The Waterfront issue 258

the waterfront The official student newspaper of Swansea University

Free Issue 258 16th November 2015 waterfrontonline.co.uk

INSIDE

STUDENT FORUM: YES OR NO? Your new Welsh Affairs Officer, Page 3

Snowspire gaming event comes to Uni Page 27

Students’ Union President Lewys Aron, with General Secretary Asta Uba Mshelia (L) and Students with Disabilities officer (PTO) Ellie Pullen (R) at the Student Forum

by Heather Wood

waterfrontnews@swansea-union.co.uk

Situated in the coffee side of JC’s, a small number of the student body gathered for student forum on the 10th of November.

Turned sofas and chairs facing a large screen and a microphone, sat a dozen or so students ready to participate in the forum.

Student Forum’s exist so that students are given the opportunity to voice their problems or opinions that affects them at

University. Student forums are a chance for students to impact the Student Unions actions, to priorities the issues of which the Students’ Union campaign on. Anyone can bring an issue to the forum, should you feel you have something that is affecting the student community, you can let the Union President Lewys know and it could feature in the next forum.

collaborated to decide upon four possible options:

Issues discussed at the latest forum was the Debate on Saturday Exams. The Education Officer, Robiu Salisu and the University have

• Keep Saturday exams

• No Saturday exams but longer period into revision week

• No Saturday exams but longer period into employability week

• No Saturday exams but more frequent (eg.

2 per day)

continues on page 2

Review: The Falcon’s Malteser @ Taliesin Page 28

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from page 1

campaign officers for the year. A fund that is also open to students to fund any campaigns within the individual liberation campaign.

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Along with the Saturday Exams, The Part-Time Mature Students Officer Rhydian Morris brought forward a motion to create a new Part-Time Officer role with the title of “Mental Health Awareness Officer”.

First on the agenda, Saturday Exams took precedence of the evening. The campaign has been a result of hard-work from the Student Union, especially the Full-Time Education Officer Robiu Salisu, but also the Student Reps have been working hard to raise awareness of the campaign.

With over 1000 votes online, the Saturday Exams campaign began with a bang. The large engagement from the study body enabled the campaign to gain a wide variety of voices. With the online results, students were able to share their thoughts about how it would effect them alongside their votes. Students came forward with issues such as work commitments on weekends, for those students with children they would have to find child-minders to look after their children. Jewish students commented on how Saturdays are ‘Sabbath’ a day for rest.

It was also brought up at the forum that the exam office warned a longer exam period would have consequences upon the marking time period. If the exam period went into employability week, it would take time away from the markers and mean that marks would be delayed.

The debate of Saturday Exam’s was brought to the forum; the audience was asked to share their thoughts upon the matter. Some repeated the already raised concerns from the online survey such as work commitments. A student raised the issue that, ending the term on the 11th of December leaves students with a longer revision period than Easter, meaning starting earlier in the revision week wouldn’t have a massive impact. However, it was also debated that this may mean less time at home for students, which for those who live far away from home

The Part-Time Mature Students Officer Rhydian gave a statement about the motion tonight at the forum: ‘I feel strongly about the creation of this new position as mental health is one of the key issues facing students today. Most mental health conditions manifest themselves for the first time in the age group most students are apart of. Students with some form of mental health issue correspond to anywhere between 10-20% of all students. There should be a specific drive by the union to combat this issue, and the creation of a part-time officer position with this remit is a positive first step.’ can be an issue. Surprisingly the forum’s vote overall favoured the ‘no Saturday’s’ option, a complete opposite to the online survey results. The vote was noted down and would be taken into account when the findings are taken to the committee. However, it will also be noted that the turnout to the forum was very low, and must be taken into consideration that its not reflective of the entire student body. It would be taken to different committees within the university to be decided what would be the best possible outcome of the debate. Such committees include the education committee, the learning and teaching committee and the exams office. No changes will be made the exam season until January 2017.

The forum was asked to anonymously vote whether to vote for or against the motion, they were also given the option to abstain from the vote. The results from the forum concluded that it passed. The motion will now be sent to a referendum online, so students soon will be able to read the motion themselves and cast their own vote for the motion!

The next issue on the agenda of the student forum was a motion brought forward by the Part-Time Mature Students Officer Rhydian Morris and seconded by the FullTime Welfare Officer Lloyd Harris. Rhydian proposed the motion to create a new Part-Time Officer role with the title of “Mental Health Awareness Officer”. Along with this role the motion stated to entitle the role to £500 of ring-fenced funding for campaigns, which is given to all liberation

The next student forum will be will be the first ever to be on the Bay Campus and be focusing upon the issues of faced whilst living or studying at the Bay Campus. For those still unhappy with their time on Bay Campus, or feel there is some issues that have been overlooked, this is the perfect time to feedback those thoughts. Without students input, the Students Union is unable to campaign successfully on your behalf. The Bay Campus Forum will be held on the 24th of November at 13:00 at the Bay Campus Union Building.

Whilst the turnout was disappointing at the forum, it was still important to see some of the student body engaging with the Unions work. The Saturday Exam survey was a large success of engagement; however the Students Union needs more. The Full-Time and Part-Time Officers are elected and there to help you.

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Cyweliad â’ch Swyddog Materion Cymraeg Newydd 4) Beth yw eich nôd am y flwyddyn? Beth wyt ti’n gobeithio cyflawni erbyn diwedd y flwyddyn?

by Laura Fiteni

waterfrontnews@swansea-union.co.uk

Yr wythnos ddiwethaf, penodwyd myfyrwraig Cymraeg Lauren Evans yn Swyddog Materion Cymraeg.

Pleidleisiodd myfyrwyr Abertawe dros swyddogion rhan amser mewn etholiad ar-lein a fydd yn cynrychioli eu diddordebau yn ystod y flwyddyn academaidd. Y mae’r Waterfront wedi sgwrsio gyda Lauren er mwyn gofyn am ei chynlluniau ar gyfer y flwyddyn.

Erbyn diwedd y flwyddyn academaidd, rwy’n gobeithio y byddaf wedi cyflawni popeth a nodwyd ar fy maniffesto (ac unrhyw beth arall sy’n codi yn y cyfamser). Mae hyn yn cynnwys, er enghraifft; cydweithio ag adrannau fel Academi Hywel Teifi, y Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, Cymraeg i Oedolion, Undeb y Myfyrwyr a’r Gymdeithas Gymraeg (y GymGym) i gyd-drefnu a normaleiddio digwyddiadau cyfrwng Cymraeg a gwarchod hawl myfyrwyr i gael addysg yn y Gymraeg hefyd. Rwy’n bwriadu trefnu fforymau i fyfyrwyr cyfrwng Cymraeg a mwy o wersi i fyfyrwyr sydd eisiau dechrau dysgu’r iaith. Yn ogystal â hynny, hoffwn i ychwanegu at y nifer o ddeunyddiau Cymraeg sydd ar gael yn llyfrgelloedd y Brifysgol.

1. Yn gyntaf, llongyfarchiadau ar eich rôl newydd Lauren! Beth ysbrydiolodd arnat ti i ymgeisio?

Diolch yn fawr! Rwyf yn fy mlwyddyn olaf ar hyn o bryd (yn astudio BA Cymraeg) ac ers i mi ddechrau yn y brifysgol 4 blynedd yn ôl, rwyf wedi sylwi bod yr iaith Gymraeg wedi dod yn llawer mwy cyffredin ar y campws. Yn amlwg mae cyn-swyddogion yr iaith Gymraeg wedi chwarae rolau pwysig yn y datblygiad hwnnw ac dwi’n credu ei bod hi’n bwysig sicrhau bod rhywun yn parhau eu gwaith ac yn cydweithio â’r Undeb i hybu’r iaith ymhellach.

Ymwelodd Lauren a ffrindiau ar ei chwrs Cymraeg â’r Eisteddfod Genedlaethol yn LLanelli y llynedd/ Lauren and friends from her Welsh course visited last year’s National Eisteddfod yn Llanelli.

3) Beth yw eich cyfrifoldebau fel Swyddog Materion Cymraeg?

2) Pam ydy hi’n bwysig i lenwi’r rôl?

Gan ein bod ni’n astudio yng Nghymru, mae’n allweddol gweld bod ein hiaith a’n diwylliant yn cael eu hyrwyddo. Dylai’r brifysgol gynnig cymaint o gyfleoedd cymdeithasol ac academaidd i fyfyrwyr yn y Gymraeg ag yn y Saesneg ac, wrth lenwi’r rôl hon, bydd y llais Gymraeg yn cael ei chlywed.

Fel Swyddog yr Iaith Gymraeg, un o’m prif gyfrifoldebau yw cynrychioli’r myfyrwyr Cymraeg. Felly, bydda i’n lleisio barn myfyrwyr mewn fforymau a chyfarfodydd â’r Undeb ar eu rhan. Yn ogystal â hynny, bydd yn rhaid i mi annog mwy o fyfyrwyr i ddechrau dysgu’r iaith neu ddatblygu’r sgiliau iaith sydd ganddynt yn barod.

5) Sut all pobl gysylltu gyda ti?

Os oes gennych unrhyw faterion yr hoffech eu trafod, gallwch e-bostio 707415@abertawe.ac.uk . Rwyf wedi creu cyfrif Trydar hefyd, lle bydda i’n trydaru am faterion Cymraeg ym mhob agwedd o fywyd Prifysgol. Dilynwch @SwyddogMCymraeg am y newyddion diweddaraf! Bydd fy manylion cyswllt yn cael eu hychwanegu at wefan yr Undeb yn ystod yr wythnosau nesaf felly dylai fod yn hawdd i chi gyd ddod o hyd i’r manylion hyn drwy’r flwyddyn. Rwy’n edrych ymlaen at glywed sylwadau a syniadau pawb!

Get to know your new Welsh Affairs Officer

by Laura Fiteni

waterfrontnews@swansea-union.co.uk

Last week, Welsh student Lauren Evans was appointed the Welsh affairs officer.

Swansea students voted in an online election for the part-time officers that will represent their interests during the academic year. The Waterfront caught up with Lauren in order to find out about her plans for the year.

1) Firstly, congratulations on your new position Lauren! What inspired you to apply?

Thank you very much! I’m currently in my final year of studying a BA in Welsh and since I started my course at the university four years ago, I have noticed that the Welsh language has become more and more common on campus. Of course, the previous Welsh affairs officers have played an important role in this progression and I think it’s important to insure that someone continues their good work by working closely with the Union to increase its presence further.

2) Why is it important that this role exists?

Considering we’re studying in Wales, it’s essential that we promote our language and culture. The university should provide social and academic opportunities to students in Welsh as well as English and

by ensuring there is in a officer in this role, Welsh voices will be heard.

3) What are your responsibilities as the Welsh Affairs Officer?

As Welsh Affairs officer, my main responsibility is representing Welsh students by voicing their concerns and opinions at student forums and Union meetings. Furthermore, I’m committed to encouraging more students to learn the language for the first time or to develop their existing linguistic skills.

4) What’s your aim for the year and what do you hope to achieve by the end of the year?

By the end of the academic year, I hope to have achieved everything which I laid out in my manifesto (and any other issues that need addressing in the meantime). This includes things like; collaborating with university bodies such as Acaemi Hywel Teifi, y Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, the Welsh For Adults course, the Students’ Union and the Welsh society (y GymGym) to arrange and regulate events held through the medium of Welsh and also to protect students’ rights to receive their Education in Welsh. I intend to arrange student forums through the medium of Welsh and more lessons for those students who want to start learning the language. In addition, I want to increase the quantity of Welsh materials which are available in the library.

Mae Lauren yn gweithio gyda’r Brifysgol er mwyn hyrwyddo’r iaith Gymraeg i fyfyrwyr newydd eleni This year, Lauren worked with the university to promote Welsh language to new students!

5) How can people get in touch with you?

If students have anything they’d like to discuss, they can email 707415@ abertawe.ac.uk. Also, I’ve created a Twitter account where I’ll be tweeting about all things Welsh at the University so follow

SwyddogMCymraeg for the latest news. In addition, in the next couple of weeks, my contact details will be added to the Union website so it should be easy for everyone to get hold of me throughout the year.

I’m really looking forward to hearing everyone’s thoughts and ideas.

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In total there are 15 Part-Time elected officers with one of the posts (Part-Time Students’ Officer) unfilled. Their names and roles are:

N EW S PTO Campaign

by Hannah Granton

waterfrontunionnews@swansea-union.co.uk

Following on from the recent Part-Time Officer election, in the next few weeks the Students’ Union will be launching its PartTime Officer Campaign. The campaign sets out to publicise the team of Officers that you as Swansea University students have voted to represent you.

