Issue 242 19.09.2014
>> contents 3 > Surviving your first year 5 > Introducing your students’ union 6 > Ultimate guide to Freshers’ Fortnight 9 > Join a society and expand your horizons 10 > Map and guide to the Freshers’ Fayre 12 > Campus map 13 > Swansea University, a centre of excellence 15 > We show you the best of Swansea and Gower 16 > Eating out guide 19 > All the help and advice you’ll ever need 21 > Your 4-page guide to sport at Swansea
thewaterfront
19 September 2014 waterfrontonline.co.uk
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How to get through your first year!
freshers’ guide to SURVIVAL
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HUGE part of starting at university is meeting people, whether you’re moving into student halls, living in a shared house in town or commuting from your home; socialising is a daunting but wonderful part of university life. Putting yourself out there, as scary as it may be, is the best way to guarantee yourself some of the closest and best friendships ever. If you’re living with your new friends you’ll come to learn that there is no hiding anything from them, so you might as well be yourself. The relationships you start to form now are going to be relationships you depend on and lovingly/cringingly look back on years from now. The nights out during freshers fortnight, both on and off campus, particularly Fresh & Free (a favourite of mine) will become some of your funniest, most embarrassing and fondest memories of your first year. But if you find that drinking and clubbing might not be your thing, which it isn’t for so many people; a great event that is just as sociable is the Freshers’ Fayre. Taking place over two days in the marquee in front of Fulton House, it’s a great place to meet people and sign up to societies (which will lead to meeting even more people).
Welcome to the beginning of your amazing adventure at Swansea University, writes HILARY WEBB. Last year I was in your shoes, arriving at a strange new place. Here’s what you can expect during your first year at Swansea and how to survive it. and then. It’s almost inevitable that during your first year at university money is going to be a horrible topic you don’t want to talk about (mostly because you don’t have any). In fact, according to a Save The
Lifelong friendships Societies and sports clubs connect like-minded people and offer a chance to create lifelong friendships. The point of the Freshers’ Fayre is to showcase that Swansea University really does offer something for everyone. Obviously, the main point of university is to study (a point that is surprisingly easy to forget during freshers). While nursing your hangover with copious amounts of tea and leftover takeaways may seem like your biggest priority during welcome week, try not to miss your welcome talks for your course. They’re put on for a reason – to help you choose what modules you want to study, where you’ll need to go for lectures, how to use the online system but more generally how to make sure you do actually get a degree. They may seem like an optional inconvenience but when you know what’s actually going on after freshers suddenly ends you’ll be glad you went. It’s also great practice for the fact that at university you are responsible for your own studies, what you choose to skip and what you choose attend is likely to be reflected in your grades. Remember that personal tutors are an invaluable source of advice should you ever find yourself struggling with your academic life. Most students will be moving away from home, family and friends – which is terrifying and personally I think anyone who says they’re not scared is lying. Thankfully, being students in the 21st Century, we’re blessed with the gift of technology. This puts family and friends at the end of a phone, a click of a text or a video call away. Remember that your family are likely to worry about you too; don’t forget to let them know you’re still alive every now
Above, Fresh & Free. Right, Rhossili girls pink up for Fresh & Free! Student survey, four out of five students constantly worry about money. If money is an issue, it’s important to quickly learn how to budget, figure out the cheapest way to eat a somewhat healthy diet, while having enough left for transport, laundry, books and a little play money. Many students find sharing an online shop with flatmates can greatly reduce food costs for the individual, it’s why when you’re near student halls in Swansea you’ll see lots of supermarket delivery vans. If money becomes a real issue, getting a job is a great way to earn a little extra cash, just be sure to find the balance between work and your studies.
For those of you moving into houses and flats with other students – often who will be nearly complete strangers – you face the best and worst time of your life! Give up on a kitchen rota now, they don’t work. Hopefully if you and your flatmates are all sort-of-tidy your kitchen will be useable most of the time. Not everyone will have that privilege though. Prepare to live with people you have nothing in common with and to become their best friends. Prepare to live with people with similar interests who drive you up the wall. It’ll be the best nightmare you’ve ever had and by the end of your first year you’ll be shocked by how a group of misfits shoved together by residence services will be almost like a family. A family that you’ll likely continue to live with during your second year. Choosing people to live with can be extremely difficult; my advice for you is to not rush into anything. While houses do go quickly there will always be something available. Make sure you’re certain of whom you want to live with and that everyone feels the same way. Swansea is extra special; it’s not every
university student’s experience to somehow wind up on the beach after nearly every freshers’ night out, sweat from places you didn’t know existed at Sin City or to have a chance to eat some of the yummiest ice cream in the country. Go forth freshers’ and experience everything Swansea has to offer, because it really is amazing!
Hilary’ bucket list 1. End up on the beach after a night out 2. Buy a Swansea hoodie 3. Discover how amazing Tooters is 4. Come out of Fresh & Free with a less than whole t-shirt 5. Party on through freshers’ flu 6. Eat Joe’s ice cream 7. Visit The Mumbles 8 Swap an item of your Skool Disco fancy dress with a stranger 9. Play a drinking game 10. Get a nickname
y v v a y S e n o M p e v o a h S S & ansea Market w S t a At the heart of the City Centre, you’ll find the largest indoor market in Wales - over 100 stalls offering everything from top quality fresh produce to laptops. As well as a brilliant selection of fresh produce, including cheeses and pastries, you’ll find a host of everyday essentials from traders offering quality and value for money.
Greengrocers offer a huge selection of fruit and vegetables, much of it sourced from the Gower and the fishmonger displays will stop you in your tracks! Salmon and cod sit alongside more unusual types of fish such as razor clams and conger eel.
So, if you’re looking to get your mobile fixed, get a prom dress made or t-shirts printed, treat yourself to some new cosmetics, accessories or hair extensions, or even get a spare key cut for your new pad, you’ll be in the right place at Swansea Market.
Finding us is easy! Just head to the City Centre and you’ll find 4 entrances on: 1
Our butchers offer everything from chicken breasts to gourmet sausages and saltmarsh lamb. You can buy just what you need so there’s no waste, or buy in bulk and share with your housemates.
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For great student discounts go to: www.swanseaindoormarket.co.uk For more details:
Oxford Street (next to EE) Union Street (next to Blue Banana) Whitewalls (next to Jenkins’ Bakery) Quadrant (next to Yankee Candle)
And the best bit is that there are lots of great Student Discounts available!
01792 654296
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19 September 2014 waterfrontonline.co.uk
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freshers’ guide to STUDENTS’ UNION
Students’ Union adds so much to your university experience able to find elsewhere and to make your university experience even better. Places to get advice, places to drink, places to eat, places to party, places to buy food and clothes - you name it, the union has it. The students’ union also runs the university’s official student newspaper, The Waterfront. I volunteered to work on it in my first year and became news editor in my second year.
By Gemma Parry
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HE day I arrived at Swansea University three years ago, I remember doing several things. I cried. A lot. I ate burnt toast and cold beans. And I went out and got very drunk with my new flatmates. The first nightclub we went to was just opposite my new hall of residence. It was called Divas nightclub and you will still find it there in the students’ union today. It’s just one of many venues, shops and services run by the students’ union. At that time, I knew nothing about the students’ union and I did not know how involved in it I would soon become. The very first thing most students would want to know about their union is how they become members. It’s really quite simple. When you enrol on a course at Swansea University, you automatically become a member of your students’ union. The union works to provide students with services that they would not be
It’s given me the skills and experience I needed to get a place on one of the best post-graduate journalism courses in the UK, which I will take up this week. The beauty of the union is that it allows students to have their own say in the way things are run. There are currently five full-time officers, 12 part-time officers and a team of staff and volunteers. Your full-time and part-time officers are voted into office by students during yearly elections, and they work to voice your concerns to the university and the union. The union also holds student forums, which are are monthly meetings held to decide union policy. Anyone can attend and any Swansea University student can submit a motion to be voted upon. The forums are also a chance to find out what your full-time and part-time officers have been doing. You can submit a motion or a question online at www.swansea-union.co.uk/union/ forums You’ll find the students’ union offices in Union House, which is behind Fulton House.
