the waterfront
Free Issue 255 05 October 2015 waterfrontonline.co.uk
T h e o f f i c i a l s t u d e n t n e w s p a p e r o f S w a n s e a U n i ve r s i t y
Things I wish I knew as a Fresher...
inside
DRENGE: Interview & live review p.12
by Molly Dowrick
features@swansea-union.co.uk
A nostalgic look at my first year at uni and just how much I learnt. 1) You can’t do it all We all want good grades, a job, a social life, involvement in sports clubs/societies, a healthy bank balance, enough sleep and our health, both physical and mental health. But university is tough, you can only have a couple of these things! I learnt the hard way that you can try your best to do absolutely everything, but you really can’t have it all! A fifth night out in a row sounds like a brilliant idea when you’ve had a couple drinks, but think about your bank balance, lack of sleep and inability to function tomorrow with that gruelling hangover. If you do manage to get to your lecture, you may fall asleep and if you’re one of the lucky few who can actually stay awake, your notes won’t be much help with distracted doodles all over them because your mind wasn’t where it should have been for class! New to drinking and going out, I went to all of the Freshers events last year, driving my energy and bank balance off a cliff! I wanted to be a ‘good student’ and went to all of my lectures, even if I was feeling ill or exhausted and ended up getting even more ill and unable to concentrate on my work, cue a bad
mood/tiredness that my new friends and housemates weren’t sure how to deal with! It’s really important to give yourself times to rest and recuperate after a night out/event, and not be so hard on yourself if you do feel ill or tired. I wish I knew not to try to do it all; it would have saved me so many hangovers and illness!!
What’s it like being a disabled student? pg. 9
2) Everyone gets homesickness I’ve always been really close to my family and my best friends from home and I have been close for a long time, but I really didn’t expect to feel so homesick during my first semester at uni last year. I obviously knew I’d miss them, but I didn’t realise how tough I would find the first couple of months of university, away from home and all the people I knew so well. Even though I Skyped and Facebooked people at home quite often, I still found it difficult to get used to being away from home, so I decided to try and explore Swansea and university a bit more, to act as a distraction from my homesickness. I spent a few days shopping in town with my housemates, which was really fun and gave us plenty of opportunity to get to know each other properly - retail therapy style! I also joined a few societies to meet people with similar interests to me, who really helped me feel a lot more involved and settled into university life. Even things like going to the pub for a couple of drinks helped me get over my continues on page 2
Liberation: Black History Month pg.3
02
NEWS
the waterfront Third floor, Students’ Union Singleton Park, Swansea, SA2 8PP (01792) 295 988 waterfrontonline.co.uk twitter: thewaterfrontSU facebook: the waterfront swansea Liberation Akosua Darko waterfrontnews@swansea-union. co.uk Features Nicholas Fearn waterfrontfeatures@swanseaunion.co.uk Music Gareth Matson waterfrontmusic@swansea-union. co.uk Film Joshua Vaughan waterfrontfilm@swansea-union. co.uk Creative Zoe Stabler waterfrontculture@swanseaunion.co.uk Societies Molly Dowrick waterfrontsocieties@swanseaunion.co.uk Fashion Shona Johnson waterfrontfashion@swanseaunion.co.uk Food Sarah Harris waterfrontfood@swansea-union. co.uk Relationships Faye Vlietstra waterfrontrelationships@swanseaunion.co.uk Website Andy Pover waterfrontweb@swansea-union. co.uk Advertising Bleddyn Carter (01792) 602496
the waterfront 05. 10. 15
continued: homesickness, because I was able to talk to people about it and soon learnt that everyone gets homesickness at times, it’s just some people are better at handling it than others.
closest friends through the Dance Society. The girls that were once ‘the dance girls I have dance classes with’ are now my best friends who I could easily talk to all day and drink/go out with - and still have more things to talk about!
To beat homesickness, I recommend talking about it with friends, who can support you and help stop you moping around the house! Also, joining societies and sports teams and getting into a routine with university life helps students settle in to uni and feel more relaxed and at-home. Finally, the best thing I did to beat homesickness was cover my student village room with photos of home and of uni. I was reminded of home and my family, but I was also constantly aware of the great days and hilarious nights out with my uni family. Although Plymouth is my home-home, Swansea is also my home; it just took me a while to realise that.
Students also meet people in the most random of circumstances. I still speak to a few people I met on WindStreet on WindStreet Wednesday in Freshers last year: we all lost all our housemates and stuck together until we found them half an hour later! Now we meet up when we’re out and those of us that are on the same course will sit together in seminars sometimes!
3) You meet people everywhere My housemates last year were the most random group of people ever and I think it took us a while to get used to each other. That’s not to say we didn’t end the year as really close friends, but w e all knew we wanted to make friends outside of the house too. Joining societies, sports teams and going to university events helped us all meet like-minded people who essentially became guests/extra housemates for the rest of the year!
Even more randomly, I met one of my best friends in the launderette! Washing your clothes is not exactly the most difficult of jobs to do, but when you’re 5 ft 2, hungover and carrying a massive pile of washing, doing the laundry becomes a bit of an issue! Basically, I dropped all my clothes onto the dirty launderette floor! It worked out really well though, because a fellow Fresher came over to help me put my stuff back in the washing machine and we started talking while we waited for our washing. I kept on bumping into her everywhere, in the shop, on the bus to uni, in the library etc and we started talking more and more, now we’re best friends and it feels like we’ve known each other for so much longer than just a year!
You meet people everywhere. I got talking to the people sat around me in my lecture and we had such similar attitudes to things and similar interests we continued to sit together for lectures throughout the year. Fast forward a year and we’re now best friends and housemates, possibly primarily due to the fact I could talk for England - or Wales(!)- and the fact the girls and I ended up chatting for a long time in that lecture, but also due to the fact we all made the effort to get to know each other in our lectures, or when we bumped into each other on campus. Societies and sports clubs are also great ways of meeting new people, academic societies help introduce you to course mates and those with similar academic interests, while interest/leisure societies enable likeminded people to get to know each other. I met some of my
It’s not just on campus/in halls either, my friend met her boyfriend in the queue for the cashpoint on Wind Street at SnowBall, she tripped into him and spent so long apologising that he thought she was hitting on him, so they swapped numbers and were together for a long time. Dear Freshers, don’t expect to be able to do it all. Student life is stressful, busy and at times chaotic and dramatic - but that’s okay: give yourself time to chill whenever you need it! Also, remember that you’re not the only one that’s homesick and that uni is the best place to meet new people and make new friends. Chat to everyone and don’t worry about coming across as ‘awkward’ or ‘forward’, you never know - you could become friends with someone you never thought you’d usually get along with!
Top 5 tips for freshers... Freshers is such an exciting time for any student, you make new friends, see new places and often it’s your first time away from your close friends and family. Hayley Harris at Swansea University Students’ Union Advice and Support Centre gives some advice to those who will be joining us in September (and a reminder to those who are staying with us!):
by Hayley Harris advice@swansea-union.co.uk
2. Find a great house with great friends (students can pop in to see us for some advice on house hunting and get their contract checked for free). 3. Get the balance right. Have fun and enjoy a good social life but make sure that your studies are still a priority. Eating sensibly and exercising will help keep you motivated.
“Our staff offer free, impartial advice on housing 4. Be organised! Make sure you know and academic problems as well as financial, deadline dates, plan your workload in consumer and personal issues. advance and this will save you last minute stress.
Here are Hayley’s top five tips for Freshers: 1. Meet lots of new people, join clubs and groups you are interested in.
