Seren - 226 - 2012/13 - October Issue by Seren

Bangor University Students’ Union English Language Newspaper

October 2012 Issue No. 226 FREE

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CREATURE TAKEOVER

NSS BREAKDOWN

INTERVIEW: ASH JAMES

£5m Deficit Hits Bangor 200 Less Students for Bangor VC Launches Saving Scheme

by LJ TAYLOR and SEAN TALBOT

new savings programme will force Bangor University to rethink their internal structure. The proposed three-year plan will see saving strategies brought into place to counter a projected £5 million shortfall. The University have set up a team to analyse and identify departments which could be made more cost effective and efficient. This comes after the Higher Education Funding Council of Wales announced cuts to the subsidiaries they provide to students’ tuition fees. David Learmont, Director of Business Improvement at the University, will be overseeing the ‘programme of change’. “Its an opportunity to reflect on how we currently operate, a unique opportunity that we can grab with both hands” he said when asked about the scheme. Mr Learmont and his team will first look into ways in which ‘behind the scenes’ departments could be used more efficiently with the possibility of mergers. There are currently no intentions to change frontline areas at this point, so as to ensure that any services provided directly to students are not disrupted unnecessarily. “We want to think about how we provide services to students. We want to start with a student coming to Bangor and think; is this the best experience we could offer them?” he said. The programme will capture infor-

mation from across the university and have an indirect result on students. Savings are expected to be received by redeploying a member of staff to a different area of the institution when a vacancy arises rather than employing someone new. After a recruitment freeze was announced a number of months ago, concerns arose that the effect of this would instead leave staff spread thinly. However, Mr Learmont believes that this will provide the university opportunity to grow organically. An email sent from Vice Chancellor, Professor John Hughes, outlined the savings scheme and affirmed the student experience would be kept at the forefront of their operations. It also states that with £5 million in savings to be made by 2014/15, £3 million of it must be identified this financial year. New requirements from the HEFCW, announced in January, mean that Bangor University will have to cut the number of Welsh students able to enrol in the 2013/14 academic year, by a total of 201. This figure was calculated from a range of different criteria. The factors included the number of students currently enrolled on priority, For Our Future courses (as outlined by The Welsh Assembly Government as vital to the country’s future). When the UK Government decided to raise the cap on tuition fees to £9000, the Welsh Assembly made the decision to subsidise Welsh students’ fees in order to buffer the impact it had on their students. As a result of this, combined with growing num-

bers, HEFCW are unable to continue funding the increased tuition fees. Bangor’s choice to charge the full £9000 tuition fees has had a detrimental effect on its HEFCW funding and was an important factor towards the loss of the 201 student places. This is because, for each Welsh student attending the University, the HEFCW must subsidise their fees. “These cuts are the fault of Westminster. This is why we are organising a group to go to the National Demo in November – now is the time to get the student voice heard.” said Antony Butcher, President of Bangor Students’ Union. The 201 student deficit reduces Bangor University’s income by £5 million, hence the introduction of the savings scheme. The scheme has only just started and will continue over the next three years with a promise of no radical decisions being made. Before roles that directly engage with students are affected, Business Improvement will be working closely with Bangor Students’ Union to involve the student body and cater to their needs. “We’ve been liaising with the University to make sure that there are no cuts to the student experience.” said Mr Butcher. “We sit on the decision making board, and if there are going to be any changes to front line services, we’ll be making sure that the University consults you first.”

October Issue 2012

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Editorial

The views presented hereinafter do not represent the views of Seren Bangor, Bangor Students’ Union or Bangor University.

CONTENTS 9

LJ TAYLOR EDITOR editor@seren.bangor.ac.uk

News Politics Comment National Student Survey Interview Pontio Update Demo 2012 Union Societies Society Girls Movember Art & Culture Food & Drink Snapped With Seren TV Films 50 Years of Bond Gadgets Games Music Books Health and Beauty Fashion Creepy Corner Ali’s Advice Breaktime Travel Environment Sport

EDITOR DEPUTY SECRETARY TREASURER DESIGN

LJ Taylor Rosie McLeod Matt Jackson Stefan Wilson Dan Turner Yousef Cisco

4-7 8-9 10-11 12-13 14-15 16 17 18-19 20-21 22 23 24 26-27 28-29 30-31 32-33 34 35 36-37 38-39 40-41 42-43 44-45 46-47 48 49 50-51 52 53-56

News Politics Comment Features Societies Society Girls Food & Drink TV Film

30 THE Nicola Hoban Alex Thompson Sophie Smith Sinnead Towey Sean Talbot Robyn Wynn Pippa Botting Joe Russell Becki Watson Becci Jameson

Music Books Health & Beauty Fashion Creative Corner Advice Travel Environment Sport

#56

CONTRIBUTORS

Pages

TEAM Tom Davies Laura Jones Harriet Acton Kaden Wild Tom Haynes Ali Keshtmand Jordaine Hulse Will Johnson Matt Jackson

When I made the decision, just a few weeks ago, to print a huge 56 pages I wasn’t sure what to expect. The most pages Seren has ever been with a mostly brand new team. Now, way ahead of the print deadline, I can proudly tell you all what a fantastic team I have. A team dedicated enough to take a paintball to the head for us, to stay up all night carving the Seren logo into a pumpkin or to comb through monotonous pages of statistics to bring you the lowdown on your NSS results. I am, to say the very least, proud. The last couple of days have of course taken their toll on me; I’ve had my face burnt off by an effervescent tablet (I didn’t realise you were meant to dissolve them in water), no sleep and my office turned into a danger zone for the purposes of Halloween. But with the aid of many-a 29p London 2012 mug filled with tea and Disney Princess Pink Punch (the taste of your hopes and dreams) we’ve made it through and we hope you enjoy this 56 mega beast. This issue is somewhat a blast from the past. You might notice the return of our interview pages - this issue getting the lowdown from Academi’s new leading man. The return of Snapped with Seren (send your photos to editor@seren.bangor.ac.uk) and the resurrection of ‘Willow Does’ in the capable hands of Robyn and Pippa; our society girls. Before I head off to the land of nod I should extend my thanks not only to my team but to my designer, my ‘go-to guy’, my son and one of my closest friends; Yousef Cisco, who almost, very much, certainly will be leaving us before the next issue for his own adventure in Chicago. I want to wish him the best of luck and thank him for all his hard work in his Seren years. Good luck, buddy. I hope we manage to do you proud next issue!

Lindsey-Jane Redhead Laura Phillips Mathew Ridgeway Joe Keep Adam Burns Emma Asberg Helen Baines Michael Carey Jez Harvey Jenny Smith Ida Väisänen Sean Talbot Laura Hurst Harriest Weller Jecelyn Latimer Elspeth Rudd

Rachel West Harry Bradford Georgia Manion Sam Saunders Josef Williams Ashleigh Garnett Emma Åsberin William Johnson Jon Walbrin Owain Redfern Mark Cooper Thomas Bickerdike Tom Fox Jessica Clarke Flick Walker George Ethain

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Uni News

Student Volunteer Group Receive Queen’s Award

UCAS Post-Grad System Crash

by STEFAN WILSON

angor students applying to study postgraduate courses earlier this month were stonewalled after the UCAS Graduate Teacher Training Registry (GTTR) crashed after running for only four hours. Thousands of students were left frustrated after the crash, having lost their progress on the site and therefore possibly losing the upper-hand on their applications against other candidates. The only response they received from the site was an apologetic message that outlined UCAS hopes that the site would be back up again soon. The status of the site remained unchanged, and on Thursday 18th October a new message appeared with UCAS acknowledging the delay and promised that the service would be resumed be-

by NICOLA HOBAN

he Lord Lieutenant of Gwynedd last week presented local volunteer group Student Volunteering Bangor (SVB) with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service 2012 at Bangor University. The distinguished ceremony, hosted by His Honour Huw Morgan Daniel, saw the Bangor University’s Students’ Union group bestowed with an exclusive commemorative crystal alongside a certificate signed by Her Majesty, in recognition of their outstanding contribution. Helen Munro, SVB manager said: “The volunteers are incredibly proud to have received this accolade which endorses the time they give and the sacrifices they sometimes make in order to enrich the lives of other, more vulnerable, people. Over 40 members of the current volunteering team attended the ceremony and thoroughly enjoyed being part of such a unique occasion.” The President of the Student’s Union, Antony Butcher said: “Over a thousand Bangor University students take part in SVB activities, with 250 volunteering on one or more of 17 community based projects. We are very proud of our vol-

unteers, who currently contribute a total of 450 hours to the local community each week, and also of the organisational support at SVB, which enables the students to volunteer.” The illustrious national honour of the Queen’s Award is the MBE for groups of volunteers who work in their local community for the benefit of others. It sets the national benchmark for excellence in volunteering, with the work of those awarded judged to be of the highest standard. Bangor University’s Vice Chancellor, Professor John Hughes, said: “Our students make an active contribution to the community in which they live and study, promoting a close relationship between the University and the local community. The volunteering opportunities provided by the SVB enrich the students’ experience as well as that of surrounding communities. I know that our volunteering projects respond to local needs as well as reflecting student interests and concerns.” The SVB group were one of 130 groups across the UK and 3 in Wales to receive the honour in 2012.

Student’s Rescue Dive A Awarded A Bangor University student has received a bravery award for carrying out a rescue during an underwater incident in a

quarry. Steven Barnard, 30, saved a fellow diver last December in Dorothea Quarry, Nantlle, when the man fell semi-conscious and started to descend rapidly. The incident was described as a ‘remarkable rescue’. Mr Barnard, who is studying for a Masters degree in Marine Environmental Protection, was voted the university’s sportsman of the year for 2011 and was also nominated to be an Olympic torchbearer based on his work in sports coaching in Bangor and diver training. He was presented the award, considered to be one of the UK’s highest civilian bravery honours, by The Royal Humane Society.

fore the weekend, assuring those concerned that the crash would not have any effect on applications. However students remained apprehensive since course places are limited and extremely competitive, as with any postgraduate course. The site resumed activity on Friday 19th October. This is the third year in a row where the GTTR has not been online on the date that was promised. An advisor on the UCAS Facebook page has posted an apology to students for the disruption, stating: “The technical problems with GGTR Apply 2012 continued through the week and we had to take the website offline for essential maintenance. We apologise for any inconvenience caused and we continue to reassure applicants that the downtime will not affect their applications.”

Music Student Wins Prestigious Scholarship

by LINDSEY-JANE REDHEAD

by NICOLA HOBAN

October Issue 2012

Bangor University music student has won the Bryn Terfel Scholarship, defeating six talented performers at the Urdd Gobaith Cymru Youth Competition broadcasted live on S4C. Huw Ynyr Evans from Rhydymain near Dolgellau was presented the scholarship, worth £4,000, by Bryn Terfel. The music student said, “It was a bit scary knowing it was live and my mates at home were saying they were all watching, the pressure was on.” Huw won his chance to perform in the final concert at Theatr y Stiwt, Rhosllanerchrugog, on Sunday 14th October by winning the Cerdd Dant and the Solo Under-25 competitions in June at the Urdd National Eisteddfod held in Glynllifon near Caernarfon. The aim of the scholarship is to nurture some of Wales’ most talented young performers and enable them to develop their skills further. The standards set for the competition were high, and in order to prepare Huw spent months rehearsing the programme that he put together with the help of his music teacher at Bangor University. Each

contestant’s performance had to be 12 minutes long. Coming from a farm in Rhydymain, Huw wishes to continue to work at the farm whilst working as a soloist: “I’m only 20 years old, the voice is young and far from the finished article. I am hoping to combine music with agriculture.” He continued: “If I go down the performance route it will be seasonal work which will allow me to work on the farm and now and again going away to perform. That would be the dream.” Huw was not the only Bangor student to perform in the concert. Lois Eifion Jones, a music Master student, also competed for the scholarship after winning two competitions in the Urdd National Eisteddfod. Huw said: “It made Bangor look awesome.” Mared Jones, UMCB president at Bangor University Student Union said: “This really puts UMCB and Bangor University on the map, and shows all the hard work and natural talent that we cultivate here in Bangor. We are very proud of Huw and of Lois Eifion Jones, who also did exceptionally well in the competition. Congratulations to them both.”

Bangor Launches New School of Philosophy and Religion

by LAURA PHILLIPS

n Friday, 12th October many members of staff and administrators from the College of Arts and Humanities gathered in the Council Chamber to witness the launch of the new School of Philosophy and Religion at

Bangor University. Members of the council were invited to the event and the Vice Chancellor was happy to welcome everyone who had been able to attend. The head of the new school, Dr Eryl W Davies, claims that the school is being built from ‘sturdy foundations’, even though it is a fairly new ini-

tiative. He believes this because religion has been taught at Bangor in various other subjects, for well over a century, and philosophy was taught at Bangor University up until the early 1980s. This means that, although unintentionally, Bangor University already has a long and recognised tradition of teaching both subjects, just not nec-

essarily together. Dr Davies thanked the Council members and also the Vice Chancellor for supporting the opening. He also thanked the administrative staff for helping to ensure the launch was successful from behind the scenes.

October Issue 2012

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Local News

Local Business Pits It- Four Killed In House Fire self Against Bigger Brands

by NICOLA HOBAN

ocal business Crumbs Salad Sandwich Bar digs itself down for another year facing big brand companies now that students have settled back into Bangor. The sandwich bar, situated on the high street next to charity shop Oxfam, has already been running for 12 strong years under the ownership of the Thomas family. However, despite being a healthier and cheaper choice, Crumbs has faced a dip in sales over the past few years due to the presence of larger franchises such as Greggs and

Subway. Speaking to the owner, Stephanie Thomas, and her husband David, she tells Seren how people are encouraged nowadays to buy into the larger franchises, despite the fact that they are less healthy options and charge extortionate prices: “People buy into the brand franchise, even if that means travelling further out of Bangor, to the industrial estates, rather than shopping closer to home.” A supporter of the local economy, all of the produce that Crumbs uses is from local suppliers, using the local butchers, bakers and drink suppliers as often as they can, meaning that everything that they sell is fresh. Ms Thomas said: “Whilst the credit crunch has had an effect on us, and the branded names have bigger buying power so they can bulk buy for cheaper, we choose to support our local economy as best we can.” The Thomas’, from Anglesey, revealed: “It didn’t used to be so much of a problem when Woolworths and the office buildings were open down here at the end of the high street, but since they’ve closed it has become less busy.” Despite this, the sandwich bar’s opening hours have now been extended to include Sundays, appealing to both old and new customers alike.

Man Arrested Over Missing Woman by JOE KEEP

man has been taken into custody after being accused of murdering missing woman Cathering Gowing. Clive Sharp, 46, has been party to a video conferenced trial, which lasted only six minutes, with Sharp talking 4 times, only to acknowledge that he could hear the proceedings and to confirm his name. During proceedings, Sharp was watched over by Catherine’s sister, Emma. He is to remain in custody, without bail posted, until

court reconvenes on the 7th January 2013. Catherine, 37, has been declared missing since the 12th October 2012 after going to an Asda supermarket in Queensferry. Last friday, police found a burnt-out car wreck at a quarry near Catherine’s home, and later were able to confirm that the vehicle belonged to her. Divers have began to search a pool in the quarry with other police officers scouring the surrounding area.

Biker’s Home-Made Video Leads To Speeding Conviction by NICOLA HOBAN

motor-cyclist caught speeding has been convicted after video footage shot by himself was revealed. The home-made video showed the biker clocking up to 120mph over an 11-mile stretch within Denbighshire, and was discovered after the video was uploaded to the video sharing website YouTube. The video has since been removed from the site. Whilst the biker’s defender argued the fact that the defendant was only testing out a new camera whilst on his journey, the man has admitted to

dangerous driving though he stated that at the time he didn’t feel like he was. The prosecution highlighted this statement, indicating that the defendant did show a reduction in his speed for turns and did not force other drivers to take evasive action. The biker remained in control of the motorbike for the duration of the journey. He was sentenced to serve 200 hours of unpaid work as well as a 12-month driving ban. The biker has also had his bike removed from his possession and will be made to take an extended driving test once the driving ban has been completed.

by MATTHEW RIDGEWAY

orth Wales Police are currently appealing for any information regarding a fire which has killed a mother and three children in a first floor flat in Prestatyn. Charlie Timbrell, 15 months, became the fourth victim of the fire, dying of his injuries at Liverpool’s Alder Hey Children’s Hospital on Sunday the 21st October. His mother Lee-Anna Shiers, 20 and cousins Bailey Allen, four, and two year-old Skye Allen were pronounced dead at the scene of the blaze in the Maes y Groes area of the Denbighshire seaside town. Stephen Allen and his fiancee, Jonty Lewis, spoke of how Skye and Bailey had been their ‘world’, carrying on to comment on to say ‘they were the best kids in the world’. Neighbours were seen entering the flat in an attempt to rescue the family while the flames

devoured the flat, with one man requiring treatment by the North Wales Fire and Rescue Service. The fire, which started at around 10pm on Friday 19th, is believed to have been an arson attack. North Wales Police have arrested a 45 year-old man and a 42 year-old woman, both believed to be ground floor tenants of the same flat on suspicion of murder. The man was later released with no intention to pursue any involvement, with the woman being released on bail. The baby’s father and partner of Lee-Anna Shire, Liam Timbrell, 23, is currently still hospitalized and in a critical but stable condition receiving treatment at a burns unit in Knowsley. Family members have commented on how this has devastated the family, and that the local support offered has proved to be a great help. Police are urging anybody with any information to ring 101.

Caernarfon Car Theft Gang Jailed A by ADAM BURNS

gang of four men have been sentenced to a total of seven years in jail for a spate of robberies from cars in rural areas around Caernarfon. In a case presided over by Judge Rhys Rowlands at Mold Crown Court, the four men were accused of stealing various electronics and valuables from parked cars in the Bethel, Deiniolen and Llanrug areas. The operation occurred over a two night period earlier this year, accessing 14 cars in the area and collecting items of value from the glove compartments. The men were jailed for conspiracy to steal from cars, a sentencing which amounted to a total of seven years. Martin Williams, 44, claimed that he was bed-ridden during the period, explaining

that stolen jewellery the police found on him had belonged to the other members of the group. Despite this, he was sentenced to 32 months imprisonment. Two of the men, Simon Lilley, 30, and Martin Binfield, 33, were each given 21 months. Mathew Thomas, 29, who provided the group with a car and a flat, was given 14 months. As he sentenced the four men, Judge Rowlands praised the police for their efforts in stopping the gang. “You four worked together as a team targeting rural communities,” he said. “Items of significant value were taken and in one case the gold ring was of significant sentimental value. Had it not been for the diligence and good work of the police, I suspect you would have continued to offend. Now the four of you must face the consequences of what you have done.”

Search For April Continues by MATT JACKSON

n 1st October, five-year old April Jones went missing in Machynlleth, Powys. Subsequently Mark Bridger, 46, was arrested and charged for the kidnapping and murdering of April Jones, who was last seen getting into a white van. The hunt for the body of the child still continues. Bridger, who is currently being held in Manchester, appeared in court for his hearing via video-link. His sentence has been suspended, and he has been held in further reprimand until January, where the court is due to hear a plea. The local town clock in Machynlleth was illuminated pink on the 21st October at 7pm, the time that April went missing, in order to highlight the continued efforts to find the child. A fund has been set up for the family.

UK News

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October Issue 2012

Gun Suppliers Face Crackdown by LAURA PHILLIPS

The Home Secretary, Theresa May, has stated that there will be a new offence applied to people who let gangs hire out weapons. Ms May states that the people who supply the gangs with guns are just as guilty as the people that use them as it is their action that allows other people’s actions to kill people. The offence will be applied in England, Scotland and Wales and the maximum sentence will be life imprisonment. Labour MP, Keith Vaz, welcomed the idea of ‘tougher sentences for gun running’. However, he believes that these changes should be made with police involvement. The new changes are coming into effect to try to help the government regain the initiative after the resignation of Andrew Mitchell, Chief Whip. The conservative party has questioned the prime minister’s handling of Mr Mitchell’s departure. David Cameron has also been judged for confusion over the new energy policy and also over accusations that some of the cabinet’s senior members are ‘out of touch’ with the general public. David Cameron’s speech on Monday attempted to put an end to the debate between those that believe that gun suppliers should have a tougher sentencing, and those that would like to see more rehabilitation for said offenders. Ms May believes that the gun suppliers’ actions need to be treated more seriously. Whilst she understands that there are middlemen who rent out firearms to criminals, May believes that while at the moment there is no offence for a person to possess a firearm with the intent to supply, there should be. The

people who are supplying them are ‘just as guilty’ as the people that they supply them to. Possessing firearms with the intent to actually use them against an individual has carried the maximum sentence of life imprisonment since 1968. Police claim that it is hard to prove that the suppliers had any intention to actually supply, making it difficult to secure a conviction. At the moment, these people are usually charged with different offences under the Firearms Act. These can carry sentences of up to 10 years but some people think that this is not a sufficient amount of time. The Home Office have produced a document questioning the effectiveness of a new offence for trafficking weapons. The document states that 20 offenders could be affected each year. The document claims that there is hardly any evidence that introducing this offence will act as a deterrent, with the reduction in gun offences probably being temporary. Labour believe that the government are far from being tough on crime, as they had the idea to cut 15,000 police officers, reduce the use of CCTV cameras, and ‘water down’ regulations on the use of DNA in investigations. The Prime Minister’s speech came after he replaced the Justice Secretary, Ken Clarke, with Chris Grayling in September. This was interpreted as a ‘shift to the right’. Grayling has announced plans to strengthen community sentences and to give homeowners who react with force when protecting their home and their loved ones more protection.

Ongoing Search For Toddler Ben

Terror Trio Planned Eight Suicide Bombs P by JOE KEEP

olice in Birmingham have uncovered and stopped plans to commit acts of terrorism which were believed to be of a greater scale than that of the 7/7 bombings. Three men of the Birmingham area, Irfan Khalid, and Ashik Ali, both aged 27, and Ifan Naseer, 31, are currently facing trial under the belief that they conspired to commit the string of suicide bombings across the UK. Believed to have targeted eight locations, the trio’s plan would have caused more damage than that of 7/7, and stuck a more profound chord with the populace of Britain. Police believe Ifan Naseer and Irfan Khalid had gone under

by NICOLA HOBAN

Although Ms Needham dismissed a report in May stating that he may have died in an accident on the building site, she is expected to fly out to Kos during the search, and has been in regular contact with the Greek authorities. In a statement, she said: “My family have been updated and supported throughout this time by officers from South Yorkshire Police and as a family, we are so pleased that the Greek Authorities have allowed the team of experts led by Detective Superintendent Matt Fenwick to assist them with the search. Today is just a start, I understand that all possibilities have to be considered and the search of the area around the building work where Ben disappeared is part of that.”

ing had been raised from the local area, under the guise of a legal and legitimate Muslim aid programme, as well as the group claiming to be raising for a local Islamic school. The men managed to raise in the region of £13,000. However, the men deny claims of their plot, insisting that they never underwent the training to conduct the attack, and any such activities that allow for them to prepare such an action. As the trial continues to unfold, the truth behind the allegations and the merit of the denial and refusal of the claims will be explored.

Service Held for Victims of Cardiff Hit-and-Runner

by ADAM BURNS

fresh search for the remains of toddler Ben Needham has begun in Kos, more than twenty years after his disappearance. In the wake of a line of enquiry suggesting the boy was buried under rubble, after an accident at a building site near to the house in which he and his family were staying, a team of British police officers and special advisers have flown out to the Greek island of Kos to assist Greek officials in searching and excavating the area. Ben disappeared in 1991, at only 21 months old, while holidaying on the island with his parents. The case has been one of the most prolific examples of a child’s disappearance in the British press, and the search has continued in the many years since, led by Ben’s mother Kerry Needham. Many reports of potential sightings have flooded in over the years, and in 2010 a fresh campaign broke out across the internet, calling for the Prime Ministers of Britain and Greece to bring attention to the case again. This new search finally provides hope that, two decades on, Ben’s mother and her family may perhaps be finally able to learn what happened to the toddler. The search, which began on October 19th and is planned to last for a week to ten days, will focus on the property at which Ben and his family stayed, and a nearby building site where it is theorized the toddler may have been buried under a pile of rubble during renovations. A spokesperson for the South Yorkshire Police, who will be heading the team, explained that they will be making use of many specialist resources, including a forensic archaeologist, search dogs and geophysical ground examination equipment which will aid in concluding whether any area should be investigated throughout the search.

significant training in Pakistan in preparation for the attack. The training also allowed them to produce a suicide video, which would have gone global had the plan come to pass. Ali was said to have provided housing for both Naseer and Khalid after their training was complete, as well as displaying his interest to participate in the attack. The bulk of the prosecution’s evidence has been presented in the form of conversations between the men, gathered using bugs which were planted by police inside the residence as well as the vehicles used by the men. These recorded the men talk of the plan to be like that of 9/11. Funds for the plan and train-

undreds of people gathered this week for the church and prayer service of a young mother who was killed during a monstrous 30-minute hit-and-run rampage in Cardiff last Friday, which also left several people injured. Karina Menzies, 32, was with her children when she was targeted by 31-year old van driver Matthew Tvrdon, in Ely, Cardiff. She was mown down after throwing her children out of the way as the van approached. 200 people visited the scene to hold a minute’s silence for Ms Menzies. Prior to killing Ms Menzies, the Iveco transit-style van was seen on CCTV footage veering across the road after targeting a couple and their child. Adam Lewis relived the memory of his young family being struck down, saying, “I caught the van in my peripheral vision but it was too late, he just sped up and smashed straight into us.” Mr Lewis’ two-year old daughter Amelia-May was catapulted from her pram, but luckily escaped with only cuts and bruises, while her mother Annie Jones, 23, was left with a broken leg and puncture wound to her hip. A total of thirteen people were injured in the rampage, seven of whom were aged under 12. Tvrdon faces a total of 19 charges, along with 13 counts of attempted murder, four counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and one

charge of dangerous driving. He was remanded in custody to appear before Newport Crown Court on Tuesday via a video link. Reverend Jan Gould led a special service at the Church of the Resurrection in Ely. The vicar, who broke down in an earlier morning service at the church, told a packed congregation: “This must surely be perhaps the deepest grief we have shared as a community. This grief, of Karina’s tragic death [...] has broken the heart of our community, and the healing work that is now to be done will take a very, very long time. We will never be the same again as a community – for how can we not be changed after such a tragedy.” Speaking to over 600 people, including family and friends of the victims, Gould continued: “The only way that we can move forward into the future with hope, is by responding to this suffering the same way Jesus did – with love. Not malice, not hatred, not revenge. Not taking the law into our own hands – that’s what our justice system is for.” South Wales police have said that the investigation is still “very much ongoing” and witnesses are being urged to get in touch with any information relating to the event. Kevin Brennan, Labour MP for Cardiff West, said the community wanted justice for Ms Menzies, her family and all those affected by Friday’s tragedy.

October Issue 2012

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Energy Drink Linked to Numerous Deaths by JOE KEEP

World News

Quake Mistake

F by NICOLA HOBAN

onster Energy Drink is currently being investigated by US officials as it has been reportedly linked to five deaths and one non-fatal heart attack. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is looking into the heavily-caffeinated drink, which has three times the amount of caffeine that 240ml of Red Bull has and seven times the amount that a regular 340ml cola has. Allegations have been made that people have had conflicting reactions after consuming the beverage. However, whilst the FDA investigate these allegations – which date back to 2004 – the agency have warned that the reports do not consequently prove that the energy drink has in fact caused death or injury: “As with any reports of a death of injury the agency receives, we take them very seriously and investigate diligently.” This recent update of the FDA’s investigation comes after the wrongful death lawsuit by the parents of 14-year old Anais Fournier, Califor-

nia, who died after consuming two cans of Monster Energy Drinks in just 24 hours. Her mother Wendy Crossland told The Record Power: “I was shocked to learn the FDA can regulate caffeine in a can of soda, but not these huge energy drinks. With their bright colours and names like Monster, Rockstar, and Full Throttle, these drinks are targeting teenagers with no oversight or accountability.” A post-mortem examination on the young teenager found that Anais Fournier, who had a disorder which weakens blood vessels, died of cardiac arrhythmia due to caffeine toxicity that hampered her heart’s ability to pump blood. Her parents have claimed that Monster failed to caution their clientele about the risks of drinking its products. However, labels on the drinks do announce that the beverages are not recommended for children and those who are sensitive to caffeine. The franchise announced last week that it “was unaware of any fatality anywhere that has been caused by its drinks.”

Surfer Killed In Shark Attack on Californian Beach

by JOE KEEP

38-year old man has died due to injuries sustained by a shark attack at the Surf Beach in California. The man was pulled from the water by a friend who began administrating CPR on the man whilst another surfer called for help. The Santa Barbara sheriff office hasn’t released any information regarding the type of shark involved in the attack as well as retaining other evidence while investigations continue. The attack comes a month after a large Great White shark was spotted 65 miles away from the beach. Signs hadn’t been raised near Surf Beach, warning of the danger posed by the possibility of sharks. This attack is the second fatality at Surf Beach in the past two years due to shark attacks.

ollowing the devastating L’Aquina earthquake on 6th October 2009, six Italian scientists along with an ex official have been convicted of manslaughter. The convictions come after accusations that experts provided ‘inaccurate, incomplete and contradictory’ information, which lead to the deaths of 309 people who took the advice of the experts, staying in their homes during the tremors of the 6.3 magnitude earthquake instead of taking to the streets. The scientists, who had convened mere days before the deadly quake, had told the officials in the area that a major quake was possible, however the possibility was unlikely. Prosecutors turned to witnesses who lost family and friends in the quake, one of whom called his mother after the first quake and said: “On other occasions they would have fled… but that night they repeated what the risk commission said.” This statement, along with many like it, played a role in the conviction given to the men. However, the scientific journal Nature stated

that such a verdict was ’perverse and the sentence was ludicrous’, going on to blame the way in which the scientists portrayed their opinions for the loss of life, not the actual message itself. This has been backed by 5,000 or more scientists, who commented that they would have made the same judgement call, showing that it wasn’t a lack of judgement on the matter that led to the deaths. Again, this supported the opinion that it was the way in which the message was translated to the public that was the cause. The potential backlash for the Italian government could see a lack of support and insight from the varying scientific departments, all essentially afraid of the repercussions if they make a wrong call, or make an error when calculating the level of risk. The seven men are forming a counter case arguing their innocence, being able to remain free while they do so. But if their case falls, they could potentially be barred from holding any role within the public office again.

Damascus Bomb Blast Deaths by EMMA ASBERG

n explosion hit the Syrian capital as President Bashar al Assad was beginning peace talks with UN peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi. The number of dead and wounded is currently unclear. The British based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports ten dead and dozens wounded, while pro-government television reported seven dead and fifteen wounded. Many newspapers report thirteen dead and dozens wounded, but the source of these figures is unclear. A reporter at the scene revealed how there was blood

on the street, on the walls and on the pavement. Several shop windows were shattered and at least four cars burned out. The bomb was detonated in the Bab Touma neighbourhood in Damascus, near a police station. The area itself is mainly inhabited by the Christian minority. So far no one has claimed to be behind the attack, but a majority of Syrian Christians have backed the government since the eruption of the rebellion 19 months ago. Regarding the peace talks, the UN’s peace envoy Mr Lakhdar Brahimi said the President Bashar al-Assad had appreciated the mediation efforts, but was unwilling to commit to a

ceasefire over the Muslim holiday Eid al-Adha which will begin on Friday. He has said that the opposition groups have responded positively to his call for a truce, and that he has received “promises” but no “commitment” from the opposition for a cease-fire. He said he had received positive response for a ceasefire from President Bashar al-Assad’s opposition, and that “all of them have said that it’s a good idea which they support”. The ceasefire is also supported by Turkey, an ally of the rebels, Iran, Russia - which backs the government, Iraq and Germany.

Johannesburg Prison Escape Ends with Death by STEFAN WILSON

bomb blast in the back of a prison van during a suspected escape has killed three inmates and injured fourteen more in Johannesburg. The blast occurred during a prisoner transfer, when an explosion destroyed the van, which was in the process of escorting the prisoners from Ranberg Court to Johannesburg Central prison.

Two prisoners managed to escape in the aftermath, but were quickly recaptured. Police were at the scene of the blast, which occurred on the 23rd October, and the wounded stayed under police guard as they were raced to the hospital. The police are now investigating several cases of murder, possession of lethal weaponry and escape from lawful custody, telling the BBC’s Nomsa Maseko that ‘several dangerous criminals were involved’.

The van had travelled a large portion of its twenty-five mile journey before the back of the bus exploded metres away from the prison itself. The driver was reported to have heard a large bang, it was reported. A police spokesman said, “There was an explosion in the vehicle. Two prisoners escaped but were quickly recaptured.” Reports estimate that the plot had been meticulously planned, but in the final stages the plan faltered, ending with the three deaths. The

reports cannot confirm what explosive substance or device was used, but they hope to discover the details in an enquiry. In addition, no personal details are yet known of the three fatalities. The escape has been lauded the most ‘daring escape attempt’ in South Africa in recent times by the South African National Commissioner of Correctional Services, Tom Moyane.

seren.bangor.ac.uk

Politics

October Issue 2012

Romney Vs. Obama

by HELEN BAINES

n November the Americans will go to the polls. In Britain, on the other hand, half the population ponders and speculates over their own economy whilst the government plays financial Jenga. How important is it to Britain and Europe who occupies the oval office? Some would argue that with the slow rate of economy across the western world it would likely make little impact in the next few years as progress is likely to be slow. However this time round, the choice is between a wealthy Republican businessman with a poor grasp of diplomacy and worrying social policies, such as the record over abortion (flip-flopping between pro life and pro choice). And then there was the PR disaster that ensued over Todd Atkin and his tongue-tied, half brained comment of “legitimate rape”, and the subsequent calls for him to step gracefully aside

into a void invisible to Republicans. Or another four years of the Obama administration, but will there be progress and will promises like the decision to close Guantanamo be kept? This is the crisis, or more mildly, choice that our American friends must make, although Romney saw fit to dismiss the Olympics with one glance and would be greeted less with the warm hand of friendship and more likely the cold shoulder by many on this side of the Atlantic. Unbelievably, another gaffe of the Romney campaign has emerged in the past twenty-four hours, of writing. With only seven weeks to turn his fortunes around, it seems as though this time may be more of a hindrance than a help, with the campaign behind in the polls by three percentage points. The gaffe was even more ludicrous itself in the knowledge that Mr Romney was caught on a secret video, in the recording he stated that 47% of Americans were dependant on ben-

efits and avoided paying income tax. One of the double edged swords of the Romney campaign has been the fact that although he is a respected businessman, it is this exact business that

“

The choice isn’t ours to make although we will soon know the result and feel the effects after the 6th November 2012.

brought him wealth and riches and has therefore led many to believe that he is simply so rich that he has become disenfranchised with the majority of the American public and especially those struggling on middle and low income earnings. Not only are these comments extremely hurtful to many

Police Commissioners by ALEX THOMPSON

n November 14th 2012, fortyone individuals will become police and crime commissioners after pitching their vision for cleaning up the streets of England and Wales (excluding London, where Boris Johnson has taken on the role and duties of the Police and Crime Commissioner). The Chief Constable of each of these forces will no longer be answerable to the Home Secretary, but to their PCC who, in turn, will be answerable to the electorate when the elections come around again. If there is a complaint against a PCC, then it would be taken up with the Home Secretary. There hasn’t been much significant talk about the powers of the Home Secretary or the general accountability of the PCC to the electorate; all we know is that there will be some local scrutiny of PCC work, but the panel will have limited powers to intervene. We need to make sure that there is no abuse of power by the PCCs and that it brings real accountability to the police system, in contrast to the police authorities, which have long been derided as invisible. The Whitehall targets on how to fight crime will be replaced

by a political mandate from the local electorate, which is a significant devolution of power from a Conservative– led government, which isn’t the most likely of government to push power downwards. For almost half a century, police in England and Wales exercised their powers under the “tripartite” relationship - a balancing of powers between: chief constables, the Home Secretary, and local police authorities. In short, the Home Secretary set general priorities and targets and chiefs delivered, under the watch of the local police authority. The PCC will be responsible for hiring - and potentially firing - the Chief Constable. They will set the policing budget and could increase the amount raised locally. They’ll be responsible for services for victims, and also manage grants for crime reduction and community safety. Each PCC will set a budget and a strategy that the Chief Constable will be expected to deliver. How will all of this work in practice? Well, we don’t quite know yet - and that’s why the police are nervous. They fear that many candidates who can deliver a good sound bite will not have a clue about the delicate and difficult world of modern policing.