General Secretary: Ms. Asta Uba Mshelia Environment Officer: Ms. Carlie Andrew International Students Officer: Mr. Churchill Detonmene Ethics Officer: Mr. Ross McKendrick Mature Students Officer: Mr. Rhydian Morris Part Time Students Officer: Vacant Postgraduate Taught & Research Officers: Ms. Rachel Tucker & Mr. Ross Davies Fresher’s Rep: Ms. Joy Fashina Students with Disabilities Officer: Ms. Ellie Pullen Students with Caring Responsibilities Officer: Ms. Cindy Amadi BME (Black & Minority Ethnic) Officer: Mr. Hamzah Nurgat LGBT+ Officer (Open Place): Mr. Sam McLaughlin LGBT+ Officer (Woman): Ms. Hannah Stewart Women’s Officer: Ms. Heather Wood Welsh Language Officer: Ms. Lauren Evans Each officer will be showcased on a different week with a theme of their role following, for example the Women’s Officer Week will

My Education Demo Experience

by Ross McKendrick

waterfrontunionnews@swansea-union.co.uk

Earlier this month, on a miserably cold morning of Wednesday 4th November, a small but enthusiastic delegation travelled from Swansea University Students’ Union to join thousands of other students from around Britain, in protest on the streets of London. The demonstration, called

by National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts, offered students an arena in which to express their discontent at this government’s plans for education over the coming years.

Armed with nothing but indignation and a placard reading “Cameron likes big cuts and he cannot lie”, Swansea University Students’ Union’s Education Officer, Robiu Salisu, was apprehended by the BBC within minutes of leaving the coach, providing a perfect opportunity to reiterate the demands of NCAFC and an enormity of students: the scrapping of tuition fees, maintenance grants for all students, and the safeguarding of Disabled Students’ Allowance, to name a few, to ensure that education is open and accessible for all, regardless of racial, social or economic background.

After all, education is a right for all. It’s not selfish to fight for free and inclusive education – it’s selfless. 2010 and 2011 saw tens of thousands of students march through London in opposition to the Tory-Lib Dem coalition’s plans to treble tuition fees to £9000 per year, especially important to students at the time following the betrayal by the Liberal Democrats, who won a huge amount of support

only months before with the promise of free education. Just like the students in 2010, we weren’t marching for ourselves, but for future students who will be held back by these barriers to education, with the recognition that with an inclusive education system free from obstacles, all of society will benefit.

It has become clear, however, that this brand of Conservatives views the average student with the utmost contempt, treating them as nothing more than petty customers, at universities which serve only for monetary gain. This problem is endemic to capitalism, an anarchic economic system which must conquer new markets in order to survive – unfortunately for students, education is being treated as a commodity which can be bought and sold for profit.

Students have been presented with the potential for free education through the election of Jeremy Corbyn as the leader of the Labour Party – for the first time in most students’ living memory, they have a leader of the opposition who is easily distinguishable from the government.

The NUS, the collective voice of students, must marshal its resources to defend Corbyn and to realise free education – it’s important to note, however, that this is only possible through a movement, based on the unapologetic expropriation of the wealth of the top 1%.

The future of education is in jeopardy, and it is vital that students take a stand, and continue to fight its liberation.

Ross McKendrick, Marxist Society.

Swansea University Students’ Union Ethics Officer and NUS UK Delegate

From L-R, Hamzah Nurgat, Rhydian Morris, Heather Wood, Sam McLaughlin, Churchill Detonmene

discuss topics like #FreeThePeriod and the pay gap. The outcome of the campaign is to ensure that all students’ feel supported by the Students’ Union and its officers and knowledgeable about what it is that they actually do.

A spokeswoman for the Students’ Union says: ‘It’s really important that students’ know who they can turn to when they see an issue. If a student is unhappy about the

amount of energy the University uses on things like lighting – they can go to their Environmental Officer, if a student feels like the University can do more for the Welsh language – they can turn to the Welsh Language Officer. Our officers are there to cover all aspects of University life and the Union is more than just Freshers’ week! We really hope that this campaign will allow students’ to see and understand that.’

Watch this space for the next PTO of the week!

9,100 50% of our graduate opportunities are based outside of London

In London, salaries are % higher on average, than other cities, but you pay 60% more to live there

33

We don’t

look at

UCAS

tariff for our graduate roles

clients are based across offices outside of London, and this represents 2/3 rds of our client list

68% of all 2015 promotions were outside London

Our regional practices are at the heart of PwC

We welcome all degree disciplines

Internship opportunities •Summer internships •Business insight weeks •Career open days •Talent academies •Diversity in business •Undergraduate work placements •Graduate work placements

A career that takes you places Our purpose is to build trust in society and solve important problems for our clients. And our clients are incredibly diverse, covering all sorts of industries and sectors. In our Assurance practice, our work might involve auditing local councils to make sure budgets are being spent wisely and for the benefit of the community, through to providing assurance that an online bank or retailer has the right controls in place to protect their customers’ money and data. It’s work that sets us apart from our competitors – making sure the value we deliver has lasting impact for our clients and beyond.

You might be surprised to know that Assurance can take your career in all sorts of directions. Once qualified, you could deepen your knowledge in a particular industry, move into a new area and develop new expertise, or maybe go on a secondment abroad or with a client. Whatever you decide, it’s a great place to begin your career journey.

We look for people who are motivated by a sense of achievement, have a unique passion for what they’re doing and the ambition to go above and beyond. The range and variety of career opportunities we have is extensive – from Consulting to Tax; Assurance to Legal; and Technology to Actuarial – and our businesses welcome applications from people who don’t have business or financerelated degrees. In fact, 50% of our graduate intake studied non-business related subjects. Instead, we focus on whether someone can bring the kind of skills that will create value for our clients and lead to success in their career. Our roles aren’t just limited to London – over half of our graduate jobs are regional and just like London, they have high-profile and diverse clients.

So whichever sector you’re interested in, and in whichever part of the country you’d like to be, we have a huge number of opportunities on offer.

Take the opportunity of a lifetime pwc.com/uk/careers © 2015 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. All rights reserved.

YOUR SECURITY MATTERS What would you do if you lost your laptop or phone?

Accidental damage accounts

for over 70% of Endsleigh student insurance claims.

43% of students admitted to being uncomfortable without their phone for more than 24 hours.

70

%

Source: Endsleigh claims data July 2014-2015

43

%

Source: Endsleigh Student Lifestyle Survey 2015

Protect your laptop, phone and other possessions with the No.1 student insurance provider.

Visit endsleigh.co.uk/university

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Source: Endsleigh Student Lifestyle Survey 2015 Endsleigh Insurance Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. This can be checked on the Financial Services Register by visiting their website at www.fca.org.uk/register Endsleigh Insurance Services Limited. Company No. 856706 registered in England at Shurdington Road, Cheltenham Spa, Gloucestershire GL51 4UE.

Student Security Campaign advert 268mm x 345mm.indd 1

04/11/2015 10:22:56

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LIBERATION with Akosua Darko

waterfrontliberation@swansea-union.co.uk

By Karsen Breanne Swansea University Islamic Society

It’s Islamophobia awareness month and, Karsen Breanne from Swansea University Islamic society ( ISOC) provided information on why this month is important for society overall.

For instance, when one fears the dark, it is not typically due to that which they know is there- but rather a fear of the unknown so they choose to simply avoid it. However; it would take something as simple as turning on the light, to illuminate the space and provide the knowledge that there really was nothing to fear after all.

recently they’ve increased substantially on public transport. Perpetrators are predominately white males, and the majority of victims are ‘religiously dressed’ females. Although the attacks tend to be verbal; in addition, there has been a drastic increase in physical assaults.

When you ask someone why they fear Muslims, the response you will usually receive is something along the lines of “they’re dangerous”, “they want to harm us”, or “their religion teaches violence”.

When you ask someone where it is they’ve gathered this information, people tend to be reluctant to admit that the majority of it is from a misleading masterpiece the media has been painting for years. Luckily; if someone were to choose to properly inform themselves of the teachings of Islam, they would likely find it rather easy to dispel their inherent fear of Muslims or anyone resembling a follower of Islam.

The Metropolitan Police recorded 816 Islamophobic crimes between July 2014 and July 2015, which is up from 478 Islamophobic crimes between July 2013 and July 2014. These crimes are increasing in various areas across the UK, and more

“For you is your religion, and for me is my religion.” (The Holy Quran, 109). This is merely one of many verses from The Quran that stress religious tolerance- and tolerance of those that may view things differently than you do. We as Muslims

It is human nature to be opposed to or fear things that are different from what you know, or what you’re used to. This has been something very easily observed throughout history, in every corner of the world. However; when someone takes the time to learn and understand that which they fear due to unfamiliarity, suddenly they realise it may not be so daunting after all.

are taught that people are different; and that your first concern should not be the way another individual thinks, speaks, or behaves- but rather your first concern should be your own character. “O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted.” (49:13).

If you fear something- is it really a fear of that particular thing, or could it be a fear of

that which is unfamiliar or unknown? And if that is the case, perhaps illumination would alleviate some of that fear.

November is Islamophobia Awareness Month, which aims to deconstruct and challenge some of the misconceptions and stereotypes regarding Islam and Muslims. If you or someone you know has been a victim of Islamophobia or any anti-Muslim speech or actions, or if you’re simply interested in learning more- please do not hesitate to contact Swansea University Islamic Society.

November 22nd marks the start of disability history month and, the lovely NUS Wales disabled students officer Diana Isajeva, told me why disability history month is such an important month for disabled students.

By Diana Isajeva Students’ with Disabilities Campaign Officer ‘You can judge a nation by the way it treats its most vulnerable citizens’ Aristotle Any disability is tough to live with, but in combination with the stresses and strains of university degree, it can be completely overwhelming. A university degree greatly increases the chances of getting a wellpaid job, and baring that in mind the under representation of disabled students in the higher education underlines a massive social injustice that still exists in today’s education system.

For disabled people, having a higher education qualification means a much lower risk of unemployment, a brighter future as well as allowing them to contribute to the society. However, it is still a form of taboo

for the disabled to speak about the barriers they overcome every day and as a result their quiet struggles are rarely noticed.

One of the many issues that a disabled student might come across while at university is usually the poor quality of advice, information and training given to academic staff, especially in relation to invisible illnesses. Also many ancient university buildings hardly meet the access needs, if at all. The Disabled Students’ Allowance only covers the costs of the specialist equipment and non- medical help, disregarding the sky high care costs. While living away from home, the accommodation for carers can become a massive financial burden, as students may have to pay for an extra room. Many disabled students will face a hurdle of trying to secure a funding to cover care costs, due to the enormous cuts to local authority

budgets and the closure of Independent Living Fund.

In the most unfortunate circumstances, if a student becomes disabled in the middle of getting a university degree, there is hardly any financial help, as the social security benefits are not available in such situation.

Since the Disability Living Allowance was replaced by the Personal Independent Payment, it will usually take up to a year to receive a decision, putting on hold any kind of financial support. Therefore, a student who is suddenly struck down with a debilitating condition will face a rather cruel choice of either dropping out of university or suffering without the daily essentials.

Some of those issues can be easily dealt with by educating our community and therefore the disability history month is very important as it will help the disabled

students to understand their civil rights, which will improve their sense of identity, while learning about many historical characters who faced hardships, but continued to strive for their goals. This can help to locate the role models, whose experiences and great achievements can support in overcoming personal obstacles.

Learning and sharing disability history will help to build a relationship with people from other marginalized communities as well as educating those without disabilities, which will lead to better understanding and therefore less prejudice.

Carefully examining the mistakes of the past, where disabled had no rights and were greatly oppressed will guide us through reevaluation of today’s societal norms, where unfortunately disabled are still marginalized, stigmatized and misunderstood.

A career that takes you places Take the opportunity of a lifetime pwc.com/uk/careers

50% of our graduate opportunities are based outside of London

We welcome all degree disciplines

We don’t

look at

UCAS

tariff for our graduate roles

68% of all 2015 promotions were outside London

9,100

clients

across our regional offices

WHERE NEXT AFTER YOUR DEGREE? Building the future you want is an iterative process of analysing yourself, reflecting, exploring possibilities, gaining experience, reviewing your aims as your ideas and skills grow, planning and taking action. Even if you don’t feel that diving straight into a career after graduation is right for you, it’s never too soon to think about what you want out of your short/medium/longerterm future and planning ways to get there, whether it’s a job, further study/training, self-employment or time out. It’s important to think about lead-times, e.g. you will most probably need to have relevant experience under your belt before you apply for a job or training in order to gain a competitive edge.

So here’s an overview of things you can do at different stages of your time at university, and resources available to help you. It’s not exhaustive, and what you need to do when will vary depending on your individual circumstances and goals, so have a look at all of the following sections, whatever year you’re in.

Career Journey Map We’ve put together the Career Journey Map to help you orientate yourself within the landscape of key themes and action points along your career journey and work out the direction you need to take, depending on the stage you’re at. It relates very closely to the Swansea Employability Award. You can download the Journey Map and notes under “Tools” at myuni.swan.ac.uk/careers.

From your first year onwards At this stage you have plenty of thinking time ahead, but many careers require actionplanning early on. If postgraduate study/ training is a required or desirable entry route to your chosen career, you need to start planning at least 18 months (often longer) in advance to allow enough time for things

“Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it.”

(Alan Lakein) like researching options, gaining relevant experience to include in your application, or liaising with potential study/research supervisors in order to write submissions to funding bodies.

You can start gathering ideas using the following sections at myuni.swan.ac.uk/ careers • What’s on?: Careers Advisers’ workshops, employers’ talks and other events.

• CVs: Advice on CVs, letters, and building your profile on LinkedIn.

Postgraduate study: A very positive option for many reasons, and essential for certain careers.

• SEA Award (open to all students at all levels): Lots of resources here to help you with: Evaluating your strengths, interests, values, mind-set and what you have to offer employers Exploring types of jobs and gathering ideas on what you can do with your degree Action planning, decision making and …

• Work Experience, SEA Award and Job hunting: Research types of employers - look at their careers web pages, find out what they look for in graduates and check out the recruitment process. Develop your commercial awareness.