Your guide to SUSU services Union House, situated behind Fulton House (the main building on campus) is home to the administrative hub of Swansea University Students’ Union (SUSU). From marketing to full-time elected officers, Union House houses it all, writes Jon May. Divas nightclub, located on the first floor of Union House, is the on-campus nightclub and home to the Friday night ‘Tooters’ which sees £1 drinks at the bar. JC’s is the on-campus bar and whilst serving a wide variety of world beers, ciders and the odd ale, it also serves coffees, paninis and cooked meals. Fulton Outfitters (pictured right), opposite Costcutter, sells a range of Fairtrade clothing and is also the box office collection point for tickets for events. Le Café, located just outside Divas nightclub, is the essential go-to place after a good night out. Serving everything from pizzas to burgers and nuggets to wedges, it’s definitely a life saver for hungry students. Costcutter is the on-campus supermarket and, with a wide range of products from hot to frozen food and Champagne to value vodka, it’s a one-stop shop for any student’s needs. Staying open late until 10pm every day, it’s perfect for anyone living on campus. SAS Lettings is the partly union-owned estate agent, letting student houses at affordable prices. As it’s linked to your student account, you can be safe in the knowledge that problems can be fixed quickly and the central campus location is very handy. The student Travel Shop in Fulton House offers travelcards, railcards and coach discount cards, alongside tickets for rail, bus and plane journeys. They also offer package holidays and run student-led trips throughout the year. The Hive, on the second floor of Union House, is home to the societies’ space. This is where you’ll find everything from Dance Society rehearsals to Christian Union talks.
•www.swansea-union.co.uk
Explore, enjoy, engage and - most importantly - learn BACK in 2009, I stood in the same position as many of you are right now. I was excited, yet absolutely terrified that I was about to leave home and be let loose on society for the first time. Looking around Swansea’s campus for the first time, unlike all the other universities I’d visited, I felt instantly comfortable. I loved how close everything was, how beautiful the scenery was, and above all else, how friendly everyone was. I knew by the end of my first afternoon that I could happily call Swansea my home. A year later, after my shambles of a gap year – less travelling and expanding my horizons, more urban safaris in my local job centre – I was able to confirm everything I thought I knew about Swansea. The lovely, ugly town, as Dylan Thomas put it, became my home faster than I could ever have anticipated.
By Catrin Lewis Exploring became my new favourite thing to do, I met new people at every opportunity (joining societies is by far the best way to meet potential lifelong friends, trust me!), and I got stuck into my course; although it’s easy in your first year
to stick to the idea that you only need 40% to pass, so why bother trying any harder? I promise you’ll thank yourself when you put your ground work in, giving yourself an easier ride in the years to come. I admit, some aspects of being a student were difficult, but learning to be an independent adult isn’t supposed to be easy. There will be times when you learn the hard way that you really should have spent your last £20 in Tesco rather than at Domino’s. You will learn to love fighting your housemates for use of the washing machine when all you have left to wear are those free t-shirts you get on nights out. Your tastes will change and develop. You will have your beliefs and personal politics called into question more than once. Yet these are the lovely things about
university, you finally get to turn into the people your parents always hoped you would, but with the safety net of your friends and student loan behind you. Embrace that, and remember that when times are tough and all you want to do is go home, you must keep plodding on. Swansea has so much to give. It’s home to so much culture and incredible scenery that you need to make it a personal mission to see as much of it as you can. Find yourself some favourite places – mine are Caswell Bay and the village of Mumbles just up the road from the university. As a recent graduate, I cannot begin to tell you how jealous I am of anyone starting their adventure in that beautiful city, nor how much I would give to be in that position again. Explore, enjoy, and most importantly, learn.
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19 September 2014 waterfrontonline.co.uk
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freshers’ guide to WHAT’S ON
Fresh n Free
The ultimate guide to Freshers’ Fortnight H
opefully by now you’ve enrolled onto your course, picked up your student ID card and collected the keys to your new residence, be it on campus or in the village. Now hold onto those keys tightly, they’re the keys to your new life of independence….and they’re also costly to replace if you lose them and we all know it’s embarrassing being locked out of your room on By Laura Fiteni the first day! Now the real fun begins, the Student’s Union has planned a fortnight of awesome events for you to get to know your fellow freshers and to help you find your way around your new university and new city. The chaos kicks off with Fresh & Free on the 21 September; a party in a marquee crammed full of freshers that has been voted the best student night around for four years running. Pull on your Fresher’s t-shirt (your entry ticket) and get to know everyone - if you can shout over the music loud enough! Although you may be feeling far-from-fresh the next day, there’s some (admittedly) less interesting but important stuff you should probably get round to doing. Undergraduate and postgraduate inductions are taking place between the 22nd and the 26th and campus tours are on the hour every hour between 11am and 3pm from the 22nd to the 24th. One of the best events of the week is the Fresher’s Fayre. When the debris left by free-spirited freshers at Fresh & Free is cleared away, the pavilion is transformed into a fayre full of stalls and stands helping you to decide which sports, clubs and societies to join. With over 170 different clubs to consider from extreme Frisbee to the Disney Society -there’s something for everyone. Societies are a fantastic and easy way of making fiends with people with the same interests as you and they can quickly become one of the best parts of your uni experience. Finally, Freshers’ fortnight comes a close with a bang with the annual Fresher’s Ball featuring live performances and the return of the by-now infamous Bomb Bar. Acts from previous years have included Wheatus, Sam & The Womp, Tinchy Stryder and Charlie Simpson and this year Becky Hill and Jess Glynne are headlining. Lectures begin on Monday, 29 September, so leave some time to recuperate from the fun-filled and exhausting freshers’ antics!
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19 September 2014 waterfrontonline.co.uk
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Welcome to #SUF14 ... from your Ents team
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our Students’ Union Events Team would like to welcome you all to #SUF14, writes Ben Rees. This year promises to be bigger than ever. We’ve got loads of new and exciting events to share with you, to make your first two weeks in Swansea unforgettable. All our flagship events return, including our marquee events; Fresh & Free and the Freshers’ Ball, this year with the addition of Sink Presents: The Colour Clash. We continue our strong relationship with city centre venues as we once again hold our annual Skool Disco and Freshbook events. Alongside these events are our renowned weekly sessions, including Tooters, Sin Savers and Play On Wednesday. We’ve added a new session in Divas – Tight Tuesdays, and another in the city centre’s new Wind Street venue – Fiction & Myu, which we’ll share with you in the first edition of the Waterfront on October 6. Our beloved Sin City has undergone a rebranding and refurbishments too, which we’re very excited to present to you! We’ve featured some of our highlights in this What’s On guide, and you can see our full listings in our dedicated Events Guide. Our staff will be on hand at the arrivals marquee to provide you with all the information you need to make moving in that little bit easier. All of our events are included in the Official Freshers’ Wristband package, which are available from www. swansea-union.co.uk Along with our basic package, we also offer Gold and Platinum upgrades. Gold will give you entry to all our big events throughout the year; from Snow Ball to AniBall, and Varsity to the Summer Ball! With Platinum, you’ll get entry to ALL our events throughout the year. That’s right, all our weekly sessions and main events are included in one package, meaning that you’re sorted for events for the year! Freshers’ Wristband -£50 – ALL Freshers’ Events Gold Package - £125 – ALL main events, including Halloween Ball, Snow Ball, AniBall, St.David’s Day Event, Varsity and the Summer Ball Platinum Package - £200 – ALL Events, including ALL main events and ALL weekly sessions.
OUR BIG NIGHTS OUT
Freshers’ Ball Our aim as always with the Freshers’ Ball is to bring to a close your first week in Swansea in style. It’s a chance to get into your finest garms and head down to our marquee, where we’ve curated a line-up of some of the UK’s biggest talent.
