few years, there have been several mysterious fires in properties on the

Without affordable spaces, where will these thriving, cohesive communities go?

A third of Cardiff lives in poverty, with the BAME community being hit particularly hard. The area around City Road is historically BAME, and yet with gentrification these communities are being pushed out of areas that they have inhabited for years.

Without affordable spaces, both in Cardiff and in Bristol, where will these thriving, cohesive communities go?

SYLWADAU 11

The true cost of fast fashion The trend-driven nature of the high street fashion industry and its impact on the environment

by Alys Hewitt

T

he lack of sustainable practices ingrained in the high street fashion industry is hardly a revelation; it is a subject that has been discussed for years, from the use of exploitative, low paid labour to the constant and cyclical waste it produces.

But in an age riddled with warnings and ultimatums surrounding climate change, the connection between the production and consumption processes of the fashion industry and environmental harm rings more resonant than ever.

This week the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee has shed light yet again on the detrimental impact that ‘fast fashion’ – our culture of rapidly changing trends and over-consumption when it comes to clothing – has upon the environment, claiming that the fashion industry is a major source of carbon emissions.

MPs involved have urged the UK’s top players in high street fashion, including Primark, M&S and Next, to pursue more environmentally-friendly processes of production.

I believe that the Committee has made the right choice in targeting corporations and holding them accountable. That is not to say that we as consumers don’t have a responsibility to shop less or at least more ethically,

Are we putting materialism above environmentalism?

Source: Emma Videan but shoppers are not to blame for the problem. The rampant consumerism of the fashion industry doesn’t help anyone but those at the very top. We are tricked into thinking that cheap, massproduced clothing is of good value, forgetting the fact that it rarely lasts a substantial amount of time before we must buy something new to replace it.

Admittedly, we are buying more and more – the Environmental Audit Committee states that Britons are buying twice as many clothes as we did a decade ago - but is this because clothes

aren’t built to last anymore? Fashion is also becoming an increasingly trenddriven economy, with trends moving faster and faster with the times, spurred on by the prominence of social media.

While it could be argued that high street chains are only responding to demand, the disproportionate amount of clothing that ends up in landfill suggests a widespread problem of overproduction and disparities in quality.

According to the Committee’s report, 235 million items of clothing were sent

to landfill in 2017 alone.

If both companies and consumers strived even to recycle or donate this excess of clothing, the state of affairs may be far less bleak.

There is a fear that these efforts to hold companies accountable have come too little, too late. It is obviously difficult to reverse the damage already created, and no real change will be made unless these production processes are structurally reconfigured, if corporations come clean about their errors and make tangible efforts to harm the environment less, rather than relentlessly prioritising profit both over the state of the environment and the workers employed to produce their clothing.

This pressure on companies needs to be sustained and continued, not simply forgotten about. And, as consumers, we have a duty to contribute to this pressure – perhaps by creating less demand for mass-produced clothing, through turning to more sustainable companies or buying second-hand.

We are a generation that is becoming increasingly environmentally aware in many other ways, but still seem somewhat complicit in the wrongs of the high street’s biggest companies. When will we cease to buy into an industry that gives us nothing back?

Was your degree oversold?

Do you get enough educational bang for your buck?

by Emma Videan

F

or freshers, the first few weeks of their degree can be very eye opening. Before my first year, I went to two Cardiff University Open Days and I read through my course handbook back to front.

I’d also pretty much read through every module option for the three year course; I moved to Cardiff feeling pretty confident that I knew what to expect from my course.

I remember being (and I continue to be) disgruntled by the very few contact hours that my course, Media, Journalism and Culture, has. I worked out pretty quickly that each of my 9 contact hours per week would cost me £46.88 – a good reason to wake up for those 9am lectures.

Each of my 9 contact hours per week would cost me £46.88 - a good reason to wake up for those 9am lectures While there are ‘office hours’ where students can meet with their

lecturers and discuss any issues, I think that it would be hugely beneficial if these were made compulsory.

Meetings would only require 10-15 minutes, but would give an opportunity to feedback to students, ensure satisfaction with the module, help with assignments and give lecturers and pupils an opportunity to know each other better.

Extra support should be given to everyone, not just for people who are keen enough to organize meetings. With the amount of money that students pay to be educated by incredibly intelligent professors, extra one-to-one help would hugely benefit students.

The hours that are spent in university are so useful, however, understandably in research-based courses a lot of the learning that students do is in their own time in the library.

I understand that open days are basically a promotional day for universities, who rely on student funding, but if a little more time and money was spent on individual student care, it would really pay off in the long run.

With all of this being said, my course has a student satisfaction rate of 89%, which is higher than Cardiff University’s average of 83%.

These satisfaction rates are fair. While there is definitely room for improvement

Open Days at Cardiff University: Source: Emma Videan in the amount of compulsory hours, the lecturers are more than happy to help students should they ask for it and I feel as though open days do give adequate information.

Once I got my head around the amount of self-motivation I’d require to do well, this course has pretty much been exactly what I expected in terms of content.

Civil partnerships: A modern equivalent?

Weddings: A thing of the past?

Source: Frans Hulet (via unsplash)

by Alys Hewitt

L

ast week the government announced the decision to extend the right to choose between the options of civil partnership and marriage to heterosexual couples in England and Wales.

This has come after much pressure from couples who wish to legitimise their relationship without getting married, most notably Rebecca Steinfeld and Charles Keidan, who during their campaign for a civil partnership had expressed wishes to be part of “a more modern, symmetrical institution” and way of life.

Civil partnerships provide those in relationships with similar rights as marriage would when it comes to property, pension and inheritance rights, but with no obligation of a ceremony or vow exchange, and is thus less intertwined with the influence of the Church.

What’s wrong with simply cohabiting?

This move could potentially signal a move away from the prominence of marriage in our society. Since they were originally designed for same-sex couples who couldn’t lawfully get married, civil partnerships stand as an alternative to marriage, one which is not so dominated by the influence of religion or traditional patriarchal relations.

In my eyes, this can only be a good thing. While I do question the need to legitimise relationships in any format what’s wrong with simply cohabiting? it is understandable that some couples might want to benefit from the legal protections offered by formally recognising a relationship, but still not want to get married.

Marriage has remained a monolithic institution for centuries, and I welcome any challenge to its values - many of which are outdated, particularly those which revolve around the ideas of ownership and property surrounding women.

Judging by the public pressure and response to the government’s announcement this week, many people are similarly disenfranchised with the idea of marriage, favouring a more equal form of legal partnership. The decision to offer all couples the choice of civil partnership could be the first sign of the diminishing relevance of marriage as an institution.

12

COLUMN

Karis Pearson

COLUMNROAD Paying the price

for royalty

A

ll too soon, somehow, it’s that time again. The spectacle which sees union jacks spread across the nation, and sparks debate among neighbours and co-workers over how power, money and influence is organised in British society.

No, I am not talking about another General Election, but in fact I would much prefer another one of those to another royal wedding.

It’s only been five months since the last royal wedding, which was really more like a shin dig for every famous face imaginable, and they’re already having another one. Surely one per year is enough? Last time, it took over the news, the conversation; I couldn’t handle the number of people I’d encounter who were genuinely excited.

On the whole, I try not to follow the royals, but it’s nearly impossible not to when it’s plastered all over the news for days at a time. However, some things are worth taking notice of, even if you have no interest in the royal family, especially if your money could be funding their big day.

On the 12th of October, Princess Eugenie married Jack Brooksbank.

For those who haven’t the foggiest who they are, and why their wedding

Does the unelected monarchy deserve our support? Source: Wikimedia commons warrants the use of tax payers’ money, Princess Eugenie is the Queen’s sixth granddaughter and is ninth in line for the throne. The cost of the security for the big day, which is to be paid for with public money, was estimated to be somewhere between two and four million pounds. Why, might you ask, should tax-payers have to front this cost?

Why should taxpayers have to front the costs for royal weddings?

The way it works means the police are obliged to provide protection and security to an event where figures are high-profile enough to attract a level of attention which may pose a risk to the public. Surely, it would make more sense, to downscale the event if it poses such a risk, instead of holding it at Windsor bloody Castle, televising it and inviting every single celebrity

under the sun. If they want to have a big wedding, then fair enough, but if they want to ride through the streets in an open carriage, they should pay for the security themselves.

There is a fair argument to be made that royal weddings bring in revenue through the tourism they attract to the nation, but this is really more the case for royals that everyone has actually heard of. The key cast members in the royal saga. In 2011, Prince William’s wedding saw some four-million visitors come over to the UK, bringing in around two-billion pounds in tourism for the country. With William and Harry having grown up before the eyes of the nation (and the world), for so many people it’s almost like watching someone they know get married. People feel genuinely invested. In contrast, Eugenie is a supporting cast member, and isn’t even recognisable to most people under the age of sixty, who are increasingly disenchanted with the royals altogether.

I am by no means endorsing special benefits for the luckiest, cherrypicked royals by making these comparisons. While William and Kate’s wedding - in economic terms - was a national success, William just hap-

pened to have the right amount of royal blood to make him the future King, and should this justify the expenditure more than Harry’s or Eugenie’s? It’s ridiculous to make taxpayers, plenty of whom couldn’t care less about the royals, front any cost for things relating to the monarchy.