PCCs and their key powers: being able to hire and fire chief constables, setting the policing strategy, setting the budget, including money raised locally (the Police Precept) yet Chief Constables will retain operational independence There are predictions that decisions will be influenced by party concerns, and that the careers of some of the brightest and best police officers will depend on how they cooperate with their political boss, effectively making it more selective and political. If, for example, one of the candidates for the Chief Constable for North Wales had Plaid Cymru leanings and the PCC was the Labour candidate, how could that work? Could it work or is it a complete conflict of interest? The Government believes it has all of this covered. While PCCs will focus on delivering their manifesto, they cannot tell the chief constables what to do. Senior police will remain in operational command, deciding how many officers go where and to perform which duties. PCCs will also be obliged to take an oath of impartiality, a public act declaring that they will be above party politics; yet most candidates will have been supported by a political party and the three main

voters, they are simply wrong. Romney did not disassociate himself from the claims, standing by them in a recent press conference. Mr Romney’s actual words are as follows; “All right, there are 47% who are with him (Obama), who are dependant upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe that the government has a responsibility to care for them, who believe they are entitled to healthcare, to food, to housing, to you-name-it.” Therefore I must believe wrongly that these people are entitled to be cared for by their own government if not by them, who? I must also wrongly believe that in the 21st century people should not have to pay if they get ill, through no fault of their own that heath care should be available as it is in Britain to American citizens, it may be expensive but it is certainly worth it. Just as Asian countries begin to build their own welfare states for the first time, so should America. It would be

building the foundations and wouldn’t necessarily mean that they have to replicate the British model, by building their own system they can take the best of what has already been achieved and build on it to create a better, fairer system for the whole of the States. However although this great opportunity is ready to be grasped, Romney is set to overturn any health care reforms if he is sworn in. The question seems to be why Mr Romney is so unwilling to put his mind to dealing with the cost of such reforms if he sees this as its major disadvantage? If this so called great businessman is unwilling to tackle the problem because it is simply too vast, how is he going to cope with America’s greatest yet struggling asset, its economy? The choice isn’t ours to make although we will soon know the result and feel the effects after the 6th November 2012.

parties will be contesting the elections. Ministers want the incoming PCCs to focus on two tasks: cutting crime and improving public confidence, because that is the issue on which the public will judge them when election day comes again- but what if the politicians and the electorate disagree? Which one will win out? If the Government thinks that one PCC is out of line in its approach of, for example, fewer police and reduced prison sentences and increased community work, would the government, in such a case, withhold money until the PCC follows the Government’s line? Ipsos Mori, the polling agency, says that concern about local crime has steadily fallen while there has also been growing confidence in the police. It says the polling data shows people want their voices to be heard and a policing response that is visible and reassuring. Ministers hope they have dealt with this in the legislation. The PCCs must “have regard” to national policing requirements. That is to say, a commissioner won’t be able to ignore legitimate demands to cooperate with other forces on tackling serious crime - or to assist in more prosaic ways, such as to provide officers to quell riots. So after the tub-thumping at election time, an awful lot of this job for those who do get elected will be about hard negotiation in the boardroom between

PCCs and chief constables over what is right for local people - but also for national policing. This balancing act has always been a major challenge in policing - the question is whether the arrival of PCCs will make it more of a public debate. And that brings us to a final very important responsibility for the first wave of PCCs. Many candidates rightly fear indifference and public confusion which will be the biggest stumbling block for both this project and individual candidates. The Electoral Reform Society has predicted a low turnout, while the Electoral Commission has its own concerns, including the Home Office’s planned advertising campaign. The candidates will have to fight against massive apathy for the political system. I think there will be a low turnout for the first election, and when they come to re-election then there will be far more knowledge electorally about what a PCC is, and hopefully the media will cooperate in raising the profile of this exciting development in local politics and any diversion of power from the central government to local areas is good. The criticism of PCCs is that their electoral wards will be far bigger than can actually be effectively managed so they will be in essence figureheads with no real power or influence.

October Issue 2012

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Politics

Anti-austerity protest goes for a walk by MICHAEL CAREY

n Saturday, 22nd October 2010, there was yet another rally at which tens of thousands of people marched in protest at the government’s austerity measures. Labour leader, Ed Miliband, among dozens of speakers who addressed crowds at the biggest march in London, received a mixed reaction. However, the government still maintains austerity measures are vital to cutting the deficit. Away from the rally, the Met Police said their unit had responded to antisocial behaviour in the Oxford Street area. Organiser Trades Union Congress (TUC), which stated that workers and campaigners from across the UK were involved with the demonstration, estimated that more than 150,000 people took part while the Met Police had not released an estimate. However, Ed Miliband admitted that if he was in government right now then there would still have been some cuts - so how can he claim to be the anti-austerity candidate when he says himself that he would have made cuts? He was booed when he suggested there would still be spending cuts under Labour: Union leaders recently criticised Labour for supporting a public sector pay freeze. That compares with the more than 250,000 people who took part in a London anti-cuts march and rally in

March, 2011. There were cheers when Mr Miliband referenced the incident in which Chancellor George Osborne had to pay for an upgrade after he sat in a first class train carriage with a standard class ticket. The marchers - brought to London in more than 250 coaches - had assembled along Victoria Embankment on the north bank of the Thames from 1100 BST and set off at about noon. Banners on display included those reading “Cameron has butchered Britain”, “No cuts” and “Plebs on parade”. In a separate development, the Met Police said it had responded to a number of incidents of anti-social behaviour in the Oxford Street shopping area and that some arrests had been made. This does go against the general ethos of the day and the tone which should have been one of general bad feeling towards the government but no violence or anti-social behaviour which would mar any protest. Earlier this month, Mr Cameron warned that more “painful decisions” would be necessary to repair the UK economy, adding that he would not waver from austerity measures. Brendan Barber agreed with the general theme of the strike, that austerity was not working and that the government must change course in order to get Britain out of the double-dip recession. Mr Barber said that he did not think a general strike by Unions was

likely, adding: “Some of my colleagues may talk about that. I don’t hear too many people calling for a general strike.” This is a very big jump from the position of Brendan Barber earlier in the year when he was one of the many adding his voice to the call for a general strike.

Calls for a mass walk-out over spending cuts have grown in recent months, with the TUC Congress voting in September to look into the practicalities of organising one. This protest may evolve into another protest and, if hijacked by the more militant wings of the Trade Unions, it could, in such a case, turn into a general strike. However, the issue has already been covered it cannot be a strike based purely on political grounds. There must be a grievance between employee and employers. A government spokesman said: “It is disappointing that some unions insist on pushing for irresponsible and futile strike action which benefits no-one. As we have said time and again, pension talks will not be reopened and nothing

A Bangor University student who attended the rally as part of the University’s Labour society has written an eyewitness report. #Oct20 – Future that Works march On Saturday the 20th of October, Bangor students joined North Wales Trade Unionists in marching for a Future that Works. Over 150,000 people marched through London past the Houses of Parliament to a massive rally in Hyde Park, where speakers included the leader of the Labour Party , our most probable next Prime Minister, Ed Miliband. All in all, it was a calmer affair than the protest against tuition fees in 2010. The comradely atmosphere at the march was incredible, full of individuals of otherwise varying political

ence then yes to further powers for Scotland. He said the ballot would be a oncein-a-generation chance for Scotland to turn its potential into prosperity. The Edinburgh Agreement which includes a statutory order to be legislated at Westminster, granting Holyrood powers to hold a single-question independence referendum by the end of 2014 and covering other issues including campaign broadcasts. A “memorandum of agreement” signed by political leaders confirming that the details of the referendum would be settled at Holyrood, and a significant role for the Electoral Commission watchdog in advising on the wording of the question and the running of the referendum, including issues such as campaign finance.

Mr Salmond outlined a vision of an independent Scotland “united by ambition and confidence”, yet failed to answer any questions about actual policies which would differ from the UK government; they have failed to explain why they will keep the pound or why they would keep the Queen as the head of state. He went on to say that policies like free care for the elderly, concessionary bus travel and an end to university fees for Scots students were under threat by a review of universal services announced by Scottish Labour, which the first minister branded a “cuts commission”. Several academics have come out in protest against some of the universal services and have questioned how the Scottish government can continue to afford it when the general increase in

the elderly population will be a massive drain on the resources of Scotland. The first minister said such policies were part of the “social contract” between the parliament and its people, adding: “Some call it universality and say its time has passed”. Mr Salmond also used his speech to make a number of announcements, including telecom firm THREE creating almost 400 new jobs in Glasgow, a £11m family nurse partnership fund to support the future of children, and legislation to guarantee all 16 and 17-year-olds would get a right to vote in the independence referendum. The first announcement has nothing or very little to do with the Scottish government, and the second seems a very small pot for the wide aim of supporting children’s future’s.

further will be achieved through strike action.”Conservative Party Chairman Grant Shapps said of Ed Miliband: “You can’t be serous about clearing the deficit when you attend a march that calls for an end to austerity.”

Earlier this month, Mr Cameron warned that more “painful decisions” would be necessary to repair the UK economy, adding that he would not waver from austerity measures.

beliefs and affiliations, united in their condemnation of the way the government is attempting (and failing) to resolve the capitalist-formed financial crisis through a savage assault on the most vulnerable. David Cameron and Nick Clegg’s coalition government thought they had managed to hit those people who could not fight back, but this march will have left them unsure. Situated at the front just behind the marching band, we were in a brilliant position to see the various placards and slogans, many referencing the ‘Plebgate’ scandal which has rocked the government recently. During the day, the only discord we noticed was when about 30 people, who had barged to the front of the rally, began booing Ed Milliband when he acknowledged that Labour would make cuts in public spending. This was soon drowned out when he announced Labour’s plans to completely tear-up the coalition’s measures to weaken and commercialize our National Health Service. Another huge protest is planned on the 21st November, 2012, by the National Union of Students; against fees, youth unemployment and the targeting of services and welfare for young people. Bangor University Labour Group and the Students’ Union will be organising transport - just contact labour@undeb.bangor.ac.uk

Latest on Scottish Independence

by ALEX THOMPSON

he SNP leader has told his party the time has come to vote for independence and rid Scotland of the UK government’s “incompetent Lord Snootys”, who he described as knowing very little about Scotland, branding both the Scottish Conservatives and Scottish Labour as ‘two nation Tories’, in essence saying there are both as bad as each other. Earlier this week, Mr Salmond agreed a deal paving the way for a referendum to take place with David Cameron, with both agreeing to certain compromises, which include only one question being on the referendum simply asking ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to independence instead of the original plan to ask that question and then a further one; if no to independ-

The politician addressed the conference the day after delegates overturned the SNP’s traditional anti-Nato stance. Members spent nearly three hours debating the issue. Angus Robertson MP put forward a resolution saying an independent Scotland should become a member of the pro-nuclear weapons organisation. That was opposed by several MSPs and rank and file members, but the new policy was voted through 426 to 332. It has emerged since the vote that two SNP MSPs have quit following the vote on the ant-stance which means the policies which may be very popular with the public may be less popular with the individual parts of the party.

Comment

by JEZ HARVEY

’ve spent the summer doing my absolute best to avoid the startling problems that have become evident with my dissertation, by spending an awful lot of time watching TED videos (www.ted.com - seriously excellent stuff ) and reading similarly inspiring books. This has caused me to be uplifted and then crash harder than the diet of vending machine corn syrup snacks I spent most of July living on causes me to. There’s something about finishing a book which really challenges your assumptions, helps sharpen your aim and uplift you that can really, really depress the hell out of you. Something, I would imagine, caused by the vast gulf between the world you want to live in and the world you actually live in. This has happened again this summer after reading The Story of Stuff. A 2009 book about the West’s consumer society, it is an eye-opening tale that takes the reader through the five stages that go into the life-cycle of an item of Stuff (everything to do with manufactured and mass-produced goods, including the packaging of these items); extraction, production, distribution, consumption and disposal. Many of the issues that these five stages cre-

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THE STORY OF STUFF

ate are already widely known – coltan mining in the Congo and the decades long civil war that it has caused, the true costs of our reliance on oil (it’s been estimated that the true costs of oil are 5 times more than the consumer pays, due to the fact that oil companies are heavily subsidised and don’t have to pay much of the externalized costs of extraction and refining), the is-

is the only thing that matters – trade is now the end of our means, rather than being one of the means towards what should be our goal – increasing the health, prosperity and living standards of everyone in the world. Trade is now what we aim for, at the expense of the majority of the population of the world, and of people in our own countries.

hen I first heard the news, I didn’t believe it. Surely it must be a joke? Could Cameron be that stupid? But to my genuine surprise, it was true; the Prime Minister had started a Twitter account. Yes, despite once remarking that, ‘too many tweets might make a t**t’, David Cameron made his first tweet on @David_Cameron on 6th October, saying ‘I’m starting Conference with this new Twitter feed about my role as Conservative Leader. I promise there won’t be “too many tweets...’. The response was what anyone who’s spent a decent amount of time on the internet would expect: instant abuse. Among the many hilarious responses was @jonnot, who wrote, ‘Welcome to Twitter @David_Cameron. It’s cool that you’ve got time to kill, as well as the dreams of our young people, and the working class.’ Another excellent comment was the deceptively cheerful

nutrition would have cost $19 billion – weigh that against the $17 billion we in Europe and the US spent on pet food. Overall, domestic consumption expenditure increased by nearly $20 billion in just a decade up to 2005. The spread and widening of the personal electronics market is a large contributor to this, but are we really saying that the basis of our happiness is electronic

Trade is now what we aim for, at the expense of the majority of the population of the world. sues of dumping waste on third world countries and other similar issues. This book though is the first that summarises and explores the full life-cycle of a product, as well as providing much further information on other issues. In short, the book demonstrates the utter foolishness of much of the West – the groundlessness of it’s political, economic and social basis. We already know well enough that our society uses more than the planets resources every year (currently we use 1.4 planets worth of stuff – if every country consumed as America does that figure would be 5 planets worth). Our economies are based on the idea that growth

The argument against this is that there simply isn’t the money or resources to direct towards changing the way we live, or that by increasing the standards for the rest would hurt our own people. Ignoring the out-and-out parochialism and self-interest of this, is this true? Well, in some ways it is. But according to figures in the book, even small changes on our part could do much to make dramatic increases in the standards of living of the rest of the world. $18 billion was spent on cosmetics in 2003, where as reproductive health care for every woman in the world would have only cost $12 billion. Eliminating hunger and mal-

@DAVID_CAMERON AND THE POLITICS OF TWITTER by BECKI WATSON

October Issue 2012

@kerihw, who posted, ‘Hi Dave! I’m doing a half-marathon to raise money for disabled people who’ve lost their benefits. Retweet?’ These are just some of many of the brilliantly witty and derision filled tweets sent to the Prime Minister, and that’s not to mention the near constant stream of taunts such as ‘w*****’, ‘p****’ and various other insults we’re prohibited from printing. But aside from the irony of David Cameron tweeting the hashtag #welovethenhs, this just comes across as yet another embarrassing attempt by a political party to appear cool. A spokesperson for the Tory Party stated their hope that Cameron’s foray into social networking and the rapid response it provides will make the Conservative Party more ‘edgy’. I’m sure I’m not the only one who doubts their chance for success, especially when the Prime Minister’s tweets sound as though four PR officers have checked them to make sure they won’t cause another ’Plebgate’ before Cameron

clicked send. An obviously staged photo of Cameron packing support packages for troops was met with contempt, with one user commenting, ‘You’re the PM - why don’t you and George just make sure they have all they need without charity hand-outs?’ The main thing that they don’t seem to understand is that Twitter - like all other social networking sites - is a part of one large conversation. Users talk about their favourite actors with someone on the other side of the world, can find out what Stephen Fry had for breakfast, and live in hope of a retweet from Lady Gaga. In an age of instant connectivity, Cameron isn’t using social networking to reach the general public, but to tweet photos of himself with Andrew Marr; that’s how he’s failing to use it as a political tool. Above all else, Twitter is a place for communication and connection; but something tells me Dave won’t be having a Twitter Q&A any time soon.

gadgets? I’m not immune to this, God knows, but we are in a time where the planet cannot support our consumption, where the toxins necessary for our consumption are taking us to the brink of chaos and where the majority of the world are suffering because of it. And people who suffer needlessly for long enough will not carry on doing that. It’s not all doom. Leonard proposes various solutions to many of these problems, ranging variously from political solutions, social solutions and industrial solutions. The field of bioplastics is fast emerging. The $85 billion being directed to fund tar-sands

oil (identified as by far the worst form of oil) could be directed to many different forms of alternative energy sources. Instead of allowing businesses to externalize the costs of the damage their actions cause, they should be held responsible. This would drive up the prices of many consumer items, but numerous studies have shown that once people have met a certain standard of living, people’s happiness does not increase proportionally to wealth or possessions. Happiness and consumption have been linked by an endless exposure to adverts that make use of psychology to make us believe that this is so, when it isn’t. Ultimately, the path forward does not rely on us choosing to become more ethical consumers, but to accept that consumption does not make us happy. Happiness comes from a sense of safety and well-being and social interaction. The question is not “What should I buy instead?”, but “Why do I feel compelled to buy this?”. Capitalism is right – the market will decide what path we take, but the mistake we have made is to think that the market is the dog and we are the tail. By making the decision to settle for what we think of as less, we will find much, much more waiting for us.

Academic Texts: A Rip Off ? by MATT JACKSON

s a student the concept of reading a wide range of academic texts has been drummed into me since first year, I’ve often been told that if I can’t find the book at the library then Amazon or another e-commerce site will suffice. With roughly 30/40 people per text book in the library I often find myself turning online for books, and with my dissertation looming, I find myself even more compelled to be widely read in my subject area. As much as I would love to be entirely well read and accumulate a small library of books in my room, there’s a problem with this; cost. As many of you will have realised, students aren’t usually rich. With most of us scraping the bottom of the barrel or becoming best friends with our overdrafts it baffles me as to why academic books cost so much. I understand that the field of academia itself is quite niche, I can’t imagine the History of Welsh phonemes would ever sell as many copies as say fifty shades of grey, or Twilight, but surely they must understand that a niche market will not be helped by making the books come with a niche price? Furthermore I don’t usually find a whole book to be relevant, some academic books choose to cover a huge range of topics, and there’s times where I may usually just need a single chapter in a £79 book (which I have found to

be the case a couple of times). I have before tried to work my way through the used book section on websites, as well as sending out messages to people from the year above me to try and acquire their textbooks for a lower price than I could find online. But as it stands the price of the academic books is something that is daunting me throughout this semester, with the idea of a literature review pending, and hundreds of relevant texts spinning around my mind, what I look forward to the least is acquiring these texts. One benefit I have found is that the academic society for my department has its own library. I’m hoping that through the course of my dissertation writing I can use this to its best.

October Issue 2012

seren.bangor.ac.uk

Comment

FOR ALL THAT YOU CAN BE By IDA VÄISÄNEN

PETA VS. POKÉMON by JENNY SMITH

n October 2012, animal rights movement PETA caused widespread revulsion in fangirls and fanboys everywhere in their latest action of protest against animal cruelty. Their release of an online parody game entitled ‘Pokémon Black and Blue’, which depicts the pocket monsters bloodied and bruised after being tortured by their heartless trainers, triggered outrage in Pokémon fans worldwide. The game shows the Pokémon unwilling to fight, forced into servitude and abused. PETA’s original statement declares that “the amount of time that Pokémon spend stuffed in pokéballs is akin to how elephants are chained up in train carts, waiting to be let out to “perform” in circuses. But the difference between real life and this fictional world full of organised animal fighting is that Pokémon games paint rosy pictures of things that are actually horrible.” They then went on to comment that “if PETA existed in Unova,

our motto would be: Pokémon are not ours to use or abuse. They exist for their own reasons. We believe that this is the message that should be sent to children.” And a game that shows graphic abuse is child-friendly? A game that’s a blatant copyright infringement, shaming the Pokémon franchise while missing its entire point? Anyone who has seen the Pokémon TV series knows that the trainers love their companions like friends, not creatures to be used for sport. If Pokémon don’t want to fight, they can refuse. More often than not, the Pokémon are itching to battle, to test each other, gain experience and prove themselves worthy of evolution. The trainers who do abuse their Pokémon, force them to fight when they don’t want to and don’t care for them are shunned. Giovanni, the leader of Team Rocket, only wants Pokémon for his own personal gain and is confronted by Ash, who tells him that what he’s doing is wrong. One question we could ask is ‘why

now’? Pokémon has been around for nearly two decades and has been present in video games, TV and other media worldwide. It’s surely not a coincidence that they’ve protested just before the launch of the new games? Isn’t fighting against a franchise that has taught millions of children how to care for animals just a misguided attempt to make money instead of getting to its real values? Previous targets have included Mario, Cooking Mama and Lara Croft. Instead of pointing out every single tiny detail in the media, shouldn’t PETA be using its money in a more suitable way, like funding shelters for abused animals and hosting events? PETA has obviously acted ignorant of the main themes of unity and friendship in the Pokemon franchise. Ash Ketchum loves his Pikachu, and Pikachu loves him. They’re best friends and because of that, they treat each other with respect. They’ve been through so much together even though they fall out sometimes, which friends don’t?

ing this nodding in agreement. During my own Freshers’ Week my peer guides did such a good job that I felt as though we should all be compelled to take up the cudgels in our second year. And so, as my time arrived, I collected my purple t-shirt. My first time peer guiding was made easier because of the assistance of third year guides whose experience helped ease us into the role. By no means was it a simple walk in the park but it did mean that the majority of larger tasks were tackled by them. This meant that our time was yet to come. We decided for our first time peer guiding to implement a buddying system where we’d team a second year and a third year together so that we were

aware how things were done in the previous year, this I believed worked rather well. Thankfully, when third year finally hit us we were super prepared. We donned our vibrant orange (I won’t pretend that I didn’t love them) t-shirts and planned like the best, though we didn’t expect the heavens to open each and every day. Nonetheless, we weren’t down hearted and carried on. Our third and final Freshers’ Week I believe was in fact a success but it’s important not just to think that, that is the end of peer guiding, we like to be an open department and stress that as peer guides we are most certainly available at any point throughout the year. Despite ending every day thoroughly exhausted and realising you have to be up and awake in about 4 hours, I’d say it’s one of the most rewarding and worthwhile things someone can do at Bangor, especially considering other universities just let their first years wander about and try learn everything by themselves.

A Peer Guide Remembers

by MATT JACKSON

s a third year now I’ve been a peer guide twice. I believe that peer guiding is one of the extra-curricular activities that has taught me the most during my time at Bangor University. I’ve always thought of myself as quite a loud and extrovert character; no doubt there are people read-

here are you from? This is the question I usually run into every time I meet a new person these days. During Freshers’ Week I met more people than I have in all my life and that’s usually the question that follows after exchanging names and degrees. Where am I from? It’s the accent. Gives me away every time. I don’t mind people asking though. It’s considerate of them to ask. I’m not just classified as foreigner. Either people show interest, or they’re just being polite. I don’t really care if it gets the conversation going. It’s funny though how my nationality has now become a part of introduction, a part of me worth mentioning. Back at home it was self-evident. ”Finland.” The reactions following this answer vary. Some people just say things like ”that’s cool” and move on to the next subject. Someone might ask more questions. Where is it? What’s it like there? (What to say, what to say?! I must be loyal but still keep things short and sweet. No one wants to hear a lecture. I usually say it’s cold. Accurate enough.) I only tell if someone asks. I don’t want to push. I tend to go into too much detail about cultural differences and such, but I justify it by the fact that this is one of the few subjects I actually know about. Besides, I reciprocate. I always ask whereabouts the other person is from. Usually a lot closer than I am. Then comes the question of how I ended up here. Well, I applied and got accepted. Of course it’s way more complicated than that. Unlike UK students I wasn’t prepared for my uni application. Sure there were the info sites and e-mail addresses to send the questions to but mainly I was handling everything all by myself. My statement, getting documents translated and so forth. I got some crucial help from my teachers but mostly it was just me handling things. Making calls, sending e-mails, chasing down people. I got extra headaches because practices for certain things couldn’t be more different between two countries. (Someone who’s made three separate phone calls about the same document knows what I’m talking about.) At some points applying to the UK was like a full-time job. How I ended up in Bangor was half-coincidence but I’m here now. Starting a whole new life. Am I the only one who finds that sentence a bit distressing? All the welcome talks at the university sure meant well but I couldn’t help wondering, ”Am I doing something wrong?” The words ‘fresh start’ were mentioned more than once and I instantly felt guilty for missing my friends and family. One of the points mentioned struck me most. You can be whoever you want. Can I? I hardly know how to act somewhat normal in the first place. I’m constantly

confused, forgetting words during conversations not to mention the fact that I’m constantly tired of using English for all communication. (If anyone else is experiencing the same I was told it will pass. Promise! It’s only temporary. Like life itself.) Of course it sounds wonderful. The freedom of choice. New life and all that. But freedom is always accompanied by responsibility. You have the responsibility of making the right choices and that puts certain weight to first fine-sounding things such as a new life. I’m wondering am I expected to be something more than I was before I came here? More intelligent? More pleasant? More brave? At least those talks about being whoever you want were sort of right on my behalf. Using your second language always takes away a part of your personality (or adds something to it) and I can only hope that I’ll be able to find friends with this new selfhood. And then there are the other things that come with your new life. I’m being told left and right to have adventures and also rehearse time-managing and create routines because they’re so good for you. There are the lectures, seminars, study groups and fire safety talks alongside ordinary housework like cleaning and cooking. Oh, how I miss the times when the food would just magically appear on the table! At the moment I’m struggling with the self-service tills (I still blush while thinking about my first encounter with a self-service till and how I somehow managed to mess up the whole machine), wonder how much is alright to pay for a pint of milk and marvel the fact that everyone wears shoes inside the house. In the middle of all this I should make some sense out of my new everyday life. No pressure. But at least I always know the answer when I’m asked where do I come from. Now that I think about it feels kind of secure. In this ever changing world it’s nice to know that some answers never change. If you’re interested in taking part of series of interesting workshops or just fancy free refreshments you can stop by at the Learning Lounge, a very exciting new project launched by the Careers & Employability and International Student Support Services. To find out more about it and what other stuff is going on with the International department check out the newest newsletter in: http://www.bangor.ac.uk/international/support/newsletters.php.en And to find out about the trips and events organised by International Education Centre and this year’s Cultural Challenge competition (the first prize is a trip to Beijing!) look up http://www.bangor.ac.uk/international/support/news_trips.php.en If you have any feedback please send an email to internationalsupport@bangor.ac.uk.

Feature

by SINNEAD TOWEY

he NSS (National Students Survey) is a survey targeted at final year undergraduates. It gives them the opportunity to offer their opinions on what they enjoyed about their time at the institution and the course they attended; it also highlights the things they felt could have been improved. The NSS has run

seren.bangor.ac.uk

annually since 2005, supported by the National Union of Students (NUS), NUS-Wales and NUSUSI. There were 23 core questions that formed the basis of the survey: 1. Teaching on my Course 2. Assessment and Feedback 3. Academic Support 4. Organisation and Management 5. Learning Resources

6. Personal Development 7. Overall Satisfaction 8. Students’ Union (Association or Guild) The results from the survey are used to compare Institutions of Higher Education around the UK. The main aim of the survey is to provide information to prospective students, in order to make informed choices of what and where to study. The information is also used internally to make criti-

October Issue 2012

cal adjustments and enhancements to Universities, students’ unions or colleges. Students are also given the opportunity to add any additional comments, where they feel necessary. Students can complete the survey between 9th January and the end of April 2012. Eligible students will then receive an e-mail inviting them to complete the survey online.

How Did Bangor What Went Wrong University Perform in Within LX? the NSS? T T by SEAN TALBOT

by SINNEAD TOWEY

he NSS received critical feedback for 159 courses within Bangor University. The overall feedback was extremely varied. The survey showed that 84% of students said, “Overall, I am satisfied with the quality of the course,” a drop from last year’s 86%. The same students rated the overall teaching satisfaction at a surprising 54%. All these statistics were put together and assessed by The Guardian, ranking us in at 63rd place of 120 Universities over the UK; Oxford and Cambridge, unsurprisingly taking the top two rankings. The table also provided an employability rating of just 55% for Bangor students. The survey revealed that English Language was the worst scoring department, with a mere 35% of students describing their course as satisfactory. The information provided suggests that lack of feedback from staff was the main factor contributing to this statistic.

Feedback was also highlighted as an issue within the Linguistics department; its overall satisfaction percentage is at a much more justifiable 66% (see article to the right for more information on this.) BSC Marketing, too, was one of the lowest scoring courses, with only a 59% satisfactory rate; its negative response being that not enough structured and clear criticism was provided from staff in order to clarify things that were misunderstood in lectures. The results were not all bad. Three courses came back at an outstanding satisfaction rate of 100%; BSC Computer Science, BSC Sports Science and BA Welsh (for beginners.) All courses highlighted the overall contentment towards staff, saying they provided thorough explanations and made the subjects interesting. Other positive responses included the adequate level of library resources, and the ability to access IT resources when needed.

he NSS data release is a nervous time for most institutes, and no school wants to have one of their courses rank lowest on the satisfaction ratings. Unfortunately for the school of English Language and Linguistics, they are the bearers of this year’s most undesirable percentage. Only 35% of students who studied English Language were satisfied with their course at Bangor University, the lowest in the whole institute. And when you compare that with the score of its sister course, Linguistics, which managed to scrape a (truthfully dismal, but relatively better) 66% satisfaction rate, it certainly raises some questions. However, the most prudent is certainly how two courses, which share everything and offer exactly the same to students besides a different degree title, managed to score such strikingly different results. How this disparity has arisen is interesting, given that English Language students, more often than not, share the same lectures as their fellow lin-

How Employable Are They?

guistics peers, and it casts doubts on the legitimacy and accuracy of the results themselves. Without a doubt things went wrong in the school of English Language and Linguistics and these issues will have to be addressed. The factor that was consistently below 50% was feedback, which can be fixed easily with proper action. Last year’s third year students experienced a particularly sketchy service from the school, with complaints and demands constantly being made surrounding the dissertation module. A recent staff revamp, following the cuts made to education, meant that students were left with a department under construction. These have all since been fixed and current and future students can expect a better education and thus better satisfaction from their department. However, there was obviously reason for many students to vote negatively on the school and the writing is on the wall – at least for English Language. Linguistics have, for now, mysteriously come out of this better than their counter-part, though mustn’t believe that 66% is anything but a poor performance.

Despite faults within the linguistics department, Seren looks at the employability prospects of students who graduated last year. This is what students are doing six months after finishing their course.

October Issue 2012

seren.bangor.ac.uk

Feature BANGOR UNI IN NUMBERS

84% ARE SATISFIED WITH THE QUALITY OF THEIR COURSE. A DROP FROM LAST YEAR’S %86

The Students’ Union on the NSS Results by ANTONY BUTCHER

ere at Bangor Students’ Union, we’re committed to improving your time in Bangor. Now, this year’s NSS results highlight lots of areas for improvement, and we’ve been doing lots and lots of work with the University to make things better. As soon as the results came out, we identified areas where the most work was needed, and started speaking to key staff to make sure that issues were being taken seriously, but also that students were at the heart of any solution. In previous years, action plans have been written to try to make things better, but they often guessed why students were dissatisfied. This year, we’ve been banging on and on about

taking the time to speak with students. Most notably, last week we ran an action day with staff and students from the College of Arts and Humanities, in conjunction with a University project looking to embed your voice, run by Jo Caulfield. This was fantastic, with students and staff from each school separately drawing up actions based on the worse areas, before meeting up to discuss what to do. Everyone got really involved - in fact, most people stayed behind at the end to carry on discussions! We’re looking forward to seeing the student suggestions being built into official action plans, and working with Uni to make sure there are improvements. We’re also planning more events like this in the future - so if you’d like to help your department become

even better, keep your eyes peeled! Alongside these one off events, our lovely new Academic Representation Unit, who are here to make sure you get the best education possible, have been poring over the results, to make sure that we are experts in the student experience in Bangor! We’ve been getting all the highlights ready for Course Rep training, so that Course Reps can work with schools over any problem areas. If you’d like to know any more, get involved, or just come in for a good old-fashioned natter about the results, e-mail academicrepunit@bangorstudents, or just pop in to see us - we’re near Ffridd site, behind Bar Uno on Victoria Drive.

How Can I Improve My School Before The NSS? by MATT JACKSON

any of you may be reading the issues involved with the NSS and will be thinking, ‘If I have an issue, what can I do?’ Well never fear, there are a few ways to get your opinion across to the school… Your first step may well be to speak to your course rep, these people will have been democratically elected by the students on your course (or in some schools modules), and will take issues to the tutor or school via Staff Student Liaison Committees; this feedback is left anonymous in most cases.

The course reps can deal with all sorts of problems relating to the school, whether it be people complaining about the behaviour of a lecturer, or an awkward timetabling issue in an obscure room. Course reps can also help you if a staff student meeting is a few weeks away. Your feedback is welcome whenever, and if enough students share the same problem then your reps will go and speak to the relevant member of staff, whether that is a tutor or the head of school. Another option that could help you improve your school would be academic societies. Many schools have panels such as boards of studies that

meet occasionally to discuss wider school based issues; academic societies may be invited to sit on these and will be encouraged to offer the voice of the wider student opinion. Academic societies may also offer feedback sheets, the close relationships they share with the department are not just for during formal meetings. Just as the department will liaise with them to reach out to the students, the students can approach academic societies with various issues. Some societies will share closer departmental links with others, but this is still another useful channel to get your voice heard.

BANGOR’S NSS HISTORY 2010:

2011:

2012:

86% 86% 84% SATISFACTION

SATISFACTION

£18k 42: 5 8 19:1 THE STUDENT STAFF RATIO AT BANGOR UNIVERSITY

MALE : FEMALE RATIO AT BANGOR UNIVERSITY

THE MOST EXPENSIVE DEGREE THAT BANGOR UNIVERSITY OFFERS. MBA IN ISLAMIC BANKING AND FINANCE.

