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Match fixing claims are under investigation by Jon May
front@swansea-union.co.uk AN investigation is taking place after claims that a Swansea University rugby match against Cardiff was fixed in an “agreed draw”. Several universities have complained about the 10-10 draw of a league match between Cardiff University and Swansea University’s first XVs. The match was set to take place early in the year at Swansea, but it was supposed to be rescheduled due to the cold weather making pitches unsuitable. An allegation has been made that the match didn’t take place at all.
The investigation by the organiser BUCS (British Universities and Colleges Sport) is still ongoing, although Swansea University have already held their own investigation. A Swansea University spokesperson said: “We are aware of the BUCS investigation into a student rugby match. We have held our own investigation and decided that no further action is necessary.” Imogen Stanley, Sports Officer said: “Neither myself or Swansea University Students’ Union was involved in the decision making behind these allegations, however we are aware an investigation has taken place. “Our foremost concern is our students and we have
spoken to all those affected and continue to work with them.” Both universities compete in the BUCS Rugby Union Premier South A division. Swansea is only one place ahead in the league. A source revealed that the alleged match fixing could have robbed Swansea of a place in the Cup match at Twickenham after they lost their fourth place in the table as a result of the “draw”. If Cardiff had not turned up to play the match, Swansea could have claimed a walkover and kept their fourth place. The BUCS website displays no inputted scores for the match which was supposed to be played on February 15.
ZAHID RAJA SWEEPS TO VICTORY IN ELECTIONS by Lauren Phillips
waterfrontnews@swansea-union.co.uk ZAHID Raja made history after being elected president of Swansea University Students’ Union for the next academic year. The current education officer won his campaign in a landslide victory with 77% of the vote, beating Lexi Woodward on 21%, making him the first black president of the Swansea SU in over two decades. At the announcement, there was a unanimous cheer and chanting of his name. Mr Raja said: “It’s still not real.” Mr Raja’s manifesto pledges to freeze the price of drinks in JC’s, increase the number of postgraduate bursaries available to Swansea students and reward students who take part in societies and sports in their university transcript. Mr Raja also aims to extend the university’s wireless network EduRoam across Swansea, enabling students in
VICTORIOUS: Zahid Raja (third from left) will lead full-time team next year. private accommodation to have free broadband. As education officer, Mr Raja has introduced the role of Subject Rep for students in each of their departments; delivered 78,000 new e-books into the
library and has ended evening and Wednesday afternoon lectures for the next academic year. Mr Raja’s campaign focused on the institutional review, which affects the university every six years. He vowed
that his experience as education officer was necessary to lead the Union and university through this review in the next academic year. He said: “My biggest priority is to make sure that our university gets through that institutional review and to secondly put our students’ union in a good place for when we move to the bay campus.” “We need to have a real debate about how many sabbatical officers our students union should have, what they should be and how they should be spread between two campuses. “I’d like to say thank you to all of the subject reps for anybody who had a doubt about the subject rep system, they are awesome. “ In other results, five out the six remaining sabbatical officers elected were women, including international officer Eva Donoghue and sports officer Charlotte Peters. •For full coverage of the election results turn to pages 2 and 3.
Free Issue 226 11 March 2013 waterfrontonline.co.uk
INSIDE NEWS
How frocks made Kylie’s fortune page 8 FEATURES
Surviving the festival season
page 12
SPORT
Sloth slay Sevenths at St Helens pagepage 29 29
02 I NEWS
thewaterfront 11. 03. 13
thewaterfront Third floor, Students’Union Singleton Park, Swansea, SA2 8PP (01792) 295 988 web: waterfrontonline.co.uk twitter: thewaterfrontSU facebook: the waterfront swansea Editor Kay Byrne editor@swansea-union.co.uk News
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Ceinwen in for societies & services by Alan Daventry
waterfrontnews@swansea-union.co.uk CEINWEN CLONEY has been elected as Swansea University students’ union Socıety and Servıces offıcer for the academıc year of 2013/14. She won the overall vote by 48%, compared to the runner up, Sion Durham, who won 33% of the vote. When her tenure begins, Ms Cloney will work closely with the Student Union’s Finance Manager. Among some of Ms Cloney’s pledges are to introduce a second job fayre, introduce a shuttle bus service to the bus and train stations at the beginning and end of each term, and to produce a Society Handbook to ensure continuity for societies. Miss Cloney, a BSc Medical Genetics student, said: “It is very surreal at the moment. Currently quite in shock.” Runner up Sion Durham said: “To be honest I feel absolutely amazing as long as somebody won. “I think Ms Cloney has done exceptionally well. Although I’m second that doesn’t matter to me... hopefully she will take on what I’ve done.”
Jon May
Rosie pips Keryn to women’s post
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CLEAN SWEEP: Ceinwen Cloney (centre). She’s chocolate!
ROSIE Inman has won the election to become women’s officer of Swansea students’ union. The second year Ancient History and Politics student took victory with 41% of the overall vote compared to her opponents; Keryn Jalli, Megan O’Connell and Fran Ferguson. Miss Jalli came in a close second with 35% of the vote. Miss Inman promised in her manifesto to create dedicated Equality Forums to discuss all issues affecting people as well as promising
to introduce a night bus service. She also promised to make sure that pregnancy tests and sanitary products are more accessible to all students and would ensure that the Zero Tolerance policy against discrimination would be pursued, especially within sports. Miss Inman said: “I was really happy [with the campaign] but at time there was so much of it and I didn’t think I could do it. “A lot of the reasons I won was because of the referendum about Equalities Officer, I think a lot of people are passionate about that. But I think it probably will take quite a bit of work.”
Swaran sets to work on education by Rahul Vashisht
waterfrontnews@swansea-union.co.uk SWARAN Singh has won the election to become the education officer of Swansea University students’ union for 2013-14. The triathlon captain took 50.17% of the vote, gaining 10% more than runner up Nick Hoad, who took 40.02%. Swaran promised in his manifesto to campaign to keep the library open over the weekends during exam time, and to ensure students receive personalised timetables emailed to them. He also said he would set up monthly workshops between all Subject Reps and the Education Officer. He described his victory as a “weight being lifted off [his] shoulders”, thanking his “small but clearly very effective” campaign team. He stated that he will be incorporating some ideas from his fellow candidates into his manifesto, though his biggest priority is a “work placement scheme for every course”, where students will be able to gain work experience relevant to their course. Mr Singh has had previous experience as a College Rep and a Student Ambassador, both of which help qualify him for his new role.
WINNER: Swaran Singh (centre) takes the education officer’s role.
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NEWS I 03
Becky clinches welfare
VICTORY: Charlotte Peters.
Charlotte wins sport
WELFARE: Becky Grimes. by Catrin Lewis
waterfrontnews@swansea-union.co.uk BECKY Grimes has won to become the next welfare officer of Swansea University Students’ Union. With 54.3% of the vote, Becky beat Josh Gaskell in the last round, who came second with 31% of the vote. The re-open nomination option received 2.3% Becky, a medical sciences and humanities student, has promised in her manifesto to increase the provision of healthy and affordable food choices within the university’s food outlets and create an online advice service run by the Advice Centre and trained students.
She also promised to improve the wellbeing service: “We really need to sort out the wellbeing service. Only 1.35 counsellors for the entire student population is ridiculous and I really am a big fan of making sure that everyone is mentally well.” Meanwhile, Mr Gaskell said: “Becky had a really strong campaign team, she’s fantastic… I’m really proud of my friend base and support team, but at the end of the day, she really put the effort in.” Having worked for the Students’ Union and being a part of the St John LINKS committee for the past two years, Becky claims that she knows what will make a difference to the university experience.
Eva for International!
JUBILANT: Eva Donoghue (centre). by Alice Eaton
waterfrontnews@swansea-union.co.uk EVA Donoghue has won the election to become International Officer of Swansea University student’s union. The final year law student won with 41% of the overall vote. She beat close contender Eleanna Mountaki who won 33.4% of the overall vote Gahtan Algahtani was first out of the running with 3.5%, followed by Hassan Hamdoun with 14.6%, and Seveone Ye with 22.4 % of the vote. Eva’s key manifesto promise is to introduce a Welcome Pack for international students upon their arrival at Swansea University. Other manifesto points include an Erasmus Support Group for past and future Erasmus
students as well as an International Student Satisfaction Survey. Miss Donoghue said: “My biggest priority is definitely student involvement and getting the international students involved. “I thought Eleanna did incredibly and I definitely thought she was going to win. The biggest issue we had was getting students to vote. I would like to thank Kelly Jervis and her whole house, Becki Warrillow and my campaign team.” Eva has previously worked with the Black Students Committee after being elected to the position last year. She also has experience working with societies, a feature she intends to use as International Officer in order to make sure all of the cultural societies gain all the support they need.
by Jon Griffiths
waterfrontnews@swansea-union.co.uk CHARLOTTE Peters has won the election to become sports officer of Swansea University students’ union. Charlotte took victory with 51% of the vote compared to her opponent Joel Stevens Leach who received less than 45% of the votes for sports officer. Votes for RON received 2% of the remaining vote. Charlotte promised in her manifesto to maintain equal levels of help and support for all clubs, no matter what their size. She wants to have intramural leagues between colleges to
help promote sport throughout the university and the student body. She also wishes to continue the current work of education officer Zahid Raja to keep Wednesdays free. Charlotte has also promised to lobby for a greater subsidy for facility fees to help reduce costs for individuals, aiming to also improve match facilities for clubs currently feeling dissatisfied. She said: “I’m just in shock a little bit. Obviously I’m massively, massively happy but it just hasn’t sunk in. I’m just all over the place at the minute. “I’ve been campaigning all this week so hard and that’s all we’ve been focused on and now it’s all over.”
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NEWS I 05
Union wins fight to end late-night and Wednesday afternoon lectures by Jon May
front@swansea-union.co.uk THE campaign to end evening and Wednesday afternoon lectures has been successful. In October of last year, the Students’ Union passed a motion to lobby the university about the issue. Lectures will now end at 6pm every day, except for Wednesday where teaching must end at 1pm. Zahid Raja, Education Officer, said: “We lobbied many individuals across the university to get this result. Our message has always been clear: for a lot of students, the full student
experience isn’t just limited to what happens in the classroom but also what happens outside of it. Today, the vice chancellor and his team listened to our position and recognised that our arguments were valid ones.” Also, if a lecture is rescheduled due to an emergency, it must be ensured that the lecture is fully available in video format on Blackboard for those students who have commitments outside of the official university teaching hours. Over 400 students were affected by the late night lectures which saw some finishing as late as 8pm. Some students had to give up sports and volunteering to attend late lectures.
Hannah Flather, a Business Management student affected by the issue, said: “I was forced to give up hockey due to my 6-8pm lecture on a Monday. Training is specifically set outside of the study period allocated by the university from 9-6. This lecture has been shoved outside of this boundary thus I cannot attend training, thus I cannot be on the team.” On students with other commitments, Raja said: “We also have a good number of students who are parents or have other caring responsibilities – this is a great step forward in meeting the needs of such students who are often forgotten about.”