The unelected aspect of the monarchy reduces it to a birth lottery Political organisation Republic are a pressure group who campaign for an elected head of state. They’ve publicly criticised the use of public money to pay for the security and have even set up a petition which urges the government “to commit no public money” towards the wedding. I’m inclined to agree with them on this.

The unelected aspect of the monarchy reduces it to a birth right; more like a birth lottery. Has anything ever

sounded so undemocratic? We live in a liberal democracy and yet we mindlessly accept that there is a family living in Britain who, just through being born, will be some of the most important and influential people in the world.

It’s instilled in us as soon as we take our first intake of great British air that we should be proud of our royals; they represent everything that’s great about our nation and its past. The level of pride some people feel for the royals is exemplified at no better time than a royal wedding. Of course, there’s never any mention nowadays of how the royals monopolised the slave trade for over one-hundred-and-fifty years, now it’s all “Ooh Harry’s getting married let’s have a street party”. Even in Australia, the Queen is still their official monarch, a sweet reminder of how the Brits colonised land that they happened across back in 1788, casually ignoring the fact it was inhabited. The royals and the spectacle, not to mention the public cost their weddings create, are a continuing reminder that as democratic a nation as we claim to be, we’re still to some extent living in the past.

by Hefin Rees Edwards

Wales.

While support for independence is still a minority position in Wales, findings from the latest Future of England Survey suggest that support has increased from 7% to 19% in the space of a year. The research also found that a clear majority of English Conservatives would support Scottish independence (79%) or the collapse of the Irish peace

T

he new leader of Plaid Cymru, Adam Price, recently commented that Welsh independence would be more likely after Brexit.

He spoke about how a no-deal or hard Brexit would be disastrous for Wales and this could see Labour voters turning to Plaid in the aftermath of such an event.

Price noted that after Brexit, Wales would be left at the ‘mercy of Westminster’. Scottish independence and Irish reunification would become more likely if there is to be no deal with the EU, and that Welsh independence would be the only way to secure Wales’ future postBrexit. Price sees independence as not simply an end goal but as “the only sustainable solution”. He says “only through having our hands on the levers of that power will we be able to deliver back the kind of society people want”.

He claims that if Plaid Cymru won control of the Senedd in the 2021 elections, his government would “put a Welsh Independence Referendum Act on the statute book at the earliest pos-

The Welsh Flag: Will there be a referendum for independence?

Source: Matthew Wilkinson (via Flickr) sible opportunity”.

Opting for a famous Barack Obama slogan at the conference, Price stated “Yes Wales Can”; he says post-Brexit is an opportunity to “Win a new Wales”.

The new Plaid leader also compared the current state of the UK to the “last days of the Hapsburg Empire [where] the centre cannot hold.”

Price recently spoke at the SNP con-

ference where he backed calls for a second referendum on Brexit. “A cliffedge, cataclysmic, hard Brexit would be incredibly destructive to the people of Wales’’, he claimed. ‘‘It’s being promoted by people who do not care what happens to our communities”. He also praised the SNP’s ability to dislodge the Labour hegemony in Scotland and saw them as inspiration for his own party in

Opting for a famous Barack Obama slogan, Price stated ‘‘Yes Wales Can’’! process (75%) as the price of Brexit.

The issue of Brexit seems to be cutting through old unionist ties, something which Price is sure to try and capitalise on by putting Welsh independence firmly at the forefront of his agenda.

by William Ballard

O

n the 4th of October, BBC Question Time hosted a panel in Canary Wharf consisting of David Gauke MP, Emily Thornberry MP, Claude Littner, Isabel Oakeshott and George ‘the Poet’ Mpanga and, as usual, it was a fiery affair.

However, one question in particular sparked a heated debate amongst panelists and audience members alike. The question, “Considering the low unemployment rate, what’s the real reason for reducing immigration?”, was clearly directed in relation to the recently announced government policy in regards to immigration after Brexit. As David Dimbleby quickly pointed out, the implication seems to be that if there is a low unemployment rate, then a country “would need more people to come into the country anyway”.

This prompted the panelists to discuss their own positions on the subject of immigration. One of those panelists was George Mpanga, more commonly known as George ‘the Poet’. He posited the suggestion that

xenophobia was behind most of the anti-immigration rhetoric, and was therefore a significant factor in the victory for the Leave campaign in the 2016 referendum on remaining in the European Union.

The UK is more tolerant of different ethnic and religious groups than other nations An audience member spoke up, making the claim that Britain is “one of the least racist societies across Europe”. This led to two rather heated responses from both George the Poet and a member of the audience.

George responded that he had been stopped and searched by police outside his mother’s house, an event he attributed to racial profiling. The audience member pointed out that “it’s funny that you’re a white man

saying that”, which awarded her with applause from the Question Time audience.

Mpanga was then asked if he had “looked at the numbers” before making this statement. The results of a Europe-wide Eurostat study has suggested that, in comparison to other nations, the UK does seem to appear more tolerant of different ethnic and religious groups.

Whether or not this research quantifies the audience member’s claim that Britain is one of the “least racist countries in Europe” is surely up for debate.

It is important to recognise that making this kind of statement can frustrate a lot of people considering that racism undeniably exists in the UK and plays a role in the lives of many British people in minority groups.

George the Poet was correct to point out that racial profiling still happens in the country and for those who are victims of such practices, these statements can be seen as a denial of the racism they have been victims of.

Racism in Europe: Levels of tolerance across Europe towards working with colleagues of wvarious ethnic origins

To contact our politics desk, drop us an email at politics@gairrhydd.com

On BBC Question Time, an audience member’s comment sparked a debate on immigration and xenophobia

POLITICS

Is Britain the “least racist” country in Europe?

GWLEIDYDDIAETH

Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price fears that Wales will be left “at the mercy of Westminster” after Brexit. There could however be a solution

For more content, head to gairrhydd.com/politics

Is Welsh independence on the cards?

13

Your politics desk % of people comfortable with working with a colleague of various ethnic groups

90% 80% 70% Below 70%

Rhys Thomas Charlotte King Silvia Martelli Sam Tilley

14 POLITICS

What they have said...

The seduction of lying

When Rudy Giuliani infamously stated that “Truth isn’t Truth” in a live interview on NBC last month, many political commentators were appalled.

But to whom does this rhetoric appeal, and most importantly, how?

by Mike O’Brien

“I’m happy with whatever the Welsh people decide. If they decided if they want it to continue or abolish it, I would be happy with that because it’s a democratic decision. I think a referendum would be the best way to go forward.”

Gerard Battten 09/10/18 The UKIP leader discussing whether Wales should hold a referendum on abolishing the Senedd.

“It’s disheartening to watch conservatives in Brussels vote to shield Viktor Orbán from censure, including British Tories.

They have come a long way since the days of Margaret Thatcher and Winston Churchill.”

Hillary Clinton 09/10/18 The former US presidential candidate’s take on the Conservative Party’s backing of Viktor Orbán’s far-right government in Hungary.

“You can be sure that if this problem hadn’t happened...we would already have decided the name of the future president of the Republic today. We can’t falter. What is at stake is our freedom. I’m certain we will emerge victorious.”

Jair Bolsonaro 07/10/18 The Brazilian Social Liberal Party presidential candidate on the country’s electronic electoral system.

F

rom historian Michael Beschloss to distinguished journalist Bob Woodward, all those familiar with the Trump administration and its antics can say is that they’ve never seen anything like it. Patent lying, relentless tribalism, and a barefaced disregard for the truth have become cornerstones of the administration’s communications strategy. To anyone paying attention, it can seem bewildering - and perhaps terrifying - that Trump’s approval rating is still hovering around 40%.

Last month on NBC, Trump’s attorney Rudy Giuliani explained why he instructed the president not to testify in the Mueller probe. “I’m not going to be rushed into having him testify so that he gets trapped into perjury”, Giuliani says.

“When you tell me that, you know, he should testify because he’s going to tell the truth and he shouldn’t worry, well, that’s so silly because it’s somebody’s version of the truth.” When told ‘truth is truth’ by journalist Chuck Todd, Giuliani said the following: ‘Truth isn’t truth’.

A bemused Todd laughed, and in the days that followed, political commentators and media figures alike lamented the Orwellian implications of denying the existence of truth altogether. But in a piece for Fox News, economist and gun rights advocate John R Lott. Jr. criticised the ‘anti-Trump’ media for taking Giuliani wildly out of context. ‘Giuliani wasn’t disputing that there is an ultimate truth’, Lott Jr. writes. ‘What he said is that being truthful won’t necessarily protect you from perjury charges.’

Giuliani later elaborated on Twitter: “My statement was not meant as a pontification on moral theology but one referring to the situation where two people make precisely contradictory statements, the classic ‘he said, she said’ puzzle. Sometimes further inquiry can reveal the truth, other times it doesn’t.”

These may seem like reasonable and measured follow-ups from Giuliani and Lott Jr., especially when compared to the louder mouthpieces of the conservative media.

But in actuality, these responses are deceptive political communications, and perfect examples of how the Trump administration and the far-right political machine succeed in public disinformation and misdirection. For many, the debate has become an argument predicated on Giuliani’s curious semantics rather than their foreboding implications.