Find out about work experience opportunities, including programmes run by the SEA Team. Some larger recruiters’ structured work experience placements are open to students in their first year too.

Think about networking because many jobs and internships are not advertised.

• Other options: Volunteering, work/study abroad, self-employment.

… getting started on the Swansea Employability Award!

• Interactive Portal (Under the Tools menu): A gold mine of interactive tools!

Keep an eye on our social media (signposted at myuni.swan.ac.uk/careers)fornewsandevents.

Second year onwards Continue to make use of the resources at myuni.swan.ac.uk/careers, research career ideas, look for opportunities to gain more experience, keep your CV up to date and attend careers events. Get to grips with the recruitment process – applications, interviews, selection tests and assessment centres. Our

Careers Advisers’ Workshops offer lots of practical advice on these and many other topics.

Make sure you’re ahead of the game with regard to lead-times and deadlines that you need to build into your plans, especially where relevant experience is an essential part of successful applications in popular, highly competitive areas, and check out deadlines coming up really early in the autumn term email alerts and RSS feeds are helpful here.

Many graduate placements/jobs are advertised up to a year ahead, and closing dates may often be early in the autumn term, although some have deadlines in the spring term or later. Placement/internship programmes are usually an integral part of employers’ main recruitment selection processes, so they’re vital if you want a job with the same employer after graduation.

Students doing a year abroad Continue researching employers and increasing your commercial awareness and understanding of the job market. Keeping a reflective diary of your year abroad is great for generating lots of evidence to use in future applications.

Final year Continue to build your experience and knowledge of the job market. Keep an eye on vacancy sources, and check out early deadlines. Some graduate employers recruit all year round; those who do not have structured graduate recruitment programmes, including SMEs (Small and Medium sized Enterprises), tend to recruit as and when a new post arises, so watch out for these. Also speculatively target companies that interest you – think networking!

CAREERS FA I R PRIZE WINNER We’re delighted to announce that the prize draw at our Careers Fairs held on 8 and 9 Octobers this year was won by Vasiliki Tassou , and her prize was a bus pass worth £300 kindly donated by First Cymru.

Vasiliki is currently doing a Master’s Degree in Teaching English as a Foreign Language, and she is also currently one of our Student Employability Representatives. Here she is receiving her bus pass from Pauline McDonald, Head of Careers and Employability, and Jennie James from our Careers Adviser Team who is responsible for liaising with the College of Arts and Humanities.

From L-R: Jennie James, Vasiliki Tassou, Pauline McDonald

OSPREYS v CARDIFF BLUES

STUDENT TICKETS ONL Y

SATURDAY 28 NOVEMBER 3:00PM / LIBERTY STADIUM SHOW YOUR TICKET TO GET: FREE 1/2 CHICKEN at Nandos SPECIAL OFFERS on selected drinks at Walkabout 50% OFF FOOD at Walkabout FREE ENTRY at Walkabout

4 SIMPLE WAYS TO BUY Tickets available at Costcutter (City Campus) & Tesco (Bay Campus) Go to www.swansea-union.co.uk Visit Liberty Stadium Ticket Office Call 0844 815 6665* & quote STUDENT DAY * The cost to call this number is 7p per minutes plus your standard network charge

£10

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16 November 2015 waterfrontonline.co.uk

front!

Joshua Vaughan’s guide to next years biggest movies - page 14

16 November 2015 waterfrontonline.co.uk

with Nicholas Fearn

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features

Cook in bulk And freeze for later use. Whether it’s chili, bolognaise, curry or stew, bulk cooking is essential. It quells the panic of wasting food since it’s not going out of date and there’s nothing like remembering you’ve got a stew in the freezer when the cupboard’s empty.

Pack a lunch Thought your tupperware days were over? They haven’t even begun. Again, it seems basic, but I found myself time and time again having to dash from HSV without time to make a lunch and having to take the plunge in-between lectures.

And while a panini deal from JCs fills you up nicely, day after day, your wallet will start to look pretty malnourished.

Shop smart If you can’t push down your hankering for items that usually cost a pretty penny (steak, mince etc), try going to the market. You can find cheap fruit and veg - and even quality meats - at Swansea market and might even be able to haggle yourself a saving.

Billy Upton’s is a personal recommendation if you can’t fight the steak pangs.

A guide to student budgeting

by Callum Maguire

waterfrontfeatures@swansea-union.co.uk

So you’ve bought your textbooks, you’ve blown a small fresher’s fortune and the nail of accommodation payments has been hammered into your financial coffin. You’re officially broke.

Sound familiar? That’s pretty much been my experience as a Swansea first year – a couple months down the line and well and truly in the red.

With the hazy fog of the first couple months finally lifting and my funds plummeting further into the dreaded overdraft, it was truly time to go the way of the scrimping student.

If you were anything like me, the first food shop of your uni experience was a massacre. I bought everything my heart desired, and within a week of drunken post-Wind Street cooking, I was left hungry and poor. Here’s how you can fair better: Get used to own brand goods. We’re talking Tesco/Asda/Aldi, so forget the Waitrose. It sounds obvious, but own brand is the student go to, and while there may be a compromise in flavour, it’s much cheaper to buy your own onions and spices to spruce up lacklustre tinned tomatoes than to buy the pasta sauce with the fanciest name. With a bit of experimentation, you can turn “everyday value” into “culinary masterpiece”.

My bi-weekly shop

So here’s a list of the top budgeting tips collated from experiences, hindsight and second years who’ve made the mistakes so we don’t have to.

Own Brand: £33.70

Food shopping

Preferred Brands: £67.40

Ah, the unfortunate necessity of the food shop.

Food is one expenditure you really can’t get around, but it’s got to be done. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be the bi-weekly bane of your bank account that we often make it.

Buy in bulk

(spices and flavourings included)

The proof is in the (own brand) pudding.

Everyone knows that bulk buying is the smart financial move, so stock up on huge bags of those foods you’ll always need that rarely go off. Ready meals no, 5kgs of pasta yes.

Loyalty cards Whether it’s a tesco club-card or a loyalty card from your favourite café, there’s no excuse. You’re one of those people now.

Travel Another cost that’s hard to avoid is travel. We’re going to leave out the patronising “get a bike” and while you silently salute those brave enough to cycle to Bay every day, you can take a look at these tips:

Get a railcard If you find yourself hoping on and off trains like an eager gap year student (but without the stories no one wants to hear), a railcard is essential. If you’ve got a student bank account with Santander, you can apply for a 3-year card for free! If not, it’ll cost you £28 a year - but will no doubt pay for itself in 3 journeys or less.

Take the bus more often If you find yourself (as I did those first couple of weeks) always getting a taxi to and from Wind Street on that fabled Wednesday escapade, maybe consider taking the bus? They run till pretty late and the atmosphere on the bus to or from your housing can be a great part of the night (those with a negative disposition to football chants need not apply) and hey, if you live on HSV or Bay, you’ve already got a bus pass (I hope).

16 November 2015 waterfrontonline.co.uk

Nights out In the magical - and yet baffling - logic of a night out, dropping £20 on jagerbombs the second you enter Jack Murphy’s or buying an obscene triple cheesy chip kebab burger at 4.30AM is fair game. Par for the course if you will.

Well, I’m a scrounger, not a miracle worker. An alcohol-lathered student isn’t going to stop the account draining debauchery, but maybe they can do some damage control: Cheapest nights out: Wednesday: Wind Street Wednesdays is a no brainer, but if you’re looking for a cheap night, Jack Murphy’s has you covered – more bar than club per say. It’s got a great atmosphere, free entry, always busy and £1 bombs. What more could you ask for?

Thursday: Sin city’s Sin Savers. If you manage to unstick yourself from your bed Thursday morning and unstick your feet from the dancefloor Thursday night, drinks at Sin Savers will be the cheapest you’ll likely find all week.

Friday: Tooters at Divas. Braving fondue level tunes is a small price to pay for 2 drinks for £2, just for the love of god get there early.

Life as a Graduate

by Ina Pace

waterfrontfeatures@swansea-union.co.uk

Whilst graduation this July was a very rewarding, albeit brief experience, the thought of what to do afterwards was always a slight weight on my shoulders that only recently came to be a heavier one. I was determined to retain some degree of ‘normality’ once I graduated, so on the whole, gave myself a summer holiday until October (when I would usually start the autumn semester back at Swansea.) I had enough money to survive without a regular income, so aside from the odd shift as a waitress, I tried not to think too much about job applications or work experience and simply aimed to indulge in free time at home, which for me is a rarity, yet something easily taken for granted.

I would like to say I spent most of my ‘holiday’ relaxing, enjoying what I knew could be only a limited amount of free-time, before I made the “grown-up” decision about when to start doing something vaguely prospective. I discovered I got bored easily, and without a structure to my life, lost much motivation in actually doing anything productive. Someone once said to me, if you want something done, give it to someone busy. Organising the mess in your bedroom, or updating that blog you’ve been meaning to do for ages suddenly doesn’t feel too important when you’ve never nothing better to do. On the whole I felt anxious, wondering whether I was doing the right thing (not applying for jobs left, right and centre). During life as a recent graduate, you come to realise there is no one common thread you are following alongside your peers; up til now, that thread has most likely been the thread of education; you’re all following a similar structure and working towards the same goals, that is to get a degree result that satisfies you. Now you do not necessarily have the ability to compare yourself.

Sponsored bars. If you’re tightening your purse strings to maybe just one or two nights out a week (woe is us, the children of the overdraft), you’ve got to make the most of those nights. As you’ll know loads of societies have socials (usually on a Wednesday) that make use of sponsored bars, this means free entry and usually cheap drinks if you’re in the soc. Now, I’m not suggesting you join a society purely for the social…but it’s not going to hurt.

Buy Wristbands: This is a tricky one. Wristbands make club entry cheaper at certain times. Sometimes, they’re a waste of time, but if your group frequently club hops, they’re worth having a look at.

DON’T PAY BY CARD: This one’s a biggie for me, and I’m sure lots of others. Get into the habit of taking an allotted amount out at an ATM and stick to that for the night.

There’s nothing worse than that hungover kick in the balls of checking your account to see you’ve splurged £50 on alcohol you can’t pronounce. Maybe even consider splitting money between two accounts and only taking the one card out. Never rely on the magic plastic.

I am currently enrolled on Swansea University’s careers service database, so I’m kept in the loop when SPIN and Santander ‘placements’ crop up. Fortunately in September one did, and I applied successfully. I am currently working as a project assistant in the disability office developing staff resources for the SALT website. This placement isn’t actually related directly to what I want to do (probably journalism or TV production) but the skills are generic. I have immersed myself in a comfortable 9-5 which certainly has its perks.

What I like most about the structure of the world of work (so far) as opposed to education is the ability to ‘clock off’ after a day’s work. Once I am out of the office, I know that I am able to have a night to myself without thinking about the next essay I have to write, or feeling guilty because I choose to watch Netflix instead… I also have free weekends, and I can’t remember when I actually last had one of those- most likely before I started my GCSEs (no word of exaggeration).

I find however that my ‘free-time’ doesn’t always feel free however. I have to act professional, you know, like an actual adult for seven hours a day, and that can be tiring. In many cases, not to mention those who work unsociable hours, all your focus is directed into a particular job, and that doesn’t leave you with much energy afterwards. There is also the ongoing hunt for job and work experience applications and, say if you want to travel as many graduates do, research in working or perhaps in living abroad. If I am not hunting nor researching, I have the conscious feeling that I ought to be, and this keeps me on the ball, consistently keeping an eye out for stepping stones which help me across the somewhat abyss that is unemployment, whether it be a temporary internship, or a couple of interviews.

Technically speaking, you have been building your own path since you decided to pursue Higher Education not made compulsory by the state, only now you probably don’t have the sign-postage. As a graduate of English Literature and History I write more for those with non-vocational degrees; those with vocational degrees are more likely to have a more straight-forward plan, but this does not mean that as they develop as people their decisions are less susceptible

13

Quick tips NUS cards often pay for themselves ridiculously quick if you use them effectively, it’s worth having a look if some of the places you shop at frequently offer a discount.

It’s worth checking if wherever you shop (be it clothes or food) offers a student discount, you’d be surprised how many places don’t exactly advertise their offers so get in the habit of asking.

Conclusion So there are my first semester tips. I’ve learnt that if you’re going to have a good time at university you really can’t help spending, but at the same time there are a lot of minimal effort solutions that really can save you a considerable amount.

For those well rounded individuals with a positive bank balance and a budget book, keep doing what you’re doing.

For the rest of us, keep abiding by these tips and at least we might make it through the year without selling any organs…but maybe one more takeaway wouldn’t hurt.

to change. During summer I felt I was experiencing an anticlimax from all the sense of achievement at University. But this is a transitional phase and frankly an inevitable part of life. Once you reach the stars, your next step often ends up on the bottom rung again, whether this is the step from school to university or from one job to another…

I want to focus on the positive. Unpredictability can be both a good and a bad thing I think. It may be easy to go crazy from a lack of routine or structure that you’ve always had.

Even the fact that my years will now most likely begin in January rather than September is new in itself. The fact that I now choose to create my own ‘bridges’ and seek challenges is certainly intimidating, but it is also exciting.