Students find a hair-raising way to fund trip to Morocco
Melissa Chisholm (left ) and Laura Beumont (right) raised £270 for their charity hitchhiking to Morocco by Samantha Booth
waterfrontnews@swansea-union.co.uk FOUR Hitch Society members innovatively raised money for charity by bringing in a professional hairdresser to offer students cheap haircuts. Melissa Chisholm, 20, invited students to the event in Xtreme Lounge on Facebook and an abundance of clients turned up: “We didn’t expect such a great turnout. It was great to talk to loads of people and explain what we were doing for charity. We had to turn a lot of people away as we were just so busy. “We are raising money for Link Community Development as we are hitch hiking to Morocco over Easter to raise money for the charity.”
Over the nine hours, 21-year-old hairdresser, Lowri Williams cut 40 students’ hair, raising £270 solely for the charity. The charity aims to improve sustainable education in Africa by inviting students to responsibly hitchhike to Morocco or Croatia with friends. Each member has to raise £375 for charity, so four members came together to put on events. The students, Duncan Moreland, Carys Thorne, Laura Beaumont and Melissa have also started a kitchen-cleaning venture to add to their funds. Organising it on www.facebook.com/Charity KitchenCleaners, they have so far raised £170, bringing their charity pot to £440. Melissa added: “We hope to do another similar event soon. Thanks to everyone who turned up.”
Singleton Park lights switched on after 20 year campaign NEW lights have finally been installed in Singleton Park and have been welcomed by students who can now navigate through the park safely, after a 20 year-long campaign. The new LED lights are brighter and thus much safer for students at night.
Becki Warrillow, Swansea University students’ union women’s officer, said: “We are extremely pleased with the result of the glow stick campaign and how that has resulted in the quick installation of the new LED lights that Eleri (Jones) secured.”
Man injured outside Penmaen by Molly Morgan
waterfrontci@swansea-union.co.uk
NO HOCKEY: Hannah Flather.
First ever Faith Week is launched SEVERAL thousands of visitors are expected to visit Swansea University this week as the university launches its first Faith Week. The week will encompass a range of religions and will look to bring together students, staff and community members of different religious backgrounds together, as well as raising awareness and facilitating education. The faiths taking part include: Buddhism, Christianity, Hare Krishna Movement, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Paganism, Peacemala, Quakers, Rastafarianism and Sikhism.
POLICE and ambulance crews were called to the university last week to deal with a serious injury. A man was discovered unconscious outside Penmaen building on the 23 February at 12:20am. He is believed to have suffered a broken jaw. A large pool of blood was seen by witnesses, but it is unknown how the injuries were inflicted. It is understood that the man was not a student at Swansea University, but was visiting friends who live on campus, to celebrate having recently been accepted into the army. Police stopped students from entering Penmaen, as they searched the surrounding area for evidence. It is thought he had left the Tooters nightclub and shortly after was captured on CCTV. After the man had been discovered, police, forensic teams and ambulance crew attended the scene. Non-students are able to attended Tooters as long as they are accompanied by a student.
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NEWS I 07
Students drawn by Swansea’s soccer glory by Tom Nightingale
waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk SWANSEA City’s Capital One Cup success is set to lead to a considerable increase in interest from prospective students worldwide, said an official release from Swansea University. Following their becoming the first Welsh club to reach the English Premier League in 2011, the Swans have established themselves as a competitive club at the top national level. And, by winning the club’s first major trophy following their 5-0 victory over Bradford City at Wembley, they secured their place in the third qualifying round of next season’s Europa League. This unprecedented success for the club is expected to have a dramatic effect on student applications to study in Swansea from next year. After the match US student Taylor Anderson tweeted “Glad I chose @ SwanseaUni this year so I could watch them make this incredible Cup run!” While Aaron Webb, a third-year Business Management student, tweeted: “Tempted to stay on and do a master’s at @SwanseaUni to
THE STUDENT JACK ARMY: Students were happy in light of Swansea’s big game against Bradford City at London’s Wembley Stadium. experience a European football night in Swansea!” Emma Frearson Emmanuel, head of the International Office at Swansea University, said: “What we have noticed since the Swans came into the Premier League is an increase in interest in
Swansea from students in certain countries of the world, particularly Africa, and we are seeing a general increase in applications and enquiries for the university as a result of that.” Adithya Rangaswamy, 18, a law student from Botswana, said: “I knew
Election banners torn down by Chris Flynn
waterfrontci@swansea-union.co.uk THE Students’ Union is investigating after some election candidates had their banners and posters torn down on campus. At least half a dozen candidates are known to have been affected. One had all of his posters on campus ripped down; another had a large banner ripped in half. It is suspected that party goers from Friday night’s Tooters event at Diva’s nightclub were responsible for the damage. Some students reported seeing drunken revellers wearing the banners as capes in the nightclub. In light of this, all candidates pulled together in an unprecedented joint effort to create a joint banner with all their names on it. In a statement on Twitter last week, the Students’ Union said: “We are investigating and dealing with stolen / removed banners 4 election candidates. Good luck to all and keep it up excellent work so far!”
RIPPED DOWN: Candidates expressed their anger, though it is unclear who is responsible.
Lots of prizes for student survey by Adam Shirley
waterfrontnews@swansea-union.co.uk SWANSEA University students are being encouraged to take part in student surveys to better their university experience. The student surveys taken by MyUni are increasingly important as they help the university to improve where it is lacking. Additionally, students are entered into a prize draw on completing the survey to win a prize from a selection. The prizes include an Apple iPad, Amazon and Waterstones vouchers, Gym membership,
Summer Ball tickets and Oceana VIP packages. Raegan Healy, Swansea University students’ communications officer said: “Your feedback is important because of the future impact and implications it can have on other students’ experiences. “After the surveys are completed, all students’ comments and feedback is reviewed in depth and considered across the university. “The information is then collated and methods are put in place for the upcoming academic year.” To take part in the survey, go to http://www. swansea-union.co.uk/education/myuni/ haveyoursay.
about Swansea being in the Premier League which was a really big part in making my decision because I am a huge football fanatic. “It is perfect, everything that I wanted. I don’t think I would have made the decision to come here if I
had not planned on watching them.” Benjamin Bell-Gam, 30, from Nigeria, studying a Masters in International Maritime Law, said: “Swansea City Football Club was a factor in bringing me here. “I saw the play-off final at Wembley on TV, and the Premier League matches last season, and their football was outstanding, especially against big teams. The Premier League is the biggest factor in coming here. I made the right decision.” Taylor Anderson, aged 23, from Michigan in the United States, (and a Chelsea fan) studying for a War and Society Masters degree, said: “ I followed Swansea a little bit before because Brendan Rodgers was the youth team manager and then reserve team manager at Chelsea. “When I heard he got the job at a Championship side I followed them a little bit. I like the way they play, and I like the idea of being close to top-flight football in one of the best leagues in the world.” With this kind of reaction to Swansea City’s remarkable success, it seems that this footballing success will be paying dividends for Swansea University for as long as it continues. For more sport related news, follow @ waterfrontspor1 on Twitter.
08 I NEWS
thewaterfront 11. 03.13
Graduate entrepreneur flying high after finding her fortune in frocks
by Waterfront reporter
waterfrontnews@swansea-union.co.uk
by Samantha Booth
waterfrontfeatures@swansea-union.co.uk A SWANSEA University graduate who couldn’t find a job is celebrating after starting her own business and achieving great success. Kylie Hearne, 26, set up Stardust Boutique, a clothing store specialising in women’s gowns, whilst looking for work after leaving the university. The young entrepreneur won the Princes Trust Young Ambassador of the Year Award in November 2012 for her business, situated in Sketty, and has reached the finals of Prince’s Trust Celebrate Success Awards, hosted by Ant and Dec and the Prince himself. The Classical Civilisation graduate began her own business venture in 2010, six months after leaving university. “After six months I began to struggle in the job market. So I started renting out dresses to people on Facebook. That began to go really well and I went on the Explore Enterprise programme with the Princes Trust which taught me vital skills such as marketing, advertising, pitfalls, perks and tax regulations.
LGBT history month celebrated
SUCCESS: Kylie Hearne has successfully set up her own business, Stardust Boutique, after graduating from Swansea University. “After this, it escalated and turned into a full-time job. I never intended to open a shop but in 2011 I had to open a shop in Sketty . “Since then, I have hired a full-time member of staff and have volunteers helping out and my dresses have
appeared in Miss Wales and Miss World pageant competitions, and I met Prince Charles too!” Kylie encourages students to think about entrepreneurial careers, especially in the current employment market: “I think that opening my business
has shown that you don’t have to do something based on your degree title. “You can apply the skills that you learn in your degree in any job, without even realising you have learnt them. Stardust Boutique is on Eversley Road, Sketty and at stardustboutique.com.
SWANSEA University students’ union collaborated with the LGBT+ society to celebrate LGBT History month. Taking place in February in the UK, the month-long annual observance assesses lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender history and the history of the gay rights and related civil rights movements. Phil McNamee, Swansea University students’ union open place officer for LGBT said: “We had an information and awareness stall for three days across campus which was in collaboration with the University’s Equal Opportunities Department. “This stall had information on the spectrum of different sexual orientations and gender identities as well as information on what the university and union does for its LGBT students, including accommodation advice and hate crime reporting.” Additionally, pride flags were put up across Fulton House balcony, a LGBTthemed quiz was held at JC’s and a transgender workshop was held, led by the NUS Wales LGBT Transgender representative.
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NEWS I 09
Huge divide between highest and lowest paid by Jon May and Josh Lovell
waterfrontnews@swansea-union.co.uk LIVING wage campaigners have revealed a huge gap in how much different Swansea University staff are paid. A recent Freedom of Information request by the Young Greens showed that 179 members of staff were paid less than the living wage of £7.20. There are currently 2,669 people employed by the university and this represents just under seven per cent of staff. In contrast ten members of the university earn over £140k a year. They include the Vice-Chancellor Professor Richard B Davies, who is remunerated a total of £222k a year (£115 an hour assuming a 37-hour week) for his role of chief academic and administrative officer of the university. Prime Minister David Cameron earns just £142k per annum, a comparison that drew criticism from some students. Ryan Jones, a current psychology student at Swansea University, said: “What doesn’t make sense is that a vice chancellor who runs the university gets paid more than the Prime Minister who runs the country. “Oxford University’s vice chancellor practically gets paid double the Prime Minister’s salary. I do not think it is right for the vice chancellor of any university to earn that amount of money.” The FOI request showed that no-one is paid the minimum wage. Jobs at Swansea University are graded on the independent HERA scale (Higher Education Role Analysis) used by 100 other higher education institutions.