Consider how Giuliani contextualises the truth. In isolation, his statements can seem hard to disagree with; a trial is, after all, a process in which two opposing parties construct conflicting narratives, and the more persuasive of the two becomes the basis of the court’s verdict.

Giuliani is correct in that the factual truth and the verdict are not always one and the same - but whilst he is not denying the existence of truth, he trivialises the prosecution and the administration of justice with shameless reductionism.

Giuliani likens the case to the ‘he said/ she said puzzle’, which might have been

an appropriate comparison in a trial lacking compelling evidence where neither side presents much more than their own account - but it has no place here.

This is the Special Counsel Investigation, a historic inquiry of Watergate proportions in which swathes of tangible evidence surface daily. Paul Manafort, chairman of the Trump campaign, has been charged with eighteen counts ranging from fraud to bank fraud conspiracy, whilst deputy and close ally Rick Gates pleaded guilty to conspiracy against the United States.

Former allies and staff, like ex-Trump lawyer Michael Flynn and Paul Manafort himself, are flipping on the President. If any side of the court is relying on anecdotes and hearsay, it’s the accused.

The trail of offences extends beyond the current 218 charges administered by the court. Each head of the USA’s six intelligence agencies agreed unanimously that collusion between Russia and the Trump team was a legitimate threat to American democracy. US intelligence agencies also cooperated with authorities in France to combat Russian electoral interference, whilst corroborating with UK sources to charge two G.U. suspects with the chemical poisoning of multiple civilians on British soil.

Jared Kushner, Trump’s senior adviser and son-in-law, and his eldest son Donald Trump Jr., separately met with Russian officials to secure ‘dirt’ on Hillary Clinton, whilst Kushner spoke with senior Russian diplomat Sergey Kislyak to build secret communication channels between the Trump administration and Russia. The list grows endlessly, with even Trump’s ex-lawyers jumping ship to testify - but Donald Trump, the president of the United States, refuses to condemn Russia for any of its demonstrable meddling, instead denouncing his own country’s intelligence agencies and democratic institutions.

Sometimes further inquiry can reveal the truth, other times it doesn’t It’s no surprise then that Giuliani, as Trump’s lawyer, is abusing logical fallacies to redirect the conversation. It’s true that he’s not arguing that there is no such thing as the truth - but the actual content of his message is somehow even worse: it’s that the truth doesn’t matter.

He is patently aware that the only way to create a remotely defensible position from his camp is to undermine the credibility of truth and its agents.

Giuliani depicts a distorted reality in which his defendant finds himself in the seedy and amoral confines of the truthless courtroom, where the pernicious prosecution lusts baselessly for a conviction at all costs. The dissonance between reality and Giuliani’s victim-complex

Trump’s Attorney: Rudy Giuliani, former Mayor of New York, is now Donald Trump’s personal lawyer. Source: Wikimedia narrative also informs his objectionable suggestion that Trump’s testimony might ‘trap him into perjury’. Filter out the nonsense and what you’re really left with is Giuliani’s fear that a guilt-ridden Trump’s verbose and wandering candor will incriminate itself as it so often does.

Giuliani may reduce the Special Counsel investigation to a ‘he-saidshe-said’ conundrum all he likes - but there’s no escaping the fact it’s a magnitudinal false equivalence. Trump and his machine are fighting a forlorn battle against the overwhelming litany of evidence against it, resorting to tribalism to slander the institutions of justice and democracy to defend themselves.

Of legendary journalist Bob Woodward, whose investigative journalism broke Watergate and toppled the Nixon administration, Trump could only call him a ‘liar’ and a ‘Dem operative’. In just two months, Giuliani went from praising ex-Trump lawyer Michael Cohen as an ‘honourable lawyer’ to branding him a ‘pathological liar’ after he agreed to testify.

How could one forget the ‘failing New York Times’ or the ‘fake news media’?

Trump, Giuliani, and the parties representing their agenda are the harbingers of what some call the ‘post-truth era’ for a reason; the truth is simply inconvenient for them. Facts are their kryptonite, an indelible tapestry of their offences.

Their only defence is to communicate viscerally to their base, preying on their insecurities, fears, and ignorance to deliver a convenient worldview which undermines the parties holding them to account.

It’s so easy to laugh at Giuliani, and many of us have been. But these tactics resonate with enough of the American public to win their most prestigious

office, and it’s not because American conservatives are simpletons driven by prejudice.

It’s because this administration abuses the loyalty and faith of its supporters to deceive them. For the most part, Trump supporters - regardless of how one may feel about the man himself - are not mindlessly evil; they are compelled by a love for their country and its associated values.

Their only defence is to communicate viscerally to their base, preying on their insecurities Their political involvement is not comprised by critical engagement and nuanced perspectives on policy - it’s almost wholly comprised of fundamental beliefs, emotion, and faith. That’s why all of this works: Trump and his cohorts speak a language that fundamentally driven, fatally uncritical, and politically disenfranchised citizens understand. The truth is complicated; can one realistically expect the American public, whose political disaffection is at an all-time high, to unravel the complexity of the Mueller probe?

The Trump administration’s reductionism is tempting simply because it is conceivable to the everyman. When you find yourself lost in a maze of voices, it’s only natural to gravitate to the one you understand.

GWLEIDYDDIAETH 15

Crisis over missing journalist strains already-tense Turkish-Saudi ties

Tensions between the two previously stalwart allies are set to escalate after allegations that Jamal Khashoggi was murdered inside the Saudi Arabian consulate

by Sam Tilley

T

he disappearance of Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi has put further strain on diplomatic ties between two of the most powerful governments in the Middle East. Tensions have been high ever since the previously steadfast allies disagreed over the Saudi-led campaign to isolate Qatar towards the end of last year.

Whilst thus far the Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has not openly accused Saudi Arabia of Khashoggi’s murder, Turkey has ordered access to the consulate and has also demanded Saudi Arabia prove that the journalist exited the premises, despite not presenting any evidence that he was killed inside. For their part, Saudi Arabia have denied any suggestion that they are complicit in Khashoggi’s disappearance, stating that they were “open to cooperation” and permitted a search of the consulate’s grounds.

In recent years, there have been attempts by the Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, to liberalise certain aspects of Saudi society, the most noticeable examples being the introduction of women drivers, the building of public cinemas and opening the country up to greater international business. Despite the social overhaul started by the ‘Saudi 2030’ program, there are still strict restrictions on the media and Freedom House, an internationally renowned human rights thinktank, describes the press as “not free”. It was because of these restrictions that Khashoggi, a vocal

critic of Crown Prince Salman, found himself living in self-imposed exile in the United States with little chance of returning to his home country.

Traditionally, Saudi Arabia and Turkey have enjoyed a strong and friendly economic relationship, but the diplomatic crisis in Qatar has recently created a political rift between the two countries.

This rift has been exacerbated by Turkish support and cooperation with Iran, Saudi Arabia’s ideological rival. However, both sides are aware that any escalation in this case could have widereaching effects within the proxy conflicts that are currently being fought across the Middle East, in addition to an impact on trade between the two states.

Multiple Turkish media outlets are claiming to have footage of a plot to target the missing journalist, showing two Saudi intelligence officers flying into and back out of Istanbul airport around the time of his disappearance.

Nevertheless, if it is proven that Saudi Arabia had any hand in Khashoggi’s disappearance, this blatant violation of Turkish sovereignty would surely not go unanswered, with one former Turkish official stating off the record that Turkey would make a “moral and honourable choice” over any potential economic concerns. Regardless, it becomes clearer and clearer each day that if anything happened in the Saudi Arabian consulate, it will have far reaching consequences for the rest of the Middle East.

Jamal Khashoggi: The missing journalist renowned for criticising the Saudi Crown Prince. Source: Flickr

A new government needed for the Democratic Republic of the Congo?

Joint Nobel Peace Prize winner, Denis Mukwege, calls on the Congolese government to stand down.

by Charlotte King

W

ith the current international focus on the #MeToo movement, it comes as no surprise that the two winners of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize were awarded based on their efforts to aid victims of sexual assault.

Berit Reiss-Andersen, the chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarding the prize, stated that the aim of the 2018 award was to “highlight the awareness of sexual violence” and prompt the international community to “take responsibility” for preventing sexual violence.

DRC: Citizens fleeing to Kibati in search of safety. Source: Wikimedia

Dr Denis Mukwege, one of the joint winners, has caused a stir for saying that the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) should stand down.

Mukwege is known as “Doctor Miracle” because he has dedicated his life to providing constructive surgery to women who have been sexually assaulted, treating over 50,000 survivors. He set up the Panzi Hospital in the DRC around 20 years ago, and cares for more than 3,500 people every year.

In 2012, Mukwege criticised the president, Joseph Kabila, and his government for not doing enough to stop “an unjust war that uses violence against women and rape as a strategy of war”. In the eastern Congo, brutal conflict has been waging for over two decades, and, in 2010, the UN announced that the DRC was the “rape capital of the world”.

Mukwege says, “the Congolese people live with unheard of violence”, and the president should be held responsible; “this government does not protect women”. For example, in 2012, hundreds of women and children were raped in the eastern town of Minova, and in 2013, a member of Kabila’s parliament led a group of militias to rape children because believed it would “protect them from their enemies”.

