the waterfront
Free Issue 261 8 February 2016 waterfrontonline.co.uk
The official student newspaper of Swansea University
Are Swansea University and the Student’s Union Really Suppressing Free speech?
INSIDE
LIBERATION LGBT History Month pg.7
Are the University and the Union really suppressing free speech, or is Spiked-online flawed in its representation? by Rhydian Morris
waterfrontunionnews@swansea-union.co.uk
Spiked-online, a libertarian news site, has released its second year of university free speech rankings. Swansea University and its respective student’s union scored the highest ranking of Red for its restrictions on speech and expression, an increase from its 2015 rating of Amber. The site criticized the University for its Suppression of homophobic speech through its ‘Sexual Orientation Policy’, a policy aimed to ensure Lgbt+ students and staff members are not subject to discrimination and harassment on campus. The university was also marked down for its stance on sports initiations and it’s banning of a “cultish” religious group from university premises. The Union fared worse with Spiked severely criticizing the union’s stance on pole
fitness and the removal of lad’s magazines from union run commercial venues. The online site also criticized the union for its support of the BDS (Boycott, Divest, and Sanction) movement, though for unclear reasons. The online site had this to say about Swansea University and the Union “Swansea University and Swansea University Students’ Union collectively create a hostile environment for free speech. The university, which has moved to a red ranking, restricts homophobic speech and, last year, banned a religious group from campus. The students’ union, which has maintained its red ranking, has banned lads’ mags, a pole-dancing society and has backed the boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement. The institution’s overall ranking moves to red”. The spiked analysis of Swansea’s free speech credentials is, unfortunately, critically flawed. There seems to be a severe lack of
research done by the editorial team, as none of the issues listed occurred between the years of 2015-2016. There is, therefore, no basis for the increase in rating from Amber to Red. The university’s sexual orientation policy has been in place since 2012 and cannot be used as evidence of a movement to restrict university speech for the years of 2015 and 2016. The bans listed for the student’s union occurred in 2013 and 2014 respectively and in the case of the pole fitness society, was reversed after a few weeks. The University were contacted to comment on the rankings but did not reply. A spokesperson from Swansea Student’s Union had this to say “As a union we are a democratic organisation, any actions carried out by the union are voted on by students. Students are welcome to voice any concerns at one of our student forums or directly to our elected officers.”
MUSIC Bloc Party review pg.15
REVIEW Coffee Punks pg.25
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the waterfront Third floor, Students’ Union Singleton Park, Swansea, SA2 8PP (01792) 295 988 waterfrontonline.co.uk twitter: thewaterfrontSU facebook: the waterfront swansea Editor editor@swansea-union.co.uk Design & layout Designer @swansea-union.co.uk News - Declan Murphy waterfrontnews @swansea-union.co.uk Liberation - Akosua Darko waterfrontnews @swansea-union.co.uk Features - Shona Johnson waterfrontfeatures @swansea-union.co.uk Music - Gareth Matson waterfrontmusic @swansea-union.co.uk Film - Joshua Vaughan waterfrontfilm @swansea-union.co.uk Creative writing- Zoe Stabler waterfrontcreativewriting @swansea-union.co.uk
the waterfront 08. 02. 16
Late Night Bus Service Still Under Threat by Declan Murphy
waterfrontnews@swansea-union.co.uk
This week saw First nearly cut the night bus after a flurry of incidents surrounding the state of buses coming from the town center after nights out. The move nearly came after numerous reports of litter and other less than desirable things being left on buses after people had emptied out. The service has only been running since around December and already First Cymru had opted to review its future. The service offers a safe way for students to get home from Wind Street after a night out and as a result students who rely on the service would’ve had to find alternate means of getting home. As well as offering a safer option, it also offers a cheaper option. Overall, using the buses provided works out as a cheaper means to get home after a night out than the other option of using a taxi. Students weren’t the only ones affected by the potential