54% ARE SATISFIED WITH THE TEACHING

63 BANGOR’S RANKING IN THE NSS TABLE

55%

GO ON TO BE EMPLOYED AFTER 6 MONTHS

OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE STUDENTS WERE SATISFIED WITH THEIR COURSE. THE LOWEST ACHIEVING COURSE IN THE UNIVERSITY

COURSES ACHIEVED 100% SATISFACTION RATES. BSC COMPUTER SCIENCE, BSC SPORTS SCIENCE AND BA WELSH FOR BEGINERS

INTERVIEW

seren.bangor.ac.uk

ASH JAMES

October Issue 2012

ACADEMI OPERATIONS MANAGER

Ash James, Operations Manager [left] and Tim Hogan, Bar Manager [right] When Ash James became Academi’s Operations Manager in March he was faced with a Students’ Union nightclub that, for a number of reasons, was disappointing those it was built for. Ash and his team have worked on rebranding the club and looked at other ways in which the building can be used through the day by students.

by LJ TAYLOR

You worked at Leicester Students’ Union, was it the same role? A: Yeah. It was the same title really, operations manager. I was overseeing the 02 Academy there on a lot bigger scale. The main room there was 600 capacity. Here we’ve just had our capacity changed to 700 but in Leicester their total capacity was near to 4000. How come you decided to move here? A: I’m from here. I went to uni in Leicester. Montfort uni. And I always worked doing gigs and stuff when I was here and did it as a part time job at uni. When I finished uni I briefly became a teacher but got to doing this full time and quit being a teacher. I was entertainment manager there until I left Montfort University to go work at Leicester University. I started as entertainments manager again, then bar manager, and then operations manager. I kind of always wanted to move home, I always said to my Mum it’d be awesome if I could do the job I did there over here. But I never thought I’d be able to do it. I looked at Liverpool, because I’d helped there a few times, so I always thought Liverpool University could be where I’d end up. So being able to work here is cool. How did you come across the job?

A girl I worked with in Leicester was also from Bangor and she had seen the job on the NUS website. So had a lot of people and they would all ask ‘Isn’t that where you’re from?’ And I thought I’d go for it.

Are you enjoying being back? I’m loving being home, its awesome. Its really good being back with my family and that. Bangor’s a nicer part of the world too. There’s something to look at. Leicester looks like its made out of grey lego. I’m well happy to be home. What’s the main change we can expect to see from Academi this year then?

How did you secure Frank Turner?

thing for that price, especially something like that.

It kinda came about from Antony [Butcher] at the SU, he came in and said he had seen on Frank Turner’s Twitter that he was looking for somewhere to play around Bangor or the North Wales area because he liked it last time he was here, but he hadn’t been able to secure a venue. So I contacted his agent, who I’ve worked with before, and they were happy to work something out.

Is Frank Turner proving popular?

We’ve tried to create that brand. There wasn’t any last year. We’ve tried to create brands for all the events and work on promoting the brands better. I don’t think we’re having amazing success yet and I think part of that’s down to having stiffer competition. Peep just opened and Embassy have opened that Warehouse. Its hard to compete in a city of this size with two other big clubs. Plus its difficult to expand Academi so we’re really trying to work with what we’ve got.

Its’ worked out well. They are a big agency. So if we can sort out the issues with putting on live music then we’ve done them a pretty big favour and they are quite happy with us as a venue so hopefully they’ll push for more. I’d like to push more, even if we don’t do it here. Help to push more in the university. Whether it’s in Main Arts or Bar Uno or wherever.

In Bangor there should be quite a high demand for live gigs?

That was literally when I was just starting. My impression was that it was a bit of a last minute promotion. I don’t know how right that is. It was desperation. Crying desperation. I don’t know what really went on. I mean the tickets were about £10, I think, and that’s expensive. I know he’s got the Breakfast Show now - a lot’s changed since then - but at the time he was playing sort of 1 in the morning, a couple nights a week. I’ve booked Radio 1 DJs, Zane Lowe, Annie Mac...the popular ones. I personally think £10 a ticket straight away would’ve been a massive put off for me. I struggle to want to sell any-

Yeah, I mean we could put some on but the problem is that with the building control we’re kind of limited with what we’re legally allowed to do because of the noise pollution from the building. We did some tests with different sorts of bands but they didn’t go as well as they could have. We can have people who whisper and play guitars but that’s about it. So I guess we were fortunate with Frank Turner. But on the whole it could be quite a problem.

What do you think about the whole Nick Grimshaw flop with Pontio?

Yeah, I mean, its selling quite well. 300 tickets were sold in the first 4 days. We have a limited capacity of 550 on that one because of the stage. So that means there’s not a huge amount left, I think its going to sell out. We’re still waiting on tickets and posters, they were meant to be sent about a week and half ago. You can buy them online at the moment but I want to have tickets here [Academi Shop] to sell. I want to sell the majority of the tickets to students. Have you got a new sound system yet because a lot of people have complained about it? No. They’ve not changed it, I’d love to though. I’ve never seen anything like this ever. I think its quite weird. We have had it revisited by sound engineers and we’re still looking at it. To be honest I’d rather just have a traditional PA. People aren’t used to having sound coming from above. The idea is for it not to be noisy outside because the sound goes down so it doesn’t bounce off the walls or bounce outside. Its a bit of a foreign idea. Its been a result of noise complaints and planning problems so thats kind of how they got around building control. I personally think they shouldn’t have settled on it, they should’ve worked around it. It just meant that we ended up with a bad sound system, which personally I don’t think is fit for purpose. People have an expectation when they come to a nightclub. You’ve got

October Issue 2012

seren.bangor.ac.uk

THE SIX

Photo by Ben Walker

Photo by Phil Coleman to be able to follow through with what you’re trying to deliver. I think peoples’ experiences of coming here aren’t necessarily what they expect. We’ve got a very limited market. I want to put on stuff that students like, and its good to know that they want to come back. It’s kind of downheartening that you can’t give them that experience that they want. You’ve decided to close on Fridays, tell us about that. We always knew that opening Fridays this year would be hard, up against Undergrad [at Peep], but we gave it a go. Its David and Goliath really. We can’t offer what they are with drinks offers or quality of the sound. Friday we had 11 or 14 people so we’ve knocked Friday’s on the head. We’re going to start Sundays. It’ll be called Sunday Social. I’m hoping that’ll be alright, as far as we’re aware the others don’t open. We do alright on a Monday when they don’t open but we’ve got to choose our timing wisely, when we can minimise the competition. Unfortunately, our licence will only be until half one. It’s something to look forward to anyway, it’ll hopefully have a chance of going well. Monday - Budgies is going well. And Hey You’s still going well. It’s hit and miss on a Saturday, sometimes its really good and sometimes it’s not. Is it true you’ve started charging societies to hold events? We’re talking to Ash [Keirans] at the SU about it and we’re gonna have a meeting in a couple of weeks, quite a lot of us. It’s a hard one really. We charged Unity 50% of our operating costs. In the past they got the hire for free but we still lost £300 on that event. They lost £100 that

they could’ve had but we lost £100 as well. Our costs is for security and the technician. We obviously pay for the bar staff and everything else. We ended up losing £300 that night. I feel for people, they haven’t had it happen before but last year there was no incentive for societies to sell the event. There’s no loss for them. Everytime last year we were losing £6-700 each event. People at the SU are saying they can go somewhere else and get it for free but I don’t know how it works at other places. Are they not putting on security? Its like car insurance you hate paying it until you have a crash. You don’t want to pay for something but if there’s ever something where you need security and you don’t have it, what do you do? If societies want to hire the venue then I think there needs to be some kind of hire cost. If we lose money then money can’t go back into anything. We need to cover our costs. If we can hit a certain bar spend then we can give you your money back then. We have other events, Budgies, OMG on Saturday and the Sunday now. If people want to come to those events, to a degree if people contact us then we can work on them with that event and split the door money. We’re taking the risk putting that night on anyway. We would quite happily give them a percentage of the door on that event. It is a hard one because all we want to do is put on events for other people but we can’t keep doing it because we’re just losing money. Its not necessarily about making money because we’re not here for that but we’re not here to lose money either. Last year Seren held our annual

90s Night at Academi but not enough staff were put on and a huge queue was turned away. I’d never turn away. That’s just crazy, it’s methods of a madman. We’re gonna talk about other ways that we can do things. Will you be doing anything to target International students? I’ve done a lot of international nights in the past. I’m looking to start one here. A lot of the problem is that we don’t have a big team here so we’ve got to kind of spread ourselves. I am thinking about it and I’ve collected the details of who I’d need to talk to at the International Office. But the problems I’ve encountered is that International is broad. In the past, in Leicester we had a big Greek Cypriot community but the Chinese students, for example, don’t necessarily want to go listen to that kind of music. It is something I want to do but its hard to find a balance. We might have to say we’re going to do an international night, but it’ll be a different nationality each time. It’s something that is in the pipeline, there’s a very long pipeline at the moment.

HAVE YOU EVER HAD A NICKNAME? Ash: Crocodile Boots Tim: Timmy FAVOURITE MOVIE? Ash: Total Recall (original) Tim: Goodfellas FAVOURITE BAND? Ash: Jimmy Eat World Tim: Oasis THREE ITEMS YOU’D TAKE ON A DESERT ISLAND? Ash: 60 inch TV, juggling balls and skateboard Tim: football, iPod, suncream CAN YOU SPELL THE FULL VERSION OF LLANFAIRPG? Ash: 0/10 FAIL Tim: 8/10 GOOD EFFORT WHAT WOULD YOU WEAR TO SEREN 90S NIGHT? Ash: a 90 year old Tim: Mario that’s something that could be a strong night for us. Is it true that a small cinema will be built into Academi? Yeah that’s going to happen. A cinema is maybe a bit of a stretch. You could say it’s a cinema of sorts. It’s going to be a projection screen and we’re hoping it’ll seat up to about 30 people with surround sound, blu ray and whatever. We’re hoping people will want to use that, just to come down and watch films. A gaming society might want to come down and use it for that. It’ll be awesome for things like that. I love games and films so it’ll be my new office. We’re just waiting on the audio visual company. We also have a room thats like a computer suite, anyone in the daytime who wants to come in with their laptop. People have started to find it already. And then there’s the games room that we’re kind of developing. We’re not really trying to sell it yet, I don’t want to sell a half finished product. What exciting stuff should we look forward to in the future?

We’re talking to some people about the Summer Ball and potentially moving it to a different site. I want to make it more of a festival and outdoor event. I’ve spoke to a couple of people and the feeling is that they want a change. We’re thinking of doing it at the Vaynol. There’d be more of an open stage and Daytime and nighttime event. And without formal wear. I’d be keen to see what people think about that though. Anything else you want to add? I’d really like to see what people think about Academi? I’m probably opening myself up to a lot of abuse but nothing will hold more weight than approaching people in the university and saying look this is what students are saying. If we hear things at least we know what people want. We can then use to hopefully give them what they want. Obviously not everything is possible but who knows, there might be something we can do.

seren.bangor.ac.uk

October Issue 2012

Pontio is the company behind the Arts & Innovation centre due to be built in Bangor. According to their original schedule, we should be writing this article from inside Pontio right now, however, major set-backs have forced the site to remain a bed of rubble. In wake of the recent crane appearance at the building’s location, our editor, LJ Taylor, thought it a good time to have a catch-up with our old friends at Pontio.

INTERVIEW

Did you know that the building Elan ap Robert became Pontio’s first Artistic Director in April. Her won’t actually be called Pontio? role largely centres around developing and putting on a wide range of artistic events which you have no doubt seen advertised around Bangor. Elan sat down with Seren recently to give us a bit of an idea That’s why they are currently looking to you stuon what we could expect from Pontio’s artistic side as well as some of dents to come up with ideas. the lowdown on when we can expect to see the building completed. If you think you can come up with a name that

We’ve noticed that there’s finally some movement on the site. We love the crane. There’s actually going to be more cranes. I have organised a kind of crane dance event before... Is that something we can perhaps look forward to for the ‘opening ceremony’? We’re actually thinking of flying in a piano! [laughs] I think that we’re going to hold a few different events to try and cater to more people, perhaps over a week or so. Maybe a big concert or production. Obviously Pontio is not on schedule, what’s the new expected time? We’re looking at April/May 2014 now. With May and August our ‘moving in period’ where we’ll check everythings how we want it, rearrange things as we need to ready for the start of the new academic year in September. Can you explain what we should expect to find in the building? There’ll be the Students’ Union, hopefully all on one floor of course. We’ll have a cinema that’ll seat 200 people and it’ll show a mixture of both arthouse and mainstream films. There’ll also be a studio theater with a 120 capacity. Our main theater will seat around 450 people but it’ll be quite a flexible place. We’ll be able to move the seating around in so many ways to cater to all events. Aisle seat-

ing, circular it’ll be completely versatile. We’re going to be able to hold so many different events and there’ll be a real chance to connect for people. Chamber music with the musicians under the stage is also something we could do! There will also be the ‘white box’ which is going to be a kind of multimedia innovation space. None of us really know what we will use it for yet because it could have so many uses and a lot of these things are about everyone trying them out and coming up with the new uses once we move in. What’s happening with the construction? Its about to start. I’ve actually learnt a lot about the processes you have to go through to build because of this. They are waiting on one more contract being signed and then the other cranes should arrive. We’ve had a number of problems with the foundations hence the setback but once it gets started now everything should be fine. What’s going on with Pontio events? Arts and innovation is the key thing with Pontio. And one of our most exciting events is going to be the psychology event on the 21st November. It combines both performance and science; and its original. They did one last year and it was brilliant it really made you think a lot. And wonder what is real.

We have a whole season of events, every season. We have some big ones coming up like blues star Mud Morganfield in December and we’re constantly screening films. Do you worry that you don’t target at students enough? We try to cater to students a lot. Pontio is a lot about bringing people together. Its a new departure and the idea of bringing communities together. And of course there will be the challenge for Pontio in that it won’t stop when term ends. We need to cater to everyone. That’s why the cinema is going to be so great because all of these people come from such different backgrounds but something like film really brings people together under one common interest. Everyone watches films. We will of course be making sure that everything Pontio does will be economically accessible to students. Are you going to reattempt an event like the Nick Grimshaw failure last year? The problem with that kind of thing is that you really need to know what students want. We are going to be holding a comedy night next season which of course will be student tailored. And then there will be the retractable seating meaning that students can use these spaces for so many different things. Through the day a lot of our venues will be used for lectures, they will be for students.

works in both English and in Welsh then send your name and suggestion to: editor@seren.bangor.ac.uk The winner will receive a Pontio season pass, as well as another prize currently being negotiated. And as if that isn’t enough, entering through us means that there will be a Seren exclusive prize also!

October Issue 2012

seren.bangor.ac.uk

eDUCATE, EMPLOY, EMPOWER: WHAT IT MEANS by JEZ HARVEY

few other Unions have managed to secure such a deal. Other changes to how the research budget nationally is shared makes it increasingly difficult for those outside the research intensive and usually well off Russell Group Universities to get a share of the pot, further pressuring the majority of Universities into seeking alternative sources of finance. The cuts to Universities and the rise in fees stand alongside these and other issues (such as fall in employment rates, rise of workfare and “apprenticeships”, lack of support for first-time house buyers, lack of social housing) as central planks in the argument that the Government have failed young people. It is arguable that the demo harks back to a student movement of yesteryear – in the days of popular student radicalism in the 1960s and 1970s, the question “Why hold a demo?” would never have been asked – the question would have been “Why not hold a demo?”. The idea behind the student movement rests in the oft-mocked word ‘solidarity’. Whilst certainly overused, and definitely over-parodied, it remains an important concept. The argument that united we stand, divided we fall may have been shown to be flawed recently, in that even when united we still fell. However, if we fail to remain united or to stand against what we believe to be wrong, we will certainly fail.

The Three E’s – Educate, Employ, Empower – NUS decided that as there was no specific event or vote around which to build the demo, the most effective way forward for the demonstration would be to use it as a highly visible feature to demonstrate the increasingly strained and difficult times that are facing all young people, not just the traditionally pictured 18-21 university student that people generally imagine NUS as representing. Whilst they remain seemingly the most visible student represented by NUS, the majority of NUS members are in fact from colleges – those affected by the scrapping of EMA, cuts to school-building projects, fee rises for adult learners and cuts to Local Government funding that has impacted areas like travel, support for disabled students and other areas. In higher education, the 80% cut to the teaching budget has necessitated the threefold rise in fees. Universities, it has been calculated, would need to charge roughly £8300 per student to cover the loss in teaching budget due to the cuts. Little of the increase in fees is actually providing extra money for Universities – most is covering the shortfall. The hard-won increase in the UK is generally more satisfied. By ANTONY BUTCHER Yet, because of these cuts, there is a freeze money directed to student activities secured by n the 21st November, the National on recruitment, and another round of cuts this Union is relatively unusual in its scope, and Union of Students is organising a across the university. march in London. This is a march Now, we are working with the university in support of higher education, marching to make sure that any cuts won’t affect you, against government cuts that are leaving and we’re lobbying hard for investments to students with massive debt in a climate of improve your experience. The National Un• Liam Burns, president of the NUS said: “You’ve got a lot to be angry about. You’ve had your educahigh unemployment. ion of Students is working with the governtion systematically attacked across the board by the coalition. And even if you get to the other Now, let’s put this in context. The government to minimise the effects of the cuts, and end, what have you got to look forward to?” ment cuts - 80 per cent - have already continuing to lobby against them. But now, taken effect, which is why we have higher we need your help. Across Wales and the UK • In March 2010, Education Secretary Michael Gove predicted: ““I believe that [higher fees] won’t fees. These fees do not represent an invest- students are mobilising in solidarity, conput off students. They will make a rational decision on the benefits that accrue to them [from goment into our education system, but a shift- verging on London to defend the rights of ing to university].” ing of the debt from the government to the the student, to show how important educa• Unsurprisingly, in August 2012, an independent panel found that ‘“Although it is too early to draw To improve your student experience, it is essential that the any firm conclusions, [the] study provides initial evidence that increased fees have an impact on university invests in staff, resources and the support it offers application behaviour.”

President addresses the cuts

WHY YOU SHOULD MARCH

you.

students. On top of this, studies have shown that the new system is actually going to be more expensive for the country, and will leave a legacy of increased debt in 30 years’ time. The cuts have also had a real effect right here in Bangor, impacting your education. This university has just had the results of the National Student Survey, an annual chance for students to describe their student experience, and students in Bangor are generally less satisfied than last year, whilst the rest of

tion is to this great island that we call home, and to tell the government that enough is enough. So, keep an eye out on our Facebook (www.facebook.com/BangorStudentsUnion), our website (www.bangorstudents. com), and us Sabbs out and about to join us and take control of the agenda, and show the UK government that now is the time to invest in students; to invest in the future. See you there.

THE ESSENTIALS WHERE: TEMPLE PLACE, LONDON WHEN: 21ST NOVEMBER TIME: 11AM - 3PM WEBSITE: WWW.DEMO2012.ORG.UK You can join seren at the demo in many different ways. we'll be in london for all of the day's events, constantly updating our website www.seren.bangor.ac.uk you can also track our movements on our twitter feed, @ serenbangor, where we'll be giving our thoughts on the march.

•

UCAS figures, published in June, illustrated the risible effect the fees increase has had on applications - it estimated that there were ‘15,000 missing young applicants’ who would have applied had the fees not been increased.

•

Sally Hunt, the UCU general secretary, says: “At a time when other countries are investing in education, our government is cutting college and university places and making it more expensive to study. Ministers need to harness further and higher education to provide young people with opportunities and a future.”

• •

And finally, ‘we can wait no longer. We demand a properly funded tertiary education system, accessible to all, in which all students are properly supported and encouraged.’

seren.bangor.ac.uk

Union

October Issue 2012

Have you got a bright idea? I

f you’ve got a great idea to improve Bangor, it’s really easy to make this official Union policy – meaning that we can help you make the change! All you need to do is head to our website and head to the ideas section. Then enter your idea, which should be in the form of a question starting with “Should the Union”, what the Idea is about, and why it’s a good Idea. Why not have a look at the fictional example below.

Who can submit an idea? What happens when I submit my idea?

ANYONE!!! All students on a Bangor University course are welcome to give us Ideas :)

hen you’ve submitted your idea, it will come to us at the Union. It’ll get briefly checked, to make sure it’s not suggesting massively illegal, or something that we’re already doing. It will then go to Senate, the group of students who set Union policy. You can come

along to tell us why your idea is amazing, and answer any questions that you might have (you can also ask someone else to speak for you, if you’d like). It will then be discussed for a short while, and then voted on. If 75% or more of Senate vote for it, it becomes Union policy. If 75% or more vote against it, then it falls, and cannot come back again in the same form. If your idea is a bit controversial, then it automatically goes to an online, all-student referendum – making sure that Bangor Students’ Union is doing what students in Bangor want us to!

What happens when my Idea gets in?

f your idea gets voted in, then it becomes official Union policy! There’ll be a meeting between you, the relevant Sabbs (the 5 students who run the Union full time), and anyone else you think has something to add, to write an action plan. Until now, if you wrote a Union policy, the Sabbs would go off and do all of the work… But seeing as you’re the passionate one, we’re now looking to help you get your idea heard in all the right places (if you want to). And then? Well, we make it happen!

Bangor Festive Intramural Bangor Celebrations What is IMB?

IMB/Intramural Bangor is a collection of casual sports taking place each week within the university for those who want to stay active either

without joining a team, to get in a bit of extra practice for their clubs or simply just for a bit of fun with friends.

Anybody! IMB is open to all students and staff, no matter what their ability level is. Participants can turn up whenever suits them during the

sessions (except for the 7 a side football league in which fixtures are scheduled).

Who can take part?

‘Twas 3 weeks before Christmas, and all down the street Clubs and societies gathered, For a festive treat; All the students stood there, all the Elizibeths’ & Daryls’, As round the town centre clock tower they sang seasonal carols; (Hey we tried!) So students of Bangor, if you hadn’t guessed we all Love Bangor, and on Thursday 6th December, you are all cordially invited to join Bangor Students Union and the People of Bangor Community Group on the High Street. We’ll be bringing along some of our amazing clubs, societies, volunteering and student activities for you to meet and take part with, from Street Performing, Music and Carolling to broadcasting the entire day live on our own Student Radio station. There will be something for absolutely

everyone so come and join us, have yourself a Merry Little Thursday, and of course don’t forget all the local business’ up and down the High St in which you can use your Love Bangor card! If you don’t have one already they are available from reception in the SU for £12 and are valid for 12 months from the date of purchase, that’s only £1 a month for over 150 National Discounts, and over 60 Local discounts! It’s definitely worth it.

Is it all free? Yes!

What is available?

A wide range of sports are on offer: • Women’s volleyball (Sundays 5-6pm, • Atomic Touch (Thursdays 7.30-8.30pm Maes Glas) Maes Glas) • Badminton (Sundays 6-8pm, Maes Glas) • Touch Tennis (Thursdays 8.30-9.30pm • Superteams (Sunday 18th November, Maes Glas) 1-8pm Maes Glas • 7 a side football league (Sundays 2-5pm • Superstars (Semester 2 date tbc, Maes Artificial pitches, Fridd site) Glas) • Basketball (Sundays 5-8pm, Maes Glas) Check out the ‘IMB intramural Bangor’ facebook page for more information!

October Issue 2012

seren.bangor.ac.uk

Union

CO M I NG SO O N !

Here at Bangor Students’ Union, we believe that YOU should be having a say in your education, and your time here in Bangor. After Christmas, we’ll be running a week of events to make sure that the University knows how to get you involved, and when it needs to get you involved. Watch this space to make sure your voice gets heard!

Go On University Challenge

ey! You! Fancy being on TV with Jeremy Paxman? Well, you could be! We’re running a trial event for University Challenge, hot on the heels of this years on-going success - if you haven’t been watching, we beat St. Andrews on telly (the first time we’ve made the TV stages in a fair few years) - and we’re still going strong! So why not come along and give it a go? We’ll be running a quiz for teams, and then asking some individual questions. Oh,

and we’ll have some free food as well. What more could you ask for? Trials are taking place in Hen Goleg room Conference Room on Tuesday 12th November. Feel free to come along in small teams, and we’ll also be matching people on the night. We’re also looking to bring back a staff team, who unfortunately were victorious last year. Now, if that isn’t a challenge for you, I don’t know what is!

What’s YOUR Students’ Union Been Up To? by ANTONY, SHÔN, EMYR, ASH & MARED

ello everyone! It’s been a busy month in the Students Union, with some really exciting events, a great AGM and Senate, and, of course, lots of meetings where we are representing you! Can you believe that it’s a month since coming back to Bangor? One of the highlights was a day we ran getting students and staff from the College of Arts and Humanities to discuss the results of the National Student Survey, and how the student experience could be improved. This was fantastic, with lots and lots of people and some really productive discussions. For more information, check out the double spread on the NSS.

First off, we had an amazing Welcome Week. Our Heroes were out and about, helping people move in, getting people home safely from Academi, and just generally being helpful. Serendipity was also (despite the weather) pretty awesome, with more clubs and societies than ever before – and of course, everything was free. Not joined anything yet? Why not head to our website to see what exciting activities our students run! This was the first year that we’ve run Heroes, and we’re already thinking about how we can make it bigger and better for next year – keep an eye open for how you can be a Hero! We also held our Annual General meeting, which was really productive (and not too long!).

There was an amazing turnout – with students getting a chance to have their say on what we do. First up after an update from the Sabbs were some major changes to how you can set Union policy – with Ideas and Referendum being voted in by a massive majority! Have a look at our nifty guide to getting your ideas heard on [the other page/below etc.]. Then there was a discussion on our budget, which has increased to nearly one million pounds! There’s more money than ever for student led activities, with funding for free clubs and societies, extra staff support, and funding for loads of new volunteering projects. There’s also a fund to support clubs and societies throughout the year, to help you do even more amazing things!

Next up we talked about the National Demo taking place on November the 21st. In an age of cuts, where you’re paying £9000 for essentially the same experience as people who paid £3000, it is critical that the student voice is heard across the country. The new system is not fair, costs more for you and the Government, and higher fees can act as a barrier to those from disadvantaged backgrounds. So join us as we march on the streets of London – information will be online at www.bangorstudents.com, and on our Facebook page at www. facebook.com/BangorStudentsUnion. Have a great month!

seren.bangor.ac.uk

Societies

October Issue 2012

LangSoc

Skating Society

by IONNA SKOURA

he Bangor University Skating Society was created out of passion for skating and with the aim to unite every kind of skater around Bangor Uni. It would be such a pity to have so many skaters around without having a skating society.

This society aims to provide a friendly atmosphere for those who hold an interest in skating, be it skateboards, longboards, rollerblades/skates etc. It will look at the techniques and the methods involved in the activities plus it will aim to teach others. As a whole, the respective society would be a conduit of learning about the sport/activity in a friendly and

by LAURA HURST

equal environment. By the end of the year the society will intend to have a solid network of members who will contribute, following the planning of the committee who will act in a way that is deemed fair and acceptable, as well as the best appropriate measures to push the society forward within the University.

angSoc is a welcoming society which aims to use Modern Languages in a pressure free, friendly environment. We welcome all students with an interest in languages and it’s not compulsory to be a languages student. Our Aims are: • To find and bring together the worlds of languages and social life to create a friendly, comfortable atmosphere for practising languages. • To introduce people who share similar interests and to broaden social boundaries. • To give students another option for extracurricular activities which will assist them in their degree and to give students the opportunity to meet other students who would like to share their experiences. For example, getting first hand information about what it’s like to go on a year abroad. We have plenty to offer: • We have English-speaking socials. • We have socials specific to individual languages. • We have film showings for each language. We welcome all MFL and non-MFL students to come and enjoy the fun, sociable and exciting society which is, of course, LANGSOC! If you would like to join the society, or get more information, please send us an email: langsoc@undeb.bangor.ac.uk

Laura Hurst, your LangSoc President 2012/2013.

angor St John Ambulance Society is a social group for members of St John. Through the society there is ample opportunity to learn vital first aid skills, make some new friends and have a laugh! So if you want to join simply coming along to LR4 every Monday night between 7pm and 9pm! Or email: hiue07@bangor.ac.uk

Bangor Business Society B

Nightline

afydd the Bear of Bangor Nightline here. Exam time is nearly upon us once again, which can be a grizzly time for everyone, even us bears. Perhaps you are worried that you haven’t revised enough for your big exam. Maybe you are nervous about how you will cope with your first university exam. Or maybe you just want a takeaway number to ease your revisioninduced hunger pains. Whatever is on your mind, and whatever you want to talk about, Nightline is open every night during term time (even reading week), to listen to you. When other services are unavailable, and a friendly ear may be hard to find, Nightline is open. We don't judge, never advise, and treat your call with the utmost confidentiality. Whenever you phone, your call will be answered by a fellow Bangor student. They

will listen to you, and let you lead the conversation, giving you your own space to explore your thoughts and feelings in a friendly low-pressure way. So, whatever you want to talk about, call Nightline! Our number can be found all over the place; if you live up on Ffriddoedd site, then you’ll find my posters dotted on the ground floors of most buildings, or you can even find our number in your lecture locations like Wheldon and Main Arts. Feel free to save the number on your phone next time you see a poster. Nightline is also a charity, and by attending our fundraisers and donating you are ensuring an amazing service continues for years to come. So if you are in need of a break during reading week, then why not take a break from revision and come down to the Ship Launch for a pub quiz on November 1st. Or perhaps join me for a dance at the Railway institute Ceilidh on the 10th of November.

angor Business Society’s main aim is to unite students within the business school, from all years and all courses and to provide them with support, as well as social and academic events for them to enjoy and benefit from. This year’s committee consists of 5 enthusiastic and hardworking individuals who are willing to put 100% in to make this academic year a successful one. So far we have been involved in Serendipity, the annual activities fair, promoting ourselves and meeting a lot of our members; meet and greet socials, including our BBS Quiz which proved a huge success with prizes including BBS Hoodies and Amazon vouchers; and a book sale, where not only those people that sold their books, earned a fair amount of money, but we as a Society managed to raise over £100. This now means that we will be able to run

future events at a lower cost and give something back to the students. Our next event is our Halloween trip to Alton Towers ‘Scare-fest’ which takes place on 28th October 2012. This was a big success last year and we know it will be a sell-out trip this year as well! Other events we have planned for the near future include a trip to Anglesey to see the firework display to celebrate Bonfire Night and a winter ball towards the end of term. For the academic side of the society, we also have a lot planned. This includes the “£10 start-up challenge” which gives students the opportunity to create a mini-business and try to become as successful as they can by using methods they have learnt during their courses. Guest lectures are another idea we have; we are looking into

getting business professionals in to give an insight into their roles and provide any advice they may have. The stock market challenge; investment society; and the Study Buddy scheme are other events we’re also involved with. Further details of these can be found on our social networking pages. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all that have been involved so far, without you, the students; we would not be able to progress and succeed. For those who are interested in joining it is not too late, please email us at business@undeb.bangor. ac.uk or join us on Facebook ‘BBS2012/13’ or Twitter @ BBusinesSociety. We also value your opinions and ideas, so if you have something we’d like to arrange, do let us know. We look forward to seeing you around Bangor and at our upcoming events.

October Issue 2012

seren.bangor.ac.uk

B T

ransphobia is the hatred, fear, harassment or violence of or against transgendered individuals and those who do not conform to the traditional gender binary. Transphobia, and those who display it, take the lives of many different, colourful, and wonderful individuals. In order to remember and honour their memory, every year there is an international memorial service, known as the Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR). On the 20th of November, TDOR will be upon us once again. All over the world, communities will be getting together, lighting candles, and remembering those have died over the last year due to ignorance and bullying. In order to commemorate this day, Unity and the Anglesey based groups Wipe Out Transphobia and T-Form will be running a candle lit vigil. We’ll be meeting in Main Arts lobby at 6pm, and then going out onto the terrace, to light candles, and remember those who have lost their lives. The event is open to all, and will be a safe space for all who attend, so please come along and join us.

angor University Photography Society have been really busy so far this year. We’ve been taking photos for other clubs, societies and academic departments. Recently, we’ve done photo shoots for SENRGY and BU dance, been to HOGsoc work parties and BU football matches, with many more opportunities in the pipeline. Additionally, we

Societies

took an early morning trip into Snowdonia to catch the sunrise, and have lots of other great trips planned like Portmeirion, Chester Zoo and Parys Mountain, as well as having some great socials planned with photographic themes. We also run weekly Photo Challenges, as well as monthly competitions, and we give weekly workshops and tutorials on how you

can get to know your camera better and use it more effectively. We welcome all abilities and cameras, because it’s not how big it is, it’s how you use it! We meet every Monday night 7:30pm in the Wheldon building. Come join us!

Photography Society

Animation Society

any of you have enjoyed such classics as The Lion King, Shrek and Toy Story and you may also have enjoyed Afro Samurai, Bleach or Pokemon. But have you found a society that indulges this passion of yours? You have now! We are BAWLS, the Bangor Animation Watchers and Lovers Society, and our aim is simple: to provide a society where people of all degrees can gather to discuss, watch and enjoy animation from

all sources. We meet weekly in the Main Arts foyer on Sundays at 7pm, where we then go as a group en masse to Lecture room 3 to watch an animated film or selection of TV episodes, and then afterwards it is PUB TIME! As well as our weekly meetings, we have socials themed around animation, and also take group excursions to Comic Cons and conventions around the UK, most recently the Wales Comic Con, which was awesome!

Psych Society

society that's not departmental, but a bit depart-mental. We're a society not just for Psychology students, but for anyone with an interest in Psychology. Even if that doesn't float your boat, we have a large array of features, including lectures from Psychologists and a weekly movie night (for the academics out there). Or how about our range of socials? Like our Psychologist fancy dress social to

Academi, our classical Christmas Masquerade Ball, or did you hear about the Bangor Variety Fest we organized? If any of these things sound appealing to you or peak your interest you should get in touch at psych@undeb.bangor.ac.uk or visit http:// www.facebook.com/groups/81915356899/

We hope to see you soon!

Global Cafe by HARRIET WELLER

f you were to pass by Capel y Fynnon on a Tuesday night you may just be enticed to come inside as the sweet aroma of foods of the world wafts past. If you were to take the brave step inside the doors you would be warmly greeted by the Christian Union who run Global Café every week. If you were to sit down you would be presented with a delicious home cooked meal from one of the many corners of the world. If you were to stay a little longer you would be in for an evening of fun, games and sharing cultures. Wishing it was Tuesday already or just confused? Look no further. Every week international students are invited to share in a home cooked meal with whatever theme the Capel has been turned into, lovingly prepared by the Christian Union resident chef and followed by a fun, informal evening. The café last year proved to be a great resource for

international students to experience the many diverse cultures Bangor has to offer and meet new people. This was emphasised by the Christian Union winning the International Society of the Year Award at the end of the previous academic year. A great term of events is already under way and everyone is invited to come along and try it out. Global Café opens its doors at 7pm every Tuesday, so why not take some time out from uni and give it a go? This week we are being transported to the MasterChef final where you are given a chance to try your hand at cooking your own creation. We look forward to seeing you. If you can’t make it on Tuesday, don’t worry; you won’t have missed out as Global Café are also very excited to be hosting a Foods of the World evening on the 27th November. This takes place in Powis Hall at 6:30pm and is an evening where you can travel right around the world trying different foods from all the countries represented. For more information head to the facebook page: Global Café 2012-2013 or give us an email: victoria. ive@ntlworld.com.

seren.bangor.ac.uk

Society Girls

October Issue 2012

Our roving reporters Pippa and Robyn test out the clubs and societies they’ve always wanted to try.

et in idyllic North Anglesey woodland, tranquil dappled light flooding through the branches, a fluorescent pink paintball travelling at 200mph hits you in the side of the head. Blinded by pink alien gunge you stumble to cover behind an upturned crate and ‘pepper the b*****d that did it’. This is paintballing, and extreme as it may sound, the only criteria required to compete are enthusiasm, a love of adrenaline, and perhaps a certain knack at hiding from the enemy - the hiding part of which we quickly adopted. Having arrived and donned our overalls, there ensued the standard safety briefing consisting mainly of ‘keep your mask on and don’t be a d**k’. Reassured by this and armed with our ‘markers’ and helmets we trooped down to start the battle. After 5 minutes of quivering nervously behind trees, our masks getting increasingly steamy as paintballs shot past our ears, we finally got the hang of ‘butt out, safety off ’ and shoot whoever comes close, which,

s it is our first experience of Seren going to print, we decided that we would attend a legendary rite of passage: the Seren all-nighters. We can’t say we weren’t warned about them before joining - they have become the stuff of Bangor folklore. However, having braved paintball, a simple matter of sleep deprivation seemed to pale in comparison. How wrong we were. This is our diary of the evening… 12:00 am The troops have arrived. By troops we mean those of us keen

unfortunately for them, appeared to be the Marshalls most of the time. There are on average 4 games per outing with Bangor University Paintball Society (the number of which you compete in dependent only on your pain threshold) and these involve capture the flag, two rounds of attack and defend and a ‘freefor-all’ which plays out like a sniper’s paradise. As a member, you benefit from no membership fee, a reduced price of £2.50 for 100 paintballs, which compared to standard prices offers a significant discount, and once monthly trips over to the centre on Anglesey. Our bruises healed and the pink paint finally washed from our hair, we almost immediately decided we were up for another go with this club who are relaxed, friendly and all rather fond of mud, metal and new members.

enough to turn out on the 1st round of all nighters; committee, Editors, LJ and those who have no idea what we are doing - us. 1:00am Numbers are still high with a few of us peeling off under the excuse of ‘I have a 9am’. Wimps. See, we’re hardcore - in case you were sceptical after the paintball article above. 2:00am LJ is starting to ‘hate life’. Snacks are running low, followed by morale. Caffeine is becoming necessary and we are its’ dependents. 3:00am Hysteria is setting in and learning to ‘triple click’ your fingers suddenly becomes a fascinating activity… anything to procrastinate. More cries of ‘I have a 9am’. Cisco is back with supplies in the shape of pizza and chips: procrastination dwindles and productivity ensues. 4:00am The Haribo is finished and the Galaxy is declining at a fast rate. On the plus side, it’s surprisingly satisfying to see the paper coming together and many hours later our article is starting to resemble something vaguely presentable. 5:00am The troops are lagging. Snacks have depleted. We’re running low on caffeine. 6:00am Home time, finally. A few precious hours of sleep before lec-

The only downside being that after a shot to the head, perhaps the idea of becoming a war correspondent isn’t so great after all.

tures and then we’re back again tomorrow night. We say ‘we’ are – we actually mean LJ. Having caught up on some precious zzzs, we have concluded that Seren is one of our favourite societies to be a part of. It’s really easy to get involved and you don’t have to be an editor to contribute. Whatever your interests, we are sure Seren will have something to suit, so come along to the Wednesday meetings at 6 at the SU and take the chance; get involved.