Mukwege is calling on the government to stand down before this December’s election for failing to protect its women and children from conflict and sexual violence. He says the government is “illegal and illegitimate”, and that

December’s polls will be “a parody of an election”. He further added that they “do not seem credible or transparent”.

Kabila refused to leave office two years ago when his mandate ended and has forbidden his strongest competitor from running against him in elections.

According to Dr Mukwege, the upcoming elections will be neither free nor fair, and that provides the DRC with no foundation for a solid democracy.

Despite Mukwege’s dissatisfaction with the Congolese government however, Kabila’s representative stated, “we are proud that the fight and initiatives led by the [DRC] through Dr Mukwege, for the reestablishment of dignity and the respect of women, is finally recognised internationally”. But, Mukwege is adamant he has clashed with the government when trying to politicise his work.

He states that “we have been able to draw a line against chemical weapons, biological weapons and nuclear arms”, but have not addressed preventing this “cheap and efficient” form of terror that leaves its victims with a “life sentence”.

He sees his work as extremely important from “a humanitarian standpoint” and believes that this prestigious award will allow him to “change the situation of victims in conflict zones”.

Hence, Mukwege is calling on the government to stand down and for free and fair elections to follow, believing it will allow this “drastic situation” to be better dealt with.

GWYDDONIAETH

For more content, head to gairrhydd.com/science

16

First female Physics Nobel Laureate for 55 years Donna Strickland has taken huge strides in the science community and in bridging the gender-gap

Donna Strickland, the third woman to ever win the Nobel prize for physics. Source: Wikimedia Commons

by Luisa De La Concha Montes

To contact our science desk, drop us an email at science@gairrhydd.com

SCIENCE

O

Your science desk Danny Brown Jonathan Learmont

n the October 2, Donna Strickland, alongside Gérard Mourou and Arthur Ashkin, was awarded this year’s Nobel prize in physics. Their research on laser technologies, called chirped pulsed amplification (CPA), not only represents exciting advancements in the field of physics, but also in medicine and biology. Simply put, CPA allowed them to create the shortest and most intense laser pulses ever generated.

Dr Strickland and Mourou invented this technique in the 1980s, the development of which was, not only the foundation of Strickland’s 1989 doctoral thesis, but has allowed great improvements in eye surgery, highpower petawatt lasers, and other countless applications.

However, from a social perspective, the award has received controversial views. Even though the prize was undoubtedly well deserved, the public and media quickly highlighted that this is just the third female physics Nobel Laureate. The last time a female won this prize was in 1963, when Maria Goeppert-Mayer was awarded the prize for her work on the structure of atoms.

Determining the specific reasons why it has taken so long for a woman to receive a Nobel prize again is difficult; however, a recent article by the Washington Post suggests that this might be due to women being constrained to a series of structural biases that make them shy away from the scientific spotlight, ultimately causing a misrepresentation of their performance in STEM fields. Some of the aspects mentioned in the ar-

ticle include research that shows that male students are regarded as more knowledgeable by their classmates; and that female academics tend to get less credit than males for their work on a team. Additionally, outside of academia, news outlets tend to quote more male voices that female ones.

From a social perspective, the award has recieved controvertial views When looking at statistics, it seems coherent that it has taken so long for a woman to get a Nobel prize on physics, according to the STEM Graduates recruitment agency, only 13% of the overall UK STEM workforce is female; furthermore, in the US, women comprise 17% of the engineering and physical sciences academic community. This could suggest that this isn’t necessarily a case of institutionalised sexism, but rather a manifestation of the gaps between male and female students and academics in STEM fields.

We asked a couple of female science students in Cardiff University their thoughts about the matter. Faye Tendall, a second year Physics student in Cardiff University, said that she accredits the gender-gap to girls not being encouraged enough to get involved into science from a young

age. However, she also argued that this is something that seems to be changing now, and Donna Strickland’s award “is a big statement for woman” because it is a reminder of how women can also achieve great things in the fields of sciences. Karishma Behera, a second year Medicine student, hopes that “the remarkable success of Professor Strickland will encourage more women to choose the scientific fields.” She also argued that as a medical student herself, she is proud to say that in Cardiff University, women make up the larger part of her degree every year. Finally, Georgina Gales, a second year Neuroscience BSc said that “more women being recognized and awarded for their achievements in a very patriarchal field gives me confidence in my own career and future”.

She added that this award “will also help future students of science in countries not so forward as ours, see that women can also make a living from science.”

When interviewed by the BBC, Donna Strickland admitted being surprised that it had been such a long

time since a woman had last won a physics award. However, she stressed that throughout her career she had “always been treated as an equal”, and that in order for the field to become more representative of woman,“ men have to get on board, and the majority of men are absolutely on board, so sometimes it’s just inertia.”

The gender-gap is often due to girls not encouraged enough to get involved in science from a young age Regardless of the various possible reasons behind the gender-gap in sciences, Donna Strickland’s award should be highly acknowledged, not only for the great advancements in science it has granted, but as it also serves as an example of men and women accomplishing great things by disproving stereotypes and successfully working together.

Women in Science Women in computing could more than

TRIPLE by

2025

13% of the overall UK STEM workforce is female

GWYDDONIAETH 17

Climate Change Report: Act Now or Prepare for Catastrophe T

by Nia Jones

he Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the UN body for assessing climate change science, has published a critical report combining the work of 91 authors and editors from 40 countries.

It highlights how we are already seeing the consequences of 1 °C global warming through diminishing arctic sea ice, frequent extreme weather events and rising sea levels. It advises that warming is kept to 1.5 °C, which could be exceeded by 2030 if no action is taken.

by Kammy Bogue

A

The world will need to be completely carbon neutral by 2050 Limiting warming to 1.5 °C instead of 2 °C or higher could greatly reduce the impact of climate change and save millions of lives in the process. With 1.5 °C of warming, 700 million will be exposed to extreme heat waves at least once every 20 years; this would rise to 2 billion with 2 °C of warming.

Greater warming could also mean 3 million more people are impacted by rising sea levels, a 170% increase in flood risk, and the loss of virtually all coral reefs by 2100.

To limit warming, the world will need to make “rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of

Warning: IPCC predicts flooding will worsen as sea levels rise. Source: belurmath (Via Flickr) society”. Annual average investment into the energy system needs to be around $2.4 trillion between 2016 and 2035, a beneficial investment as there will be greater economic growth and less risk of disaster with lower levels of warming. To achieve this ambitious target, the world will need to be completely carbon neutral by 2050 with an estimated 85% of global electricity provided by renewable sources.

To be able to cap warming at the necessary levels, ground-breaking pol-

icy and ambitious technologies need to be adopted. Professor Ian Hall, climate scientist and Head of the School of Earth & Ocean Sciences at Cardiff University says “yes, it can be done but we need to act now otherwise we will run out of time. The UK government is taking it seriously and should be applauded, but a push from the public will make governments act quickly”. He says, “what’s interesting as a scientist is that this will require carbon dioxide removal on the order of 100 – 1000 giga tonnes

of carbon over the 21st century”. The report states that this technology needs effective governance to secure a sustainable way of removing carbon from our atmosphere.

This may be the wakeup call that global governments needs to respond to the looming threat of climate change.

As Gavin Schmidt, director of NASA’s GISS, said: “it’s clear that the best time to have reduced emissions was 25 years ago, but the second best to reduce emissions is right now.”

‘Virtually unravelling’ the damaged scrolls of the past

Computer Science at Cardiff Uni makes a historic step

by Milo Moran

U

ncovering the secrets of the past can prove difficult; scrolls and papers from history are frequently damaged by accidents or worn over time. A 16th century scroll from Norwich was badly burnt in a fire and had its pages fused together. There was no way to unravel the scroll without destroying it, and the information on it

Hayabusa 2 sucessfully lands rovers on Ryugu asteroid

would have been permanently lost.

Scientists both at Cardiff University and worldwide have been using x-ray tomography, also known as a CT scan, to create a series of images which show the layers through the scroll.

Each layer is created by taking several images from different angles to find the 3D structure inside the object.

Usually this is done for medical applica-

tion to produce images of the inside of the body. With historical documents however, the writing on the parchment is visualised as brightly coloured blobs, since the ink contains high levels of iron and copper. A complex computer algorithm can then piece together the images like a jigsaw, producing an image of how the pages would look unfolded.

A complex computer algorithm can piece together the images like a jigsaw

Revealing: Techniques pioneered at Cardiff University allow fragile scrolls to be read. Source: Cardiff University

The scroll, from Diss Heywood Manor, contains information about how life was conducted in the house in the 16th century. It proved hard to unscramble for the scientists because it consisted of four pages, making it more likely that

the computers would mistake ink on one page as being on another, rendering the pages difficult to decipher.

Cardiff University’s Professor Paul Rosin said that the Diss Heywood scroll was “an extremely challenging sample to work with”, as it “was heavily discoloured and creased and was covered in soot-like deposits”.

However, it was analysed and the information within proved to be of great historical interest; included were records about the upkeep of land, the payment of fines, and disturbances of the peace.

This technique has been improved since a similar scroll from Bressingham in Norfolk was analysed over five years ago. The 15th century Bressingham scroll had been badly water-damaged, and would disintegrate if unrolled, but micro-tomography was used to read the information within.