Rob Abrams, ethics officer for the Swansea University students’ union said: “Most, if not all students, as well as most staff members have no clue as to why the vice-chancellor commands such a high pay-rate. As a student, I feel that the people who keep this university running deserve better. A living wage is not about just throwing money at people, it’s about calculating how much a person needs to live comfortably.” Students at Warwick University have started an online petition against the ‘morally reprehensible’ £40,000 pay rise of their vice-chancellor, Professor Nigel Thrift. A university spokesperson said: “The vice-chancellor’s salary reflects his responsibilities as the head of a large and successful university with an ambitious vision for the future and a commitment to providing the best possible experience for all our students. “The university has to compete in a global marketplace, and the vice-chancellor therefore represents Swansea all over the world as we build on our reputation. “We have a small number of staff who are paid less that £7.45 per hour but all other staff are paid above this rate. “The university implements national pay rates which are negotiated with trade unions and the Joint National Committee for Higher Education. “Staff at the university also receive other benefits, e.g. a pension scheme, generous leave entitlement, and access to sporting, catering and crèche facilities.”
‘Reward us for the work we do’, demand frontline staff by Alan Daventry and Chris Flynn waterfrontci@swansea-union.co.uk
THE UNIVERSITY’S front line workers claim they are not being paid enough for the jobs they do in accordance with the HERA pay grading scheme. HERA stands for Higher Education Role Analysis and is an independent system used by universities across the UK to assess the pay levels of staff. To get a pay rise, staff have to go through a rigorous application process and demonstrate that the job they are doing meets all the criteria of the pay grade they are going for. Most frontline workers like cleaners, porters and security guards are on either grade one or two; which works out at around £13,000 to £15,000 a year. Sources who spoke to The Waterfront have asked to remain anonymous for fear of repercussions, but they described the HERA system as ‘botched’ and ‘unfair’ after trying unsuccessfully to get pay rise. They say not enough attention is being shown to the workers who keep the university running on a daily basis. One security worker, who is a part of a team who have been trying to get higher pay for many years, said: “I think we should get paid more,. You’re not just security, half the time you’re porter, half the time you’re a traffic warden, half the time you are like a medic.” The worker claimed the level of pay ought to correspond with the nature of the job. He referenced an incident in the Hendrefoelan student village where security staff had to arrest a man for possessing an air rifle. All the workers, the cleaners, the porters, don’t get the appreciation they deserve. Security don’t get the appreciation.” One member of staff said that they could not afford to pay the membership fee to join a union. Another
member of staff said: “We’ve been trying for ten years to get a pay rise but we get more jobs added for nothing extra. “HERA don’t even work for the university. These people need to be here and see what’s going on. We’re the first point of call for students.” Another member of staff said:“We’re not greedy; we just want a fair wage for a fair job done. We have been abused, even kicked by students. We’ve dealt with sick and blood all over the walls. It’s clear we have to put up with a lot. “We are washed out from work. We go home Friday and sleep till Sunday. We are physically exhausted.” Staff complained that the Estates and Facilities management had hired new managers, whilst cutting down operational staff on the front line. One member of staff said: “Why take on new managers and yet make cuts to us?” The only operations department to receive a pay rise recently through the HERA process was the gardening department. One gardener said: “It’s a long-winded process, but the boys got it. It is a transparent mechanism for a potential pay rise.” A university spokesperson told The Waterfront that it wishes “to attract and retain high quality staff through competitive salaries, promotion and pay to reward success. “The university is committed to a transparent process of pay for all staff and to ensure equal pay for work of equal value. Our operational staff levels remain unchanged and where vacancies currently exist we plan to recruit early in 2013. “If any individual member of staff believes that their grade or salary is incorrect then they should discuss this initially with their line manager and/or Human Resources.”
Kuwaiti Soc celebrates STUDENTS from the Kuwaiti Society celebrated the society’s second anniversary, and Kuwaiti National Day, outside Fulton House on 26 February. Pictured is president of the society Abdullah Alajmi (left) and members of the society manning a stall with home made cakes and Arabic coffee. The day was also marked with cooking, writing and photographic competitions.
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Surviving the festival season
Fashion: Looks from London and New York
What’s on: Your guide to the fortnight
Film: We talk to an Oscar winner
Food: Why we love Spice2Go
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features
Get your wellies out, it’s festival season!
Photo: © Cowbrite
The muddy tents, the smelly friends and the canned all-day breakfasts are just a few of the staple UK festival experiences. Olivia Rosenthall reports on how to survive this summer.
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T’S that time of year again. You’re agitatedly refreshing the Reading, Bestival, Latitude and Glastonbury Line Up pages online to see who will be playing this summer. Debating between the UK’s best weekends of music, beer, camping, beer, rain and beer, the excitement just cannot be contained. However, as much as we all enjoy festivals, we can’t help but notice the glitches. Festivals, as us poor scrounging students know, are expensive. Deciding what festival you want to go to is one matter, but deciding who you are going to a festival with is another. One student who went with a group of university friends claimed to have a lot of trouble with one of the group members because of her boozing. “She was too drunk and kept getting lost. She became a liability and started to grate on all of us, which nearly ruined the weekend.” Sometimes who you attend festivals with can truly affect your experience, which at the end of the day, should be none other than cracking. That said, we’ve all had that one minor chink in the chain that threatened to ruin the weekend. Be it the painful friend that couldn’t handle their drink, the begrudging girlfriend or boyfriend that can’t stand your mates, or the hanger-on you brought with you that won’t say a word to anyone. So what is the way forward? Some our students give us their opinions and experiences regarding music festivals…
Top 10 ways to be festival-friendly... 1) Remember, you’re there to have a good time, so don’t go to a festival with someone who notoriously grinds your gears. They’ll probably steal all your booze, only want to see the bands you hate and use all your deodorant. Ain’t nobody got time for that. 2) Speaking of sharing, go prepared. Nobody wants to share their toothbrush with you. 3) If your boyfriend or girlfriend can’t stand your friends, doesn’t like live music and public toilets, don’t take them. 4) That said, if you can’t stand your boyfriend or girlfriend’s friends, or any of the above, don’t go to a festival. 5) If you know you are that person that is prone to the disappearing act when you’re leathered, give yourself some form of Lost and Found tag. Name, campsite etc…. your tent will be soiled on if everyone had to miss the headlining act because you got lost and ended up on the SOS bus. 6) Items of value: if you take your iPhone, there’s always the possibility that it may get stolen, lost in a drunken stupor or left in a portaloo. However if this does happen, you may just have
to accept your loss. There is nothing worse than having to accompany a sobbing friend round the campsite with a torch, asking everyone and anyone if they’ve seen an iPhone/camera/ something else of major importance. Keep it safe or take something of less value that does the same thing, i.e. the good old 3310. 7) If you are in the company of friends whilst with your partner, don’t be THAT couple. Everyone hates THAT couple. I.e. the ones that can’t leave each other’s side and get sunstroke within two hours. 8) PROMISCUITY: Safety first. THEN TEAMWORK. Make sure everyone you are camping with knows where you are and always make sure you are well within a safe environment and fully protected. ‘Nuff said. 9) Appropriate dressing. Lets be realistic, we live in the UK, not Spain. If you get hypothermia at the storm that is called Glastonbury because you’re wearing tiny shorts and not much else, no one will be willing to lend you their parka. 10) And don’t forget, its all fun and games until somebody loses an eye. Don’t shoot vodka through your peepers, it only results in a casualty.
ON GOING IN BIG GROUPS:
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Book review: Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel
German and American Studies student, Rebecca Hand says: “It's good to go with a big group of friends, but it's kind of good to have people camping in different places, so if you get really annoyed with someone, you can just chill in another campsite instead.”
By Claire Houguez
ON GOING IN SMALLER GROUPS:
Economics student, Niall Oulten, 19 says:“I think festivals aren’t really about going with large groups of friends, whilst it can be fun, it’s nicer to go in small groups. But it’s also about getting to know direct tent neighbours at the festival…then you have someone you can sort of trust to keep an eye on your tents when you’re away from the campsite. (And you also then have people to have banter with after the music finishes)”
T
HE Tudors have been doing the rounds for a while now, from feature-length film to Philippa Gregory.
Hilary Mantel’s challenge when approaching the story of Anne Boleyn’s downfall was to ‘take something people think they know about and show them a whole new side’. This she does by telling us the story through the eyes of Henry VIII’s right-hand man, Thomas Cromwell (the monastery-burning one).
ON GOING WITH YOUR PARTNER:
Mantel is a writer with the ability to see unflinchingly into the very heart of things, and report back our base desires and motivations: sex, money, greed, how others see us.
English Literature student, Hannah Etienne, 19, says: “I’ve been with my partner with a group of our friends and that was fun. But I’d still feel fine with just my partner.” English Literature student, Danielle Morgan, 20, says: “If you’re into the same bands and artists it would be an amazing experience that would create really interesting memories to look back on.”
This is the quality that makes her historical fiction feel so contemporary. Her recent ‘slating’ of Kate Middleton was breathtakingly beautiful and, as he waded into the row, even David Cameron had to concede admiration for her writing abilities.
ON GOING WITH FRIENDS FROM HOME:
English Literature Student, Charlotte Bunker, 20, says: “I went with my best friend and we were fine. Even used our Wiley charm to blag her being 18.”
Photo: © Shane Kelly
Mantel’s portrayal of Henry VIII’s court is in sharp focus. Her sensuous, controlled prose glides loftily over the unnecessary exposition historical novels often fall into; leaving much unsaid, mirroring the language of the court, where “a coded glance is enough, a nod and a wink”. Publisher 4th Estate describes Bring Up the Bodies as a ‘speaking picture’, an attempt perhaps to divert our insatiable appetite for period drama. A cast list is provided; the novel’s prose is dialogue-based. Bring Up the Bodies is enjoyable for its behind-the-scenes feeling and the pleasure of riding alongside such a powerful figure as Cromwell. It is the complexity of Cromwell that makes this novel so engaging. Painted by biographers as cruel and corrupt, Mantel’s revisionist minister takes waifs and strays into his home and is touched by the small kindnesses of strangers. His affable tone makes him a pleasant companion and, against the court’s immorality and hysteria, he seems an enlightened, modern man. Only occasional, chillingly casual, references to the “necessary art” of hanging groups of people, or arranging accidents, slip through. In interviews, Mantel is quick to explain any bias with “once you stand in Cromwell’s shoes, all the viewpoints change and everything comes up differently’” Which remains the point of a good novel in an age of silver and small screens – reading offers a way directly into another person’s skin and the space to wonder whether you really would have behaved all that differently, and whether much has changed in the power structures of society.
14 Fashion week special with cat harris and fran lloyd
fashion
FASHION WEEK
New York
Michelle Obama’s go-to designer Jason Wu offered up a combination of extreme femininity and womanly confidence.
Rodarte
Inspiration from early 80’s Santa Cruz, California, at Rodarte.
Victoria Beckham
Victoria Beckham wowed yet again at NYFW, and proved she is a force to be reckoned with.
Jason Wu
London
Topshop Unique
Burberry Prorsum The classic trench coat was revived yet again at the Burberry Prorsum show. Leopard and giraffe print were to be admired on a variety of classsic Burberry pieces that the fashion world has come to love.
Mulberry
Tom Ford
Get Involved!
