thewaterfront
Free Issue 217 1 October, 2012 waterfrontonline.co.uk
INSIDE
the official student newspaper of swansea university NEWS
pic by Christopher Thomas
Swansea shoots up student sex league
FEATURES
Blind date: When Abi met Jacques
SPORT
page 23
page 3
Double delight for David page 32
FALL IN STUDENT NUMBERS WILL COST UNIVERSITY DEAR
8% drop in admissions could cost university estimated £3million in lost course fees by Gemma Parry
waterfrontnews@swansea-union.co.uk A DRASTIC drop in admissions to Swansea University this year will have a critical impact on the funding that each college receives. The percentage of incoming Swansea undergraduate students is predicted to drop by around about 8%, which will impact on class sizes, teaching patterns and the overall income of the university. Some departments have seen their numbers fall by as much as 20 per cent. The shortfall is expected to cost the university £3 million in lost course fees, though the university has released a statement which says:. “We do not have a confirmed figure.” Fewer students applied to study at Swansea and universities all across the country, following a three-fold increase in tuition fees from September 2012. Computer glitch The problem was made worse by a fault on the UCAS system on A-Level results day, which prevented students from seeing if their offer had been confirmed. A glitch in the Swansea University computer system on the same day also stopped students from applying online for several hours. The result of both glitches was
that many students went elsewhere, including Cardiff University, which declared courses full. As a result, Swansea University has reduced the A-level tariff for 2013 offers with immediate effect and changes have been made to the way in which interviews, open days and school visits will run in this academic year. Worst hit Additionally, each degree programme will now review its curriculum and be guided by student interests, as well as the QAA (Quality Assurance Agency) disciplinary benchmarks. The university plans to establish a ‘Swansea offer’ in the Arts and Humanities, potentially the worst hit college, with admissions for English being down by 20%, to combat the problem. The ‘Swansea offer’, will offer potential students on all Arts and Humanities programmes a package of programmes that appeal to students. Zahid Raja, Swansea University Students’ Union education officer, said: “The numbers are a clear reflection of how marketisation of Higher Education is failing the knowledge economy. “Young people no longer accept the narrative that the route to prosperity is through getting a degree.” The number of students now being
ENDANGERED SPECIES? Freshers enjoying themselves at last week’s Fresh ‘n’ Free party, but overall numbers are down. accepted into Welsh universities has fallen by 7.7%, according to official figures. The drop in Welsh admissions is the worst of any home nation, with numbers in England showing a 7.5% drop. Data released by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, (UCAS),
revealed that there were 1,786 fewer students gaining entry into Welsh higher education institutions than this time last year. The Welsh government has calculated that it will take around 24,000 English learners studying in Wales, which will lessen the money spent on 16,000
Welsh students studying outside Wales. The cost of university education is trebling as tuition fees increase to around £9,000 per annum, but Welsh students will continue to pay around £3,400 a year for their studies because of a subsidy from the Welsh Assembly Government.
02 I NEWS
thewaterfront 1.10.12
thewaterfront Third floor, Students’Union Singleton Park, Swansea, SA2 8PP (01792) 295 988 web: waterfrontonline.co.uk twitter: thewaterfrontSU facebook: the waterfront swansea Editor Kay Byrne editor@swansea-union.co.uk SECTION EDITORS News
Gemma Parry waterfrontnews@swansea-union.co.uk Crime & Investigations
Chris Flynn waterfrontci@swansea-union.co.uk Front & Website
Jon May front@swansea-union.co.uk Features
Samantha Booth waterfrontfeatures@gmail.com Sport
Craig Hadley, Tom Nightingale waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk Music
Alex Gibbs waterfrontmusic@swansea-union.co.uk Film
Saul Masters waterfrontfilm@swansea-union.co.uk Showtime
Catrin Lewis waterfrontculture@swansea-union.co.uk Listings
Olivia Rosenthall waterfrontfrontrow@swansea-union.co.uk Societies
TBC waterfrontsocieties@swansea-union.co.uk Fashion
Cat Harris, Fran Lloyd waterfrontfashion@swansea-union.co.uk Games
Oli Jones waterfrontgames@swansea-union.co.uk Proof readers TBC Photographers
photographysu@gmail.com Website
waterfrontweb@swansea-union.co.uk Advertising
Annie Cottam (01792) 602496
Lavish launch for innovation campus attracts student backlash by Jon May
waterfrontnews@swansea-union.co.uk PLANS for a second campus were given a lavish launch last week after Swansea University secured £90m in funding to support the development of its science and innovation campus on Fabian Way. The presentation on campus promised the creation of 5,000 new jobs for local people in the Neath area and the injection of £3bn into the Welsh economy over the next ten years. The vice chancellor of Swansea University, Professor Richard Davies, said it would be the “biggest knowledge economy project in Europe”. The site will be built in two parts, with the first costing £200m and due to be completed in three years’ time. The money comes as the university looks to secure final planning permission from NeathPort Talbot Council in the next few weeks. The £90m investment is made up of a £60m loan from the European Investment Bank, which will be repaid over the next 20 years, and £30m funding from the Welsh Government. The launch event, which took place last week, was criticised as lavish, as the first batch of students paying higher tuition
fees arrived on campus. It’s been claimed £8,000 was spent on the launch, which also incorporated a VIP event for some of the larger “big hitter” research partners such as Tata Steel, IBM, Airbus, BAE Systems and Huawei Technologies, plus Rolls Royce, who have already committed to a materials testing laboratory at the new campus. A university spokesperson refused to confirm or deny the £8,000 figure but said: “The costs of the food and drink for the staff event amounted to around £1,500 which equates to approx 60p per person. “ Tom Upton, Students’ Union President, said: “The all-staff event to announce the significant developments in the bay campus was considered by the university to be a great success. Whilst we have been pleased to have been involved with the planning process, the overall marketing of this event was far too corporate. “At a time when tuition fees have reached £9,000, our biggest challenge as both an institution and a union is to meet unprecedented expectation of student experience. A corporate branding exercise of university events does nothing to improve student experience and leaves students feeling undervalued and questioning of their partnership with the institution.”
BREAKFAST BASH: Food served at the all-staff launch event.
Students’ lucky escape as bus driver suffers heart attack behind wheel by Gemma Parry
waterfrontnews@swansea-union.co.uk A COACH driver suffered a heart attack whilst driving a bus of student volunteers to Heathrow airport. The coach from Cymru bus service was on route to Heathrow airport on Saturday, September 22 to pick up international students. The driver, who left Swansea University at 6am, reached Neath and called Cymru bus service to ask for a replacement driver. En route to Cardiff, where Cymru bus service is based, he suffered what
was described by paramedics as a mild heart attack. The bus was pulled into an emergency lane near Bridgend, where the driver fainted. A call was quickly made to emergency services and the driver was rushed to the nearest hospital. There were eight student volunteers on board, who had offered to ‘meet and greet’ international students over the course of the weekend. The bus was stopped safely and no-one was injured. Mahaboob Basha, Swansea University students’ union International officer said: “If he had not pulled the bus over,
Write for The Waterfront WOULD you like to learn valuable journalistic skills and increase your employability by volunteering for The Waterfront? We are looking for people to write about news, sport and features. If you are interested, write to editor@ swansea-union.co.uk.
There will be a welcome meeting and social for all new recruits today (Oct 1), in the Xtreme Lounge in Union House (next to Divas) at 5pm. Come along if you can and meet the team and find out how to get involved, and join a friendly and fun place to work.
we could have had a major accident. All eight volunteer helpers could have been killed in the incident and it would’ve been the biggest disaster ever in our history.” A replacement driver was dispatched from Cymru bus service soon after. The bus reached Heathrow safely a few hours later. International students had to wait an additional two hours as the pickup was cancelled due to the incident. This year, more than 270 students and 30 parents have used the service to get to Swansea University from Heathrow.
Disclaimer The Waterfront thanks everyone who contributed to this issue. Content does not necessarily refelect the views of the Students’ Union. When an opnion is expressed, it is the view of the journalist writing the article, unless otherwise stated.
Student cleared of sex charge A STUDENT who was accused of committing sexual assault has been found not guilty at Swansea’s Crown Court. Joshua Holmes, 21, a Swansea criminology student, was brought before Judge Peter Heywood over allegations he had sexually assaulted a woman in 2011. He pleaded not guilty earlier this year and was acquitted on August 16th.
Blood donation clinic on campus THE Mobile Blood Donation Clinic will be on campus this week and is inviting students to come along to the van next to Fulton House from Tuesday, 2 Oct to Friday 5 Oct. Times are from10am-12.20pm and 1.45pm-4.30pm, except on Tuesday when the clinic will open at 10.45am. Anyone who would like to donate should call 01443 622193 or email donor.appointments@wales.nhs.uk to make an appointment.
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NEWS I 03
Swansea University climbs 48 places up student sex league in just a year condom, compared with the 27% who always did so. The survey also covered love and relationships and gave a nationwide view of how students use technology in their lives, which showed 23% of students had dumped someone by text, 49% had engaged in ‘sexting’ (sending intimate pictures to one another) and that 10% have been in a relationship with a partner they met on the internet. Commenting on the results, Oliver Brann, editor of studentbeans.com said: “University is often the time when young people have the freedom to explore, experience new things and express themselves, and that includes sex and relationships.
by Jon May
waterfrontnews@swansea-union.co.uk SWANSEA University has shot up the student sex league, a new survey has revealed. The poll of almost 5,000 students at over 100 universities asked how many sexual partners they had during a standard three year degree programme. In 2011, Swansea polled near the bottom of the table with an average of 3.3 sexual partners. In one year the results have changed around with Swansea University now ranked 12th in the country, with an average of 4.75 partners. Bangor University topped the Student Beans.com survey with an impressive 8.31 average partners, outranking last year’s title holders Glamorgan. The University of Essex, meanwhile, defied the TOWIE stereotype to claim bottom place with an average 1.15 hookups.
Free condoms
One night stands Cardiff University fell sharply from 13th last year with 7.3 partners to 41st this year, down to 3.63 partners. Results also vary between courses, with students on Economics getting it on four times as much as Environmental Science students. Whilst the average student has sex three times a week, students studying Classics put down their books for four nights a week. One night stands are on the up, with 42% declaring their undying love on the
ON TOP: Survey shows Swansea students are having more sex. first night they met and 22% admitting to having a sexual relationship with their flatmate. Most fanciable celebrities were Mila Kunis and Ryan Gosling, while Emma Watson and Russell Howard were the most embarrassing crush for students. A whopping 39% of students said they had never viewed porn, compared to 6% admitted to missing a lecture from watching too much of it. Other reasons
for staying in bed instead of studying included having sex (30%) and too embarrassed to face the consequences of the night before (9%). In better news, 92% of those surveyed said they had never contracted a sexually transmitted disease (STD), with the most common being Chlamydia (5%). This might be because of 12% of students who admitted never using a
New shops and cafe set to open soon in Fulton House by Chris Flynn
waterfrontnews@swansea-union.co.uk BUILDING works are continuing in Fulton House as students return from their summer holidays. The west side of the main building is currently being redeveloped, making way for new shops and services. The project is being jointly managed by the University and the Students’ Union. The biggest part of the project is the addition of a 200m² supermarket, called MyCostcutter; which will sell ‘fresh goods including meats, fruit, vegetables and bakery goods to campus for the first time as well as providing a full range of convenience and international products’. The store will be open seven days a week and is expected to open in mid-October. the Spar on the second floor of Union House will stay open until the new supermarket opens. Fulton Outfitters, a new clothing store is scheduled to open on October 8, selling a selection of Swansea University inspired clothing, including new ranges on top of those sold in Spar last year.
Josh Hayman, Societies and Services Officer said: “Our affordable prices make Fulton Outfitters the ideal place for students to go for Swansea University merchandise.” Opening on the same day as Fulton Outfitters is a new café called Blas (the Welsh word for flavour), that plans to bring a new element to campus catering. A spokesperson from Swansea University said: “The central location will make Blas the ideal place to grab a bite to eat. “Serving a range of freshly made international specials, filled breads, premium coffees and fresh soups, all packaged especially to allow customers the choice of eating in or taking away”. The Students’ Union Advice Centre has also moved to Fulton House., after outgrowing its former space. Meanwhile, there has also been a big change around in Union House. The Media Centre (Waterfront and Xtreme Radio) has moved to the old ents/societies office on the third floor. Rosie Hunnan, societies and student development co-ordinator, is moving to an office on the second floor next to Spar.