Professor Rosin said that, since many historical documents “are too fragile to be opened or unrolled”, the scientists involved would “welcome the opportunity to try out [their] new techniques.”

fter the Rosetta Mission to Comet 67P, the space faring community have been excited by the new prospect of probing asteroids. These celestial bodies are a hot topic for research, in large part because we believe many to be unchanged since the early universe.

There’s also a popular theory that asteroids brought organic molecules and water to Earth, so learning more about them could be extremely eyeopening.

Japan’s Aerospace Exploration Agency’s latest poster child comes in the form of the Hayabusa 2 spacecraft.

Currently in orbit around the Ryugu asteroid, it deployed two tiny ‘rovers’ on the asteroid’s surface at 12:06 am EDT on September 21st.

This was an incredible feat, the first of its kind, and the rovers themselves are an ingenious piece of equipment.

Smaller than a cereal box and weighing barely over a kilogram, they have been hopping around on Ryugu’s surface and beaming back pictures and videos to Earth.

Because the gravitational pull of the asteroid is very weak, traditional roving to collect data is rendered ineffective.

We believe many [asteroids] to be unchanged since the early universe These ‘rovers’ instead hop from place to place, lasting as long as 15 minutes in the air and covering up to 50m of horizontal distance at a time.

The first attempt at this mission, which launched in 2003, was generally very successful even in the face of great adversity. The Hayabusa craft obtained lots of information about the Itokawa asteroid, and was able to return over 1,500 samples from its surface to Earth.

This mission also had a MINERVA lander on board, however this rover was unable to land on the asteroid’s surface.

Luckily, the new Hayabusa2 mission did not face as many difficulties, and its successful landings of MINERVA explorers should undoubtedly be a cause for celebration.

CYNGOR

To contact our advice desk, drop us an email at advice@gairrhydd.com

ADVICE

For more content, head to gairrhydd.com/advice

18

How to get a 70 in an academic essay

You too can strive for a first

by Katie Lewis

A

lthough I’m in my third year, I have not yet broken the barrier between a 2:1 and a first class essay. But don’t give me any sympathy, because I spoke to JOMEC’s Katherine Stansfield from the Royal Literary Fund who meets JOMEC students to discuss their writing. Although Katherine is only available to JOMEC students, there is another literary fellow specifically for those doing Law and Politics. For those of you in other schools, I suggest you use your lecturer’s office hours and your seminar teachers wherever possible. Below, I have summarised the key things I learnt from meeting with Katherine.

One of her pet peeves when reading essays was that students often jump straight in to their essays without an introduction or explanation as to its purpose.

So when you’re writing your essay, begin by announcing how you will approach and navigate the question. This gives your tutor a clear indication as to what they expect to read. Katherine suggested thinking of your introduction as a map, where you provide signposts to indicate topics you might address in the main body of your writing. This will help with the flow of your essay and sets your writing up well.

Katherine stated that a common er-

ror is that students don’t always fully understand the essay question. It is important that you don’t just understand what topic the question might be on, but to see what they actually want you to do. You need to know when to evaluate, to describe and to analyse. By taking the wrong approach to an essay you might risk losing marks for how you decided to answer the question.

Another little tip I gained from our

By taking the wrong approach to an essay you might risk losing marks discussion was that it’s okay to repeat words sometimes. I don’t know about you, but I had this idea that I couldn’t use the same word more than a few times, and therefore would constantly alternate words and phrases.

Sometimes, although a word might be similar, it can put a different spin on your sentence- so don’t be afraid to repeat.

Katherine highlighted the importance of simplicity and clarity and she

The best thing you can do is listen and try to understand. Source: Jennifer Burk (via: Unsplash) stated that ‘simple sentences are your friend’. Her top tip was to always be clear within your writing and she explained that often students try to be overly wordy.

This can have a negative effect by disrupting the flow of your writing.

Even in academic writing, don’t feel pressured to consult an online thesaurus for the most obscure word you can find, as making your writing clear is more important.

To be awarded a first, the tutor

What can you do after uni?

From grad schemes to travelling the world:

by Emma Morgan

Your options are endless

they won’t consider hiring you, the perfect candidate.

Travel: you will never be as young or adventurous as you are today, and as a result many grads are catching the travel bug after university. However, doing this doesn’t have to mean sacrificing your preparation for working life. There are many volunteering organisations that offer for young people opportunities to go see the world and make a difference, for example ICS. If you are interested in teaching you could consider a TEFL job, graduates are offered the opportunity to live abroad and get paid for teaching children in countries such as, Vietnam, Thailand and the South Americas.

L

eaving uni is a daunting prospect.

Lots of us tend to brush the idea aside until graduation is looming but it can be helpful to consider what is out there before you reach the finish line.

As someone who was recently faced with the seemingly impossible task of deciding what to do with my life I have researched different options. Here are some.

Grad schemes are notoriously competitive and many companies close applications before the autumn term is over so it’s worth thinking about applying as early as possible. (But don’t panic if you miss it you can always apply in later in your twenties).

Most of the schemes on offer are with

Leaving uni is a daunting prospect

Your advice desk Ashavari Baral Katie Lewis Columnist Sam Saunders

must be quite bowled over by your work, so I asked Katherine what makes a first class essay standout. I learnt that you have to go the extra mile in your analysis and show that not only can you refer to sources, but that you understand them and can comment and peer review them. This shows confidence in your writing and proves that there was a purpose to the essay.

Good luck with your writing, here’s to writing a first class essay.

large well known corporations based in London, such as Virgin, Marks and Spencer’s, Lloyd’s banking; the list goes on. They all offer successful candidates good pay and long-term careers so are a great option if you want security and to

The best thing you can do is listen and try to understand.

Source: Jonathan Daniels (via Unsplash) work in business.

Entry-level jobs may be a more realistic option for those of you who are looking for jobs outside of London. There are plenty of job opportunities but finding the right one can be difficult. Two tips I have for job hunting are below.

It is easy to assume from a job adverts

criteria that you are not experienced enough for a role. It is still worth applying if you believe your skillset meets the criteria, your skills from participating in societies can often substitute the experience employers are looking for. Don’t be afraid to cold email - just because a company isn’t advertising doesn’t mean

Don’t be afraid to cold email.

Even if a company isn’t advertising it may still hire you Further study: of course if you miss university and want to broaden your knowledge you can always come back to complete a postgraduate degree like I have, a postgraduate degree gives you a broader perspective on the degree you are passionate about and is also helpful further on in acquiring a job.

CYNGOR

Mental Health and Me

19

Identifying some of the signs

A minute for yourself: Your emotions matter.

Source: Arnel Hasanovic (via Unsplash)

by Aliraza Manji

H

ow does someone cope with the ‘‘uncopeable’’? How do we swim when we feel like we are drowning? These may be questions which come to mind, if like me, you struggle with your mental health.

To begin with, I’ll reiterate the cliché line that ‘you’re not alone’, however hard it may be to see it, believe me, you’re not. For me, mental health problems have been constant since Year 9, relaying messages of low self-worth. It’s safe to say that after years of hearing it, I began to accept it. Questions as to why others enjoyed secondary school and I didn’t, seemed to fade away in the midst of acceptance. The combination of anger, extreme sadness and exam stress

by Shikdar Hasnath

F

of Year 11’s GCSEs drove me to a point of suicidal thoughts. What was the point in life, if all I could feel was this? What was the point if all I could be was ‘less’ than another? Gradually, by Year 12, I was at a tipping point; I couldn’t let myself fall again, or much rather, when you’ve hit rock bottom all you can do is rise.

Once I admitted to myself that something was wrong, my journey began. I looked for signs and answers as to why I felt the way I did.

At the time, I had not been officially diagnosed with any mental illness.

Whilst doing my research, I found that the detachment I was feeling, constant anger, sadness, tiredness, the lack of purpose, belief, and worth were all symptoms of anxiety and de-

pression. Knowing the signs which would signify you are struggling with your mental health is good.

Better yet, finding methods of coping will help you on your road to recovery, whilst bearing in mind that everyone’s journey is different, but there are certain actions we can all take to improve our mental health.

After coming to the realization that I potentially had depression and anxiety, I tried to open up to my close friend; luckily for me, in spite of being unsure about what I had, he was willing to listen to years of bottled up frustration, anger, pessimism, and childhood issues.

Over time, many tears and conversations later, it’s safe to say that I am in a better place today.

If you’re noticing some of the signs I noticed in myself, keeping yourself busy, and therefore limiting the time for negative thinking can help. Adding routine such as going to the gym regularly will mean that you’re keeping yourself occupied. Just remember not to lose sight and hope, as well as remembering you are worthwhile. There are resources out there to help you: if you need someone to talk to, you can always try the University’s Student Support Services. They are specialised in providing support for you so thart you won’t be bottling up your emotions.

Always remember that it’s your duty to keep your mental health in check - and that is for your own wellbeing.

Helping a person with mental health issues

rom the pressures of managing your money, making new friends in freshers, and grasping the bewildering concepts behind your modules…it’s not hard to see why for many students, mental health problems can be triggered during university.

Whatever stage of your university career you may be at, the vast spectrum of mental health problems can effect everyone- sometimes even those who you wouldn’t expect.

Thus, it is crucial to be able to identify the signs of mental health problems if they affect someone you know.

This guide will address helping someone with anxiety and panic attacks as they are among the most common problems, however, the same initiative can be used for other problems too.