Given the current job market I’ve seen some people really struggle in making their way out of a comfortable and often non-prospective job, such as work in retail or supermarkets, (those who don’t aspire to those jobs I mean, and feel overly-qualified with their degrees.) Unfortunately, my aspirations won’t always be practical, but I could also get hit by a bus tomorrow. There is no point worrying about this yet, essentially I am still young at 24, and have the rest of my life to work. It’s ok to still be unsure. I just want to retain my sense of ambition and hope that’s enough for now.

16 November 2015 waterfrontonline.co.uk

film

with Joshua Vaughan

14

Films to look forward to in 2016 While 2015 begins to wrap up, it seems appropriate to look forward to the mouthwatering schedule of the films released in 2016. In a world dominated by superhero sequels, prequels and spin-offs, it would be unfair to count all of them in the same Top-10 list, so we will only count those too big to miss. Let’s kick it off!

10 – The Boy (22nd January)

As horror films seem to be getting worse and worse, and as James Wan (The Conjuring (2013), Insidious I & II (2011, 2013)) seems to be leaving horror for the action world (Furious 7 (2015)), it is clear that legitimately good installments of the fear-inducing genre have all but vanished from theatres. With The Walking Dead’s Lauren Cohan at the helm, let’s hope this one is a better man’s Annabelle (2014).

Hansel (Owen Wilson), as they look to keep justice (minus the brainwashing) in the fashion industry.

The sequel to Zoolander (2001) has been a long time coming for die-hard fans.

7 – The Jungle Book & Tarzan

(15th April & 1st July) Two re-made Disney classics? Out in the SAME year? Sounds pretty good, right? The Jungle Book features an all-star voice-cast including Bill Murray, Idris Elba and Scarlett Johansson, while Tarzan features the live-action talents of Alexander Skarsgård, Margot Robbie and Christoph Waltz.

6 – Warcraft (3rd June)

Azeroth, meet Orcs. Orcs, meet Azeroth. World of Warcraft meets the world of movies, as the Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG) World of Warcraft hits the big-screen, for a film fan-boys hope is the first successful (commercially and critically) film adaptation of a video-game.

5 – Suicide Squad (5th August)

If the film is as good as the trailer, then we are in business. Deadshot (Will Smith) and Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) headline DC’s group of crime-fighting villains, as they seek to take down government threats for a lesser prison sentence.

Keep an eye out for this one – Jared Leto’s Joker is sure to make this film sizzle.

4 – Deadpool (12th February)

9 – London Has Fallen (4th March)

Forgetting the laughable title for a second, London Has Fallen is the largely unwanted sequel to the 2013 action flick Olympus Has Fallen. With Gerard Butler, Morgan Freeman and company reprising their roles, let’s hope they get British people’s apathy right in 2016.

8 – Zoolander 2 (12th February)

Blue Steel, Ferrari, Le Tigre and Magnum are all back in this one. So are Derek Zoolander (Ben Stiller) and

The Merc With a Mouth is back in theatres – and this time, his lips aren’t sewn shut. Ryan Reynolds plays the beloved anti-hero, as he seeks to take down the man who ruined his life. Rated R in the U.S. and 15 in the UK, expect gore, language and 4th-wall breaking throughout.

3 – Captain America: Civil War (5th May)

Captain America (Chris Evans) leads a superhero team against Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) and crew, over a debate with a certain “Superhero Registration Act” title. With Thanos (Josh Brolin) waiting in the wings of future MCU films, this one could be Marvel’s best conflict yet.

2 – Finding Dory (17th June)

The spin-off/sequel is here. When most of us wanted a sequel to The Incredibles (2004) or Finding Nemo (2003), we got Cars 2 (2011). Then, Pixar grew a conscience and announced Finding Dory to the world. This is sure to be Pixar’s most anticipated film, other than perhaps The Incredibles 2 (2019).

1 – Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (25th March)

Holy crap. Ben Affleck stars as the Batman to Henry Cavill’s Superman, as Batman wages war on the Man of Steel for destroying most of Metropolis, and leveling Wayne Tower in the neighboring city of Gotham. Affleck and Cavill kick of DC’s hunt for a shared universe with a fight for the ages.

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A career that takes you places You might be surprised at the types of projects you could get involved in with us. Not only will you experience a range of challenging projects and exceptional training and development, you’ll also get to work with our highprofile clients. With over 30 offices to choose from, we’re sure you’ll discover an opportunity that’s right for you.

Whether it’s joining our Assurance business to provide decision makers with information they can trust, or one of our technology businesses to help our clients embrace emerging trends. With us, you can take your career in a direction that suits you.

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music

with Gareth Matson

Interview: Beans on Toast

If you could choose one of your songs to be the national anthem, what would it be?

I reckon I’d go for a soppy love song, ‘My New Number One’ to wind my wife up and it could always be my trump card, you don’t really want anything too hardcore.

If you could choose one of your songs to be the X-Factor winner’s song?

Definitely ‘God is a Cartoonist’ off the new record, bit controversial and a tribute to Charlie Hebdo.

That’d mix the ‘poppy’ bullshit up a bit!

The Waterfront’s Gareth Matson interviewed happy-go-drunk songwriter Jay MacCallister aka ‘Beans On Toast’.

How would you describe your music in 3 words?

Err, drunk folk. Include the ‘err’ because I’m often slurring onstage.

What influences you to do what you’re doing now?

A combination of things , my folks, I’d say weed too to be honest. Folks, friends, drugs – that’s life!

Is there a particular theme lyrically in this album?

I’d say there’s a lot of songs about friends on this album, like about the ones you don’t see anymore.

I think that’s something people can generally relate to. Was nice ringing old friends up asking them if it was alright to sing about them as well.

16 November 2015 waterfrontonline.co.uk

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and my friends were asking if I was really going to put it on the album or telling me not to do it. I was originally like ‘I can say what I want, what you on about. Fuck it, let’s do this’. But then I played it at a festival and this guy filmed it and put it on YouTube, then once I saw it out there I had a change of heart and that maybe its best if it wasn’t out there!

It did get one of the biggest cheers of the weekend at Glastonbury to be fair…

Oh I know! But it’s like I was already preaching to the converted and it’s easier to make songs explicitly tongue in cheek when playing live than putting it on a record.

Do you feel like you’ve been getting more political?

I would say more opinionated than political. Just feels like we’re up against the wall a little bit at the moment and I can smell the bullshit. As far as the ins-and-outs of the political world go I don’t know jack shit and don’t really want to.

Do you ever worry about causing offence?

No not really, that’s not the plan. The overall vibe is all smiles but some people can’t take a joke sometimes and I’m not going to pander around that. I do think with censorship I would have come up against it a lot more than I have, y’know me playing a 2 o’clock slot at a festival isn’t the greatest idea but I’m not going to turn it down! Only once or twice have I obviously annoyed someone, so you know, censorship can fuck off!

Ever feel like you’ve been too controversial?

Yeh recently I had this song about David Cameron

Beans on Toast is playing The Garage in Swansea on the 27th of November.

Interview: Nothing But Thieves Phil: It was kind of an interesting week. We said if we could make top 10 then that would be amazing so we’re over the moon with that, we’re really chuffed so thanks to everyone that bought it.

The Waterfront’s Dan Roddy went to Cardiff to interview Dom and Phil from Nothing But Thieves as a part of their sold out UK tour.

So firstly I just wanted to say congratulations on the new album. 7th in the album charts, were you expecting that?

Dom: We weren’t expecting it, it was kind of never a big expectation of ours to aim for chart position but when we found we had a chance of it was kind of like a bonus.

So you go to Europe on Thursday, are you planning on soaking up a bit of the culture or is it really just go and do the gigs?

Dom: This is the complete misconception of touring that people think, you know, you explain what you are doing. You have your mates asking where you are or your family ask where you are and you say I’m in Scandinavia or wherever and they are just like “it sounds amazing, you get to travel. It’s such an amazing thing to do.” We get the worst part of travelling. That means getting in van and driving for two days across a freezing cold Europe, you get there, you play your gig and you have to jump back in the van straight after the gig to drive away. We went to Manchester, I’m not saying it’s the cultural hub of the universe but we were in Manchester last night. We go out of the bus and literally it was two steps and you are into the venue.

When we finished the gig we got back into the bus and then I just woke up in Cardiff.

We did a show with Muse in Rome which was obviously amazing. My Mum and my Sister were like “Did you see the colosseum? Did you go and do this?” and I was just like “Mum, I saw a stage and an airport.” I have technically been to Rome but I would not consider myself to really have been to Rome. I know it sounds like a weird thing to say. I haven’t really experienced it.

Do you at all miss home? Especially when you go abroad.

Dom: You need the balance I think. I always feel like once you get to that stage of two weeks on the road I could do with half a day at home just to use my shower and maybe just nap in my own bed. Wash my clothes, use my own kettle and make a cup of tea.

Phil: And it won’t have that weird taste because the tour bus kettle has a weird taste apparently. We have a surge of adrenaline every night on tour. So I find that when we are off tour, around 9 or 10 o’clock every evening that if I’m just sitting in a room I just get a surge of adrenaline for absolutely no reason. I’ll just be watching Netflix or something but then it will just come back and hit me and I’ll just be like “I haven’t got a gig, what’s going on?” Then all of a sudden I’ll want a beer and I will call Dom up and be like “what are you doing man? Let’s go out. I want to do something because I’m really bored.”

Finally, where do you see Nothing But Thieves in 5 years’ time?

Dom: That’s such a difficult question. We got asked that years ago and we just said that if we could have an album out and be playing show. Now, we just want to be doing that on a bigger scale.

Phil: To be able to do this still in 5 years I would consider ourselves very lucky. Maybe on a bigger scale, we have bills to pay. Apart from that, just playing shows, recording albums and I hope people still listen to us.

16 November 2015 waterfrontonline.co.uk

17

Music streaming showdown: Apple vs Spotify?

The three month free trial of Apple Music has ended for many of us, which begs the question, do we carry on and pay a slightly overpriced monthly fee when we’re already very comfortable with Spotify? Hopefully, this short assessment will give you a concise yet comprehensive guide to which streaming service best suits you.

Pros: • As with many things Apple, it is aesthetically pleasing and boasts a modern feel compared to the gloomy black and green of Spotify.

• Apple Radio is far more personalised and more advanced than the Spotify equivalent; you’re actually likely to get something you want to listen to!

• Apple Music has the rights to more big name artists like Taylor Swift and The Beatles.

• If you’re a Mac and iPhone user, Apple Music is in sync with your other devices far more coherently than Spotify.

Cons: • For those used to Spotify, Apple Music may feel somewhat clunky and not as sleek as expected, it has tendencies to crash.

• There is no free version for Apple Music after the free trial has ended. With Spotify, you are able to use NUS Extra or Unii Days to get a student discount, halving the premium price. This isn’t the case with Apple Music, there is a standard £9.99 monthly fee for individual users.

Pros:

Cons:

• It feels more established and more together than Apple Music, it’s the mature older cousin of the streaming world.

• You can link it to Facebook allowing for greater levels of connectivity; you can see what everyone is listening to.

• Spotify has a playlist for every occasion, which Apple Music seems to be in the process of developing, it is better for discovering music you’ve never heard before • If you have a student discount, it’s only £5 a month, half the price of Apple Music, saves you a beer a month, right?

• The app’s functionality is far better than Apple Music, it automatically syncs offline, it doesn’t get interfered by your already bought music.

• You don’t feel like you own the music you’re streaming, less so than Apple Music because you have the opportunity to purchase the music • Occasionally goes back to a song you listened to in a previous session • Spotify’s app updates only cater for the latest gen phones.

When the iPhone 6 was released, Spotify on the 5s didn’t work at all well; the album artwork was non-existent, the app barely fit the screen too.

Verdict: Although it does come down to personal preference (based on which operating system you prefer and which phone you have), overall, Spotify is generally far more established as a streaming service. If you prefer aesthetics then Apple music should be your preference, but it will come at a considerable premium.

fashion

with Shona Johnson

16 November 2015 waterfrontonline.co.uk

18

Second-Hand Fashion: The Pros and Cons

by Shona Johnson

waterfrontfashion@swansea-union.co.uk

Ever since Macklemore’s ‘Thrift Shop’ topped the charts, the concept of charity shopping has become somewhat widespread - but is it truly all it’s made out to be?

Macklemore

Ebony Bansair, Swansea Uni first year says: ‘I like charity shops, because you can find some really interesting and different items that you can really make your own. Plus sometimes they can be quite cheap.’

So, I did a bit of digging - and came up with a few pros and cons of shopping second-hand.

Pros It’s cheap!!

Generally charity shops are inexpensive (unless the clothes have been ‘re-loved’ which entails redying fabric, adding embellishments etc.) with the average price of items being around the £4.50 mark, it’s a great way to look good on a budget.

It’s for a good cause

A 1950s style raincoat that I picked up from a charity shop for £10

Cons Hygiene - Sometimes you might have to give

Charity shops are called ‘charity’ shops for a reason. The clothing they receive is donated at no cost to the charity itself, all that is potentially paid for is the rent and the bills (which are usually covered by the charity chain anyhow depending on how large the charity is), so everything you are spending on a new jumper or shirt is being put to a good cause in it’s entirety.

a clothing item a bit of a wash after you buy it, because although the greatest effort is made to ensure all clothes are clean and presentable when they are donated - sometimes a top or two will slip through the cracks, and nobody wants a second-hand shirt with second-hand sweat marks.