EVENTS GUIDE || Friday 19th September || *Tooters Welcome Weekend*@ Divas. The concept is simple; it’s 2 drinks for £2 all night.! *Monsters of Rock* @Sin City, our city centre venue.! *The Wonky Sheep Welcome* @The Wonky Sheep at the Hendrefoelan student village. || Saturday 20th September|| *Sink or Sin* @ Sin City *Welcome to Divas* @ Divas. || Sunday 21st September || *ResNet Presents: Fresh & Free* @ the marquee on Fulton House lawn. || Monday 22nd September || (Fundraiser for Swansea University Students Union) *Welcome to Wind Street* It’s time to make your way down Swansea’s strip for a night that will introduce you to the bars and venues on the infamous Wind Street. || 23rd - 24th September || *Freshers’ Fayre* @ the campus marquee. it’s your chance to explore the university’s societies and sports teams. *JC’s Open Mic Night* @ JC’s Bar in Fulton House. *Tight Ass Tuesdays*
It’s back to Diva’ for our brand new weekly session that’s all about Hip-Hop, R’n’B and Old Skool anthems. || Wednesday 24th September|| *360 Sports Day* Fancy taking part in a range of free beach sport activities down at the 360 center located on Oystermouth Road from 15:00 - 19:00. *Skool Disco* (Fundraiser for Swansea University Students Union) ||Thursday 25th September|| *Sin Savers Launch Party* It’s back to Sin City as we launch another year of Sin Savers. ||Friday 26th of September|| (Fundraiser for Swansea University Students Union) *The Freshers’ Ball 2014 – Featuring Special Guests* @ the Marquee on Fulton House lawn. *Tooters – The Freshers’ Ball After Party* @ Divas. *Monsters of Rock – The Alternative Freshers’ Ball After Party* @ Sin City.
moves swiftly from the marquee on Fulton House lawn back to where it all began – Sin City. ||Sunday 28th September|| *Tony Lee the Hypnotist* Tony Lee returns to Swansea with his hilarious and close-tothe-bone hypnosis stage show. ||Monday 29th September|| *Freshbook* (Fundraiser for Swansea University Students Union) Our infamous annual Freshbook event takes over a number of our associated venues in the city centre. ||Tuesday 30th September|| *JC’s Open Mic Night* *Tight Ass Tuesdays* T.A.T returns to Diva’s for another session.
Becky Hill, above, and Jess Glynne, below, headline at the Freshers’ Ball.
||Wednesday 1st October|| (Fundraiser for Swansea University Students Union) *Game of Freshers’* ||Thursday 2nd October|| *Sin Savers* ||Friday 3rd October|| *Tooters* @ Divas.
||Saturday 27th September|| (Fundraiser for Swansea University Students Union) *Sink Presents: Featuring Special Guests* @ The Marquee.
*Monsters of Rock* @ Sin City.
*Sink Presents: The After Party at Sin City* The night continues as Sink
Don’t forget, more events are being added to this list so check for updates.
Last year at the ball we had performances from John Newman, Ella Eyre and Swiss Lips. Newman and Eyre showcased the talent that has taken them to the top of the charts, resulting in even bigger collaborations for the pair, as well as a very busy festival season. This year we’ve maintained our focus on British talent, and our two headliners have already established themselves among the UK’s elite. Becky Hill and Jess Glynne headline the ball, both of whom have UK number ones under their belt already! Hill has moved far away from her time on the voice, working with the likes of Wilkinson and Oliver Heldens, the latter resulting in a number one with ‘Gecko (Overdrive)’. First collaborating with Route 94 for ‘My Love’, then Clean Bandit for ‘Rather Be’, Glynne achieved number one status and wide ranging recognition from both the alternative and popular scenes. Glynne’s first solo record came in the shape of ‘Right Here’ produced by Gorgon City, which got to number one in the UK Dance Chart. Finally, Radio 1 favourite and UK Top 40 presenter Jameela Jamil (pictured left) joins us for a DJ set that will kick start the night, with a mixture of chart favourites and classic student anthems. As always we’ve got two well-stocked bars, the infamous bomb bar, and a ResNet Chill Out area to keep you refreshed throughout the night.
||Saturday 4th October|| *Sink Presents: Jaguar Skills & Friends* @ Sin City
Fresh & Free ResNet host our first marquee event – Fresh & Free. A firm Freshers’ favourite, the event is focused on bringing your first weekend in Swansea to a close in the best way possible. Represent your halls with your T Shirt and join us at the marquee, grab a drink from our main bar, or treat yourself to a bomb from our Bomb Bar. ResNet host a chill out area too, giving you a chance to relax and chat with new people during the event. Buses are free and provided from the Student Village to ensure that no one misses out. No matter what the year, Freshers always regard this night as the biggest of the fortnight. It’s a chance to meet all your new classmates and bond with your housemates while having a great night in the process!
Sink Presents: The Colour Clash & the After Party Sink has fast become one of our strongest brands, fusing live art and DJs playing everything from Drum & Bass and Dubstep to House, Garage, Reggae and Hip-Hop. For one night, Sink takes over our marquee for the Colour Clash. Fans of the colour run take note; we’ll be
providing paint powder in an attempt to create similar scenes with regular countdowns and plenty of colour. Sink’s resident DJs provide the warm up as they sound clash a wide range of styles and genres, it’s up to you to decide the winner. The night will feature some special guests too, continuing Sink’s ability to showcase some of the best DJs and Producers. Past guests have included the likes of Wilkinson, SIGMA, David Rodigan M.B.E, B.Traits, Zinc, Shy FX and Toddla T. We’ll be announcing who’ll be joining us through Sink’s social media pages on the day: that’s @SinkSwansea on Twitter and Facebook.com/SinkSwan
Skool Disco & Freshbook Our annual Skool Disco and Freshbook nights are firm favourites in the #SUF14 calendar. Our city centre venues play host to both nights, and we provide transport to the venues. Skool Disco is a throwback night that encourages you to grab your backpacks and your glasses to dress up like your old school days. Freshbook is another flagship event that never disappoints. One of the biggest nights of Freshers’ lets you update your status and get trending with your own t-shirt, or get creative with a sharpie on your friends.
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19 September 2014 waterfrontonline.co.uk
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Join a society and expand your horizons C
OMING to university is one of the biggest decisions of your life and it opens doors to so many things. One of these is becoming a part of a society. Swansea University covers a wide range of interests from the Baking Appreciation Society to Xtreme Radio to the Game of Thrones Society. But why should you join?
freshers’ guide to SOCIETIES
Lastly you can become a committee member and help run the society or organise socials. This looks great on your CV while also being very enjoyable.
•Turn to page 10 to see the societies and sports clubs you can join at Freshers’ Fayre in the marquee outside Fulton House on 23 & 24 September.
Ultimately the main reason to join societies is to make
.Firstly there is a society for everyone because there is such a broad range. There are academic societies that set up study groups for exams and others like the Hogwarts Society that set up socials of sorting ceremonies, Yule balls, or workshops where you can make your own wand. If the society you want doesn’t exist all you have to do is get 20 signatures to start a new one.
Above, Laura Fiteni demonstrates Tae Kwon Do at the Freshers’ Fayre. Right, members of the African Caribbean Society.
Societies allow you to explore and enjoy your interests throughout your time
Society socials often involve a lot of themed nights out such as Hawaiian, pub golf,
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new friends, have fun and gain invaluable skills from new experiences.
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By Sophie Wiggins
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Shakespeare, knights and many more. These nights are often ones not to be forgotten.
at university, whether you want to try something new or carry on hobbies you already have. It opens doors to activities and experiences you haven’t had before.
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Societies also allow you to broaden the variety of people you meet – you meet people through halls and your course but societies add to that. The best thing about it is that these new friends will share the
•For more information, see the societies page on www. swansea-union.co.uk
same hobbies and interests as you do.
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Societies give you invaluable skills such as teamwork and dedication and problem solving which you can apply to all aspects and areas of life. It also allows you to pursue career skills for example theatre, journalism or radio.
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A non-drinkers’ guide to Freshers’ Fortnight F
RESHERS’ fortnight is renowned for being two weeks of drinking madness. Clubs open up their doors to students and entice them with 2-4-1 offers on shots. Sounds like heaven? Not for me. In my first year, I hated Freshers’. Whilst all my flatmates were going out drinking, I stayed in the flat and played Minecraft. Not the most exciting time, eh? Well, thankfully, I found some friends who were like me, and we ended up having a fantastic time in my second year. Not every student enjoys clubbing. If you’re one of them, then this is the guide for you. There are so many other things to be doing during Freshers’. Bonfires on the beach are one of my favourite evening activities. Grab some mates, go down to Swansea bay, gather some driftwood and have a magical evening. Or what about a trip to the Mumbles? It takes a good hour to walk there and back, so plan to spend a day there, looking around the shops, grabbing some food… Dick Barton’s fish
By Charlotte West and chip shop is on the way back to the uni – stop off there and eat dinner watching the tide come in! And of course there’s town. Who says Wind Street is only for clubbers? Peachy Keens is just opposite Odyssey and offers great value for money all-youcan-eat food from around the world. Or, for something a little closer to campus, there is the legendary Pub on the Pond. Their choc-omonster sundae was definitely a huge temptation in my first year for my friends and me! If you’re lucky enough to go there in season, you can even grab a ride on the swan boats before lunch. The most amazing part of the Freshers’ experience for me,
though, had to be Freshers’ Fayre. It gives you an opportunity to go and take a look at the hundreds of societies this uni has to offer. I find it utterly amazing that we have such a huge range of great societies here. They are the best way to meet new people. Join as many as you can afford. Don’t just go for your course or your religion or your hobby… Try something new. Who knows who you could meet or what you could end up doing? This is my main point – going clubbing is not the be-all and end-all of university. You don’t have to go clubbing to meet new people and make friends.