Two weeks ago, an old school friend of mine reached out to me via snapchat late at night complained about not being able to sleep. We chatted for over an hour and after such a long period of time, I could tell there was trust between us.

It’s vital that if you suspect something might not be right with a friend, not to pressure them to saying or doing something they themselves are not comfortable to do; make the conversation entirely driven by them at a pace that suits them.

Part of having anxiety is feeling like they can’t

control their worries, and they aren’t choosing how they feel.

During the situation with my friend, my role was more of a ‘listener’ as opposed to an ‘advicegiver’, which provided my friend with the upper hand of the conversation.

I could tell it was hard for him to tell me that he suffered with anxiety, but this was to be expected as I was the only person who knew about it.

The problems he faced, to me, seemed almost trivial at first, but it was important for me to respect the fact that not everyone finds it easy to sit next to strangers in lectures for instance, or finds social situations as easy as others do.

When someone tells you something secret about themselves, a non-biased and compassionate stance helps diminish the anxiety surrounding them sharing such information with you.

In my case, following another phone call with my friend, it became apparent that they were also suffering from mild panic attacks. Panic attacks are common with people suffering from anxiety, but anyone can suffer them.

Try and assure your friend or relative that they are going to be okay, urging them to stay calm, encouraging them to take slow and deep breaths (saying “in” and “out” aloud worked perfectly for my friend).

You could also ask them to sit somewhere

The best thing you can do is listen and try to understand. Source: Jennifer Burk (via: Unsplash) quiet until they feel better or for them to stamp their feet on the spot, which might work as a distraction.

Finally, and most crucially, slowly encourage them to speak to someone and seek professional

help; actively helping them to seek that support and maybe even going with them maximises the chances of them addressing their issues. Cardiff University students can seek support at the Student Support Centre at 50 Park Place.

20

COLUMN

More Information about spding time abroad at Cardiff

Saunders’ Corner Sam Saunders

Studying Abroad: Why? How? Where?

T

his week’s column is on a topic very close to my heart, taking a semester or a year abroad during your time at university. When I talk about my year abroad with other students, I’ve found it’s very common that they say they regret not taking one.

I think it’s a massive shame that more people don’t take time out of their studies to experience new ways of learning, new cultures and being completely out of your comfort zone in a foreign country! So, without further ado, let’s get into my advice for going abroad during your degree.

however, 8am classes were not fun.

There’s also the chance to gain experience in certain fields by choosing to work during your year abroad, as internships and other work placements are offered and would look good on a CV. Finally, think about how much a year abroad makes your university experience stand out against those of other people. Whilst it’s a huge shame more students don’t choose to spend some of their studies abroad, with just over 15,000 students from the UK participating in Erasmus + in 2013-14, there’s a huge opportunity to help make you stand out from the crowd during, and indeed after university.

I hope you’re reading because you’re already interested, but I’ll do my best to convince anyone who isn’t at the moment. Taking some time abroad during your studies offers you the chance to gain a bit of perspective, live differently, try new things and meet some pretty amazing new people, just to name a few advantages. For example, on my year abroad, I took up skiing and snowboarding for the first time, as well as trying other sports, such as climbing and mountain biking. I met some great international students from other European countries, some from South America and some really friendly people from other UK universities as well! I ate a lot of French cuisine, developed a love of cheap, but good, wine and studied some politics, which is something completely different to my BA of History and French. It was a great look at how university works in France, and their very particular university culture,

It was a great look at how university works in France, and their different university culture, however, 8am classes were not fun!

Why?

How? We’ll start with the basics, how to find out about the possibility of taking a year abroad and where you can go. I myself had to do a year abroad, but the best way of finding out where you can go as part of your course is to either

Skiing at Les Sept Laux, France

Hikers in Chamonix, France contact your school office, or by popping along/emailing the Global Opportunities office, located at 51a Park Place.

They’ll be able to inform you of everything you need to know about taking a year abroad, how it could fit into your course and how to sort out visas if necessary.

Where?

This one is entirely up to you. Obviously, the whole point of a year abroad is to experience new surroundings, new cultures and new ways of looking at the world. By going anywhere, you should experience all of these things. A lot of students would worry about the language barrier when thinking about going, but that shouldn’t be a stumbling block. Firstly, there are plenty of places that you can go that have English as a major language, the US, Canada and Australia immediately spring to mind. If these don’t appeal to you, or you’d like to be closer to home, many European countries, such as the Netherlands, do offer the chance to study in English. It was quite odd to hear from some French students who had been to Amsterdam or the Scandinavian countries that they returned knowing almost none of the native language, but their English had improved.

All that said, I would really recommend using the year abroad as an opportunity to learn a language, as there is no better way of doing it than speaking it every day. Languages For All therefore offers a great way to get some learning done before you leave, as they offer classes in most modern European for-

Global Opportunities E-mail: go@cardiff.ac.uk Global Opporunites Bursary Information: https:// www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/why-studywith-us/global-opportunities Global Opportunities is located at: 51a Park Place, Cathays, CF10 3AT Erasmus + Website: https://www.erasmusplus.org. uk/what-can-i-do

Image Credits: Sam Saunders

eign languages and cater to complete beginners, as well as those with more advanced skills.

Funding

Apart from language, this is one of the biggest hurdles that students face when choosing to study at university, let alone moving to a foreign country to study abroad with all the costs that naturally entails. You should receive more funding from student finance

Languages For All offers a great way to get some learning done before you leave, as they offer classes in most European languages when you go abroad, but this still might be insufficient. The costs do of course depend on where you choose to go, as the cost of living differs from country to country. I found Italy was much cheaper for food than France, where meat in particular was more expensive than in the UK, even taking into account the current exchange rate. However, help is at hand if you choose to go to Europe

or further afield. For Europe, you can make use of Erasmus +, an EU scheme (that other countries are also part of, Brexit ahem…) that gives bursaries to students who choose to go abroad; those who study can receive up to €350 per month, which rises to €450 if you decide to do a work placement/apprenticeship. There are also bursaries available through Global Opportunities at Cardiff if you’re going further afield, as well as paid schemes offered by British Council, a programme that provides a placement for British people to teach English abroad.

Accommodation

Finally, accommodation is not the most pressing issue, but is still very relevant.

In my opinion, I’d advise living with natives in your country of choice, as they’re a good sounding board if you need to get anything administrative done, or if you’re confused about the public transport, for example. If you’re trying to learn a language during your time away, this is also a great opportunity to practise your language skills on native speakers. There are many websites for finding flatmates that I’m sure Global Opportunities will be able to give you. University accommodation is also a cheap and usually good option, however, the quality can differ quite vastly from place to place, it certainly did in France.

As always, I hope that you found this column helpful and that it has hopefully made you think about taking a year abroad. Thanks for reading and see you next week.

For more information and tickets visit cardiffstudents.com

9TH OCTOBER: 18:00-20:00

25TH OCTOBER 17:00-20:00

Black Women Can Psychology Tower 1.05

From Colonialisim to development Discussions and drum presentation by Bongo Clive Large Shandon lecture theatre

4TH OCTOBER: 19:00-21:00 Afro-Dancehall Dance Class with ‘Give it a Go’ Y Stiwdio, Students’ Union 13TH OCTOBER: 19:00-21:00 Gaming for Good Students’ Union rooms 4C & 4D 18TH OCTOBER: ALL DAY Show racism the red card - Wear Red 18TH OCTOBER: 17:30-18:00 Launch of BME+ student staff network Wallace lecture theatre, Main Building 18TH OCTOBER: 19:00-21:00 The Big Discussion - Lets Talk Wallace lecture theatre, Main Building 22ND OCTOBER, 12:15-14:00 Show racism the red card Council Chamber, Main Building 23RD OCTOBER, 12:30-13:30 Cardiff Untold: A History of People, Industry and Power, with Abu-Bakr Madden Al-Shabaz Special Collections, Ground floor, ASSL

30TH OCTOBER 17:30-19:30 BME Leaders Panel Council Chamber, Main Building 30TH OCTOBER 20:00 Beyond Bilal: Black History in Islam wY Plas, Students’ Union 31ST OCTOBER 17:30-19:30 BME + Book Club Café Council Chamber, Main Building 2ND NOVEMBER 18:00 Afro-Band CCIPCO Y Plas, Students’ Union 8TH NOVEMBER, 18:00-21:00 The Great Debate Large Chemistry Lecture Theatre 22ND NOVEMBER 18:30-21:00 Afro-gene Y Plas, Students’ Union £8 Early Bird, £10 Standard, £12 Final release

22

SPORT

A point to prove

The balance between sport and education Would the American collegiate programme be the right system to adopt?

By Reece Chambers

W

hen the Bluebirds kicked off against Spurs at Wembley, many Cardiff City fans would have jumped at the thought of a marginal one-goal defeat.

Neil Warnock’s side faced a Tottenham Hotspur side who had been preoccupied with the arrival of Lionel Messi’s Barcelona just days before - in yet another entertaining night in the UEFA Champions League for the North London side.

With that in mind, Cardiff travelled to England’s capital knowing that they their opponents were facing a completely different side to the one that graced the worn Wembley pitch five days previous.