5. Don’t suffer in silence. If you have a problem or you don’t understand something, ASK! There are lots of different support systems at Swansea University to help you when the going gets tough.”
NEWS
waterfrontonline.co.uk
LIBERATION by Akosua Darko waterfrontnews@swansea-union.co.uk
03
October is one of my favourite months, guess why it’s black history month. As a child of African heritage (Ghanaian to be specific), I get enormous pride and joy from looking back at my people’s contribution to history and I get empowered to be a significant contributor to the world as well.
Despite what many think, black history month is not exclusive to people of African and Caribbean heritage, it includes people of Arab and Asian heritage as well since they are politically black, Arab and Asian people were also formally colonised by powers of the West.
or search : NUS Wales Black Students’ Campaign / Ymgyrch Myfyrwyr Croenddu – UCMC on Facebook
Black history month is often celebrated by looking only at slavery, colonisation, the civil rights movement and the struggle for African independence. Though these periods in history are important, it only gives a limited view of black history often from a western perspective.
• A poetry slam • A mental health awareness talk • A photographic exhibition: Swansea University will be taken part in her story, Black.
Black history is often not thought including the great contributions of black men and women of all the descents mentioned above, to science, academia and all fields in general. That is why this year, the NUS black students’ campaign is focussing on celebrating black British history, to inspire black students and let them know black people just like them in England have done amazing things and, so can they. I was delighted to find out only this year, that black history month was introduced in the Uk by a Ghanaian Akyaaba AddaiSebo and the founder of UK black pride Phyll Opuko-Gyimah is also Ghanian. Swansea University will be hosting a couple of events to celebrate black history month and check out the Facebook page for more updates on what’s to come. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NUSWBSC?fref=ts
Things on schedule include:
Her-story week that will launch on 26 October for the last week of black history month nationally. “This week is to emphasise the need for Intersectionality and a gendered approach to Black History Month when celebrating our heritage, culture and liberation politics.” The photographic exhibition Swansea university will launch is a surprise and the event will be video and added among the exhibitions of other universities to create a film. made to monitor and report students, who may show signs of becoming radicalised into violent extremism. Whatever these signs maybe are unknown and black and Muslim students are likely to be reported unjustly. “This campaign and tour is a great mark in contemporary black UK history as we say we will not be racially profiled by the government and not tolerate Islamphobia on our campuses. I urge black students and anyone interested to get involved and come to the event. The cultural societies will also be hosting events. Happy black history month to all the black students in Swansea University, be inspired and remember you come from a linage of greatness!
EntzSwanseaUni
EntzSwanseaUni
thenestblog.weebly.com
ENROL ON OUR NEW MODULE ENTERPRISE AND CREATIVITY: ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN PRACTICE
TODAY
Taught in semester one
Entrepreneurial?
100% coursework Assignments due January 2016
Creative?
2 hours of contact time per week Practical based Gain transferable skills Increase your employability
Don't know which module to study this term?
This module can be chosen by any student and can be taken as an extra curricular module! We tailor the course to you: 10/15/20 credits and Undergraduate/Postgraduate
Find out more: entrepreneurs@swansea.ac.uk
waterfrontonline.co.uk
NEWS
05
Collective Sessions launch well received by Bleddyn Carter news@swansea-union.co.uk
Students gathered at The Hive in Union House to attend the first of the Collective Sessions on Monday 28th September. Attendees were treated to an exceptional talk on how to pitch and present effectively from Professor Simon Gibson. Professor Gibson is CEO of Wesley Clover and founding trustee of the Alacrity Foundation, a Graduate Entrepreneurship Foundation based in the UK and British Columbia, Canada which provides a post graduate education in entrepreneurship and commercialisation. The Collective Sessions have been launched by The Union Collective, Swansea University Students’ Unions flagship initiative supporting entrepreneurial students, as a means of providing students with a series of inspiring and motivational talks from experts in the fields of business, enterprise and innovation. The sessions also provide a platform for students to deliver presentations on topics they feel passionately about. Students’ Union Education Officer Robiu Salisu said “The idea of this will be that students are able to share projects and innovations that they have received a good grade of 2:1 or First in and share it with fellow students to develop the idea or the project. The presentation could last between 5-10 minutes.” If you have a business or business idea you would like help with, or if you would like to deliver a talk at the next Collective Sessions, you can contact the team via email: unioncollective@swansea-union.co.uk
careers
societies
creative writing
food
fashion
music
front!
music
with insert name here
07
film
features Lifestyle for Swansea students
5 October 2015 waterfrontonline.co.uk
DRENGE: INTERVIEW & LIVE REVIEW
music
5 October 2015 waterfrontonline.co.uk
features
with Nicholas Fearn & Shona Johnson
09
What’s it like to be a disabled student? Starting university is a tough and uncertain time for anyone. But if you’re a student with a disability, you may feel extra confused at the start of the three years.
but manifests itself in many aspects of my life. I have depression and anxiety, and I am not ashamed of it. “It is part of who I am. Like my disability there are many others who have disabilities which are invisible to the naked eye but their daily lives are a struggle. I want to make sure that anyone with a disability be it visible or not can access and enjoy their time at university.
It could be that you use a wheelchair and are worried as to whether or not lectures are accessible. Or perhaps you’re looking for a bit of advice on how to deal with your emotions and would feel comforted in hearing about someone else’s similar experience. More generally, you’re looking for support in order to make your studies and university life as easy as possible. We speak to several students about their experiences of having a disability at the university and outline the support on offer. James, 19, is starting his second year at Swansea University studying chemical engineering. He has been a wheelchair user ever since he was paralysed from the waist down in a car accident when he was 12. Upon joining university, James became worried that his disability would affect his social interactions. He explains: “I knew that coming to university would be hard. Clubbing was always going to be difficult for me since I obviously can’t dance. “There are only so many times you can spin your chair without getting dizzy. I felt that I almost had to rule out a large section of my social life and forfeit meeting new people because of my disability. “Luckily, I am not one for clubbing very much, anyway. I found that joining societies actually contributed much more to my social life than going out and getting drunk ever did. I’ve made some great like-minded friends.” James also argues that many people in wheelchairs enjoy clubbing very much and advises that if you’re someone with a physical disability and plan on doing so, make sure you are with a group of people you trust who understand your situation and won’t leave you behind on nights out. He continues: “Your mobility is taken into account in a more academic sense too. I am given a desk space by the door in every lecture and exam I attend, as well as given extra time to move myself from the exam room. “As long as you make the university aware of your situation, they really
In her first year, Ellie ran into many obstacles as a result of her disability but managed to overcome them with the help of the university. do their utmost to make life easier for you. There are wheelchair entrances into almost every building on campus, and where there aren’t, adjustments are made for you. I couldn’t have asked for more support from the university.” Leo Gould, 24, who also studies chemical engineering, explains how his life changed dramatically at the age of 20 when he suffered a brain injury and slipped into a coma. He says: “My disability was halfway through uni. I had a fall and a traumatic brain injury, which was covered in The Waterfront at the time. “It impacted my life as a student so much as I had to change from someone who played a lot of sport (I was president of the basketball club prior) and somebody who drank a lot to not doing that. “The position I put myself in was the worst thing ever. I had to learn to walk and talk again for a year and a half before coming back. “My advice to anybody in a similar position would be to make the university aware, as they were extremely accommodating for me. They couldn’t have done any more, to be fair. “I received support in accommodation and academic too. I was given a room on campus even though I wasn’t a fresher, as well as various different forms of study support.”