I wouldn’t have met Mo, the President of the Baking Appreciation Society. I love baking! I may never even had known about it if I hadn’t joined that society in the first place. Then there’s the Geology Society, which allowed me to meet people in the years above me – something which turns out can be extremely useful. They even influenced the choices I made for my third year modules. So, there you have it folks. Freshers’ isn’t all about getting pissed. It’s about meeting new
Hogwarts If that’s what your flat enjoys doing, but you don’t, don’t feel you have to go to fit in. That’s not what I did. I found friends in other places – who turned out to be the best friends a girl could ask for – and I couldn’t be more grateful. I joined the Hogwarts Society for example – now one of the biggest on campus – and met some really fantastic people there. If I hadn’t joined that,
Enjoy a bonfire on the beach.
people, gaining new experiences and getting involved with the university as a whole. I’ve had an absolutely fantastic time at university, after three years here, I can say that I have never set foot in a club in my life. Yet I still have a set of the most amazing friends and have had some of the greatest experiences of my life. (Not to mention, I have saved a bundle of money by not drinking much!). Don’t be afraid to stand out and be different. I did, and I couldn’t be happier.
thewaterfront
freshers’ guide to FRESHERS’ FAYRE
stands 1 Kickboxing + Boxing 2 Aikido + Jiu Jitsu 3 Karate + Tae Kwon Do 4 Ultimate Frisbee + Equestrian 5 Archery + Fencing 6 Rifle + Motorsports 7 Athletics + Triathlon 8 Cycling + Mountaineering 9 Golf + Rowing 10 Canoe + Wind Surfing 11 Surfing + Kitesurfing 12 Sub Aqua + Sailing 13 Swimming & Water Polo + Lifesaving 14 Snowriders 15 MASS + Cheerleading 16 Badminton + Squash 17 Tennis + Volleyball 18 Basketball + Cricket 19 Women’s Football + Intramural 20 Men’s Football 21 Lacrosse 22 Men’s Rugby Union 23 Medics Rugby + Rugby League 24 Men’s Hockey 25 Women’s Hockey + Pole Fitness 26 Netball 27 Women’s Rugby + American Football 28 Sports Hall 28a. Yoga Society 28b. Pole Fitness 29a. University challenge team 29b. Swansea University Computer Society (SUCS) 30a. Physics 30b. Maths Society (SUMSoc) 31a. Aerospace Engineering 31b. Engineering and Sports Science Society 32a. Chemical and Environmental Engineering Society 32b. British Sign Language Society 33a. Feminist Society 33b. LGBT Plus 34a. Friends of Doctors without borders (MSF) 34b. Save the Children Society 35a. Gospel choir 35b. Dance Society 36a. ACS 36b. Nigerian Society 37a. Conservation Ecology 37b. People and Planet Society 38a. Amnesty International 38b. Debating Society 39a. Socialist Students 39b. Labour Students 40a. Greens 40b. Conservative Future 41b. Marine Biology Society 42a. Bioscience 42b. Biochemistry & Genetics 43a. Musicians’ Society 43b. Choral Society 44a. Psychology Society 44b. Mental Wealth Society 45a. SU-TV 45b. Xtreme Radio 46a. Photography Society 46b. CLASH 47a. History Society 47b. Archaeological 48a. Egyptological Society of Swansea (ESOS) 48b. Ancient Studies 49a. Geography Society 49b. Geology society 50a. Chinese Society 50b. Tibetan Society 51a. Hong Kong Society 51b. Hellenic Society
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Your guide to The Freshe
52a. Baking Appreciation Society 52b. Game Of Thrones 53a. Beer Pong Society 53b. Anime and Manga Society (SUMASoc) 54a. Sci-Fi 54b. Gaming Society 55a. Brony 55b. Roleplaying society 56a. Wargaming Society 56b. Chess Society 57a. English Society 57b. Criminology 58a. Bar Society 58b. Law Society 59a. Officer Training Corps (Army) 59b. Wales University Royal Naval Unit 60a. Live Music Society 60b. Show Choir 61a. Shoreline Theatre 61b. Fashion Society
62a. Film Society 62b. Hogwarts 63a. Marvel Society 63b. Disney Appreciation Society 64a. Y Gym Gym 64b. Pagan Society 65a. UNICEF on Campus Swansea 65b. Islamic Society (ISOC) 66a. Catholic Society 66b. Christian Union 67a. Guides and Scouts (SUGS) 67b. Hitch 68a. Jewish Society 68b. St John LINKS 69a. Macmillan Society 69b. Midwifery Society 70a. American Studies 70b. German Society 71a. Konetics 71b. Business Society
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ers’ Fayre @The Marquee, Fulton Lawn, Sept 23 & 24 The Freshers’ Fayre is your chance to find out all about the societies and sports clubs on offer before signing up for membership.
exhibitors’ stands 1. Domino’s Pizza 2. Playzone 3. Play Football 4. Wilkinsons 5. The LC 6. Uplands Diner 7. First Cymru 8. The Village Hotel 9. Santander 10. Mother’s Union 11. Cornerstone Church 12. Time to Change 13. Life Point + Hope Church Group
14. YMCA 15. Bambu 16. Revolution 17. Fiction and My 18. Peppermint 19. Idols 20. Monkey Bar 21. Snowlodge 22. Welsh Blood 23. Red Cross 24. Student Sex Workers Project 25. Student Discount Book
26. Chiquitos + Organ Donation 27. 360 Watersports + Wales National Pool 28. Traveline 29. Mycostcutter + SPAR 30. The Gym Group 31. Cosmo 32. Swansea BID 33. Nandos 34. Endsleigh Insurance
Freshers’ Fayre 2014 Opening times are 11am-4pm on Tuesday and 10am-4pm on Wednesday. There will be an accessibility hour from 10am-11am on the Tuesday - pre registration is necessary. If you miss the two days, you can still join societies at any time of the year, by logging onto swansea-union.co.uk and browsing through the list of societies. If you have any questions about sports, please contact Charlotte Peters on sportsofficer@swansea-union. co.uk and for societies, contact Jerry Isokariari on societiesandservices@ swansea-union.co.uk
key Sport stands Society stands Exhibitors’ stands
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Finance Building Singleton Abbey Singleton Abbey, Stable Block Keir Hardie Building James Callaghan Building Law Library Mosque Library and Information Centre Faraday Building Faraday Tower Talbot Building Wallace Building Margam Building Glyndw ˆ r Building Vivian Tower Sports Science Motion Laboratory Grove Building Grove Building Extension Richard Price Building Amy Dillwyn Building Haldane Building Fulton House Union House Energy Centre Digital Technium Taliesin Annexe Taliesin Arts Centre Egypt Centre Institute of Life Science 1 Llyˆr Building Institute of Life Science 2 / Centre for NanoHealth Porters’ Traffic Control Lodge
Kilvey Preseli Cefn Bryn Rhossili Penmaen Horton Oxwich Langland Caswell
Adult Continuing Education American Studies AquaCulture Biological Sciences Business Childhood Studies Classics, Ancient History & Egyptology Computer Science Criminology Cymraeg/Welsh Economics Engineering English French Geography German Health Science
Hispanic Studies History Italian Law Mathematics Media and Communication Studies Medicine Physics Politics and International Relations Psychology Social Policy / Work Sports Science War and Society
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Academic Registry Admissions Office Alumni Office Art Gallery Bank Bars Bookshop Cash Points Catering Office Careers and Employability Central Administration Chaplaincy Centre Conference Office Crèche / Nursery Dental Surgery Disability/Special Requirements Office Disability Office - Assessment and Training Centre Discovery - Student Volunteering Egypt Centre Estates Department Finance Department Human Resources International Development Office International Student Advisory Service Law Library Library and Information Centre Marketing Media Resources Health Centre Money Advice & Support Office Mosque Occupational Health & Emergency Centre Post Office Postgraduate Office Refectory Department of Research and Innovation ResidentialServices Shops Staff Development Unit Student Counselling Service Student Support Services Students’ Union Theatre (Taliesin) Transcription Centre Travel Shop Wellbeing Services
Services / Facilities
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Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication. However, the publishers cannot accept responsibility for errors or omissions, or for any matter in any way connected with, or arising out of the publication of this information. Published by the Marketing Department, Swansea University. Copyright February 2012.