October Issue 2012

ovember, the month formerly known as November, is when brave and selfless men around the world grow a moustache to raise awareness and funds for men’s health - specifically prostate and testicular cancer. Movember was established in 2003 by a few friends over a beer in a pub just outside Mel-

seren.bangor.ac.uk

bourne, Australia. The goal was simple – to create a campaign promoting the growth of the moustache among likeminded people and having fun along the way. It is about real men, talking about real issues and changing the face of men’s health, one moustache at a time. Movember now spans the globe, with campaigns in 21 countries in 2012.

Movember aims to raise awareness about various aspects of men’s health, a topic that’s frequently left behind. 1 in 9 men in the UK will be diagnosed with prostate cancer and 1 in 4 will experience mental health problems at some point in their lives. Last year over 250,000 Mo Bros and Mo Sistas raised over £22 million in the UK alone. Students

Musicians with More Balls EVERY MO BRO than Movember Aims to Save SHOULD W KNOW by JON WALBRIN

hilst Movember might be a transient dip into facial hair for many, here are some professionals who are committed to their whiskers, and as a result leave our sense of masculinity all shredded and girly.

Nick Cave

Singer and frontman for the Bad Seeds and Grinderman. Sports a southward-stretching vintage horseshoe moustache. Bourbon stained with hints of smoke and gunpowder, begging for a complementary Stetson. Not quite redneck, but instead elegant with a sultry allure- has probably destroyed many a happy marriage. Most Fitting Track: ‘Stagger Lee’

What should you do Your diet and lifestyle choices can dramatically infuence these statistics. Regardless of age, the most important things you can do to stay healthy are...

Have an annual check-up

Find a doctor and make a yearly appointment each Movember for a physical. Men typically don’t see a doctor for an annual check or when they feel sick. Getting regular checks and immunisations are amongst the most important things you can do to stay healthy.

DON’T SMOKE

If you do smoke. Stop! Compared to nonsmokers, men who smoke are about 23 times more likely to develop lung cancer. Smoking causes about 90% of lung cancer deaths in men.

Frank Zappa

Eccentric musician and singer known for his satirical lyrics and unique brand of jazz-rock. A full-bodied downwards broom, approaching horseshoe, with an accompanying square of chin fuzz. Disjointed and funk-ridden, the kind of moustache that you would not take home for your mother to see. Most Fitting Track: ‘Catholic Girls’

Prince

Delicate and slender heir to the pop-throne. And moniker whore (a.k.a Jamie Starr/ ‘Christopher’/ Alexander Nevermind/ Joey Coco/ (unpronounceable symbol)/ The Artist Formerly Known as Prince/ The Artist). Wears a slim, creeping upper-lip tickler. Though this moustache may appear meek and wiry (constituting 97% of his total body hair), it can withstand at least half an hour of protracted pouting. Most Fitting Track: ‘Raspberry Beret’

BE PHYSICALLY ACTIVE

If you are not already physically active, start small and work up to a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate physical activity most days of the week.

STAY AT A HEALTHY WEIGHT

Balance calories from foods and drinks with calories you burn off through physical activities.

EAT A HEALTHY DIET

Fill up with fruits, vegetables, whole grains and eat lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs and nuts and eat foods low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt (sodium) and added sugars.

DRINK ALCOHOL ONLY IN MODERATION

Alcohol can be part of a healthy balanced diet, but only if it’s in moderation, which means no more than three or four units of alcohol a day – that’s the equivalent of 1.7 pints.

BE AWARE OF YOUR FAMILY HISTORY

Make sure you take the time to find out about the medical history of your family; a number of health issues are hereditary and being informed can make all the difference.

Eugene Hütz

Singer of gypsy-punk band Gogol Bordello. Though it does scream ‘Poirot’, it is immeasurably more self-aware and pervy. One could only guess at how this handlebar retains its starched grandeur, though sensible guesses would suggest profuse sweating or extensive periods of vagrancy. An astonishing moustache. Most Fitting Track: ‘Immigrant Punk’

from Bangor University in the School of Ocean Sciences raised over £2900. To raise money for Movember the Students’ Union is hosting a Rugby League Vs. Rugbu Union match on the 26th of November as well as selling Movember t-shirts in the Union for £4 each. So get in the Movember spirit and grow a moustache!

STYLE GUIDE

seren.bangor.ac.uk

October Issue 2012

Art and Culture CHELTENHAM LITERARY FESTIVAL

Benedict Cumberbatch and the Case of the Cheltenham Literary Festival

by JECELYN LATIMER JK ROWLING

“I

t’s that moment just before they come out”, my friend said to me as we waited amongst 2,000 people for J.K. Rowling to talk about her new book, The Casual Vacancy. Having never met one of my idols before (and never imagining that my first would be the woman who got me into writing), I had no idea what to expect. I thought that only children had that wonderful ability to be surprised by everything, yet when that time came, I finally understood what my friend meant. It’s that ‘whoop’ in your stomach when driving across a small bridge too fast, then something from the dashboard slams into your face. James Runcie, novelist and good friend to J.K, gave the interview and described her latest book as being more “humane”. The book is about a man called Barry who creates a vacuum after his death. It relates perfectly to the title. The Casual Vacancy not only holds its literal meaning of a vacancy in a parish but also the people who have a vacancy in their lives that they need to address. J.K. Rowling said that morality has always been

something that interests her: “The idea came to me very suddenly, as it normally does,” she said. “I was on a plane when it came to me, not too unlike when I thought of Harry Potter on the train…the characters came thick and fast.” Also not too unlike Harry Potter, this novel revolves around teenagers and the complexity of character. The difference is not the talk of everyday issues, but topics such as substance abuse and sex. She observes adolescents in our society and the rough ride they have: “We stigmatize teenagers a lot…it’s an incredibly fragile world.” The children are what she describes as ‘half parented’. Krystal, for example, has to cope around her drug-using mother. She is illiterate, promiscuous yet loving and needs a chance to prove herself, which she feels is now lost: “having a student like Krystal can change the dynamics of a class,” J.K goes on to say. “But if you don’t think that Krystal’s worth saving then I don’t want to know you as a human being.” She admits, however, that not all of her characters are offered redemption. For all its seriousness, the book is incredibly funny, and James Run-

cie asks if she would ever write for comedy. She is, however, much more interested in pursuing children’s fiction, but also understands a need to address her darker side: “I have a tendency to walk there,” she explains. “I suffered from depression, and writing is necessary for me. My youngest daughter asked me if I had to choose between my children or my writing, which would I pick?” She rolled her eyes as the audience laughed: “What a question! I said, of course I would pick you, but I would be very grumpy!” J.K Rowling’s sympathetic attitude to issues of morality and passion makes this book incredibly human like her Harry Potter series, yet it shows that she has the ability to dramatically change herself for her content.

BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH

An hour later, when Benedict stepped onto the stage with co-star Louise Brealey, I thought I’d been transported somewhere else. The amount of noise was paramount to a rock concert, not an evening at a literature festival. He joked about how he doesn’t even have a book

published and yet here he was, being interviewed this very evening. Though it’s hardly a surprise; Atonement, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Frankenstein, Parade’s End, and of course Sherlock, to name but a few. He’s been involved with so many book adaptations that it seemed only fair to invite him along. Over the course of the night he showed to be a real sport, parading intelligence, charisma and gravity. He made us jump on the spot and even pretended to striptease, much to the delight of his very large (and flustered) audience. Most of the talk focused on Sherlock, the show that made him a household name. “It’s a delight to be part of something this intriguing,” he explains to Louise as they move on from discussing the nation’s obsession with the series two finale, The Reichenbach Fall. “It has enduring appeal. It makes the ordinary extraordinary.”

“

For Frankenstein I locked myself away, feeling my heartbeat working around the dark with no sense memory.

When asked about reading the script, he was not scared of voicing his fears. “I was dubious at how cute it could be—but then I was blown away.” He and co-star Martin Freeman met for a reading and they click perfectly with each other. “I felt my game go ‘woooo!’” he says, waving his hands. “The key of Sherlock is the relationship, and it’s shown wonderfully with Martin…I have a flowing dialogue with him.” “You have a slight otherness about you,” Louise says to Benedict when discussing his look for the part. “Yes, I do have a slightly strange face and it’s always marketed for period drama or other-worldly, such as Atonement… no, not a good example, that’s disturbing!” In a previous interview, he said how difficult he found preparing himself for that pedophile role. “How do I get into a role? Depends on the

Her standard Book of Spells? J.K. Rowling’s new magic book. challenge. For Frankenstein I locked myself away, feeling my heartbeat working around the dark with no sense memory.” Benedict remained tight-lipped for a large number of questions. “When do you get your Sherlock hair back?” “Can you tell us anything about series 3?” “Anything about your character on Star Trek?” Each time his expression is a mixture of amusement and pain. “No! I’m so sorry that I can’t talk about these things, I can’t!” When questions came at the end, one woman accused Sherlock of being sexist. “He can be, but he’s also a bigot on any front. He’s intolerant to most kindness, goodness and brilliance.” The icing on the cake was Benedict’s altruistic dedication at the signings. Originally he was only supposed to do one hour yet stayed for three, signing over 2,000 copies of books, DVDs and even some more unusual knickknacks such as skulls. He made a point to talk to everyone, too, and apologised for keeping us waiting for so long. If I had to describe how both interviews made me feel? Think of a painting suddenly being flipped over and having multiple masterpieces launched over the clean canvas.

MARY SHELLEY’S FRANKENSTEIN

by ROSIE MACLEOD

hortly before 1818, a group of Romantic poets and writers travelled from Britain to Geneva. The party included Mary Wollstonecraft Goodwin (later Mary Shelley), Percy Bysshe Shelley (later the wife of Mary) and Lord Byron. Finding themselves in the Swiss Alps and among thick snow, what better way to spend an evening in such an idyllic setting than...a competition in writing the disgusting?! Yes. The Romantics decided to hold a competition to see who could compose the most grotesque, obscene and repugnant work. Under Byron’s and Percy Shelley’s gaze and their opinion that a woman may not be up to the challenge of writing morbidly, Mary Shelley unabashedly took to writing a graphic, disgusting piece to stun her male counterparts. Remembering a dream she’d had around her late teens, and coupling this with galvanism, a theme of the day, Mary Shelley composed her best known novel, Frankenstein. Dr. Frankenstein undertakes an experiment using galvanism and what appears to be some primitive form of electricity. The experiment, though a success, has terrible repercussions. The mon-

ster is created, who then storms all over the Swiss Alps like a homicidal bull in a Toblerone shop. The original title was Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus. The dream became a published work when the dreamer was 21, and by which she became a novelist. The first edition was published in 1818 and the second in 1823, from which the French translation is derived. Both galvanism and the invention of electricity are commented upon in Shelley’s novel; the galvanism is parodied and depicted grotesquely, graphically and unsettlingly in the birthing scene in which Dr. Frankenstein’s creation enters its state of being. Thinking ahead to Hallowe’en, many students have doubtlessly thought of dressing up as that which they believe to be Frankenstein: The green head with a nut and bolt through the neck, from which blood drips. This is Frankenstein’s Monster (sic, capitals; it is his name). Frankenstein is the scientist. It is no coincidence that Benjamin Franklin had recently invented electricity and the illfated scientist’s surname is a Germanic version of Franklin. The novel also comments upon the French Revolution. Dr. Frankenstein creates the mon

Brit Bonham-Carter and Robert De Niro ster that takes to destroying everything and the lives of everyone in its way. Frankenstein’s Monster holds an overwhelming desire to devour its own creator. This is a metaphor for the downtrodden peasants in Paris who ultimately revolted; they had been rendered poor, hungry and uncomfortable by the aristocracy. Their

state of poverty had been constructed by those with the power, knowledge and means to end it. Angry at this, the poor took to literally, physically and grotesquely destroying those who had ‘made’ them by grotesque displays of public guillotining. The piece is a perfect marriage of scientific interest, the gothic and (then) modern history. Its overall message is ‘Be careful what you wish for’. The 1994 film, Frankenstein, which received a disappointing reception, is very loyal to the original 1818 text. Frankenstein’s Monster is played by none other than Robert De Niro. Helena Bonham Carter plays the orphan Elizabeth Lavenza, who becomes gravely assaulted by the monster and runs, injured and transfixed, all over the Swiss mountains, sired and brainwashed by her attacker. She loses her mind. This character and Justine Moritz, the assumed culprit of a homicide committed by Frankenstein’s Monster, both personify the passiveness and subservient nature of women. This depiction of females is a strange inclusion, then, given Mary Shelley’s competitive spur that was the very inspiration that kick-started her writing the whole darn and grotesque novel in all its gory.

seren.bangor.ac.uk

Food and Drink

by JOE RUSSELL

The Michelin guide is out: but can we afford it?

he most anticipated food event of the year has arrived. The Michelin guide, whose history dates back to the advent of the 20th century, is generally revered as the most important arbiter of good places to eat throughout the world. Despite persistent claims that the guide is flawed and contains glaring omissions in its roll honour of starred restaurants, there are few within the industry who can say they pay no attention to the guide’s recommendations with any real sincerity. (N.B. Marco Pierre White gave back his three stars in 1999, citing the fact that he was “being judged who had less knowledge than me, so what was it truly worth? I gave Michelin inspectors too much respect, and I belittled myself.”) The guide also acts as perhaps the best way to highlight the disparity in eating habits of Britain’s students and those who eat out regularly; according to Halifax, the average student spends £32.50 a week on food. Contrast this with a main course of turbot and chicken wings at Tom Aikens Restaurant in Chelsea costs £29 and the relevance of Michelin to the average student seems negligible. Up until recent guides, Michelin had heavily favoured restaurants with rudimentary roots in French fare, many of which consequently charge premium prices for pretentious food. But out of a transparent need to diversify its reach and quieten assertions that it is a French cuisine heavy guide, Michelin have widened their pool. But have they made it big enough for us to join the fun? It would be remiss to begin examining the merits of this diversification anywhere other than in and around Bangor. A fifteen minute drive to Beaumaris takes you to Cennin (Welsh for leek) whose head chef, Aled Williams, has successfully featured on the BBC’s ‘Great British Menu’, as well as winning the Gordon Ramsay Scholarship in 2006. And yet, despite this, his Anglesey restaurant has so far failed to attract

Michelin’s eye. Its prices, however, are sure to make yours water with mains that run from £17-£24. Anglesey is traditionally an expensive island to eat on and while its ingredients are some of the best in the Britain (Cennin’s use of Anglesey sea bass, ham hock and sea salt mean its prices are understandable) it’s probably a good idea to steer clear of some of its restaurants while you’re a student. Bear in mind, too, that Cennin doesn’t even have a star. A sign of its quality? No. A sign that Michelin is a guide predominantly aimed at the affluent? Certainly. So if a week’s worth of shopping money can’t even buy you one course at a restaurant that isn’t deemed good enough for a star, should we just acquiesce into a world full of pot noodles, £1 pizzas and cups of tea? Not necessarily.

Tyddyn Illan, a one star restaurant in Corwen (about an hour’s drive from Bangor), like many one and two Michelin star restaurants, serves a set lunch menu at £25.50 for three courses. Yes, that’s still an awful lot of money but if you can live with the social ignominy of not going to Peep on a Wednesday night, you’ll have saved up enough money to eat there. Deciding between a main dish of braised leg of chicken, tarragon cream sauce, potato pancake with girolles or that last black Sambuca really isn’t as difficult as it might seem on Wednesday at 2am. Of course, this doesn’t alter the fact that it’s extremely difficult to justify spending such large sums of money when there are bills looming and, for lots of us, the nascent existence as a proper, oh-shit-time-to-stop-dicking-around adult; there’s also the moral reprehensibility of spending taxpayer-financed money on such an unnecessary luxury. But, if you really, really want to experience Michelin quality food, it isn’t wholly impossible. Former editor of the guide, Derek Bulmer, noted a change in direction in 2008: “I detect a real movement towards simplicity and people recognising that doesn’t mean compromising on the quality of the food.” Since then, Tim Ho Wan, a dim sum restaurant in Hong Kong serv-

sEREN'S FOOD Fetishes We all have that one weird food combination that only a select few know about. The kind of thing that you wouldn’t be seen eating in Main Arts; that thing you’ve eaten since a little kid and has left an indelible mark on your taste buds ever since. One of the things that really fascinates me about unusual food combinations – think McDonald’s chips dipped into milkshake – is the almost instant realisation that you’ve struck gold; the intrinsic knowledge that that flavour sensation is one that you will probably crave for the rest of your life. So, in order of how horrible I think each sounds, here are some of Seren’s food fetishes:

October Issue 2012

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21.

Becci, Film - Chips with cold custard Robyn, Societies - Marmite, grapes and brie Harriet, Health and Beauty - Chicken with squirty cream Jordaine, Travel - Ritz crackers, peanut butter and grapes Stefan, Puzzle - Mac ‘n’ Cheese and Cucumber Rosie, Deputy - Cheese and haggis toasties Matt, Sports - Angel Delight on toast Ali, Advice - Mackerel and pickle Tom, Creative - Sausage Rolls with mayonnaise Cisco, Design - Rice and Greek style yogurt Joe, Food - Soup and digestive biscuits Kaden, Fashion - Marmite and crumpets William, Environment - Nutella with a spoon LJ, Editor - Plain jacket potatoes Becki, TV - Crisp sandwiches Nicola, News - Cheese and marmite sandwiches Alex, Politics - Shreddies with limeade Tomos, Music - Toast sandwiches Aaron, Editor’s wife - beetroot sandwiches Sean - Blue cheese and tuna Sophie - Cheese and Christmas cake

ing dim sum for just £5, has been awarded a star. Back in Great Britain, Dabbous, 2012’s placeto-be, was awarded its first star; of it, head chef Oliver Dabbous said, “if you’ve stepped foot inside the restaurant, you’ll realise we aren’t concerned with ticking boxes for guide books. Nonetheless, it’s a lovely pat on the back for my incredible staff.” Even though they make the plebs pour their own wine, diners can get four courses at lunch for just £26. Their kooky, bohemian dismissal of Michelin essentials such as tablecloths and flowers might seem a bit obvious to us but it does illustrate a willingness on Michelin’s behalf to embrace restaurants that don’t adhere to standard frivolities seen in a traditional Michelin joints. In spite of a slight concession towards cheaper eating, Michelin hasn’t become a libertine organisation overnight. Though there’s an ever increasing number of caveats that oppose its previously stodgy reputation, it is still overwhelmingly biased in favour of expensive restaurants. If you have any aspiration to eat in one of Britain’s four 3-star restaurants, you’ll either be pissing into the wind might or sustaining a diet of Morrison’s super noodles for a long time. Lunch (undoubtedly the best time to eat in any good restaurant as the food is cheaper) at Gordon Ramsay’s flagship restaurant costs £45 for three courses. Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester does it for £55 including two glasses of wine, half a bottle of water and some frankly ridiculous background muzak on its website. The Waterside Inn’s lunch costs £59.95, whereas The Fat Duck in Bray doesn’t have a specific lunchtime menu such is its notoriety for

serving lengthy, time-consuming menus. Bear in mind, too, that while you’ll get all the tomtwattery and amuse-bouches that come as part of the package, these prices are the absolute minimum; the harrowingly rancid ’discretionary 12.5% gratuity charge’ will inevitably be added to your bill. Heston Blumenthal’s duck has just one taster menu; its price? £180. That gets you fourteen courses. (Does anybody need to eat fourteen plates of food? I suppose that’s not the point.) The inhibitors of these restaurants are not of our kind; the only student that these restaurants could attract (not that our repeated nonattendance is of any great concern to them, it’s worth pointing out) would have to be of the disposition to guzzle up the pre-cum amusedouches served alongside the whacking great bill. Sadly then, there are just too many days of enforced arse-freezing while sat in your decrepit house, living off spaghetti hoops and Kick, to really embrace the zenith point of Michelin’s world. So for the time being at least, if you can’t convince yourself that £25 is money well spent for a Michelin quality lunch, I’d suggest a big bread roll filled with crispy bacon, lubricated by salty butter and brown sauce instead. You don’t even have to leave LL57 for that.

bacardi taste test

Bacardi, the Cuban based rum, celebrated its 150th anniversary this February and has developed into a company whose sales are around US$5.5 billion per year. Its latest release, Bacardi Oakheart Spiced Rum, retails at

£24.80 per litre. It sounds expensive but when you think of the way it’s described on their website – ‘Bacardi Oakheart is a tribute to the legendary and modern day adventurer. It honours their core essence and loyalty, bravery and determination’ – £25 is a small price to pay. It sounds more reminiscent of William Wallace than an alcoholic drink but I can understand why they’ve tried to give the drink so much gravitas. The reason I can understand is because, well, it’s just not that great. Here at Seren, we were the very appreciative recipients of a bottle of rum; it would have been negligent of us had

we passed up on an opportunity this enticing. And so, with our motivation waning and the lure of Bacardi’s deep amber hue illuminating our disgustingly debauched drinks cabinet, we gave it a try. Here are some of our thoughts: Sean: “a little bit harsh and there are nicer spiced rums on the market.” Becki: “would definitely benefit from the introduction of a mixer.” Jordaine: “abrasive aftertaste.” Matt: “not conventional spiced rum; tastes like an imitation.” Becci: “a mixture of happiness and sadness.” Tomos: “smells much nicer than it tastes. Not sweet enough.” Tom: “one for when you’re already drunk.” LJ: “it burnt my oesophagus” Joe: “hints of caramel don’t mask the underlying taste of raw, harsh alcohol on your throat.”

October Issue 2012

seren.bangor.ac.uk

Food and Drink

PUMPKIN RISOTTO

(serves 4)

Pumpkins are incredibly versatile and relatively cheap; you can use them for a variety of purposes – stews, soups, casseroles, curries, roasts, purees, pies, pastas. Pretty much anything that carries flavour and needs bulking up will benefit from the addition of sweet autumnal pumpkin.

• • • • • • • • • • •

450g pearl barley one pumpkin, halved and deseeded one onion, peeled and finely diced one clove of garlic, finely chopped (alternatively, use garlic paste) half a bag of spinach 50g Caerphilly cheese (or any hard cheese; parmesan would work well) a glug of oil one sprig of thyme a pack of chestnut mushrooms 1.5 litres of vegetable stock a pinch of chilli flakes

If you’re anxious about preparing a pumpkin, don’t be; roasting them removes the process of taking their hard outer skin, the toughest task, and means you only have to cut it in half – watch your digits – and scoop out the seeds. Alternatively, you could buy a butternut squash (or an acorn squash, Morrisons have some great ones in right now) because they’re nowhere near as difficult to prepare. This dish is a really cheap and healthy way to cook a meal for your housemates – it costs just under £6 to make four portions and certain ingredients, specifically the mushrooms, spinach and cheese, will leave you enough to make delicious omelettes or pastas in the coming days. The best thing about this dish is the complex layers of flavours; in one mouthful, you get the woody hit of mushroom and in the next the salty bite of Caerphilly cheese. Add to this the spiky heat from the flecks of chilli flakes, plus the iron richness of spinach – not to mention the mellowness of the roasted pumpkin – and this dish is a guaranteed winner. It’s vegetarian, too, so there’s no need to leave your neglected friend in their otherwise dark life. If you don’t like the idea of pearl barley (it’s significantly cheaper) then use risotto rice; it’s a perfectly adequate substitute, just reduce the cooking time by around half.

method •

Pre-heat your oven to 180 °.

•

Line a baking tray with tin foil and rub the flesh of your pumpkin with oil, salt and pepper.

•

Bake for one hour or until the flesh yields easily when prodded with a knife. Remove the flesh and keep warm.

•

Meanwhile, bring your stock to the boil in a pan.

•

Heat a saucepan and gently sweat the onion, garlic, thyme and chilli in oil for five minutes.

•

Add the pearl barley and let it amalgamate with the onion mixture for two minutes until the grain has slightly toasted.

•

Add a ladle of stock and stir until it’s absorbed into the barley.

•

Repeat this process for 40 minutes. Five minutes before the end, fry your mushrooms in a little oil, butter and salt and keep warm.

•

Finish your risotto with a handful of spinach. Once wilted, season with salt, pepper and a little lemon juice. Serve with the mushrooms, cheese and some warm bread.

restaurant Review

The Queen’s Head, Glanwydden, Conwy, LL31 9JP, 01492546570 by JOE RUSSELL

he Queen’s Head is in Glanwydden, a village that acts as the perfect microcosm of North Wales – idyllic, surrounded by rolling hills and inextricably related to its heritage. To reach Glanwydden, you have to pass Conwy Castle and could be forgiven for feeling trepidation due to the village’s isolated location. Each road is narrower than the last and there is a palpable sense that the last person to have travelled here was a 19th century drover with cattle in tow. This isn’t true, of course, because Glanwydden is home to The Queen’s Head, winner of the AA’s Pub of the Year, Wales 2009-2010. It’s your archetypal British countryside pub; the kind of place that you could bed down in a barn and roll around in the hay with a country bumpkin. While there are occasional vagaries of change – salmon and coriander fishcakes probably weren’t on the pub’s first menu. Much of its traditional furnishings have been retained and its walls pay homage to the pub’s past and present with pictures of the surrounding landscape and local art. The Queen’s Head is just a really pleasant place to be. Equally satisfying was my starter of smoked haddock and chorizo risotto; fat nuggets of pa-

prika-rich chorizo complemented the creamy risotto nicely. A sharp vinaigrette on dressed rocket leaves balanced the dish out, though its thick, cloying texture (a consequence of it being just the wrong side of al dente) meant it fell just short of its £6.95 price tag. My friend’s goat’s cheese tart was presented simply, a decent sized portion - oven-warm – accompanied by a honey and walnut dressing. Her ‘oohs’ and ‘ahhs’ gave her a slight edge on whose starter was better. One-nil down. Anything piggy on a menu is all but guaranteed to attract me. I don’t know if it’s the perverse childhood Animal Farm memories or the bawdy effect its salty meat has on me but properly cooked pig is, in my opinion, one of life’s great pleasures. A main course of grilled pork loin, soused prune and Armagnac jus, cabbage mash, fresh vegetables, black pudding and crackling read beautifully, though not particularly pithily. In the end, the plate was as big a mouth full as its wording. The pork loin was perfectly cooked, the tender meat resulting in a centre that glowed with the desired faint hue of pink. Just as delicious was the crackling; two long strips of hot salty fat, glassy texture and all, it’s just the sort of thing that makes you weak at the knees. Add

to this a generous lump of buttery cabbage and mash, the black pudding and a rich prune sauce (or ‘jus’ – urgh) and the dish sounds a bit fat-heavy. But the introduction of acidic apple sauce, braised red cabbage and simply cooked palate cleansing vegetables – carrots, green beans and broccoli – balanced the whole thing out. This well-conceived balancing act was welcome, but ultimately futile; there’s only so much fat a man can take and despite the apple sauce’s best efforts, I surrendered my napkin just over half way through. This decision was largely because I’d eaten too much rich food but lingering in the background was the real, sinister reason. Putting meat and fruit together is an idea as old as the hills and has some inherent sense behind it; a sharp acidity to balance and complement a rich, fatty cut of meat. But a solitary, fresh raspberry delicately positioned on top of a baked apple is nothing more than a frivolous waste of time. Public ignominy was the only thing stopping me from careening into the kitchen and throwing it at the chef’s head; why bother with it? They knew it was a needless garnish, I knew it was nothing more than pretentious poncery; they knew it wouldn’t work with pork, I definitely knew I didn’t want to eat an incongruous

raspberry with my pork and black pudding. My friend’s main of chicken Thai green curry may sound as misplaced as the infamous raspberry and such a dish in this sort of country pub instantly rings alarm bells – or should that be the sound of a microwave door popping open. But this wasn’t the case; though she’d had better versions from authentic restaurants, the “distinct flavours and perfectly cooked rice” meant it was a bit of a winner. As were the plentiful sides - mango chutney, poppadums and nan bread. Woof. With the bill just shy of £40, we didn’t have the stomach for puddings in both senses of the word. If you are more of a main-pudding kind of person then classics such as sticky toffee pudding or bakewell tart at £5.25 are most likely to attract. The Queen’s Head isn’t cheap but such cumbersome portions mean you won’t need to eat for another day or two. It’s probably a damning indictment that the main reason I’d visit again is because of this generosity and not necessarily the quality. The food’s good - better than good in flashes - but the lasting impression I have of The Queen’s Head is that there is better food closer to home. 7/10

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October Issue 2012

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October Issue 2012

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October Issue 2012

“Where nothing ever happens and we like it that way.”

Ofﬁcial Newspaper, Haven Town and Surrounding Community

PRICE

$2.00

Published Thursday 1 Year $19.50 - 6. Mos. $15

HERALD EXCLUSIVE: ‘TROUBLED’ MAN THINKS TOWN IS SHOW HE WROTE

by LJ TAYLOR

t’s just past 7.30pm on a cold, wet evening in Wales. I’m on the phone to Sam Ernst, Haven’s co-creator and writer, who makes a point to tell me how he’s sat outside, in shorts, with the sun shining down on him. He is sorry for the winter I’m about to experience, though. Along with regular writing partner Jim Dunn, Sam turned Stephen King’s little-known novella ‘The Colorado Kid’ into a supernatural drama starring Emily Rose, Lucas Bryant and Eric Balfour. Haven follows FBI Agent Audrey Parker (Rose) as she finds herself in the small town of Haven, Maine where not everything is how it should be. Audrey soon joins Haven PD and works with local cop, Nathan Wuornos (Bryant) to keep Haven safe from the mysterious ‘troubles’ that plague the town. Now onto its third season, Haven’s secrets are finally

by ELSPETH RUDD

he only feasible reason I can think of for not having already watched the last two seasons of AMC’s The Walking Dead is that you are already living in an underground bunker i n

starting to be revealed. The plots touched on in the previous season will finally be fleshed out, and Duke (Balfour) has discovered a trouble of his own! Haven is based on the Stephen King story ‘The Colorado Kid’; at what point did you guys decide, ‘right, we’re making this into a show’? The producers actually approached me and Jim [Dunn] with the story and said, ‘Here, read this, is there a TV show in this book?’ There was no show. The Colorado Kid is such a small story and there’s nothing supernatural in it. So eventually we added in all the supernatural, it was a very loose story to work with. We tried to put in the book characters, but there was so little of them. I think only the Teagues, Vince and Dave, are characters we used from the book. preparation for the oncoming zombie apocalypse. If, however, you’re tired of staring at those leadfilled walls and counting how many bottles of water you’ve got left, you might want to get caught up. Season 3 looks to be better than ever, and, let’s face it, when the real zombies come lumbering to your door, you won’t have the time to watch great TV. I’ll be honest; I was a little sceptical of what the opening episode would be like. The season 3 promotion trailer seemed to give a lot away, and I felt like I’d already seen the most important points in the series,

Did you guys have a lot of input on casting? Not really, though the actors are pretty darn close to what we imagined. Eric was the last to audition for Duke. Everyone else had been playing him sleazy and Eric was just so charming. I mean he’s charming in real life but he brought that across to the character. We wrote Nathan as this kind of stoic, man of few words guy after someone we knew in Minnesota. And the funny thing about Lucas is that he’s the complete opposite of Nathan. He’s goofy, he’s outgoing, and he’s a jokester. We had no idea who Adam (Copeland, ex-WWE superstar Edge) was. We decided we wanted a wrestler because the show was on after it and we thought maybe it’d pull in some wrestling fans. We’ve no idea if it worked or not. But we happened to catch Adam’s retirement speech, ‘cause he broke his neck, and it was moving, he just had such a presence. And so we thought okay, lets write this guy a part. A couple pages over a few episodes, see what it’s like, if he’s not so great then it’s okay, we tried it. But he was great to watch, and so we wrote him more into season two, and then three. It was great to watch him develop and he’s just the nicest human being. And one thing I can say is watch for him in the season finale.

but once I was finally watching the show that didn’t really seem to matter. The zombies themselves are just as grisly, gory and gruesome as ever and, as always, there’s enough fake blood splattering around to satisfy any horror fan. One of the strengths of this episode was the use of tension without feeling too slow-paced (which is a pitfall the show has occasionally fallen into). Each of the characters have become a lot stronger (except maybe T-Dog, who seems to be the only

What has been your favourite moment on set? I’d have to say that my favourite moment was probably at the casting. All these women came in for the part of Audrey, 140 women, and I found myself falling in love with all of them. Not only were they beautiful women but they were all playing her in different ways. It was just amazing to watch this character come to life in front of me. And then there was the online reaction to this character. People giving opinions on this character I had created like, ‘Audrey would never do that!’ It’s crazy. She’s not my character anymore, of course. She’s everybody’s. I mean, Emily Rose just made her her own. You guys seem to be a pretty close knit team. The actors live in Chester, Nova Scotia. It’s a beautiful place, between April and September, and the nearest city, Halifax, is an hour away. They are usually working 12 hours a day; Emily is called for hair and makeup 2 hours before, so she’s working 14 hour days. So they are all close in this town spending a lot of time together, which is great. Haven’s resident journalists, Vince and Dave, have both got Twitter and over the season break, there’s been a storyline running through the use of the social network. Tell us a bit about it, can we expect to see it again? It was so much more successful than I could have imagined. It was hard to get funding for because that sort of thing, you can’t really measure it. It’s great, because it’s allowed us to create a much larger storyline. Me and Jim laid out the whole story, others then wrote it and we rewrote it. Everyone involved on the corporate level has said it’s been very successful. It is like a writer’s dream come true to be able to give more to these seemingly minor characters. And it’s great for the hardcore fans because one in the group who doesn’t get much of his own screen time) and the group is finally functioning like a well oiled zombiekilling machine. In the space of this episode, Maggie has become one of my favourite characters after Daryl and Glenn, and I can’t wait to see more of the awesome mystery woman who’s travelling with Angela (well, she’s not so mysterious to fans of the graphic novel). Now, there is of course a possibility that you haven’t seen the show even though you weren’t pre-emptively living in an apocalypse bunker, in which case, can you afford not to educate yourself as quickly as you

we can give them a lot more that we can’t necessarily offer in the show, because we have to make sure we don’t exclude the more casual viewer by delving into too much background. We are hoping to be able to continue it. Tell us a little of what to expect this season? This season we’ve got the new characters; we’ve got Tommy. And who was that guy in the body bag? He’s someone you know. Everything is finally coming together, the Colorado Kid we don’t know much about, but it is coming together. I really like it when people try and piece things together. I often check in online to see what’s happening, to see what people are saying. I particularly like it when fans disagree with people because I know that even if they figure out one piece of the puzzle, by the time the finale rolls around, they won’t know everything that is going on. Will there be a season 4? That’s up to SyFy, but I hope so. We’ve been moved from a summer show to a fall show which is a lot harder of a slot to compete in, but our ratings keep going up. Finally, if you had to have one of the ‘troubles’ that we’ve seen, which one would it be? For a trouble I’d have, I think I’d have to say where everyone loves you, like what Jason Priestley [‘s character] had. It was interesting with him, because he got it from his father, who obviously revelled in it. But then there’s this trouble that people would maybe like to have and you give it to the guy who absolutely would not want it. Seasons one and two are available on DVD and season three is currently airing on SyFy UK on Tuesday’s at 9pm.

can on the grim realities of living in a zombie infested world? What if the zombie apocalypse starts before you’re up to date? That is not a post apocalyptic world worth living in. I for one would have to be undead to miss it.