change. Some of the service’s users are also those working late shifts in the town center. The initial news that the service was nearly lost was broke to most through Lewys Arôn’s, the SU President’s, Facebook page. He had previously mentioned his and First’s distaste for the way the buses had been left, “Absolutely disgusted with images I have been sent by First”. When reached for comment, the President informed the Waterfront he would have to attend “a series of emergency meetings to try and retain the service”. Luckily, it seems to have paid off, for now. The risk of losing the service is no surprise given the attitude of some students and locavls during nights out. Over Halloween local police were called out numerous times in regards to issues with partygoers. That being said it seems the vast majority of students were nearly punished for the actions of a few, an unfortunate reality. opposite: a Facebook post by SU president Lewys Aron
Saturday Exams on the Exit by Robiu Salisu educationofficer@swansea-union.co.uk
Societies -Molly Dowrick waterfrontsocieties @swansea-union.co.uk Fashion - Shona Johnson waterfrontfashion @swansea-union.co.uk Culture - Zoe Stabler waterfrontculture @swansea-union.co.uk Food - Sarah Harris waterfrontfood @swansea-union.co.uk Relationships - Rhydian Morris waterfrontrelationships @swansea-union.co.uk Website - Andy Pover waterfrontweb @swansea-union.co.uk Advertising - Jordan Shamsaee (01792) 602496
Do you want the good news first or the bad news first?I’m an optimist so I’ll start with the good news! Saturday exams are on the way out following consultations with the university colleges (YAYAYYAYYAYAYA). This is due to the majority of colleges responding “no” to the question “Should Saturday exams remain?” following the students’ consultation from last semester. And now the bad news.. (sorry!!) The final step of this campaign process regards the final authorisation by the university’s Learning and Teaching committee, headed by the Pro-Vice Chancellor Mr Martin Stringer. The decision was to be made at the upcoming meeting
on 28th January 2016,however, it has been postponed until the next Learning and Teaching meeting on the 2nd of March. I’m aware many of you were frustrated at Saturday exams this exam season,however the changes were always going to be made for the 2017 January exam season and beyond. If you have any further comments on this, please email me at educationofficer@ swansea-union.co.uk. Otherwise, look out for future updates on this campaign @SUSUEducation PS. Saturday exams do not take place in the summer so you can look forward to more sunbathing time, *cough* *cough* revision.
SU-TV film festival 6 FILMS : 1 NIGHT OF STUDENT MADE ENTERTAINMENT
FRIDAY, 29TH APRIL 2016 TALIESIN ARTS CENTRE SINGLETON CAMPUS
TICKETS ONLY £3
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My Experience at the Women in Leadership Conference On the 26th of January I took myself on the four-hour train journey all the way to Sheffield to attend the NUS Women in Leadership Conference. The day was filled with impressive speakers from the NUS UK Women’s Officer to Laura Bates. During the first hour of the conference, the hall filled with delegates from all over the country were hit with a big reminder of what we’re up against. The keynote speaker Laura bates, founder of ‘Everyday Sexism Project’ website in 2012. Her inspiring speech included these bold facts:
• Fewer than 1/3 MPs are
women • Around 1/5 of the House of Lords are women • Only 7 out of 38 Lord Justices of Appeal are women
period) or the uncontrollable fear that companies have concerning women starting families. The rest of the day I filtered in and out of networking session, where I met some amazing women officers, and heard of some brilliant campaigns such as National Period Day. I also participated in a ‘courageous conversations’ workshop. We discussed what makes a conversation courageous, is it the knowledge the information you’re about to have with someone is against the norm? Or is it because you’re afraid of their reaction to your opinion over something. The workshop highlighted more than anything that women need to have more of these conversations at work, that negative feedback that sometimes can’t be ignored, we also learned the importance of using our compassion to our advantage. It was a fantastic workshop, especially for myself and I reviewed the way I sometimes skirt away from problems that I should face heard on.
• Only 18 out of 108 High Court
Judges are women • Only 5% directors of major Hollywood films are women • Only 1/10 engineers are women • Only 1/5 architects are women • Only 1/5 front pages written by women • 50% of chemistry graduates are women, yet only 6% of chemistry professors are… • FTSE 100 companies in the UK have more leaders named John than they do women I was reminder starkly of how important is it to encourage women in leadership, to over come the stigma and women in power and their supposed emotions controlling their actions (Hello what caused the world wars? Definitely not a female on her
New Workshops for Women: Domestic Abuse Support
gain power and control and empower women to recognise and realise when they are being controlled. • empower women to recognise the warning signs of potential future abusers.