When he was studying for his BA, he found it hard to approach his lecturers for help and ended up becoming depressed. He says: “One of the hardest things I found was asking my lecturers for help because I didn’t want to seem stupid or was afraid. And I was like this even during 3rd year at times. “It was particularly bad in the first year. I had times when I’d be worrying at 3 in the morning before a deadline - trying to solve problems with no clue what I was doing.” He believes that you need to ignore the nerves and just approach your lecturer should you need help, explaining that this is their job. “I could have have avoided this all by just asking the relevant lecturer in advance if I was on the right track. Don’t be afraid to ask. They will help,” he says. While Dave has experienced issues with his work, he’s also found it hard to form relationships with the opposite sex because of social pressure. He says: “Another obstacle was the lack of interest in me from girls. There is such a big focus on ‘getting laid’ when you get into university. I felt inferior. But it’s not a big deal: relationships will come to you when it’s time. Concentrate on being happy in yourself.”
As much as physical disabilities are a prevalent obstacle for many students, mental disabilities are just as daunting.
Ellie Pullen, 19, who is the student union’s disability officer and a 2nd year history student, believes that it shouldn’t matter if you have a hidden or visible disability. You should get the support you’re entitled to.
Dave, 21, is currently undertaking an MA in medicine at the university.
She says: “I like many others - have a disability than cannot be seen
She explains: “At first, I found university very hard and was unfortunate enough to have problems in my first year. However, once these issues were resolved and the university found the best way to support me, my time became much more enjoyable. I have channelled my experiences into something positive to ensure it does not happen to others. Talking a bit about the support she has received, she says: “The wellbeing department has supported me with a dedicated support worker. “They have shown me how to apply for DSA allowance and provided emotional support when I have required it. They have been fantastic at liaising with my college to ensure that I am appropriately supported and not disadvantaged in any way.” Ellie decided to run to become disability officer after representing the university at the NUS conference and because she wanted to help make needed change. She says: “I was inspired by others at the conference, and I have also wanted to be involved in the SU. Having faced injustice in my first year and seeing others struggle, I decided I wanted to make a positive change rather than dwelling on the negatives. “I have a background in representation and before I started university spent three years as a Member of the UK Youth Parliament, representing the young people of Wiltshire and fighting for a fair deal. My time in the UK Youth Parliament cultivated my passion for representing others and ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to succeed and voice their opinion.”
5 October 2015 waterfrontonline.co.uk
film
with Joshua Vaughan
We’re The Ones Making Hollywood Lazy? When a movie like Dredd comes out, gets a 78% on Rotten Tomatoes (7% higher than Interstellar) yet loses money at the box-office, it is easy to see how fickle we are as an audience. Here’s another one – The Book of Eli, a film beautifully shot with mind-blowing climactic moments, with gorgeous choreography plummets to 48% on Rotten Tomatoes; a contrast to movie-critic God Roger Ebert giving the film a 3/4 rating. Despite the odd cliché and religious beating, does the movie deserve an iffy rating because of a bit of overuse? If all movies should be rated on an overuse of plot devices, then Marvel would be bankrupt, not making billions at the box office.
A movie is an art form. Even the atrocities of Michael Bay’s Transformer shit-storm epidemic are an artistic take on an idea. So, when “outside of the box movies” hit our screens, why do they frequently fall flat in the ratings? Are we the ones killing cinema? If so, why do we complain when movies are so unoriginal? As a film fanatic, I watch movies fairly regularly, whether it be in a theater or at home on Netflix.
music
10
When I watch a film, I (usually) immediately have my own understanding on what I enjoyed or what I didn’t like, depending on what I saw over the last few hours. Generally, if I was neutral about a movie, I wouldn’t think too much about it. It came, it went, it did nothing spectacular. Move on. However, if I am on either side of the bias-barrier after the film, I will generally search for the movie’s ratings on IMDb, Metacritic and Rotten Tomatoes, among other YouTube and newspaper sources. I will always go to see a big blockbuster, but I also force myself to watch those which slip the radar. This was the case when I saw the movie Dredd. I liked Dredd. Dredd was a lot of good fun, and had great acting performances… what’s not to like?
According to a recent video by YouTube channel AlltimeMovies, over 50% of movies today are either sequels or spinoffs from original concepts. Also, since 2008 (the release of Iron Man) 1/3 movies released have been superhero movies. What is even more alarming than this is that, due to this fact, not only will one third of movies today follow the same script and formula, other movie companies will actually follow Marvel’s example, copying their set-patterns on how to make a successful franchise. This would mean that the limit of the “unoriginal” for companies is endless. (By the way, I saw Ant-Man. Despite my mad love for Michael Peña, does it really deserve a 79% rating if it fits the unoriginal narrowness which Marvel dumps into theater twice a year? No, not if superhero films like Man of Steel can break conventions, be beautifully shot and stay surprisingly entertaining yet STILL get only 56%. Anyway, I digress.) The point is that we brought this on ourselves. We still get a few original films which slip the cracks, such as Birdman and Whiplash, but is that enough? No! By no means. Films are an expression of emotion and passion, an idea the director had which their effort and livelihood goes into. Today, movies have become a money-making scam, used by studios to get a quick quid. But before we point fingers at the studios, is it really their fault? In no way should we blame them for taking £7.70 after VAT on each movie ticket. I mean, we’re the ones paying their bills.
I go to the movies a lot, and I look for the ones which will slip the cracks. A movie I loved was Jeff, Who Lives At Home, which thoroughly deserved its 78% on Rotten Tomatoes, and should have more than 6.5 and 60% ratings on IMDb and Metacritic, respectively. Ironically, it also had a 3/4 from Roger Ebert, much like The Book of Eli, and grossed less than $5 million, a whole $2 million less than its tiny budget. Infuriating, I know. A film such as The Grey, which ironically (or fittingly) places an emphasis on the poetry of nature and fate, and the clear and sorrowful intertwining of the two, should earn the hundreds of millions which money-making shams like Fantastic Four and mindless spin-offs like Minions earn. Movies which change something inside of us, make us believe that what we see on the screen truly is art, and not the product of some idiot behind a camera stuffing £50’s into his back pocket. Those are what we should want to see. Cinema has lost a lot of the respect it deserves and needs; the art of filmmaking has evolved quickly and shamelessly. Forget about going to see Ant-Man, Fantastic Four or any other spin-off. Don’t worry, in a few months, Sky Movies and Netflix will have them on demand for you. For this weekend, go see a movie like The Gift or Inside Out again. Something with actual emotion. I promise you, it is worth it.
NEWS
waterfrontonline.co.uk
2AM Fri & Sat 4AM
10 Dilwyn Street, Swansea, SA1 4AE
01792 464 647
11
5 October 2015 waterfrontonline.co.uk
music
with Gareth Matson
12
Drenge: Interview & live review The Waterfront’s Gareth Matson met up with the award winning Loveless brothers ‘Drenge’ before their show at the O2 Academy in Bristol.
How would you describe your music in three words? Please. Don’t. Bother. Nah, would be ‘raw and raw’, though actually it’s not even that raw, I don’t know. What are your main influences as a band? We’re really into this documentary about U.S garage rock, it’s called ‘new garage explosion’. Also we listen to Queens of the Stone Age and The Cure a lot. The influences are a lot more subtle in our music than they are in our head. In an Orwellian world of mass censorship, what would your music be censored and banned for? Because it’s got a sense of humour to it that some people don’t subscribe too, like ‘I want to Break you in half’ isn’t actually meaning I want to break you in half, how do you even go about breaking someone in half? I missed that seminar. Does politics have an influence on your output? I’d say it does but not in a direct explicit way, we’re not writing protest songs, but politics is a general atmosphere entwined with our songs. If we lived in Sweden where everything was great and we were happy we’d sound just like ABBA.