Therefore, one could say that was the perfect time to face one of the so-called ‘Big Six.’ A European hangover? A quiet Wembley Stadium? These could have been some of the questions that Warnock asked of his players before the game.

In their final game before the second international break of the season, the Bluebirds had the opportunity to prove a point. One, had it been carried out, that would have silenced the countless number of doubters on their back at the moment.

By no means am I suggesting that Warnock’s side would have won the game, merely alluding to a lack of that cut-throat attitude you need at this level of football. Indeed, Cardiff made a name for themselves in London, but not for the right reasons. Whether it was for Joe Ralls’ red card or sloppy defending for Eric Dier’s match winner, an underwhelming and wasteful Spurs will remember Cardiff visit for largely innocuous reasons – perhaps indicating that they won’t be in the same league next season.

Just like home fixtures against Manchester City and Arsenal, as well as the recent away trip to Chelsea, visiting Wembley to play Spurs wasn’t a game filled with any great hope or importance.

Perhaps, in essence, that is what Neil Warnock’s main issue is. At least, for example, when Newcastle face one of the Big Six, you know they’ll be in a game – as the Magpies demonstrated at Old Trafford in 3-2 defeat.

For Cardiff, though, there appears to be little hope, optimism or even excitement about certain matches. Yes, they sell out against the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City, but the hope and optimism that comes with being promoted to the Premier League looks to be draining away.

The Bluebirds need to realise that there will be matches that they won’t be expected to get anything – a trip to Anfield soon, for example. Nevertheless, it is these trips that should be building excitement around the club. Indeed, Warnock says how he much prefers playing against top quality teams. But, if they cannot look like getting a win on the board soon, they’ll soon be back to playing against the likes of Preston and Rotherham.

By Jack Vavasour

S

ince sport has turned professional the need for other careers, obviously, has become obsolete. The training and time a professional player - in sports such as football - must put in to their sport is such that it would be impossible to have any other career.

Professionalism has been around in football since the mid 1880’s and with so much money in the sport there are far less players who get GCSEs let alone attend University. This can be considered as a result of the money in the game but also due to the physical risk players put themselves at, there is a much lower chance in football of a career ending injury.

However, this is not an impossibility, and much more could be done to encourage players to further their education. In sports such as Rugby, the Rugby Players Association encourage players to get degrees as the chance of a career ending injury is very likely.

“Recently, we have seen players such as Jamie Roberts and Hallam Amos train to become doctors at Cardiff University.”

Many others are fulfilling other University degrees. This encouragement to plan for a life after the game is so important as not all players can go into coaching and will be at a loose end once they retire.

In America, their equivalent of University – college - goes hand in hand with sport. This not only gives every player the opportunity to attend a topclass College but also boosts the standards of College sport.

“The NFL (National Football League) drafts players straight from Colleges.”

In America there is so much funding that the University of Michigan fills a stadium of 107,000 people. In contrast to Britain, the world of University sport is far less glamorous with the biggest sporting league being BUCS Super Rugby.

But, even then the standard is not professional as many of the players have already begun playing for their clubs if they attend University.

The fact is that in the modern and professional era it has become normal for athletes to skip University all together. Before becoming professional, players had to have jobs and therefore

An American Football match at Maryland Source: Flickr would attend University and sport would take a back seat.

This has changed, and it is a worrying reality that fewer and fewer sportspeople are attending University.

Britain cannot implement an American style system now as the current system of players being filtered through to professional teams via academies is already in place and working well.

The academy system is one of the main reasons for the lack of further education amongst professional athletes as players devote themselves to training and with competition being so fierce, there is often little time to do much else.

The future of University athletes

looking to forge a career in professional sport appears unsure. It is yet to be seen whether in the future any professional athletes will even bother to study and continue with their educational studies.

There are many varibales that can impact upon the career of a professional.

An injury is the main thing, but in this case, the fall-back option of having a qualifcation which many athletes are lacking when their career in sport does not quite play out the way they want to.

The focus is to forge a career in sport, but securing an education is the most logical step for their post-sports career.

Giggs’ young Welsh side taught footballing lesson by Spain

By Reece Chambers

W

ales’s return to the Principality Stadium was met by a humbling 4-1 defeat to Spain in what was a footballing lesson for Ryan Giggs’ young Welsh side.

Wales returned to the national stadium for the first time since 2011 in what was a one-off friendly match against one of the world’s best footballing sides.

After the game, Giggs expressed how ‘disappointing’ the performance was from his side.

However, he did pay testament to the ‘magnificent’ atmosphere in the stadium.

“Coming into the stadium you could feel the buzz,” said Giggs.

Spain took the lead early on through Borussia Dortmund forward Paco Alcacer who scored twice either side of a headed goal from Spain’s captain, Sergio Ramos.

Spain and Real Madrid captain, Ramos, scored on what was his 159th appearance for the national side – just eight caps between record-holder and former teammate Iker Casillas.

A consolation goal from Sam Vokes in the 89th minute was the only highlight in the game for Wales – answering a Marc Bartra goal in the 74th minute.

Spain took full control of the game from the first whistle as was probably expected by most Welsh fans However, the manner in which Spain

dominated possession, passes and chances created not only frustrated supporters within the Principality Stadium, but also provided a stark reminder of where this young Welsh squad current is in their development.

Throughout the first half, Spain looked very comfortable in possession with Rodri and Saul bossing proceedings in midfield. Time after time, Spain had unmarked men in dangerous positions which frequently threatened the Welsh back three of Gunter, Williams and Davies.

Such intense pressure from Spain led to two goals in quick succession for the visitors, Spain. First, La Furia Roja’s captain Sergio Ramos headed into Hennessey’s net from a Suso free-kick to give him a goal on his 159th appearance for the national side.

Shortly after, in the 29th minute, Alcacer scored his second – capitalising on poor defensive work from the Welsh defence – finishing with ease past Wayne Hennessey.

For Alcacer, he now eight goals in 14 appearances for the Spanish national team.

At half time, there would have been a lot to say for Ryan Giggs in the Welsh changing room.

Spain’s attacking play had been far too much for Wales in the opening 45 minutes; in particular, with Spanish forwards finding space in dangerous pockets of space between Wales’ defensive

and midfield lines.

However, a change for Wales to a back four as opposed to a back five limited Spain’s possession in dangerous areas in the second half.

With a whole host of substitutions in the second half Wales had more energy about their game.

Nevertheless, most of that energy came in the form of Welsh defensive duties with Spain dominating possession throughout.

And, but for a late signature Sam Vokes header, Wales had very little to show for in a footballing lesson taught by fine Spanish talent.

For the young Welsh talent, this was an opportunity to showcase their

skills at the national stadium in front of 50,000+ fans. However, what was showcased was a clear gulf in class between the two sides.

For Giggs, a very challenging evening would have told him a lot about his players and their ability to cope under the pressure that the Principality Stadium offered.

“This game doesn’t come around very often, we got taught a lesson in many aspects but the main thing we got taught tonight was to do the basics right.

“It was a special occassion to come bak here. I think it reinvigorated everyone,” said Giggs on his side’s return to the national stadium.

Kick off: Wales play Spain for first time since 1985

BUCS Highlights

CHWARAEON

A round-up of Cardiff University’s sporting action from the first BUCS Wednesday of the year

CUFC 3 -3 UOBFC

By Rosie Foley

C

ardiff 1st XI started off the game very poorly with some bad play at the back from miscommunication between Matt Thompson, Max Bourne and Brady Lambert, leaving their striker with an open goal, leading to a Bath goal, (1-0).

Five minutes later Bath scored a soft free-kick from the corner of the box causing nightmares from last season to arise again, (2-0).

Cardiff fought their way back into the game with a goal from Munashe Mandaza (2-1).

Soon after, Matt Thompson won a penalty that Joseph Martin duly dispatched (2-2).

Adding to the score, Charlie Thompson scored a goal which should have made it 3-2, however there was some controversy as the linesman decided to put his flag up when the ball was already in the net, goal rule out.

The second half started poorly as Bath scored a long range goal, but Cardiff thought they bagged an equaliser but it was disallowed for being offside.

Charlie Thompson came through again with the actual equaliser, fin-

ishing the game 3-3.

It was clear that the boys were disappointed with the result.

In their opinion, they thought, had it not been for some questionable refereeing, they would have came away with the win against the University of Bath.

Alex Lancett was awarded Man of the Match by his fellow team mates for a good performance throughout the game.

Next Wednesday, CUFC make the short trip to face Cardiff Met 2s.

Football Men’s 2’s vs Swansea 3’s win 5-0

Tennis

Hockey

Men’s

Men’s

1st XV vs B’mouth 1’s Draw 3-3

2’s vs Bristol 2’s win 3-1

2’s vs Exeter 2’s loss 6-0 3’s vs Met 3’s loss 4-2 Women’s

3’s vs Bristol 3’s loss 4-1 5’s vs USW1’s loss 3-0 Women’s

2’s vs UWE 1’s loss 4-2

1st XV vs Bristol 1’s draw 1-1

3’s vs Met 2’s win 4-2

4’s vs RAU 1’s win 4-2

Rugby 3’s (medics) vs Southampton 1’s Win 29-11

3’s vs USW 4’s win 3-2

5’s (medics) vs Bristol 4’s loss 14-32

Women’s

6’s vs USW 2’s draw 17-17

1st XV vs Herefordshire 1’s loss 5-0

Netball 1st XV vs Herefordshire 1’s loss 24-71 2’s (medics) vs Bristol 3’s loss 20-29 3’s vs Gloucester 2’s win 59-47 5’s vs Aber 1’s loss 28-35 8’s vs Swansea 3’s loss 24-36

2’s vs Met 2’s loss 7-0

European netball challenge for Thomas and Dyke with Wales U-21s Emerging talent from U21’s squad including Cardiff students

By Rosie Foley

W

ales announced their squad at the start of September, which has allowed for sufficient time to prepare.