October Issue 2012

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What’s On? by BECKI WATSON

Live Soaps: In Case of Contact with Eyes, Rinse Immediately

by BECCI JAMESON

t has become a staple of any long running soap to force their actors to perform live to the nation when they reach a landmark year. The latest to jump on the bandwagon is Emmerdale, who aired their live episode on the 17th October to celebrate their 40th anniversary. As live shows go, it wasn’t bad; there were no line mix ups, like the fateful Eastenders live episode, and no one fell over. It was seen as a triumph but it begs the question, why was it necessary to go live? The sheer panic that must be felt by cast and crew has to be through the roof, the technical aspects of editing a live show are beyond belief, and the amount of things that could go wrong surely outweigh the benefits of going live. Most soaps, including

Emmerdale, have already recorded the ‘live’ episode in case anything does go wrong, like the satellite going down or a power cut. This means that everyone has to work twice as hard to create something that could go astronomically wrong; Emmerdale’s live episode involved 27 cameras, 350 extras and 110 hours of rehearsal. A big incentive is, of course, the ratings game. Emmerdale Live raked in 9.2 million viewers, peaking at 9.7 million at the climactic scene. The average number of people watching is 7 million, so it was a very popular event. Is this good enough for ITV, or will they have to take it up a notch and join the ridiculous heights of Hollyoaks Later? It begs the question: why we watch television in the first place? It now appears that we don’t want smooth,

polished editing and slick performances but enjoy the schadenfreude of prettier people making fools of themselves with no way of undoing it. That’s why I watched Emmerdale Live, and I was disappointed nothing went wrong. It could be that we are becoming more cultured and prefer a theatre-like experience when we watch TV, but this is wishful thinking. How can this be escapism if we are constantly being reminded that it is live by careless acting and seeing the camera in the background? TV is a release valve for many people, so the edge of the seat tension is not what you want after a hard day. Its cringeworthy and not what you expect from a light relief soap. Unfortunately, TV is evolving. Maybe soon we will be watching everything live, as if it was a long, unedited YouTube video. Let’s hope not.

RECOMMENDS Horror/Supernatural.

Ben recommends True Blood

he reason I love True Blood is due in part to what I like to refer to as the ‘Game of Thrones Effect’. This phenomenon is a result of a show that on the surface contains purely gore and gratuitous sex. However, upon second observation,

it goes much deeper. For example, the show raises issues with the human condition, challenging bigotry and suggesting an alternate reality in which humans are no longer the most dominant. Even to the most casual observer, it is evident that this

show is not cut from the same cloth as Twilight! Underneath a slightly brutal and off-putting skin, beats a show that serves to provide intriguing plot and engrossing characters.

Becci recommends

upernatural has been running since 2005 and follows the lives of Sam and Dean Winchester as they fight ‘things that go bump in the night’; it’s the family business, after all. Not only does it include some of the most gorgeous men in the world,

but couples that with some frankly frightening and sometimes mindboggling monsters. The tongue in cheek attitude is what makes it so appealing, especially to me. If it got too serious, it would lose a lot of its magic. Only in Supernatural could

you have the main characters travel to an alternate reality where they are actors making a TV show called Supernatural. Supernatural is a cocktail of everything good; it’s funny, sometimes jumpy and has a real heart to it that makes it all the more enjoyable.

Elspeth recommends

lood pouring from the ceiling at a children’s birthday party, a strange African voodoo doll and Peter Cushing being creepy. What more could you want from a horror series? Well, perhaps slightly better special effects, but this was made in 1980. Having said that, the

sometimes dodgy effects don’t detract from the scariness of the show; but then I did first watch this when I was about ten and was subsequently genuinely scared of werewolves for several years (thanks Dad). Each selfcontained episode feels like a short horror film, even down to having a

different cast for every episode, so you can pick and choose according to what kind of horror you’re in the mood for. This is classic horror done well, and it’s definitely worth a watch for any horror fan.

Your at-a-glance guide to the highlights of what’s coming up on your screens!

he highly anticipated fourth series of Misfits returns to E4 on the 28th October and it’s sure to be amazing. With the departure of Kelly, Simon and Alisha and the introduction of three new characters, things are going to get shaken up, but with show runner Howard Overman telling fans (perhaps not 100% seriously) to expect ‘killer rabbits and the four horsemen of the apocalypse’, this series will definitely be one to watch. For those patiently waiting for the next series of BBC comedy Miranda, there is some good news. Stars Miranda Hart and Tom Ellis confirmed that series 3 will air this year, but there is no specific date confirmed, with some saying ‘Autumn 2012’ and others stating it won’t come on until nearer to Christmas. Reality TV-wise, the final of The X Factor is fast approaching. With the talent show competing with Strictly Come Dancing for the prime time Saturday night audience, Simon Cowell and ITV are pulling out all the stops to ensure the live final in Manchester (the first time the final has been staged outside of London) will be the best yet. The producers have reportedly recruited music legends such as Beyonce, The Killers and Cher to perform with the finalists. But which contestants will reach the final show? Teenage sweetheart Ella Henderson? Boyband Union J, who are looking to copy the success of One Direction? Whatever happens, it will be a night to remember. Sticking to the reality show theme, the controversial MTV hit Geordie Shore returns to British screens on 6th November. After last series’ ‘Chaos in Cancun’, the cast deal with the repercussions of their trip to Mexico, with some new additions to the house set to cause tensions within the group.

There’s bad news for fans of Community, who were expecting the return of the much-loved nerdy comedy last week; NBC has pushed back the Season 4 premiere to an unknown later date. This could be good for the show, as it allows more time for the network to market and promote it, but it means the fan base are going to have to wait a little bit longer for Jeff, Britta, Abed and the gang to return to their screens. If you haven’t already, fans of the show should check out the bonus clip released by the cast to keep you going until the actual show returns (someday). Meanwhile, many of the American shows put on hiatus due to the presidential debates and the new baseball season will resume over the next few weeks. One of these is Glee (returning on the 8th November), where we’ll find out how the kids are coping with the catastrophic events of the last episode, which saw some of the show’s main couples on the rocks. Still, there’s always the McKinley High production of Grease to lighten the mood. Other shows from across the pond returning soon include the popular Bones in early November, as Booth and Brennan tempt to help Sweets through his break up, and New Girl, that comes back at the end of the month with a Halloween special.

everat-

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Films by LJ TAYLOR

ometimes when you find yourself completely immersed in a book, you dread it coming to an end. The last page getting ever closer and you don’t know what you’ll do once its over. So then when you hear its being turned into a movie, it’s often quite exciting to know that you’ll be able to once more immerse yourself in that world; you just have to hope that the filmmakers will do it justice. Such was the situation I found myself in as I read Stephen Chbosky’s ‘The Perks of Being a Wallflower’. I couldn’t put the book down (which you can read about on our Books page), and it was over in a day. Luckily for me though, I knew that soon it would be coming out as a movie. In fact, that was why I had decided to read it in the first place. Nevertheless, there was still that question in my mind; “Will it be as good as the book?” The simple answer? Yes. Of course there are a few major differences in the film adaptation to the book, but in a nutshell it’s one of the best translations from page to screen that I have ever seen. The film starts Logan Lerman (Gamer, Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief ) as Charlie, a fifteen-year-old high school fresh-

man who is struggling to fit in. With no friends at his new school and a family that he feels he can’t talk to, Charlie throws himself headfirst into writing letters to an anonymous stranger to whom he only refers to as ‘Dear Friend’. When Charlie meets Patrick (Ezra Miller; We Need to Talk About

Kevin) he finally finds himself with the friend he’s been waiting to make. Patrick introduces Charlie to his step-sister Sam (Emma Watson; Harry Potter) who he, of course, falls in love with. With his newfound friends, Charlie finally finds himself able to ‘participate’ in life and is introduced to a world of parties, drugs, Rocky Horror and teenage relationships. Things don’t just end well for Charlie, however, and it’s not long before he finds himself struggling with blackouts as his past comes back to haunt him. The book is written as a series of letters which doesn’t easily translate to film, and so I was premature-

ly worried about the story losing a lot of its meaning and importance. With author Stephen Chbosky both writing and directing though, Charlie is in safe hands. The film opens with Charlie writing his first letter, with a voiceover from Lerman, but the importance and significance of these letters is not made clear, yet somehow, it still works. Lerman is brilliant in the role of Charlie, with him really stepping up his acting skills to portray each complicated and fragile layer of the character. Charlie is quiet and awkward, attributes we rarely see in Lerman’s characters, but he pulls it off spectacularly. He’s just the right balance of socially inept and adorable. Watson as Sam is similarly brilliant in her role. While Sam is less of a complicated character than Charlie, the challenge really lies in Watson stepping away from the Harry Potter franchise that she has been associated with for the last ten years and making her mark as a much more versatile actress. And of course, mastering an American accent. Her performance is definitely a great start to people seeing her as more than just Hermione Granger and her chemistry with co-star Lerman is believable. While a number of things are missed out from the film, such as Charlie’s sister’s abor-

October Issue 2012

tion, all of the important parts and memorable quotes are packed into 100 minutes of touching, teenage drama. The real worry for me was that the reason Charlie is how he is would be detracted from and difficult for audiences who hadn’t read the book to understand. With the use of flashbacks and subtle hinting from extracts of Charlie’s letters, the reveal, which I won’t ruin, gets across and really hits home (I swear the girl sat behind me cried throughout!). In no way is Perks the best movie I have ever seen, and I doubt a lot of people will say it is unless they are a huge fan of the book, but it simply works. A lot of films have been made of books in the recent decade, but the difference is that Perks isn’t

your action-filled Lord of the Rings, yet the best has been done with the source material given. All I can

say is I’m glad it was Chbosky who decided to take things into his own hands with his story.

What’s Your Favourite Scary Movie? We’ve been asking the Seren team that very question and finding out what truly terrifies them, causes endless sleepless nights and that ever so gentle caress of the shiver down the spine. Do you agree?

G Becci [Film Editor] Shutter (2008)

s with any American remake, the original is supposed to be better and therefore scarier. The original Thai film was made in 2004. I won’t go near it, the American one was bad enough. It opened up that primal fear in me that you can’t see directly behind you. It tells the story of Ben, a photographer and his wife, Jane who move to Tokyo for work. They start seeing terrifying images in his photos of a young Japanese girl (cue

the gentle sobbing) that they killed during a car accident. They believe that the young girl is trying to seek vengeance for the accident, but does Ben already know the girl? All of his secrets start tumbling out and it all ends badly for everyone. I shudder to think about it (pun intended). What makes it worse is that I am editing in a deserted SU, which I have been reliably informed is haunted.

rindhouse (created by Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez) gave birth to two full length horror movies. Death Proof and Planet Terror; the superior sibling being Planet Terror. It tells the story of a ragtag group of people fighting a desperate battle to survive against a chemically induced zombie horde in delightfully over the top Grindhouse style. There’s no messing around, we get right down to business with some glorious action. Old Bruce Willis does his Die Hard, and there’s a jar full of pickled testicles! Oh, and green chemical - ain’t chemicals always green in horror movies!? - excreting out everywhere to create an army of

Kaden [Fashion Editor] Planet Terror (2007) monstrous freaks. You can’t fault it for grabbing you by the nuts from the start and yanking you straight into the fantastic, OTT action. Rose McGowan (Charmed) as Cherry Darling and Freddy Rodríguez as El Wray are simply fantastic. Ditto with Josh Brolin as the neurotic and endlessly entertaining Dr William Block, as is Mary Shelton as his treacherous wife. There are just so many cool scenes and moments of dialogue that you’ll be quoting for weeks, this is a rich movie on a lot of levels. When the virus spreads and the ‘dead’ start to walk, the action is like a kick in the

balls from a rampant rhino. Nearly every scene has that touch of something special about it there’s absolutely tonnes of humour, a shedload of action, and scintillating characters throughout. And gore, one can’t forget the great special effects. It looks good, it feels great, it’s a damn treat that’s what it is. One heck of a kick ass film that delivers ample fun and something for everyone. Perfect film for Halloween it’s sick, it’s funny, packed full of surprising alisters and its worthy of being in your top 10 movies!

October Issue 2012

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Cinema Releases

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part II.

he widely anticipated final instalment of the Twilight franchise sees Bella (Kristen Stewart) battle to save her daughter, Renesmee (Mackenzie Foy) from the menacing Volturi, spearheaded by Aro (Michael Sheen). The Cullen family attempt to recruit other vampires from all over America to defend the child. Some are more reluctant than others. Expect vampire on vampire fighting, with help from a few werewolves, and the continued rivalry between Jacob (Taylor Lautner) and Edward (Robert Pattinson). What team are you on? It goes on nationwide release on the 16th November. Cert: 12A

For A Good Time, Call

auren (Lauren Miller) and Katie (Ari Graynor), who have been enemies since university, move in together so they can afford an amazing apartment in the wealthy part of Manhattan. The duo start a phone sex line, and become best friends while learning about the hilarious world of sex toys, fake orgasms and night time callers. When reality comes calling, the most meaningful relationship of their lives is put to the test. It opens the 2nd November. Cert: 18.

Films By BECCI JAMESON

Fun Size

ren (Victoria Justice) plans to attend a huge Halloween party thrown by the guy she likes, but everything starts to go wrong when she's put in charge of her oddball little brother, Albert (Jackson Nicholl), who quickly wanders off on his own. She tries everything to get him back, meeting some very strange people, we haven’t seen mishaps like this since Superbad (2007). An endearing, gross-out comedy that follows a little boy for some strange trick or treating. Starring Johnny Knoxville and Chelsea Handler, It opens on the 29th October. Cert: TBC.

joining in! That's why it really has to be seen at the cinema. Now a new generation can do the Time Warp with Brad Majors (Barry Bostwick) and his strait-laced fiancee Janet Weiss (Susan Sarandon), who have the misfortune to break down near the castle of Dr

et on an island off the coast of New England in the 1960s, a young boy and girl fall in love and run away together. The whole town is in uproar and mobilise to search for them, and it proves to be an off-the-wall piece of cinema, quirky, funny and with a real identity that sets it apart from most films this year. Moonrise Kingdom is an excellent film, and one that leaves an impression. An extensive cast including Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Tilda Swinton and Bill Murray. The DVD includes a set tour with Bill Murray, which is not to be missed. The Blu-Ray includes the set tour, A Look Inside Moonrise Kingdom and Welcome to the Island of New Penzance. Available to buy now.

Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry). Inside, a wild party is in full swing as Rocky Horror (Peter Hinwood) is about to be unveiled. This is a completely new cinema experience; don’t expect to shush anyone in that screening. There are water pistols, sing alongs and don't forget your costumes! You’ll be doing the Time Warp in no time. The Rocky Horror Picture Show will be showing at Llandudno Cineworld on the 31st October at midnight, prebooking is advisable.

tudent Cut Films are having a mammoth horror marathon to celebrate Halloween. For more information you can find them on Facebook and at JP Hall, 6pm every Thursday. They are also showing God Bless America (2011) on the 26th October, a nihilistic film about Frank (Joel Murray) a 45-year-old, divorced man who lives a very miserable life. Depressed, dealing with selfish neighbors, a wretched TV program, fired from his job and a daughter who doesn’t want to see him any more. The cream of the crop however, is the diagnosis that his doctor reveals; he has a fatal brain tumor. He decides to end his life. As he is about to pull the trigger, he realises that it

DVD and Blu-Ray Releases

Chernobyl Diaries

Moonrise Kingdom,

2012 - 12A - DVD and Blu-Ray

s the Iranian revolution reaches breaking point, a CIA specialist plans to free six Americans who have found shelter at the home of the Canadian ambassador, pretending to be part of a Canadian film crew. Based on a true story, this film promises political thrills and Hollywood satire. An odd mix, but let’s see if it works. Starring and directed by Ben Affleck with John Goodman and Alan Arkin. It opens in the UK on the 7th November. Cert: 15

HalloweenShowings

You can book tickets online at www.cineworld.co.uk or call them on 0871 200 2000. Cineworld Llandudno Exclusive one-day screening. Celebrate Halloween with the classic cult comedy, The Rocky Horror Picture Show! What makes it brilliant are the great songs, terrific characters and fabulous performances. One of the secrets of Rocky Horror's success is that audiences just can't help

Argo

2012 - 15 -DVD and Blu-Ray

ix American tourists hire an extreme tour guide who takes them to the abandoned city Pripyat, the former home to the workers of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor. During their exploration, they soon discover they are not alone. Building on the success of the many 'found footage' films recently, and from the same mind that brought us Paranormal Activity, expect jumps, chills and horrible scary children. Both the DVD and Blu-Ray include an alternate ending, deleted scenes, the Chernobyl Conspiracy viral video and Uri's Extreme Tours advert. Available to order now.

The Five Year Engagement

2012 - 15 - DVD and Blu-Ray

eginning where most romantic comedies end, from director Nicholas Stoller, producer Judd Apatow (Knocked Up, The 40-Year-Old Virgin) and Rodney Rothman (Get Him to the Greek). After a year's relationship, Tom (Jason Segel) and Violet (Emily Blunt) decide to get married but with interruptions from her burgeoning career and the increasing frustrations that Tom feels at having to postpone everything, will they ever get married? This is a funny, feel good comedy that is excellent for a rainy afternoon and Blunt and Segel sparkle together. The DVD includes a gag reel and deleted, extended and alternate scenes. The Blu-Ray includes an extended cut, commentaries and making of documentaries. It is available for pre-order and goes on sale on the 29th October.

would be far better to take the lives of everybody that annoys him, starting with a teen star. With help from a young girl, Roxy, he starts his rampage. This is a darkly funny film which does what we all secretly want to do; it’s definitely not to be missed. Cert: 18.

Avatar

2009 - 12 - Blu-Ray 3D + Blu-Ray + DVD

ne of the biggest blockbusters of 2009 and of the decade is releasing a new special edition which includes limited edition Lenticular artwork. The spectacular world of James Cameron’s Avatar comes to life as never before, now in eye-popping Blu-Ray 3D for the ultimate home viewing experience. Return to Pandora and immerse yourself in the greatest adventure of all time. This two-disc Collector's Edition features the original theatrical release in collectible packaging. Bear in mind this is a 3D release, so will only be compatible with 3D TV's and Blu-Ray players. Available to buy now.

seren.bangor.ac.uk

October Issue 2012

Bond In Numbers

Shaken, Stirred and Shooting Straight

he Bond franchise may be nearing 50, but it shows no signs of slowing down. After a year of uncertainty over finance that could have seen the end of Bond forever, the brand has made a triumphant comeback in true Bond style. As Skyfall hits cinemas on 26th October, just over fifty years after Sean Connery burst onto the big screen with Dr. No, we are looking back at what has made Bond so appealing and enduring. To many people Sean Connery will always be the 'ultimate Bond', but each actor has brought a uniqueness and a distinction to the role that has always been on trend and relevant to each decade. Connery was the original and therefore set the marker; he was so popular he even returned after George Lazenby's fateful On Her Majesty's Secret Service for one more outing. He was suave and sophisticated with a hint of dominance towards women that would be questionable today. Then there was Roger Moore, with his arched eyebrow and flared trousers, who added sarcasm-fuelled quips that became part of his trademark. Onto Timothy Dalton, with his gritty storylines and ruthlessness that was shocking after Moore's flamboyance; it was refreshing and was what the character needed to move forward. Pierce Brosnan harked back to Connery's suaveness, but moved Bond into the 21st Century. Daniel Craig, our sixth Bond is almost a combination of everything that was good about each previous Bond; he is charming and sophisticated but also has that ruthlessness and the never give up attitude. He embodies Fleming's character, as well as adding to a realism that may have been missing in the previous decades. Where would Bond be without his girls? Well, probably a lot safer, to be honest. They might be threats to the hero's life or a well deserved distraction. Whatever

else may change in the 007 series, you can't have a Bond film without Bond girls. Here are some of the most memorable: Ursula Andress as Honey Ryder in Dr. No, 1962. Honey rising from the sea in a white bikini is the most iconic image in the Bond series, and she set the benchmark for every subsequent Bond girl. Shirley Eaton as Jill Masterson, in Goldfinger, 1964. Miss Masterson is most famous for her imaginative death, painted in gold; she will always be remembered as one who paid the price for falling for 007's charms. Halle Berry as Jinx in Die Another Day, 2002. Bond girls are no longer damsels in distress and are taking action into their own hands. Berry's homage to Andress is blatant but worked perfectly for the 40th anniversary year. Eva Green as Vesper Lynd in Casino Royale, 2006. The first sting that made Bond who he is, he even named his drink after her. Her smouldering looks and vulnerability made her a believable and intriguing Bond girl. The two new Bond girls are Naomie Harris, best known for her stint in POTC: At World's End as Tia Dalma and Berenice Marlohe, a sexy, dangerous femme fatale. Harris plays field agent Eve, who is just as capable as Bond; in the trailer we see her attempt to shoot someone fighting Bond, but who does she hit? Marlohe's character is somewhat of an enigma. You can see her in the Heineken viral video on the internet. She is, simply, Sévérine. 'I never joke about my work, 007.' The immortal

“

line uttered by Desmond Llewellyn who played Q for seventeen Bond films from 1963 to 1999. Always one to furnish Bond with exactly what he needed to escape, Q and his gadgets are a vital part of the Bond world. Who could forget the Aston Martin with the ejector seat in Goldfinger? The jetpack in Thunderball? The submarine Lotus Esprit in The Spy Who Loved Me? Some of these may have been seen as a joke but without them it would not be a Bond film. With the introduction of a new, much younger Q, will they stick to their roots or take a more realistic turn? Ben Whishaw, the new Q, talking to Digital Spy said; "He's slicker this time. He's still an eccentric, jovial English chap but, because of the genius he has, there's a lethal, powerful side to him. Although he does make a mistake I can't tell you about." He appears to an odd, geeky computer nerd which is perfect for our new age of cyber terrorism and is exactly what was needed to update the role. Desmond Llewellyn will always be Q but Mr. Whishaw looks set to excel. The villains in Bond films have moved a long way from cackling in a corner of their secret lairs and with Javier Bardem shaping up to be a delightfully malignant baddie, I'm looking back at the best of the bad guys. Jaws played by Richard Kiel in The Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker; that's right, he was so popular they brought him back again. The seven foot tall actor, clad with metal mashers and almost super strength, brought his own charm to the role and remains a favourite among fans. Auric Gold-

No Mr. Bond, I expect you to die!

“

by BECCI JAMESON

finger played by Gert Frobe in Goldfinger. Oddjob's boss is by far one of the best villains, the actor may not have been able to speak English but his lip syncing is superb and of course the never old line, 'No Mr. Bond, I expect you to die!' will always be remembered. Xenia Onatopp played by Famke Janssen in Goldeneye; this sadistic femme fatale crushed men between her thighs during sex. Xenia could very easily be on the best Bond girl list, especially with a name like that, but she is just twisted enough to be the only female villain to be worthy of this list. Raoul Silva is our new villain and sees Javier Bardem with bleached blonde hair which he called a 'funny haircut'. There is a history between Silva and M played by Dame Judi Dench which will be explained throughout the film. Bardem's character is certainly ruthless and will stop at nothing to see MI6 and M destroyed. Skyfall is being directed by American Beauty and Revolutionary Road director, Sam Mendes, who claims to have gone back to the basics with fights scenes, car chases and amazing stunts. He wants to create a Dark Knight sort of film that will change the franchise forever. Skyfall sees Bond missing and presumed dead. The identities of all of MI6's agents are leaked onto the internet and M is under fire for not controlling the situation. Bond's reappearance creates an opportunity for M and she sends him to find Raoul Silva who claims to have some kind of connection to M. Loyalties are questions and secrets are revealed. Skyfall opens on the 26th October and the ultimate Bond 50 Blu-Ray collection is available to buy now from all good retailers.

Martini’s Drank

26 Women

220 kills

23 “Bond, James Bond”

October Issue 2012

seren.bangor.ac.uk

by AARON WILES

nother day another Apple event, except this time we’re being treated to a brand new product, and even more crucially it’s the first product under Tim Cook’s reign since he took over as CEO following the sad death of Steve Jobs. The product is of course the iPad Mini, something that has been rumoured for quite a while now but it has finally been unveiled. So, let’s hit you with some specs. Apple’s main selling point of the Mini is that you can use it with one hand, therefore, it’s got a 7.9-inch display, it’s 7.2mm thick and at 308grams it’s 53% lighter than the standard iPad. The Mini’s design is exactly what you’re probably expecting, it

looks like someone shrunk the iPad in the wash but luckily only the shell and the screen were affected. All of the internal important stuff has stayed the same; features carried over include the 1024x768 screen resolution, the Apple Dual-Core A5 chip and the 10-hour battery life. The Mini also comes equipped with a FaceTime HD Camera, a 5mp camera and a 1080p HD Video recorder. Apple also say the Wi-Fi has support for speeds of up to 150mps, double what any previous iPad model has achieved. The Mini is available in two colours, just like the new iPhone 5 you can order yours in Black & Slate, or White & Silver. There’s a standard Wi-Fi model or you can pay extra for the Wi-Fi + Cellular which also includes 4G as well as 3G. So how much is it then? Well it’s £269 for the 16GB, £349 for the 32GB and £429 for the 64GB, add on an extra £20 for models equipped with cellular capability. Unfortunately, here lies a potential problem with the Mini, it’s a lot more expensive than it’s rivals which are arguably better equipped technically and have been on

the market a lot longer, the Google Nexus 7 for example is £159, that’s a massive difference. For those thinking of investing into the iPad product though, it’s £120 cheaper than the new iPad and £60 cheaper than the now older iPad 2, and it’s not as if consumers have generally been put off by an Apple price tag now is it? For those still interested in the standard iPad you’ll be glad to hear that it was featured in the Keynote event too for it now comes equipped with Retina display and a brand new A6X chip which is claimed to be twice as fast as previous chips. A brand new iMac was also unveiled at the event as well as updates to the MacBook range. Apple announced recently that the company has now sold a massive 100 million iPads, with the updates to the standard model and now the brand new iPad Mini, it’s hard to see these sales figures slowing down anytime soon. By the time you’ve read this, you’ll be able to pre-order your Mini with first deliveries expected on November 2nd.

Gadgets

These days there’s so many things you can do with your smartphone or tablet and so many apps that you can download for them. Its becoming increasingly difficult to know which ones are actually going to be useful. That’s why each issue of Seren we are going to recommend some of the best app’s on the market, all tried and tested by us! And if you guys have just discovered a great new app why don’t you get in touch with us by emailing: editor@seren.bangor.ac.uk

by MATT JACKSON

ith mobile technology becoming more and more normal, the mobile office app is a very lucrative market, and OfficeSuite and Smart Office are two apps that I most certainly couldn’t live without. Both apps are very useful for typing out documents, presentations, and spreadsheets, but I’ve found that both have their own strengths and weaknesses when compared to the other. I first started using Smart Office by Picsel but found out that I felt as though the interface could be quite clunky. The main benefit however was that presentations came with pre-loaded features; as did the variety of documents. OfficeSuite on the other hand looks a lot less fancy than Smart Office, but for me, does a much better job for what I need. I can save my files in various different formats, and the typing interface is much easier than that of Smart Office. A major benefit of OfficeSuite is the ability to link my files straight to dropbox

(and other remote storage systems). This means I can work straight from cloud storage; quite convenient. OfficeSuite however doesn’t work as well with Google docs (now drive) than it does with dropbox, and the setup seems slower and more sluggish. Smart Office however doesn’t seem to open word documents from cloud in a particularly user friendly way, the file opens with a quite frankly awkward frame around the document that has to be combined with an awkward zooming in. OfficeSuite on the other hand opens your dropbox files just as it would open any normal file. Smart Office does at times feel as though it was designed to look and feel better than Office Suite, much like the Mac vs PC debate, I feel as though the eventual “winner” of these will be preferential. Smart Office does however let me connect directly to me printer; one major bonus. Whilst these apps may be quite pricey for the modern market (OfficeSuite prices at £9 for the full version, and Smart Office £7), I feel as though they are worthwhile investments, I use them for typing lectures. Both apps do come with “lite” or free versions, which, as with most apps come with less features and a cut down version.

by LJ TAYLOR

APP

f there’s one thing we know, here at Seren, other than how to stay up all night putting together a newspaper, its how expensive being a student can be. Especially if you’ve spent all your money on the latest smartphone, which we can only assume if you’re reading this. And that’s why this issue we want to tell you about the Asda app available in both the App Store, on iPhone, iPod’s and iPad’s, as well as Google Play. One of the things most often associated with students is cheap food, a can of beans, frozen pizza and value teabags. Doing a food shop is one of the biggest ways to blow your budget unless you’re careful. Last issue Seren’s money page gave you a few tips on how to save money when shopping and we’re back with a new one! When I think of shopping online I think of places like play.com, or amazon. Grocery shopping isn’t something I would have thought to do online before I came to university but its surprising how much you can actually save by doing it. For a lot of students in Bangor its difficult to do a full shop, generally how you save the most money, because you know you’re going to have to carry all the bags back up one of

the city’s many hills. And no doubt in the rain. If you want a wider selection of goods then Tesco is a little out of the way unless you have a car. That’s where online shopping can come in. The Asda app has recently been updated and now has a number of great features that makes online shopping quick, easy and cheap. You have a huge range to choose from as all of Asda’s departments are included in the app. One of the most useful features however is the built in barcode scanner. Just used the last of the milk? Just give the barcode a quick scan before you throw it in the recycling and its automatically added to your shopping, no need to remember about it later on. And with the ‘top up on the go’ option it doesn’t matter if you’re out at a friend’s and suddenly remember you need another bag of pasta because you can scan it in and add it to your order up until 11pm the day before your delivery. Unsurprisingly the app also locates your nearest Asda store, providing you with opening times and all other facts you may need in case you happen to be in need of a store. And the

Asda Price Guarantee, previously the main focus of the app, is still there. This means when you’ve ordered your shopping you can use the receipt to take part in the APG and see how much you could have saved somewhere else. If another store was cheaper then Asda will reimburse you that difference next time! And at certain points of the year, such as right now, just doing the APG on a shop of over £40 will give you a £5 voucher. The new and improved Asda app is much sleeker and smoother. Ordering shopping is easy. Not only can you choose pretty much anything you want but its editable and gives you all the features that you need from the website all in one app. The barcode scanner is a definite plus as it means you no longer have to worry about forgetting things.

seren.bangor.ac.uk

Games by SEAN TALBOT

intendo release the successor to the Wii next month, finally presenting a console worthy of standing up to the competition from Microsoft and Sony. But is it too little too late? There’s no doubt that Nintendo consoles have provided an entirely different gaming experience to its rivals; hosting cartoon-style, “family-orientated” games, the Wii was often considered child’s play and some sceptics often went as far to suggest Nintendo didn’t attract “real” gamers (definitely true, at least since being a “gamer” meant being a graphics whore). Sure, you couldn’t play the latest mind-numbing, regurgitated version of COD, nor could you sit for hours watching amazing cinematics without actually being able to contribute much to the gameplay, but in spite of this, Nintendo have consistently produced excellent games. If you disagree you’re wrong. Their specs have always been behind, they’ve never had the latest

processing chip and you still can’t play a DVD on the Wii but they have always prided themselves on focusing on gameplay, interactivity and widening their target audience – not winning the graphics rat-race. Well, ladies and gentlemen, it’s all about to change at Nintendo HQ – or at least, they are trying to change. The new Wii U promises to be faster, more powerful and more interactive than any previous Nintendo console with major spec updates that many Mario fan kids have been longing for since the novelty of motion-control first wore off. Many of the new features have been kept under wraps, however we know the Wii U has twice as much RAM as its rivals and allegedly better GPU; combined, these mean the Wii U will be able to have series such as Assassin’s Creed and Mass Effect in its line-up, games which were usually too much for Nintendo’s relatively weak devices. When asked, John Nash, of Blitz Games Studios, said the power and capabilities of the Wii U are “comparable to the current generation and

a bit more powerful than that.” Not only that, some game developers have come forward and said they believe their game will look best on the Wii U than any other platform currently available. This basically means (brace yourself ), once the Wii U is released, Nintendo will momentarily have the most powerful console on the market. It’s like we’re in the 90s again. And that’s not all; the new “pro” controller, for which I suspect the inspiration was massively derived (stolen) from the Xbox 360, also give users of the Wii U that “real gaming” experience I mentioned earlier. So now you can feel like you’re playing an Xbox, but still have granny in on the action. Brilliant. It may seem like these improvements are long-overdue, but that’s only because they are. So much so, in fact, Nintendo are at major risk of being cast-aside once more when Sony and Microsoft release their new gaming behemoths later next year. The PS4 and Xbox 720 promise nothing short of amazing and I’m not sure the Wii U’s processing bumper-pack stands a chance against these bullies. But fear not. In true Nintendo style,

October Issue 2012

they have a new motionc o n trolled, superinteractive- g a d g et-thingy for you to enjoy. The Wii U Gamepad has a touch screen which makes the contention for the player 1 spot ever fiercer. The wielder of the Gamepad will have the possibility to interact with games in new dimensions and in ways others cannot, however, the full capabilities of this new tool are yet to be discovered. If it all sounds like another classic Nintendo novelty, then you may be right. Its charm and appeal could very well wear off just as soon as wildly waving your Wiimote around (smashing your living room television in the process) did. The basic Wii U pack, released

30th November this year, will set you back approximately £250. Considering the new PS3 slim still costs £230, I wouldn’t say that’s a bad deal. However, it’s a great shame that Nintendo’s step into the big boy playground will be so shortly lived; this time next year the PS4 and Xbox 720 will undoubtedly leave the little U eating dust once more.