For your new album ‘Undertow’ you’ve added a bassist to the fold, did this seem like a natural progression after your selftitled? Yeah we were interested in expanding, as we were writing new songs we knew we needed something more than what a twopiece could provide. How else does ‘Undertow’ differ to your self-titled? It’s a lot more produced, a lot more going on and experimental. It has a bit more of an atmosphere to it. We’ve got better and more comfortable with our instruments also. Worst and best bits of touring? Worst is being stuck on the bloody M1 all day every day in a little box, but it is so rewarding watching people have fun to your own music. The highs are so high and the lows are pretty low. Can’t see me lasting as long as The Rolling Stones though. Eoin still wearing dresses while performing at festivals? Nah, and it’s because of a tragic story really that he gave it up, he was on stage and he got groped by an old lady, on his birthday. Old lady birthday grope.
If you could compare your music to a kids Tv show what would it be? Oh, Get Your Own Back, all that build up for a massive pay off at the end. GUNGE! Or Jungle Run, you got to get out before the monkeys stomach closes up.
Live review Soon as the Loveless brothers and bassist Rob Graham ripped into opening song ‘Never Awake’ it was evident that the set was indeed going to be ‘raw and raw’. A few songs in and they unleashed the lead single from Undertow ‘We Can Do What We Want’ and from there on in they could truly do what they wanted, the crowd was theirs. The lack of crowd interaction left nobody reeling, the slamming drum beats and distorted guitars rang a constant statement of intent that needed no clichés. The crowd pleasing ‘Bloodsports’ brought the foundations of the Academy to its knees as the fans and recent converts responded in a rowdy riot of joy. Job done.
5 October 2015 waterfrontonline.co.uk
fashion
with Shona Johnson
Today’s Media and Body Image
14
How to dress for Autumn As you may have noticed, it’s early October. Which means awkward weather changes, difficult fluctuatingtemperature based clothing choices, Halloween, and of course the start of another academic year for university students. However, for clothing brands all over the U.K. it means that the time has come to relentlessly plug the concept of fashionable ‘Autumn wear’. We are left with the difficult task to choose what we now wear. Do we go with patterned jumpers and woollen leggings? Or do we draw inspiration from the fallen Autumn- Leaves on the ground?
We live in a generation where the media plays a pivotal role in our conceptions of physical beauty. Magazines tell us what we should and should not look like, and emphasize the importance of dieting and keeping ‘trim’. Endless adverts on television shamelessly plug the newest weight loss product that will help you shed the pounds and become a more ‘beautiful you’. We browse through the pages and sit through the commercials, comparing ourselves to the various models and celebrities being featured within without even realising the damaging effect it is having on our own body image. It’s a lot to take in when you are a young person discovering your own style and identity. What these adverts and magazines won’t tell us is that the ‘ideal body’ they flaunt at us relentlessly, belongs to a very small percentage of the population. What they also won’t tell us is that we are basing our entire conception of attractiveness around Photoshop, I mean, nobody is that flawless. There is an inherent problem in our society with regards to the pressure put on people to look a certain way, but simply walking down a crowded street will show you that people come in many different shapes and sizes. We are made to think that true feminine beauty is a slim figure, with a full bust, a curvaceous posterior and cellulite-free everything. We are made to believe that the icon of true masculine beauty is a tall, muscular, bearded macho man. Some people do look like this, but most don’t. Some people are larger than others, some people smaller. Some people have cellulite, some people have acne, some people have thick hair, some people have thin hair, some people are muscular, some people jiggle when they walk, some people have darker skin tones, some people have lighter skin tones, the list goes on and on. The differences between us are what make people so great, and the broadcasting of these differences by today’s brands would result in a much more
Source: Charlotte Astrid, CC BY 2.0, via flickr.comThe dark reds, the burned amber and the earthy browns, there’s so much to choose from, and so much to be judged for! body-confident population - guaranteed. The media isn’t all bad though. 2015 brought Understandably, this is a confusing, with it a breakthrough period in the modelling emotionally- crippling and tasking world. The signing of size 26 (UK sizing) model ordeal for most young men and women. Therefore, allow us to guide Tess Holliday was a huge leap for diversity in you through the strenuous process the fashion world. Her very being goes against that is dressing for Autumn: everything we are led to believe is ‘beautiful’, Number One: Briefly go outside, is yet she is stunning just the way she is. But, that it cold? Is it warm? It doesn’t matter. is not all Holliday is doing. She even has her You’ve had your matching hat, scarf own body-confidence campaign called ‘Eff your and gloves ready in your top drawer Beauty Standards’, a movement intended to for a month now. Go forth and swelter. You look fabulously uncomfortable. showcase beauty of all shapes, sizes, colours and
consistencies. Next on the list of body-image pioneers is 18 year-old Madeline Stuart, the first person with down-syndrome to be signed to a high fashion modelling label, she is the embodiment of accepting and loving yourself the way you are - even if you are told from a young age that you won’t be capable of achieving your dreams. Winnie Harlow is the final addition to this list, a 21 year old model with vitiligo - a condition that results in uneven distribution of melanin across the skin, causing a patchy and different-coloured skin tone. She was called a ‘zebra’ and a ‘cow’ by bullies when she was a young girl, now she is taking the fashion world by storm, celebrating her unique appearance as empowering and beautiful. In an ideal world the media would celebrate diversity. We would be able to look at models and say ‘Oh, that’s me!’ rather than ‘I wish that was me!’, and although some breakthroughs have been made, we still have a long way to go. So next time you start thinking that you’re less beautiful because you don’t look like a certain model, or like a certain celebrity - remember that everyone is different, and that these magazines aren’t here to make you feel good about yourself. In a society that profits from your insecurities, loving yourself feels like an act of rebellion so be rebellious. You’re perfect in all of your imperfections, and that is okay. Take inspiration from Holliday, Harlow and Stuart. They are bodyimage powerhouses, and are the people we should be looking to for inspiration. Here’s to a fabulous, beautiful and diverse 2016!
Number Two: Are you worried that what’s in your wardrobe isn’t edgy and pumpkin-spiced enough? That’s fine. Quickly get down to yourlocal Primark and buy something dark orange. Maybe take a trip down to Starbucks and rub yourself on some of the baristas there. You’re sure to soak up that bittersweet, spicy pumpkin scent. Number Three: Pick a pair of shoes that are warm, large, boot -like and waterproof. If you’re not stinking them out with excess sweat then you’re not doing it right. You want to make sure you ruin these shoes for winter, because everybody knows that you can’t wear woolly tights without boots and it’s autumn now so you need to look as dapper as possible as soon as possible. It doesn’t matter if it’s twenty degrees celsius outside. It’s autumn. Number Four: Is your hair indie enough for autumn? In case of emergencies, put a bowl over your head and cut yourself in a full fringe. It will keep your forehead warm in this crazy new temperature, and will be sure to get your picture pinned on many young girl’s ‘hair that I want’ pinterest boards. And most important of all... Number Five: Get a grip. You look fantastic in whatever you wear. Make sure you are warm/cool enough and try not to get sucked into unnecessary, potentially comfortable marketing trends. Happy autumn!