Swansea University Singleton Park, Swansea, SA2 8PP +44 (0)1792 205678 info@swansea.ac.uk www.swansea.ac.uk
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Swansea University Campus
freshers’ guide to SWANSEA UNI
Designed by The Info Group
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19 September 2013 waterfrontonline.co.uk
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A centre of excellence for almost 100 years
A
FTER you have got over your bout of freshers flu and settled into your accommodation, you will want to start exploring what your new university has to offer. Swansea University has been around since 1920 as a research-led institution, and last year had around 15,000 undergraduate and post graduate students. The university community offers a great balance between teaching and research, and a quality of life that you will be hard pushed to find elsewhere. After all, where else are you going to find a university so close to the beach, and where Bonnie Tyler lives right around the corner? The university is built on the edge of Singleton Park, overlooking Swansea Bay and is located on the edge of the Gower Peninsula. The campus is a ten minute bus ride away from Swansea city and, of course, every student’s favourite street in Swansea, Wind Street, the nightlife capital with dozens of bars. The university has seven separate colleges; the College of Arts and Humanities, the College of Engineering, the College of Human
By Gemma Parry and Health Sciences, the College of Law, the School of Management, the College of Medicine and the College of Science. Each college has a home building on campus, where you’ll be able to find your lecturers, personal tutors and general information about your course. There are also loads of services and facilities to keep you occupied when you aren’t learning or drinking, including a library, cafes, the Taliesin Arts Centre, (including a cinema) and the Egypt Centre, where students can volunteer to add a little extra
experience to their CVs. There is also a doctor’s office at the bottom of Penmaen accommodation flats and a dentist’s at the bottom of Horton accommodation flats, so you can keep your health and teeth in good check while you’re away from your parents. The university is currently building a second campus on the eastern outskirts of the city, set to be completed in September 2015. The new Science and Innovation campus will be built right on the beach and will include purpose-built facilities for students, university staff and businesses. As a third year student, I can tell you that Swansea University is a wonderful place to learn, live in and pretty much enjoy. At least it has been for me. I’m sure that all of your lecturers and individual colleges are anticipating your arrival, even if you turn up to your 9am lectures hung-over. Which, in your first year, is pretty much guaranteed. Make yourself at home and enjoy your time here at Swansea. •For more info about the university, go to www.swansea.ac.uk
You’ll find a warm welcome at Swansea University. Use our campus map to help find your way around and if it all gets a bit too much, rest a while on the balcony of Fulton House (weather permitting!)
Singleton Abbey, where Swansea Univesity was first established.
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Pic by Alex Livet
Clockwise from top left, Mumbles Pier, Meridian Tower, Rhossili Bay, statue of Dylan Thomas, Swansea train station.
freshers’ guide to SWANSEA
Pic by Alex Livet
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Pic by Gareth Lovering
Why Swansea rules!
Chloe Newman explores just what Swansea has to offer, which just so happen to be the things that make it the BEST!
his week begins the best time of your life. The next three or four years that you’ll be spending in Swansea will be full of memorable times that will stay with you long after you’ve graduated. To explain why living in Swansea is the best I have compiled a list of my top 5 reasons: 1. The Nightlife: The Swansea clubbing scene is the best I have personally ever experienced. With clubs such as Tooters, Sin City and those on Wind Street to choose from you’re spoilt for choice. There will be student events held during Freshers’ Week in these venues so enjoy experiencing what Swansea has to offer. A hidden gem that I found only in my second year was Monkey’s, a hipster hot spot on High Street that offers a more chilled out vibe. 2. The Beach: Swansea is one of the closest universities to a coastline and our beach is a beautiful one. Completely sandy with a view of the surrounding coast lines, the beach is
Glories of Gower
a great place to have a BBQ, build a campfire or even go for a walk with your new mates. If you fancy a change there are around 50 other beaches in the area - see Glories of Gower below. 3. Joe’s Ice Cream: One of the staple visits in any Swansea student’s bucket list is to visit Joe’s Ice Cream parlour. Many will say that Joe’s is the best tasting ice cream ever – do not underestimate this statement! There are parlours on the seafront at Mumbles, on St Helens Road and in the Parc Tawe complex. The ice cream is sold in the campus cafeteria and cafes as well, so you have no excuse not to try some. 4. The Mumbles: We are incredibly lucky to have a famous seaside town beside our university. The Mumbles is famously home to many cute little tea rooms, quirky gift shops, and Catherine Zeta Jones. 5. The Shops: Who needs to travel to Cardiff when you can just walk down the road to the Quadrant shopping centre? Swansea’s shopping centre has all the stores that you know and are used to. If you feel like wandering off the beaten track, visit the small independent shops on and around Oxford Street, including Hobos, a vintage clothing store that also has various hipster style items in stock.
Right, the Red Arrows at the Swansea Airshow. Photo by Catrin Austin.
THE Gower Peninsula is around a 1530 minute drive from Swansea city centre and has 50 coves, beaches and bays. It was Britain’s first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Rhossili, the jewel in its crown, was labelled by The Independent as ‘the supermodel of British beaches’. Surfers from all over the country travel to ride the waves of Gower. Even beginners learn on the flat, wide beach of Caswell Bay. Visit spectacular Rhossili Bay on the 118 bus, from Swansea Bus Station, for breathtaking views over the Bristol Channel over a pint at The
Worm’s Head Hotel. It’s also the perfect place to woo your postfreshers’ date with the romantic sea views. Oxwich Bay is one of Gower’s most popular beaches, with two and half miles of golden sand and sand dunes. It is a safe beach for swimming (except of in front of slipway for boats) and is good for watersports, including diving, sailing, water-skiing and windsurfing. Three Cliffs Bay (pictured left) is one of the Gower’s most picturesque beaches. This bay is popular with climbers and you can walk
underneath the cliffs through archways. However, do not swim at Three Cliffs Bay at high tide as there are strong rip currents. Always check the weather and tidal conditions before swimming or partaking in other water activities for your own safety. The Mumbles, the gateway to Gower, is the treasure of Swansea. The large village holds the ruins of Oystermouth Castle and has a pier and a lighthouse, amusements, several ice cream parlours and lots of nice shops. You can walk, cycle, drive or catch the bus to the Mumbles.
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freshers’ guide to EATING OUT
Savour the flavours of sin city! SWANSEA has lots of great restaurants and takeaways and here are some student favourities, write Samantha Booth and Chris Flynn. As a student, you will most likely be hungover at least once in your university life. It’s traditional, after a heavy night out, to go to Uplands Diner for one of the biggest breakfasts in Swansea. They have various food challenges, including The Beast and Mega Beast - the latter being 10 bacon, 5 eggs, 8 sausages, chips, 2 hash browns, bubble & squeak, mushrooms, tomatoes, beans, 2 black pudding, 4 toast, 4 bread & butter, 4 fried bread and 1 small burger! After you’ve tackled The Beast, it’s time to try a real Swansea breakfast, This contains fried cockles and laverbread (a type of seaweed) as well as the bacon and sausage. Don’t believe it? Then take a trip to Swansea’s fantastic indoor market in the Quadrant shopping centre and you will see stall after stall selling cockles and laverbread. Ask the lady on the counter how to cook it. Once breakfast is out of the way, it’s time to start thinking about an ice cream. Swansea is well known for its ice cream parlours. The undisputed King of them all is Joe’s ice cream.
You won’t ever have tasted anything like it. Even on a rainy day, the queue for Joe’s is out of the door down at Mumbles, but it is worth it! Check it out either on St Helens Road in the city, at Parc Tawe, or at their parlour in the middle of Mumbles. Other good places for ice cream are Fortes and Castellamare at Limeslade, Verdis in Mumbles and Ripples on the seafront in West Cross. If you don’t like ice cream, try a cup of tea with another local delicacy, Welsh Cakes. They are flat, round scone-like cakes filled with currants and mixed spice and baked on a griddle. Yum. Favourite student eateries include Sohow on St Helens Road, which is a very good Chinese restaurant and takeaway. You can take your own wine and prices are very reasonable. Cosmo is an excellent pan-Asian all-youcan eat buffet restaurant on High Street, and Peachy Keen’s offers a similar deal on Little Wind Street. Luna Grill near Sin City night club does a great kebab on their impressive charcoal grill, as well as having a seating area at the back. When your parents visit, take them to the Grape & Olive penthouse restaurant in the Meridian Tower in the Marina for great views and good food at reasonable prices.