Unique Items

As I stated before, the greatest effort is made to ensure that all items are presentable and are of high standard, but again - some things slip through the cracks. I once picked up a bag from a charity shop, and didn’t realise the strap was actually broken until I got home - it had been clipped to one of the buckles near the zip, something easily missed.

Perhaps the biggest pro of charity shopping is the potential of grabbing something utterly amazing - that nobody else will have. A lot of clothes are donated from older people who don’t need the clothes that they once wore in their youth anymore - so the possibility of finding a unique vintage piece is very high, all you have to do is look!

Everyone seems to have their own opinions when it comes to thrift shopping, sometimes you may get a bit of a dodgy piece, but over all I believe that everyone wins when it comes to charity shops. You’re looking good, and you’re doing good!

Quality of items

Inside a typical charity shop

16 November 2015 waterfrontonline.co.uk

Modern day pin-ups

by Rhian Davies

waterfrontfashion@swansea-union.co.uk

When we think of women in the 50’s our minds drift back and envision two very basic things; the pin-up girl fashion and that Betty Crooker, housewife form of gender inequality.

always recommended, so whether it be with wild colours, funky prints, hairstyles or even tattoos, however seriously you take the trend, self-expression is always on parade. The pinup trend is not for the wallflowers, it encourages women to feel at home in their clothes, no matter how many funny looks they get in the street.

They couldn’t care less!

Reclaiming ideas of femininity I believe it was James Brown who coined the phrase, “It is a man’s world”, and oh boy was he right. After years and years of 80’s shoulder pads and curve destroying women’s suits, we have finally come to the realisation that a women can wear whatever she wants without losing her respectability (well that’s the dream anyway). Women do not have to emulate a man’s look in order to advance in the world. One of the main ideas that pinup/ rockabilly fashion propels is that femininity doesn’t mean weakness, and that no matter what we wear, we are as strong as our male counterparts.

An absolute ban on body shaming

It’s true, we envision a women dressed up in hooped skirts, high heels witht pin curls to do nothing but merely sweep, clean, dust and cook her family’s meals. ‘What a waste!’ women from the 21st century scream! Thankfully, women now days have a little more say in what happens in the world and we’ve rejected the majority of society norms from this time, but the love for rockabilly fashion is still going strong.

Adapted to fit a modern audience which evokes a sexier, more exaggerated image of the 50’s housewife aesthetic, it has become a fairly regular occurrence on Instagram and other social media to see hashtags such as, #pinupstyle #rockabilly #damnisurelookgood. But surely a fashion style that came as a result of women being oppressed and sexualised can never be empowering, right? WRONG! Here are some broken down facts to why vintage style is so great:

Individuality is Key! Rather than other fashion trends that tend to limit the individual, this is never the case for pin up looks! You have a whole decade of role model and styles you may wish to emulate. Quirky is

The size obsessed culture in which we live in is almost scream inducing. Women’s body has always been a hot topic in society though, even in the 1950’s when most, almost all, pinup girls were white and had a waist you could fit your hand around. The 21st century representation can be said to be adapting something different, however, as women of all shapes and colour are encouraged to participate in the pinup style and explore and express their own sexuality!

Tess Holliday is a plus sized pinup model and a self-proclaimed, “body positive activist” who couldn’t care less what people say about her body. Her pinup style and body confidence has gone global with Holliday gaining 1 million followers on Instagram and 1,199,129 likes on Facebook as of October 2015, proving you don’t have to be a 6ft leggy model to make an impact.

Hopefully this article has encouraged you into looking at pinup from a different perspective, something both traditional and modern, which certainly packs a punch at ideas of patriarchy to which it was born. I encourage both men and women to take a look at social media and explore the variety of pinup and vintage looks on show and marvel are the confidence and individualism they embody!

Modern day interpretations of the Rockabilly and Pin-up styles

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creative writing

with Zoe Stabler

Kidnap Prank

by Will Humphrey

waterfrontcreativewriting@swansea-union.co.uk

Monday 24th of April, my birthday of all days, but other than that just another day spent plugging away at the files flooding onto my desk on a daily basis. I mean, how many people need a new passport? God! I flipping hate Mondays….in fact I loathe every weekday. I left work five minutes early to try my `chat’ with the receptionist on the front desk who receives date invites left, right and centre ranging from managers asking her to five star hotels to scrubs like me offering to take her for a Coffee Mocha. Despite both sets of men being married with kids - we just needed more - wanted more. As I went to put the key in the door of my car I was taped, bagged and sealed before I had time to process a single objection to this turn of events.

Uh oh, I thought, I could do without this again right now.

absolutely nothing. The fucking abyss of darkness.

Mysterious? I think not. It has got to the point where I couldn’t even remember how long, or even how I had even become to be cocooned in a suitcase with no obvious escape route from this mystery. The answer is that I didn’t know how long I had been here, slowly dissolving into the rest of the train furniture. I did know the categorical error I had made, and the answer to that is obvious - my train of thought was bombarded by the haunting voice from the speaker. My wife is going to receive 365 pranks, one for each day of the year for this occasion she had really pranked me good.

“The ne-xt stop will be Br-istol Temp-le Meads”

“If any luggage is found unattended it will be destroyed by the appropriate services”

The speaker crackled due to some sort of interference which actually put some sort of excitement in the voice. FINALLY! Bristol, a place where people are not zombie-like entities oppressed by a rigorous 9-5 working schedule. I could be saved. I uttered this mantra to myself in a moment of hopefulness; however this ideology was short-lived as the psychological plague returned.

This prank was beyond the usual for my wife.

Psycho Bitch. The train stopped, waited, and then left the station without giving me any glimmer of hope that any of the other passengers would find the suitcase that held a human life in the balance. I mean I was just dumped on here;

DESTROYED… I can’t be destroyed! Unless I heard wrong; nope I definitely heard correctly.

“Is someone going to take me off? Where am I going? Who am I going to?”

DESTROYED! Like the Daleks wiping out entire species with their illusory chant of “Exterminate, Exterminate, Exterminate”. My wife and I always played pranks on each other, like coating onions in toffee to appear like toffee apples and taking screws out of each other’s office chairs. But this, I mean this was something else. The realisation that I could, should and eventually would be demolished into a lifeless entity, or left on life’s scrapheap to seep until my soul decays into the earth’s core was all too prominent and the idea of it being a prank by my wife was my only saving grace.

My internal thoughts were soon made public as I was lifted up. I punched, scratched even tried biting to get out of the case; I tried to kick out but the continuous pins and needles obstructed me from doing this. I say I was lifted but I was dragged away from the place I was resigned to being my final resting place on planet Earth. It couldn’t have been my wife; she has arms like Mr Tickle.

My brother it seems could be the culprit as she always looked to him for juvenile ideas. I swung another punch at the lining but it still stood firm, a faint voice spoke but I couldn’t make out whose or what it was saying; I presumed now that I had been found and an individual was merely taking me to Lost Property. This idea encouraged my mouth to curve ever so slightly into a smile, but was hindered by a low rumble like an engine of some kind – of a car or train I couldn’t be sure in my delusional state.

“If you see any suspicious item please report it to a member of staff”

“If you see any suspicious item please report it to a member of staff” The monotone voice from the public address speaker taunts me yet again as the train stops at another station. My chest wheezed now; instead of a normal rhythm of inhalation and exhalation.

Nobody, not even the trolley attendant noticed a suspicious item discarded in the luggage compartment. The worrying matter within this narrative is the fact that I had gone unnoticed for what has felt like a gruelling number of minutes, despite the suitcase’s alluring musky scent that almost transcended into pleasantness in contrast to my continuous body odour.

What can I see? The blunt explanation is nothing,

Jesus Christ. I found myself yet again stationary. I let out a series of high pitched screams but the four walls of the case muffled my plea for liberty. This idea encouraged my mouth to curve downwards as I was heading to the conclusion that I had not escaped; I had merely been moved to another part of the train. Without invitation sweat rolled down my face, meeting with the mainline of tears which commencing at my eyeballs and the salty stream finished at and around my mouth. The

16 November 2015 waterfrontonline.co.uk

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low rumble was still a prominent feature of my adventure, the stops were more frequent and I almost missed the robotic mannerisms of the train announcer - in reminiscing I remember it as enthusiastic. Suddenly I was lifted again. No voice this time, just a mixture of deep signs, timid battle cries and the slam of a door.

After temporarily parking the apprehension of the idea of soon being incinerated by the emergency services; it struck me quietly, blankly that the deep industrial rumble eroding my brain into a fragile state was not a car or a train but an engine biter. The crushing, the murder and the end of me. A sickening creak of a door ushered the hair on the back of my neck to stand to attention and a shiver to erupt at the bottom of my spine. The creak continued for a while, which I assumed to be a door opening and closing. Where was I now?

Safety? I was in no fit state to put up any kind of fight even against a child. Every time I tried to call out I was greeted with several seconds of silence as if the silk lining was muffling my implorations for help. As I sighed at my hopeless efforts to get ushered away from the clutches of claustrophobia two clicks about 2 seconds apart reached me. I had reserved some energy for this moment.

ESCAPE. A familiar smell pervaded my nostrils.

I say familiar because I knew the smell and the memories associated with it but I just cannot tell what it is. It was homely, definitely food but its identity eluded me as a smell of cheap perfume did battle for the upper hold on my senses. I didn’t know whether I wanted to kiss my wife or pour a bucket of baked beans on her head or both for putting me through this experience.

An eruption of bangs was what I was greeted with!

People surrounded me. Talking and shouting.

Lights flashed; blinded me; spat me back out. My back was stiff, rigid. I could not stand. I could barely see. Just vague outlines. I could see mouths moving but no speech being generated. I felt a dense mixture cover my face, my initial thought was blood. If it was blood how had I not bled to death yet? How can I still see outlines of human beings, if I could call them that? Was I dead? Was I alive? Or is this limbo, is this purgatory?

Again. Bang. Click. Flash. Bang. Click. Bang. In my delusion my brain managed to lock in and target what the recurring smell was. Chicken Kiev, every Monday without fail. My wife never diverts from her weekly meal plan. The smell of garlic, so potent it lingers on your breath for the entirety of the following day. Of all places to kill someone, what sort of demented psycho kills someone in their own home? Sickening. A soothing voice, a lot like my wife’s uttered in my ear. “Surprise.”.

As my eyes finally adjusted to light, I was able to make out my wife’s face, my brother’s face and our friends clutching presents, cards and banners while other people reloaded for the next release of party poppers.

16 November 2015 waterfrontonline.co.uk

Beyond The Grass

by Rhys Parry-George

waterfrontcreativewriting@swansea-union.co.uk

I sit in the carriage, nestled between my two girls.

They sleep soundly, their dreams distracting them from the beads of sweat gathering upon their brows.

We are no strangers to warm weather, our home town often found itself plagued by grey mists of sweating heat and yet we were still able to dance through it. But here the heat seeks you out, like a vampyre seeking blood.

I look through the windows, seeing a lush landscape of vivid green grass, a welcome change from the wastelands of yellow earth that have followed us since the beginning of our journey.

In the distance I can see a mountain of dark blue rock capped with snow, and upon its peak a castle built from white stone.

How I wish that the castle were our destination, and not the hell that awaits us. I have lived in a world of splendour since my birth, so a castle would suit me like a pumpkin to a winter cold.

I hang onto this daydream as a small village grows in the distance, a colony of little houses lost in a rippling sea of grass. This is Perdant, our new home and I despise it.

We pass through the heart of the village in minutes. I try to see it’s beauty, and yet all I see are squalors constructed from decaying wood and cobblestones stained by manure.

The driver directs the horse onto a dirt road, which leads into a deep green forest. I can truly appreciate the trees surrounding us for they plunge the carriage into deep rivers of cooling shade.

I allow the clean air to seep into my gown, drying the sickly patches of sweat forming in my armpits. I feel comfortable and cool for the first time in days.

My girls awake, as the carriage halts before the chateaux, they stare up at the gothic structure with disgust glistening in their eyes.

“What is this place mother?”

“Is this really our new home?”

I wish I could answer, but I know that my words give little comfort. I am the one who has brought them here; they have come to despise me as much as they despise the mass of grey stone, which now towers above us. If I had any sense I would remain silent, allowing their hate for me to bleed into the chateaux walls instead.

My husband comes to the door himself, he does not have a footman, and I doubt he has any help at all.

He summons me with an outstretched hand, I go to him and he plants a kiss upon my cheek. Although light, I can still feel it as he leads me into the kitchen, wet and warm upon my cheek.

He smiles with delight as he shows us the kitchen, with its walls of sweating rock and its towering fireplace complete with stone cherubs casting out a variety of ghoulish creatures. I see a pot of stew boiling in its dim, adding to the sweltering heat, which seems

to penetrate every wall.

Towards the back of the kitchen there rests a large archway, which takes us out into the grounds beyond the chateaux. As we walk through a vast sea of wildflowers, I begin to see the beauty of what will become my home.

Something then catches my eye, a spot of white in the endless void of green. It is a child, his child. She is a pretty thing, rosy cheeks and locks of golden hair and yet my eyes linger upon the grass and dirt, which stain her gown.