Protect your laptop and phone with the No.1 student insurance provider. Sophie, Nottingham University Insured a £500 laptop plus an iPhone 5s for just
£10.49** a month
24 HOUR* REPLACEMENT
Our student insurance cover includes: • • • •
theft, loss, accidental and liquid damage anywhere in the UK and up to 30 days worldwide monthly payment option at no extra cost** 24 hour* laptop and phone replacement
Build your cover at endsleigh.co.uk/university or search Endsleigh Student Insurance Insurance recommended by
*If your item is lost, stolen or unrepairable we’ll replace it within 24 hours – 1 working day of your claim being approved. **Price is based on a student living on campus, insuring a £500 laptop (excluding Apple and Sony laptops) and an iPhone 5s. We work exclusively with Premium Credit Limited (PCL) who arrange finance for monthly payments. Credit is subject to status and is not guaranteed. Endsleigh Insurance Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. This can be checked on the Financial Services Register by visiting their website at www.fca.org.uk/register. Endsleigh Insurance Services Limited, Company No. 856706 registered in England at Shurdington Road, Cheltenham Spa, Gloucestershire GL51 4UE.
268mm x 345mm Freshers ad JW.indd 1
19/08/2015 11:37:38
food
with Sarah Harris
5 October 2015 waterfrontonline.co.uk
16
A Student’s Food Essentials Guide Cooking; the household equivalent to marmite. You either love it or hate it. Either way, as a student you can’t run from it. Unfortunately, your bank account can’t hold the weight of a takeaway every meal. To lighten the burden slightly for those of us that struggle to even begin thinking of what to buy, never mind actually cooking, I’ve compiled a list of basic food essentials that you can use to make a meal out of anything. Pasta: Number one, is dry pasta, the holy grail of student food. Boiled or baked, pasta can be combined with virtually anything to make a pretty decent and filling meal. Don’t like pasta? No sweat, alternatives include rice and noodles. All cheap to buy, can be ready in minutes and taste good whatever random item from the cupboard you throw with it. Vegetables:
Away from home you may be tempted to avoid eating vegetables completely but give it a week and there’d be nothing you’d want more adding a bit of colour to your meal. A top tip when it comes to vegetables is buying frozen. You don’t have to worry about your produce going out of date in the next two days and they still count towards your five a day. What’s even better is it may come readily portioned and it could even be microwavable! Veg that’s ready in minutes? What more could you ask for?
Bread: As a student, bread is everything. Heed my advice and keep a loaf in the freezer at all times. Whether it’s just something to snack on or beans on toast, you’ll be singing the praises of bread before the year’s out. Condiments: Another necessity is the classic salt and pepper partnership. Student meals can be grim sometimes so you’ll need that bit of added flavour to make your grub that little bit more edible. Probably the biggest kitchen staple is oil, used for cooking pretty much everything, from baking cakes to frying up meats. As an added bonus it can also be used as a dressing over salads. It really is a win, win. Ready Meals: Ready meals, seen as satan to chefs but saviours to students. Some days will just be too tiresome to cook and all you’ll want to do is cwtch up in bed with Netflix. Frozen meals can be cooked with minimum effort or preparation. They’re not something you’ll want to rely on but having them as a great warm, edible back up option is ideal. A massive shout out to frozen chips and pizzas, saving you pounds on takeaways and an awful hangover on Thursday mornings.
Shopping Food shopping can easily become one of your more stressful weekly tasks but it needn’t be. All it takes is a bit of preparation and a bit of savvy, and you can master the food shop in no time. In order to impart some kind wisdom, here’s a couple of tips to follow next time you take a trip to the supermarket. 1. Write a list Helpful to remember that box of cereal that’s been sitting on your worktop empty for the past couple of days. It also helps to prevent impulse buys and gets you in and out of the shop as quickly and efficiently as possible. Have the shopping delivered 2. Have the shopping delivered The supermarket never seems as close on your journey home lugging three bottles of pop, a litre of milk, a tonne of meat and a plethora of other items. If you shop as a flat the delivery cost broken down between the numbers of you is pittance compared to the aches and pains you’d have otherwise. If you shop online between a Monday and a Thursday the costs tend to be slightly cheaper, especially if you have it delivered early morning or late evening. 3. Get a loyalty card Signing up for a loyalty card can welcome you into the inside world of secret offers unavailable to others. As well as that, the points you rack up are equivalent to vouchers which you can use either on your shop or elsewhere, and for no more than scanning a card each time you shop, you really can’t go wrong. 4. Take bags, and lots of them Being in Wales, each carrier bag you buy will cost you a minimum of 5p, if you want one to hold your stuff all the way back home you’re looking more at 10p. It doesn’t seem much but if you even buy three of the cheapest each week then that’s £7.80 a year which you could’ve spent on three pints on a night out. 5. Make sensible decisions on what you can cut back on All supermarkets have a value own range and speaking from personal experience most of it you couldn’t differentiate between that and the wellknown brands. There are certain things of course that you won’t want to scrimp on but cutting back on even one item can make a difference to your weekly shop.
creative writing
with Zoe Stabler
5 October 2015 waterfrontonline.co.uk
18
Literary Review: ‘A Real Doll’ by A. M. Homes
Critical Review: ‘A Real Doll’: A Real Shock by Molly Dowrick Growing up in the Barbie obsessed decade that was the 90s, I certainly didn’t expect such a graphic and disturbing sex story based on my favourite childhood doll. ‘A Real Doll’ centres on Richard, a male child/ young teenager developing his thoughts around control and possession whilst questioning and exploring his sexual identity. Richard enters into a sexual relationship with his sister’s Barbie doll, and later her Ken doll, making him question his sexuality and consider what is appropriate or acceptable for sexual relations in our society. Explicit, but at times comical and extremely thought-provoking, A.M. Homes’ short story is worth reading if you’re brave enough to look past the graphic sex and perhaps pursue a heightened understanding of oppressive gender binaries, the taboos and expectations regarding sexual identity and the concern of the impact of dolls on children’s body image. If you’re more sensitive, however, this story will shock and disturb you - ‘A Real Doll’ is definitely only suitable for a mature adult readership. Arguably the greatest success of the short story is Homes’ ability to become a young boy in her narration. The clever use of streamof-consciousness writing is thought-provoking and effective in allowing readers to understand the thoughts and experiences of the protagonist, ultimately leading readers from a variety of backgrounds and experiences to begin to understand male teenage angst regarding sexual identity (‘I was falling in love in a way that has nothing to do with love’) and insecurities regarding what is socially acceptable for sexuality. Moreover, the conversational tone and use of sarcasm -’I wondered if Barbie noticed if Miss Wonderful bit her nails...’ - throughout the short story often counteracts the graphic sexual descriptions, often reminding the readers that Richard is a youngster, perhaps Homes’ way of demonstrating how puberty and growing up can be tough for everyone and suggesting that we shouldn’t condemn Richard for his otherwise extreme and non-traditional sexual relations, as he is still developing and learning about himself. Another great strength of ‘A Real Doll’ is the effective use of metaphor. The use of a Barbie doll constructs ideas of vulnerable women, acting as a symbol of oppressive patriarchy and control. Both Jennifer and Richard feel ownership and possession over Barbie, giving the story a powerful undertone of control over women. Moreover, Richard’s sister Jennifer could be seen as a metaphor for society, allowing readers the
opportunity to come to their own judgement over the necessity to ‘fit in’ to society and/or control over sexuality - ‘once you start to fall, no one can stop you’. ‘A Real Doll’also effectively presents ideas over the controversies regarding the impact of dolls on children’s body image. According to ‘Does Barbie Make Girls Want to Be Thin? ...’, (a psychological study published in the American journal Developmental Psychology), a Barbie’s proportions are ‘unrealistic, unattainable and unhealthy’. In fact, if Barbie were a real woman she would have a smaller waist than that of a Victorian woman in a corset, would weigh just 7.8 stone and would have such a low BMI that she would be unable to menstruate. With this in mind, Homes effectively questions the impact of Barbie and dolls on body image. Barbie’s breasts are violently chopped off by Jennifer so that ‘Jennifer and I are even now’, epitomising the drastic measures individuals often go to in order to get that ‘perfect’ body or the body that they think is acceptable. The main issue I have with ‘A Real Doll’ concerns its obsession with sexuality. The way sexual identity is discussed is explicit and shocking, often creating highly disturbing descriptions of the physical relationship between Richard and Barbie and then Richard and Ken. Moreover, the use of children - particularly the idea that the dolls belong to Richard’s younger sister - disrupts childhood innocence and naivety, corrupting and destabilising what is expected from youth: innocence and a lack of worries of heavy/worldly concerns. In my opinion the protagonist seems to be too young to be so graphic with his sexual relationships. However, arguably because of how graphic and disturbing it is, Homes makes readers aware of how children question sexual identity at a young age, demonstrating how the necessity to ‘fit in’ with society’s expectations for sexual identity can be frightening and damaging for many individuals. Finally, I’ll never consider Barbie in the same light! Is it right to use a childhood toy in such an adult way? Although Barbie has come under great scrutiny for her apparent sexual promiscuity and emphasis on puberty, Homes arguably takes sexual descriptions too far, corrupting an innocent children’s’ doll in her graphic story. About Molly: Molly is a second year English Literature student. She wrote this article while studying critical reviews in her Creative Writing module.