DAUNTING: Above, tackling The Mega Beast breakfast at the Uplands Diner.
Pic by Scott Dexter Pic by Zingyyellow
Local delicacies: Above left, Welsh Cakes. Above right, laverbread and cockles.
360 Cafe and Watersports YOU will want to try out the amazing 360 Beach and Watersports Centre on Swansea’s seafront during your time here. Operated in partnership by Swansea University and Bay Leisure, it’s a one-stop-shop for beach and water-based sport. Try out some of the activities they have to offer, such as beach volleyball, kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding and power kiting.
It’s just a short walk from the university, opposite the St Helens Rugby Ground, and it has an excellent licensed café bar, making it the perfect place to relax with friends and enjoy stunning panoramic views around the bay – by day and by night. For more information about the centre visit www.360swansea. co.uk.
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19 September 2014 waterfrontonline.co.uk
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All the help and advice you’ll ever need
freshers’ guide to STAYING SAFE
Advice Service Centre The Swansea Students’ Union Advice Service Centre offers free, independent and confidential advice and representation to all Swansea University students. It is situated on the left hand side of Fulton House and is open Monday-Friday 10am-4pm. The advisors can help you with matters relating to academic, housing, family & personal, employment, consumer rights, benefits, health, representation, debt/money advice, and uni accommodation. You can contact them on 01792 295821 or at advice@swanseaunion.co.uk
University Health Centre This is an NHS General Medical Practice, based on the university campus and providing friendly, comprehensive medical services focussing on the needs of students. It is on on the ground floor, Penmaen building. The surgery is open throughout the year Monday to Friday (except Bank Holidays) from 8.30am 12.30pm and 1.30pm - 6pm Open Access surgeries: no appointment necessary, Monday Friday 9am - 11.30am Services include advice on contraception, pregnancy, sexual health, HIV / AIDS, sports medicine, and a travel clinic, as well as emotional health. For further details and information on how to register with the practice visit their website: http:// www.universityhealthcentre.co.uk/ Telephone: 01792 295321
Dental Surgery Kee Dental Care offers a full range of NHS and private treatments. It is open to all students; NHS spaces are available to students who register at the start of the academic term in September 2012. (NHS spaces are limited to the first 1,000 students to register from the start of the academic year.) All patients under the age of 25 living in Wales are entitled to free dental examinations.. Surgery hours: Mon - Thurs: 8.30am - 1pm 1.30pm - 4.30pm and Fri: 8.30am - 3.30pm Location: Horton House 01792 602222 Ext. 2222
Emergency dental advice (out of hours): 0845 4647 Email: info@ keedentalcare.co.uk Website: www.keedentalcare.co.uk
Student Support Services All students at Swansea University benefit from access to the Student Support Services Department, which provides information, advice and support on a wide range of issues. Services offered are:
Residential Services University residences and the union/university run SAS Lettings.
International Student Advisory Service Provides a range of support services for Swansea’s international student community.
Disability Office Support for students with a disability, medical condition or other specific need.
Wellbeing Service The Wellbeing Service helps people feel better within themselves and function more effectively as members of the University.
Money Advice and Support Office For guidance on all areas of student funding, including grants, loans, bursaries and benefits. They can also help you manage your money more effectively.
English Language Training Service English Language Training Services can help you improve your English language skills. Student Support Services can be contacted on 01792 602000 or email student.services@swansea. ac.uk.
•You can find how to contact each service by visiting the university website at http://www.swansea.ac.uk/ undergraduate/studentservices/
Going out and about ... Taxi fares in Swansea
On a typical night out, a taxi from the student village at Hendrefoelan to town is about £10. In the daytime, a taxi from campus to the bus station is about £6, writes Sam Booth.
Bus travel
An adult day pass for the Swansea Bay area is £4.70, which gives you access to all bus services in Swansea. A single into town is £2.70 and a return is £4.20. You can also buy a student pass from the travel centre, which works out at around £1 per day.. The main bus station is in the city centre at the back of the Quadrant shopping centre and next to Tesco. There are many services that run to the east and west of Swansea. From the student village into town, there are several bus routes. The 82A, which runs approximately every 20 minutes in the week during term time, takes you to campus before 6pm, then into town after the hour. If you arrive at campus, the number 4 bus runs from university to Morriston hospital with useful stops such as town and the train
station on the way. The bus stop at the end of the student village has several services into town, such as the 21A and 20A. For more information, visit www.firstgroup. com/ukbus/south_west_wales/ or enquire at the travel shop in Fulton House.
Walking
From the student village to campus is about a 30-40 minute walk. A walk from campus to the Mumbles can take over an hour, but you have to do it at least once whilst you are in Swansea. The marina is around a 30-minute walk.
Trains
Swansea Railway Station is situated just outside of the city centre on High Street, with trains to Cardiff, Camarthen and northern and southern England. You can catch the purple 4A bus to right outside the station or it is about a 20 minute walk from the city centre.
... and getting home safely Taking a taxi
Walking home
1. Only get into a licensed cab. To find out more about this and a full list of cab firms and taxi ranks check the student union website. 2. Check the potential price of the journey before getting in. 3. Do not give money upfront - only once you’ve reached your destination. 4. Check that the taxi has a meter, and that it’s running throughout the journey 5. If you are alone, sit behind the driver. If possible get a black cab with a screen, as they are safer for lone passengers. 6. Keep your info safe. When ordering a taxi, make sure that no-one can overhear your address. 7. Keep in contact. Arrange to text or call someone when you reach your end destination safely. 8. Trust your instincts. If you feel threatened at any time, ask the driver to stop somewhere safe that you can get out in a public place. If the driver refuses to stop, call the police. 9. Don’t tell any taxi driver you are going back to an empty house. 10. Don’t get into a taxi with strangers.
1. Avoid walking alone. Ring a taxi or arrange for friends to pick you up. 2. Walk near crowded streets with good lighting. Walk toward oncoming traffic to see where cars are coming from. 3. Avoid short cuts, unlit areas or near parked cars. It’s better to use longer paths that you know are safer. 4. Have keys in your hands and inside your pocket. When you reach your door, you should have your keys ready. 5. Do not walk with headphones on or talking on the phone. 6. Walk with confidence. Keep your head up. If you get lost, head for the nearest store or restaurant to ask for directions. 7. Carry a personal alarm. The SU can give you a personal alarm for free. 8. Choose comfortable footwear to walk home in. If you are walking home from a night out, take flat shoes in your bag. 9. Know what to do in a worst case scenario. The SU runs self defence classes throughout the year, which can be useful in making you feel more confident in that situation.