We are constantly on the lookout for anyone interested in joining our team of writers at Waterfront Fashion to bring the latest style to the students of Swansea. If you are an enthusiastic writer/fashionista, get in touch with Cat and Fran at waterfrontfashion@swanseaunion.co.uk We are looking for features on student fashion, events, latest trends, shopping, hair and beauty, men’s fashions, and any other ideas you could bring to the newspaper! Get involved with Swansea University whilst boosting your CV, and doing what Swansea students do best; getting drunk at fashion writers’ socials! We can’t wait hear from you!
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front row
The Importance Of Being Earnest Review by Will Brealey
Shoreline’s production of ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ brought Oscar Wilde’s classic to life with great enthusiasm. Re-envisioned in the roaring jazz age, the period costumes and décor gave the performance a charming character, which was heightened by the cosy YMCA venue. Laurence Atkinson captured lead role Jack Worthing’s increasingly desperate situation convincingly, whilst Ollie Jones seemed at home as the confident cucumber sandwich munching Algernon. Other notable performers were Pearl Nunn as the disdainful Lady Bracknell and Sophie Muzika as the simpering Gwendolen, but all of the all-student cast performed their characters well, overcoming the in some cases huge age gap skilfully. Although at some points special effects were limited, with a performer stomping to represent Jack’s wild search for the handbag, it served as a reminder of the difficulties faced by a student production and added to the charm. The performance was funny throughout - true to Wilde’s original banter and with new gags slipped in, and the exaggerated long-wsuffering mirror-butler Merriman (Tim Gilbert) consistently produced laughs from the audience. Shoreline’s production inspired “absolute confidence” in me too.
OSCAR WINNER: Daniel Day Lewis as Lincoln.
Lincoln
Taliesin Arts Centre, Wednesday 13 March Tickets: £5
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BBC Radio 4’s Bookclub Meets Gillian Clarke Dylan Thomas Centre, Tuesday 18 March
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Winning two Academy Awards, nominated for seven golden globes and receiving a plethora of critical acclaim, Steven Spielberg’s ‘Lincoln’, set in the upheaval of the American Civil War, shows the struggle of America’s 16th president as portrayed by Daniel Day-Lewis. His struggles both on the battlefield and within his own cabinet are powerfully depicted and the film is immersive even for those who haven’t studied this period of American History. For those who have, the film has been praised for the effort undertaken to achieve historical authenticity, but is not without its errors. In a Guardian review, Peter Bradshaw said for ‘Lincoln’ – ‘it is literate, cerebral, heartfelt’ also praising Day-Lewis’ performance. Though Day-Lewis has dominated the awards nominations, there are also outstanding performances from supporting actors. Sally Field, as Lincoln’s wife, has also recieved attention from the critics. Overall the film is said to give a brilliant insight into the complex world of politics in which Lincoln was the leading man.
Coming to the Dylan Thomas Centre on the 18th March, BBC Radio 4’s Bookclub gives you the chance to meet the National Poet of Wales, Gillian Clarke, and discuss her new collection of poetry, ‘Ice’. Shortlisted for the T.S. Eliot prize for poetry, the collection goes back to the winters of 2009 & 2010, citing their harsh effect on the world around her as a type of invigoration for the imagination. Clarke herself has an organic smallholding in Ceredigion, and her poems reflect the close affinity she feels with her surroundings, as well as being steeped in Welsh traditions dating back to the earliest known named poets in the sixth century. Also included in the collection are a number of poems commissioned during her time as National poet of Wales. This event is a great opportunity to meet a highly influential figure in Anglo-Welsh poetry, and a chance to get an insight to the inspiration behind her poems. BBC Radio 4’s Bookclub invites willing contributors to the recording of their programme and ask that you contact them through their website for more details of the event.
Becca Hopkins
Becca Hopkins
Milton Jones Live @ Swansea Grand Theatre Thursday 28 March Tickets: £20
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Wild-haired funny man Milton Jones is coming to the Swansea Grand with his imaginatively named tour ‘On The Road’. Star of Mock the Week, Live at the Apollo and countless other panel shows, Jones will be bringing his own brand of surreal comedy to the boards of the Grand along with his cutting one liners and some pictures he drew. A night of silly comedy not to be missed.
Charly Bunker
A Smith’s Tribute plus The Oasis Experience The Garage, Saturday 23 March Tickets: £6
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Not doing anything on the 23rd March? Why not head down to see The Smiths tribute band at The Garage, which promises to recreate and relive the mesmerising lyrics of Morrissey and beautiful sounds of Johnny Marr’s guitar. Being one of the most famous bands of the 1980’s with songs such as ‘This Charming Man’, The Smiths reinvigorated contemporary pop music with optimism and openness. The tribute band will relive the ambiguity of Morrissey’s lyrics and portray their own individual, musical ability through The Smiths. With Morrissey’s spectacular lyrics and Marr’s evocative guitar work on display this gig proves to be irresistible. Tickets £6 each. Bargain.
Molly Morgan
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18 S I Lver screen with saul masters
film
Oscar win was perfect end to my dream year S
AMANTHA Booth chats to Oscar-winning editor William Goldenberg about Argo, his proudest achievements and working with acclaimed directors, Ben Affleck and Kathryn Bigelow.
How did you get into editing? I was at university in Philidelphia planning to become a physician but it didn’t really work and I realised quickly it wasn’t for me. I always loved the movies and I thought it’d be a great career to go in to. I got a lot of encouragement from a professor about my work as an editor so I kind of ran with that and moved to camera. I eventually got work as an assistant editor and worked my way up. I ended up working for Michael Mann for a few years then he taught me everything I needed to know about being an editor, including the politics and psychology of editing. That felt like my graduate school there. This year we got to spend a lot of time together because he was nominated for Lincoln and he was incredibly supportive and proud of me so it was a wonderful time. What was it like editing Argo? And what preparation do you have to do when you approach a different film? The only preparation I really did was reading the script many times and we had a lot of discussions about what we were going to do and what the mixing tones would be like. But we all looked at a lot of films
from the 1970s and about 15 movies that he uses as benchmarks for style. It’s not like we copied them but we wanted to get that vibe that they had. We wanted a movie that felt like it was made in the late 1970s not like a period movie that felt like it was made then and we held onto it for 20 years. Your reaction for being nominated for two Oscars? It was mind blowing. I kind of hoped it would happen but you can’t really count on anything. It was such a great year for me and I’m so proud of both movies (Argo and Zero Dark Thirty). Working with Kathryn and Ben was a dream year in terms of collaborations and they were spectacular human beings which makes your life better when you’re there everyday for 12-16 hours a day and you want to be around people that are fun to be around. It was bittersweet because Kathryn and Ben were left out of the best directing nominations and they were so gracious and proud of me. They were so supportive and wonderful. How much involvement did you have in the whole production? I started on Argo from day one of shooting and then we met with the gentlemen who do the sound and we brought them in and talked with Ben about how we want to approach sound. But my role really starts on day one of filming. Some movies I’ve been involved with the story boarding process.
OSCAR: Film editor William Goldenberg. What was your favourite film to edit? Well there are certain aspects in a lot of the movies I’ve done that I’m proud of. Without naming one because I have no favourite, for instance, the first fifteen minutes of Al Lee of the musical montage and in Argo the whole last 35-40 minutes I’m really proud of. In the raid in Zero Dark Thirty I’m obviously really proud of that too. What is next for you? I’m not sure of my next steps but I have a few things that I am thinking about and one movie in particular that I’m working the details out of but there’s nothing settled yet.
Film News: Del Toro set to adapt DC’s Justice League Dark ; Emma Watson to play Cinderella? ; Spielberg to head Cannes jury
Film Reviews I give it a year
By Lillie Halton
I Give It a Year is the directorial debut of Dan Mazer, the writer who relied on tired catchphrases and overdramatic characters to get laughs in earlier ventures, Borat and Bruno. With that in mind, the expectations for this film aren’t high. Rose Byrne and Rafe Spall star as a recently married couple, much to the bewilderment of their friends due to their mismatched personalities. The film opens with a horribly cheesy montage depicting them as blissfully happy. The film continues with an awkward wedding scene, showing troubles already as the priest cannot “pronounce” them man and wife due to multiple overacted coughing fits. The foul-mouthed marriage counsellor played by Olivia Colman,with her vulgarity and raw, sarcastic honesty, elicits a few laughs but it’s not enough to make up for the shocking comic timing of Rose Byrne and the
cringe-worthiness of Stephen Merchant. Sadly unrealistic and dull.
Broken City
By Lewis Carter
Broken city is a down-to-earth political, crime thriller from Allen Hughes, starring Mark Wahlberg in his now trademark role as New York tough guy, (which whilst breaking no new ground, you have to admit he plays well), while Russell Crowe stars as your classic corrupt politician pulling the strings behind a mahogany desk, with the aid of copious amounts of whisky. A quality cast who entice the viewer into what would otherwise be a mundane crime movie. The soundtrack is engaging and un-imposing, thankfully not resorting to dub step during action sequences. However there is a lack of substance to the plot, which ultimately seems to be designed to get you from A to B via C. Hughes seems strangely keen to make the city’s Brooklyn Bridge a character itself with in the film, featuring it in almost every other scene, demanding the question as to whether this works as some kind of visual metaphor in the film, or simply comes across as stock footage. Broken City ultimately tries to be a dogged, political and strangely nostalgic film.
Stoker
By Saul Masters
Park Chan-Wook, director of notorious Old Boy, makes his English-language debut with Wentworth Miller’s debut script. The film tells the story of India, played by Mia Wasikowska, whose family life is crippled by the mysterious death of her father and the arrival of her suspicious uncle Charlie. Straight from the first shot Wook handles every second with great care, creating an immense sense of intimacy and a delicate eye for detail. This quality is continued till the last shot, with scenes that are artistically created. Wook successfully paces tension and builds up gracefully till the conclusion. It’s not only Wook’s direction that makes it the masterpiece it is but Wasikowska acts far beyond her years, Matthew Goode is harrowingly disturbing as the mysterious, seductive uncle and even Nicole Kidman manages to grapple with a brittle matriarchal role. It will keep film studies students busy with metaphors and meanings but Wook’s film is an outstanding example of what film can achieve and the fact it has come out of the American film studio system is impressive.