5 October 2015 waterfrontonline.co.uk
19
How to survive freshers Dan’s tips on setting an week ‘romances’ alarm tone By Faye Vlietstra
By Daniel Roddy
So you’ve just moved into halls, you’ve said the painful goodbyes to your
Okay, picture this. You’re fast asleep. You had a late night yesterday for whatever reason; maybe you were out on Wind Street, maybe you were finishing an assignment. Either way you are so not ready for your 9am lecture. Then suddenly chants of “BURN, BURN, BURN.” You wake up in a sudden panic, the fiery pits of hell enveloping your brain and turning every thought into an image of the devil. “In hell motherf***er burn, motherf***er burn,” it continues. You’re a nice person, what on earth did you do to deserve this. Maybe you forgot to take the rubbish out last night but is that really a good enough reason to be condemned to spend the rest of your life in this inferno?
threw onto your carpet after arriving at some time earlier that morning. You turn your head and realise that the incessant chanting is coming from your phone. Peering over at your desk you realise that it’s 8am, time to get up. Then you remember that you’d set your alarm clock tone to metal band Five Finger Death Punch. You remember thinking ‘That’ll be a great idea’ the previous night. Oh how wrong you were.
You start to come to. You see the ceiling first. There are no ceilings in hell surely? Looking up you see your bedsheets, then your draws. Turning your head you see the clothes you
Dan is a second year business student who makes poor choices in his alarm tone. He now wakes up to the default iPhone tone
parents, you’ve met all your flatmates and now you’re ready to take on the copious amounts of alcohol that will be consumed over the next few weeks, or for the hard core ones amongst us, every week for the rest of the year. But we all know that when alcohol is involved, questionable decisions are sure to be close behind. Luckily I’m here to give you guys some tips on how to make your freshers week experiences less regrettable. Firstly, make sure you always have a condom on you. Don’t be stupid. Guys don’t presume that the girl is on birth control, and girls don’t presume that the guy will have one. None of us want to ruin the freshers fun by having to be sat sipping on juice because we’re taking antibiotics to clear up that darn STI. Also you want to be able to be the ultimate wing woman/man if your idiot friend forgets one. So lets share the love people, just not the diseases.
My first top tip is to make sure that you take time in picking your alarm clock tone. Choose wisely and it can be the jump-start to the day that you need. Choose poorly and it could make you think that you are literally in hell.
Secondly, try not to get with a housemate. It will go two ways; either you two will fall madly in love, or it will be an absolute train wreck resulting in embarrassment and awkwardness. From personal and friends experiences it’s always the latter. At the time it might seem like the best decision you’ve ever had. Picture it, you’ve had a great night out with all your flat, you all get absolutely smashed, you’ve got a taxi home after eating a grubby McDonalds, and then the hot guy/girl who lives in the room next you invites you in. It’s perfect as you don’t have to suffer the walk of shame the next morning, you just have to run into your room and no one will ever know. Sorry, it doesn’t work out like that. Everyone finds out. You’ve probably been incredibly loud for that oh so romantic 3 minutes. If you’re one who doesn’t have any shame, then say do whoever you want, but if you’re one who can’t
I HAVEN’T GOT TIME FOR AN HIV TEST. BUT THE NEW FINGER PRICK RAPID HIV TEST GIVES YOU RESULTS IN JUST 20 MINUTES.
deal with the constant jokes and torment then stay clear of housemates. Thirdly, always look out for yourself and your friends. If you’re planning on going back to a stranger’s house to have a steamy one night stand, just let someone know (probably the least drunk one), and try and take note of where you are by looking for street names and house numbers. This way if things do get out of hand someone can come get you. Similarly, if your friend lets you know they’re leaving with someone, your main priority is to check that they’re in a good enough state to make this choice, and secondly check the person out to make sure they don’t look creepy and are worthy of your friend. You can’t have your wing woman/man abilities questioned by getting a phone call at 7am saying “Faye, you b**ch, why did you let me leave with that?!?!”. Finally, just have fun! As long as you stay safe, and stay in contact with people, then you’ll be absolutely fine, and probably end up having some of
YOUR NEAREST
CLINIC IS:
OMG Bar and Nightclub Swansea Every 1st Thursday of the month. 5.30 - 7.30 Telephone 01792 477540 for info
the best, and I hate to say it, the worst sex of your life. Alcohol can be a gift or a curse when it comes to assisting you in the bedroom. Terrence Higgins Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales (reg no. 288527) and in Scotland (SC039986). Ref: 1694701.
Visit: swansea-union.co.uk
follow the link, tell us what you think!
5 October 2015 waterfrontonline.co.uk
societies
with Molly Dowrick English Society: Mad Hatter’s Tea Party
across the UK, including Nottingham, Glasgow and Kings College London, who work together and support each other with their various computer society ideas and events. SUCS, who celebrated their 25th birthday in 2014, hope to be able to continue working with CompSoc UK and organise future meet ups for more students to get involved and share ideas with other students from across the UK. For more information on the society, be sure to check out http://www.swansea-union. co.uk/mysociety/sucs/ or like the society’s Facebook page ‘https://www.facebook.com/ SwanseaUniversityComputerSociety’. Second Year Students Revive Business Society Although the Business Society has been running at Swansea for a long time, the society has seen enthusiasm lessen, as well as a significant decline in membership. Due to this, a group of second year students decided to revive the society this year with a new committee and new exciting events for the society, including many involving external companies and business professionals.