“What has she been doing?” I ask him, my eyes never leaving the child.

“Visiting her mother, she rests on that bank there,” he says pointing to a patch of grass, shadowed by the branches of a triumphant hazel tree.

Now I remember why this new place seems too distant to me, this whole place rests in her shadow. It is her home, it is her kitchen, it is her daughter who now plays and chases mine.

We are strangers here.

“What is that?” ponders one of my girls, pointing to a circle of toadstools embedded into the lawn.

His daughter answers, while she dances like a sprite around the strange formation.

“It’s a magic circle, Faeries and goblins live in it, and if your not careful they’ll snatch you away.”

“Don’t be vile, your horrid creature!” cries my second child, rushing to defend her sibling.

“Now, now girls, lets not argue, we are a family after all,” says my husband descending into the shrubbery and embracing his daughter. I note how his embrace does not extend to my girls, and I see that we are not truly a family.

My husband loosens his grip on his daughter, unleashing her onto my girls again.

I stare out at the landscape, and I think about the castle we passed. I close my eyes and picture myself lying on a lounger surrounded by mountains of neatly iced cakes and bowls overflowing with the fruits of Eden. I pick at the food, washing down small mouthfuls of sponge with champagne. I wear a fine gown of deep pink and a pair of slippers lined with gold.

I dare not open my eyes, holding onto the daydream like a lifeline. But a shrill shriek reaches my ears and my eyes open. One of my daughters has fallen into the magic circle, staining her gown with grass and dirt. She cries for me, yet before I have even moved his daughter has picked her up.

“There you go,” she says rubbing the dirt from my daughter’s gown.

My daughter eyes her with utter disgust, “You lying little rat! You said the circle was magic and look…” she points the toadstools, which she has crushed under her weight. “Its not magic at all, is it?”

The child seems hurt by the accusation and wanders away from my daughter, the sun playing with her golden hair.

Her father follows, and soon they walk hand in hand towards the patch of forest where her mother lies, rotting.

I watch them as they fade into the green, before returning to the sickly warmth of the

kitchen. But instead of staying there I walk through into the parlour. It is a small room, eclipsed by the size of the kitchen. Its walls are a faint cornflower blue and the loungers are worn with age and use. This room has a fireplace to, a monstrosity of large roses, carved in white stone.

Thankfully no fire burns within is grate.

A portrait hangs above the fireplace; it depicts a young woman staring out into the room, with a pair of endless blue eyes. I do not need to read the inscription to know who she is.

I feel as if I am a seer, for I see the future within this portrait. That child will grow into beauty, a double of the mother I have replaced. Every suitable bachelor will try to sweep her away, leaving my girls alone and plain. The very idea sends a rage pulsing through my body, a rage I have never experienced before.

As I pace the room, I feel the portrait’s eyes following me, mocking my every move.

I run forward and plunge my hand into the pool of ashes layering the bottom of the fireplace. I grab a fistful of the grit and hurl it at the portrait, showering it in a cloud of grey.

As the cloud clears, I see that the ash has stained the young woman’s cheeks grey, leaving her looking like a chimney sweep.

I feel a sense of triumph as I turn away from

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the portrait, finding a lounger to sit upon.

Imagine the triumph I would feel at throwing ash at the child.

I close my eyes, forming the image in my mind. Her golden hair is white with dust, her clothes torn, her cheeks black with soot. No bachelor would want her then, even my girls would be preferable to a scullery maid.

I look into the depths of the fireplace, imagining the child crouched within it.

Her bed nothing more than a thin blanket of cinders, we could even start calling her cinders, or maybe something else…

I laugh to myself, ignoring the staring eyes of the portrait. I hear a door shut somewhere in the chateaux and I know my husband has returned.

As I depart the parlour, I find my husband and his daughter giggling in the hallway.

“Ah there you are,” he says, noticing me as draw closer “I think its time for some of that stew.”

He disappears into the warm darkness of the kitchen, his daughter following in his stride. She turns and looks up into my face, her eyes as blue as those in the woman’s portrait.

“Are you coming stepmother?”

“Yes child, of course,” I say, slowly following.

“Of course I am…Cinderella.”

16 November 2015 waterfrontonline.co.uk

societies

with Molly Dowrick

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Review: Shoreline Theatre’s New Members Showcase drama was provided in “All Gone Wrong” where four criminals were being questioned after a jewellery heist. “About What Happened”, with Nadine Lia Pike, Corey Terrett, Kajal Grant, Dena Buttacavoli and Charlotte Laurence, was also particularly strong, showing various perspectives on the subject of sexual assault and rape, causing an overwhelming feeling of tension and shock within the audience.

by Molly Dowrick

waterfrontsocieties@swansea-union.co.uk

On a cold and misty November evening, to the soundtrack of rain pouring and the occasional firework outside, Shoreline Theatre warmed their audience’s hearts and minds with an evening of comedy and drama from their new members.

The ‘New Members Showcase’ was held in Divas on November 5th and a diverse and wonderful cast of 17 new members from across years and courses performed a series of short sketches directed by three talented committee members, Hannah Brindley, Amy Cooper and Katie Donovan.

As I’m a bit (read: massive) theatre luvvie, I had been looking forward to the performances since my course mate Katie had mentioned she was involved in Shoreline Theatre when we got a bit distracted in a Shakespeare seminar. Nevertheless, the talent and the sheer power and comedy of the performances was even better than I anticipated.

Starting with a sketch aptly titled “The Opening”, new members Paddy Forde and Joseph Hutchinson had the audience in awkward fits of giggles as one character tried to impress the other in a job interview.

So desperate for the job, Paddy brought on a cast of performers to show what comedy really is, and prove to Joseph that he deserved the job!

The New Members Showcase demonstrated brilliant comedy and clever musical-comedy scenes.

Rory James’ “Step One” singing performance, in which his character tries to pull an uninterested and slightly terrorised female, played

by Cadi Rhind, was amusing to say the least. Showing expert runningaway skills and an ability to dive from Rory’s grasp, Cadi showed the intelligent ways some females can bat off unwanted male attention, all while Rory sang and tried to impress her. Further musical performances also added to the showcase, including the lovely “A Magical Musical Surprise” by Dena

It’s not a Drama show without a little Shakespeare and Shoreline Theatre brought scenes from Measure for Measure and Much Ado About Nothing’s to life. Maegan Bryon and James Hill, who performed Act 4 Scene 1 from Much Ado About Nothing showed amazing chemistry and their performance was thoroughly enjoyable, while Niall Griffiths marvelled as the cruel and dramatic Angelo from Measure for Measure.

Buttacavoli, Cadi Rhind and Kajal Grant which saw Dena’s character persistently and awkwardly joining in with Cadi and Kajal’s singing, often with a simple ‘ding’ on the triangle or the awkward and random use of the tambourine. Dena really showed the amusing awkwardness when one person tries to nestle in on somebody else’s hobby, particularly when they don’t know too much about it! The ensemble performance of “Omigod you Guys” also united drama and music in an intelligent and humorous way. Opening the second act, the musical number from Legally Blonde: The Musical had the audience singing and tapping away while the students from the Delta Nu sorority got excited over the prospect of their friend, Elle Woods, getting proposed to. The over-the-

top and high-pitch happy-screaming and singing was entertaining and impossible to ignore. The audience were smiling throughout the song and there seemed to be a sense of community with the cast members.

It wouldn’t be Shoreline Theatre without some hard-hitting and thought-provoking serious dramas!

Katy Card and Rory James were a strong and thought-stimulating duo in their gripping sketch “Revenge Porn” which looked at the emotions behind uploading nude images of an ex to the internet, as well as the emotions and psychological torment of the person whose photos have been uploaded. Luke Chaston and Malachi Nkere were fantastic in “The Tie” which looked at the pain of losing a family member, and further

Comedy pieces were fantastic too, with “First Day At Uni” perfectly capturing the awkwardness of moving into halls and getting to know new flatmates for the first time.

John Fish’s awkward and adorable character Michael was particularly hilarious! Perfectly portraying the role of the awkward fresher that needs to impress everyone, his interactions with the energetic and sweet Rebecca (Katy Card), reserved Alison (Cadi Rhind), the over the top Xander (Corey Terrett) and the self-proclaimed banterous duo of Rob and Joe (Rory James and Paddy Forde) showed a real amusing desperation to be liked and realistic awkwardness around new people! I also really loved “Inside My Head”, with the brilliant trio of Poppy Reffold, James Hill and Maegan Bryon, reflecting the confusing and entertaining way in which our thoughts jump around when we are thinking and how we can’t keep focussed on one thing!

Shoreline’s New Members Showcase was a fantastic evening of drama, humour and talent. Congratulations to the terrific cast and crew!

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How we are so blessed with societies in Swansea University

by Amy King

waterfrontsocieties@swansea-union.co.uk

I am a final year student studying at Swansea University, last year I spent a year in France studying at a University in Chambéry, a small town located in the south east of France by the Alps.

Despite this being an amazing experience, I was very disappointed with the lack of societies that were on offer there, and the lack of organisation and advertisement of the ones which were! Sadly I was unable to join any societies while I was there, as they only had a limited number of spaces in each society which came on a first come first serve basis. As I was an exchange student, I was one of the last to find out about them, which meant that I was too late when it came to signing up for societies.

This year, being back in Swansea, has made me realise just how great our societies are and how lucky we are as students, for the sheer number of societies that are on offer for such great value ! Swansea University has a fair designated solely to societies which lasts for two full days during freshers week, allowing students the opportunity to browse and explore the societies on offer, as well as speak to those who are already part of these societies.

Students are required to pay a small insurance fee of £15 to join any sports society, plus the fee of the society chosen, which varies depending on the society. There are a wide range of societies on offer, which cater for all abilities, so don’t be too scared to try something new, everyone is welcome ! I hope you all are taking advantage of this great opportunity, I know I sure am!

Visit www.swansea-union.co.uk/activities/societies/ to find out more about the wide variety of societies available.

food

with Sarah Harris

16 November 2015 waterfrontonline.co.uk

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Gin, gin and... oh yes, some more gin!

by Sarah Harris

waterfrontfood@swansea-union.co.uk

On the 10th November I was lucky enough to be invited to the grand opening of Hogarths the new gin palace just off of Wind Street.

One of the classier establishments in Swansea, the place is decorated in the style of a Victorian gin palace with rich decorative timber, cut glass mirrors and traditional

stained glass windows. With 132 types of gin on offer as well as a selection of other spirits, cocktails and even £7.95 bottles of wine, you can’t complain that there’s nothing on the menu that you like. It’s also probably one of the only places in Swansea, if not Wales that you can encounter an alfresco drinking experience all year round with a heated beer garden that would rival those that you see in Made in Chelsea. I was incredibly lucky to be there the day that The Mariachis (you may know them from the Doritos advert) provided the musical entertainment, the audience loved them,

Recipes Ingredients 3 cups tonic 1½ oz gin ¼ lime, juiced ½ cup cucumber slices Preparation Mix together the tonic, gin and lime juice in a bowl. Using a lolly mould, carefully place slices of cucumber, then pour in the tonic mix. Freeze overnight before serving.

Gin & Tonic Cake 110g of unsalted butter, soft 110g of caster sugar 2 eggs 110g of rice flour 1 tsp baking powder 5 limes, zest finely grated 30ml of gin 30ml of tonic water Preparation Preheat the oven to 180°C/gas mark 4. Grease and flour a loaf tin. Whisk all the cake ingredients together until pale and fluffy and spoon the batter into the prepared tin smooth over the top and bake for 20 – 25 minutes.

Whilst that’s cooking, put the syrup ingredients in a saucepan and stir over a gentle heat until the sugar has dissolved.

I won’t try and compete with Hogarths’ extensive knowledge of gin and cocktails, it’s more than worth a visit to Hogarths to taste them for yourself. So, I’m going to put a twist on the classic gin and tonic and give you recipes to enjoy it in solid form instead. Yes, you heard that right.

A Gin & Tonic Sorbet

Cucumber Gin & Tonic Ice Lollies

For the cake

and all dressed up in complimentary sombreros and shaking our maracas to classic crowd favourites like Wonderwall, the atmosphere was something pretty special.

For the syrup 125g of caster sugar 4 limes, juiced 15ml of gin 15ml of tonic water For the icing 15ml of gin 15ml of tonic water 1 lime, juiced 50g of icing sugar, sifted Once the cake is out of the oven, leave it to cool for ten minutes before upturning on a wire rack.

Stab the hot cake all over with a cake skewer and spoon over the syrup and leave it to soak in. Leave the cake to cool completely.

Mix together the icing ingredients and drizzle over the cooled cake.

Decorate with a little extra lime zest if you like and serve with what else but a gin & tonic.

Ingredients ½ cups sugar ½ cups water 1 whole large, or 2 medium-sized limes, zest & juice 3 ounces, fluid gin 2-½ cups tonic water Preparation In a saucepan, make simple syrup by heating water and sugar until dissolved. Remove from heat adding lime zest and juice. Once cooled, add tonic water and gin and adjust to taste. Allow to cool in the refrigerator, then strain into a freeze proof container and place in the freezer for 24 hours stirring every so often. Serve in pretty little glasses garnished with a sugared rim, lime zest and thin slices of lime.