Director’s profile: Steven Soderbergh
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TEVEN Soderbergh’s ‘Side Effects’, starring the likes of Channing Tatum, Jude Law and Rooney Mara, reportedly marks the twilight of this accomplished director’s career, writes Lewis Carter. That’s right, after more than 24 successful additions to the world of cinema, Soderbergh is reportedly planning a long and possibly permanent hiatus from film making, by concentrating on theatre and HBO television. As we begin by looking at this auteur’s earliest work ‘Sex Lies and Videotape’ it becomes obvious that we are dealing with a director who is clearly gifted at laying the foundations of good film making e.g. the construction of a good cast, in this case with the likes of a young James Spader and Peter Gallagher. This crucial and often overlooked talent in a director would spark a career known for frequent and fruitful collaborations with the likes of; Don Chadle, George Clooney, Benicio del Toro and Channing Tatum. Perhaps it is due to this director’s undeniable ability to procure engaging and memorable performances from A-list actors and more independent performers that has rightfully earned him a reputation as a producer of quality commercial hits such as ‘Ocean’s 11” and more biographic films such as the likes of ‘Che’ and ‘The Girlfriend Experience’. If Soderburgh does bow out of the cinema game he will arguably be best remembered for his Oscar-winning portrayal of the war on
drugs in ‘Traffic’. A film made memorable for performances from an exquisite cast, and clever cinematography used in a way to progress a segmented narrative. Like many celebrated directors his style and subject matter has been versatile, yet even more so like past artists his projects often contain a central and continuous theme; in Soderbergh’s case this theme seems to be the effect of lying, from the con men of the Oceans trilogy to betrayal in ‘Haywire’. However, it would be very difficult to place Soderbergh’s work into any aesthetic category, as he always seem to be experimenting in some way. Despite this inability to categorize the works of Soderbergh, as with many directors of our generation his projects owe a clear debt to the game-changing career of Stanley Kurbrick. Indeed, some of the best aspects of Soderbergh’s films can be called Kubrikian in nature from the long moments of absent dialogue in ‘Che’, to the moments of dark farce in ‘The Informant!’, and moments of ‘Solaris’ working as a visual love letter to ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’. In summary, Steven Soderbergh is somewhat of a chameleon director, who never quite tops people’s list of favourite directors, but would be consistently in the top 10 of many cinema fans. With Hollywood’s production line of sequels and revamped ideas constantly churning, it seems like this chameleon’s continued works have been a welcome relief. His latest film, Side Effects, is in cinemas now.
Notable films: • Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989) • King of the Hill (1993) • Erin Brockovich (2000) • Traffic (2000) • Ocean’s Eleven (2001)
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Solaris (2002) Ocean’s Twelve (2004) Ocean’s Thirteen (2007) The Informant! (2009) Haywire (2011) Side Effects (2013)
Film News: Chris Cooper added to Spiderman sequel; Sam Raimi set to write Evil Dead 4 Gary Oldman signs up to Apes sequel
Film Reviews Cloud Atlas
By Alina Flint ‘Our lives are not our own, we are bound to others, past and present. And by each crime and every kindness, we birth our future,’ is perhaps the most defining quote in Cloud Atlas, showcasing the film’s exploration of fear, love, and belief; Ideas which are addressed through a series of seemingly unconnected stories of love and rebellion in different times and places. Directed by Lana and Andy Wachowski, creators of the visually-explosive Matrix trilogy, and equally brilliant V for Vendetta, it is a film as demanding to watch as it is breath-taking. Cloud Atlas challenges reality and fate through the re-incarnation of two characters throughout times past, present and future. With an all-star cast featuring Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Ben Whishaw and Jim Broadbent playing a myriad of characters, Cloud Atlas is a film worth persevering with. The story does require some patience, but when the threads finally knit together you will not regret the stunning journey getting to them. Just make sure you don’t drink too much coke in the cinema as three hours does feel like quite a long time.
Antiviral
By Saul Masters
Brandon Cronenberg, son of genius director David Cronenberg, arrives on the scene with his debut feature film. Based on his own short film, Broken Tulips, Antiviral tells the disturbing story of Syd March, a salesman selling celebrity illnesses to loyal fans in a world where even celebrity meat is available from your local butcher. Caleb Landry Jones, Banshee from X-Men: First Class, takes centre stage as Syd and impressively anchors the film, starring alongside the likes of Sarah Gordon and Malcolm McDowell. Much like his father achieves in Videodrome and Shivers, Brandon creates a brilliant alternate reality where it seems like our own yet with a deeply disturbing difference. But unlike his father’s films, Antiviral’s pace and quality wanes after the hour mark, the idea at the heart of his short film fails to fill a feature length. It’s difficult not to review Antiviral and not discuss David Cronenberg, a director who created the body shock genre single handedly but if anyone is going to pick up the baton it should the son of the creator of the likes of The Fly, Scanners and Naked Lunch.
Anna Karenina
By Lewis Carter
Joe Wright’s version of Tolstoy’s classic novel starring Keira Knightley as a troubled Russian socialite is now available on DVD. Wright’s ‘Anna Karenina’ begins with flourishes of pure cinematographic beauty, showcasing Wright’s blurring of film and theatre through meticulously choreographed tracking shots, introducing us to the sweeping, constructed scenery that Wright seems keen to treat as a character itself. Purists might not be appeased by the visuals which are clearly placed at centre stage. The story of Levin (Domhnall Gleeson) which runs parallel to the love story is forced to take a back seat because its agricultural sits uncomfortably within Wright’s desired aesthetic for the film. The performances are strong with Jude Law’s statuesque portrayal of a Russian bureaucrat acting as a counterbalance to the flamboyant portrayal of the Russian upper class. It can be argued that ‘Anna Karenina’ has fallen victim to over ambition, with this version clearly being a case of style over substance but much like Knightley in period costume, it isn’t bad on the eyes.
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Going for the record with alex gibbs
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music
On the road with Pure Love
P
URE Love’ is an English-American rock band made up of two ex-members from separate bands (Gallows and The Hope Conspiracy) who formed as a duo in July 2011 and have just released their debut album. Samantha Booth caught up with them at the Deaf Institute in Manchester during the middle of their tour.
past, I was just really f***ing angry. And now I’m the happiest I’ve ever been and it’s an exciting time for Photo: Victoria Morse both of us. People say “how can you bring the same passion from hardcore in to this?” But I never got that passion from hardcore, it was just in my heart.
WATERFRONT: This tour has 17 dates and this is the fourth show so far. Which venue and city are you most excited to play?
JC: Luckily, we can scan all of our CDs and that balances it out somewhat but over here it’s different than the US as HMV is like the one big retailer, so when that goes away it’s kind of tough.
WF: HMV is in administration - how is it going to affect the band?
Frank Carter: Oh f***, tonight actually in Manchester! At the minute, I’m excited to play the next show and a lot of these shows as I’ve never played these venues before.
FC: It’s because everyone downloads nowadays. Illegally downloading music is just a strange phenomenon and will definitely affect music. A lot of those labels don’t press a couple of thousand CDs for an artist now but they would have before to start a small band off. We are really lucky because we tour our arses off so we can sell it on the road and those sales really count. You’re more likely to buy it when you’ve seen the band give everything on stage.
WF: How did you come up with the video for ‘Beach of Diamonds’? FC: We wanted to do a homage to the film ‘Sexy Beast’, because we love that film. We had had enough of being in the studio and recording videos of us playing, so we thought that if we went out to Spain it would work out pretty well. We worked for 24 hours straight recording the video; from 12pm-4am and then getting up at 5am and filmed until 7pm, then jumping on a plane at 9pm. Exhausting! We didn’t get to keep the masks though. WF: So how did you come up with the name of the band? Jim Carroll: It came from a song title from a band who have a 70s jazz fusion style. We spent two weeks filled with texts conversation with each other on deciding a name. One day, the song just came up on my iPod and I texted Frank with the name and we just decided on it.
WF: Influences on the new album, influence of love, is there anything else as deep too? FC: Is there anything deeper than love? I don’t think so. From a lyric perspective, it’s all about life’s mysteries that you want to solve as a human being. It’s about trying to find answers. And musically, it’s just perfect as an example of where we were and we wanted to make rock ‘n’ roll music. WF: Your passion on stage is phenomenal as when you were in your previous bands. Do you think that still comes across on stage? FC: I think it comes across better. A lot of the time in
WF: Do you think this will lead to a rise in gigs then? FC: The gigs are never gonna f***ing die. I think it’s stronger than ever. JC: It’s hard for people who just want to put out music because you now have to tour to get to a certain point. I think there are lots of people that make music because it’s what they do, but they can’t necessarily tour which makes it more difficult. WF: Festivals? FC: We are playing Cruz Rock in Belgium and Pirate Satellite festival in Germany, but apart from that, nothing major booked yet in the UK.
Pure Love’s debut album ‘Anthems’ is available now to purchase on Amazon.co.uk
Upcoming Events
12th March: Courteeners (Cardiff University SU, Cardiff ) 19th March: The Script (Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff ) 21st March: City of Ashes & Polaris (The Garage Music Venue, Swansea) 22nd March: Dizraeli and The Small Gods (Sin City)
22nd March: Biffy Clyro & City and Colour (Motorpoint Area, Cardiff ) 23rd March: Bastille & To Kill A King (Cardiff University SU) 30th March: Cash – Johnny Cash Tribute (Sin City, Swansea) 12th April: Enter Shikari (Guildhall and Brangwyn Hall, Swansea)
Do you think a band or genre should be featured? Email us at waterfrontmusic@swansea-union.co.uk
singles
albums Keaton Henson
Rhye
Kill Your Heroes
Birthdays
Woman
AWOLNATION’s upcoming single ‘Kill Your Heroes’, is another wonder found in the American electronic rock band’s successful debut album ‘Megalithic Symphony’ writes Verity Rogers. ‘Megalithic Symphony’ is wildly diverse in style, as the band plays to the extremes of the genre meaning this song has a completely different tempo and sound to their previously released single ‘Sail’. ‘Kill Your Heroes’ sounds almost propagandist; Aaron Bruno’s combination of shouting and coarse singing relays a message of warning against the idolising of your heroes. Bruno creates an upbeat sound with dark lyrics, leading up to an immensely catchy chorus that pushes the boundaries of the electro rock genre. It may not grab you straight away, but after a few listens it grows on you.
Keaton Henson is back with a brand new studio album entitled ‘Birthdays’ writes Jodie O’Donnell. The young, quirky Londoner has produced yet another set of compassionate, sensitive and character-filled tracks. Henson generates some of the most beautiful melodies, found in the heart wrenching ‘Sweetheart, What Have You Done To Us’. It seems each track is energised by a deep strain of love, and with the beautiful bass line of ‘Teach Me’; it places Henson on a par with the wonderful Band of Horses. No loud raucous ravings or climactic choruses are required, yet instead he falls into a unique category of secrecy and mystification. Birthdays is composed with absolute sentimentality and purity that is sure to catapult Keaton Henson into today’s music scene.
The mysterious and enigmatic Rhye have launched their debut album ‘Woman’ and it’s packed with subdued instrumental sensations writes Jodie O’Donnell. Kickstarting the album with the appropriately named track ‘Open’, Rhye takes listeners into a realm of relaxing electro jazz which is beyond addictive! ‘Open’ combines the delicacy of a lone harp with gentle bass tones to create a song of perfection. ‘The Fall’ is fuelled with gentle feminine vocals, which contain a certain depth and texture that the instrumental chorus and fluent melody complicity adheres to. Sensual definitely comes to mind, however their music is such a pleasure to listen to that this debut is an extraordinary delight to the ears.