The English Society are busy organising their first social event for this year: a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party in Nineteen Twenty, Union House. Planning on ho sting a variety of events this year, the English society’s first social, which will be held on the 9th of October at 4:30pm, will be a relaxed social evening, enabling society members to get to know each other and the society committee, with lots of cupcakes and cups of tea! Members are invited to bring their favourite mug to the tea party, with the most amusing mugs winning prizes! Fancy dress is optional but there will definitely be lots of fun and plenty of opportunity to get to know each other. The English Society always welcomes new members, whether students study English Literature, English Language, Creative Writing or TEFL, or just have an interest in all things English, so if you’re interested in finding out a little more information about the society, have a look at the union website: http://www. swansea-union.co.uk/mysociety/english , join the Facebook group ‘Swansea English Society - 2015/16’ or follow the society on twitter @ SwanEnglishSoc SUCS: CompSoc UK Group Meet Up One of university’s largest and longest running societies, SUCS (Swansea University Computer Society) is preparing for an upcoming trip to York University for a meet up and mini-hackathon event with other Computer Societies from across the UK. The trip, in October 2015, will involve a weekend of talks, discussions, social events, computer games and a mini hackathon, allowing members of SUCS to meet likeminded people from other universities and share ideas. The trip has been organised by the society’s President and Systems Administrator, Imran Hussain, who has been helping run the ‘CompSoc UK’ (http://www.compsocs.uk/) group for over a year. The group comprises of eleven university computer societies from
The Business society aims to keep its members ‘up to date with all the latest trends within the business world’, and with such an extensive range of events and activities to help students further their studies and career, it’s clear to see that the society will be able to achieve this! Opportunities to learn from industry partners at a variety of talks with business professionals and trips to world-class businesses, alongside business networking events, professional photo opportunities and discounted tuition are all available to members of the society. As well as academic-based events, the society also offers house parties and Wind Street socials and more chilled events including beach barbecues and day trips to nearby places of interest. Society membership is just £5 for a year, including the year’s events and goodies including stationery, a wristband and SUBS bottle opener! For more information about the society, have a look on the union website: http://www. swansea-union.co.uk/mysociety/business/ or Like the Facebook page: ‘Swansea Business & Economics Society’. Shoreline Theatre: Swansea University Drama Society
21
New Member’s Showcase - October 15 An Evening of Devised One-Acts - November ‘15 Our Annual Christmas Pantomime - December ‘15 A Midsummer Night’s Dream - March ‘16 Blue Remembered Hills - April ‘16 Labour student society
Pizza and Politics Tuesday 6th October http://www.swansea-union.co.uk/mysociety/ SwanseaLabourStudent/ https://twitter.com/swanlabstudents Swansea University Conservation Ecology Society
Tuesday 6th October: campus bat walk with the Wildlife Trust (meeting in front of Fulton House at 6:30pm). Wednesday 7th October: Coppicing at Gelli-Hir woodland (1:30pm – 4pm, transport tbc). Saturday 10th October: Iolo Williams (Welsh naturalist & BBC Springwatch presenter) talk as part of his“Welsh rarebit” tour. £17.50. 7:30pm, Swansea Grand Theatre. Sunday 11th October: National Fungus Day at Parc Slip Nature Reserve. Tuesday 13th October: Wildlife Trust meeting & talks about the Valleys Nature Reserves, reptiles & amphibians of West Glamorgan. Followed by a short AGM. (Wallace Zoology museum, 7pm – 8:30pm). Wednesday 14th October: Lime mortar lock repointing training with the Swansea Canal Trust (1pm, transport tbc). Saturday 17th October: Wildlife Trust Great nut hunt – survey for dormice & other small mammals at GelliHir Wood (12pm – 2pm, transport tbc). Saturday 24th October: Otter survey (10am-12pm, Neath Canal). Tuesday 27th October: First documentary screening of the year. Wednesday 28th October: Probable task day with Swansea City and County Council – installing fences to prevent dune erosion & removal of invasive plants in Swansea Bay (time &meeting place tbc). Wednesday 4th November: Task day with Swansea City and County Council – installing fences to prevent dune erosion and removal of invasive plants in Swansea Bay (time & meeting place tbc). Tuesday 10th November: Talk on the orchids & other wildflowers of Australia. (Wallace Zoology museum, 7pm – 8:30pm). To keep up to date with & find out more about events, join our Facebook group: https://www. facebook.com/groups/SUCES/
careers
5 October 2015 waterfrontonline.co.uk
22
Help from the Swansea Employability Academy Team Where to find us
Careers and Employability Services are available to all our students at the Bay and Singleton Park Campuses, Monday to Friday, during term-time and vacation periods. The online gateway to our services is at myuni.swan. ac.uk/careers where you can find out lots more about what we can do for you and how to get in touch with us. You can also contact us through the Library Desks. Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/SwanseaUniversityCareers and Twitter: twitter.com/SwanUniCareers. Careers Advice and Guidance Getting your head around career ideas may seem daunting to start with, but we offer a supportive environment where you can gain access to impartial Careers and Employability Information, Advice and Guidance. There are lots of self-help resources on our website, and our Careers Advisers offer a programme of workshops covering a wide range of topics including: • • • • • • • •
Job hunting CVs Commercial awareness Employability mindset Application forms Preparing for interviews Building your personal brand … and lots more!
If you need some one-to-one advice, you can book an appointment for an informal chat with an Adviser at myuni.swan.ac.uk/careers/appointments/, but if you are unable to come and see us, you can use our confidential e-guidance service at myuni.swan.ac.uk/careers/advice-by-email. Events coming soon Careers Advisers’ Workshops Find out how to develop your employability skills by attending lunchtime workshops. Visit https://myuni.swan.ac.uk/careers/careers-advisersworkshops/ for the programme and online booking. The Employers’ Talks Programme - starting w/c 26 October 2015 These cover opportunities for students from all disciplines. Employers are interested in all the skills and experiences you gain during your time at university, not just your degree subject, and so there are probably many more opportunities open to you than you might have expected. Visit https://myuni.swan.ac.uk/careers/employers-talks/ and book online for events that you’re interested in. Jobs | Work experience | Earning money while you study | Volunteering In the ‘Job hunting’ and ‘Other options’ sections at myuni.swan.ac.uk/ careers you will find information on jobs for after you graduate, immediate graduate vacancies, work experience placements, temporary casual jobs in the Swansea area, volunteering, work/study opportunities overseas and self-employment. It’s never too early to start building up your experience and skills to gain a competitive edge. For more ideas on gaining experience, visit the work experience section at myuni.swan.ac.uk/careers/. The Swansea Employability Award The SEA award at Swansea University is now in its fourth year and the number of students participating has grown significantly from year to year. Any student at Swansea University can start the award at any time during their studies, but the deadline for all is by the end of May in your final year. A degree is most important to getting a great job, but employers look for
much more than a degree when choosing which graduates to offer jobs to. Getting experience and developing skills while you study and during your holiday periods will give you a competitive edge. But what exactly do you want to do when you graduate? What kind of work would suit you? Some work requires you to have had some experience before you apply. The SEA helps you to explore who you are and then gain experience and develop skills. From this year, 2015/16, the SEA award is one of your courses on Blackboard, being an online workbook that you complete as you work your way through it. If you complete the SEA it will be recorded on your HEAR (Higher Education Achievement Report) – see www.swansea.ac.uk/academic-services/ current-students/employability/hear/. Be sure to complete by the end of May in your final year of study to ensure that it does go onto your HEAR. There are four modules on the SEA: • Module 1 - Know Yourself • Modules 2 and 3 - Explore the Possibilities • Module 4 - Plan and Make it Happen There is a logical flow to the SEA award and it makes sense to complete the modules in order. In module 1 you will find out more about yourself by completing several tasks and then reflecting on what you have learnt about yourself including such important things as what jobs might suit you and what you value in life. This leads onto modules 2 and 3 which are about getting experiences which can be anything from paid work experience to voluntary work. Each experience needs to be at least three days duration; this can be three days in a row or made up of an hour here and there that accumulates to three days. In general an experience needs to be 21 hours or more. The idea behind this is that you get experience of doing different things, skills needed, culture of the work place and whether or not you enjoy it. Module 4 looks at how you make decisions, your mind-set and how you plan ahead. For most students the SEA award is voluntary, but an increasing number of departments are including it in a module. Check your module handbook or ask your tutors if your course includes it. Join SEA’s work placement programmes in 2016 - open to all undergraduates and postgraduates! • Swansea Paid Internship Network or ‘SPIN’: Paid 4 week internships, taking place throughout the Summer holiday period • Santander Work Placement Programme: Paid 1-month placements within SMEs, generally taking place during the summer months • Week of Work or ‘WoW’: Unpaid week of work experience (expenses paid), taking place during January’s ‘Employability Week’ and throughout the summer holiday period • Our programmes are flexible! If an employer is paying you, you could do a Mini SPIN (to make a standard SPIN shorter) or a WoWee (to extend an existing placement). If you’re not being paid and only working for a few days, try a Mini WoW! • International placements: SEA pays £455 towards the cost of international placements. We work alongside Swansea University’s International Development Office (IDO - www.swansea.ac.uk/international/) and approved external placement providers (e.g. CRCC Asia and InternChina) as well as our own Colleges (e.g. College of Science and College of Law) to enable students to work abroad. Placements are wide-ranging, e.g. The Center for Terrorism & Security Studies in Boston and Aon in Bostswana.