“Once again Wales has a strong representation in the top 5 and at the other end of the spectrum it would seem that The Only Way is No-Sex, with The University of Essex propping up the rest of the table with just 1.15 sexual partners per student.” Charlotte Britton, welfare officer at Swansea Students’ Union, said: “It doesn’t matter where we tabled as long as students are safe, happy and comfortable with what they’re doing.” Miss Britton also reminded students that a variety of condoms, dental dams and pregnancy tests are available for free from level three of Union House. •To see the full survey go to www. studentbeans.com/student101/a/ relationships/university-sexleague-2656.html
Student sex workers get web support by Jon May
waterfrontnews@swansea-union.co.uk A NEW website has been launched to support students who end up working in the sex industry to fund their studies. The website launch is the result of a three-year research project into students working in the sex industry, funded by a £489,143 lottery grant and led by Dr Tracey Sagar and Debbie Jones from Swansea University’s Centre for Criminal Justice and Criminology. Charlotte Britton, Welfare Officer said: “There can be health risks involved in sex work – but it’s not just physical. It can also affect your mental wellbeing – maybe you work on chat lines and hear some stuff that upsets you. This project is about finding out more about students who are involved in any aspect of sex work so that organisations can support them better.” Dr Sagar said: “For us, sex work has a broad meaning but we are aware that most people associate it with women who sell sexual acts for money, in other words the common understanding of prostitution. Our project identifies ‘sex work’ as including activities such as erotic dancing, web cam sex, phone chat sex, escort work, massage parlour work as well work in the porn industry. Also, our project emphasises that sex work is not associated only with women but also men and transgender workers.” •The website is available at www. thestudentsexworkproject.co.uk
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NEWS I 05
Go Mango! Swansea students who start business set for bright future by Becca Taylor
waterfrontnews@swansea-union.co.uk TWO Swansea University students who set up their own company making bikes have won a £50,000 investment after taking part in a TV show. Ben Harrison and Jezz Skelton, who created ‘Mango Bikes’, a design-your -own bicyle company, featured on the BBC3 show ‘Be Your Own Boss’ in which entrepreneur Richard Reed searches for the best new business talent. Ben and Jezz were the first first team to be awarded funding on the show by Richard, a co-founder of Innocent Drinks. Jezz said: “We heard about the show on Radio 1 and applied without any expectations. From day one we knew we were a long way ahead of most of the other businesses there, so from then on we did expect to go all the way.” Both Ben and Jezz have raced and ridden bikes since their early teens. Ben worked on the mountain bike World Cup circuit as a mechanic for some of the biggest teams in the world and knows how to build and maintain them to the highest standard. Ben looks after the buying, stock control and
logistical side of the business. Jezz is a keen motocross rider and he looks after the marketing side of the business. He’s always been determined to be his own boss and is always looking for new ideas. The clean, simple, modern and cool brand of Mango is down to Jezz’s imagination and vision. Jezz hinted at big plans for Mango’s future: “At the moment we’re a bike brand, however the aim for the future is to be a fashion brand that started with bikes. “We’re also looking into setting up franchises around the world with meetings already underway with potential franchisees.” Jezz offered this advice to young startups: “Be brave and try it!” He also revealed how the brand found its name: “We sell very colourful products, which is why we wanted to name the bikes after a fruit. The first idea was Pineapple Bikes but we got shot down instantly by everyone!” Jezz has already finished his degree in BSc Business Management whilst Ben will be returning for his final year BSc Economics. Both say they have enjoyed their time at Swansea University and feel that the experience and skills learnt during
by Gemma Parry
waterfrontnews@swansea-union.co.uk
BRIGHT FUTURE: Jezz Skelton, left, and Ben Harrison, right. their degree course has helped them to develop and market their business.
Be inspired by Phil’s story of courage against all odds by Catrin Lewis
waterfrontnews@swansea-union.co.uk AN inspirational speaker and charity fundraiser will be visiting Swansea University to raise awareness of adversity in youth. Four years ago, Phil Packer MBE was told that he would never walk again, having suffered a spinal cord injury whilst serving in the armed forces. A year later, Phil had rowed the Channel, walked the London Marathon over 14 days and pulled himself up El Capitan, raising £1.3m for the wounded and winning Fundraiser of the Year at the Pride of Britain Awards. Having founded the charity, the British Inspiration Trust, Phil is aiming to complete the BRIT 2012 challenge – walking 2012 miles to raise £15m to build a Centre of Inspirational Excellence. This will provide short residential courses for young people facing adversity to build their selfworth and confidence. As part of his challenge, Phil will be visiting Swansea on October 9th to complete six miles of
INSPIRATIONAL: Phil Packer MBE circuits while joined by War and Society students and members of the Armed Forces societies. As well as this, he will be giving a talk to all of those interested in Café West in Fulton House at midday. Donations are being asked for through the charities involved within BRIT, rather than to the charity itself. •For more information see www.philpacker. com and www.britishinspirationtrust.org.uk
Societies see fall in students signing up THIS year’s Freshers’ Fayre has concluded with a fall in the total number of students paying to join societies and sports. This was partly due to teething troubles with a new system that saw students paying at external tills, rather than at individual societies’ tables. At the time of going to print the number of
High turnout in March’s SU elections
students signing up to societies and sports at the fayre was said to be around 4,000, although Societies and Student Development CoOrdinator Rosie Hunnam says this should rise as students register on the Students’ Union website in days to come. You can sign up to all societies at www.swansea-union.co.uk/activities.
•For more information check out www.mangobikes.co.uk
SWANSEA University students turned out in very respectable numbers for the Students’ Union elections in March. The NUS Elections Survey 2012 showed that Swansea SU was 6% above the UK average in its turnout for the SU elections. The election turnout was 22%, with the average across the UK being 16%. Said welfare officer Charlotte Britton: “Our university is not part of a group (like the Russell Group or Million+), and the average for non-aligned institutions was 13.66% - so we were almost 9% above other unions similar to us. “Overall, it means that Swansea SU has a really active student population, and great democratic structures – we really punch above our weight when it comes to elections.” Tom Upton, Swansea Students’ Union president, said: “As a union we are very proud of our election turnout this year. Now more than ever in higher education, student experience is incredibly important. It is testament to our students’ belief in a fantastic experience that so many turned out to vote for their elected officers. “
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NEWS I 07
Swansea University is happy to be ranked among top 500 in the world by Becca Taylor
waterfrontnews@swansea-union.co.uk SWANSEA University has once again ranked in the top 5% of international universities, according to a survey published by QS World University rankings. The survey, which covers more than 2,500 of the world’s top universities, places Swansea in the 401-450 category. The university also ranked 291st in the spectrum of Engineering and Technology. QS takes into account all aspects of university life, such as academic reputation, research papers published and employment reputation. Professor Alan Speight, Swansea University Pro-Vice-Chancellor, said: “Retaining our position amongst the top 500 universities in the world in the QS World University Rankings is a measure of our performance, reputation, and the excellence of the experience which we provide to our students. “We have seen a rise in the quality of students on entry and an increase in those going on to excel at their studies and receive excellent results on completing their course.
by Waterfront reporter
“We have also seen an increase in the employability of our graduates.” In the ARWU survey, which has published the world top 500 universities rankings annually since 2003, Swansea ranked equal 34th out of all 170 UK higher education institutions. Swansea University was also ranked as one of the top 25 universities in the UK again in the 2012 Times Higher Education survey. Fellow Welsh universities Aberystwyth and Bangor ranked in the same categories, whilst Cardiff placed 143rd. Swansea University’s reputation with employers was noted by QS to have increased significantly since last year. “I think it’s great that progress is reflected in league tables,” said students’ union education officer Zahid Raja. “ I would be uncomfortable to assume that Swansea University’s position in the QS world rankings makes a big difference regarding employment. I’d say that’s more down to the work that Swansea University does in helping students become more competitive in the market for jobs. “ •See the full results at www. topuniversities.com
waterfrontnews@swansea-union.co.uk STUDENTS are being warned not to use essay writing agencies, after campus was flooded by advertisements for one service. Cards advertising the service carry the words: “Too many assignments, deadlines approaching? Exclusive custom writing service for essays, assignments and dissertations.” The flyer promises that services are 100% plagiarism free, but while such services are not illegal, the university regards using them as cheating and students risk being expelled if they are caught. “It’s a chucking out offence, if caught,” said Chris Ravenhill, student advice centre co-ordinator. “These flyers are all around campus and while they make the service look respectable, it is against university regulations to use a service like this.”
UP AND COMING: Students could benefit from Swansea University’s place in the rankings.
Swansea engineers help build fastest car on Earth
BLOODHOUND: See the test run live at www.bloodhoundssc.com/rocket
by Waterfront reporter
waterfrontnews@swansea-union.co.uk THE Bloodhound Project will test fire its hybrid rocket system this week and representatives from Swansea University will be present to witness the explosive spectacle. As founder sponsors, Swansea University’s College of Engineering have been invited to the firing which will take place on Wednesday (3 October) at Aerohub, Newquay Cornwall Airport, one of the few locations in the UK equipped to handle the test. Bloodhound’s engineers will be testing the complete rocket system for the first time, comprising of the Cosworth CA2010 F1 engine, High Test Peroxide tank, custom designed gear box, software and Falcon Hybrid Rocket. Researchers from Swansea University’s College of Engineering have contributed to
Warning over essay writing services
the aerodynamic design of Bloodhound, and the supersonic car proved to be a popular attraction on the university’s stand at this year’s Urdd National Eisteddfod. It’s hoped the famous vehicle will set a new world land speed record of around 850mph during 2013 before breaking the record and reaching 1,000 miles per hour in 2014 in Hakskeen Pan, Northern Cape, South Africa. Bloodhound will eventually travel at five times the speed of a Formula One car and is powered by both the Falcon hybrid rocket and a Eurofighter EJ200 jet engine. Dr. Ben Evans, lecturer at Swansea’s College of Engineering and member of the Bloodhound SSC design team, said: ‘‘It has been a pleasure to be a part of such an iconic project and it will be great to witness its latest development next week. “The event represents the project’s most significant milestone yet and I hope it will show people how exciting engineering can be.’’
•The Students’ Union Advice Centre has moved to a new home by the west entrance on the ground floor of Fulton House.
08 I NEWS
thewaterfront 1.10.12
Celebrated Swansea physicist returns to open new science laboratories by Jon May
waterfrontnews@swansea-union.co.uk ONE of Swansea’s most distinguished graduates came back to his home university to open the new £3 million science laboratories last week. Professor Lyn Evans left Swansea with a first class degree in Physics in 1966 and completed his PhD in 1970. He later went on to lead the international project to build the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). The LHC, located at CERN in Geneva, Switzerland, is a 27km circular underground tunnel across the FrenchSwiss border. The particle accelerator took ten years to build and cost several billion pounds. The new state-of-the-art facilities in the Wallace Building at Swansea University include a new computer suite and access for disabled students with induction loops for students with hearing difficulties and adjustable benches for students in wheelchairs. Professor Evans said: “It is an honour to be asked to open the college’s new laboratories and teaching facilities, at the university where I myself studied as an undergraduate student and began
by Jon May
my own physics research and career path – a path which eventually led me to CERN and the opportunity to work on one of the world’s largest and most exciting experiments with the Large Hadron Collider. “I sincerely hope this investment in the learning and teaching of Swansea’s current and future physicists will reap great rewards.”
waterfrontnews@swansea-union.co.uk
Generous donation The new teaching rooms were made possible because of a generous donation to the Physics department from the will of Dr Gething Morgan Lewis, who was educated in Swansea and passed away in February 2009. Dr Lewis worked on radar during WWII and was a pioneer in experimental particle physics at the University of Glasgow. Zahid Raja, Education Officer for the Students’ Union, said: “I think the new undergraduate labs will add greatly to the academic experience. These are the kinds of investments which the university should be focusing on. I’d like to thank Pro-Vice-Chancellor Hilary Lappin-Scott and her team for helping to make these labs a reality.”
Grant to cut animal tests in research
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS: Professor Lyn Evans, who led the international project to build the Large Hadron Collider, opened Swansea University’s new science labs.
Fresh Meat’s ‘Oregon’ to play with brother LUKE Ritchie is playing at Swansea University tomorrow (October 2) in an acoustic performance in the marquee in front of Fulton House starting at 12 noon. Performing with him will be his sister Charlotte Ritchie, who is also known as Oregon in the Channel 4 series, Fresh Meat. The audience will have the chance to listen to songs from The Water’s Edge, Luke’s critically acclaimed debut album. The singer songwriter said: “I didn’t want to make a soft, samey album. I’m not a soft singer. I grew up on Led Zeppelin, Soundgarden and grunge, as well as people like Paul Simon and Sam Cooke. I like dynamic singers and powerful songs – and you can get a lot of power from acoustic instruments.” •Website: www.lukeritchie.co.uk
SWANSEA University has been awarded a £400,000 grant to develop new ways to test human cells to reduce the amount of animal testing for cancer-causing chemicals. Professor Gareth Jenkins and his team were awarded the grant by the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) to find more effective and efficient ways to test to curb the need for testing on live animals. Josh Hale of the People and Planet Society said: “The fact the university has received a grant to create alternatives to animal testing is fantastic and a great step forward.” The latest amendment to the EU Cosmetics Directive has banned animal testing on all cosmetic products in a bid to end the practice altogether. Professor Jenkins plans to study how chemicals interfere with how cells talk to each other and together with current data will hopefully produce more accurate predications of carcinogenic chemicals. Current tests on cells have many limitations, with a high false-positive rate, and don’t detect chemicals that cause cancer in other ways than by damaging the DNA. Professor Jenkins, on the award, said: “This grant complements the work into animal replacement strategies already underway. Together, these efforts will help in designing better testing strategies ... without the need to use animals, whilst safeguarding against human exposure to harmful chemicals.”