PS3 SALES SURPASS 5 MILLION

by BECKI WATSON

he Playstation 3 has surpassed 5 million sales in the UK since its release in March 2007. Sony confirmed the passing of this significant milestone on 11th October, following the announcement earlier this year that the PS3 has also sold over 4 million consoles in France. The increase in sales is likely due to the new PS3 Super Slim model, a slimmer lighter model of the original console with a much larger hard drive of 500GB, which was released on 28th September. The release of the new unit rejuvenated UK sales of the original console, with the retail sector seeing a massive increase in sales of 138%. This is expected to continue with the release of the ‘budget’ version of the Super Slim model with a smaller 12GB flash memory. Sony VP and managing director for the U.K. and Ireland Fergal Gara commented, “This is another historic moment for the PlayStation brand, and something I’m incredibly proud of. I’d like to thank all our consumers, retailers and 3rd party partners for helping us achieve this figure, and look forward to continued success.” Sony’s latest achievement is a testament to the enduring popularity of the brand. The original Playstation was the first gaming console to sell over 100 million

units worldwide, and the Playstation 2 is the most best-selling console of all time, with over 154 million sold by the end of 2011. The Playstation 3 seems set to continue this trend; although 5 million consoles appear to be a relatively small amount of units sold, the UK only accounts for 7.5% of global sales, and nearly 65 million PS3’s were sold worldwide by the end of March this year. Sony themselves appear determined to continue this success; Fergal Gara noted that although their achievement was impressive, it was more important that ‘there is momentum behind it’. So what’s next for Sony? The redesign of the Playstation store, which went live last week, added new and excited features to the store front, and Playstation Mobile is due to be launched next month. Furthermore, the acquisition of cloud gaming service Gaikai hints at potentially massive changes to the company, and Gaikai’s relaunched portal (full of Sony interfaces) indicates that there are bigger things to come. Either way, the success of Sony will not be slowing down any time soon.

by LJ TAYLOR

hat do you get if you combine Ancient Greek pottery with epic music? Alientrap’s new side-scroller Apotheon. Oh and Disney’s Hercules. In this Greek Mythology turned on its head, depicted on a pot actionrpg Zeus has been overthrown by his wife, Hera, who now rules Olympus. Her hate for mortals knows no bounds and she aims to destroy us all. But of course there’s always one guy fighting for the survival of the human race; the player character. Being humanity’s last champion will be no easy feat as you journey through the Underworld on your mission to infiltrate Mount Olympus and end Hera’s reign of terror. Simple task, right? Did I mention you only have a sword, a spear and a shield. Oh and you need to take control of the elements before you can save the world. Apotheon will be released on

Steam, the program that most gamers these days are familiar with which allows you to store your game library online and access anywhere, in mid 2013. The game’s design team, consists of just four guys, two of which only do the sound, and so its going to be pretty interesting to see what exactly such a small team have been able to put together. The thing that draws me to the game the most however, is the design. In an age where video games are really pushing boundaries and creating better effects than a lot of Hollywood movies, its really nice to see a game going back to basics. The days of the side-scroller are back with Apotheon, in true Sonic the Hedgehog simplicity. I’m half convinced the creators were taking a Greek ceramics lesson when they put together the game; its beautiful and establishes the setting with just one glance. The game will pit you against the hounds of Hell, no end of soldiers

and of course the Titans. One of the most exciting features has got to be the effect killing an enemy will have on the screen. Remember you’re essentially a story depicted on a pot and striking down an enemy will cause a crack, albeit briefly, in the ceramic. Cool, huh? Or is that just me? An open world single-player campaign will dominate the game but with the ever growing demand for multiplayer Alientrap are also promising multiplayer. So far they have announced both deathmatch and team based modes but with the release date still quite far off there’s chance more could be added. While I’m hardly expecting Apotheon to change my whole perspective on gaming and convert me to a Steam gamer, the design alone has me intrigued. Where big name games are constantly trying to top one another’s latest attempt I feel like Apotheon’s simplicity is something we all need to return to, even if only for a few hours.

October Issue 2012

by JOE KEEP

arth is beset on all sides by a hulking alien invasion, the population has fear in their hearts and panic in their eyes, there is but one option available to repel this incursion - the XCOM project and you are the commander. XCOM: Enemy Unknown is the latest addition to the long running XCOM series, running since 1994. This new addition welcomes new XCOM players, whilst also retaining the roots that previous players will remember from previous bouts against the alien horde. Developed by Firaxis and overseen by publisher

seren.bangor.ac.uk

2K games, the game has expanded from the purely PC game, of earlier editions, and has reached out to both Xbox 360 and PS3. Firaxis have provided a new look and style to the game, with the last one being released in 2001, whilst also providing a compelling storyline within the parameters of an XCOM title. The game has a very fluid feel, complemented by the minimal loading and the seamless shift between the video aspect and actual playing of the game. Incorporating a turn based strategy, XCOM grants players a wide variety of play, either you go gung-ho and charge straight to-

wards your enemy, or you take cautious steps in an attempt to catch them off guard and launch impressive surprise attacks upon them. Each style provides its rewards, the first meaning you meet an enemy head on, and are able to follow their movements. The second allows much more for critical strikes than the head on approach. However, this is the lengthier option, with some maps being rather sizable. The A.I. is impressive in its rationale, attempting to pin you down whilst manoeuvring to wreak havoc upon your squad. You will not only be cursing why you moved that guy so far forward, but, how the A.I. manages to find itself behind you. It is at

Games

this stage, you have a sudden realisation of how attached you have become to your squad, with which you have travelled the globe conquering the aliens and holding them back, and praying that one of the stray plasma rounds does not hit someone in the face, either killing them or injuring them. However, injuries are critical, with deaths even more hard hitting, especially as it means you must retrain someone to be as good as the guy that died. As commander, you are in charge of how you progress your soldiers, starting as rookies, upon their first promotion they gain a specialisation; Assault, Heavy, Sniper or Support. From here, the ability tree opens up, offering two abilities per level that you can choose from to make them play how you would like them to, allowing you to make them work as a team, or be seemingly invincible on their own. Your choices are also compounded by the base expansion you choose. With impressive technological advances available through research, labs are key, along with the necessary power to run them. There is also the production aspect, providing weapons and upgrades to already existing tech, in which cases workshops are the key. However, the developer’s intention here, is that in the space allowed, there is not enough room to master both of them, instead making you choose between them.

Overall, XCOM is a fantastic addition to an already epic chain of games, bringing it right up to date. The gameplay is smooth, allowing for a seamless shift between combat and base production. The combat itself is strategic and makes players carefully consider what they are going to do; with no out and out guaranteed ‘win strategy’. This, coupled with the intricate base construction and management of your squad makes this an excellent strategy game. This is a must buy for any XCOM enthusiast, and is a great addition to any gamer’s collection.

by MATT JACKSON

has, in my opinion, kept a lot of the horrifying charm that made the series as successful as it was originally. We still have things such as herbs that can be mixed to heal the player, and we occasionally seem to get references to type writers and ink wells. Initially the player starts with Leon, during what seems to be a never ending tutorial. However following a laborious and mundane task (which I seemed to fail about 20 times due to my apparent inability to read), I was plummeted into the bulk of the game, and I must admit, it impressed me. Whilst some of the series’ diehard fans will no doubt feel as though it’s not exactly gone back to the old days where you walked like you were on caterpillar tracks, and couldn’t move and shoot, it’s good to see a game, and more importantly a developer, willing to push the boat out a bit whilst still keeping to its feel. Overall I think I’ve enjoyed Resident Evil 6, despite having a logo that looks like a giraffe. I wasn’t a fan of the previous two games (although the mercenaries bit on Resi 4 did bring me some enjoyment). It’s nice to have a game where your enemies at times feel like more conventional zombies.

by RACHEL WEST The hype machine has been going into overdrive about this game, and it hasn’t failed to meet expectations. It’s a clever game which allows you to tailor your experience to your preferred style of play. However, users are guided towards a more stealthy approach in a similar way to games such as Batman: Arkham Asylum and Assassin’s Creed. You play as Corvo, bodyguard to the Empress, when you are betrayed and framed for her murder, and are then sent on a quest for redemption. Although not exactly a unique story for a game, Dishonored tells its tale without using too many clichés. This is something Dishonoured does quite well, bringing aspects of other games together and presenting them in a new package. There are many options as to how you interact with the world and complete missions, and there is the option to not kill anyone over the duration of your gameplay. In fact, doing so will achieve a positive ending, which is scored by the amount of people you kill; the more people you kill the higher your ‘chaos’ rating. This form of morality scale seems to have become quite popular in the gaming world having worked well in the likes of Mass Effect. You are presented with plenty of ways of doing the dirty killing, or not killing as it were. There is a wide range of weaponry on offer,

ranging from crossbows with plenty of bolt options through to swords. You’re most certainly never short of something to kill someone with in Dishonored. The magical powers add a new element to the game and are quite creative. They meander from being able to control rats to do your evil bidding, to gravity defying jumps. Dishonored is the brainchild of Bethesda Studios and first since the mega hit Skyrim. The decision by Bethesda to make a new stand alone title was considered by many to be a risk because in the modern market companies often find it much easier to churn out a title from an already successful series, rather than embarking on such a departure; Bethesda’s gamble was justified in its position as the biggest new title released in 2012. Overall Dishonored is an exciting new game for 2012. It provides hope for anyone worried about gaming falling into the trap of constant sequels and clones, and is absorbing enough to have the longevity required to hold your interest.

esident Evil 6 was meant to be a landmark in the franchise, after a successful yet heavily criticised 5, and a 4th instalment that was effectively shunned by some fans, the 6th game aimed to go back to its survival horror roots. The game has 3 primary story arcs that eventually link in with each other. Whilst Leon’s campaign feels like it h a s gone to the bare bone of the series, fighting his way through the more traditional enemies, Chris’ missions seem more like a bastard love child of the classic Resident Evil game and a modern day first person shooter such as Call of Duty. The three stories make the game feel much longer which in the modern day of quick single players, expansive multi-players, and tonnes of downloadable content can only be considered a good point; I certainly don’t want to spend £30 for DLC to ‘enhance my experience’. Resident Evil 6, whilst attempting to be modern and play into what people will buy

seren.bangor.ac.uk

Music

Hi. I’m Tom Davies and I’m Seren’s new Music Editor. Over the coming months we’ve got some absolutely fantastic things planned. Not only do we want to create the best possible content available, we want to give you as much back as possible. In this issue, we’ll be giving away pairs of tickets to four lucky competition winners for gigs

by TOM DAVIES

in Central Station in Wrexham! This is something we’ll be continuing throughout the year so keep your eyes peeled for more fantastic offers on these pages. Enjoy! Tom x

THE SEREN RATING

C’est magnifique! The champagne and caviar of musical expression. A consistently good release. Shows flashes of brilliance but ultimately falls short. Good but undercooked. A bit more time could have worked wonders. Possibly has a good track or two... but the concept is flawed. Not even worth illegally downloading. Radio static has more purpose.

ny lover of good music should, by now, have learnt to take anything that comes with considerable hype, with a liberal pinch of salt. Especially when the hype comes accompanied with comparisons to Bob Dylan. But comparisons to the American legend do a disservice to Jake Bugg’s self-titled debut, which forges a sound unique to itself, without taking too much from its obvious inspirations. Radio listeners out there will have probably heard the single "Lightning Bolt", a song that blends the sound of a street busker, with Johnny Cash circa "I Got Stripes", before introducing them both to a heavily overdriven Telecaster. Sounding like the perfect recipe? That's because it. is. magnificent. In "Trouble Town", and "Taste It", Bugg sounds eerily reminiscent of Lee Mavers and The La's, which is the highest of accolades. "Seen It All" is a beautifully dark slice of social observation. However, for me, the best track on the album is "Two Fingers". It's probably the most tuneful song;

by TOM DAVIES ¡UNO! is, incredibly, Green Day’s eighth studio album release, and part one of a trilogy of albums to be released in the coming months. Billie Joe Armstrong, Green Day’s frontman, declared earlier this year that “every song has the power and energy that represents Green Day on all emotional levels”. A big claim from the man behind the punk tour de force that was American Idiot and the revered classic that is Dookie. ¡UNO! is, in some respects, a departure from the recent protest/concept albums, American Idiot, and 21st Century Breakdown. But is it retrogression, or progression? “Nuclear Family” is a strong opener, setting a strong rhythm that is maintained for the

know what you’re thinking: hell no! But hear me out: The UK’s biggest exports are currently Coldplay and Mumford and Sons, which are very much the Dulux of music. You can dress it up as much as you like, but it’s still paint. It serves a purpose; it’s generally more expensive than you’d expect, and it’s only found exciting by people who don’t get out much. Then we have Muse, a band I have much adored in the past. Absolution is textbook melodrama and a really fantastic album. However, they’ve become a pastiche of themselves, like a 21st century Kiss: superb display, but with a crushing lack of substance. New music is causing little respite. It’s incredibly formulaic and hard to get excited by. A bit like a Sandra Bullock film, there’s a bit of hype

before the release, the brief enjoyment whilst it runs its course, then the slap in the face obvious ending. (She gets the guy). So is rap the new rock? It’s currently far more exciting for a start. Superstars such as Kanye West and Eminem are currently producing consistent, insightful and incredibly produced material. Watch The Throne is a great example of how collaborations can work. With regards to new music, the underground rap scene is currently living its own renaissance, with Odd Future stealing all the press with their polemical and generally fantastic material, and Donald Glover, aka Childish Gambino, is bringing tight production and contemporary self-analytical lyrics alongside lines about swag. Or...I’ll just stick to Sandra Bullock films. You decide!

by STEFAN WILSON

hopelessly romantic and hopefully optimistic at the same time. The lyrics - “So I kissed goodbye to every little ounce of pain/light a cigarette and wish the world away/I got out, I got out, I'm alive and I'm here to stay" - might well be the best I've heard all year. It may also be the best song I've heard all year. This albums maturity betrays Bugg's age; at times it flirts with the upper echelons of brilliance, but always sounds grounded, and it is wonderfully introspective. His vocal range is splendid, and his songs are written with a depth that most artists never achieve. Somehow or other, this 19 year old lad from Nottingham has managed to combine the swagger of Cash, and Dylan, with that uniquely British sound, and he is an undoubtedly precocious talent. Listen hard and listen long; beneath the resonance and skiffle, the brilliance is there to see. Jake Bugg, welcome to the main stage.

majority of the album. It has a real end of the world vibe to it and snarls to its conclusion. It has an urgency that the rest of the album struggles to follow though, and the follow up, “Stay The Night” really does just go through the motions, and is a b-side at best. “Carpe Diem” has a catchy chorus (Carpe Diem/ A battle cry/ Are we all too young to die?) but this just masks how poor a song it actually is. “Kill the DJ”, the second single, is one of the more interesting tracks; its punk-ska vibes are the most accomplished musically. But the general premise of the song, in which Armstrong inexplicably uses expletives in the absence of better lyrics, is deeply flawed, and a missed opportunity. However, “Let Yourself Go” is a really good track; it’s honest, and quite apt for a 40 year old punk to be singing - especially consider-

RAP: the new rock? by HARRY BRADFORD

October Issue 2012

die hard Muse fan writing a less than complimentary review of his heroes? I wish I could praise every single track, but there really isn’t much to praise. “Supremacy” is a good track, but too much like a Bond title theme. However, if you're a fan of Bellamy's classic riffs and wailing falsetto, you'll enjoy it. “Madness” is an odd one. When I first heard it, I was scratching my head, questioning if this was a positive direction for Muse. However, after a few listens, I’ve completely fallen in love with it. Bellamy's vocal is smooth, yet powerful. It does sound like Queen, but I’m sure Muse won’t mind the comparisons. “Panic Station” would be a great track on its own. Simple as that. It opens with a great, funk inspired

ing Billie Joe’s recent antics (see Hail & Fail!). I was incredibly sceptical about the album’s closer, “Oh Love”, when I first heard it, but it’s a definite grower. It could be about 2 minutes shorter though. The key to reviewing albums is objectivity, and in all honesty, I’ve really struggled with ¡UNO!. I really, really love Green Day. I could happily bob my head and sing along to this album all day, basking in its warm, melodic choruses, and give it a nice shiny 4. But ¡UNO!’s familiarity isn’t a good thing - compared to their previous releases it’s somewhat sub standard. Hopefully, ¡Dos!, and ¡Tré!, will be improvements. ¡UNO! is average at best, and an exercise in growing old disgracefully.

bass line and Bellamy's vocal is absolutely flawless. I've listened to the whole album numerous times, but it just doesn't flow. It jumps from funk to “Prelude’, a completely instrumental piano piece, and it sounds pretentious and unnecessary. Then we have the official Olympic song “Survival”. You've probably all formed your own opinions; for me it sounds like Muse got the call from the International Olympic Committee the night before the opening ceremony, and hastily threw something together. The album ends with a two-parter entitled The 2nd Law. The first part is 'Skrillex inspired dubstep', that sounds nothing like Skrillex, and the second part combines newscaster sound bites, ambient piano and

heavily synthesised voices. Muse wanted to go in a new direction, but their sound so lovingly mastered in Origin of Symmetry and Absolution is what the fans want. Resistance seemed to be the beginning of the end, and their latest effort has done nothing to stem the tide.

October Issue 2012

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hAIL & fAIL

nicki minaj

Billie Joe (Green Day) may have gone completely mental, but his stint in rehab shouldn’t undermine the value of his outburst in Vegas. Here is a taster... “What the fuck! I’m not fucking Justin Bieber, you motherfuckers.” Brilliant.

Just ‘cause. This woman is genuinely vile, and a terrible role model to the youth of today. Her antics at T in the Park this summer highlight what a classless individual she is. Avoid at all costs!

Bruce springsteen

one direction

Once again lending his presence to a Democrat campaign waning before election. Whatever your views on Obama, at least The Boss knows that Mitt Romney must be kept out at all costs. American politics blah blah blah - it affects us too!

If they’re not already killing music enough as it is, they’ve just blatantly ripped off The Clash’s punk classic “Should I Stay or Should I Go” on new single, “Live While We’re Young”. One Direction should most definitely go.

The joy Formidable

ticketmaster

This North-Walian band continue to hit new heights. They’ve toured with Foo Fighters and Muse and new single ‘Cholla’ is epic. And they’re playing in Bangor on the 25th October at Hendre Hall. Win!

Obviously not a musician, but affects music lovers all the same. The sometimes reliable ticket outlet has started charging customers £2.50 to print their own tickets, using their own paper and ink. Ridiculous!

Live @ Central Station, wrexham, 15th october 2012 by TOM DAVIES

o, Palma Violets. NME’s cover recently celebrated the ten year anniversary of The Libertines’ Up The Bracket, unquestionably one of the best British albums of the last ten years. However, the week before that, you’d have found Palma Violets plastered across the front of its’ contentious pages. At this early stage in their career (“Best of Friends” is their only single so far) it is a massive achievement, and a throwback to when The Libertines first graced that same cover, with only one single to their name. This does have the effect of turning up the hype to 11, in Spinal Tap

fashion, and many young bands would wilt under the expectation. Except they were brilliant. Really, really, brilliant. The intimacy of the venue brought the music alive and the crowd soaked up the intensity of the wall of sound in front of them. Much has been made of Chilli (bassist) and Sam’s (lead) relationship, and comparisons to Pete and Carl do have some foundation, but the Violet’s sound is rooted somewhere between Ramones and Joy Division. “Best of Friends” was performed with sheer verve, and a raw, endearing energy. Don’t dismiss this band as another ‘indie’ upstart: rock and roll may well and truly be back.

Music

MUMFORD & SONS

Our selection of who’s hot and who’s not in music

BILLIE JOE

BABEL

by ROBYN WYNN

eleased 21st September, Mumford and Sons’ long awaited second album, Babel, has smashed 2012’s sales re-cords worldwide, becoming the fastestselling album of the year in the US, which is no mean feat for any band. Within the album, there is an endearing assimilation of bluegrass, Irish folk, gutsy strumming, and interesting cross rhythms associated with classical composers long dead. For strong yet simple harmonies, “I Will Wait” is the most recognisably ‘Mumford’, but the best for me is “The Boxer”. A bonus track on the

‘deluxe version’ of Babel, it features Jerry Douglas and Paul Simon. It appears on Douglas’ album, The Traveller, too, and combines the smooth sound of Douglas, the ingenious wordsmith Paul Simon, and the rustic folk vibe and harmonies of Mumford and Sons. One of the most charming elements of their first album was the unrehearsed, choppy nature of it. This has been preserved somewhat for Babel, but it has unfortunately acquired a colder, polished effect to some of the songs. However, aside from a typically catchy tune or two, they’re suffering from second album syndrome. Perhaps take two is never as good

as the original, or perhaps the style of the music makes most of the numbers too similar. It doesn’t feel like they’re letting us, the audience, in very much. It might be that, unlike folk-pop greats like Joni Mitchell and to an extent, Paul Simon, they seem uncomfortable to engage with any current subjects; there are no politics, personal opinions or protest. A missed opportunity to do something meaningful.

COMPETITION For the chance to win one of 3 fantastic pairs of tickets to see either:

SKINDRED, INSPIRAL CARPETS, or ELECTRIC SIX all you need to do is answer this super easy question.

What year did Wrexham’s Central Station open for business? a) 1947 b) 2000 c) 1983 Enter online on our website here: seren.bangor.ac.uk/competitions/central-station-oct-2012

DE SCAN THIS COIN E TO ENTER ONL

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Books

October Issue 2012

Man Booker Prize Winner 2012 by LAURA JONES

The winner of the Man Booker Prize in 2012 has been announced, and Hilary Mantel has done it again. Awarded the prize for her novel Wolf Hall in 2009, Mantel has now achieved the top spot for her novel Bring Up the Bodies. The book is a sequel to the previous Man Booker Prize winning novel, and follows the life and times of Thomas Cromwell, living in the court of Henry VIII. It is a thrilling Historical novel that follows relationships within the Monarchy, adding a fictional flourish to events of the past. Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies are part of a trilogy by Mantel, and will be followed by the final instalment, The Mirror and the Light. Can Mantel pull a hat-trick? We will have to wait and see. Bring Up the Bodies is currently available on Amazon for £8.99.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

by LJ TAYLOR To me there are three types of readers. There’s the book lovers who will read every book ever because reading is everything. Then there’s

On the Road by Jack Kerouac

by GEORGIA MANNION On The Road is an important book for a number of reasons. It is credited with beginning, or at least catalysing, the American road-story genre. Much like other books of the same movement, On The Road is important because it was so shocking and graphic for its time. Kerouac spoke explicitly about drugs, sex and “bum” life. These are all themes that were central to the “Beat” movement that the book belongs to. The story is reality thinly veiled with pseudonyms. Sal Paradise (Kerouac) and Dean Moriarty (Neal Cassidy) spend their days chasing women, drinking excessively and hitching rides across America, and discussing the material of the universe. It sounds exciting, and often it is. The story is real and gritty, with Kerouac balancing humour and poignancy exceptionally well. Much in the way that in real life you can just have a

the forced to read readers who have to read things for classes. And then there’s me; I’ll only read something if I have a prior vested interest in the book or topic of the book. The only things I’ve read in the last few years have been novelisations of video games. So when I heard that Perks was being made into a movie starring both Logan Lerman and Emma Watson I thought I’d give it a go. The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky, is, to put it simply, a 224 page masterpiece. From suicide to drug use, homosexuality to abuse, it bravely covers pretty much every topic that could form adolescence. And Chbosky tackles each one with ease. The book, written as a series of letters to the anonymous ‘Dear Friend’, chronicles fifteen-year old Charlie’s first year of high school. After his only friend, Michael, commits suicide, Charlie is left with no friends and feeling even more outcasted than before. He hopes that if he can only make a friend he will be able to put his past behind him and finally begin to ‘participate’. Chbosky’s understanding of the teenage mind is evident, all of Charlie’s worries and doubts are those

that I daresay most of us are familiar with. There’s a whole other layer to Charlie though, one that even the most talented of writers would struggle with. Chbosky secures himself as a more than talented writer with his deep understanding of his character and the many layers of Charlie that he writes. Starting high school turns out to be good for him when he meets two seniors; Patrick and his step-sister Sam. The two warm to Charlie and let him into their world of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, parties and drugs. However, the sudden falling out with his new friends sends Charlie all the way back to where he started, an outsider once more. He finds himself getting more and more immersed in the books that his teacher, Bill, gives to him to read. Charlie is a thinker and the characters in his books all influence the way he thinks in different ways. Not able to talk to his family or friends he finds that the books are the only thing he has. The books and the letters. Each of Charlie’s experiences build up to the book’s shocking and heartwrenching finale in which he makes a shocking discovery about himself

feeling about someone, Kerouac has a way of describing people that means you know them completely without knowing them very well at all. It is possible, if not likely, that Kerouac was in love with Cassidy. They had a relationship in some form, but Kerouac suggests that the character Carlo Marx (Allen Ginsberg) is Dean’s only male love interest. Earlier, more obvious versions of the book detailed these activities too explicitly for the public at the time (it is important to remember that homosexuality was illegal in America when On The Road was published in 1957). Through Kerouac’s rose tinted Ray Bans, Dean is an angel. Even Allen Ginsberg calls him the “Adonis of Denver”, and yet he lies, cheats, steals and blames his absent father for it all. Kerouac skims over the subject of race and racial stereotypes more than addresses them. Sal and Dean crash into a jazz club where black people dance to black jazz, bop and swing artists like Thelonious Monk in a way that white America was completely unaware of, or was doing its best to ignore. There is a poignant

moment where Kerouac reflects on the energy and life in that club and others like it. He breezes past deeper discussions of race, throws in the odd derogatory term (you have been warned) and manages to boil every-

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that explains exactly why he’s the way he is. Stephen Chbosky’s timeless novel is brilliant in every way. While we

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Chbosky’s understanding of theteenage mind is evident, all of Charlie’s worries and doubts are those that I daresay most of us are familiar with.

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don’t know or understand Charlie at first we immediately want things to be better for him. As the story continues you can’t help but fully assume the role of the ‘friend’ that Charlie is so in need of. If, like me, you don’t find a lot of time for books and don’t really have the attention span, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is definitely something worth giving a go. I was hooked instantly and by the end of the day had finished it. Though I desperately wanted more. Luckily, the movie adaptation is now out in the UK and you can read about it on our Film page.

Kerouac has a way of describing people that means you know them completely without knowing them very well at all.

thing down to “kicks”. The book is certainly worth reading. It was an important book for its time and kick-started an entire genre of books and films. America fell in love with the open road. The story gives insight into the way the world worked, and how one group of people connected across the huge American landscape and challenged social norms by living outside them and writing about an alternative life to the suffocating 9-5 treadmill. The collective work of this movement inspired the hippies of the 60s.

Book on a Budget

Kerouac’s writing style is refreshing, and if you are looking for an interesting story you will enjoy this book. I find The Dharma Bums, a later but somewhat similar novel, to be a far more satisfying read because Kerouac actually stumbles upon content of substance and doesn’t involve the still-drunk-and-behaving-inappropriately-hungover sidekick that is Dean Moriarty. In summary, you should read On The Road, even if you find it a little bit obnoxious.

by JAMES GIBLIN

am well aware that, as a university student, finances are tough. With many popular books costing anywhere from £8 to £15, it is unrealistic to fund a consistent supply of literature. In fact, it is difficult at times to fund the purchase of literature for your respected studies, let alone for leisure. Therefore, I decided that a good idea to promote reading would be to champion great literature which can also be purchased cheaply. The book I shall be promoting is The Liar by Stephen Fry. As a well known public figure, comedic actor and presenter, his role as a novelist is often overlooked. His fictional work in particular gets very little mention next to his many great achievements. Fry has written several novels including The Hippopotamus, Making History and The Stars’ Tennis Balls; but it is The Liar which stands as his greatest novel. Published in 1991, the story follows the humorous life of Adrian Healey from a public school adolescent to post-graduate espionage. In works of fiction, Fry is free to illustrate his wealth of literary knowledge, resulting in a novel which oozes with confidence and wit. The Liar displays the uncertainty of The Catcher in the Rye’s Holden Caulfield as well as the lust-fuelled vanity of Wilde’s Dorian Gray. The result of this is a tale which fills the reader with that relatable sense of self doubt which grips us in our late teens and early twenties. Along with several of Fry’s literary works, The Liar can be regularly found in HMV for £3, making it a great bargain for such a well written novel. If it can’t be found there, it can also be purchased at a cost-effective price from Amazon. As a novel which progresses through university life, it contains many relatable moments and quips that make it a wonderful leisurely read between assignments.

October Issue 2012

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Halloween Reads Scare Yourself; Read a Book Celebrate by SAM SAUNDERS

ancy being anti-social, staying in and avoiding the nightlife this Halloween, but still want to get involved with the spirit (no pun intended) of things? Well here’s a little bit of advice for you; What better way to scare yourself this than with a good, old fashioned and grisly horror book? Yes, the age-old watching-a-scary-film-until-youshriek-yourself-silly idea is all well and good, but it does all the work for you. Reading a horror story allows you, as the reader, to scare yourself as much as you want, or as little as you want. Sounds like a win-win, but there’s a catch. It’s tough to find decent horror, these days. It’s not a well known genre anymore, probably thanks to Hollywood. Sure, the classics, Bram Stoker, Mary Shelley, etc, are clearly brilliant, but are also all over-read, over analysed and in some cases, overly put to film, so much so that we know what’s coming. In short, the genre of horror within literature seems to (perhaps unfortunately) been in a steady, slow decline over recent years (the term ‘horror’ now, more often than not, seems to come under some other genre, like ‘crime’ or ‘thriller’). But, if one looks hard enough, one can find some really quite interesting books to get your adrenaline flowing this Halloween. Here are some Halloween reading recommendations to create some real fear inside readers this October 31st (in no particular order):

Dan Simmons Simmons is renowned for his meticulously researched and extensively detailed books, which makes for some really gruesome reading. He omits nothing from his writing, which sometimes makes the books borderline horrific. Perhaps one of his most famous is his novel entitled Drood, set in the Victorian period and featuring novelists Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins at the centre of a grisly set of murders. Drood is a tale of would-be betrayal and suspicion, not for the fainthearted but well worth a read.

Chuck Palahniuk The man behind the original Fight Club novel has a habit of making even his non-horror novels as dark as possible, so imagine the type of story his dedicated, actual horror books would leave readers. One such novel, sinisterly entitled Lullaby is definitely worth a read if one is looking to scare oneself. Without giving too much away, think The Ring but with a more literary twist. Worth your time, for certain.

Mark Danielewski Danielewski is probably one of the most clever horror writers of the new millennium. His novels (notably House of Leaves) twists words and narratives to create suspense, as well as having terrifying content as well. Danielewski also plays with both conventions of horror stories (think you know how haunted house stories work? Think again.) and genre as if it’s a child’s toy, pushing it to the limits, mixing things like formal reports to diary entries to normal prose to leave a reader shaking, wishing they could put the book down.

Stephen King He’s just unavoidable in a round-up like this. Stephen King is responsible for some of the most unsettling, terrifying and downright grisly horror novels in the business, such as The Plant and Cell. In fact, his career has been so extensive and successful, that King is probably the one horror writer whose post 2000 career has allowed him to actually become a household name. So therefore, if you haven’t read anything by him, and you like being scared, go and get one of his novels right now and read it right away.

Justin Cronin Vampire fiction? We all know the immediate reaction of most people at the sound of those words. With the rise of the ‘romanticvampire’ type-story (mentioning no names, of course), vampires seem to have lost that scary edge that Christopher Lee once famously brought to the silver screen. Happily, it’s not all doom and gloom, because Hemingway Award winning American author Justin Cronin’s trilogy of vampirebased stories (starting with The Passage) bring the idea of the vampire away from romance and back where it belongs, in the middle of a grisly horror story. It’s excellent, and possibly the vampire’s saving grace.

o get reading, Halloween isn’t all about scary films and trick or treating. Do something different. If you’re looking for a real fright, then the best piece of advice to take is to head down to the library and pick up one of these. You won’t regret it.

All Hallow’s Read

by ELSPETH RUDD

ll Hallow’s Read is a recent Halloween tradition invented by best-selling author Neil Gaiman in 2010. The premise is simple: give someone a scary book for Halloween. It’s a great way to get people reading and to share your favourite horror stories (or give away that book that gave you nightmares). It’s also a brilliant way to celebrate Halloween. Now this could

just be me and my excessive horror film collection, but show me a scary film and you will not get much of a reaction out of me, other than an appreciation of gore. Give me a scary book to read? I’ll turn all the lights on, make sure my back is firmly against the wall, refuse to leave the safety of my bed and read that thing ‘til the sun comes up. I don’t know what it is, but books have the power to terrify me, and Halloween just

isn’t any fun without that little bit of fear creeping up my spine. Let’s face it; no one’s going to be losing sleep because of your oh-so-horrifying werewolf costume are they? So why not give your friends a genuine scare, and find them a terrifying tale from your friendly local bookseller or charity shop? It’ll be like Christmas come early, just with more blood and stuff. And who knows? Maybe you’ll get a scary book in return.

Books New & Future Releases

Gothic Fiction

by TOM HAYNES

s a literary genre, Gothic fiction is often classified as combining elements of horror and romance, as well as other features including melodrama and parody. Popular in the late 18thearly 19th century, many critics agree that it originated with the release of Horace Walpole’s 1764 novel The Castle of Otranto. Featuring the character Manfred, a lord of a castle, and the inexplicable death of his son Conrad before his wedding, it inspired Clara Reeve’s The Old English Baron, and set the tone for many canonised works that followed it. Anne Radcliffe is often credited with developing the “explained supernatural” element of gothic fiction with her novels The Mysteries of Udolpho and The Italian, in which every supernatural event was eventually found to be something natural. Her style attracted many imitators, making the genre highly popular, however it eventually became seen as somewhat predictable. By this point, the gothic genre had also spread to continental Europe, with French writers such as Francois Guillaume Ducray-Duminil, and the German writer Friedrich Von Schiller creating works in this style. By the Victorian era, the Gothic had ceased to be a dominant genre in terms of commercial success, however some critics argue that this is when it entered its most creative phase. An innovative interpreter of the era was Edgar Allan Poe, who focused on the psychology of his characters and their descent into madness, as oppose to the traditional elements of the genre. As the 19th Century progressed, mainstream writers such as Charles Dickens would become inspired by the Gothic – as reflected in the imagery of novels such as Bleak House and Great Expectations, and by the end of the century, the genre had a significant revival. This is reflected in works such as The Phantom of The Opera (1909), and Dracula (1897). In the post-Victorian era, the gothic tradition lived on with writers such as Algernon Blackwood, and Marjorie Bowen, and contemporary writers such as Stephen King, who may also be seen to borrow gothic sensibilities in their works. It is all part of a tradition that is much loved across the world up to the present day, inspiring further literature, as well as films and other media, which resonate particularly poignantly at this time of year.

Oh Dear Silvia by Dawn French

Oh Dear Silvia follows the life of a character who has a dark secret. When she lies unconscious in a hospital bed, the truth is set to come out.

Standing in Another Man’s Grave by Ian Rankin John Rebus returns after five years of retirement in an attempt to discover the truth about a series of disappearances stretching back to the millennium.

Proof of Heaven by Eben Alexander Dr Eben Alezander finds his Scientific beliefs to be questioned after recovering from massive brain damage. Dr Alexander shares his experience, speaking of how his experience has made him believe in life beyond death.

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Health and Beauty

October Issue 2012

Get the look... The Chelsea Girl (Millie Mackintosh) Millie Mack says that “a dewy complexion is flattering”. So to get the Millie Mack look, it’s all about highlighting the T-zone of your face. Focus on highlighting the inner eye and brow bone to emphasise your eyes. Using rich gold’s and browns for eye shadow colour gives the make up a glam but elegant look. Millie tends to wear lots of false lashes (try her new nouveau lash range!). Also use a soft neutral lip colour and lots of bronzer to create a sun kissed Millie Mackintosh look!