5 October 2015 waterfrontonline.co.uk
23
• Applications open November 2015. Apply here: http://myuni.swan.ac.uk/work-placements
Development and Marketing Co-ordinator in the Estates and Facilities Management Department.
• Free, compulsory Employability Masterclass and mock interview included
Congratulations, Tom!
• Placements offered within a wide range of employers and industries
Thomas said:
• Organisations we have worked with include South Wales Police, BBC, Welsh Government, ABMU
“Participating in the SPIN programme opened up many opportunities for me as undergraduate at Swansea University. I completed a 6 week internship with the Student Mobility and Marketing teams of the School of Management. My role focused upon two key areas alongside provision of administrative support to my line managers: business engagement, sourcing work placement opportunities and final year projects within industry for Management students and marketing what the School of Management has to offer to prospective students.
• Health Board, Welsh Water, The British Army, Audi, Blake Morgan, The Ospreys and Age Concern • Placements take place largely in South Wales but also throughout the UK (e.g. your hometown, during summer) and internationally.
• Questions to: workplacements@swansea.ac.uk Thomas Coleman’s Placement Journey whilst studying at Swansea University: 1. Joined SEA’s Placement Programmes 2. Gained a summer SPIN Placement with the School of Management 3. Became a SOM Marketing Team Student Ambassador during his final year 4. Became TechHub Wales’ Community Manager during the last 6 months of his degree 5. Summer 2015, he gained a 3-month SOM role as an External Relations Administrative Assistant 6. Used all of this experience to gain a 2015/16 place on an MSc course in Marketing Practice at the National University of Ireland, Galway 7. However, Tom decided to stay in Wales and work for Swansea University instead! He is now a Business
Each week posed a different project to work on including planning and drafting new marketing communications, assisting with clearing week and meeting with the senior management of businesses to discuss how they could work with the School to provide opportunities for students. I hit the ground running and instantly felt a part of the team from day one. I progressed so quickly in my role, my line managers assigned me a greater variety of duties, allowing me to undertake student facing duties and meet with businesses without supervision. As I thoroughly enjoyed the role, I continued to work with the Marketing team as a Student Ambassador throughout my final year of study. The contacts I made during this time also became invaluable. My line manager recommended me for a role, following which I was offered the position. Alongside the last six months studying for my degree, I headed up the commercial operation of TechHub Wales as Community Manager. I am now working at the School of Management in a salaried position on a 3 month fixed term contract as an External Relations Administrative Assistant. I only got to where I am now through my internship on the SPIN programme. This combined with exemplary performance as an employee has landed me numerous opportunities. The benefits of studying at Swansea University and participation in the SPIN programme know no bounds. The background I have developed as a positive result has allowed me to gain a place to study an MSc in Marketing Practice at one of Ireland’s top Higher Education Institutions, The National University of Ireland, Galway.”
24
NEWS
the waterfront 05. 10. 15
Your guide to sport at Swansea University A
E
Aikido Stella Thomas aikido@swansea-union.co.uk
Equestrian Nikki Hodgson equestrian@swansea-union.co.uk
American Football Tristan O’Keefe americanfootball@swansea-union.co.uk
F
Archery Thomas La Vallin archery@swansea-union.co.uk
Football Men’s Joe Palmer Greg King mensfootball@swansea-union.co.uk
Athletics Alec Vessey running@swansea-union.co.uk
Football Women’s Ellie Bishop footballwomens@swansea-union.co.uk
B Badminton Men’s David Richardson badminton@swansea-union.co.uk Badminton Women’s Sophie Ttophi badminton@swansea-union.co.uk Basketball Richard McMylor basketball@swansea-union.co.uk Boxing Ryan Thornhill boxing@swansea-union.co.uk
C Canoe Club Tom Stephens canoeclub@swansea-union.co.uk Cheerleading Eleri Thompson cheerleading@swansea-union.co.uk Cricket Ben Storer cricket@swansea-union.co.uk Cycling Peter Barlow cycling@swansea-union.co.uk
D Dodgeball Ben Partridge
Fencing Ethan Ridsdale fencing@swansea-union.co.uk
G Golf Rhodri Booth golf@swansea-union.co.uk
H Hockey Men’s George Sariak hockeymens@swansea-union.co.uk Hockey Women’s Hannah Gormley hockeywomens@swansea-union.co.uk
I Intramural Luke Braiden intramural@swansea-union.co.uk
J Jiu Jitsu Michael Yeubrey jiujitsu@swansea-union.co.uk
K Karate Meleri Pryse karate@swansea-union.co.uk Kickboxing Martin Lee
kickboxing@swansea-union.co.uk Kitesurfing Andrew Gill kitesurfing@swansea-union.co.uk
L Lacrosse Manesh Halai lacrosse@swansea-union.co.uk Lifesaving Joshua Hale lifesaving@swansea-union.co.uk
M MASS Elias Wellstead mass@swansea-union.co.uk Mountaineering Timothy Solway mountaineering@swansea-union.co.uk Motorsports Luke Thomas karting@swansea-union.co.uk
N Netball Chloe Jones netball@swansea-union.co.uk
R Rifle Alec Bowen rifle@swansea-union.co.uk Rowing Joshua Hoyle rowing@swansea-union.co.uk Rugby League Louis Ford rugbyleague@swansea-union.co.uk Rugby Union Men’s Max Lazarevic surfc@swansea-union.co.uk Rugby Union Women’s Rebecca Pratchett rugbyunionwomens@swansea-union. co.uk
S Sailing Alex Mallalieu sailing@swansea-union.co.uk Snowriders Cameron Mercer snowriders@swansea-union.co.uk Squash Joshua Stamp squash@swansea-union.co.uk Sub Aqua Kris Page subaqua@swansea-union.co.uk Surf surf@swansea-union.co.uk Swimming Stephanie Hanley swimming@swansea-union.co.uk Swimming Avril Kiritschenko swimming@swansea-union.co.uk
T Tae Kwon Do Laura Fiteni taekwondo@swansea-union.co.uk Tennis Chloe Alpine tennis@swansea-union.co.uk Triathlon Dylan Davies triathlon@swansea-union.co.uk
U Ultimate Frisbee Harry Barden ultimatefrisbee@swansea-union.co.uk
V Volleyball Ella Renate Greeven volleyball@swansea-union.co.uk
W Windsurfing Mike Jarman windsurfing@swansea-union.co.uk