The Wellbeing Service part of Student Support Services have made a new workshop catered around women will start at the end of this month. Their new workshop combines with the Freedom Programme which is offered to groups of women throughout the UK who are either experiencing domestic abuse or who have experienced it in the past. The abuse may be (or have been) in various forms including physical, emotional, psychological, sexual or financial.
This group is for any woman who is an enrolled student, of any age, sexual orientation or nationality.
to the Student Wellbeing Centre confidentiality policy for details. The group will aim to start meeting at the end of the month. For more information, please email the group facilitator. There is also one-to-one support for those who prefer a small space to talk, for information of this also please use the emails below.
The group will be held in a safe place and what you discuss there is confidential please refer
Ronnie (Veronica) Thomas v.a.thomas@swansea.ac.uk Sarah Hinds s.hinds@swansea.ac.uk
The aims of the group advertised online are of such: • help women gain selfesteem and confidence. • explore the many “explanations” and “reasons” given for abusive behaviour and empower women to realise that these are not acceptable and are only excuses. • explore the tactics that are used by an abuser to
Who can attend?
Join the Student Wellbeing Centre Freedom Programme
Learn about violent and abusive behaviours and how to recognise when someone is being abusive and controlling
Gain self esteem and confidence and improve the quality of your life Meet other women who have shared similar experiences. o
o
o
o o
o
o
My partner is always hecking my texts My boyfriend doesn’t let me see my friends He gets really jealous and aggressive They say I deserve it He makes negative comments about how I look My husband controls all our money He won’t let me say ‘no’
This group is for enrolled female students of any age, nationality or sexual orientation who have experienced an abusive relationship either currently or at any time in the past.
When and Where?
The group will be starting towards the end of February at Park campus and will run until mid-‐April. This is an open group which runs for 7 sessions. We will cover different topics each week and you can come to as many or as few sessions as you feel comfortable to. For details of session content, dates, times and venue, please contact one of the group facilitators
Contact Details
Ronnie (Veronica) Thomas v.a.thomas@swansea.ac.uk Sarah Hinds s.hinds@swansea.ac.uk 01792 295592 We will reply to your email as soon as we can during office hours.
There will be a warm welcome and refreshments provided
No pressure, just a chance to be yourself in a safe and confidential environment
Another workshop I attended was the ‘Women in Elections’, we were shown the examples of how women in elections can face more backlash from the media from men, for example the cabinet reshuffle in 2014. A certain national newspaper took the opportunity of the new increase in women in the cabinet in a rather sexist view. Instead of encouraging the new gender balance, they chose to highlight their make up use, the clothes they wore on the way to downing stress calling it the ‘Downing Street Catwalk’. To my knowledge I have never noticed any men being scrutinised like this. The workshop not only highlighted the difficulties that women can face in elections but how to overcome them. They highlighted self-care in campaigns during elections the importance of ensuring suitable environments to work it. To not forget yourself in working for the good of others. The importance of intersectionality is something that was brought to light throughout the day, the importance of
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NEWS WI T H H EAT H ER WO O D working with our peers and ensuring that all students no matter, their race, religious views can always see solidarity from those around us. Overall I learnt how important it is to support women. This is why I am pushing for the women’s officer to be returned to Full Time.
Catherine, Joshua, and Charlotte working with Katrina from the Richard Burton Archives
Six Simple Ways to Make the Most of your Work Placement The last week of January was Employability Week and many students completed graduate level work placements, either through Swansea University’s Week of Work (WoW) programme, through their college, or independently. Here are some quick tips on what to do to make the most of a placement once you’ve completed it. 1. Fund your expenses. Swansea Employability Academy accepts retrospective applications to the Week of Work programme, and can fund up to 5 days reasonable travel and lunch expenses for voluntary work experience. If you’ve found a placement independently and would like to apply to recover some of your costs, email workplacements@swansea.ac.uk. If your placement was already organised as part of the WoW programme, we’ll be emailing you an expenses form soon. 2. Register your placement on your Higher Education Achievement Report. The HEAR is a great way to let prospective employers know about all your achievements at university, not just your academic grades. All Week of Work placements are automatically registered on your individual HEAR, but if you’d like an independently sourced placement to be recognised on your report, you can again email workplacements@ swansea.ac.uk. Students who are retrospectively awarded Weeks ofWork are kept on our database for future placements.