Thanks to Harriet’s Beauty Team: Ailish Bumpus Becki Watson Grace Coggins Marta Napodan Faith Spencer Laura Weaver Charlotte Harris

Nail Looks... “The Seren” The Candy Stripe

What you need: A small glass of vodka 10 strips of newspaper (bigger than your nails) Use a LIGHT nailpolish. (white, clear, light pink, etc. anything LIGHT) dip your painted nails in the alcohol for a while so the whole nail is wet press a strip of the newspaper on your nail and hold firmly for 30 seconds and remove- simple! Try using splatters of red nail polish to give “The Seren” the perfect halloween twist!

Use a clear/clearish colour as a base for the polish then paint half the nail one colour and half other colour (repeat if the colour is not strong enough). Then, once dry, paint a thin line using the final colour down centre where other two colours meet.

October Issue 2012

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Health and Beauty

Beating the Winter Blues... In 1847, Hungarian physician Ignaz Semmelweis discovered the vital link between hand washing and cross infection. 165 years later and over a quarter of our hands have STILL been found to be grossly contaminated with countless germs and even traces of faecal matter! So washing your hands regularly could prevent you getting those nasty winter bugs which are circling your group of friends. Sneaky tip: Pick up Simple’s Anti-Bacterial Handwash to remove everyday germs on the go (available at Boots for just £1.50)

Drink lots of fluids… The importance of drinking water! My friends complain relentlessly when I nag them to drink more fluids. But there is method in my madness! You probably already know that the human body contains around 60% water, but I bet you didn’t know the functions of water in your body. They include: • • • • • • • •

Transports nutrients and oxygen into cells Moisturizes the air in lungs Helps with metabolism Protects our vital organ Helps our organs to absorb nutrients better Regulates body temperature Detoxifies Protects and moisturizes our joints

What is Seasonal Affective Disorder? Seasonal Affective Disorder (or SAD), is a type of winter depression which affects up to 7% of the UK’s population- particularly in the looming winter months.

What are the symptoms of SAD? The symptoms of SAD are similar to those of normal depression, however occurring prominently during certain parts of the year. The symptoms are often caused by the reduced exposure to direct sunlight, which occurs during the winter months. Symptoms of SAD include: • • • • • • • •

feeling irritable feelings of despair feelings of guilt and worthlessness low self-esteem indecisiveness tearfulness feeling stressed or anxious a reduced sex drive

Tips on preventing SAD: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Keep active Keep warm Eat healthily Get outside See your friends and family Take up a new hobby

For more information on how to prevent, or seek help if you think that you are suffering from SAD, go to… www.nhs.uk/conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder/pages/ introduction.aspx

Because of our love of alcohol, we are at great risk of dehydration. The Department of Health recommends that we drink 1.2 litres of water per day (that’s 6-8 glasses!). If you don’t drink enough, your body is sure to tell you: • • • • • • • •

Seasonal Affective Disorder

Natalie Imbruglia was diagnosed with SAD whilst missing the Aussie sunshine when in London during the winter.

“

Tiredness Migraine Constipation Muscle cramps Irregular blood pressure Kidney problems Dry skin 20% dehydrated= risk of death... eek!

I do have a tendency to lean towards melancholy,’ she says ‘I’ll gorge myself on pasta.

Also, the brain consists of 90% water. So as University students, we need to drink more water to get our brains ticking!

BANANABERRY SMOOTHIE As well as lots of water, build up your defences by drinking up to 2 glasses of fresh orange juice a day. Orange juice is a great source of Vitamin C, which has also proven to lower blood pressure and cut the risk of heart disease. Tip: Try making your own smoothies! They’re a great way to help fight off any colds, or to maintain your health in general. They also give you an extra hand in making sure you get your 5-a-day! Here’s an easy, yummy recipe to try yourself

Banana Berry: • • •

I cup of frozen berries 2 bananas ½ cup of apple juice

Whizz all of the ingredients using a blender (available from ASDA for only £12) until smooth and… Ta Dah! One simple smoothie ready for you to pour and enjoy!

seren.bangor.ac.uk

October Issue 2012

PARISFASHIONWEEK

[McQueen]

SS 2013

arah Burton took one motif - the honeybee - and ﬂew with it. From the crystal-ﬁlled Perspex heels of her honeycomb-latticed boots, to the wide brims of her bee-embroidered apiculturalist’s hats bees were a theme from which the Alexander McQueen collection harvested every possible reference. The workmanship - much of it by McQueen’s 16-strong London team, the rest by their colleagues in Italy - was wonderful. Gold-on-black jacquard trousers and shorts and jackets that featured pumped up hips rippled with a beguiling iridescence, while chokers and cuffs were covered in jewelled swarms of the insects that looked worryingly realistic. The show evolved from peek-a-boo tailoring to meshy vamp gear that had a slick, syrupy sheen to it and was worn under bee-studded, tortoiseshell-pattern bustiers.

the honeybee

here was a real sensuality to the show. Models, their faces half hidden by designer versions of beekeeper bonnets, marched down the runway in golden honeycomb printed suits, shorts, and dresses with wasp waistlines accentuated with wide belts. A slightly more S&M option to the pattern came out in graphic see-through black lacquered lace ensembles, which featured resin colored corsetry, bustiers or harness-like armature that brought to mind hardened honey. The show then went into the meadows for beautiful and extravagant tiered corseted, caged and crinoline gowns that wouldn’t look out of place for one moment on Scarlett O’Hara and which came smothered at their hems with poppies and ﬂowers. The ball gowns came in cerise and, of course, soft honey, and up top were basques of the same molten sweetness. Some featured transparent skirts to reveal the boning below, or bust-lines half-peeled to reveal a black honeycomb mesh bra arrangement. As Burton said afterwards, “It was looking at womanhood and embracing the female form. I wanted it to feel sensual. I wanted to have a lightness to it and I wanted it to feel erotic but not in an overly ﬂeshy kind of way.”

:SHOW Review by Kaden Wild

http://www.seren. bangor.ac.uk/category/ lifestyle/fashion/

ALEXANDER McQueen SS13

2012

:RADAR

LONDONFW 2012

KATIE EARY

SS 2013

Name: Katie Eary Occupation: Ta i l o r / M e n s wear Designer Hometown: Stevenage Current Location: London, Great Eastern St. Star Sign: Virgo

FASHION Health and Beauty on the

Website

crocodile jackets and oversized rucksacks, to the pure silk shirts, which billowed in oranges and hypnotic aqua blue pool patterns. The dominating sight of baroque architectural prints was at its most powerful when jersey was fused with neoprene. What we’ll be asking for at Christmas is the rolled-up beach towel holder, more suited for Saint Tropez than California, its sausage dog shape perfect to carry around under your arm. Some might consider it kitschy, but schlepping a towel without a strap is not even nearly fabulous enough for Katie Eary.

ut of nowhere, Katie Eary has emerged as one of the hottest British designers said to be destined to be on par as Seren fave McQueen. Eary shook things up at her debut show like the Manchester raves were back in style. It was endearing to see a content designer let go after what has surely been a busy couple of months. Her youthfulness, which shone through in that moment, was emblematic of what we saw on the runway. It was blingy, but in all the right ways. We were showered with gold, apparently inspired by ﬁgures of Californian skaters. Almost all male models were busy holding onto their skates while marching down the catwalk, trying to focus while bikini-clad girls were prancing in front of them. Glistening was the word of the day. Everything shone, from patent white embossed

Style 2013

IGGY FOR HOH Scan the QR code with your smartphone!

:CELEB

Iggy Azalea, Australian underground hip-hop sensation, is certainly not shy of the camera.

n her hits ‘Pu$$y’ and ‘Murda Business (featuring T.I.),’ the hip-hop artist proves she’s no wallﬂower, and we absolutely love her for it. And after signing with Wilhelmina Models this summer, she’s now taking over the fashion industry with her hipster-street chic and unapologetic philosophy. Iggy has landed the perfect campaign for her glamourpuss street style -she’s the face of House of Holland’s new sunglasses range. From her bold fashion statements as a hiphop artist, Iggy is a perfect ﬁt for the wild prints, neon colours and geometric eyewear of HOH. With a clear, azure sky backdrop behind her, Iggy rocks the bright lippie and signature tight blonde locks. But most importantly, along with inspiring us to get holiday ready, Iggy embodies the glamorous-but-daring individualism that is synonymous with the of House of Holland aesthetic. In a campaign brimming with rebellious attitude (and juicy Popsicle colours), we’re convinced that it’s a match made in heaven. And Henry Holland seems to agree, dubbing Iggy Azaela ‘the perfect ambassador for House of Holland eyewear.’ He also notes that ‘Iggy is super-hot in every sense.’ We can’t argue with him there! We hope this is the beginning of a long and fruitful house-to-muse relationship. Check out the Iggy Azalea for HOH campaign above and see if you’re sunny-inspired.

October Issue 2012

seren.bangor.ac.uk

:SEREN STYLE

Your Style! fashion inspiration from real people around the world. Submit at fashion@seren.bangor.ac.uk

:YOURSTYLE

SIMONA M. SWISS DOTS EMBROIDERED TOP, ZARA TAPESTRY JACKET, BOOHOO BELL BOTTOM JEANS, ZARA

All looks from

SEREN STYLE

are using products from RIVER ISLAND IAN R. SUNGLASSES, RAY-BAN OMBRE SWEATER - DIY BLACK SKINNY JEANS , TOPMAN, BROGUE BOOTS, ASOS

TOPSHOP

NEW LOOK

T-SHIRT, H&M CROSS NECKLACE & DENIM JACKET, TOPSHOP LEGGINS & BAG, NEW LOOK BOOTS, RIVER ISLAND

CREEPY CORNER

seren.bangor.ac.uk

October Issue 2012

Want your work in the Creative Corner? Email: creative@seren.bangor.ac.uk

Skulls by Kimberley Carter

Beyond my borrowed windowpane Beyond my borrowed windowpane Streetlights, window lamps, knife fights, the swampy mist-riddled night. Lame spectres, frostbitten ghouls, staggering prodigal from cavernous bars. But I’ve stayed in tonight, another tenant of the world, my off-white flag unfurled. A traffic cone my reward, an internet-savvy fraud.

Magpie Teeth I scarcely walked amongst the frightened trees When buzzing signals came upon the breeze. The taste of steel, Cracking in the bracken, Crunching on the gravel, Croaking in the marshes. Rolling down the sad forest paths Clicking and clacking over nature’s golden hearths. - By Tom Emlyn Williams

Moth

By Sam Emery

By Kris Humphreys

weak and worrying romantic ideas of martyrdom giving up the ghost of self-happiness, for others letting a future fail all to build someone else’s and hanging myself to prop up another’s. —————————————————— do doubts make me wrong a coin spins in the air i’ll split in half just to make it fair but it’s not down to chance or a winnable fight or why i even care in the end, it’s about what’s right. —————————————————— the only place where my hand’s work fixing smashed bulbs that would grow bigger and brighter till i can’t hold on anymore with beautiful, bleeding palms cause i don’t understand any of them i just like the light. - By Aaron Holtappel

See more students work online!

By Kris Humphreys

How To Make...Terrifying Halloween Decorations (Really Cheap) Glowing Ghosts

You will need...glow sticks, balloons, a Sharpie, translucent cloth, sticky tape, string. 1. Activate the glowstick, and place inside the balloon, blowing it up so it fits. Knot the end.

2. Using a Sharpie, draw a face on the balloon. 3. Cover the balloon in cloth, and stick to the balloon with tape. 4. Cut a hole in the top of the cloth, and thread through with string, giving you a way to tie the ghost onto something. 5. Hang the finished ghost from a location of your choice – e.g. window or tree.

Giant Spider

You will need...9 black bags, elastic bands, sticky tape, old newspapers, paper. 1. Fill a bin bag with old scrunched newspapers (or anything else you can find) to make a

Stick all the parts together. 3. Using paper, draw features such as eyes and a mouth. 4. Place the spider in the location of your choice e.g. front lawn.

Plastic Lid Pumpkins

body. Then do the same 8 times to make legs. Tie a knot at the ends. 2. Use elastic bands (or bobbles) to tie the legs in various places to make them narrower.

You will need...plastic lids, green paper, Sharpie, Orange Spraypaint. 1. Paint the lids orange (if they are not already). 2. Draw on a face using a Sharpie. 3. Stick a scrap of green paper on top as a stalk.

October Issue 2012

seren.bangor.ac.uk

THE ART OF TIM BURTON

With films such as Corpse Bride, Beetlejuice, and 2012’s Frankenweenie under his belt, Tim Burton’s imagery is a Halloween staple. As the 31st October approaches, Tom Haynes looks at the work of the famous writer, artist, and director.

im Burton (August 25th 1958), was born and grew up in Burbank, California, the son of Jean Burton – a cat themed gift shop owner, and Bill Burton, a minor league baseball player. An introspective person, he found enjoyment through painting, drawing, and watching films during his teenage years, his idols including Roald Dahl, and Edgar Allan Poe. Following a spell at the California Institute of Art, he began working in the animation studios of Walt Disney, where his early work included being a storyboard artist on films such as The Fox and The Hound, and The Black Cauldron. It was while at Disney he wrote and directed his first short film- Vincent. A second and third short film followed – Hansel and Gretal , and Frankenweenie, which he would later rework into a full length film in 2012. A comic homage to Frankenstein, it introduced the dark and quirky themes that would later become his signature creative style. The film caught the eye of actor Paul Reubens, who then chose Burton to direct a cinematic spin off of his character Pee-Wee Herman. A commercial success, it grossed over $40 million in the box office, and led Burton to take the helm of big projects including Beetlejuice and 1989’s Batman. By the turn of the 1990’s, Burton began working on Edward Scissorhands, casting Johnny Depp in the title role – the first of eight films they would go on to collaborate in up until 2012. As the 90’s continued, Burton would go on to work on critical and office successes The Nightmare Before Christmas, James and The Giant Peach, and Sleepy Hollow. This trend for commercial success would continue into the noughties, with Burton directing the 2005 remake of Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, which grossed over $474 million at the box office. At the same time, Burton also began working on Corpse Bride, starring the voice of his Wife Helena Bonham Carter. Grossing over $100 million dollars, again it featured Burton’s trademark themes of life and death against a backdrop of dark imagery.

Burton’s artwork also began to receive significant attention towards the end of the noughties, with an exhibition featuring over 700 of his drawings, paintings, and photographs being featured in the Museum of Modern Art in New York in 2009. Subsequent exhibitions followed in Australia, Toronto, and Los Angeles, with an accompanying book – “The Art of Tim Burton” published in 2009. 2010 saw the release of Burton’s reworking of Lewis Carroll’s “Alice In Wonderland”. Making over a billion dollars in the box office, it has since become the twelfth highest grossing all time, whilst still retaining Burton’s iconic dark imagery, and featuring long term friends Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham-Carter. The success of the film signifies Burton’s immense commercial appeal as a creator, despite not losing sight of his unique dark vision, that will endure for generations to come.

Creepy Corner

Interview with Tim Dickinson With work exploring the darkest sides of human emotion, Tim Dickinson is one of Anglesey’s most intriguing artists. Tom Haynes gets an insight into the inspiration behind his work.

Times Square, New York. Can you tell us more about this?

Many of your artworks feature a single person in a simplistic setting? What inspires you to create work in this style, and what effect do you think it has? My whole philosophy is to try and cut away all that isn’t needed, to leave behind just the emotion or ideas I’m trying to convey. My work often deals with the darker emotions and I think this style echoes those feelings. The figure is very important, he is at times me, but more importantly I hope that he is the viewer, that they relate and almost become the figure, this is why he has no face and no real identity, he is no-one and everyone. Your images are often very sharp, and are in black and white. What materials do you use to create these images, and what other materials do you most like to use? I work almost exclusively in the digital format at the moment, so my tools are PhotoShop and my graphics tablet. When I do work in a more traditional way I like to use pen and ink or Acrylics. I’m really enjoying the digital medium and can’t see me moving over to more traditional media any time soon, although its always fun to do that now and then.

birth, so we’ve bought together a mix of her written work, and artwork for an exhibition - both portraiture and abstract work.” Bangor Art Gallery is open Saturday 10:30am -4:30pm , and Tuesday-Friday 12:30-4:30. Admission free

ting is still something that is hard to wrap my head around. Which other artists do you most admire, and who or what else inspires you? H.R. Giger is definitely one of my favourite artists, he is one of those rare artists that are truly original and bring a whole new style of art into the world. As for inspiration, I don’t really find inspiration from other places or people, for me its all about capturing a feeling or idea and usually that’s a very personal thing. I do always get inspired to produce work after visiting a gallery though, looking at art in general always does that for me. Finally, what advice would you give to aspiring artists?

What's on at Bangor Art Gallery? The work of one of Wales’ most famous artists of the 20th Century is making a splash at Bangor Art Gallery this autumn. Oil portraits and landscapes by Christopher Williams (1873-1934), will be exhibited until November 17th. Curator Esther Roberts said: “We’re really excited to bring this exhibition to Bangor. It’s great to have the work of such a significant artist from Wales shown locally”. Also exhibiting at the gallery is the work of late author and artist Brenda Chamberlain. Roberts added “2012 is the centenary of Chamberlain’s

I was involved in an event called “art takes Times Square” where my art was displayed on the big screens there, It was a great event with a street party and artists from all over the world taking part. It was really great to have my art displayed in such an iconic set-

You live in Anglesey. Do you feel this environment influences your work at all, and in what way? I think most of my work really comes from introspection, emotions and thought but I’m sure my environment has an effect on this, being the lone figure in a landscape is something that I’ve experienced many times here on Anglesey. Being in that environment can definitely make a person more introspective and philosophical. Your work was once displayed in

I would have to say be true to your art, by that I mean don’t compromise your art to try and make “popular” art. I think that if you want to develop your own style you have to do the art you believe in and that comes from you.

seren.bangor.ac.uk

Advice

Ali, are you okay?

PROCRASTINATION

o you remember in the first weeks, when you clawed your way to lectures with that morbid hangover? Do you remember when you put off reading those lecture slides and thought you’d do it when you got home? Well try and remember when they mentioned mid-terms. Yeah, those exams are 2 weeks away. Panic if you want to; here are some tips for beating Procrastination Sign out of Facebook. This is the absolute first step before any productivity. Think of your Facebook newsfeed as the view from the top of Snowdon, and think of logging in as the climb up it. Nobody really wants to climb Snowdon for the sake of climbing Snowdon. Make it harder for yourself to enjoy the landscape of your newsfeed by putting that log-in screen between you. It’s not much of a change, but it will shock you just enough into working. Procrastination increases exactly alongside the ease of distraction.

Go to the library.

Your bedroom is for sleep and sex only. Not only does revising in your room ruin your revision, but it also ruins your sleep schedule. It makes it harder for your noggin to know when to switch off if it’s just a 2-second walk back to bed. Just walking down to the common room/ library gets you in the working groove, and a new, uninfluenced setting means you can mentally associate what you like with it. So get revising.

October Issue 2012

Want advice? Email your questions to my ugly mug at editor@seren.bangor.ac.uk

Eat bananas.

If you’re a fatty like me, you’ll be perfectly aware when lunch and dinner should be eaten (i.e. all the time), yet the date of the deadline somehow eludes you. Take some bananas with you to the library. Besides looking like an utterly carefree badass; they fill you up just enough for you not to worry about how best to sear your chicken breast, but also don’t fill you up too much so that it becomes a game to see how silently you can release gas.

Get up in the morning

I don’t want to hear your rancid nonsense about how much more productive you are at night. You’re not. Wake up early and pull open the damn curtains, so your melatonin can stop being secreted and you can be more alert/ aware/attentive/alive/aroused.

Plan

If you fail to plan, you plan to fail; but if you plan too much, you... uh. Yeah, don’t go too far. Only write down general goals for the day. A key pitfall for most procrastinators is planning more than doing. Planning is important, yes, but if you consume yourself by adhering to a paragraph per/second ratio, you’ll only be distraught when you’re late for your hourly banana-eating session.

How to be alone

nly a month into University, and an article on how to be alone? I know half of you probably spent your entire summers cooped up doing close to naff all. But despite how lovely social interaction sometimes is, being alone is important. The more time you spend out with others, the more prone you are to absorbing their qualities. Taking an overdose of social interaction can make you lose sight of who you are, even if it isn’t as dramatic and visible as all of our teenage phases. Yes, I listened to Slipknot too. If you haven’t already, you might get overwhelmed from all the social activity. University is a big bowl of intense personalities. Cultured, bustling, active people from all corners of the country and beyond collect to this new, independent setting; which can make it close to impossible to spend any time alone at all. But like I said, it’s important. Besides making you infinitely more productive, exercising this independency puts you ahead of people who bound themselves by their peers. Not that it’s not fantastic to have friends, but when you

stop doing what you need to because your friends don’t want to do it, you’re not even being tactful, and you’re just not being honest. So let’s tackle the key to being alone, FOMO (Fear of Missing Out). The smart way to handle FOMO is not to try and convince yourself that you’re not missing out; that’s just not true. You are most definitely missing out on something. The key is to knowing that what you’re missing out on is completely insignificant. Whether your friends are watching a film, playing music, going clubbing or just chilling, it won’t be the last time they do it, and no particularly life-changing event will occur. In which case, people would be so desperate to share and tell you that you would know what it was like to be there anyway. So be chill, go home, and read a book. Besides, it’s basic economics that a reduction in supply causes an increase in demand. Reduce your appearances (supply) a little bit, and people will want to be around you more (demand). Don’t go overboard with that though; nobody likes a cave-dweller.

Websites you could/should be at If you’re happy and you know it, type happy. Then lay back and relax in your slacks, clean out your earwax and chill to tunes that sound happy. You type a word after ‘I feel...’ and stereomood gives a randomised playlist of songs that people tag with that emotion. It’s cooler than making your own playlists, trust me. http://www.stereomood.com/ At the primary seat of web activity, Reddit is split into ‘SubReddits’; sections where web-content runs out faster than the drunk wave hits you when you leave Paddy’s. Some examples include; Today I Learned, where people post weird and obscure facts; I Am A…, where members can ask questions to people they usually don’t get to; and EarthPorn, pretty pictures of Earth. It’s quite difficult to be bored when you’re reading Terry Crews post about he’s actually a fan of Ghost In The Shell (Celebrities post on Reddit too!).

http://www.reddit.com Think of StumbleUpon as a ‘best of’ video. It’s a big fat database for random links that Users ‘Discover’ and want to share with the rest of the internet. It’s cooler than it sounds; ‘Stumbling’ throws you to obscure links across the web, anything from Spiritual growth to funny GIFs. With the extent of effort being a mouse-click on a little logo in the corner, watch carefully as your attention span reduces perfectly in sync with how desperately you need to revise. http://www.stumbleupon.com

Because Openstreetmap is infinitely better than Google’s attempt. If you’re the type that wants to explore Bangor more than you want to explore how resilient your immune system is to STDs and alcohol poisoning, give it a look. It’s still in its Beta stages and doesn’t quite have the features Google Maps does, but it’s such a joy to use, and specific enough to even show footpaths hidden in forests. Dope. http://www.openstreetmap.org/ Google Drive and Dropbox are two Cloud Storage services. And while Cloud Storage sounds like Apple’s newly patented candy floss storage box, it’s actually nothing more confusing than a place on the internet to store your files, private or public. Google Drive gives you 5GB, and Dropbox starts you off with 2GB (which can expand up to 18GB based on how many idiots/ friends you can convince to sign up). It’s as simple as having your uploaded files wherever you have internet. Who even uses USBs any more? Google Drive/Dropbox Learn to program the hard way with this community and their bank of online resources. Verbal communication? Teamwork? Drive? Valuable skills, but knowing how to program makes you infinitely employable. Everybody wants a proficient programmer, and knowing how to won’t restrict you to any one field of work. Psychologists, think you’re safe? MATLAB. That is all.

http://www.programming-motherfucker.com

October Issue 2012

seren.bangor.ac.uk

The Puzzle Seren Guy

Breaktime

This issue we have a bumper load of puzzles for you. Seeing as it’s both Halloween and Movember soon, we have themed cross-words for both occasions. In addition to these fun-ﬁlled puzzlers, we have 2 sudokus of varying diﬃculty, a mental maths challenge and a spotting challenge! We do spoil you here at Seren!

Halloween crossword

Across

Down

6. Particular genre of horror film. Usually involves weaponry (7) 7. Freddy ____. Fingernails (7) 8. Most popular costume for adults in the US (5) 11. _____ activity (10) 14. Stephen ____. Horror author (4) 16. Classic ground-breaking horror film. (3,5) 18. Vampire TV show (4,5) 20. Process to remove an evil spirit from people (8) 22. Hills don’t have ears, what do they have? (4) 24. Author responsible for Cthulhu (1,1,9) 26. Not quite a ghost but spelt nearly the same (5) 27. Film franchise which is out of this world (5) 28. Thicker than water (5)

1. _____ or treat! (5) 2. Villain of the Saw franchise (6) 3. The most famous vampire of all (7) 4. Bright orange symbol of Halloween (7) 5. Horror video game set on an abandoned space ship (4,5) 9. First ‘monster’ to appear in a film (9) 10. Edgar ____ Poe. Famous author of ‘The Raven’ (5) 12. Author of famous book series, Goosebumps (1,1,5) 13. Violent killer using a chainsaw (11) 15. Beast of lycanthropy (8) 17. Undead brain eater (6) 19. Tim ____. Alternative director (6) 21. Bare bones (8) 23. Wailing lady horror (7) 25. You’ll never want to take a shower again (6) 27. Weapon. Alternative name for a guitar (3)

3 4

7 8 9 10 11

Sudoku

17 18

Puzzle 1 (Easy, difficulty rating 0.43)

23 24

8 1

4 2

8 27 28

ross Down Down Across ticular genre of horror film, 1 _____ or treat! (5) y or may not involvefor weaponry Villain of the with the best Saw beardfranchise of all (7) (6) 3. Acronym a leading cancer researcher 1. 2Wizard 3 The most famous vampire offor all (7) 2. In 2011, 7.89 _____ (GBP) was raised (3) (7) orange symbol of Halloween ddy _______. Needswrestler to trimwith hisbanging facial hair Movember 4 Bright 5. Former 4. _____ gernails (7)(4,5) (7)is power, moustache is king. Motto UKvideo (9) st popular8.adult costume for 5 Horror game set on an Quality often associated to those with a of Movember 6. Always get stuck in your beard (6)(4,5) beard (6) lloween in big, thewhite US (5) abandoned spaceship 7. Moustache related to Billy 9. Australian city where Movember began _________ activity (10) 9 The first 'monster'(6)to appear in a 9. Facialhorror hair encouraged (9) Horror author (4) phen _____. film (9) by Movember (9) 10. Cancer that Movember strives to defeat 10. Time in which people start to grow facial ssic groundbreaking horror 10 Edgar _____ Poe, Famous author of (8) hair (7) m, 1982 (3,5) The Raven (5)hair on the chin (4,5) 11. Single area of facial 12. Connecting hairline to beard (9) mpire TV show (4,5) 12 Author of famous series, by the 12. Short, prickly facial hair enjoyed 14. Name for a follower of Movember (2,3) ocess to remove an evil spirit Goosebumps (1,1,5) suave gentleman (7) m a person (8) Violent killerinusing a chainsaw 13.13 Movember started the year, two thou-(11) ey don't have ears (4) 15andBeast of lycanthropy (8) sand ____ (4) thor responsible for the 17 Undead brain eater (6) Puzzle 1 (Hard, difficulty rating 0.62) ation of Cthulhu (1,1,9) 19 Tim ______. Alternative director (6) arier than a ghost (5) 21 Bare bones (8) m franchise which is out of this 23 Wailing lady horror (7) 2 8 rld (5) 255 You'll never want 16 to take a shower cker than water (5) again (6) 9 7 5 27 A murderer's weapon of choice (3)

This is The Puzzler. He will be hiding somewhere in every issue, with a disguise. At the end of the year, if you found him every issue, you’ll have a chance at a great prize! Keep reading Seren for more information.

Facial hair crossword 4

6 8

8 1 7 4 With it being Movember next month, we've done a extra crossword for you puzzlers based all around Easy - 2 minutes

Hard - 10 minutes

Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/~jdhildeb/software/sudokugen/ on Mon Oct 22 21:25:14 2012 GMT. Enjoy!

2 3

4 5

6 7 8

8 6 3

7 7 6

2 5

x3.5

5 5

4 9

-108

÷0.5

8 3

3 7 4

Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/~jdhildeb/software/sudokugen/ on Mon Oct 22 21:25:22 2012 GMT. Enjoy!

x6 Mental Maths challenge. You have 30 seconds to do this fiendish puzzle. Good luck!

Across Acronym for a leading researcher in cancer

Down Magically grew the best beard of all (7)

seren.bangor.ac.uk

Travel

October Issue 2012

Where Have You Been This Summer? Morocco by JOSEF WILLIAMS

fter landing back in the UK after a ski season in France, I found myself with a severe case of itchy feet. I had four months to kill in Suffolk before heading back to Bangor and I realised quite rapidly that I couldn’t return to university in this state of mind. I’ve always had an interest in Morocco, its culture and history. So I started researching the Atlas Mountains and had soon planned a round trip of approximately 100 miles in 7 days. We started off in the village of

Tabant sitting at 1850m in the M’Goun Massif. We were met with the friendship and hospitality of the local Berber culture, who have their own customs and dialect as well as a long standing history with the Moroccan Arabs. We stayed in numerous “gites” along the way either in a room or pitched outside. The average room with board was around 100 Dirhams. So £6.50 got you not only a wellmaintained room but also breakfast, a tagine served with either a kilo of potatoes or couscous and a gallon of “tea de menthe”, locally called Berber whisky. The valley is fed by mountain streams, so while the sun is beating

down on your brow, you are surrounded by luscious green farmland, apple orchards and smiling faces. A five day trek along scorched plains and an awe-inspiring gorge took us out of the Massif and out to Kalaat M’Gouna. Then a terrifying taxi journey minus seat belts, took us on to Imlil, which standing at 4167m is the highest summit in Morocco. We then arrived at a local shelter in Imlil (1740m) and soon hit the trail. Even with a mule carrying your kit, it takes on average 6-7 hours to climb the 1467m up to Neltner refuge but it is well worth it. Being confronted by the image of the refuge set against

the colourful Toubkal mountains, the warm glow of the camp fires and bustling kitchens, you just can’t help but think of Helms Deep. Pitching our tent cost us ten Dirhams each and a further fifty will get you a three course meal – what a meal it was! After a very cold night of minus temperatures, we were treated to an extra early start. 5am up and ready, bag of vitals packed, we set off for the trail head. Going up without a guide poses no real danger as the path is remarkably easy to follow and there are many other groups taking on the same challenge. And yet a

real sense of solitude reigns over the mountain. The summit takes around 3-4 hours to reach. You push yourself hard, your chest feels like an elephant is standing on it but when you see the plateau 100m from the top it takes your breath away. Not just because of the climb, but because of the panorama, the snow-capped peaks mixed in with the barren Sahara desert. Vastness that stretches beyond the horizon. From this point on, ecstasy and euphoria are what carry you to the top, where you can enjoy a well-deserved cup of tea and reflect on what a truly amazing experience Morocco has been.

sia, though at times it felt more like a nightmare. The company I applied to assigned me to a summer camp in the nuclear town of Obninsk; that’s right, nuclear. Obninsk is home to the first ever Soviet nuclear reactor, a fact local residents are all too aware of. As a consequence, however, the town does have a very charming atmosphere (or maybe that was just some stray radiation). It is true that Russia has some serious emotional baggage, problems that each Russian carries in their own right. The town centre of Obninsk still proudly displays a bust of Lenin alongside its shiny new shopping

sia is the evidence of a nascent and politically active middle class; nearly all of the kids I taught were from affluent families, children of the “New Russia”. However, the generation that I spoke to and taught were not obsessed by material wealth but concerned about the fate of democracy and freedom in Russia. As this generation reach adulthood I foresee a significant change in Russia and the possible creation of the long overdue civil society. My last day in Russia came all too quickly and as my taxi drove through Obninsk towards Moscow I felt a sense of fulfilment. It’s easy for peo-

Uganda

o this summer I decided to finally do something I’ve wanted to do for years but never had the confidence or ‘umph’ to do. Instead of spending my summer waking up at 9:24am with a cup of PG Tips and on the couch by 9:25am ready for the ‘daddy of daytime tv’ Mr Jeremy Kyle himself… I thought I’d do something which would hopefully change my life. It certainly didn’t let me down. I received an email with the heading ‘Build a playground in Uganda for a month’ and being the lazy easy-option student I am I just clicked to the next email, a few days later I replied for an application form and asked for more information. I had to buy my flight, pay a little for my accommodation and raise money for the playground. All the way there I had no idea what to expect as I’d been to Africa before but only on a relaxing holiday. We arrived at the school and all the school children and orphans ran over to the minibus, they were so excited and wanted to know our names and shake hands. From that moment my whole perspective on life changed, as cliché as it sounds, it’s true. We dug holes for the first week, cemented the next, sanded the third week and spent the last painting the mural on the school building and painting the playground. I’ve never worked so hard in my life but knowing I was doing it for those grateful children was worth every whine

about being sweaty! The children are pleased by anything great or small and the fact they only own one or two items of clothing didn’t matter to them, ‘hide the stone’ in the mud made them laugh so hard. The adults were lovely too and continuously thanked and congratulated us on our hard work and for coming over. I never thought it would change me as a person and the way I lived and thought, I have lost the ability to care about ridiculous petty things I used to unnecessarily worry about and appreciate everything I have (cheeseball). The day I came back however I was irritated, through no fault of his own, I did want to elbow my boyfriend hard in the eyeball for spending an hour on the phone to his mobile company deciding whether to have the new iPhone 5 in black or white. And following this I refused a Starbucks Caramel Frappuccino because I kept thinking ‘I could buy a child some shoes with that’. I’ve stopped getting annoyed by those who, unfortunately for themselves, don’t appreciate what they have and just changed the way I live my life now. If you want to join me next year in building another playground in Uganda and making a community happy then email Carla at volunteer@eastafricanplayground.org for more information. You won’t regret it. …Now, it’s 9:24am and I’m busy * flicks kettle on *.

Russia by ROBIN GILLHAM

t was the day of my arrival in Russia. I had so far spent three hours in Moscow traffic. I was sitting in a taxi - broken windscreen and no seatbelts - with smoke from the driver stinging my eyes and the heat and fumes from surrounding cars slowly cooking me from the inside. What the hell was I doing in Russia? This doubt soon gave way to a mixture of constant amazement, confusion and enlightenment. I had always been fascinated by Russia’s history and was perplexed by what Nikolai Gogol called “The

“

...the generation that I spoke to and taught were not obsessed by material wealth but concerned about the fate of democracy and freedom in Russia.

Russian Soul”. I was determined to find out just what Russia actually was. I wanted to find an easy way of supporting a cheap lifestyle, one that would enable me to spend as much time in Russia during the summer. As it turned out, my choices were quite limited; either teach English in a Russian summer camp or volunteer work. I chose teaching. To cut a long story short: for a few months I was living the dream in Rus-

mall. The Soviet era and communism has taken on an almost mythical status among the young Russians I met and spoke to. They see the Soviet Union as a wonderful time in which Russia was revered around the world and ordinary Russians had something to be proud of. Looking back, it is always easier to celebrate the good things and forget the less desirable. One of the most promising things I discovered during my time in Rus-

“

by ASHLEIGH GARNETT

ple in the West to view the future of Russia as a bleak one. I feel that Russia is growing rapidly into a modern country with the enigmatic “Russian Soul” at its heart. I implore anyone reading this to travel to Russia and see for themselves. Just be prepared to leave your stereotypes at home. Apart from one: Russians really do drink a lot of vodka. You have been warned!