In the squad were two Cardiff University students, Leila Thomas and Chloe Dyke.

Chloe tweeted that she was ‘extremely grateful and happy to be selected’ and was looking forward to the ‘exciting times ahead’.

With Leila also taking to twitter saying how ‘honoured’ she was to be selected.

In preparation for the championships, Cardiff University Netball team helped out with their training by playing against the Wales U21’s team.

With Cardiff Uni Netball saying that the match had ‘great play and intensity’ and wishing the girls good luck.

Northern Ireland were the hosts to the Netball Europe Under-21 Open Championships.

The Three-day championship marks the highlight of the Under-21 Season. Their first game was against Scotland.

It was a tough matchup for Wales as they couldn’t quite get into their rhythm.

However, the Wales defence of Leila Thomas and Christina Shaw worked hard to interrupt Scotland’s

“For the Welsh side the tournament was a high point to showcase their skills.” attack.

The game overall was very close but the defensive change for Wales did not make the impact they want-

ed, allowing for a 65-44 victory in Scotland’s favour.

England were Wales’ second opponents. Wales started off strong levelling with England for the first five minutes but unfortunately, the English attack was too strong.

There were several half-time changes giving players the opportunity to showcase themselves.

In the final quarter, Rhian Evans built up Wales’ points with Chloe Dyke creating some great opportunities for the shooters.

Their final match of the championships were the hosts. Both teams were looking for a win.

It was tightly contested in the first quarter with both sides playing hard.

Wales took the lead in the second quarter, with Leila Thomas making an amazing save and storming up the court leading to a Wales goal.

However, Northern Ireland were not far behind and kept the pressure on.

Wales were looking like they were

keeping their lead in the final quarter but the momentum swung back in Northern Ireland’s favour.

The game would end up finishing

“However, the Roses continued with their top-class netball and won the game 90-26.” in a close 45-42 win for the hosts.

Regardless of the result, Welsh netball were proud of how they played and are happy to see talent emerging from their youth teams.

More specifically, Thomas and Dyke will be aiming to perform well this season for Cardiff University Netball team after a taste of the European standard for netball.

23

Blues back to their best

By Sion Ford

A

fter a disappointing start to the Blues’ season, those frustrations and cries of despair seem a distant memory now. Having manufactured a complete turnaround from their opening three results, the Blues are now sitting third in their conference and have put together a good run leading into Europe.

Munster were the next visitors to the Arms Park, following the Blues’ defeat to Zebre, and it looked to be an ominous test. The Irish men had been in destructive form leading into this game, not that you would have known it from the resulting game. A dominating performance across the park from the Blues saw them run out convincing 37-13 winners, showing some steeliness in composure and self-belief in their systems.

Then came the weakened Cheetahs, and in spite of the signs pointing to another comfortable Blues win it proved to be a frustrating night. Poor tactical kicking lead to an easy platform for the Cheetahs to build a lead, and it wasn’t until the game seemed beyond them that the Blues came to life.

For all the criticism that could be made of the performance against the Cheetahs, the most notable thing to take away from it was that the Blues got a win despite being their own worst enemies. To grind out a 24-21 win in such circumstances is a tick in the box if nothing else.

Few things focus the mind better than a derby, and the East Wales derby of this year saw a revitalised Dragons, clearly having benefited from a brief interaction with Warren Gatland.

The Blues looked to be shell-shocked by the defence and physicality of the Dragons in the opening half, understandably given that this is normally a Blues area of strength in this fixture.

But there it was again, the ability to hold steady and take the opportunities that presented themselves. The introduction of Jarrod Evans in the second half proved telling, as did the decision to kick the penalties the Blues won in Dragons’ territory, and if anything the Blues players will have been disappointed not to have picked up a bonus point at the end.

It’s been five years since the Blues last competed in European rugby’s premier competition, and despite facing a group that offers little hope, this will put the Blues in a position of having nothing to lose.

First they go away to Lyon on the 14th of October, before hosting Glasgow on the 21st. Both games will prove to be uncomfortable and difficult encounters, but who’s to say they can’t take something from either game? The Blues’ recent record in France is promising, and Glasgow haven’t been so beatable for a few seasons. Realistically the Blues management must be targeting one win from these two games.

Your sport desk Reece Chambers Rosie Foley John Jones Jack Vavasour George Willoughby sport@gairrhydd.com

sport

Reaction: Wales vs Spain Page 22

CHWARAEON 24

chwaraeon

Cardiff City and Cardiff Blues Columns Page 22+23 European netball challenge for Thomas and Dyke

By Rosie Foley

W

ales announced their squad at the start of September, which has allowed for sufficient time to prepare. In the squad were two Cardiff University students, Leila Thomas and Chloe Dyke. Chloe tweeted that she was ‘extremely grateful and happy to be selected’ and was looking forward to the ‘exciting times ahead’. With Leila also taking to twitter saying how ‘honoured’ she was to be selected. In preparation for the championships, Cardiff University Netball team helped out with their training by playing against the Wales U21’s team.

Read: P23

Keep on Movin’: Runners compete in the annual Cardiff Half Marathon for the 15th year (Source: Gordon Plant via Flickr)

BUCS Highlights

19,000 take to streets for T 15th Cardiff Half Marathon

By Rosie Foley

By John Jones

T

housands of runners pounded the streets of the Welsh capital last Sunday as they took part in the annual Cardiff University/ Cardiff Half Marathon.

Now in its fifteenth year, the race was started by over 19,000 runners from all over the globe, who were guided around the scenic 13.1-mile course by an enthusiastic local crowd.

To mark the sixtieth anniversary of Cardiff hosting the Commonwealth Games, the event also featured the inaugural Commonwealth Half Marathon Championships. In the men’s race, Australian Jack Rayner stormed to victory in 61:01, shaking off competition from the Kenyan and Ugandan contingents to smash his personal best by over two minutes.

Despite having only competed in three half-marathons in his career prior to last weekend, and running as a relative underdog in a field containing course record-holder John Lotiang, Rayner was just too strong in the closing stages, and broke away to push the Ugandan duo of Fred Musobo and Timothy Toroitch into sec-

ond and third positions respectively.

Three runners from the home nations also crept into the top ten finishers, with Welshman Dewi Griffiths, having missed out on competing at this year’s Commonwealth Games with a serious hip injury, claiming ninth place in a time of 62:56.

Chekwel left the rest of the field in her wake to win by a mammoth 79 seconds Whilst having lost out to Rayner in the men’s race, Uganda did achieve some glory in the women’s competition, as Juliet Chekwel left the rest of the field in her wake to win what she regards as “the biggest title of [her] life” by a mammoth 79 seconds. England’s Tracy Barlow put in a commanding

performance to clinch fifth place, whilst Welsh athletes Clara Evans and Rosie Edwards both placed inside the top fifteen runners. In the team event, Uganda claimed gold again, ahead of Australia, whilst Wales just lost out to their English neighbours in the race for the bronze medal.

However, despite the impressive calibre of this year’s professional competitors, just as much admiration could be felt for the thousands of amateur runners who followed (in some cases) closely behind. Whether they were seasoned striders, first-time plodders or fancy-dressed lunatics, everybody taking part had a smile on their face at some stage of the race, and this was mostly due to the fantastic crowd that lined the entirety of the route. From the booming noise that reverberated around the walls of Cardiff Castle at the race’s start point, to the wall of support that stretched from the Bay all the way to the finish line, the cheers, banners and enthusiasm of the crowd cemented Cardiff ’s reputation as an incredible hosting city.

This vibrant atmosphere was also apparent during Saturday’s Festival of

Running, where a day of activities, including a Toddler Dash, a family Fun Run and a series of three-kilometre club races saw a range of ages and abilities don their trainers and come together to raise money for a number of deserving charities, including the event’s partner NSPCC.

Everybody taking part had a smile on their face at some stage of the race It was this inclusivity that defined the weekend as a whole. Despite the event making headlines for tragic reasons this week, its organisers Run 4 Wales can be proud of putting on yet another stunning exhibition of sporting prowess, community spirit and, most importantly, fun.

his week saw the official start for BUCS with the majority of Cardiff University teams taking part.It showed mixed results across the board, with comprehensive wins for the Men’s hockey 2nd XI, and the Women’s hockey 4th XI ,but a series of losses for the university’s tennis and netball teams In their opening fixture, Cardiff University Football 1st XV took on Bath university at St Johns Pitch, Bath.

Read: P23

Can Uni lead to a career in professional sport?

By Jack Vavasour

S

ince sport has turned professional the need for other careers, obviously, has become obsolete. The training and time a professional player - in sports such as football - must put in to their sport is such that it would be impossible to have any other career.

Read: P22