3. Book an appointment with a Career Advisor. Often work placements can open your mind to new career prospects and different ways of working and it can be difficult to know how to put these ideas into practice. By booking an appointment with a qualified and impartial careers advisor at the Swansea Employability Academy, you can get the best advice and support for the next steps on your career path. Appointments are free of charge, available to all Swansea University students and can be booked at myuni.swan.ac.uk/employability or pop into either the Bay or Park campus library. 4. Update your CV and LinkedIn profile. It’s vital to not only keep your CV up-to-date by adding the details of your placement, but also to make sure it still fits with your values and goals for the future. Work Placements will often be important catalysts for decision making, so make sure that your CV is still aligned to your career targets. You should also add any additional skills you gained or developed during your placement, and say how these relate to your aspirations. Once you’ve updated this on your CV, it’ll be easy to copy it in to your LinkedIn profile (You have got a LinkedIn profile, right?) and while you’re on the site, make sure you add any colleagues that you worked with during your placement.
5. Keep in touch. Adding colleagues from your placement on LinkedIn is just one way of keeping in touch. Remember, the people that you worked alongside in the company have invested in your future career so will be interested in seeing your next steps. Email them individually to thank them for the opportunities they gave you and ask for all-important feedback on your work. These conversations can often develop into valuable informal mentoring which can help when it’s time to… 6. Find your next role. By now your placement is registered with the University, you’ve had great feedback from a career advisor and your colleagues, you’ve updated your CV and online presence, and you’re in touch with key contacts within your chosen business sector. It’s time to network and use these resources to ask for your next role. Good luck. If you have any photos, stories or reflections from Employability Week or your Week of Work we’d love to hear from you. Please email workplacements@swansea.ac.uk If you’ve completed the above steps, you could be eligible for a SEA Award. Visit https://myuni.swan.ac.uk/ employability/swansea-employability-award-overview/ for more information.
VISIT PAGE 11 TO READ ABOUT TWO STUDENTS WHO COMPLETED A WEEK OF WORK DURING JANUARY
Swansea Employability Academy Events Coming Soon Employability Workshops, Talks and events at Singleton Park Campus and Bay Campus throughout February and March. These events are open to all students across both campuses. We arrange a wide range of events to help you improve your Employability. The Swansea Employability Academy invites employers to give presentations about specific
careers and professions, placements, skills development, year out and volunteering opportunities. Booking opens approximately 2 weeks before the event date. Please note that you do not need to book a place for ‘Employer in the Foyer’ events. The programme is below and for further information and to book your place, please visit: https://myuni.swan.ac.uk/employability/workshops-and-talks/
Day
Date
Start
End
Event
Organisation
Venue
Title of Presentation
Tuesday
09/02/2016
10:00
16:30
Employer in the Foyer
Bank of Ireland
Library & Information Centre Foyer
N/a
Wednesday
10/02/2016
17:00
18:00
Employer in the Foyer
Swansea University Post Grad Recruitment
Library and Information Centre Foyer
N/a
Thursday
11/02/2016
10:00
16:30
Employer in the Foyer
USA Summer Camp
Library and Information Centre Foyer
N/a
Thursday
11/02/2016
12:00
13:00
Employability Workshop Swansea Employability Academy – Careers Adviser
Fulton House Lecture Room A
Post Grad Study
Thursday
11/02/2016
17:00
18:00
Talk
USA Summer Camp
Keir Hardie Room 216
USA Summer Camp
Tuesday
16/02/2016
17:00
18:00
Talk/Skills Session
The Chartered Insurance Institute
Keir Hardie - Room 216
Succeeding in risk and wealth management
Wednesday
17/02/2016
12:00
13:00
Employability Workshop Swansea Employability Academy – Careers Adviser
Fulton House Seminar Room 2 Writing an effective CV & cover letter
Wednesday
17/02/2016
12:00
14:00
Employer in the Foyer
Swansea University Post Grad Recruitment