AWOLNATION
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EATs and treats
front row 17
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fashion 14-15
features 12-13
11 March 2013 waterfrontonline.co.uk
food
When you fancy a curry try Spice 2 Go B
EFORE I’d even tasted a curry from Spice 2 Go, I said to my colleague that the whole setup (advertising, store layout, etc.) looked a lot like that of Domino’s Pizza, writes Chris Flynn. Spice 2 Go Curry is much like what Domino’s is to traditional Italian Pizza- it’s not traditional Italian Piazza, but it constructs itself around the idea of it. The takeaway only restaurant has the same ethos and trading style of Domino’s Pizza and in essence it is fast food curry. It’s not a traditional Indian restaurant like that of Swansea’s Patti Raj or the Maharani, but I don’t think that’s what the owners want to get across. It’s about a brand, so in five years’ time when you’re in the real world, you might see a Spice 2 Go in, say, Liverpool and think: “I had one of those in Swansea” and you’ll know it’ll be the same sort of quality as you had before. One of my favourite facts of the restaurant is that all the meat from the dishes is from local Welsh suppliers. The delivery of the food was relatively quick, around about half an hour. I sampled three different kinds of curry; paneer (Indian cottage cheese), chicken and lamb, both kinds of rice and the garlic naan. ‘The Mighty Masala’ is cooked in a herby and creamy sauce with incredibly tasty and tender chicken. It is probably one of the better chicken tikka masalas
VERY TASTY: The Mighty Masala from Spice 2 Go. I have had in my life; it tasted different to the others, with a blend of flavours that gives a modern, fresh taste. The Lamb Baltiwood which contains diced leg of
lamb was average; I personally wouldn’t have it again. The lamb was too tough and the Balti sauce had an incredibly strong taste of lime and coriander. Personally, my favourite of the curries was ‘The Paneer’- it was light, yet creamy and contained a tasty blend of spices. The paneer itself is really decent quality and recommend it as an experience for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians. The paneer cheese skewers are most probably my favourite thing on the menu; despite being a big carnivore. The rice and naan were a good accompaniment, but I wouldn’t rate it any more than one you could buy from a supermarket. Environmentalists would have an eco-stroke if they saw the amount of excessive, yet professional packaging. It comes in a pizza box with cleverly made compartments for the boxes of food inside. I think that the deals of the restaurant are what really make it appeal to students. A lunchtime deal for five pounds consisting of curry, rice and a can of pop is one of the most popular, as well as deals to feed your whole house or flat for around £20. They will also deliver food. Spice 2 Go is at 11 Dillwyn Street, Swansea, SA1 4AQ (next to Sin City) and is open from 11am-11pm every day. Telephone 01792 653320. Web: www.spice2go.com
Have you got a recipe you’d like to share? Email editor@swansea-union.co.uk
Time for wine
Most students can only afford wines that are discounted in CostCutter, but if you’re looking to push the boat out for that special someone, Chris Flynn offers his recommendations.
The Grinder Pinotage 2011 - £10.99 www.sundaytimeswineclub.co.uk The first thing that you will notice about this wine is the strong roast coffee aroma; the reasoning behind the impressive artwork on the front of the bottle. The pinotage variety of wine is South Africa’s special addition to the wine world and this is one of the best made in recent years. The red wine is fantastic for drinking on its own, with spicy food and especially with spare ribs.
The Forefather 2010 - £10.99 www.laithwaites.co.uk The red wine commemorates Miguel Amado Pouget, the ‘forefather’ who brought the Malbec grape to Argentina in the 19th century. It has a silky and smooth flavour and is from a prestigious South American vineyard. Perfect for steak, especially the famous oversized Argentinian kind! Campo Viejo Rioja Tempranillo 2010/11 - £8.29 www.morrisonscellar.com A good, reliable wine at a reasonable price, that is usually always on offer somewhere for around five pounds. There are three different grapes used in this wine, which gives it an incredibly unique flavour. It is a deep and fruit-driven red wine, with a taste of vanilla and red fruit. Perfect for drinking with Chinese food or pasta Bolognese.
Bacon and Mushroom Risotto Serves 4
Ingredients 2 mugs of Basmati rice 1 chicken stock cube 5 rashers of smoked bacon 8 mushrooms wiped and sliced Mild olive oil 2 mugs of frozen mixed vegetables (Yes, you’ve got to have them!) 1 handful of grated cheddar cheese
Method 1. Put the rice in a sieve and wash in cold running water, this cleans the rice and stops it from sticking together. 2. Put the rice a large pyrex/microwave bowl. Boil a kettle of water and cover the rice with water – about 4 mugs of water. 3. Crush and add the stock cube to the rice, then stir. 4. Cover the bowl with cling film and pierce the film 5 times with a sharp knife to let the steam out. 5. Microwave for 10 minutes on high power, this is the easiest way to cook rice. 6. Boil the frozen vegetables for 5 minutes.
Cooking with Chris 7. Chop the bacon and fry in mild olive oil for 5 minutes. Then cook the mushrooms for 3 minutes. 8. Add all the ingredients to the rice bowl, stir, serve and enjoy! Any leftovers can be stored in the fridge for the next day ; always heat food through thoroughly.
societies 27
travel 25
food 23
music 21
film 18
Student journeys
front row 17
25
fashion 14-15
features 12-13
11 March 2013 waterfrontonline.co.uk
travel Central Paris, above, the Louvre art museum (right) and the Eiffel Tower (top right).
The city of romance offers more than love T
HIS city of love has lots to offer, whether you’re a young couple in love seeking romance or, like me, single and just loving life in the city or la vie francaise. The fast way of life can be off-putting when you first arrive in Paris but once you get used to jumping on the extremely easy-to-use metro, you can look past the hustle and bustle of the city and see all the amazing places it has to offer. It’s very easy to get to Paris, you can get the Eurotunnel (which is cheap if you book in advance) from London to Paris, or you can fly into Charles de Gaulle airport, on the outskirts of Paris. Unfortunately the downside of Paris, I guess like any other city, is that the price of everything seems to double! But I may be able to help make a weekend away seem more affordable... One of the must-dos of visiting Paris is, of course, going to the Eiffel Tower. This notorious landmark does get extremely busy so go in the morning to avoid the huge queues. The breathtaking view from the top of the Eiffel tower truly is ‘magnifique!’ You are able to see numerous other monuments and tourist attractions such as the Sacre Coeur Cathedral, Notre Dame and the Louvre. Now if you’re feeling fit, you can climb the stairs to the top (for an even cheaper price), but you can also relax and enjoy the view from the clear lift that goes up to the 2nd or top floor. Luckily for us, young people aged between 12-24 get a discount and only have to pay 6.60€
A guided tour of the city of love from Kelly Littleton, a third year French and English student. to get the lift to the 2nd floor and only 11.80€ to the top floor. However, it is extremely cold and windy that high up, so wrap up warm. If you want to indulge the romance of the city, you should take a long walk along the Seine and see the Eiffel Tower lit up at night, très romantique! For all of you art lovers out there, the Louvre is the place to be. Although it felt like something from a film, going downstairs into the historic, underground museum and seeing the amount of Gendarme and security around, the Louvre contains some of the oldest and most famous pieces of art in the World, as well as originally being a fortress in the 12th century. This again is always busy, especially around one of the most well-known pieces of art…the Mona Lisa, which is surprisingly small and behind thick bullet-proof glass with some lovely
security guards watching you with guns. It is always nice to find out something is free when you’re a student and luckily for you art lovers it is free to EU citizens under 25. (This seems to be the case around France, so if you go, make sure to ask if it’s free first.) This magnificent art museum is very easy to get lost in so be careful. We walked around for quite a while before finding the exit. If you still want a magnificent view of Paris, but don’t want to venture to the top of the Eiffel Tower, then it’s nice and easy to get to the Sacre Coeur and the Montmartre region. Just jump on that easy-to-use metro we talked about and you’re there. You can enjoy the view of Paris whilst walking up the hundreds of steps to see the magnificent basilica at the top of the Montmartre hill. The walk isn’t as bad as it sounds and you get a similar breath-taking view to that from the Eiffel Tower. The Montmartre is famous for the artists that paint the views and caricatures of tourists, definitely a must do. Just a walk down the road from here is the infamous Moulin Rouge. You can take a walk to see the famous windmill from the scene of the film. Although it is expensive to see a show in the Moulin Rouge, I’m sure you will not be surprised to find out that the street is full of sex shops…Paris’s very own version of the red light district. Just on the outskirt of Paris is the Château de Versailles. Although this is a little more time-consuming and difficult
to get to, the quickest option probably being to get a tram then a bus, even the gardens of Versailles are worth going to see. The palace itself is extravagant in appearance, with large gold gates at the front of the grounds. Inside consists of beautiful art, everywhere you look. The best value places to stay in France are probably the Ibis hotels which are the equivalent of our Premier Inns. The closer you stay to the tourist sites like the Eiffel tower and the Champs Elysees, the more you will pay. But the further you stay from the centre of Paris, the more you need to be careful, so I suggest you do a lot of research before choosing a hotel or hostel.
Sacre Coeur, Montmartre, Paris.
societies
Musician’s Society to put on Divas event
O
N 21st March, Swansea University’s Musician’s Society will be hosting a spectacular night’s worth of music featuring their very own Swansea University Big Band. They will be joined by two bands from Bristol University in what will prove to be an unmissable night of entertainment. Whether your music taste is Jazz, Funk, Soul, Dance, R&B or even Ska, there really is something for everyone and the society encourages all students to dust off their dancing shoes for the event in Divas. Doors open at 8:30.
Kuwaiti National Day
Students from the Kuwaiti Society outside Fulton House on 26 February, celebrating the society’s second anniversary, and Kuwaiti National Day.
Want to know more about societies? Check out www.swansea-union.co.uk/societies
Islamic Society doubles 2nd semester efforts CHARITY Week this year was such a huge success for Swansea ISOC - with the Freshers this year eager to participate in the annual fundraising event for orphans and needy children, writes a Waterfront reporter. They have also initiated Charity Week in Bishop Gore and Olchfa schools by working with a group of kids from the Muslim community. They took the lead and organised bake sales during break times, all for the sake of charity. On campus, ISOC has been taking part in bake sales throughout their charity week as well as raising money through Fifa football tournaments for the guys. The girls had some fun of their own with a PJ Night, consisting of chocolate and pampering. Rayhaan Essof and Arshad Alam participated in a sponsored
bike ride from Swansea University to Cardiff. In addition, a whole day was spent parading through Swansea City Centre with buckets collecting donations from Swansea’s generous local community. At the end of charities week, ISOC hosted a dinner in Patti Pavillion. The response was overwhelming - as they sold the event out. There were several moments where the true spirit of Charity Week was clearly on display. The amount of effort, time and commitment the ISOC Committee has invested in this year has been incredible. A large group of volunteers attended the Wales and West Charity Week Round-Off Dinner on Sunday 25th November. All the schools, colleges
and universities that have taken part in our region gathered under one roof to celebrate and reflect on the events of the week. It was also an important reminder about where the money goes and how it changes the lives of orphans and needy children around the world. This year’s total raised by Swasea University’s ISOC Charity Week is £5,103.17! This is a massive improvement compared to last year’s £2,044.79. The message to learn here is to keep Charity Week alive and work together and come up with more fundraising ideas to make next year even better as ISOC look forward to the 10th anniversary of the project. ISOC would like to thank all who took part in this year’s charity week.
societies 27
travel 25
food 23
music 21
film 18
STUDENT EXPERIENCE With Alex Ward
front row 17
27
fashion 14-15
features 12-13
11 March 2013 waterfrontonline.co.uk
OTC get on their bikes for charity STUDENTS from the University Officer Training Corps took part in their annual charity cycle ride at Fforestfach Tesco in aid of ABF The Soldiers’ Charity and Cancer Research. Joanna Maclaine, one of the organisers of the event told us: “The aim is to cycle five metres for every troop still in Afghanistan to raise awareness for the 9,000 men and women currently deployed. Hopefully we will reach 450km by the end of the day.” Three spinning bikes were set up by the entrance of Tesco and the students swapped throughout the day for half hour bouts of intensive cycling. Those collecting money commented on the “generosity of members of the public and their interest in ABF”. ABF The Soldiers Charity gives lifetime support to both serving and retired soldiers and their families in the form of both financial and practical assistance. It’s a cause that resonates on a personal level for many of the officer cadets. “It is our generation who are serving and will serve abroad in future, we know how much help can be needed on returning, which is why we want to draw attention to ABF and the work it does,” said third year officer cadet, John Hand. They certainly succeeded because after a gruelling day of cycling they superseded their target by cycling over 500km and raising a total of £966.