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SPORT I 21
Swansea stars shine for Wales in Glasgow Commonwealth Games Commonwealth Games
Glasgow played host to by Jack Taylor the Commonwealth games waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk this summer and Swansea University had its very own that you’ve overcome some real athletes starring in the games. lows, some hard times.” Swansea students Jazmin Carlin As well as winning gold in the and Georgia Davies secured gold 800m freestyle, Carlin secured a medals for Wales in swimming, silver medal in the 400m freestyle, while team mates Hannah but this was not to be the last of McCarthy and Alys Thomas missed Team Wales’ medals in the pool. out on a place on the podium. Jazmin’s teammate and fellow Jazz Carlin secured gold for Swansea student Georgia Davies Wales in the 800m freestyle, after also won two medals at the games. breaking her own Commonwealth Davies won gold in the 50m record on the way to the final. backstroke and silver in the 100m Carlin said: “Coming away with a backstroke. gold medal, you really appreciate “Jazz set the standard and it what you’ve been through.” motivated me,” said Davies, 23. Success has not come easy for the “Seeing her stand on the podium 23-year-old, who unfortunately and hearing the anthem before missed out the 2012 Olympic my semi-final was inspirational Games due to Glandular fever. and something I wanted.” But she has gained confidence Davies went on to win gold and from her Commonwealth success. break the Commonwealth Games “Glasgow was a real confidence record for the 50m backstroke booster after a tough couple of as she finished in a time of 27.56 years,” said Carlin. seconds. SANDS UniitAdvert.qxp_Layout 1 08/08/2014 Page 1 mates Hannah “It makes feel so much better But10:24 Davies’ team
McCarthy and Alys Thomas were a little less fortunate on their quest for a medal. McCarthy missed out on a place in the final of the Women’s 100m freestyle, but the 20-year-old still managed to set a new Welsh record with a time of 56.13 seconds. Meanwhile, it was heartbreak for Thomas in the 200m butterfly final. The 23-year-old missed out on a medal by a matter of inches, finishing in 4th place with an impressive time of 2.08 minutes. It was a successful Commonwealth Games for Team Wales’ golden girls, who all train in the Wales National Pool in the Swansea University sports village. As well as swimming, Swansea University student Dewi Griffiths represented Wales on the track. The long distance runner had a good season last year, securing a place in the Wales Commonwealth team with a PB time of 28.28.59 minutes at the Lisbon 10,000m in March. Griffiths did not quite
make as much of an impact as some may have hoped however, finishing 25th in the 10,000m final. But it was still a great achievement for the 22-yearold, who competed in front of an electric Hampden Park crowd in Glasgow. The games saw Team Wales finish with 36 medals - their best ever total - including five golds. They also enjoyed ten podium finishes across the 18 sports contested, as well as four medals from para-sport events. All of the home nations enjoyed success in the Scottish capital. Northern Ireland finished with 12 medals - their second best total. The hosts surpassed expectations, achieving their best ever total by quite some distance and finishing fourth in the overall medal table. England topped the final standings ahead of Australia and Canada. They finished with 174 medals, 58 gold.
Touch Rugby
Sports Village hosts touch rugby Euros by Ned Bristow waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk
Swansea University hosted the European Touch Championships in August, with the action taking place on Sketty Lane. Teams representing 16 nations competed in the event, which took place between the 5th and 10th of August and included junior, men’s, women’s, mixed and senior opens. Players and officials from Belgium, Catalonia, England, France, Germany, Guernsey, Ireland, Italy, Hungary, Jersey, Luxembourg, Holland, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland and Wales were housed in campus accommodation throughout their stay. England ran out overall winners, with Scotland and Wales making up the remainder of the top three. Wales triumphed in the junior mixed and men’s 40+ events, while Scotland won the mixed open and mixed seniors’ competitions. France claimed the men’s 35+ open, and England won trophies in the women’s open, men’s open and women’s 27+ category.
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22 I SPORT
thewaterfront 19.09.14
Your guide to sport at Swansea University
2013-14 Club Guide
WITH over 50 clubs to choose from, there’s something for everyone at Swansea when it comes to sport. Whether you’re looking to push on with the sport you love or hoping to learn something new during your time in South Wales, look no further. We’ve compiled a list to help you see what’s on offer and what you’re signing up for. Clubs will be repesented at Freshers’ Fayre, so make sure to find them for more information. by Ned Bristow waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk
A
merican football
President: Tristan O’Keefe BUCS 13/14: Trophy Champions BUCS 14/15: Western Division Varsity 2014: Won 27-0 americanfootball@swansea-union.co.uk
A
thletics
President: Mark Darch Cross-country 2013/14: 16th/49 Compete in BUCS Indoor Champs and in BUCS Outdoor Champs running@swansea-union.co.uk
B
adminton (Men)
Joint President: Chris McMullan BUCS 13/14: 6th, Western 1A BUCS 14/15: Western 2A Varsity 2014: Lost 6-2 badminton@swansea-union.co.uk
B
adminton (Women)
Joint President: Tom Pearce BUCS 13/14: 3rd, Western 2A BUCS 14/15: Western 2A Varsity 2014: Lost 5-3 badminton@swansea-union.co.uk
B
asketball (Men)
President: Carlos El-Hajj BUCS 13/14: 6th, Western 1A BUCS 14/15: Western 2B Varsity 2014: Lost 61-52 basketball@swansea-union.co.uk
Swansea Clubs List, continued IN addition to the above list, please find even more sports opportunities listed here, along with contact information and club presidents or captains.
B
asketball (Women)
President: Carlos El-Hajj BUCS 13/14: 6th, Western 2A BUCS 14/15: Western 2B Varsity 2014: Lost 71-39 basketball@swansea-union.co.uk
B
oxing (Mixed)
President: Robert Sampson 2013/14: Victory in Welsh unis vs English unis match Varsity 2014: Lost 61-52 boxing@swansea-union.co.uk
C
ricket
President: Oliver Hills BUCS 13/14: 2nd, Western 1A BUCS 14/15: Western 1A Varsity 2014: Lost by eight runs cricket@swansea-union.co.uk
C
ycling
President: Daniel Gough Organised club trips BUCS events and races Varsity 2014: Lost 61-29 cycling@swansea-union.co.uk
F
encing (Men)
President: Ashley Stephens BUCS 13/14: 5th, Western 1A BUCS 14/15: Western 1A Varsity 2014: Lost 121-114 fencing@swansea-union.co.uk
F
encing (Women)
President: Teresa Norejko BUCS 13/14: 3rd, Western 1A BUCS 14/15: Western 1A Varsity 2014: Lost 125-119 fencing@swansea-union.co.uk
F
ootball (Men)
President: Joe Palmer/Greg King BUCS 13/14: 4th, Western 1A BUCS 14/15: Western 1A Varsity 2014: Won 2-1 mensfootball@swansea-union.co.uk AIKIDO, Tim Browning, aikido@ swansea-union.co.uk; ARCHERY, David Jenner, achery@ swansea-union.co.uk; CANOE, Michelle Brown, canoeclub@swansea-union.co.uk; CHEERLEADING, Emily Wilson, cheerleading@swansea-union. co.uk; EQUESTRIAN, Imogen Gifford, equestrian@swansea-union.co.uk;
F
ootball (Women)
President: Zoe Carpenter BUCS 13/14: 5th, Western 2B BUCS 14/15: Western 2B Varsity 2014: Lost 2-0 footballwomens@swansea-union.co.uk
F
ootball (Intramural)
President: Adam Osmond League Winners: University 7ths Cup Winners: Team Sloth AFC Varsity 2014: Lost 2-0 intramural@swansea-union.co.uk
G
olf
President: Robert Smith BUCS 13/14: 1st, Western 2B BUCS 14/15: Western 1A Varsity 2014: Won 6-4 golf@swansea-union.co.uk
H
ockey (Men)
President: Oliver Shea BUCS 13/14: 5th, Western 1A BUCS 14/15: Western 2B Varsity 2014: Won 2-0 hockeymens@swansea-union.co.uk
H
ockey (Women)
President: Megan Watkins BUCS 13/14: 3rd, Western 2B BUCS 14/15: Western 2B Varsity 2014: Lost 9-0 hockeywomens@swansea-union.co.uk
L
acrosse (Men)
President: Toby Wilkinson BUCS 13/14: 3rd, Western 1A BUCS 14/15: Western 1A Varsity 2014: Lost 11-3 lacrosse@swansea-union.co.uk
L
acrosse (Women)
President: Laura Swanson BUCS 13/14: 5th, Western 1A BUCS 14/15: Western 1A Varsity 2014: Lost 5-4 lacrosse@swansea-union.co.uk JIU JITSU, Tom Grange, jiujitsu@ swansea-union.co.uk; KARATE, Chris Lodge, karate@ swansea-union.co.uk; KICKBOXING, Martin Lee, kickboxing@swansea-union.co.uk; KITESURFING, Andrew Gill, kitesurfing@swansea-union.co.uk; LIFESAVING, Emily Wells, lifesaving@swansea-union.co.uk; MASS, Sean Lee Rice, mass@
N
etball
President: Rachel Risdale BUCS 13/14: 2nd, Western 2B BUCS 14/15: Western 2B Varsity 2014: Lost 37-25 netball@swansea-union.co.uk
R
owing
President: Will Dawe Welcomes all abilities 2014 BUCS Regatta finalists Varsity 2014: Lost 3-1 rowing@swansea-union.co.uk
R
ugby League
President: Callum Williamson BUCS 13/14: 1st. Western 2A BUCS 14/15: Western 1A Varsity 2014: Did not enter rugbyleague@swansea-union.co.uk