Library and Information Centre Foyer
N/a
Thursday
18/02/2016
10:30
16:30
Employer in the Foyer
CCUSA
Library and Information Centre Foyer
N/a
Thursday
18/02/2016
17:00
18:00
Talk
Swansea University SWWP - Reaching Wider
Keir Hardie Room 216
Working with young people on campus
Tuesday
23/02/2016
12:00
13:00
Employability Workshop Swansea Employability Academy – Careers Adviser
Fulton House Lecture Room B
Interview Techniques
Tuesday
23/02/2016
17:00
18:00
Talk/Skills
British Red Cross
Keir Hardie Room 216
Volunteering Opportunities with the Red Cross
BAY CAMPUS Wednesday
24/02/2016
12:00
14:00
Employer in the Foyer
Swansea University Post Grad Recruitment
BAY CAMPUSLIBRARY
N/a
Thursday
25/02/2016
11:00
16:30
Employer in the Foyer
Work Ready Graduates
Library and Information Centre Foyer
N/a
Thursday
25/02/2016
17:00
18:00
Talk
Work Ready Graduates
Keir Hardie Room 216
Getting Work Ready Seminar
Tuesday
01/03/2016
17:00
18:00
Talk
Swansea University ELTS
Keir Hardie Room 216
CELTA
Thursday
03/03/2016
10:30
16:30
Employer in the Foyer
Fidelity International
Library and Information Centre Foyer
N/a
Thursday
03/03/2016
13:00
15:00
Employability Workshop Swansea Employability Academy – Careers Advisers
Fulton House Seminar Room 2 Assessment Centres
Thursday
03/03/2016
17:00
18:00
Talk
Keir Hardie Room 216
A career within a Finance/ Investment Management business
Tuesday
08/03/2016
12:00
13:00
Employability Workshop Swansea Employability Academy – Careers Adviser
Fulton House Lecture Room B
Writing an effective CV and cover letter. Introduction to LinkedIn
Tuesday
08/03/2016
17:00
18:00
Talk
IBM
Keir Hardie Room 216
3 Things I Would Change If I Were To Go Back To University
BAY CAMPUS Wednesday
09/03/2016
15:00
17:00
Talk
Swansea University International Student Advisory Service
BAY CAMPUSSchool of ManagementRoomCBE 11
International Students – What next after my Degree?
Fidelity International
The myth of limited housing
Peace Mala project aims to improve interaction between faith and cultural groups
by Khalid Wagaafe
waterfrontnews@swansea-union.co.uk
Students of Swansea University: quell the naïve sense of standards and scramble through a crowd of your course mates to half a dozen viewings in a day - for off-campus student housing is a rare, yet valuable commodity. So goes the myth. Student housing is notoriously overpriced, poorly maintained and decrepit. The main contributor to this in Swansea is the entirely false belief that housing is limited. Welfare Officer Lloyd Harris tells us that “there is a surplus of student housing in Swansea”. The myth of limited housing helps to create a scarcity mind-set whereby we make quick decisions based on an inflated internal valuation. This is the same reason why people are prone to jostle and jolt in a Black Friday standoff for an item that they hadn’t particularly wanted before others began to deplete its stock in a one-day only sale. Rushing to secure housing early is not necessarily in the interest of all students as it shifts the balance of power to landlords and letting agencies who can maintain the status quo by pointing out all the early reservations, thereby perpetuating the myth of limited housing. Improving the standards of housing is of course the duty of the landlords and property managers, but ensuring that that we cannot be forced into a choice between a series of substandard properties is also a collective responsibility of students. Rather than viewing houses earlier and earlier each year to secure accommodation, we should shop around well into this semester to let landlords know that won’t compromise on standards because we don’t have to.
Former archbishop of canterbury,Rowan Williams
the Interfaith Dove at Makkah
Peace Mala is a non-profit registered charity initialized in Swansea wit the aim of educating and empower children, young people and adults, and especially those who are marginalised because of their ‘perceived difference. Chen Chen, a third year student at Swansea University, told us “ Dove 13 is our Symbolic Interfaith Dove of Peace and has a very important job to help promote greater understanding between people of all faiths and none. It has already made the most amazing journeys between the various faith communities of South Wales, Yorkshire and Manchester. It has also visited Jerusalem with members of the Orthodox Jewish community of Swansea.