October Issue 2012

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Travel

Fact File

The Maine Things You Need To Know!

by STEFAN WILSON

ith Bangor university holding a partnership with the University of Maine in Bangor, you’d think we’d know more about our American cousins, however if you ask most people they wouldn’t have a clue. This is understandable though, as Maine doesn’t boast a major city such as New York or LA. It does, however, boast beautiful coastline, amazing food, a friendly atmosphere; the list could go on. I spent last summer in New Hampshire, bordering Maine, so I took many trips up to ‘Vacationland’ and have compiled a guide to a few places that are a must-see when you’re up in that area of the world (and you should be!)

Portland

As I was working in an intense environment, when my colleagues and I had any time off, we wanted to get as far away from our workplace as possible. Someone suggested Portland and I envisaged hipsters everywhere and breweries as far as the eye could see. Wrong Portland apparently. Just an hour and a half drive from Concord, NH Portland is an absolutely stunning city. The city centre was cobbled and full of little cafes, bistros, ice cream shops and bric-a-brac and just reminded me of a quaint little town in rural England. Even though I’m talking of it as such a cute, little, quaint place, it is actually the largest city in Maine. My co-workers and I decided on

a tavern called ‘3 Dollar Dewey’s’, a rather callous name based on prostitution. Ah, the wit of New Englanders. They learned everything from their ancestors. I bought characteristically British fish and chips, washed down with a bottle of Magners. I was teleported home for a second, before being told ‘have a nice day’, in an undeniably cheery American tone. Definitely a place I loved visiting and I will be visiting again.

Kittery Point/York

In August, I was lucky enough to get an extended break of 2 days in this instance, so me and a few friends decided we’d have a beach break. Kittery Point is famous in Maine for having great beaches, great lobster and a great atmosphere. In my group, we only had one New Hampshire local, so we wanted to experience this fame for ourselves and see if it lived up to the hype. We all hopped into a 4x4 and 45 minutes later, we arrived. We parked ourselves on one of the many beaches and just relaxed. We flew kites, drank a few beers (only the best gas station crates you can get in the US) and swam...ish. We all chickened out upon realising that even in August, with the temperature well into the 30s, the Atlantic ocean is a cruel mistress. After a long day of doing absolutely nothing, we decided we were hungry. The nearby port town of York was our port of call. Similar to Portland, the architecture screamed ‘British’ and I felt right at home. Traditional sweet shops, ice cream places,

Location:

North-East US

Borders:

New Hampshire to the West, Quebec and New Brunswick to the North

Population:

1,328,188 (41st in the US)

Area:

35,385 sq mi (39th in the US) Budlight Portland, Maine Lighthouse arcades; basically everything you’d want on a relaxing night out. There was a fairground at the end of the main road, but we didn’t make it that far. A pizza place caught our eye and we were in, in a flash. Now, the east coast is famous for it’s pizza, New York particularly fancying itself as a bit of a winner, but this place was insane. We all left, having not paid huge amounts of money and ended the night in a typical American arcade.

Bangor

Bangor, Maine. Our little sister. I am lucky enough to have a friend who is currently doing an Erasmus year out there. She has been kind enough to give me a few words about the area and the populace that inhabit it. She lives in Oreno, which is the closest city to Bangor, without actually living in the city itself (imagine living in Bethesda). The aforementioned lobster is a big deal here, with disputes ending in death (well only once!) She tells me that Mainers are apparently the friendliest people in the country and not a single person

has disproved that to her. Definitely a glowing endorsement which I can warmly agree with. While Portland and York follow a more traditional ‘town centre’, Bangor has a ‘mall’. This is far more reflective of a usual American town. Another endearing feature of this wonderful city, and the state as a whole, is how and where the people live. My friend tells me that the houses are completely identical to what you see in the movies. The front porch being elevated with a seat swing, leading up to a wooden house with large plots of land in the front and the back of the house. The prices are also phenomenally cheap compared to the UK and large parts of the US. She tells me that a big feature of the Mainers themselves are the phrases, ‘you’re welcome’ and ‘have a nice day’. At first it’s endearing, but eventually the novelty wears off.

Famous for:

Lobster, forests, blueberry’s

Interesting Fact:

Maine is the only state which only shares a border with one other state.

-Thanks to Jess White-Pearson for her input from Bangor, ME.

China - A Whole New World H

ave you ever dreamed about leaving everything and going far, far away? An adventure so far away you will recognise nothing and no one, and everything will, quite literally, be foreign to you. I did it. A month after finishing college I packed my bag and boarded a plane headed for Beijing, China. The aim was to get a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language), gaining experience and worldly-ness and landing in Sweden again (still with no plans) but as a much cooler and more mature person. That was the plan, but as always when you travel, so much more happened. I endured the ten-hour flight from Copenhagen to Beijing next to a gigantic, ginger man who snored the whole way. I will forever remember

him as the walrus who blocked the way to the toilet for ten hours. If you have the choice on long flights ladies and gents, always choose the aisle seat. I eventually landed in Beijing with a massive smile on my face, and somehow managed to find the

“

Our first month in Beijing ended with a bang

“

by EMMA ÅSBERG

Teach and Travel guides to take us, maybe 25, excited and tired westerners to our coach. We spent the next month learning how to be teachers and getting disgustingly drunk at the local bar where a pint cost 40p.

But we also went sightseeing, getting amazed by the stunning architecture of ancient China. We saw the Great Wall of China on one of these trips, and although dehydrated and shaky from the heat and the many, many steps, walking on it was one of the most humbling and overwhelming experiences I have ever had. The Hutongs, which are the old quarters in Beijing, were so peaceful and beautiful you could almost imagine the daily life there, lived by Chinese people for centuries but now taken over by tourists and businesses like Starbucks. Our first month in Beijing ended with a bang; a massive, open bar party, the details of which are better left untold. The next morning we were taken by train to different cities throughout China. I got placed in Shenyang, not to be confused with

Shanghai. Shenyang is five hours north of Beijing, a couple of hours from Inner Mongolia and North Korea. It’s a small city by Chinese standards – only seven million inhabitants - and only a couple of thousand foreigners. I’m guessing there weren’t many because we were stared down and openly giggled at wherever we went. In a very friendly, curious way, I should add. I always felt safe and we got (sort of ) used to it eventually. Other things we got used to were the loud spitting, the different table manners and the brutal honesty. My colleagues told me on several occasions that I was fat. As bad as it may sound, it was merely a stating of the obvious, with no judging or values attached. I was big - why pretend I wasn’t! The school I taught in was very fancy, but the classiness came with

very high standards. My month of teacher-training had not, prepared me for teaching kids who knew no English at all - oddly enough. My school soon taught me how to teach, and once that was done, I had the best five months of my life. I decided to learn Mandarin on my own, and persuaded a Chinese colleague to help me. After three months I could order train tickets and go shopping, and I started chatting to taxi drivers and people on buses. The feeling of mastering another language is hard to beat; a whole new world is suddenly open to you. After spending six months in China, I had achieved everything I wanted (except maybe the coolness), and so much more. A new world opened up to me, I found the most amazing man, new friends, and perhaps most importantly, myself.

seren.bangor.ac.uk

Environment Go Green for Bangor

October Issue 2012

GET INVOLVED

STAG Students for Treborth Action Group

STAG is based at the university’s beautiful Treborth Botanic Garden, where we help with all aspects of the garden: planting, weeding, woodland maintenance and generally making the place even better. If you like getting your hands dirty whilst learning about plants and nature, STAG is right for you. When we’re not gardening we run trips to botanic gardens, forage for mushrooms, hunt for bats and much more. Visit us on Facebook or email us to get the latest! Events: Sunday 28th October 10am-4pm Work Party and BBQ: The Great Gnome takeover For more info see our Facebook page or email STAG@undeb.bangor.ac.uk to stay in the know!

HOG Soc Horticultural Organic Garden Society

by WILLIAM JOHNSON

he term “size of Wales” is often used on the news to give scale to disasters such as fires, floods and also to quantify deforestation of rainforest but a new charity hopes to reclaim this term. Planning to save 2 million hectares of rainforest across the globe, Size of Wales is working with schools, organisations and the students of Bangor University to raise money. Alison Cross and Thomas Edwards are the student ambassadors working to save the size of Bangor. Alison told us “It’s a great way to raise money and awareness about the

FACT:

rate of rainforest loss.” Friday 19th October was Go Green day, where to promote the charity those involved dressed in green and collected money all across Wales. A sheep dyed green was taken though the streets of Cardiff and a charity lunch was held in the Millennium Stadium to raise funds. Closer to home you may have seen some of us donning the green and shaking collection tins around the university buildings. Working to raise money at Serendipity, collecting donations and selling wristbands around Bangor, the student body has been working hard to help this cause. Combined

SPERM COUNT HAS DROPPED

with events such as a quiz night at Bar Uno the Bangor University Tribe has already raised £618, with each pound saving a hectare of rainforest in Madagascar. The university is playing its part as well, with chemistry lecturer Phillip Hollington taking on the role of staff liaison helping to organise these events, stating, “The university is very happy to be supporting a worthy cause” and that he’s “very appreciative of the student effort”. If you’re interested in getting involved and donating check out the website or find them on Facebook. www.sizeofwales.org.uk/tribes/ bangor_university/

50%

GLOBALLY OVER 50 YEARS

Things are heating up by MARK COOPER

ver the last century, average global temperatures have risen as a result of increasing atmosphere concentrations of carbon dioxide released from the burning of fossil fuels. This rising temperature trend is likely to have profound effects on many ecosystems, with Polar Regions being particularly sensitive to this environmental change. There have been recent concerns on the accelerated melting of Arctic ice caps and implications that may result from it. Over the year, Arctic Sea ice coverage expands during winter freeze and contracts during summer melts. However, this year when the Arctic Sea ice has reached its minimum extent for the year, the summer cover was the lowest on record since satellite data collection began. The ice coverage fell to 1.32 million sq miles, which is 50% lower than the 1979-2000 average. The retreating ice cover also means that less of Sun energy is reflected back into the atmosphere by its bright white colour. This means more of the sun energy is absorbed by the darker coloured ground exposed by diminishing ice, resulting in further warming and ice melt. This year’s low ice coverage allows ships to shorten their journey times by sailing through waters north of Russia

that would normally be covered in ice. Furthermore, the low ice coverage has sparked a lot of interest by companies keen to exploit now exposed areas for oil, gas and mineral resources. This is under opposition, as the cost of clearing up should incidents happen would be astronomical. However, this is the tip of the iceberg, as there is currently no agreement for fisheries, shipping lanes and access beyond waters.There is a need for a method of governing these in the near future.

The images taken by NASA of the Greenland ice sheet over this summer illustrates the extent and rate of the problem, with an iceberg twice the size of Manhattan breaking off in one go earlier this year. It’s easy to ignore evidence like this but the cold hard truth is that climate change is having dramatic effects on the Earth’s Arctic regions which are likely to be worse in the future.

HOGsoc is a student-led community garden in the heart of Upper Bangor on Ffriddoedd Road. We grow organic produce to share amongst our members and enjoy at BBQs. Started in 2010 on land provided by the University, the society has transformed this unused space into a wonderful garden. We’ve already built raised beds, a patio, a shed and a wildlife area, but there’s a lot more to do! So grab your wellies and come try out your green fingers, Sundays from 1pm. Events: Saturday 27th October 9.45am Meet at Bangor train station for; Conwy Food Festival For more info see our Facebook page or email hogsoc@undeb.bangor.ac.uk to stay in the know!

BUFS Bangor University Farming Society

With weekly trips to Bangor University’s research farm at Henfaes, we are involved in the maintenance and general upkeep of the farm, whether that be achieved through weeding, pruning trees in the forest garden or taking cuttings from plants, ready to be re-potted and grown on. And the good news for us students: we also have the facilities to grow our own food, ranging from strawberries, to peppers, to salad leaves and anything else we fancy growing! And to make it even better, all produce is shared out equally when harvested! (Who doesn’t like a bit of free food?!) So, if you fancy getting your hands dirty keep an eye on this page for up and coming events! For more info see our Facebook page or email Farm@bangorstudents.com to stay in the know!

The Great Bacon Hoax by OWAIN REDFERN

ome people have been calling it ‘the greatest panic of our time’ and for any self confessed bacon lover out there, which we have to admit is nearly all of us, this is definitely a very worrying issue; almost as bad as climate change or H5N1. The great bacon shortage of 2012 was first announced by a British Trade Organisation actually named ‘The Pig Association’ (so they must know what they’re on about), and their press release stated that ‘a shortage of bacon and pork was now unavoidable’. This was immediately pounced on by bacon lovers the world over and circulated the net in only a couple of days. There was panic. A shortage of bacon was unthinkable. Indeed, what do we put in our BLTs? Where do we get our fat and greasy recommended daily allowance from? What do we have with our Large Mike’s Bites Breakfast with extra bacon? Can we even contemplate how the world is going to change? A bacon shortage would surely bring normal life to a standstill more than half a centimetre of snow sprinkled over Heathrow Airport. However, in the words of Lance Corporal Jones from Dad’s Army (Who also happened to be a butcher!) ‘Don’t Panic!’

The whole situation has turned out to be hoax. It seems The Pig Association was simply trying to get us used to the idea that pork was going to cost a little more in the future. Don’t worry, not as much as a good steak but it will unfortunately increase. Mike’s Bikes Breakfasts with extra bacon may have to become a bit more of a luxury than a once a week tradition. The real reason is due to an actual crisis - drought. In Europe and the USA, this last summer has been one of the driest in living memory. Britain is obviously exempt from that rule (as seems to always be the case), but if you remember there was a small drought and a hose pipe ban in the southern counties around April and May. Countries ranging from Spain to Finland have only received around 25% of their average summer rainfall, and 62% of the USA are already experiencing drought. The effects are simple; drought damages the global corn crop, corn prices increase, pigs are fed corn, and so this means your ham chops and streaky bacon are going to cost a little more. There is no shortage, just a knock on cost to the consumer. Still I am a little upset that my bacon is going to cost more. I suppose it just means I’m going to have allocated more money from my car fuel to my emergency bacon fund.

October Issue 2012

seren.bangor.ac.uk

Sport

Saint George’s Park Finally Opens

by MATT JACKSON

aint George’s Park finally opened its doors in October, the long term footballing project formerly known as “Burton” has been pegged as the new home of the England national football team. With state-of-the-art sports science facilities and modern accommodation the FA hopes that the new facility will help with the development of young English prospects and mould them into future international stars. The complex sits in Burton-on-Trent in Staffordshire and sits on a 330 acre plot. It was opened on the 9th October by the president of the football association, the Duke of Cambridge. The site has replica Wembley pitches for the youth teams to train on so that they feel more like a part of the team. The Saint George’s site houses 24 England teams, 11 outside pitches, one inside, a running track, sports hall, training hill and two hotels. Members of the public are welcome to check into the Hilton Hotels that are part sponsoring the project alongside Nike, England’s future kit supplier and owner of Umbro. As well as housing the England teams the League Managers Association (LMA) hope to one day move to the facility as well. Many people have however won-

dered what impact Saint George’s park will have on the English game and the national team; the likelihood of creating the next Lionel Messi is quite slim. Over the course of its development a great deal of criticism has been aimed at George’s park. Amidst raising costs the FA decided to halt the project in 2004 as they aimed to open Wembley stadium which was costing more and more, the Burton project was eventually started up again in 2008 with several high profile backers such as Sir Trevor Brooking.

“First day at St georges park today. facilities are decent! Rest and massage tonight #chillaxing” Tom Cleverley Despite people saying that Saint George’s Park isn’t the only thing that will catapult the England team into the 21st Century, there is no doubt that over the past few decades youth development has been something that England have been particularly bad at. The constant need for the team to win every match and the weight of expectation has left managers dubious about playing youngsters; we saw what happened when Walcott went to the world cup.

Since arriving at the facility the England football team have taken to Twitter to express their delight. Midfielder Tom Cleverley called the facilities “decent”, whereas England Coach Gary Neville was more focused on the development of grass roots football. Saint George’s park hasn’t seemed to

Cycling Disg-Race

by THOMAS BICKERDIKE

erformance enhancing drugs have for some time now been a problem in sport, particularly in road cycling. There was a time when successful ‘clean’ cyclists were in the minority, but most of the cheats have since been exposed and faced fines or bans from the sport. However, none of these cases have been as high-profile or shocking as that of Lance Armstrong. He was a hero, an inspiration, reaching the pinnacle of his sport by winning the Tour de France seven consecutive times. He also battled against cancer, setting up the Lance Armstrong Foundation, a charity to raise money to support other cancer sufferers. But now, all of that has been tarnished by his branding as a drugs cheat. On 29th June this year, Armstrong was charged by the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) for the use of performance enhancing drugs. Despite

publicly denying the charges, he opted not to contest them; on August 24th, he received a lifetime ban and was stripped of the 7 Tour de France titles he won from 1999 to 2005. The full scale of Armstrong’s cheating has only been made public since the release of the USADA report recently. It described Armstrong as a “serial cheat”, who bullied his team mates to take part in doping, and called this case “the most sophisticated, professionalised and successful doping programme that sport has ever seen”. It stated that Armstrong took a number of substances, including testosterone, blood transfusions and EPO (also known as Erythropoietin, a hormone that allows red blood cells to carry more oxygen to the muscles, increasing their endurance). He had a team of people helping him, including doctors and drug smugglers. What’s more, it is alleged that he bullied his team mates to do likewise. Former team mates to testify against

Armstrong included Floyd Landis and Tyler Hamilton, both of whom had also admitted to taking drugs in their careers. Landis had initially won the Tour de France in 2006, but tested positive for synthetic testosterone and was disqualified. In total, eleven team mates testified against Armstrong. On 10th October, George Hincapie, a former team-mate of Armstrong’s, admitted that he had taken performance enhancing drugs. On 17th October, Nike terminated their contract with Armstrong, due to the “seemingly insurmountable evidence” against him. Armstrong himself decided to step down as chairman of his foundation, to spare it any negative effects as a result of the controversy surrounding him. Dave Brailsford, principal for Team Sky, has admitted to being shocked by the extent of the scandal, but believes that road cycling has been cleaned up in recent years.

have the instant impact that the team would have hoped for. Poor weather in Poland forced the game to be postponed by 24 hours, and as a result the slightly more England team only managed a 1-1 draw. A more positive note was England’s comfortable 5-0 victory over one of

the worst teams in the world San Marino. Thinking life is bleak watching England? The San Marino team are more than happy to score a goal let alone cause an unlikely upset.

Controversies of racism and Kick It Out hit football by MATT JACKSON

onsidered by many to be our national sport, the beautiful game has recently been struggling with racism. The England under21s were racially abused in Serbia and top footballers have been shunning the FA’s Kick It Out campaign. Top flight players were expected to wear the black “one community” Kick It Out t-shirts to coincide with the FA anti-racism week which started on the 18th October. The problem is high profile stars such as England defender Rio Ferdinand and Reading striker Jason Roberts have rejected wearing the t-shirts because they believe the campaign isn’t doing enough. Kick It Out began in 1993 and has appeared to be a fairly passive campaign since, efforts such as “show racism the red” have come and gone, and the scheme, once named Kick Racism Out, seems to exist as opposed to actually doing anything.

Manchester United gaffer Sir Alex Ferguson was quick to slam Ferdinand’s decision not to wear the shirt and said that it did not favours for the team harmony. However PFA chairman Clarke Carlisle, who recently explored racism in football for a BBC documentary “Is football racist?” In which Carlisle explores the adversaries his own father faced in the beautiful game, and met up with kids to find out what it’s like today. On top of this we’ve had the controversial scenes in Serbia, England Under-21 defender Danny Rose, was sent off after the final whistle for reacting badly after fans were apparently throwing coins and bottles at the England players. Racism has already been a hot topic in football the past season with Luis Suarez being banned for 8 matches for racially abusing Patrice Evra and John Terry’s high profile court case involving Anton Ferdinand.

seren.bangor.ac.uk

October Issue 2012

Sport Touchdown for the MudDogs or are they still flying high?

by JOE KEEP

ith the MudDogs’ most successful season just passing, with a record of five wins to three losses, the management team have turned their sights to this season, hoping to carry on that form and improve upon it. With three seasons under their belt, they are confident, with addition of new guys mixed with more experienced head, they can translate all they have learnt into a high performance season, ending in playoff competitions. Intake of new guys this season has been helped dramatically by the lowering of societies fees, however, an outlay of about £100 is still required for kit etc. Also, with an increase in popularity of the sport, more people are joining having played prior to coming to university, meaning the quality of play is always on the rise.

However, the end of last season saw a lot of the more experienced lads graduating, thus leaving a hole in the squad. One such example is Tom ‘Delilah’ Jones. Having played for a full three years, he has seen the team grow from its roots up, captaining them to their incredible success of last year. He, however, has taken to coaching the team, unable to remove himself from the sport due to the massive impact it had upon him. As he told many stories of great times gone by, he kept resonating a desire to be playing again, speaking of the time spent playing as the ‘best feeling in the world’ in which you are ‘always watching each other’s backs’. The amount of fond memories Delilah was able to recount was incredible, all of which focussed on the team and the friendships he had made with the other players. The one that stood out for him was the last game

of last season, which fell as the varsity game against Aberystwyth. Having taken a strong lead early on and producing an amazing defence, it all fell to the last 30 seconds of the game. It was in an incomprehensible turn of events Aberystwyth snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. It saw the MudDogs band together as a strong unit, many knowing it was their final game, which meant a flurry of emotion was set loose. Delilah hopes to pass on his experience and passion to the new lads as coach, as well as pass on his ideals of team over performance, in turn creating lasting friendships. With the MudDogs taking to the field on the 4th of November at Treborth against Liverpool Fury, they intend to hit the ground running with the winds from last season pushing them forwards in their attempts.

BUHC Match Report by TOM FOX

angor University Men’s Hockey club have had a mixed start to their season. With three teams all competing for a top spot in their respective leagues, it was sure to say that they needed a good start out of the blocks. The 1st XI relished the challenge and with a Home fixture Vs City of Manchester 2nd XI. The game was a heated one with both sides getting frustrated but the home side managed to keep their cool and push on to win 3-1.

The 2nd XI followed suit with their opening fixture. They travelled to host team Oxton 6th XI and after a very end to end game came out on top. 6-4 the final score gave the second team the boost they needed to start the season. So with two teams already with 3 points on the table there was pressure on the 3rd XI to produce in their Sunday match Derby Vs Bangor City. The team travelled with high hopes to Llangefni to take on the local outfit in pouring rain and windy conditions and were sadly beaten 2-1. Week two kicked off with 1st and

Continued From The Back

Bangor Archers at Bonfire Flaming arrows to ignite Penhros Beach bonfire by LJ TAYLOR

rchers from Bangor University Archery Club will be lighting the Penrhos Beach bonfire this

year. A group of archers from the club will fire environmentally friendly flaming arrows to light the bonfire, with another group then firing flaming arrows into the sea from the headland afterwards. “It will require some practice, as arrows fly very differently when they have a huge bolt of cloth attached to the pointy end,” said Dan Parker, 24,

the club’s secretary. It is an annual event organised by The Holyhead Round Table, and has been named one of the top ten firework displays in the UK by The Sun. It was also featured in Yahoo’s Britain’s best bonfire nights and firework displays. “I was looking for more things that the Club could get involved in, rather than the odd competition here and there. I decided I’d throw the question at the event organisers and they loved it!” said Dan. Gates will open at 5.45pm and the bonfire will be lit at 6.15pm with fireworks starting at 7pm. Food will be

provided at the event including a hog roast. Bangor University Brass Band will be providing music at the event and PhotoSoc will be taking photos. The Archery Club are hoping to put on a coach to transport people between Bangor and Holyhead, any updates on that will be found on their website (www.bangorstudents.com/archery) or their Facebook group. To ensure that the shooting is safe cordons will be set in place and the coast guard will be on hand all night.

...The third and final leg was a tense affair; Captain Simon was issuing words of advice and encouragement between his pacing, as he knew this was a make or break moment. This timidity was seized upon by Huddersfield taking an early, but slender, lead. However, with a continued aggressive stance interlocked with clever counter attacking, Huddersfield started to put daylight between themselves and Bangor. Bangor replied dutifully, closing the gap through some excellent fencing by Boyle, who took a conservative role, breaking the defensive role played by Huddersfield, making them chase the points. Driven on by this tension, Simon followed up with a compelling performance, matching Huddersfield lunge for lunge. Leading by example it seemed, Simon had shown Will that Huddersfield could be broken, and the match began to appear in favour of Bangor. As the final point was landed, tensions were high as an overall score was to be announced, and winners would reap the benefits of a great start

to the season. With Bangor’s win in the third leg, at 45-40, along with their second leg dominance, they were keen to find out if their first leg performance would be a hindrance. The final scores totted up, and both teams waited tensely. The final score came out 132-109 in favour of Bangor! As they celebrated with gusto, they were kind enough to offer condolences to Huddersfield and congratulate them on a well fought set of fights. Simon went on to say, ‘This is a great start to the season for the team, with a great performance underlined with a good win under our belts. I also want to pass on congratulations to Huddersfield for a great fight which saw the competition go to the wire.’ If you want to catch Bangor in action, they are next at home to Liverpool on the 7th of November, but their next excursions see them heading to Sheffield on the 24th of October, closely followed by the return leg against Huddersfield on the 31st of October.

October Issue 2012

seren.bangor.ac.uk

Sport Bangor ju-jitsu club

By FLICK WALKER

hilst the Bangor University Jitsu Club may have been officially closed over the summer, its members have not been inactive in their achievements. This summer the club celebrated the grading of its Sensei, Gabriella Rossetti, from brown belt to 1st Dan black belt at The Jitsu Foundation Summer Ball and training course. This has been a culmination of over fourteen years of hard work. The club also gained two green belts in the form of Lewis Fisher and Harry Bradford this summer. Lewis Fisher achieved top grade out of the entire grading class and Harry

Start of the Season Until Now

2nd teams looking to build on their fantastic starts to the season and the 3rd squad pushing for their first win. Sadly this was not to be the case, with all three teams being defeated. The 1st XI travelled to Prescot and came up just short of the points. Although there was fight left in Bangor in the last ten minutes, they could not quite pick up the deficit and suffered their first away loss 5-3. The 2nd XI hosted travelling side Bowdon 6th XI – a skillful side comprising of many national league veterans. The students put through many

chances time and time again but in the end could not find the back of the net. Bowdon on the other hand managed to sneak one past and won the game 1-0. The 3rd XI looked to kick off their Sunday league with another Derby, this time against varsity side Aberystwyth 3rd XI. After a 3 hour journey and a stop to pay some BUHC respects to April Jones and her community they finally arrived in Aber. Sadly the journey was not as prosperous as the side had hoped and they come away with a 6-1 loss.

Week three saw the 1st team try to uphold their home wins by hosting Springfields 1st XI. The game was an absolute delight to play; there was playful banter from both sides and a great atmosphere in an end to end game. Springfields battled hard for the full 70 minutes but the 1st XI were on the top of their game. Goals from Skipper Tom Fox, David Roberts and Mike Urquhart ensured the home team were 3-0 the victors. This leaves BUHC 1XI in 2nd place in the Barrington Sports North West Hockey League with a long season ahead of them.

Bangor University Lacrosse by JESSICA CLARKE

ntroducing the club who won Spirit of the Year 2012 at last year’s AU Dinner.... BULC - Bangor University Lacrosse Club! We’re a funloving, hard fighting, worm doing and a friendly, close-knit team. There are 9 enthusiastic and hardworking committee members who look after the club and make sure every club member is acknowledged, respected and made to feel welcome. BULC promotes fun, friendliness and fitness. The Lacrosse club trains 3 times a week, with one of those sessions being dedicated wholeheartedly to fitness. As well as these 3 training sessions the club also meets up every Wednesday night without fail for an evening of outrageous, hilarious, sociable, funtastic antics! Wednesday evenings are especially enjoyable when a match or two has been played. The Men’s Lacrosse team have already had a great start to the season, winning their first game of the

season to University of Manchester Men’s 2nds. They won 14-3! The Lacrosse club would like to say thank you to all those who came and supported the Men’s first match, it provides the team a great confidence boost knowing there are supporters on the side. The Women’s team have, their first match this Wednesday 24th October on the bottom grass pitch next to the Astroturf pitches on Ffriddoedd Site, after their first official match was cancelled due to awful pitch conditions. If you’re interested in Lacrosse come along and support the Women’s team this Wednesday, or feel free to just come along and support anyway. On 7th November, both our Women’s and Men’s teams will be playing at Home on the Maes Glas grass pitches, one game after the other, please come along and show your support for your University Lacrosse team! On Wednesday 31st October this year, BULC are jointly hosting a Halloween themed evening with Bangor

Pride at Rascals. The evening is guaranteed to be one of the highlights of the year. If you are intrigued as to what it’s like to join the lacrosse team then join us if you dare, for a Halloween scare. The Lacrosse Club has grown exponentially in the last couple of years and this year it does not show any signs of slowing down, last year was the first year the teams competed in BUCS. This year we plan on training hard and having a brilliant year, playing our very best and winning as many matches as possible. For more information on joining or supporting BULC, find us on Facebook: Bangor University Lacrosse Club 2012-2013 or on Twitter: @Bangorlacrosse.

Bradford received the second highest grade. They have now become the highest grades in the club under our Sensei and through their combined hard work, they have graded from novice through to green in just short of two years. They have now begun to look towards their purple belt grading. The club’s success has not ended with the beginning of the new academic year either. This year the club has doubled on the amount of Novices it has gained, compared to the same time last year. On Saturday 20th October the club took new and existing members to their first regional in Manchester, as members of the Bangor University Jitsu Club.

Bangor Uni Swimming

by JESSICA CLARKE

t's 7 o'clock in the morning on a Thursday... you would think the only people who are awake in Bangor at this time are the locals, those who have children going to school. You would definitely not expect any University Students to be up at this hour, especially not after Wednesday's "Hey You!" night in Academi - the biggest student night out of the week. This is where you would be wrong, in Bangor Swimming Pool there are a crazy bunch of half asleep, dedicated university students who are members of Bangor University Swimming Club! You may now be thinking, 'oh, well they clearly don't go out on a Wednesday, they can't be that sociable' you'd also be wrong. There will be swimmers there, including the committee members, who will have only had 3 or 4 hours sleep maximum! They're a hard core club! Moving on, Bangor University Swim-

ming Club also trains at more sociable times of the week, including Sunday evenings and Wednesday afternoons for those more competitive swimmers. The Wednesday afternoon session has only come into play this year, after the hard work of this year’s current committee members. The club continues to grow and it has double the number of swimmers competing at BUCS in Sheffield in November this year than it did last year. The main aim of the Swimming Committee this year is to get a larger group of regular attendees, this is so that the club can add in another training session to their program to enable more people to make training and also so that the competitive swimmers are also catered for, who need to train more than 3 times a week! For more information on joining the swimming club or finding out how well they do in BUCS, you may find them on Facebook; Bangor University Swimming club.

MUDDOGS READY FOR FURY page 54

SPORT

Points up for Bangor’s Fencing Club

by JOE KEEP

n the 17th of October saw Bangor’s fencing team had their first match of the new season. After a fairly successful season in 2011-2012, where they won the BUCS Men's Northern 2A, they were keen to play host to a recently reformed Huddersfield side. As the time drew closer to the first clashing of blades, the guys, Simon Williams, team captain, James Hudak, A.K.A Nibbles, Matthew Ellis, Will Jobson, Sean Boyle, James Stewart, A.K.A Hat-man, and Bede West, began their warm ups. The competition saw the team enter into a relay format, one which uses all three fencing weapons; the foil, epee and sabre. With the guys winding down their warm ups, the Huddersfield team arrived, fresh from their lengthy train journey, itching to get the competition underway. The first leg saw the sabre being used, with Boyle, Will and Hat-man taking part. The leg was closely contested, with all three guys making great progress against an impressive Huddersfield unit. Boyle put in a strong opening fight, Hat-man played a tactful game, making use of Huddersfield’s aggressive nature and Will countered aggression with aggression. However, Huddersfield’s captain, Nathan, led the way, scoring considerable points, alongside his co-

hort of Rich and Sam, who had good fights, nicking vital points as the fight progressed. This was met by a brave Bangor defence, with strong offensive options as well as some impressive counter attacking work. With the scores tallied up, the first leg ended up 42-45, to Huddersfield. Despite losing the leg, the gap was marginal, allowing Bangor to keep within touching distance as they progressed into the second leg, utilising the foil. The second leg, opened by Bede, saw a similar pattern occur with Bangor holding a convincing lead from the start. This was compounded by impressive fights by Nibbles, who used his time as a spectator in the first leg to his advantage in countering the various onslaughts Huddersfield presented, and Matt, who followed Bede’s lead with a strong offensive, not allowing his opponent to get the advantage. This allowed the lead to be extended beyond Huddersfield’s reach from the outset, despite a strong middle section of the fight by Huddersfield. Captain Simon ensured that this continued by subbing the experienced Boyle for Nibbles in the latter stages. This proved tactically genius, as Bangor strolled to a hefty win of 45-24. Advantage Bangor, at 87-69 overall, as they progressed to the third and final weapon, the epee. Continued on page 55

Never a dull season in Cycling

by GEORGE THAIN

n the 13th of October, Steve Cummings won the final stage of the Tour of Beijing, the final event on the UCI World Tour. Cummings’ victory brought the curtain

down on a year to remember for Britain’s road cyclists. The only thing missing was an Olympic medal for Mark Cavendish, who started the year as the World Champion. When Dave Brailsford made the bold

claim that within 5 years of Sky ProCycling’s formation, a Brit would win the Tour de France, the cycling world laughed at his arrogance. In Sky’s third season, Bradley Wiggins helped achieve Brailsford’s impossible dream. Wiggins hit form at just the right time to win the Tour de Romandie, the Critérium du Dauphiné and Paris-Nice in the build up to the Tour de France and Olympic double, a feat many had seen as impossible. As if winning the Tour wasn’t enough, he helped Mark Cavendish to win the sprint on the Champs-Élysées for a record breaking fourth year in a row, a rare gem in an otherwise disappointing season for the man L'Equipe named as the Tour’s greatest ever sprinter. The Tour of Britain gave the public a chance to see national hero Wiggins around the country. Wiggins acted as a domestique for Cavendish and, despite a crash outside the Norfolk

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Showground on stage 1, Cavendish recovered to win stage 4. Stealing the show, however, was another Brit in the form of Jonathan Tiernan-Locke, who became the first British winner of the Tour of Britain in its modern form. Tiernan-Locke backed up this performance with a strong showing in the World Championships. Kristian

The Tour of Britain gave the public a chance to see national hero Wiggins around the country House and Peter Williams also won the mountains and the sprints classifications respectively. The girls have also done the country proud, despite only a fraction of the budget that their male counterparts receive. Norwich’s Emma Pooley and

British Champion Sharon Laws helped their AA-Drink team to a bronze in the World Team Time Trial and Lizzie Armistead won Olympic silver, losing out to Marianne Vos but beating Olga Zabelinskaya after the three of them broke off the front of the peloton. Can British Cycling keep the momentum up? It is hard to see them not being able to under supremo Dave Brailsford. Riders to look out for in the coming seasons are Welsh wonderkid Luke Rowe, Tour de France runner up Chris Froome and British Champion Ian Stannard, as well as the possibility of further female success with a new academy and a possible road career for Olympic star Laura Trott. Next year will also see Wiggins and Cavendish as opponents once again, with Cavendish leaving Sky to join Belgian team Omega Pharma-QuickStep.