Pagan Society prepares for Wyrdfest WYRDFEST will be held on the 16th March, starting at 9am, ending at 5pm ready for those who wish to watch the rugby. There will be four guest speakers throughout the day covering topics such as Druidry and Shamanism, as well as belly dancing and music performances, an exciting stalls room and card readers. The Pagan community has and still does suffer from misconceptions about this spiritual path and wish to promote tolerance, working alongside the other religious communities. The upcoming interfaith fayre has more guest speakers planned, as well as an elemental dance performance, where you will get to meet and speak to a variety of Pagans.
thewaterfront 11.03.13
28 I SPORT MATT HAMM
Sport Swansea in just 140 characters Chatterbox_kate Big semi-final win for Swansea women’s volleyball. Way to go girls. Finals, here we come! (Katelynn Viau)
Miyake89 @GwenSpurlock bossed it today on her debut for @SULHC1 seconds. So proud. (Izzy Tennyson)
Robertcook_ Sloth bandwagon rolls on. 7-0 win & league thrown wide open. Plenty of football left to be played. (Robert Cook)
Alyshabbers It may be the last time some of you put your dresses on but your hearts will forever be green and white. (Alys Habberfield)
Richardrapier Victory against Bath 13491. @SwanUFencing are now league champions. #sportswansea (Richard Rapier)
Judo
Weatherburn wins second BUCS silver HELEN Weatherburn has won a silver medal at this year’s BUCS Judo Championships after losing her gold medal match to Northumbria’s Chloe Cowen. The Haverfordwest-born judoka had to settle for silver, for a second consecutive year, as she was penalised twice by the referee to give Cowen the win in the -63kg final. Weatherburn, 22, defeated Londonbased Catharina Casper by Ippon to book her place in her second final in two years. But a series of penalties in the final meant the Welsh fighter will have to wait for next year’s championship to go for gold, in what could be her final year at Swansea University. “I’m proud of my achievement but I had hoped to get gold this year,” she said. “After last year’s silver medal I hoped for more but it wasn’t an easy, there were some tough competitors this year. “But I put in a good performance and hopefully the gold will come next year instead.”
SWANSEA’S JUDOKA: Helen Weatherburn. by Craig Hadley waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk
Weatherburn has competed in national competitions since the age of 15, winning her first title in 2007. She also reached an impressive eighth in the Senior British Ranking List, despite still being a junior, in 2009. Weatherburn will now be hoping to get her first university gold in 2014.
Fencing
Fencing club up there with the best of them at BUCS SWANSEA’S fencing club wrapped up their BUCS domestic campaign with a strong showing at the BUCS individual championships in Sheffield. Men’s captain Richard Rapier believes Swansea have more to give despite a very impressive display in Sheffield. “All of our fencers will go on to improve on these results in the years to follow,” said Rapier. “Having said that, this is our strongest results we’ve ever had at BUCS. “This is also the most successful season the men’s team have ever had in the league, and the women’s team have had their best season for five years.” Three Swansea students in particular impressed as sabre pair Joe Brightman and Megan Lillycrop, as well as Foilist George Orchart all made it to the last 16 of the competition. Lillycrop eventually finished in tenth in the women’s sabre out of 64, which was won by Roehampton University’s Alice Watson. Brightman also finished tenth in the men’s sabre, which was won by Maiyuran Ratneswaran from Imperial College London.
by Alex Powell waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk
In one of the most contested fields of the day Orchart finished in 15th in the men’s foil. The foil competition consisted of 134 competitors. The men’s captain himself, Rapier, failed to make it past the last 64 having picked up an injury during his match. Women’s captain, Ruth Bowley, competed in both the women’s foil and the women’s epee with the epee proving her strongest discipline on the day. She battled past her opponents and finished in a respectable 24th, out of 100 in the epee, which was won by St Mary’s College’s Jenny McGeever. Bowley also made it to the last 64 of the foil competition. In Lillycrop’s prefered event, the sabre, her teammates Madelaine ‘Swifty’ Swift and Anna Lawrence also competed, both making the last 64. Thanks to the performances of Orchart and Brightman, Rapier is hopeful that Swansea will impress at varsity in April. He added: “I have high hopes for the men’s team at Varsity; I see no reason for us to lose to Cardiff at Varsity.”
waterfrontonline.co.uk
SPORT I 29
SWANSEA INTRAMURAL FOOTBALL
Team Sloth continue to write themselves into the history books with emphatic win
After suffering their first league defeat of the season to Sketty the previous week, the high-flying 7ths got back to winning ways on Sunday with a 1-0 win over Brynmill.
The SSE cup holders went into this Sunday looking for a routine win over mid-table Golden. However their opponents had other ideas as they notched up a well deserved 1-0 victory to stun the favourites. Finishers v Ajax
TEAM SLOTH
4-0
SWANSEA UNI 7ths
RUNNING RIOT: Team Sloth furthered their cup pedigree with a scintillating performance in the final against SUMFC 7ths. by Max Stevens waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk
Four minutes later Sloth extended their lead as a mistake allowed Tom Davies to run at goal and lift the ball expertly over George Pavey in the 7ths goal with great composure. The 7ths were largely impotent going forward due to a combination of solid defensive work by the Sloth back line and a lack of pace in attack.
Sloth continued to have chances and Lewys Thomas was unlucky not to put the game to bed when clean through early in the second half. A member of the SUMFC support in the stands was heard to exclaim that “you’d think we were the side 2-0 up with the lack of attacking threat”, as the 7ths continued to offer little in the way of attacking intent. And Sloth killed the game off
through two substitutes in the last fifteen minutes. Owain Harries scored with a welltaken volley after finding himself free in the box. An Alex Marenghi free-kick caused havoc in the defence, and Robbie Evans added gloss to the scoreline with a header on the line five minutes from time. And the final whistle prompted wild celebrations from Sloth’s camp.
Former Students’ Union president James relives his glory years with intramural side Team Sloth FORMER Team Sloth goalkeeper Luke James spoke to The Waterfront ahead of this year’s cup final, remembering his own experiences of the great event. James believes Team Sloth’s cup win in 2010 was influential in the run up to his successful campaign for the position of Education Officer of Swansea University’s Students’ Union. James won two cup finals in his three years with Sloth and thought that the experience current members of Sloth’s squad have of winning it before may be “crucial” in their attempts to retain the trophy. He remarked that games between Sloth and the SUMFC sides are “as big as it gets at this level”. With Sloth being the longest running Intramural club, the rivalry between Sloth and the SUMFC teams is fierce and James felt that this meant the final “would be a massive clash”.
UNI 7ths v Brynmill Rangers
Team Sloth v Golden
DD MANNING
TWO goals in each half ensured that the SSE Cup was retained by Sloth in a one-sided final against the SUMFC 7ths last Wednesday. The victory was Sloth’s sixth in total, which Sloth manager Garin Rees cited as an “incredible achievement”. Rees pointed to the experience of past cup victories as a contributing factor to the comfortable win stating that his players “knew what to expect” from playing at St. Helens. And with three wins in the past four years under their belts, Rees was already displaying his confidence that “with the new boys coming through we can definitely win it again” as they look ahead to next year, and a possible hat-trick of wins. After a scrappy opening few minutes, Sloth were the team able to settle on the ball and string some passes together, whilst the 7ths seemed to struggle with the nerves of the occasion. And it was from a Sloth corner that the deadlock was broken after only fifteen minutes. The 7ths defence failed to deal with a cross, and James Mahoney struck a gorgeous left-footed strike into the far top corner of the goal from the edge of the area.
The Ashleigh Road results round-up
by Max Stevens waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk
“James Mahoney provided an added touch of class when it came to the final last year”, said James, “but Sloth always attract players of that level and have quality oozing through the side.” The former Swansea University Students’ Union President was nostalgic of his own appearances in the final. “It’s an incredible privilege to play in the intramural final,” he said. “It’s one of the biggest occasions the players will be involved in.” James hoped that the current crop would rise to the occasion and the pressures of playing in front of a crowd under the lights. “You just have to enjoy it and raise your game.”
After their impressive 8-0 thrashing of Signature the week before, the Finishers were confident of upsetting unbeaten league-leaders Ajax Treesdown in their Sunday fixture. Unfortunately for them Ajax continued their unbeaten run with a 2-1 win, notching up their 10th win of the season in the process. Gladiators v Armadillo After only managing to win just four of their matches last season; Armadillo now sit second after their ninth win of this campaign, after seeing off Gladiators, 2-1. Everlusen v BBB The Bulldogs suffered their seventh defeat of the season this Sunday as Everlusen won 3-0. The win takes Everlusen level on points with the Bulldogs after 13 played. History v Signature On Sunday, History and Signature shared the points in a 3-3 thriller. History FC are now three matches unbeaten and are yet to lose a league match in 2013. Kay FC v Crayola The clash of the mid-table sides saw Kay FC take on Crayola on Sunday, Despite a good win over Golden on the Wednesday previous, Kay FC could not repeat the feat against Crayola, who won 2-0. SPR v UNI 6ths The university teams are always there or there abouts and this year is no exception. The 6ths are yet to drop a point in 2013, following their 4-1 win over SPR. Liege v Sketty
FOND MEMORIES: Team Sloth’s former goalkeeper Luke James in last year’s final.
Fresh off the back of beating the 7ths, Sketty’s great run continued. They ran out eventual winners over Sub-Standard Liege, 2-1.