Pupils at St. Josephs school, Swansea
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LIBERATION
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with Akosua Darko
waterfrontliberation@swansea-union.co.uk
LGBT History Month Comes To Swansea Uni February, in the UK is officially LGBT History Month. It was first established in 2005 and takes place in February as to coincide with the abolition of Section 28, which prohibited schools from teaching about homosexuality and the publishing of materials which were considered to be “promoting” homosexuality. It was abolished in 2003 and LGBT History Month followed in the wake of this as a way of combatting prejudice against LGBT people and raising awareness. Sam and I, the LGBT+ Part Time Officers at the Union are planning to hold different events throughout the month of February in order to raise awareness through the University. The month will begin with a showing of Pride, a film telling the story of a group of gay and lesbian activists from London who raised money for the striking Welsh miners during the Miners’ Strike from 1984 to 1985. We choose this film as we thought it would be interesting for people to see a little-known role that was played by LGBT activists in a significant part of Wales’ history. There will be other events throughout the month, including another film night and a cocktail night. We will also be running a week long stall to raise awareness of a different identity in the LGBT+ Acronym each day. We plan to finish off the month with a pub
quiz event, testing people’s knowledge of LGBT+ history and culture as well as general knowledge, with some prizes to be won. Throughout the month, there will be materials posted around Fulton House and the Union building to raise awareness of the month and of events. We intend to have the gay, bi and transgender pride flags displayed on the front of Fulton House for the entirety of the month. We also want to raise money throughout the month, which will then be donated to an LGBT charity at the end. There will also be events organised by the LGBT+ Society throughout the month, as well as the LGBT+ Staff Network, who are planning to run an Equal Opportunities Lecture on the 17th of February and a stall of famous LGBT people in history on the 2nd and 16th of February. They will also be running a blog series on LGBT history throughout February. LGBT History Month is an important event in the year for the LGBT community. Although there are other days which are celebrated throughout the year, LGBT History Month is the one huge campaign in the year that is dedicated to raising awareness of LGBT+ history. We hope to do our best to give this event the recognition it deserves and to make the students here at Swansea University more aware of it as well.
by Hannah Stewart
creative writing
tech
food
societies
fashion
film
music
culture
features Lifestyle for Swansea students
8 February 2016 waterfrontonline.co.uk
front!
Questions and Troubles with Quentin Tarantino, p12.
8 February 2016 waterfrontonline.co.uk
features
with Shona Johnson
How it Feels to be Catcalled
Before I go any further I would just like to point out that I understand that catcalling for some people is taken as a form of ‘compliment’, but please understand that I am simply retelling the way it made me feel, and the way it made the other people involved feel. I wrote this post on my blog towards the end of August 2015, however I have decided to include this in the features section because I am hearing of more and more women having this experience in the same place. My post read as follows: Last night was my first night of bar training at a local music venue that I DJ for in Swansea. As a general rule, if you are working behind the bar of any club or venue the dress code is black. I didn’t have many dry clothes in my wardrobe (I’m a student, tumble dryers use up a lot of electricity... and electricity is expensive!) so I was reduced to wearing some black high-waisted jeans, as well as a black crop top. When I told my friend about my ordeal, she pointed out that it was irritating how I felt that I needed to explain to her what I was wearing. Even if you are walking around topless, it does not give anyone a right to deliberately make you feel intimidated, in any case, what I was wearing is irrelevant - but sadly relevant in the eyes of the offenders. It takes me about half an hour to walk from my house to where I work, the last stretch of my journey being down ‘St. Helens Road’, a street dominated by takeaways, restaurants and a couple of newsagents. I made this trip yesterday evening at about half past six, bearing in mind that we are right in the middle of summer, the sun was still out and it was pretty busy. Down that road I have been wolf whistled at, followed and had throwaway
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by Shona Johnson
waterfrontfeatures@swansea-union.co.uk
remarks about my appearance hurled at me, but yesterday really topped it all off. I was coming up to the first takeaway on the main stretch of the street when I heard a few comments being thrown around behind me, like ‘Look at her ass!’ and ‘White girl has a black ass!’, I did not turn around as I didn’t want to provoke any more attention than I already clearly had. I ignored their comments, but they started addressing me. ‘You, girl! You with the green hair!’, ‘You girl, let me feel your ass!’. I walked faster, until I was out of earshot of their remarks. I neared the end of the road when I saw two other men coming towards me, they were both staring directly at me. I met their gaze briefly but pretended to use my phone in order to avoid any more unwanted attention. I kept on walking, but they halted right in front of me. I tried to walk around them but they kept stepping in front of me when I did so, all the while making comments like ‘I’ll take you home if you want’ and ‘Oh my god look at her’. I was getting increasingly anxious about the group behind me catching up, I managed to dodge my way around the men and shout a few abusive terms their way. That was all I could really do. I turned around, and they had joined the group of men walking behind me. They followed me for a while longer, but I turned a few corners and managed to get away from them.