16 November 2015 waterfrontonline.co.uk

I couldn’t resist getting a pic with the Mariachi band, who were absolutely incredible

It’s going to take a few more visits to try all the different gins on offer

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tech

with Declan Murphy

16 November 2015 waterfrontonline.co.uk

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eSports: Long time cornerstone or Short lived gimmick?

by Declan Murphy

waterfronttech@swansea-union.co.uk

It’s no secret that I enjoy eSports, if you can call them that. However I often find myself at a crossroads when I think about its longevity as a concept. Is it something that will die out in the next couple years, or is it capable of growing and maturing?

In order to examine this I’ve divided it down into points which I think make sports a success. I know that they’re not by any means the same thing, but there is a certain overlap by which they are comparable.

You should also note that this isn’t a comparison but instead just a template by which I can reference with a sort of understanding with everyone, or at least I’m capable of doing that, we shall see.

Competition A trademark of most mammals is competing with other members of the species for dominance and it isn’t an exception in the world of video games.

I think most people have played a competitive multiplayer game (PvP for short) at some point in their lives. This can be anything from League of Legends to FIFA to even Mario Party. The aim of all three of those games is the same at a fundamental level: Win by completing the objective. This lives on in eSports. Where we see this evolve with eSports is with watching it unfold, which is actually my next point.

Entertainment ESports’ biggest challenge up until a few years ago was actually finding a way of channelling their games into some format for viewer consumption.

In the days of Halo 3 and Super Smash Bros Brawl, there wasn’t a large demand for eSports mainly because no one knew what it was. Fast forward a couple years and to games like Dota 2 and League of Legends, that is no longer a problem. Dota and League both boost huge viewing numbers, with League’s Worlds achieving 27 million unique viewers last year (they haven’t released the view count for this year’s event).

The reason this is no longer an issue is due to multiple factors. The first of which is due to more stable and better Internet connections. Back in the day it took some people ages to watch a 480p video on YouTube. Today you can watch a 1080p livestream on Twitch with no issues. Speaking of Twitch, that’s the second major factor in the growth of eSports viewership. Twitch gave a home to this new wave of entertainment; most major tournaments are available on Twitch and as such are easy to find.

Production Value People like shiny things. If you go back and watch

The International 2014 (TI4), held at Seattle’sKey Arena. The event sold-out within less than an hour, filling the 10,000 capacity

Brawl tournaments you’ll be greeted by a hazy screen with characters quite hard make out with two guys talking about terms you’ve never heard of. I could go on for days about the problems of “old” eSports but instead I’ll just talk about the features we have today and why they’re amazing.

First of all, graphical designs! If you tune into any half decent tournament on Twitch and you will see a scorecard with either a brief summary of who is who and who is winning or maybe even a whole table occupying the bottom of the screen outlining a lot of key stats. It means that you can tune in at any point and not be inundated with questions as to what is happening. Graphics also give good transitions and I love me some transitions.

Infrastructure is another great tool that we see in a lot of games. Take Dota 2 and Rocket League as examples. Dota 2 has a whole broadcasting system and stats presentation built into the game, you can go right ahead and present a game of Dota with little effort. Rocket League has also implemented this system in a bid to achieve an eSport scene in their game and it worked. MLG (Major League Gaming) recently started running eSports events in Rocket League.

Sportsmanship If there is anything eSports player know how to do, its throw the toys out of the pram. Before I get too into why I just want to give you a couple examples. Dota 2 is a game of growing popularity, it has many millions of players and for the most part, they’re good people.

However last week one professional player playing for Cloud9, going by the alias Ritsu, was found to be actively helping other teams win against a team called Digital Chaos by reporting the drafts (the five heroes that team chose to play with) of their games in a Skype chat to other players in other teams. What makes this worse is that he wasn’t acting alone and five other players were also in on it. Fast forward only twenty-four hours and another player, called Beesa the Carry, releases a statement on a Dota 2 forum detailing of how Ritsu once tried to stalk him and threatened to harm his sister if they didn’t become friends.

The reason I think this happens is because of a lack of discipline. There is many teams out there spanning multiple games, but they’re not an official organisation designed to keep players and teams in line. What I mean by that is you don’t have a “FIFA” in eSports, but given the current state of FIFA I hope we don’t. If a committee was set up to deal with incidents such as Ritsu’s antics then hopefully this wouldn’t become an issue. Of course it would still happen but it would be wiped out for the most part as the committee would act as a deterrent. However without it I feel eSports is destined to die in a ball of toxic flames.

In conclusion I think eSports is a viable form of entertainment and has the ability to last a long time. However if it does or not depends on innovation and fixing of problems, the biggest being a lack of supervision. That being said I am biased, not to say I’m unqualified to talk and I think I’ve given a good picture and scope, but I am only one person and such only one viewpoint.

16 November 2015 waterfrontonline.co.uk

Snowspire Event Comes to Defending Champs Swansea

by Declan Murphy

waterfronttech@swansea-union.co.uk

This year’s Snowspire event is to be hosted in Fulton House by defending champions Swansea Gaming Society.

The event will span two whole days and feature tournaments in eleven games spanning multiple genres. This year the event is now open to the public, with teams from across Wales and Southeast England allowed to compete in addition to Welsh and English Universities.

The full list of games is as follows: Dota 2 (PC), League of Legends (PC), Counter Strike: Global Offensive (PC), FIFA 16 (Xbox One), Super Smash Bros Melee (Wii), Super Smash Bros for Wii U (Wii U), Rocket League (PlayStation 4), Hearthstone (PC, Tablet and Phone), Pokémon ORAS (3DS), Ultra Street Fighter IV (Xbox One) and Mortal Kombat (Xbox One).

In addition to the games listed above there will also be a number of other games being played in a less formal and competitive manner. For instance Halo 5 will be playable at the event and allow people to try out the game.

Last year Swansea took home the trophy comfortably with first place finishes in

Dota 2, Cod: BO2, Mario Kart and Street Fighter. However this clean cut result wasn’t mirrored later in the year when Swansea then lost to Cardiff in eVarsity.

In addition to Cardiff, Swansea faces opposition from Bangor, Aberystwyth and new comers USW. But like I said earlier, anyone can enter, so it wouldn’t be a massive surprise to see an outside team come and snatch gold in any number of events.

The Swansea teams will be in good spirits however, with CS:GO, Dota 2 and League teams all doing well in their different tournaments. League recently won a place at the Best of the South West LAN and Dota 2 is guaranteed a place in the top half of all teams nationally after finishing 2nd in their Arrow U-Series group. CS:GO is also racking up a good tally after going undefeated in qualifiers.

This first LAN of the year is one of many as Swansea will hopefully also play host to another two LANs as well as travel to Manchester for King of the North.

If you’re interested in coming to watch Swansea, you can do so in Fulton House from 10AM on 21st November until 9PM 22nd November.

27

culture

with Zoe Stabler

16 November 2015 waterfrontonline.co.uk

28

Review: Hamlet - Live Stream from Barbican

by Zoe Stabler

waterfrontculture@swansea-union.co.uk

Benedict Cumberbatch as Hamlet excited me a lot when I first heard about it; a mix between the much loved Sherlock actor and my favourite Shakespeare play.

This production of Hamlet, screened live from The Barbican, appeared to have a slight twist on the original that gave it a quirky and much more modern feel. Perhaps it was the costume choices, the use of modern day props, or simply the casting of Cumberbatch as Hamlet, pulling in younger viewers. Nevertheless, I would call this production of Hamlet a success. Lyndsey Turner put such a large amount of detail into each scene.

The stage is always such a large element of a play.

It must be flexible in its ability to change from a dining hall to a graveyard. This was done incredibly successfully. In some cases the change of setting

was done right in front of us yet it was so subtle and smooth that you hardly noticed it happening. The frequent stage changes still didn’t stop the design of every scene from being intricate and detailed.

Moments before the interval, every opening of the stage brought in a storm of black dust or ash- on return afterwards the stage had been transformed.

The previously immaculate stage was now covered in dust, ash, rubbish and overturned furniture.

It is clear that film has had a huge effect on the decisions made in this performance. The use of slow motion and transition is able to find its way into theatre with some extraordinary acting. Hamlet’s first soliloquy is performed at the dinner table with other characters in slow motion, shaking hands and getting up from the table.

I’ve always been interested in female characters in Shakespeare productions. What I’ve always admired about Hamlet is the characterisation of Ophelia (Sian Brooke) and the changes made in her between

productions. Here I felt that Sian Brooke played a wonderful Ophelia. Her character was the intelligent character that I believe Shakespeare intended for her to be. I felt that one scene that worked well in this production was Ophelia’s madness scene. It was both moving and beautiful capturing her feelings and portraying them gently yet powerfully.

This was a live screening through National Theatre Live. This did change the audience perspective compared to watching the play in person. The camera was able to zoom in on certain aspects as well as allowing for close ups and wide shots, effectively telling the audience where to look. This allowed us to see the immense amount of detail in Gertrude’s face (Anastasia Hille) when she delivers the news of Ophelia’s death. This is detail that people even just five or six rows back in the audience may not have been able to capture.

Overall, I loved this production of Hamlet and would encourage anyone and everyone to see it if they have a chance- Benedict played a wonderful Hamlet.

Review: The Falcon’s Malteser, Taliesin Arts Centre

by Zoe Stabler

waterfrontculture@swansea-union.co.uk

The Falcon’s Malteser was a fantastic laugh-outloud comedy, a great production for young and old.

Based on the novel of the same name by Anthony Horowitz, the mystery follows the story of the worst detective in the world, Tim Diamond and his (fortunately smart) brother Nick as they work out what is so important about a box of Maltesers.

The plot was fantastically panned out, we had some wonderful backstories, a couple of musical numbers, a lot of action and some brilliant, witty comedy. New Old Friends did a fantastic job of adapting a well-loved book.

The cast consists of only four people, yet they manage to portray twenty different characters- the incredible characterisation of each individual really made this production unique. Additionally, the set changes throughout the play also added to the entertainment, with the actors staying in character to move props and change signs. A simple change such as a few signs, a table and chair, or a large draw managed to use plenty of locations. These included the detective office, a police station, a hotel room, a graveyard and many more.

As an English Literature student, I was thrilled to see so many young teens watching the production, many of them talking excitedly about the plot during the interval. The production was great for a family audience however as a student in my twenties I really enjoyed it- I may just be appealing to the child within me or my craving for a box of Maltesers.

/taliesinfanpage

@talieisinswansea

16 November 2015 waterfrontonline.co.uk

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29

Taliesin Arts Centre is your on campus arts hub, providing a range of films, live performances and live stream broadcasts to suit everyone.

Live music events include jazz, world music, folk and contemporary music. Taliesin also offers top quality drama and international dance performances. Live stream of the best plays, operas and ballets are now a feature at Taliesin, broadcast from National Theatre. Royal Opera House and Royal Shakespeare Company among others...

What’s coming up at Taliesin?

Between now and the end of the autumn term, we have the following which might interest you:

Live Saturday 21 November 7.30pm

Waiting for Godot

By Samuel Beckett London Classic Theatre perform the play live on stage at Taliesin.

Great ticket deals for Swansea University students!

• See films for only £6 a ticket. If 8 or more book

• See live streams from the major theatres for only £5 (less than half price).

together, it is only £5.40!

Don’t forget, to show your student card to get the discount.

• See live drama, dance and music for only £3 a ticket

Pop in and pick up a brochure (we are opposite the library) or visit the website at www.taliesinartscentre.co.uk

(£5 if buying a ticket at the door on the night).

James yn darllen cerddi newydd. Bydd hefyd dangosiad o ffilm Roger Williams a Lee Haven Jones Galesa am y gymuned Gymraeg gyfoes ym Mhatagonia. I gloi’r noson fe fydd panel o westeion arbennig yn trafod arwyddocâd Y Wladfa i ddiwylliant Cymru.

An evening of performances, readings and discussion to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the establishment of the Welsh colony Y Wladfain Patagonia.

Live Streams Sunday 22 November 7pm NTLive screening Of Mice and Men (12A)

to protect themselves and the town from the wrath of the all-powerful Mikado.

Tuesday 8 December 7pm NT Live Screening Jane Eyre (12A)

Almost 170 years on, Charlotte Brontë’s story of the trailblazing Jane is as inspiring as ever. This bold and dynamic production uncovers one woman’s fight for freedom and fulfilment on her own terms.

From her beginnings as a destitute orphan, Jane Eyre’s spirited heroine faces life’s obstacles head-on, surviving poverty, injustice and the discovery of bitter betrayal before taking the ultimate decision to follow her heart.

to find a way to signal to Earth. While NASA and a team of international scientists work tirelessly to bring ‘the Martian’ home, his crewmates plot a daring rescue mission.

Based on Andy Weir’s best-selling novel of the same name.

Wednesday 25 November 7.30pm Ricki and the Flash (12A) Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline

Thursday 10 December 7.15pm ROH Screening Cavalleria Rusticana / Pagliacci (12A)

A country road. A tree. Evening. Vladimir and Estragon meet as dusk approaches.

Estragon tries to remove his boot. Vladimir examines his hat. A conversation begins, a joke is interrupted. A carrot is eaten. The two men quarrel, then embrace. A pair of eccentric travellers arrive. Seemingly master and servant, one stands weighed down at the end of a long rope, the other carries a whip.