30 I SPORT
thewaterfront 11.03.13
Kay reveals the hidden gem of Sport Swansea
UNDERWATER EXPLORER: Sub Aqua Club captain and marine biology student William Kay during a diving session in the Welsh National Pool. SWANSEA University’s Sub Aqua Club (SUSAC) is probably one of the lesser-known water sports clubs at the university, which club captain William Kay hopes will soon change. Having joined the club in his first year as a novice, Kay, now in his third year, has relished his experiences and hopes others will follow in his footsteps. “I myself only started learning to dive when coming to Swansea University,” he said. “I have loved every minute of it and gained brilliant skills such as administering oxygen, first aid
by Alex Powell waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk
and driving a powerboat. “It is a very friendly and helpful community and if you need a good basis to learn to dive, SUSAC is fit for you. “We actively dive across South Wales but also arrange trips to English coastal sites such as Falmouth and Weymouth.” Kay believes “the ability to scuba dive is a brilliant feather to add to your cap,” especially with the tough job market currently in the UK.
“Scuba diving is a brilliant ability to have at your disposal especially if you’re studying to become a marine biologist like I am,” he said. “I felt it was necessary as a marine biologist undergraduate to explore the underwater environment and see exactly what it was that I was learning about. “More and more employers in the marine job market are seeking those who can dive.” Kay also wished to thank the committee for their great work this year, considering they are comprised entirely of volunteers.
Boxing
Amateur boxing student wins BUCS championship SIMON ROE - www.simonroephotography.co.uk
Sub Aqua
BORN TO BE A CHAMPION: Swansea University student Josh Osbourne (right) elated. SWANSEA University’s Josh by Craig Hadley Osbourne has won his first waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk BUCS championship, defeating Portsmouth’s Bamidele Ogunseye judges ruled in his favour. at the Don Valley Stadium. He added: “I was really over the Having fought in just two bouts moon to win at BUCS. prior to the contest, Osbourne had “I was lucky to have my family there. low expectations going into the fight. They came down to support me “I wasn’t expecting much to be which was great. honest,” he said. “It’s great to win, but it’s even better English fighter Osbourne was a to win knowing they were there to happy man after three of the five support me.”
waterfrontonline.co.uk
SPORT I 31
Basketball
Rugby Union
Survival hopes hanging by a thread as firsts lose with rivals still to play
by Craig Hadley waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk
SWANSEA 1sts 51-70 CARDIFF 1sts
by Nick Griffiths
DD MANNING
waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk
THE Swansea University basketball 1sts will have to rely on results elsewhere, following a home defeat to Cardiff, if they wish to remain in the Western 1A division. After a brief resurgence at the start of 2013, Swansea finish their campaign with defeat to already relegated side Cardiff 1sts. Stand-in captain Nathan Osoria believes the team were not “tough enough” in their defeat to rivals Cardiff University. “I am quite disappointed and all the boys are disappointed as well following that result,” said Osoria. “I think that we could have won the game and we did not win it. It was because we were not tough enough. “We allowed Cardiff back into the game after leading at the end of the second quarter. “And by the end of the fourth quarter, we simply could not stop them.” The first quarter had been a
Lewis shortlisted for national award
CUTTING IT CLOSE: Swansea (left) will now need Bournemouth to beat Plymouth next week to survive the drop following defeat to Cardiff. relatively close contest with Swansea trailing by the narrowest of margins, 18 points to 19. The second quarter was a time of resurgence for Swansea as they forged ahead to lead 31-29 by the end of the second. Cardiff came out in the third
determined to take back their lead from the opening quarter. Swansea appeared to falter as Cardiff regained the lead, finishing the quarter up by two. As Swansea began to chase the game in the final quarter, the lead continued to grow as Cardiff broke
with confidence. As the game reached its climax, Cardiff had notched up a 19 point lead. Swansea will now have to rely on Bournemouth University beating Plymouth Marjons in the final week of fixtures in order to survive the relegation dogfight.
Hockey
Seconds seal the league title with draw as rivals Met lose to Gloucestershire WOMEN’S seconds’ hockey team secured the Western 4B title for the first time since 2005 despite only managing a draw on the penultimate week of fixtures. After a 0-0 draw to Trinity St David, Swansea had thought they would need to go into the final week to decide the title. But unbeknownst to the Swansea team, rivals Swansea Met had lost 4-3 away to Gloucestershire which meant Swansea were crowned champions. Swansea will now look to wrap the season up in style when they welcome Swansea Met to the Astro in their final game of the season. Speaking prior to the news from Gloucestershire, captain Becky Cummins remained confident her side would be champions after the Swansea Met game regardless. “Despite not winning today we remain hopeful of our title chances,” said Cummins. “If our team maintain our play we can beat Swansea Met and win our league.” After a 3-1 defeat earlier in the season, Swansea knew they needed to step up their game to beat Trinity in the reverse fixture. Swansea started slowly and were left helpless when a deflection fell to the feet of a Trinity forward a yard
by Jodie O’Donnell waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk
from goal. Fortunately for the home side, the Trinity player failed to react in time and the ball slipped past the post. Throughout the first half Swansea were forced to defend resolutely as Trinity piled on the pressure, with goalkeeper Cat Bell forced to make a series of interceptions. Trinity’s persistent attacking threat continued to pressurise the home defence, as Swansea failed to cope with the pace of the Trinity forwards, but they still could not find a way through despite hitting the post. Despite a few short corner opportunities Swansea were lacking any sustained threat and needed more in the second half if they wanted to get something out of the game. A more resilient Swansea came out for the second half and looked dangerous straight from the whistle. There was a renewed energy to Swansea’s play as they contested the midfield balls with added vigour with great success. After a series of wayward shots, it
SWANSEA 1sts 0-0 TRINITY ST. DAVID 1sts
END TO END: Both sides fought fiercely all afternoon for control of the midfield. appeared Swansea finally had the breakthrough halfway through the second half. A long pass from their own half split the Trinity defence who watched helplessly as debutant Gwen Spurlock ran onto the speeding ball, and swung for the ball. With the ball in the goal, Spurlock turned with a look of joy and it appeared the goal would be given when the far-side umpire signalled a
goal for the home side. But the near-side official had other ideas and after a quick consultation the umpires agreed that Spurlock had not actually touched the ball prior to the ball going in the net and restarted the play with a long corner. The decision appeared to galvanize the Swansea side as they continued to push for a winner with time running out, but to no avail as the whistle sounded.
SWANSEA University’s openside flanker Sam Lewis has been nominated for a national award for rugby, following his performances in this year’s LV= Cup. Lewis will be in contention for the LV= Breakthrough Player Award following impressive displays in the Ospreys recent cup run. “We are very proud of Sam here at the university,” said head coach Richard Lancaster. “He’s a player who sees the importance of a dual career path and is pursuing a sports science degree whilst also balancing the incredible demands on his time for rugby.” The award is designed to recognise up and coming talent and will be voted on by rugby supporters on the LV= rugby website. The player with the highest number of votes will receive a trophy and LV= will donate £1,000 to a grassroots rugby initiative of their choice. Lewis also recently had the honour to lead out the Ospreys for their LV= cup clash with Gloucester. Archery
Swansea archers impress at BUCS by Craig Hadley waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk
DESPITE several key departures, Swansea University’s archery club continued to impress at this year’s BUCS indoor archery championships. Experienced archers Richard Mill and Anna Lawrence both put in steady shoots to finish in seventh in their respective fields. Mill competed in the gent’s compound event. He was competing at the indoor championships for the first time since 2011 and shot an impressive 570 out of 600. Cardiff Met’s Alex Bridgman went on to win the compound event with a stunning shoot of 591. Lawrence also impressed in the ladies barebow event. She scored 454, which was an improvement of 80 points on her previous appearance at the BUCS competition. The ladies barebow champion was Durham’s Sara Emanuelsson with a score of 555. Elsewhere in the gent’s novice barebow event, students Luke Edwards and Rob Mitchell both finished in the top half of the draw. Edwards and Mitchell finished in 14th and 15th respectively. Swansea took a squad of fifteen to the Telford-based event, competing in eight different disciplines.
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Issue 226
March 11, 2013
OLYMPIAN GEORGIA DAVIES STARS AS SWANSEA IMPRESS
Inside This Issue Rugby Union
Future rugby star receives nomination for LV= award
p31 Intramural Football
JOSH DOBSON
WELSH GOVERNMENT
DD MANNING
University 7ths despair as Team Sloth win SSE Cup
FLUSHED WITH SUCCESS: Swansea’s swimmers, including London 2012 participant Georgia Davies (inset), secure impressive medal haul at the BUCS Long-Course Championships. SWANSEA University Swimming Club achieved outstanding success at the recent 2013 BUCS LongCourse Championships, coming second in the overall team event. There were also 11 Individual medals, including two golds for 2012 Olympian Georgia Davies, in the 100m Backstroke, her Olympic semi-final discipline, and the 50m Backstroke. Davies was delighted with both the club’s and her own performance. “The whole team rose to the occasion, and we did really well
Final BUCS 2012 1 2 3 4 5
Loughborough Durham Birmingham Bath Leeds Met
24 Sheffield 25 Swansea 26 St Andrews
5354 3503 2912 2814 2758 1062 1059 1007
by Tom Nightingale waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk
to finish second overall behind Loughborough,” she explained. “This is my third year swimming for Swansea Uni, and this is one of the strongest teams I’ve seen. Our swimmers have a great chance of qualifying for the World University games this summer. “My goal this year is to qualify for the World Championships in Barcelona, and also hopefully get selected for the
Commonwealth Games next year. “BUCS is such a good opportunity to race against some of the best in Britain, and to really see where you are with your training and fitness.” Swansea teams secured silvers in the 400m Freestyle, and the 400m Medley, thanks to strong performances from Davies, Hannah McCarthy, Libby Mitchell, Alys Thomas and Avril Kiritschenko. In the Male Individual, Adam Rowe and Chris Suggitt won bronzes (200m Freestyle and 200m Individual Medley
respectively), while Adam Mallett secured silver in the 200m Butterfly. It was in the Female Individual, however, that Swansea achieved their most spectacular successes, with eight medal-position finishes. There were bronzes for Thomas (100m Butterfly), and for Mitchell (200m Freestyle and 200m Butterfly). Thomas also won silver in the 200m Butterfly, while Alice Tennant came second in the 200m Individual Medley, and Emma Smithurst matched this achievement in the 200m Backstroke.
Swansea University Tennis Club to hold touch-tennis tournament to encourage greater tennis participation SWANSEA University Tennis Club, in partnership with the Lawn Tennis Association, are to hold a touch-tennis event on 13 March. It will be hosted at Swansea tennis club, near Sketty sports village. Entrance fee is £2 and will contribute to prizes, but all players will have access to a barbeque and
by Tom Nightingale waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk
bar, with a choice of a free burger or pint. Registration opens at 1pm before the tournament at 1.30pm, and there will be freebies from the LTA available.
Played on a mini court with foam balls and smalll racquets, it aims to level the playing field with long, intense rallies and clever angle play. It is hoped to establish touch tennis within universities across Britain as a fun option to the more difficult traditional game. The tournament is open to all, so get involved!
p29 Judo
Judo star secures silver at BUCS national competition
p28
Current BUCS 2013 1 2 3 4 5
Loughborough Durham Birmingham Bath Exeter
3324 2323 2237 2061 1918
23 Stirling 863 24 Swansea 856 25 Sheffield Hallam 828