R
ugby Union (Men)
President: James Morgan BUCS 13/14: 6th, Premier South A BUCS 14/15: Premier South A Varsity 2014: Won 19-15 surfc@swansea-union.co.uk
R
ugby Union (Women)
President: Amy Boyd BUCS 13/14: 3rd, Western 1A BUCS 14/15: Western 1A Varsity 2014: Lost 50-7 rugbyunionwomens@swansea-union.co.uk
S
ailing (Mixed)
President: Ben Ashley Top four finishes at intercollegiate events in 2014 Varsity 2014: Lost 5-3 sailing@swansea-union.co.uk
S
quash (Men)
President: Sam Rooks BUCS 13/14: 2nd, Western 2B BUCS 14/15: Western 2B Varsity 2014: Lost 5-0 squash@swansea-union.co.uk swansea-union.co.uk; MOTORSPORTS, Nicholas Rees, motorsports@swansea-union.co.uk; MOUNTAINEERING, Matt Everett, sumc@sumc.org.uk, POLE FITNESS, Darcie Whitfield, polefitness@swansea-union.co.uk; RIFLE, Anna McAteer, rifle@ swansea-union.co.uk; SNOWRIDERS, Roy Sowoolu-Cowie, snowriders@swansea-union.co.uk;
S
quash (Women)
President: Jules Clarke BUCS 13/14: 7th, Western 1A BUCS 14/15: Western 2A Varsity 2014: Lost 3-1 squash@swansea-union.co.uk
S
wimming
President: Avril Kiritschenko BUCS Long Course: 3rd/45 BUCS Short Course: 2nd/47 Varsity 2014: Lost 127-93 swimming@swansea-union.co.uk
T
ae Kwon Do
President: Laura Fiteni 11 medals, 3rd overall at British Students’ TKD Foundation Varsity 2014: Lost 23-5 taekwondo@swansea-union.co.uk
T
ennis (Men)
President: Mike Thomas BUCS 13/14: 1st, Western 2B BUCS 14/15: Western 1A Varsity 2014: Lost 4-2 tennis@swansea-union.co.uk
T
ennis (Women)
President: Mike Thomas BUCS 13/14: 6th, Western 2A BUCS 14/15: Western 2B Varsity 2014: Lost 6-0 tennis@swansea-union.co.uk
V
olleyball (Men)
President: Ella Renate Greeven BUCS 13/14: 1st, Western 2B BUCS 14/15: Western 1A Varsity 2014: Lost 2-1 volleyball@swansea-union.co.uk
V
olleyball (Women)
President: Ella Renate Greeven BUCS 13/14: 3rd, Western 1A BUCS 14/15: Western 1A Varsity 2014: Won 2-0 volleyball@swansea-union.co.uk SUB AQUA, Liam Kelleher, subaqua@swansea-union.co.uk; SURF, William Russell, surf@ swansea-union.co.uk; TRIATHLON, Adam Caunter, triathlon@swansea-union.co.uk; ULTIMATE FRISBEE, James Kent, ultimatefrisbee@swansea-union. co.uk; WINDSURFING, Will Bond, windsurfing@swansea-union.co.uk.
waterfrontonline.co.uk
SPORT I 23
IPC Athletics Champs help raise paralympic profile Paralympic Sport
THE IPC European Athletic Championships were held at Swansea University in August, becoming the biggest para-sport event ever to be held in Wales. The event consisted of 580 athletes from 49 countries competing, with high levels of participation that have never happened before. The competitions took place in the international sports village on the athletics track. The event boasted athletes such as discus and shot put thrower Aled Davies, who has broken world records this year, and other household names such as wheelchair sprinter Hannah Cockroft and sprinter Jonnie Peacock. The event took place over five days and saw seven world records and seven Europeon records broken. Russia finished with the most medals with a total of 88, 41 of which were gold. Ukraine won 17 gold medals
by Sophie Wiggins waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk
and a total of 43 medals overall, while the hosts Great Britain finished third overall with 16 gold and a total of 52 medals. The event was praised for being a top class sporting event, with its professional and great quality service bringing people from all over the world together and making the athletes feel very welcome. Davies provided some extra entertainment for the joyous spectators by taking part in the ‘ice bucket challenge’ on the track, while IPC officials paid tribute to the games and the volunteers who made them possible. Over the course of the five days a variety of competitions took place on the athletics track such as shot putt, 400m and javelin. The stands were filled with spectators almost every day, cheering on the athletes. Phillip Scrivers, an attendee of
the event, said: “I’ve never been to an IPC event before. I can’t believe how courageous the athletes were, especially the blind long jumpers who were listening to their guides voices instructing the athletes on what to do.” Patricia Babb, a Swansea champion volunteer at the event, said: “Thank you all for the best week of my life.” Golwg360 reporter Alan Rhys Chivers said: “The championships at Swansea was a positive event on many levels. It showed paraathletics in a positive light, raising the profile of one of the lesser known sports. “There was an opportunity also for Swansea to show it can hold major events, especially as Wales aims to host the Commonwealth games, of which para-athletics is a key part.” Hara Georgatzi, a volunteer from Greece, thoroughly enjoyed seeing her friends and other athletes compete at the championships. She said she felt the Greek
HIGH SPIRITS: A brilliant community atmosphere and ideal weather accompanied the games.
athletes did her country proud. The Swansea 2014 IPC European Athletic Championships were a big success; not only have they raised awareness of paralympic sport, but have also set the standard for the Rio 2016 games.
The event had an atmosphere and image of strength, power and pride. It is hoped that events like this won’t just bring big crowds, but also encourage people of all abilities and backgrounds to incorporate sport into their daily lives.
sport thewaterfront
Issue 242, September 19 2014
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Inside This Issue Guide
What’s on offer: university club guide 2014/15
p22 Commonwealth Games
Swansea represented in summer games
IPC Athletics
VARSITY 2014: The Green and White Army clinched a 19-15 victory over Cardiff in last year’s showpiece event, which was watched by over 13,000 fans at the Millennium Stadium.
SWANSEA University prides itself on giving all students the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of sporting activities during their time at Swansea. Representatives of these sports will be at the Freshers’ Fayre, which will be located on the lawn outside of Fulton House during Freshers’ Week. Inside the marquee you will find the places to sign up for sports that you may have experienced before and those that perhaps you haven’t had the opportunity to pursue, such as American football and surfing among many others. Every club is eager to take on new members of all skill levels, so even if you have no prior experience in a sport you’ll be given the chance to participate. You must register with Sport Swansea (£15pp) in order to join any sports club.
by Niall Griffiths waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk
For those wishing to test their mettle against other universities, British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) provides universities and their students the opportunity to participate in nationwide leagues and cups in a number of sports. Since BUCS was introduced, Swansea have consistently been within the top 30 universities in Great Britain, with their highest position being 25th. Sports take place on Wednesday afternoons, which are kept free by the university for sporting activities. There are also leagues created by students for various sports that run throughout the year. One of the most distinguished of all of these is the Intramural Football League, which had its highest ever number of members last year.
The Intramural League also has a cup running alongside the league; the cup final has been held at the St Helens rugby ground for the last three years and has proved to be a great occasion for participants and spectators alike. Those that have been with us at Swansea for a year or two now know of arguably the biggest sporting event of the year – the Welsh Varsity – but for the uninitiated, here is a brief outline of what it is. Over the course of a few days in April, Swansea University and arch-rivals Cardiff University do battle across a variety of sporting events; from tennis to golf, martial arts to swimming; over 30 facets of the Green and White sporting machine are on display against the Red of Cardiff. The prize is the Varsity Shield, which is awarded to the university that wins the most
matches during the event. However one match stands out among the rest: Varsity’s centrepiece, the rugby union match. As it is considered widely as the main event, it has been given the honour of being hosted at prestigious arenas such as Swansea’s Liberty Stadium and, for the last few years, the Millennium Stadium. Swansea currently holds the bragging rights for this match, having beaten Cardiff on their home patch for the last two years. The atmosphere created at all matches is second-tonone, so make sure you’re a part of the Green and White Army when Varsity comes around. From the competitive heights of the BUCS leagues to the recreational internal leagues created and run by students, there has never been a better time to engage in sport at Swansea University.
p21
Sports Village plays host to IPC Athletic Euros
p23
Final BUCS 2014 1 2 3 4 5
Loughborough Durham Birmingham Bath Edinburgh
26 Glasgow 27 Swansea 28 St Andrews
5329 3545.5 3132.5 2983 2893 1131.5 1070 1063.5