Green award SUSTAINABILITY manager Dr Heidi Smith, has scooped the topperforming Go Green Women in Business environmental award. Heidi manages the team responsible for greening the running of Swansea University. She co-ordinated a lot of the work that led to the university improving its position in the People and Planet Green League published by the Guardian – climb+ing an impressive 52 places to become one of the most improved universities in the UK.
Essay bursaries
ACOUSTIC PERFORMANCE: Luke and Charlotte Ritchie.
THE Houses of Parliament and the Higher Education Academy (HEA) are offering bursaries to students writing a dissertation on Parliament. Students have the chance to apply for a HEA-funded bursary to cover the cost of a visit to Parliament, to see the House of Commons and House of Lords in action and meet Parliamentary officials to discuss their essay. The closing date for applications is 2 November 2012. Visit www. parliament.uk/bursaries to apply.
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NEWS I 09
Careers staff set to double after campaigning by students’ union by Gemma Parry
waterfrontnews@swansea-union.co.uk
Watersports Centre ready to open doors by Ellis Watts
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as well as a further two administrative assistants. Tom Upton, Swansea University Students’ Union President said: “This will add greatly towards the work being done to increase the number of students reaching graduate level employment when they leave university.” Zahid Raja, Swansea University Students’ Union Education officer said: “This is fantastic news which again demonstrates how seriously the university considers our concerns when it comes to employability. “However, whilst we celebrate this success, we must still recognise that there is a great deal of work to be done in increasing the employability of our students.” Opportunities
SWANSEA University Students’ Union has won a campaign to double the number of careers and employability staff serving students. The number of staff helping graduates to find jobs after they leave university or further their learning has been increased from 3.5 posts to 7.5. This comes after an agreement made by the students’ union with the university for additional funding. Raymond Ciborowski, Registrar and Chief Operating Officer for Swansea University said: “I can confirm that budget provision was made to enable the expansion of the University’s Career and Employability service for 2012/13.” “I appreciate that employability is an Pro Vice Chancellor Professor Hilary issue that concerns [students], and I MEET THE EMPLOYERS: Students at the annual Careers Fair. hope that this latest investment signals Lappin-Scott, who is leading the Employability Academy help improve the services we offer.”” students with opportunities for partthe importance we attach to improving Swansea Careers services include the annual time work in Swansea. It takes place the employability prospects that our said: “Improving the employability of our students is a key priority for the Careers Fair, which is taking place this tomorrow (October 2) in the marquee students will have on graduation.” week on Thursday (October 4) between outside Fulton House from 10.30am to The service previously had the university. “The Employability Academy is 10am and 3pm in the marquee outside 4pm. Fore more information visit www. equivalent of three and a half staff swansea.ac.uk/careers or check out the members catering to the needs of working to engineer some fantastic Fulton House. opportunities that students can get A part-time jobs fair is also being careers helpdesk in the library. around 15,000 students. The university and students’ union involved with this year. We’re working in organised for the first time this year by •Turn to page 25 for full details of SMU-PGCE-Wfront-hpage_SMU-PGCE-SWEP-hpage-17sep 19/09/2012 students’17:39 unionPage to 1the Students’ Union to provide current the Careers Fair programme. are hiring two new placement officers partnership with the
THE new 360 Beach and Watersports Centre on Swansea’s seafront is finally opening for business this weekend. The £1.2 million facility is operated in partnership by Swansea University and Bay Leisure and they are aiming to make it a world-class destination for beach and water-based sport. The centre is launching with free ‘Give It a Go’ taster sessions this weekend (Oct 6 &7). Visitors will be able to try out some of the activities they have to offer, such as beach volleyball, kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding and power kiting. Just a short walk from the university, opposite the St Helens Rugby and Cricket Ground, the centre is likely to attract a large student clientele. The centre will also have a licensed café bar that will be open 364 days a year. Kate Hannington, 360 Centre Manager said: “The opening of 360 is a great day for Swansea, providing the communty and visitors with a superb new facility. “Many people will have seen the construction of the 360 building taking place and wondered what its final purpose would be and now we want everyone to come down on the opening weekend to see for themselves.” For more information about the centre visit www.360swansea.co.uk.
PGCE / TAR 2013 T WHAOUR Y ARE S AFTER ? PLANUATING D H GRA FYDDWCD A EU BETH’N EI WN CHI AR ÔL ? DDIO GRA
THOUGHT ABOUT TRAINING TO TEACH?
YDYCH CHI WEDI YSTYRIED CAEL EICH HYFFORDDI I ADDYSGU?
PGCE SECONDARY VACANCIES FOR SEPTEMBER 2013
LLEOEDD GWAG TAR UWCHRADD AR GYFER MEDI 2013
In your final year and about to graduate or maybe you’re uncertain about your future and looking for a change in career? If you hold, or about to hold, a degree or equivalent qualification in any of the subjects below why not study for a PGCE in secondary school teaching and gain qualified teacher status. Teaching is a rewarding profession which can offer great career prospects and competitive rates of pay. Vacancies exist in the following one-year PGCE Secondary programmes for September 2013 ● ART AND DESIGN ● BIOLOGY ● BUSINESS STUDIES ● CHEMISTRY ● CYMRAEG ● DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY ● ENGLISH ● GEOGRAPHY ● HISTORY ● ICT ● MATHEMATICS ● MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES: FRENCH/FRENCH WITH GERMAN/FRENCH WITH SPANISH/GERMAN WITH FRENCH ● PHYSICS ● RELIGIOUS EDUCATION ● SCIENCE 11-16
Ydych chi yn eich blwyddyn olaf ac ar fin graddio neu efallai eich bod yn ansicr am eich dyfodol ac yn dymuno newid eich gyrfa? Os oes gennych chi radd, neu os ydych chi ar fin cael gradd neu gymhwyster cyfwerth mewn unrhyw rai o’r pynciau isod, pam na wnewch chi astudio TAR mewn addysg ysgol uwchradd a chael statws athro cymwysedig. Mae addysgu’n broffesiwn boddhaus a all cynnig rhagolygon gyrfa grêt a chyfraddau tâl cystadleuol. Mae lleoedd gwag ar gael yn y rhaglenni TAR Uwchradd un flwyddyn a ganlyn ar gyfer mis Medi 2013 ● CELF A DYLUNIO ● BIOLEG ● ASTUDIAETHAU BUSNES ● CEMEG ● CYMRAEG ● DYLUNIO A THECHNOLEG ● SAESNEG ● DAEARYDDIAETH ● HANES ● TGCH ● MATHEMATEG ● IEITHOEDD TRAMOR MODERN: FFRANGEG/FFRANGEG GYDAG ALMAENEG/FFRANGEG GYDA SBAENEG/ALMAENEG GYDA FFRANGEG ● FFISEG ● ADDYSG GREFYDDOL ● GWYDDONIAETH 11-16
Financial Support and Incentives*
Cymorth Ariannol a Chymhellion*
Eligible Welsh and non-UK EU domiciled students are entitled to a non-means- tested and non-repayable grant of £5,535 to cover fees above £3,465. Students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan to cover the cost of fees and may be entitled to a student loan for maintenance that won’t have to be paid back until you are earning over £21,000 per annum. Incentive Grants of between £3,000 and £15,000 are also available depending on the subject and final degree classification. Apply now through GTTR at www.gttr.ac.uk or contact kim.wills@smu.ac.uk for further details.
www.smu.ac.uk
*subject to final confirmation
Mae gan fyfyrwyr o Gymru a rhai o du allan i’r DU sy’n byw yn yr UE hawl i grant nad yw’n seiliedig ar brawf modd o £5,535 i dalu am ffioedd dros £3,465. Gall myfyrwyr wneud cais am Fenthyciad Ffioedd Dysgu i dalu am gost ffioedd a gallant fod yn gymwys i gael benthyciad i fyfyrwyr am gynhaliaeth na fydd rhaid ei ad-dalu nes y byddwch yn ennill dros £21,000 y flwyddyn. Hefyd, mae Grantiau Cymhelliant o rwng £3,000 a £15,000 ar gael yn amodol ar y pwnc a’r dosbarth gradd terfynol. Gwnewch gais nawr trwy GTTR yn www.gttr.ac.uk neu cysylltwch â kim.wills@smu.ac.uk am ragor o fanylion.
www.smu.ac.uk
*yn amodol ar gadarnhad terfynol
PGCE SECONDARY INFORMATION MORNING
BORE GWYBODAETH TAR UWCHRADD
THE SWANSEA SCHOOL OF EDUCATION, TOWNHILL CAMPUS If you would like to attend, please register YOUR place by contacting Kim Wills on 01792 481202 or email kim.wills@smu.ac.uk
YSGOL ADDYSG ABERTAWE, CAMPWS TOWNHILL Os hoffech ddod i hwn, cofrestrwch drwy gysylltu â Kim Wills ar 01792 481202 neu anfonwch e-bost i kim.wills@smu.ac.uk
THURSDAY 8 NOVEMBER 2012
DYDD IAU 8 TACHWEDD 2012
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relationships 23
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L I F E S T Y L E F O R S WA N S E A S T U D E N T S
front! New year, fresh start! Fashion: Start the year in style
Showtime: Celebrity Valleys style
Film: Hobbit trilogy previewed
Relationships: Meet our new agony uncle
Careers: Employers line up at fair
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>> 19
>> 21
>> 23
>> 25
front
contents features 14 >> Meet your new Swansea Students’ Union president, Tom Upton
fashion 16 >> Back to brogues: style to start the year
front row 18 >> Your guide to what’s on in the next two weeks
showtime 19 >> Celebrity obsession under the spotlight
music 20 >> Dry The River ... one band that’s worth all the hype
film 21 >> The Hobbit is coming ... in three parts
games 22 >> Fifa 13 previewed; Wii U unveiled
relationships 23 >> The Kontroversial Queen solves all your problems; Blind Date
careers 25 >> More than 50 employers line up at the Careers Fair
societies 26 >> Societies in the spotlight
Fresh ‘n’ Free 2012
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careers 25
relationships 23
games 22
film 21
music 20
showtime 19
front row 18
fashion 16-17
food 15
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P R E S I D E N T @ S WA N S E A - U N I O N . C O. U K
features
‘We aim to give students full value for their money’ If you see a guy in trackies, an outdated Varsity t-shirt and a blue President hoody walking around campus, then you have just bumped into Tom Upton. Your students’ union president speaks to Samantha Booth about why he still dresses like a student and his plans for this year.
B
Y now, you’ll have seen the phrase “students’ union” everywhere. Hopefully, you’ll know how the students’ union plays a role in your time at Swansea University. If not, then know that the union exists to enhance your experiences at Swansea – remember it’s not all lectures. What you might not know about is the full-time officers, their advice to you and what you can expect to see this year. Tom Upton graduated from Swansea University in 2011 with a degree in Human Geography. He had some ideas what he wanted to be but after being elected the President of the Students’ Union in March, he is taking it one step at a time: “I thought I did know what I wanted to do after I graduated, but now I don’t mind. I’ll go with it and see what comes my way. “This will be my fifth year in Swansea. I was 19 when I started so it really does feel like home now. First year, I lived in Langland, and then Brynmill, until recently. I have just moved to Uplands.” The President of the Students’ Union is a role that takes mass organisation skills and a clear view of future goals for the year in office. As in any elected role within a union, the position can be challenging, yet Tom explains why he is so excited for the year ahead: “I can’t wait to learn. I often find people perceive elected officers to know everything about their role. This is not the case. Every time a new situation occurs, or develops, I learn something new about myself or the role or the power of the union to stand up for students.” In his campaign, Tom focused on the daily lives of students. He filmed his campaign video logs from the steps of Fulton House with his team dressed as Smurfs. He learned the value of helping people out without even being paid for it and how he will always answer his phone, if it means being helpful. “I hope to meet as many people as possible reading this, and hope they see that the way I speak to and with the students, is exactly how I interact with the University. “I dress like I did when I was a Geography student because that’s who I campaigned as. I’m not a member of any political party, but I get mad when people in positions of responsibility and influence forget why they are here.”
Student numbers When it gets down to the nitty gritty, the freshers this year are paying three times as much as those in the years above. This year, applications were down 8.4% for Welsh universities and the clearing deadline was extended, leading to a steep fall in student numbers. Arguably, this drop could affect the union’s funding and operations, yet Tom explains his views on the matter: “Categorically, no, I don’t think it will affect the Union. This year the Union will function as much as it
“I was blessed with a loud voice and I hope it’s doing some good.” has for the last 10 years. If this situation is set to continue, every students’ union in the UK needs to start adapting. “We offer so many services to our students, from a nursery to bars, to a travel shop, two night clubs, three shops and of course Societies and Sports clubs. It is a priority of the team to ensure that nothing we do is affected or changed by any decrease in applications.”