So begins Samuel Beckett’s 60-yearold masterpiece Waiting for Godot, a ground-breaking,anarchic meditation on the meaning of life and death. In 1999, it was voted the most significant English language play of the 20th Century.

Dydd Llun 7 Rhagfyr / Monday 7 December 6.30pm 150 Patagonia Digwyddiad am ddim / Free event

Noson o berfformiadau, darlleniadau a thrafodaeth i ddathlu 150 mlynedd ers sefydlu’r Y Wladfa Gymreig ym Mhatagonia.

Mae’r rhai sy’n cymryd rhan yn cynnwys disgyblion o Ysgol Gyfun Gwŷr a’r Prifardd Christine

Golden Globe® winner and Academy Award® nominee James Franco and Tony Award® nominee Chris O’Dowd star in the hit Broadway production Of Mice And Men.. This landmark revival of Nobel Prize winner John Steinbeck’s play is a powerful portrait of the American spirit and a heartbreaking testament to the bonds of friendship. The production was nominated for two Tony Awards®, including Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play for Chris O’Dowd.

These two short Italian operas are each regarded as the composers’ masterpiece, and are brought together in a new staging by award-winning director Damiano Michieletto, who sets both operas in a poverty stricken village in 1980s southern Italy, where the Mafia has a hold.

Films

Monday 30 November 7.30pm

Legend (18) Tom Hardy, Emily Browning, Taron Egerton

Monday 23 November 7.30pm The Martian (12A) in 3D Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain

Thursday 3 December 7.30pm ENO Screening The Mikado (12A)

Broadcast live from the London Coliseum, English National Opera’s spectacular production of The Mikado is a popular hit with audiences of all ages. Experience the irresistible combination of wonderful wit, memorable melodies and hilarious antics in this acclaimed production from Jonathan Miller.

When flirting is banned in the town of Titipu, Nanki-Poo and his beloved YumYum are forced to go to extreme measures

In a film loaded with music and live performance, Meryl Streep stars as Ricki, a guitar heroine who gave up everything for her dream of rock-androll stardom, but returns home to put things right with her family.

During a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney is presumed dead after a fierce storm. But Watney has survived and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet. With only meagre supplies, he must draw upon his ingenuity and spirit

From Academy Award winner Brian Helgeland comes the true story of the rise and fall of London’s most notorious gangsters, Reggie and Ron Kray. Legend is a classic crime thriller taking us into the secret history of the 1960s and the extraordinary events that secured the infamy of the Kray Twins.

Check out the Taliesin website for more information, or pop in to the box office and the helpful staff can answer any questions you may have. We look forward to seeing you.

30

SPORT

the waterfront 16. 11. 15

Feature

American Football: Which team to support?

by Tom Martin

waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk

In the past week, you may have read that Twickenham has become the latest of three separate stadia in London to host regular NFL matches over the next few years.

For those of you not versed in the lexicon of stateside sport, that’s American Football – and it’s being played in Britain. With the nation’s capital contracted for at least four matches per year, you may be wondering what all the fuss is about, and more pressingly, how to get your head around this American Football lark.

The first thing to accept is that it isn’t a simple sport.

However, with some perseverance, it can be understood by those of us who haven’t grown up in the sport’s homeland, wrapped up in tactics and teams. And perhaps now is the opportune moment to take that leap; talk of the movement of an NFL franchise (effectively ‘team’) to the UK is gathering momentum, so it might serve you to know your quarterbacks from your cornerbacks sooner than you think.

The best place to start is to choose a team to follow. The NFL has 32 teams, split into various divisions and leagues, for all of which the ultimate aim is to win the Super Bowl in February.* Here’s a brief lowdown on who to follow based on what you look for and what you study: *Disclaimer: if you haven’t heard of the Super Bowl, I’d probably quit while you’re ahead.

THE GLORYHUNTER’S CHOICE New England Patriots If you like: Chelsea/Manchester City/Getting bored of crushing opponents If you study: Engineering The most successful team since the turn of the century, the New England Patriots have routinely swept aside all in their path on their way to 4 Super Bowl victories in the last 15 years. With their combination of ingenious coach Bill Belichick, superstar quarterback Tom Brady and some (possibly) deflated footballs, they have a knack of engendering widespread hatred by nonchalantly dissecting any opposition.

Star Players:

Tony Romo, Quarterback (when he’s not injured) Dez Bryant, Wide Reciever (when he’s not injured)

What they say:

‘Did you know they’ve won 5 Super Bowls?’

THE‘I SUPPORT MY LOCAL TEAM’FRANCHISE Jacksonville Jaguars If you like: Losing, feeling high and mighty, going to matches, Yeovil Town FC If you study: Philosophy The Jaguars are a philosopher’s dream, because contemplating the meaning of life or questioning whether anything is even real is bound to improve an experience watching one of football’s least successful teams. On the plus side, they play a match every year in London, probably because the NFL thought subjecting the United States to watching them 16 times a year was a bit cruel. Jokes aside, the current management are making strides and this might be the right time to start following Jacksonville; it’s the most likely team to move to London full-time.

Star Players:

Blake Bortles, Quarterback Allen Robinson, Wide Reciever Julius Thomas,Tight End

What they say:

‘Your team must be terrible, they lost to the Jags!’ (Like my Miami Dolphins did this year. Cry.)

What they say:

Star Players:

THE ‘LIVERPOOL’ OPTION Dallas Cowboys If you like: Liverpool FC, ranting about past glories, documentaries by Andrew Marr If you study: History Dubbed ‘America’s Team’ (cringe), the Dallas Cowboys have won the 2nd most Super Bowls (5), tied with the San Francisco 49ers and one championship behind the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, much like Liverpool FC, they haven’t won the title for a long, long time, with their last championship coming in 1995. But they’re still America’s Team. And they’re valued at $4 BILLION. And they have won 5 Super bowls.

Joe Thomas, Offensive Tackle Alex Mack, Centre

What they say:

‘Who’s worse, the Jags or the Browns? Who cares, they’re both terrible.’

THE UP-AND-COMING TEAM Oakland Raiders If you like: Underdogs, watching future superstars develop, Southampton FC, Swansea FC If you study: Business/PGCE Having spent much of their existence in the dreaded Cleveland bracket, the Raiders have suddenly become a force to be reckoned with behind experienced coach Jack Del Rio and his development of young talent. With assured performances from 24 year-old quarterback Derek Carr, the lightning speed of 21-year old receiver Amari Cooper and destructive defending from linebacker Khalil Mack, the future’s bright.

Khalil Mack, Outside Linebacker

Tom Brady, Quarterback Rob Gronkowski, Tight End ‘Oh, look, the Patriots won again.’

Star Players:

Star Players: THE ‘ALWAYS RELEVANT’ OPTIONS Denver Broncos/Green Bay Packers/ Derek Carr, Quarterback Amari Cooper, Wide Receiver Pittsburgh Steelers If you like: consistently winning, narcissism, FC Barcelona, Manchester United If you study: Medicine, Biology, Chemistry.

These three teams have a combined 10 Super Bowl victories between them, six of which belong to the Steelers, and are a safe bet if you like your teams to be fairly certain of winning. All of them generally reach the playoffs at the end of the season (for roughly the top 12 teams in the NFL) and have star players who are fun to watch.

Star Players:

The Browns are so consistently hopeless that they give the Jaguars a run for their money. And yet somehow, it’s worse.

We have to think back more than 50 years to find a time when they threatened to win anything significant. This is a team so terrible that they dropped their name and moved to Baltimore, becoming the hugely successful Ravens. And then someone formed the Browns in Cleveland as a new franchise, which resumed the Browns’ tradition of being terrible. Tragic.

Packers: Aaron Rodgers, Quarterback/Clay Matthews III, Linebacker Broncos: THEIR WHOLE DEFENCE. (Von Miller/DeMarcus Ware/Aqib Talib/Chris Harris Jr.) Steelers: Ben Roethlisberger, Quarterback/La’Veon Bell, Running Back/Antonio Brown, Wide Reciever

What they say:

‘You’re playing the Packers/Steelers/Broncos this weekend? Try not to lose too heavily.’

FIFTY SHADES OF BROWN Cleveland Browns If you like: Brown uniforms, sado-masochism, the Andorran National Football Team If you study: Hair and Beauty

What they say:

‘Wow, the Raiders sure are doing surprisingly well!’

So that’s a little roadmap, hopefully showing you where to start if you want to get into American Football. The NFL website shows highlights of every match and has a dedicated page for every team so you can follow whoever you like as closely as you wish.

As for other teams, they’re out there, and you can do as you please. Just take it from me that supporting my Miami Dolphins will bring you nothing but pain…

SPORT

waterfrontonline.co.uk

31

What sport?

coast into the Meet Your Union: Part Three Swansea next round of the cup

by Molly Dowrick

waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk

Felix Mmeka FTO : Sports Officer

1) What 3 words best describe you? *This took a LOT of thought for Felix!!*

was worth it when speaking to somebody new.’

3) What issues/student improvements are you currently working on?

‘I’m currently working on a campaign for student feedback, aiming to identify students’ barriers when playing sports or reasons why students don’t play sport.

Keep an eye on your emails and student media as I need lots of student feedback to help me get people involved in sport and really find out about the barriers students face when playing sport.’

‘It depends who I’m around, but I’d probably say I’m dedicated, driven and unique-thinking.’

4) What’s your favourite place on campus?

‘My SportSwansea office – Sadie (Sadie Thwaites – Student Sports Manager) is a lot of fun to be around!’

2) What’s the best part of your job?

‘The best part of my job is getting to meet and speak to so many new people. The highlight of my time so far was working at Freshers Fair: even though it was a long, hard stressful day, it

5) What’s your favourite place in Swansea?

‘Rhossili beach. I’ve been there twice and both times I’ve had fantastic memories – it’s often about who you go with, and I went with great friends. I always

have good people around me.’

6) What sports teams/societies were/are you a member of?

‘I was on the basketball team and in the intramural football team. I was also Treasurer of the Catholic Society and Treasurer of the African & Caribbean Society.’

7) What’s your favourite food?

‘I’m a food person! I love homemade “abacha” with stockfish. (A Nigerian salad). My mum makes it and it’s amazing!’

8) What’s your favourite film?

‘I’m more into series than films. I really like Prison Break (season 1), News Room (season 1) and The Blacklist (season 1).’

9) If you were an animal, what would you be and why?

‘I’m calculated and reserved but when I have a goal I’m driven, what do you think I’d be…’ *Molly suggests “a cheetah”. * ‘Yeah, I like that. Okay, I’m a cheetah!’

by Jack Reading

waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk

Two weeks ago, Swansea University Men’s Football Second Team played Exeter University Men’s Football Third Team in a first round cup match which saw Swansea just pip the South West team by one goal.

The game was held at Fairfaield pitches and Swansea strive through the forth coming winter weather and out score Exeter by six goals to Exeter’s five goals.

10) If you could have any superpower what would you like to have?

‘The ability to see into the future and do something about it!’

11) What’s one thing you can’t live without?

‘Food!’

12) Tell us something that might surprise us about you..

A well battled game saw Swansea beat Exeter in the First Round of the cup with goals coming left right and centre.

With evident strengths in the scoring department from Swansea, there is room for improvement defensively but that is not to detract from the win itself. Both sides managed to produce some clever plays that were very enjoyable to watch, with great ability on the ball and intelligent movement off of it.

A well-deserved win, now to look forward to the next match and carry the attacking momentum forward and hope to improve the strength in defense.

‘Different things surprise different people! I’ve never played in BUCS, my degree is in Civil Engineering and I’ve never read a book in my life!’

Felix would like to add that by the end of his term in office (Summer 2016) he hopes to have achieved all of his goals.

With student feedback with his upcoming campaigns, this should be possible!

sport the waterfront

Issue 258, 16th November 2015

waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk

@Waterfrontspor1

facebook.com/waterfrontsport

waterfrontonline.co.uk

Swansea Uni Tae Kwon Do team SwanseaUniversity Intramural Football storm the GTI British Open League Table Selected division: Popworld Premier League (Adult)

From L-R: Matthew Philpott (Bronze), Martin Lee (Gold & Silver) Laura Fiteni (Gold & Bronze), Soon Fouracre, Daniel Barredo & Matt Evans (Silver & Bronze).

by Laura Fiteni

waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk

Swansea University Tae Kwon Do stormed the GTI British Open in Cheltenham on an easy Sunday morning in November.

The tournament, hosted by Global Taekwon Do International marked the beginning of the intensive competitive season for the SUTKD squad.

The six competitors came away with seven medals including; 2 gold, 3 silver and 2 bronze in both patterns and sparring.

Determined to carry on the momentum from Varsity in which SUTKD achieved their best and closest score to date, the squad contained winning members from last year’s squad but were also

pleased to welcome new members into the team.

Green belt Martin Lee dominated his category; winning Gold in his patterns round with a perfect score and silver in sparring category.

The first student to earn his black belt with SUTKD, vice captain Daniel Barredo had his first taste of competition in the black belt category and despite not medalling on this occasion, he received some excellent feedback from the judges.

Captain Laura Fiteni closed out the day with a bronze in patterns and gold in sparring. She said, “ It was a thoroughly enjoyable day and national tournaments always prove to be of a high standard.

It’s good for our competitors to understand the standard that’s expected of them to win right from the off. I must say, everyone rose to the occasion.”

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