seren
October 2000
inside Be safe in Bangor p2
UWB’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER
Free and unfettered
New Seren emerges
New music and more p6
All the Right Movies p8
Reading matters p12
Bangor in shock as new-look periodical hits streets: ‘I told you so,’ brags Associate Editor Play nicely, kids p14
Round, round, get around p16
B
angor was on red alert this morning following the surprise appearance of October’s edition of elusive student newspaper Seren. Doubts had been raised as to whether the beleaguered publication would ever see the light of day after the issue missed an alleged sixth deadline on its motley course towards publication, but the paper’s staff was this morning triumphant as the first copies of the new edition began to trickle into the SU. ‘This could be our best issue ever,’ crowed a source close to the editor. ‘We’ve put blood, sweat and tears into this. I haven’t touched my thesis in weeks.’
As reports of the publication spread, Bangor’s roads and footpaths were facing the prospect of gridlock as students flocked to secure their copies. The Union, however, refused to acknowledge calls for an emergency sitting of Senedd to discuss the crisis, and the local constabulary admitted that they planned ‘no special measures’ to accommodate the rush. When approached by this newspaper the staff of Seren accepted that their actions may have precipitated widescale disruption, but were unrepentant. ‘It’s pandemonium,’ conceded Associate Editor Chris Chapman, ‘but I like it!’ Staff writer and edi-
torial assistant ‘EMB’ likened the shock publication to Oxford rockers Radiohead’s 1997 album OK Computer. Production Editor Julie Neild simply purred. Reaction amongst local residents was cautious. Huw Werth, 73, of Trem Yr Wyddfa insisted that the publication of the new edition ‘didn’t really bother him,’ but Gwladys Hills, 57, of Caellepa was too overcome to speak with us. Closer to home the new issue has received a mixed reception. CCSO Will Kelly was understood last night to consider that it was ‘about bloody time’ the issue went to press. Ents Manager Shaun Casey was said to be ‘disap-
pointed’ in particular by music editor Clare Lewis’ attack on highprofile visitors Mark and Lard and Mansun, whose gigs were widely considered to be something of a coup for Bangor. Overall, though, response to the new Seren has been mostly positive, with an overwhelming 54% of respondents to our specially-commissioned survey considering the issue to be ‘quite disappointing to wholly satisfactory.’ The UWB Surf Team, which was cruelly burlesqued in the May issue, had not, as we went to press, issued a formal response to the news. The Canoe Club was not approached, for obvious reasons.