Value for money For those students who still applied, regardless of fee increases, it’d be right for them to question how this extra £6,000 will enhance their experience at university. “I think it’s safe to say like pretty much every other students’ union president nationally, I oppose the increase in tuition fees. However, we have to be pragmatic, and due to what we already do and the truly, unique atmosphere and location of our university: yes I do think we give value for money. “Expectations though will be high and whilst we will do our best to provide the highest level of representation, support, entertainment and services, the real pressure is on the institution. “More focus on the student experience and not spending £3 million on colouring in the Faraday building might have been a starting point. We’re in the process of developing the first Students’ Hub and additional funding for that would be greatly appreciated!” Students that have finished their eventful freshers’ year have still got some surprises to arrive back to. “The library space has been improved over the summer and is on schedule to be ready for the first teaching week. “The front of Fulton House will be home to a brand
new on-campus shopping experience, allowing you to do a full shop on campus and not have to travel to town, alongside a merchandise store. Finish date is mid October, but we’ll have to wait and see!” Student life sounds so simple: turn up to lectures, write what you need to know down, go home, eat, go out, get legless and repeat. But this can begin to take a toll on your well-being and degree – remember that’s what you will formally leave with. A balance is vital in university life, as Tom explains: “Learn to budget. If anyone wants a copy of my spreadsheet, pop me an email. Budget your money per day. Then around your lectures, plan weekends away, nights out and trips home – everyone needs hot food from home every now and then. “Don’t forget your mates at home or at other universities. And most importantly, remember unless you are in a happy state of mind, you work won’t be to a high standard. Make sure you take a break regularly and don’t miss out on the fun. Make stories last a life time. “I think when someone asked me ‘where do you see yourself in five years time’ when I was 19 and a fresher, the Students’ Union President was not the answer! “If I could be anyone, I would have been John Peel. Since I’ve been about 14, music has pretty much been the one thing that always makes sense to me and sorts my head out when things get hairy. “Obviously, I’m waiting for the day that Radio One calls and begs me to replace Greg James, but I doubt that day is going to come!”
•To contact Tom Upton, email president@ swansea-union.co.uk.
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food
Where to eat on campus I
N the last week, everyone’s favourite students’ union bar, JC’s, has begun providing another vital service for students in the form of cheap, nutritious meals, writes Catrin Lewis. At first, you might think “oh no, not more 2-for£10 pub grub”, but what they’re offering is so much better. Together with the university, they have managed to compile a menu that encompasses both wholesome meals and quality student staples such as burgers and pizza. The latter manage to avoid the stereotype of the greasy offerings ubiquitous with student haunts, with quality ingredients being used. Prices start at £2.95, going up to £7, with generous portion sizes and sides – the pasta comes with free salad and garlic bread, which impressed. In the scheme of fair, scientific testing, each of us tried a meal from a different section of the menu, and none of us came away disappointed with the results. What we were all impressed with was the number of vegetarian and vegan options available, although we all agreed that the menu needed to be clearer about which was which – for
Student Come Dine With Me
One of my housemates is obsessed with the Channel 4 hit food programme Come Dine With Me, writes Jon May.
When discussing what The Waterfront could do to branch out into videos and broadcasting journalism, the idea of a Student Come Dine With Me seemed to really strike a chord. A handful of students soon applied for the show and filming is due to start on Saturday, 6 October. The programme will mirror the popular TV show with four contestants cooking meals each night for one another, narrated by the hilarious Fred Cooper, Comedy Society President. Swansea Indoor Market, located in the city centre, has kindly offered to provide the food and this will help promote the idea of fresh, local produce – or at least it’ll mean people aren’t just
microwaving ready meals! Whoever wins at the end of the week will get a mystery prize, although it will be certainly less than the £1,000 normally on offer! We’re looking for anyone and everyone, from vegans to meat eaters and everything in between. We’re hoping to fill more shows and make a series out of it. The Media Society, along with The Waterfront is also looking into doing more videos in the form of continuing the success of “Have I Got University News For You” and covering the new “The Big Debate” by Zahid Raja, Education Officer. •Go to waterfrontonline.co.uk/ tv and click apply. We’ll get in touch via email when we can fit you in.
future reference, one blue dot is vegetarian, two blue dots is vegan. There are also several other food outlets on campus that might be worth a look. Le Café next to Divas is fantastic for a fast-food fix that comes in cheaper than ordering a pizza. For the ultimate post-night out meal, try the cheesy chips and gravy. If you haven’t tried this by the time you leave Swansea, you haven’t had the full student experience. However, don’t try and use your Campus Catering card in here, as they don’t accept them! Fusion Café is brilliant for a quick break between lectures, serving huge portions of brilliant homemade curries. They also have delicious cakes. The Taliesin is also one of the places on campus that you might not realize serves food. With a daily vegetarian option and fresh sandwiches and wraps, it’s always a nice place to escape to at lunch time, especially with its free newspapers. There are lots of other options dotted around campus, but these are my favourites. Of course, if you can’t find anything you like, there’s always Pub on the Pond just off campus!
B A C K T O S C H O O L S P E C I A L W I T H C AT H A R R I S A N D F R A N L L O Y D
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Style to Start the Year Back to school we go, and what better time for a bit of shopping to get us into the swing of things. Winter’s just around the corner, so stocking up on chunky knits to cosy up into is a great way to start the term. Skater skirts reminiscent of the school playground are back with a vengeance, adding a cutesy flare to what can sometimes be a harsh winter wardrobe. Delicate blouses with trimmed collars and embellishments are great for feminine everyday wear, and are a perfect foundation for an autumnal outfit. Sophisticated tapered trousers are also a great investment for versatile winter wear and with a huge range of patterns to choose from, can add a quirky edge to gloomy days.
V Neck Grey Blouse - ASOS £30
Gold Trim Collar Blouse Topshop £35
Oxblood Ribbed Pleated Skirt Topshop £34
Burgundy Crafty Cuts Sweater - Urban Outfitters £45
Blossom Cable Knit Pullover - American Apparel £57
Black Textured Skater Skirt - Miss Selfridge £29
Paisley Print Cigarette Trousers Topshop £35
Back to Brogues High Platform Lace Up Brogues - SoYouShoes.co.uk - £30
YMC Highland Brogues - Asos £122
Leopard Print Studded Creepers New Look £24.99
The brogue is a timeless classic that no wardrobe should be without. A staple of tailoring, a pair of brogues instantly brings an air of straight-laced sophistication to an outfit. However this season, shake off the restrains of tradition and embrace reinvention. A favourite of celebs and fashionistas such as Alexa Chung and Agyness Deyn, brogues create an edgy masculinity. If you love looking fashionable but still care about comfort these are the shoes for you. Whilst the classic black or brown shoe is still chic, now is the time to check out something a little more quirky. Think bright colours, chunky flatforms and unusual detailing. For the more daring out there check out crazy printed versions. If you still want the flexibility of a classic shade, update your look with studded details. Wondering what to wear with your new pair? Feminine dresses and chunky knits are a great trans-seasonal Summer to Autumn look. Or embrace a tailored silhouette with a blazer and cigarette ankle grazers to show off your new shoes.
Rust Structured Blazer Topshop £65
Krystal Studded Brogue - Topshop £65
Head Over Heels Lola Blue Lace Up Brogues - New Look £23
By Alice Simpkin
Ego Lace Camel Lime Leather - Office £55 Red Lea Floral Dr. Martins - Office £155
For the girls...
Blouse with Peplum and Crochet Lace Trim ASOS £32
Beige Tapestry Chelsea Girl Satchel - River Island £28
Time to invest in the perfect bag! With lots of course books to carry around this term, you’re going to need a practical bag... not forgetting fashionable, of course. This season welcomes lots of colours and prints, offering a different touch to your autumn outfit, so you’ve got plenty to choose from. The baroque trend is big this season, so girls look out for bags with the key colours black and gold, as well as tapestry floral prints. Fun retro prints are popular for the boys in River Island’s collection, and tartan is also making an appearance on the high street this autumn. If you’re hunting for a good quality satchel, check out The Cambridge Satchel Company, currently popular thanks to a recent Google Chrome ad, which produces great quality leather bags. Prices are quite steep starting from £74, but on the bright side it would last you forever, plus student loans are in!
Squaro Stud Shopper Warehouse £46
The Classic 11”The Cambridge Satchel Company £74
By Jess Waymark
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careers 25
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games 22
film 21
music 20
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For the boys...
Bags Of Style
Double Strap Handheld Bag - Miss Selfridge £42
Dahlia Stud Embellishment Collar Blouse ASOS £50
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1 October 2012 waterfrontonline.co.uk
Cream Motif Print Rucksack - Topman £30
Satchel with Tartan Panel Asos £25
Dark Red Vintage Dunlop Bag River Island £25
The Classic 15”- The Cambridge Satchel Company £84
Coppafeel! of these... This year at Swansea Uni, Boob Love is being spread all around campus to support the breast cancer awareness charity CoppaFeel!, which aims to stamp out late detection and misdiagnoses of breast cancer. While you get to wear the latest trends, you may notice the Boob team, led by Aileen Rice-Jones, have sacrificed their wardrobes for their boob costumes to be a friendly reminder to fellow students on campus of the need to check your breasts regularly, be familiar with what they look and feel like normally and know the signs and symptoms of breast cancer. But CoppaFeel! don’t want everyone to look like a boob! To raise money for the campaign, Fearne Cotton has thought up these two great tee designs for very.
co.uk, so here’s where you come in: only one of these designs will be made, so Waterfront Fashion and Coppafeel! Swansea need you to get voting. All you need to do is get on Facebook, like the Coppafeel! Swansea page, vote for the design you’d like to coppafeel of and make sure all your mates get involved too. Here at Waterfront Swansea, we’ve also all texted in for our free boob check reminders, because let’s face it, while it’s fun to house your hooters in a gorgeous garments, you should be thinking about them when they’re naked as well! So remember to check your boobs regularly. It’s completely free and easy for you to get your monthly SMS reminder: just text ‘SWAN’ to 70500.
For more info on CoppaFeel! and what signs and symptoms to look out for, just visit www.coppafeel.org To get up-to-date with all the boob action at Swansea, ‘Like’ www.facebook.com/ CoppaFeelSwanseaUniversity
Join the new Fashion Soc!
Get Involved!
Swansea University Fashion Society is a brand new society dedicated to all things fashionable and stylish. We aim to bring together student fashionistas for outrageous socials, blogging, exclusive discounts, exciting trips and swishing! ‘Like’ our page on facebook: www.facebook. com/SwanseaUniversityFashionSociety and follow us on Twitter: @SUFashionSoc. By Alice Simpkin
Aileen Rice-Jones - head of the Swansea Uni Boob Team
Meet fashion editors Fran Lloyd and Cat Harris.
We are looking for a brand new team of writers to join us at Waterfront Fashion to bring the latest style to the students of Swansea. If you are an enthusiastic writer/fashionista, get in touch with Cat and Fran at : waterfrontfashion@swansea-union.co.uk We are looking for features on student fashion, events, latest trends, shopping, hair and beauty, men’s fashions, and any other ideas you could bring to the newspaper! Get involved with Swansea University whilst boosting your CV, and doing what Swansea students do best; getting drunk at Fashion Writers’ Socials! We can’t wait to hear from you all!
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Benjamin Francis Leftwich Sin City, Friday 5 October
In recent years the likes of Ed Sheeran and Ben Howard have passed through Sin’s magical doors, with both subsequently enjoying widespread commercial and critical success. The next Swansea-bound acoustic sensation is precocious balladeer Mr. Leftwich, hot off last month’s shows at Reading and Leeds in support of his debut album ‘Last Smoke Before the Snowstorm’. Whilst a more melancholy and introspective affair than the LP’s of the aforementioned, the album’s minimal nature looks certain to create an electric intensity that is not to be missed live. ‘Atlas Hands’ channels mellow Death Cab for Cutie, while ‘Shine’ carries melodic vocals reminiscent of Fleetwood Mac. A star in the ascent, Leftwich has carved his own experiences into his musical heartbreak and loss, but both are nestled within beautiful, reflective tracks that will provide Sin City with one of its defining gigs of 2012. Alex Mckenzie
Pokemon Party
2
Odyssey, Friday 5 October The Pokemon Party was a sell out last year and this time it’s going to be even bigger… Friday the 5th of October will see Wind Street transformed into one of the biggest dress-up events of the year. The concept is simple; get dressed up as one of the original 150 Pokemon or any of the trainers and battle your way through each of the ‘gyms’ to Odyssey. Each of the renowned participating bars (Yates, Walkabout, Ice Bar, Peppermint and Idols) has been assigned a gym and your ticket will get you free entry into them all, plus Odyssey. Let your inner geek out and get dressed up! Early bird tickets are just £3 from Swansea Student Events or fatsoma.com. Ellie Lees
Dan Le Sac
3
Sin City, Monday 8 October After receiving wild success with the second half of his duo, Scroobius Pip, Dan le Sac is taking his talents to a solo platform and is coming to Sin City with his debut album ‘Space Between the Words’. Le Sac’s album is continuously exciting and promises to provide excellent atmosphere live, so if you want to experience electronica other than David Guetta’s manufactured dullness then this is exactly what you’re looking for. Charly Bunker Photo by Dale Harvey
Photo by Dan Marsh
The Computers + Hangmen Sin City, Friday 12 October
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The Computers, currently touring Europe, are stopping off at Sin City with Hangmen for one night only. The Computers, who can deliver an impactful performance, will be sure to put on a brilliant show. Combined with renowned sell outs with seven albums under their belts and a reputation for distinctive originality and high energy live performances, The Hangmen will certainly make an impression. The two together are sure to make for a night that’s unmissable. Becca Hopkins
Greg Davies
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The Grand Theatre, Monday 15 October Star of ‘The Inbetweeners’ Mock the Week and Live at the Apollo, giant of comedy Greg Davies is coming to Swansea’s Grand Theatre with his brand new tour ‘The Back of My Mum’s Head’. Following the riotous success of his Foster’s Comedy Award-nominated first tour, Mr Gilbert is promising a night of deadpan, rude and silly comedy that has nothing to do with the back of his mum’s head. Charly Bunker
BORED...? New to the university and sick of hangovers, lectures and Wind Street? Fear not, as last year’s freshers tell us five different activities to be completed in Swansea that don’t necessarily involve falling head first down Sin City’s stairs… 1. Barnaby Holmes: £4.20 buys you an all-day bus ticket and the 118 takes you all the way to Worm’s Head which is my favourite spot in Britain, and also passes Three Cliffs Bay. Also cycling, fishing and surfing are free to participate in and appreciate the unique natural resources that Swansea and the Gower have to offer. www.firstgroup.com for bus timetables and prices 2. Katie Gillingham: Pub on the Pond definitely! Pub on the Pond, Swansea, SA2 8PY 3. Bianca Maggs: Cosmos! All you can eat lunch for £6 is beautiful. Cosmos Restaurant, 15-16 Castle Street, City Centre, Swansea SA1 1JF 4. Ellie Lees and Becca Hopkins: The LC2 swimming pool! It has a wave-pool and slides! There is a 2 for 1 deal on Tuesdays at 4pm and is only £4 entry with your student card. The LC Swimming Pool and Gym, Oystermouth Road, Swansea, West Glamorgan SA1 3ST 5. Sarah Bray: The Crepe Vine…a really nice French -style café that does hot drinks, milkshakes, crepes and ice creams…it’s really cute! The Crepe Vine, Parc Tawe, City Centre, Swansea SA1 2AL
Greg Davies
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showtime
Why I’m swapping celebs for fluffy bunnies W
ITH the influx of freshers this week, I have finally come to the realisation that I’m getting quite old, writes Catrin Lewis. I no longer live in a world where Freddos are 10p and school discos are the best nights out. Instead, life now revolves around desperately trying to keep track of my student loan and an unhealthy obsession with practically stalking celebrities. Despite the fact that I regularly have my face in the newspaper, I can’t stand the thought of being famous. I like to be anonymous when I’m walking down the street and I don’t want to be scrutinised for all of the poor fashion choices I’ve been known to make when I’ve run out of clean clothes. I’m not alone, either. Many people don’t want the intrusion of someone following their every move. We crave our own privacy, yet it seems that we don’t want to allow others the same rights. “...we are treating these people as human beings rather than just bags of meat with faces.” You may have noticed recently the furore over Kate Middleton’s topless photos being published in Europe. At first, it’s easy enough to argue that a member of the Royal family should not be sunbathing topless. However, the fact that the photographs were taken from so far away that it would not be feasible for her to know that she was
no-one will remember in 18 months. However, at least the people involved have some kind of talent, unlike some of the other reality shows in existence today that seem to obsess the majority of the population.
The cast of The Valleys being captured on film makes you wonder to what extent we are treating these people as human beings rather than just bags of meat with faces. Despite the fact that the writing in these celebrity magazines is largely atrocious, why do we think it’s fair to exploit people for our own entertainment? The whole obsession with celebrity also manifests within the everyday person who is dying to become famous themselves. It is no longer enough to have the ambition to be a teacher or a biscuit taster or a lion tamer. These days, everyone wants their five minutes of fame and if you’re a girl, you want it whilst you’re wearing the entirety of Boots’ make up counter and the latest in tight, highly flammable,
polyester dresses. These desires are fuelled by some of today’s most popular TV programmes. Shows like The X Factor and The Voice try to show us that those talented beings who might normally go through life not being noticed can too achieve fame. Of course, by going down this route, it normally helps to have some kind of sob story, preferably something about your dear old nana. She probably didn’t think you were that good, she just told you that to shut you up. “...it is about greed and wanting a slice of the glittery, glamorous cake for yourself.” These series suck people in, making you forge an emotional attachment to a person you would probably hate in real life, all in the name of votes and the coveted Christmas number one that
I’ve written before about the virtues of being a valleys girl, so I’m disappointed to tell you all that MTV’s latest offering, The Valleys began on September 25th. Based on the format of Geordie Shore, the show aims to take a group of young people wanting to make it big, moving them to Cardiff to try and kick start their new celebrity lifestyles. That’s right. They want to make it big in Cardiff. Now, I have had the pleasure of going to school and working with one of the participants and I can assure you, she is only representative of about 65% of the population of my hometown. The Valleys isn’t about helping to develop a talent that might help to improve the world – although how One Direction improve anything is beyond me – it is about greed and wanting a slice of the glittery, glamorous cake for yourself. It is greedy and shameless, and I only wish that it was possible to escape it. So while you lot are watching X Factor, I’m going to be catching up on something far more valuable. That’s right, there’s a myriad of baby rabbit videos on YouTube, and I’m going to watch them ALL.
Now we see the dark side of the Doctor
Showtime preview
Locally-filmed, sci-fi extravaganza Doctor Who has returned to start its 7th series since its modern revival by BBC Wales. The new series, the third series to star Matt Smith as the iconic Doctor, picks up a few years after the last episode of series 6. The Doctor has been running through time and space having adventures with various historical figures, while Rory (Arthur Darvill) and Amy (Karen Gillian) have been stuck on Earth getting back into the swing of their old lives. A short prequel webisode was released in advance of the new series showing Rory being kicked out by Amy, anticipating the new series with the signing of their divorce papers. The cause of this change is explored during the first episode Asylum of the Daleks. The series thus far has been very enjoyable, already touching on darker sides of the Doctor’s psyche. Several
BBC National Orchestra of Wales: Brangwyn Hall. October 6, 7:30pm. £12 - £20. Featuring Elgar’s Cello Concerto in E Minor and performances from world-renowned cellist Julian Lloyd Webber, this promises to be a little more cultured than the standard Saturday night in Swansea. Whether you’re a music buff or want to experience classical music played live for the first time, this promises to be a great evening.
times the series has hinted that he’s not the same lighthearted Doctor seen during David Tennant’s time, or the start of Matt Smith’s reign. In fact, Amy makes reference to this in A Town Called Mercy, saying that the Doctor shouldn’t travel on his own so much, as he’s changed. The early part of series 7 is a last hurrah for the partnership of Amy Pond and the Doctor after Karen Gillan announced she was planning to leave
partway through this series. Thus far, there have been many moments where they make reference to a future where the Ponds are not travelling or going on adventures in the TARDIS with the Doctor. The first promo released ahead of the series had a voiceover where the Doctor says to Amy, "You're thinking of stopping, aren't you? You and Rory,” and her reply, "the travelling is starting to feel like running away." It will be interesting to see what happens with the introduction of Jenna-Louise Coleman as the companion in the Christmas special. Jenna played a character in the first episode of series 7 - Oswin Oswald - and quickly developed a sparky rapport with the Doctor. Dr Who is shown every Saturday on BBC 1 at 7.30pm and available shortly afterwards on BBC iPlayer. By Chris Melvin
God’s Garden: The Taliesin. October 4, 7:30pm. £12. Choreographed by Arthur Pita, this dance piece tells the tale of the prodigal son of the Costa family who runs away on the day of his arranged marriage to a local girl. However, upon his return, he learns his jilted bride must have her revenge.
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GOING FOR THE RECORD - WITH ALEX GIBBS
music
One band that lives up to all the hype... A
S a contender for this year’s BBC Sound of 2012, Dry the River is starting to become one of the most hyped bands around. After the release of their debut album ‘Shallow Bed’ earlier this year, we had the lucky opportunity to speak to the band personally on the second night of their 13-date UK tour at Clwb Ifor Bach in Cardiff, writes Cameron Stanton.
off, he always plays barefoot on stage. WF You have always produced vinyls with your new releases, how important is the object form of a record in an age of digital downloads? Peter (guitar and lead vocals) Vinyl’s damn cool, it looks better, it sounds better. WF If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be?
Waterfront How does it feel to finally be selling out venues and getting this much appreciation? Scott (bassist and vocalist) Two years ago we were playing venues half this size with half the crowd empty and still were loving the shows then, the fact that now we’re playing sold out crowds, it’s kind of crazy to get your head around. WF Hype built up around the band, did that put pressure on the release of the album or was it purely excitement and anticipation for putting a record out? Scott I think it was more excitement, we were just happy to finally have an album
Peter I think we’re hopefully going to do a collaboration with Arcane Roots. Scott Lana Del Ray, only because I want to meet her! WF Who goes for it most on stage? coming out, we had never properly released an album before and seeing it come out in shops, we were super excited to get it finally out there. WF Was it easy to choose songs for the record? Scott We pretty much tracked all the songs we had up until that point, all the
songs we had been gigging for the past two years, so we jokingly said it’s the greatest hits. WF You have just been announced for Beach Break Live, why should students come and see you live this summer? Scott For the band it’s all about live for us, and you get to see Pete take his shoes
Peter Scott’s the chief rocker out. Scott I’ve got the longest hair so… Taking to the stage later that evening, the group’s live set was stunningly crafted, captivating the audience with every song. With 16 European festivals already announced and a second UK tour in October prepared, Dry the River deserve the people’s attention.
Catch Dry The River live at Bath Komedia, Bath, on October 31. Tickets available at ticketmaster.co.uk
SPOTLIGHT: Punch Brothers A five-man band that contains a mandolin and a banjo may not sound like most students’ cup of tea, but bear with me. Working together since 2006 in Brooklyn, New York, this quintet harmonises beautifully together. With frontman Christopher Thile’s iconic voice, such a range in stringed instrumental has never been performed better. The band would describe themselves as a Progressive Bluegrass group with a modern twist, demonstrating to the world that
classical instruments can be brought into the 21st Century. Thile’s voice melts beautifully with the fast-paced strings and the steady bass in ‘Movement and Location’, which would add a chill to the back of anybody’s neck. Shifting to the country genre with a faster pace, ‘Rye Whiskey’ contains alcohol-soaked lyrics whilst unveiling the beauty of what American classical and country sounds like when meshed together. “Father Father Father, It’s been a long
By Alex Gibbs time how are you doing?” are the opening lyrics to ‘This Girl’, based on asking for a father’s permission to get married. With casual lyrics like these contrasted against the song’s theme, the band combine two unusual essences skilfully. ‘Punch Brothers’ may not be dominating the charts or even that well known in the UK, but this little gem of a band are charismatic when performing live, and put an immense amount of effort and excellence into every song they create.
Do you think a band or genre should be featured? E-mail us at waterfrontmusic@swansea-union.co.uk
albums
The Hives Lex Hives
The Hives return after a five year absence and in typical fashion they do not disappoint, writes Daniel Clifford. Opener ‘Come On’ sets the tone perfectly for the rest of the album; fist pumping and adrenaline fuelled. The chaos doesn’t stop there, tracks ‘Go Right Ahead’ and ‘Wait A Minute’ echo previous hits ‘Hate To Say I Told You So’ and ‘Tick Tick Boom’ - undeniably brilliant and catchy. Simply put, The Hives refuse to lose form. Each and every track stands out: ‘1000 Answers’ and ‘Patrolling Days’ are supercharged with that unmistakable Hives frenzy that makes them an unbelievable rock band. It’s refreshing in an era of auto tune. The Hives’ latest efforts have smashed it, and in spectacular fashion.
The Vaccines Come of Age
Melancholy has always been a word that I associate with The Vaccines writes Alex Ward. Subtract the upbeat 90 second singles, their album ‘What Did You Expect from The Vaccines’ contained a wealth of emotion. ‘Come of Age’ follows suit. It seems that guitarist Cowan has almost limitless capabilities where simple catchy guitar fills, whilst Young’s lyricism follows a likewise effective method – make it simple, make it memorable. ‘Bad Mood’ is a highlight of the album. The emotion however, remains... and it’s been amplified! The irony is that to “Come of Age” implies discovering oneself. This much angst on a record shows they are still in development.
singles Mumford and Sons I Will Wait Like some of their previous singles, ‘I Will Wait’ is a tune firmly set on being blasted out in packed arenas, writes Rich Willetts. Immensely successful folk band Mumford and Sons are a damn sight more interesting than most anthem bands, though. ‘I Will Wait’ is arguably their best anthem to date and a nice taster for new album Babel. Hitting the spot with its huge killer singalong chorus in which Marcus Mumford makes an emotionally charged promise to his lover over a Mumford and Sons trademark thunderous guitar/banjo combination. The sound may not have changed since their first album but given how great their debut was, more of the same is no bad thing.
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careers 25
relationships 23
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film 21
music 20
showtime 19
front row 18
fashion 16-17
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film
Can a Hobbit be split three ways? A
RGUABLY the most anticipated film of the year, Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey will be hitting our cinema screens in December, writes Alina Flint. The film has a star-studded line up of established actors including Christopher Lee, Ian McKellan, Martin Freeman and Benedict Cumberbatch. Though Jackson has hinted that he wants the film to be another chapter of Middle Earth, we can expect The Hobbit to be far more than simply an extension of The Lord of The Rings. The Hobbit will be the first of the Middle Earth films shot in 3D, using state-of-the-art rigs and equipment that will, according to Jackson, “be a dream come true” and achieve what he could not with the Lord of the Rings trilogy: “A film that draws you in [and makes] you become part of the experience [as] the 3D helps immerse you in the film.” By using 3D Cameras and a far higher frame rate, the crew has attempted to replicate what the human eye sees more accurately than any other 3D film. The details in making it have been so precise that even the concept art has been hand drawn in 3D, with the artists Alan Lee and John Howe wearing 3D glasses while drawing. Fans will have to decide for themselves in December how successful these efforts have been. Controversially, Warner Brothers recently revealed that the film will be split not into two parts as initially planned, but three to make it a trilogy. This decision has been met with a lot of anger from fans who cannot understand the necessity of splitting the film. The book of The Hobbit is shorter than even the Fellowship of The Rings, one part of the Lord of the Rings, which as a whole was divided three ways. Though Warner Brothers have argued that it will benefit the films artistically and mean they cut out less of the story it is forcing fans to
Martin Freeman plays Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit. question whether the motive behind this move is not fundamentally a financial one. After a world premiere in New Zealand where the majority of the film was shot, The Hobbit will be on general release in the UK on December 14th. For now, excited fans are being permitted to follow
reviews: dvd The Avengers
By Ellis Watts
Question: Five Marvel superhero films have created a backdrop for The Avengers, but does it live up to the hype? Answer: The Avengers is a truly epic, special-effectspacked, superhero romp and it translates well to DVD too. The story line is simple. The evil Loki is leading an alien army to collect an ancient weapon and use it to rule the galaxy, so a team of super heroes is assembled to stop him and save Earth or possibly avenge it. Pretty standard superhero stuff and at times it feels over the top but the action sequences make up for it. If you’ve not seen the Marvel movies building up to this, you may find the lack of background information frustrating. Also with a huge cast some people might fear that too many big personalities may spoil the film, but it doesn’t become overwhelming and characters are well balanced. That gives Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) more face time and he tends to be the most interesting character. Don’t come into this expecting the storyline depth of something like the Chris Nolan’s Batman series but it doesn’t take away from the fact it’s an enjoyable film and a great watch on a hangover day.
the film’s progress through a series of video blogs that demonstrate how the film is being made and also some of the techniques that Jackson has explored as director. Whether you loved or hated Lord of The Rings, The Hobbit is certainly one to watch.
reviews: film Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists
By Saul Masters
For two decades the American animation house Pixar has received endless acclaim from audiences and the critics, with greats such as Toy Story and Finding Nemo. Yet recently, they have let down their fans with the poor sequel to Cars and the poor quality Brave. And with more sequels in the pipeline, Pixar’s shine could be fading. So it’s surprising that Aardman, the Bristol-based animation house, has not received as much acclaim as Pixar. Aardman’s portfolio boasts the likes of Wallace and Gromit and Chicken Run, two groundbreaking pieces of excellent animation. So expectations were high for their newest release, Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists. The story revolves around Hugh Grant’s Pirate Captain whose mission is to succeed in winning Pirate of the Year award. Yet he becomes side-tracked by David Tennant’s nerdy Charles Darwin, who’s only out for the Pirate Captain’s dodo to win the affection of Imelda Staunton’s Queen Victoria. With a cast including the likes of Brendan Gleeson and Martin Freeman, Aardman offer a tour de force of animation with every scene full of visual gags to please both adults and children alike.
The Dark Knight Rises
By Saul Masters
Since Christopher Nolan’s debut Following in 1998, the director expressed a strong visual talent behind the camera but also had the talent to pen an excellent script with a strong idea at the heart. When Nolan took over the reinvention of Batman he completely stripped the story bare with a commitment to realism and an excellent ensemble of actors. The biggest problem facing The Dark Knight Rises was the success of its predecessor, The Dark Knight, due to Heath Ledger’s scene stealing Joker. Tom Hardy has taken over the duties of villain, hidden behind a life-supporting mask and a faint Jamaican accent. Anne Hathaway plays Selina Kyle, aka Catwoman, yet her potential diminishes as the film goes on, losing any substance to get her claws into. Christian Bale simply reprises his role with the same strong, troubled performance as before. However Batman at times appears to simply play a cameo in the chaos that ensues in Gotham. Nolan’s bold talent is visually beautiful in its dark, grey form, no doubt with the help of cinematographer Wally Pfister. Yet at times Nolan fails to extend creative potential because of Batman’s need to conform to a franchise, especially a superhero franchise with a loyal fan base. Although The Dark Knight is still a more intelligent piece of storytelling, The Dark Knight Rises wrestles with deep socio-economic issues, and proves an intelligent take on one of the greatest comic books ever written.
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FOR GAMERS, BY A GAMER - OLI JONES
games
FIFA 13: Preview
Games tester: hard work or easy money?
C
I work for SEGA as a Functionality Tester, writes James Finlayson. This basically means I’m given a project, a new game set for release, and a task. Tasks tend to differ day by day, and can be anything from destructive testing, literally trying to break the game, to basic spelling and grammar checks. I can’t really complain about sitting down for 9 hours a day to play games. It’s basically what I’d do at home, but I’m not allowed to wear pajamas.
HRISTMAS is coming early for FIFA lovers this year, as the latest annual instalment is released on September 28th, writes John Enright. FIFA 13 is the 20th edition of the allconquering series from EA sports and is potentially the best ever, with an array of tantalising new features. Loyal fans up and down the country will be drooling over the prospect of smashing in a new fully-customisable tactical free-kick, with Cristiano Ronaldo giving your Ultimate Team three points and ensuring your promotion in the new league structure. The much-lauded career mode has been revamped, giving you the opportunity to manage an international side alongside your club team. You will also now be able to switch clubs midseason, providing you receive a suitable offer. There is also more focus on detailed player interactions, all of which means you may have to brace yourself for a Tevez-style strike and prevent it from derailing your season. There is now a final score style classified results section at the end of every round of fixtures, as well as in-game audio updates from chosen games in your league. The transfer system has also been completely rewritten, allowing you to enquire for players, make counter offers, set future fees for loan transfers
and give players roles within the squad when offering them a contract, which could potentially decide whether or not the player joins your club. Other new features include the addition of mini skill games, which can be used to hone your FIFA skills. Near perfect This is just the tip of the midfield diamond in terms of new features and improvements. The occasionally dodgy impact engine has been improved, with players now rolling away after a Roy Keane-style leg-breaker instead of infuriatingly laying on top of each other. Near perfect first touches have also
been removed, which means that attacking will now be focused on precision passing, as defenders are able to pressurise attackers, forcing them into mistakes and giving defenders a greater chance of winning the ball back. This defensive improvement has been countered by a new attacking intelligence, allowing players to analyse the space around them so that they can alter or stop their run, drag defenders out of position and stay two steps ahead of play. There is also a new Lionel Messi inspired ‘complete dribbling system’ which allows attackers to be far more dangerous in one-on-one situations.
It can get tedious at times, having to repeatedly play through the same section of a game trying to reproduce a bug you’ve found, but it’s worth it. Unless of course you find out it’s in the system already, at which point protocol dictates you swear loudly then go make another cup of tea. We’re not allowed to discuss projects outside of work (apparently you never know who’s listening). It can be a little hard if there’s an awesome game in the office, but generally work stays at work. While it’s your dream job dream as a kid; playing video games for hours while eating sugary snacks (they’re to keep me awake, okay? I work nights) it’s definitely more adult and professional than you’d dreamed. It’s great fun, but there’s still a job to be done to get the games as polished as possible before their release.
Do you want to put a game in the spotlight? Email waterfrontgames@swansea-union.co.uk
Wii U buy it?
Out on November 30: The new Nintendo Wii U.
Nintendo has finally revealed details of its new brainchild, the ‘Wii U’, writes Oli Jones.
16:9 touch screen, allowing you to continue playing your game, even when the TV is switched off.
The date to remember is the 30th November and already a host of launch games have been announced including FIFA, Call of Duty, Tekken and the usual outing for the most famous plumbing brothers in the world. A total of 51 games will available when the Wii U goes on sale, as Nintendo are keen to avoid more criticism after the 3DS was released with just 16 titles to accompany it.
The only problem for Nintendo could be that the unprecedented success of the Wii revolution may have ruined any chances of the Wii U selling big. 96 million units of the original Wii were sold which is outstanding, but Nintendo will struggle to please casual and hardcore gamers alike. The potential for the dual screen between TV and controller is exciting, but does a map or an inventory sitting on the arm next to you really add that much to a game?
The console will come in two versions, Basic and Premium, costing £250 and £300 respectively, and both are equipped with the ability to output at 1080p. The console’s most exciting feature will undoubtedly be its 6.2-inch,
Personally, I can’t see this selling anywhere near a comparable amount to the original Wii, but it does look great fun, and enjoying Wii Sports in HD is worth the price.
relationships
Blind Date When Abi met Jacques Abi Bryant, a 20 year old law student, and Jacques Tsiantar, a 19-year-old English Literature student, meet for the Waterfront blind date.
Abi On Jacques Dear Queen, We’ve moved into our house for our final year and it has been a few weeks but we are starting to notice one of our housemates has a really bad hygiene problem, we haven’t noticed him showering, doing any washing or anything. It’s not really a problem for us personally, each to their own, but it’s now starting to create a smell in the air... What should I do??? Love, Claire! x Hey Sugar, I’m gonna assume this is a male housemate as it isn’t normally girls who have a problem keeping fresh. If I had this housemate, I’d drag him in the shower and give him a clean he wouldn’t soon forget, truly take one for the team. But we can’t all be as willing as me now can we? This all depends on how suggestive you want to be but to be honest huni, I doubt subtle comments are really gonna help the situation; it is time to be direct and maybe a little rude. First, do buy some decent air freshener; you might as well make your life a little more bearable until he sorts himself out. Hopefully, he may notice you being a bit too generous with the Febreeze and catch on, feel free to spray a can in his room or something; casual suffocation never hurt anyone. We’ve all read 50 Shades! Now some helpful hints, next time you are getting pretty for pre’s, start making comments, as blunt as you like. “O, your hair’s looking a bit greasy”, “That shirt’s dirty”. Students on Wind Street are looking for a hook-up, but we both know that no girl would go near something that smells stronger than her perfume. It’s his third year, he must know what a washing machine is. His mother couldn’t have been doing it all this time, if she is, then maybe she has too much free time! It may be the case that he simply doesn’t know how to use the machine so casually show him how to put a load on. Simple. If you feel bad, remember that it’s really for his benefit and not just the benefit of your nose!
What were your first impressions? Really good first impressions. He was really friendly and very smartly dressed. What do you think of the choice of venue? We went to Noah’s Yard, which is one of my favourite bars in Uplands so I was really happy with the venue. Perhaps it was a bit busy as it was a Saturday. Any striking conversation points? Well, we were both from Manchester and actually live quite close so we obviously had that to talk about and it was nice to talk to another Northerner! Any awkward moments or silences? There weren’t any awkward moments at all really! The conversation flowed and as far as I was aware it didn’t seem awkward at all. Out of ten, what be your compatibility score with the other person? I would say maybe a six as although we were from the same place, we didn’t have that much in common, for example I love sport and going out and he liked neither. Would you introduce him to your parents? Yeah, he seemed like the type of person I would happily introduce to my parents, as he was very polite and well mannered! Generally how did you think the date went? I think it went really well considering we had never met or spoken before. I was concerned it would be awkward but it wasn’t at all and he was a really nice guy. Would you like to meet again? Yeah, I would definitely meet again but maybe just as friends as I think our interests are just too different for anything else to develop!
Jacques on Abi
Good luck!
What were your first impressions? When I found out we were both from Manchester I thought: cracking. I was a bit apprehensive about meeting up with someone Welsh because, frankly, I’m still having a bit of trouble with understanding the accent.
Hey Queen! I’ve just transferred to Swansea as I hated my old Uni. I found it really difficult to make any connection with people and didn’t have many friends to enjoy my first year. I’m starting afresh with a new degree and want to learn from my mistakes last year and make some decent friends at Swansea. Anonymous Huni, I’ve gotta be blunt but what exactly did you do last year? I’m gonna assume that you lived with housemates or shared your course with other students, did you not? This is where you need to make a start, at home and on your course! Just start talking to people. We all worry about making friends at Uni but it’s no different to making friends at primary or secondary school except now there is usually more sex and alcohol involved. NOT that I’m suggesting in any way that you should sleep around or become an alcoholic but we all made friends because everyone is in the same boat. I am glad you have written in and really want to make a fresh start as Swansea is a great place to socialise and make some truly amazing and diverse friends. Just don’t waste your time like last year. First, the SU has like a million societies for you to join where you can meet new people. Try something you’ve never done before, I did. I joined a sports team last year and OMG I was awful! I quit but I made some friends out of it that I still talk to. Trust me, your circle widens the more people you meet, you meet one friend and they introduce you to others and vice versa, professional people call this networking but we’re students so it’s socialising! If worse comes to worse, drop me an email and we’ll share a bottle of rose in JCs as I can talk to anyone about anything! All the best Sugar!
What do you think of the choice of venue? Noah’s Yard: fantastic place but for the most part we were sat next to one of my lecturers. I felt he was giving me a bit of moral support, in a sort of, not speaking to me or recognising me, sort of way. Any striking conversation points? It was all light hearted; it’s not like we were up for a night of breaking the boundaries of modern thinking or anything. Any awkward moments or silences? Hey, nobody said blind dating was easy. Sure there may have been a couple of brief moments but I didn’t really find it awkward at all. If you were to be married and have babies, what would you want your baby to inherit? Psychic powers. Just like in X-Men. That’d be sweet. Out of ten, what are your compatibility score with the other person? Depends what you mean by compatibility. I’d say a pleasant five, with an extra point on top of that for us both being northern. Generally how did you think the date went? I think it went swimmingly. We had a laugh and that, but it wasn’t so much a date as an evening of pleasant and interesting conversation. Would you like to meet again? In a social sphere, yeah, that’d be nice. •If you are interested in featuring in the next blind date, email your name, age, course and level to sammeeb@hotmail.co.uk.
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careers 25
relationships 23
games 22
film 21
music 20
showtime 19
front row 18
fashion 16-17
food 15
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careers 25
relationships 23
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fashion 16-17
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careers
Employers are all lined up to meet you T
HE annual Careers Fair is your chance to come and talk to representatives from a wide range of employers all in one place, writes Jo Davies. Many of the people whom you will meet at the various stands are young graduates who have been through the recruitment process and training programmes quite recently, so they are in a good position to understand your perspective and explain the opportunities available. Preparing for the Careers Fair The full programme for the Fair, can be found at www.swansea.ac.uk/ careers/careersfairevents/. To make the most of the day it would be a good idea to: •Research the employers you wish to speak with and think about the questions you would like to ask them. •Update your CV. •Be open-minded – Many employers consider graduates from any discipline as they are interested in the wide range of skills you have gained during your time at university. •Find out what employers look for in applicants. Think about it as a networking event. You will be meeting employers in a relatively informal setting, but even so you need to do some preparation beforehand, think about the questions you need to ask and consider how you want to present yourself to the organisations that you’re interested in. To help you
Careers Fair 2012
•What is your advice for a successful application and interview?
Date Thursday, 4 October Time 10am – 3pm Venue Marquee in front of Fulton House
CV Clinic Careers Advisers will be on hand to give you tips and advice on improving your CV, so bring a hard copy along with you. It doesn’t have to be near-perfect – if you haven’t written a CV before and would like some help, get a draft CV ready and bring it along.
we’ve put some ideas together about the kinds of questions you may wish to ask: •Do you offer a graduate training programme and what does it involve? •How many positions are available? •What degree and degree classification do you require? •What type of previous work experiences do you look for in candidates? •What benefits do you offer and what development opportunities will be available to me within your company? •Do you have any other openings for graduates? •Where are you located? •What is a typical working day like? •What support/training will I receive on the job? •Does this training lead to additional qualifications? •Is there the opportunity to progress within your company? •How do I apply and what activities are used in your recruitment process? •Is there a way to bypass the on-line system to submit an application if I don’t have the stated UCAS points?
Key to stands
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Closing dates for jobs Graduate training programmes often have closing dates between October and January for final year undergraduates, so the Fair is an ideal opportunity to talk to people and gather information before you apply. See www.swansea.ac.uk/careers/ jobs/. Prize draw A short survey form will be handed out to all students attending the Fair because your views are important to us and help us improve future Careers and Employability events. Everyone who completes the form will have the option to be included in a prize draw for a Unibus term ticket worth £156 that has been kindly donated by First Cymru Buses Ltd. Other events In addition to the Careers Fair, the Careers and Employability Services organises an events programme that runs throughout the year. See www.swansea.ac.uk/careers/ talksandevents/ for more details.
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More than 50 firms will take a stand 1 HSBC 2 Grŵp Gwalia Cyf 3 Royal Navy & Royal Marines 4 Army 5 RAF 6 Civil Service Fast Stream 7 Virgin Atlantic Airways 8 Delphi Diesel Systems 9 NHS Wales Informatics Service 10 Colas Rail 12 Morgan Cole Solicitors 13 Chartered Instit Wastes M’mt 14 WCVA (Wales Coun Vol Action) 15 ACCA 16 Gapforce 17 Deloitte 18 Swansea Uni Student Services Post Grad 19 OSTC 20 RWE Npower 21 Intellectual Property Office 22 The Swansea Foundation 23 Arriva Train Wales 24 Logica 25 Renishaw plc 26 Coastal Housing Group 27 Tata Steel Europe 28 Institute of Legal Executives 29 RNLI (Roy Nat Lifeboat Inst) 30 Projects Abroad 31 International Rectifier 32 SMU Swansea Metro Uni 33 John Lewis Partnership 34 Teach First 35 The College of Law 36 The Training Room 37 Assystem UK Ltd 38 UNA Exchange 39 Bouygues UK 40 Civil Service - Health/Soc Svs 41 Whizz-Kids 42 Chartered Inst Man Accountants 43 School of Law, Swansea Uni 44 Welsh Government Statistics 45 ICAEW 46 Enterprise Rent a Car 47 GE Aircraft Engine Services Ltd 48 Discovery 49 PwC 50 GoWales 51 Swansea University Careers & Employability Service
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SPONSORS: We are delighted that PricewaterhouseCoopers are sponsoring our Fair this year. PwC is the world’s largest professional services company whose business areas include Assurance, Consulting, Tax, Financial Advisory, Actuarial and Technology. For information about careers with PwC and advice on developing your employability, please visit http://www.pwc.co.uk/careers
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E N H A N C E YO U R S T U D E N T E X P E R I E N C E
societies
A Digital Freshers’Fayre T
HE electrifying ambience within the Freshers’ marquee was matched only by the youthful exuberance of Swansea’s newest students at this year’s Freshers’ Fayre, writes Catrin Lewis.
COMEDY FRESHERS SHOW
The hilarious Comedy Society bring an evening that promises to be a barrel of laughs. With Fred Cooper being funny as always, the event is set to tickle your funny bone. 7th October | Divas Nightclub | 7.30pm comedy@swansea-union.co.uk
It’s said to be one of the most successful fayres with over 3,000 people joining on the first day, despite teething problems with the new barcode system. The new system means that societies no longer take their own cash payments, instead giving students barcodes to take away and pay for at tills. For the first time, it is also possible to pay joining fees online, simplifying the process. With stalls from almost every society and sports team at Swansea University,
Society Meet and Greet Events
STUDENTS’ UNION STAFF RACE FOR LIFE
St. John Links offers first aid training and provides services for society socials and events. Perhaps the greatest achievement of the entire fayre was the new layout, making it easier for students to get around, and the comfortable temperature – any of you who have been to past fayres
will remember the sweltering heat and shudder at the memory of being squeezed next to hundreds of other students who still smell of last night’s drinks-based activities.
The student and support staff at the Students’ Union are joining together and taking part in the Race For Life in Swansea on the 6th October. The twighlight run at 8pm will be raising money for Cancer Research UK, in an attempt to raise awareness of and treat breast cancer. societies@swansea-union.co.uk
THE SOCIETIES SHINDIG - ILOVEMONDAYS
However, the second day saw issues with the barcode scanners which all decided to engage in a mutiny – like the football team. This meant that the barcodes provided to each society were unusable, only adding to the concerns that societies had already had about the new system.
Many societies will be taking part in the ilovesocieties social that takes place over Oceana on the 8th October. You can buy tickets from the society you’re a part of and some of the money gets reinvested into your student experience! societies@swansea-union.co.uk
Swansea Fashion Society offered discounts and brightly coloured t-shirts.
The UNICEF (United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund) Society are having their first social on Wed 3rd Oct @ 6pm in JCs. The UNICEF Society were most notably remembered last year for the very popular ‘Speed Dating’ social on Valentine’s Day. unicef@swansea-union.co.uk
UNICEF WELCOME MEET AND GREET
The Ancient Studies Society as warriors. it gave the unique opportunity to experience a little of what each offers. Some societies obviously took it far more seriously than others, with C.L.A.S.H society donning a full suit of armour, and Fencing doing demonstrations in front of Fulton House. There were also stalls from businesses including Swansea Market - who gave away free Welsh cakes - and Nando’s. It’s true - students are suckers for free food.
Ultimately, the fayre was a success, despite the technical failures that left some with a dented confidence.
The German Society displayed the traditional Lederhosen and Dirndls.
•For more information see www. swansea-union.co.uk/activities
SUCS MINECRAFT LAN PARTY
SUCS (Swansea University Computer Society) are having their first event in Dining Room A with a Minecraft LAN party. Sat, 13 October, 11am – 5pm sucs@swansea-union.co.uk
Want to know more about societies? Check out www.swansea-union.co.uk/activities
SOCIETY SPOTLIGHT - HUMAN RIGHTS ACTION A new society for this year, the Human Rights Action Society, focuses on promoting the awareness of human rights through education, volunteering and participating in protest rallies.
Working closely with the charity Asylum Justice, the society offers the opportunity to volunteer in pro-bono law clinics and gain experience through internships.
The Human Rights Action Society also want to be at the forefront of the debate on the Government’s plans to abolish the Human Rights Act and replace it with a Bill of Rights.
The society describing themself, says: “We want our voice to be heard. When abuses of human rights become apparent, we want to stand up and say that these will not be tolerated.”
The Law School have an accomplished team of lecturers who specialise in the human rights field and produce world class academic research on how human rights law should be interpreted in different jurisdictions.
Their first social will be on October 4th for the Ethics Societies Social at Sin City with Amnesty, UNICEF and People & Planet. Starting in JCs from 8pm. E-mail: suhumanrightsaction@googlemail.com
SPORT I 29
waterfrontonline.co.uk Hockey
Intramural Football
Davies hopes cup run will inspire the team to go even further this season
CUP CONTENDERS: Swansea University’s women’s firsts team (above) taking on Southampton in the semi-final of the BUCS cup last season at Sketty by Tom Nightingale waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk
SWANSEA’S new women’s hockey captain Kira Davies is all fired up ahead of the new season, having come out second best in both the league and cup last year. The 1sts side finished second in their BUCS league as well as going
out in the semi-finals of the BUCS cup in a run that was unprecedented for the team. Davies said: “I’m so excited for this season to get underway.” “Having missed out on promotion by one game last year and reached the semi-final of the BUCS cup. “It’s obviously a goal of ours to attempt to go even further in the
cup, and of course to gain the promotion that we so deserved last year!” The 2nds were also unlucky to not be promoted as they finished second in their respective division. Varsity was a day to forget for the women’s team as they lost 3-1 to Cardiff, their first Varsity defeat in three years.
Despite this, Davies is optimistic ahead of the new season. She added: “We have more than enough potential to gain promotion. “To achieve a successful and consistent season, we’ve got to push ourselves. “Being so close in both the league and cup front has only driven us on further.”
Football
United men’s football aim to surpass super season
Photo by: Jon Collier
ALL FOR ONE AND ONE FOR ALL: Men’s football hope to continue their standard from last year as they aim to surpass their previous season’s exploits by Tom Nightingale waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk
SWANSEA University’s men’s football club experienced massive success in 2011-12, and outgoing club captain Zak Shayler is predicting more of the same in the upcoming campaign. Shayler believes last season was “probably one of the best in the last decade”, but is still confident
Swansea have more to give. The 1sts secured a fantastic promotion back to the BUCS Premier South after a four-year absence in a season which included two victories over Cardiff in BUCS Western 1A division. With the other teams continuing to push for higher standards, such as the latest intramural league title going to the university’s seventh side, Swansea will look for even more
from their teams this time round. Shayler said: “During my time at Swansea I’ve seen a real unit grow.” “A real club has formed, and it has gone from consisting of seven different teams to one whole unit. “The aim this year is to keep the first team in the Premiership, which we know will be tough. “We’re also aiming to develop the teams below them, from the 2nd team right through to the 7ths, to
enable us to achieve unprecedented success.” The one area of disappointment was in the annual Varsity game, with Swansea surrendering a lead to go down 2-1 against Cardiff, with crowd trouble marring the end to the game, as the referee called time early. Swansea will be itching to set the record straight when they clash next year. The season starts October 17.
Revisited: Intramural Football 2012 by Craig Hadley waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk
THE intramural season has been one to remember, so in case you missed the action, here is a reminder of what happened. Before the season had even kicked off, big news was announced for everyone involved. It was revealed that the Ents Cup final would be moved from Sketty Lane to the more prestigious St Helens rugby ground. Going into the season the reigning league champions, Uni 6ths, started where they left off with a 9-2 drumming off newly formed Signature on the opening day. Likewise the Ents cup holders, Ajax Treesdown, started well with a 4-1 win over Sub-Standard Liege. Elsewhere a familiar side took to the field looking to avenge last year’s disappointment, Team Sloth. In 2010 Team Sloth were on the top of the world, having just captured the league and cup double, but the season that followed failed to live up. After being left empty handed in 2011, Team Sloth set out to prove a point, and thrashed Hardly Athletic 7-2 in their opening match. On November 13, Jasmin Lane made history as she became the first female intramural referee to officiate in the Swansea league. In the final fixtures before the winter break, Blazin Bonville Bulldogs, Team Sloth, Uni 6ths, K.A.Y. FC, Ajax Treesdown, SPR, Sketty Bolognese, Uni 7ths all picked up wins. A tragic event followed: the untimely passing of former intramural player Jack Wilcox rocked the league. He had been a regular fixture of the Hardly Athletic side between 2009 and 2011, and many players wished to pass on their condolences. Hardly Athletic captain Alex Doney, speaking at the time, said: “Jack was one of the nicest guys anyone will meet, and would help anyone out if he could, he will be missed.” In respect all players of the league had a minute’s silence before the next round of fixtures, in Jack’s memory. As the season wore on one team were a cut above, Uni 7ths, who finished top having only lost one in 16, finishing on 43 points. The cup final consisted of last year’s holders Ajax Treesdown and Team Sloth in what was set to be a landmark day as the teams stepped out onto the St Helens pitch. Team Sloth’s James Mahoney put in a man-of-the-match performance, netting twice, to give his side their first silverware since 2010. In May, Swansea’s select eleven overcame Cardiff at Varsity to round up the year on a high note, thanks to Dy Noonan’s late strike. The golden boot went to Nick Hammett of Sketty with 14 goals.
SPORT I 30
waterfrontonline.co.uk Intramural Football
Who will the pundits pick? AS the intramural league fast approaches, we ask the guys in the know how it might go.
New head of intramural at Swansea seeks to maintain high standards Intramural Football
by Craig Hadley waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk
Owain Harries, predicts the league will be a two horse race between Ajax Treesdown and K.A.Y. FC, with Team Sloth retaining the cup. He also sees the surprise package being Photosinthesis this year. Dan Clancy, is tipping Ajax Treesdown for a league and cup double this year having kept a strong base from last season. Surprises could come from either Photosinthesis, Sub Standard Liege or SPR. Alex Roberts, I fancy Team Sloth to do the double this year, great team unity, but Sketty Bolognese could be contenders in the league too. It would be a surprise if Team Sloth aren’t up there or there abouts.
NEW FACE, SAME STYLE: The head of intramural Swansea Owain Harries
STABILITY is the name of the game as the intramural league enters another year of competition. Following the success of last year’s cup final at St Helens rugby ground, it has been confirmed by the head of the intramural league, Owain Harries, that St Helens will continue to host the event this year. “Yes, definitely, St Helens will host the final again this year,” said Harries. “The cup final was a huge success last year with a record attendance. “We’ll be hoping to get games played at Ashleigh Road before the cup final so the other teams can go straight from their games to the final.” Following suggestions that the intramural league could expand into two leagues in the near future, Harries believes the current system promotes a more competitive atmosphere. Harries said: “I don’t think two leagues would add any extra competitive edge. “The teams lower down in the league table tend to enjoy having their chance to shock the bigger teams, having two leagues would remove this opportunity. “Also teams differ year in year
out and the standard of teams can change drastically. “An example would be K.A.Y. FC, a lower league team two years ago that finished an impressive fourth last season.” Swansea intramural is going from strength to strength and Harries believes stability is key. Harries added: “There will be no changes from the way the league was run last year, why try to fix something that isn’t broken? “Referees will be receiving further training hopefully and continue to improve. “The main thing I’d be looking to improve is to increase promotion and sponsorship, to continue the growth of the league across the university. Being a mainstay of the Team Sloth setup in recent years, Harries assures everyone involved that he will remain professional throughout the season. Harries said: “The reins of Team Sloth have been passed over to Garin Rees. “I think it would be unfair on the league if I was in charge of the team as well as the league. “I’m really hoping to improve the experiences of all 19 teams involved.” The new season starts October 17.
waterfrontonline.co.uk
SPORT I 31
London 2012
Cricket
Photo courtesy of: ParalympicsGB
Whorwood celebrates back-to-back bronze medals
by Craig Hadley waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk
SWANSEA’S SUPER SWIMMER: Matt Whorwood (above) swam to bronze in the 400m Freestyle (S6) at London 2012 by Alex Powell waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk
TWENTY-TWO year old mechanical engineering student, Matt Whorwood, has won a swimming bronze medal at this summer’s Paralympic Games. Whorwood was looking forward to London, and savouring the atmosphere from the home crowd Speaking to BBC Sport prior to
the games, Whorwood said: “The Paralympics is like nothing else. The atmosphere of having a whole British crowd this time, rather than a predominantly overseas crowd ... will be breathtaking.” Whorwood first competed for Great Britain in 2006 and since then has taken Paralympic championships by storm. There were high expectations for Whorwood in London following his great success in Beijing in 2008,
where he won bronze in both the 400m Freestyle (S6) and 100m Breaststroke (S6). In London the 400m Freestyle proved his best discipline once again. He started brightly, finishing second in his qualifying heat with a time of 5.17.28. He was third fastest going into the final behind Ireland’s Darragh McDonald and defending champion Sweden’s Anders Olsson.
The final went to form with McDonald proving he was a class above the rest, finishing the race in under five minutes, almost eight seconds ahead of Olsson. Whorwood battled hard to keep with his rivals, smashing his time from the heats, finishing in 5:11:59. Speaking to the British Swimming Association following the race, he said: “I came here looking to get on to the podium and I’ve achieved that, I”m absolutely delighted.”
Rugby Union
Lessons will be learned following the Varsity humbling back in May by David Hendy waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk
SWANSEA University’s men’s rugby union coach Richard Lancaster believes the men’s first team will bounce back from the disappointment of last season. Last year, Swansea University’s men’s 1sts lost 31-13 against Cardiff University in the Millennium Stadium for the first time in three years, capping off a disappointing season for the team. Lancaster has high ambitions for rugby at the university this year as he expects “the first team to finish in the top four of the league, win the Welsh Varsity match and win the British Championship” . After last season’s disappointment these lofty ambitions might appear out of reach, but Lancaster is confident of their ability to come back stronger and more determined this season to set the record straight. This season, Lancaster is looking “for all types of players from all types of backgrounds” after a handful of the first team graduated from the university. “Ultimately the first 15 are a
PRIDE OF SWANSEA MAULED: Swansea University 1sts (above) at last year’s Welsh Varsity match in Cardiff very high standard, but there is a shortage of second rowers and back row players,” he said. “Beyond that, all are welcome whatever the level as we are planning on having four sides in BUCS, one Saturday Barbarian side and two Sunday Fresher League teams.” Lancaster believes joining the rugby team is great for sporting and social development. He said: “The rugby team has a
Weather plays huge part in cricket season
great sporting structure and a great social side too. “There is a great club feel with the first team players helping to coach the Freshers’ teams. “Students will meet fellow players here who will turn out to be their mates for life.” Lancaster expects some of his squad will also play for regional rugby sides this season also. He said: “We have strong links
with both the Ospreys and Llanelli Scarlets, so don’t be surprised to see some of our university players also playing regional rugby this season. “We have produced a long line of international players and will go on to help produce the next generation of stars.” Former Swansea University players include current Wales assistant coach Robert Howley and Ospreys second rower Alun Wyn Jones.
WEATHER conditions throughout April and May had a massive effect on the cricket season as both the firsts and seconds looked to impress. The cricket season was set to start on April 22, but heavy rainfall prevented the game going ahead with the next game called off as well. On April 30, the Varsity match with Cardiff was set to take place but was cancelled due to bad weather. The game would have been the first Varsity match since 2008. Finally on May 6, some cricket action got underway. Swansea 1sts travelled to play Exeter 2nds and after an impressive start by the home side, with 239 runs off 50 overs, Swansea had it all to do. A strong bowling display saw off Swansea who could only manage 155 runs before the final wicket tumbled. Swansea 2nds also travelled, playing at Plymouth St Marks & St John, with Plymouth reaching 140 before the tenth wicket fell. The seconds bided their time and slowly picked up the runs as Plymouth did their best to take the wickets off the travelling team. Swansea secured the win in the final over of the game with 141 runs. Another rain affected midweek fixture list followed, with the 2nds back in action the following Sunday at home to Bristol 3rds. After an impressive 203 for six wicket innings from the home team, Bristol had it all to do. Swansea’s bowlers were in fine form, taking all 10 wickets for a mere 89 runs to secure their second win of the season. BUCS later voided the results due to the effect the rain played, and all teams will restart in the same leagues this season. Swansea 1sts finished bottom of their own division following their one defeat, but were perhaps unlucky given they were the only team to have played just one game in the season. The 1sts looked to turn their luck around with a good cup run after the league finished for the season. A 250-run innings was enough to see off Bristol 3rds, in the quarter finals of the BUCS Western Conference Cup, with Bristol only managing a score of 160. The semi final draw saw Swansea 1sts play Gloucestershire 1sts in a reduced overs match. With only twenty overs to rack up the runs, Swansea managed a score of 125 runs. It was a tight affair as Gloucestershire chased down the total, with Swansea pushing them all the way. Gloucestershire managed 127 to secure victory in the 19th over.
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Issue 217
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waterfrontonline.co.uk All of our articles throughout the year can be found on our website, it’s updated regularly so check it out today !
October 1, 2012
Inside This Issue
DOUBLE DELIGHT FOR DAVID
London 2012
Whorwood retains his bronze medal in London
p31 Rugby Union
Swansea raring and ready to set the record straight
Photo by: Zoe Robinson
SWANSEA’S STAR MAN: David Smith (above) won two medals at the Paralympic Games in London this summer in his sport of Boccia by Chris Flynn waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk
PARALYMPIC success graced Swansea University student David Smith this summer, who won two medals in the sport of boccia. Smith, 23, competed in the Paralympic Games, hosted by London, over the summer and took both a team and individual medal for his efforts. The Swansea student was beaten in the mixed individual final by Thailand’s Pattaya Tadtong, giving
him a respectable silver medal. He also celebrated a bronze in the team event, losing to gold medallists Thailand in the semi finals. “Thailand was miles ahead of everyone,” admitted Smith. “I feel happy with my medals and I achieved the maximum for that competition.” Boccia is one of the 21 events that teams competed in at this year’s Paralympic games; similar to bowls, it has featured in every Paralympics since 1984. It is a game contested by athletes with cerebral palsy and other
neurological disorders. Smith was part of the Great Britain boccia team who won gold at the 2008 Beijing games, beating Portugal 8-4 in the final. Smith went on to describe London as being “far better than Beijing” with “excellent” standards throughout all the venues he visited. On the prospect of Rio 2016, Smith said: “I’m still on a come down after London and Rio looks a long way off. I’m not excited about it yet because I’m still in London mode.” Originally from Eastleigh, Hampshire, Smith was ranked
second in the world prior to the games, and has amassed a collection of bronze, silver and gold medals since his first almost ten years ago. Smith is close to finishing his degree in aerospace engineering at Swansea. “I really enjoy my degree, it’s very challenging and there’s always more to learn. “The course has been great in allowing me to taper it to fit in with my preparations for London; however I am looking forward to finishing after five years.”
Upcoming Fixtures for Swansea University October 10
October 17
SWANSEA 1st v GLAMORGAN 1st
BATH 2nd v SWANSEA 1st
Men’s Rugby League Men’s Rugby Union
SWANSEA 2nd v UWE 1st Men’s Rugby Union
SWANSEA 3rd v CARDIFF 3rd
IT BEGINS... OCT 10
Men’s Rugby Union
CARDIFF MET 3rd v SWANSEA 4th
For the full list of fixtures for the opening few weeks, you can go to our facebook page.
Women’s Badminton Men’s Badminton
SWANSEA 2nd v SWANSEA 1st Men’s Badminton
SWANSEA 3rd v UWE 2nd
p31 Intramural Football
Intramural pundits give their predictions for 2013
p30
Last Year’s BUCSTable 1 2 3 4 5
Loughborough Durham Birmingham Bath Leeds Met
5353 3504 2912 2814 2759
Men’s Basketball
SWANSEA v CARDIFF Women’s Basketball
SWANSEA v CARDIFF Men’s Basketball
SWANSEA v CARDIFF
24 Sheffield 25 Swansea 26 St Andrews
1061 1059 1007