“IT IS NOT ‘NORMAL’, NOR IS IT AN ‘OKAY’ OCCURRENCE ” I got to work on time, and put on a brave, if angry, face. I had work to do and a bar to learn. Inside I felt like breaking down. I had never felt so helpless, frustrated or unsafe in my entire life. Now I am a strong woman and I used to pride myself on the assumption that when it came to it, I could defend myself - but against so many men there was absolutely no way that I could have done anything, and it was one of the few times in my life where I can honestly say that I felt weak. How dare anyone make me feel this way about myself? It made me question my own integrity, made me feel self-conscious about my body, and made me feel unsafe and fearful in my own neighbourhood. Possibly the most upsetting thing about this entire ordeal is that it is so common, especially in this area of Swansea. I took to the internet, and learned of many other incidents like my one happening on a regular basis. Below are but a few cases that have had light shed upon them: “I walk home from work along that road at night. One week I was walking and saw a homeless guy up
ahead. I had planned to give him change until he said ‘I bet you could keep me warm tonight darling’. “ “My housemate told me about was when she was dressed in trackies and a hoodie, with a massive backpack on - as she was walking back from the train station, yet someone looked at her and went ‘Oh she’s just asking for it...’ “ “I was walking down there, when a couple of guys wolf-whistled at me and ‘woop woop’ed, while following me....” “I was followed by a group of men down St. Helens Road who were discussing amongst themselves what they were going to ‘do to me’ if they got me back to their houses.” “I’ve been stared at, wolf whistled, catcalled etc. along that road. I’ve also had men I have been with be applauded or congratulated on having me in their company.” “I was physically stopped by a man outside of Subway, just so that he could ask if my boobs were ‘real’. Supposedly, they looked ‘too nice’ to be real. He then proceeded to ask me if I was busy that night.” I asked the same people as mentioned above exactly how these experiences made them feel, I was presented with the words ‘vulnerable’, ‘unsafe’ and ‘angry’. One said that their ordeal was ‘Nothing short of intimidating, and disrespectful to say the least.’ Are these truly the words we want to be hearing when someone is asked to describe their walk to work, or their trip to the shops? What was even more upsetting for me to hear was that it had just become a ‘normal’ part of a woman’s day to experience verbal abuse when walking down that road, it was busy when I was accosted, and nobody even seemed to care about what was happening. Also, I use the word ‘woman’ because it mostly seems to be women (cis or trans*) that fall victim to these attacks, not to say that men (cis or trans*) do not experience the same inequality, they by all means do, perhaps just to a lesser or less-recorded extent. It is not ‘normal’, nor is it an ‘okay’ occurrence in modern society when the negative effect it has on people are of this magnitude. What baffles me is why it seems to be just this area in particular. The attacks are not exclusive to a time of day, a particular race, a particular build, a particular job, or a particular type of victim - they seem to happen to almost any woman (cis or trans*) at any point in the week. The people being affected are human beings, deserving of respect, not objects to be gawked at and ‘validated’ by ill-placed ‘compliments’. It’s aggressive, it’s intimidating and it is downright unfair. Be aware of the effects this has on a person, and be very aware of the fact that this is considered ‘no big deal’ by a lot of people, even in 2015. It is happening everyday, and it is a very, very big deal.
25 January 2016 waterfrontonline.co.uk
11
by Emily Porrit
My Week of Work by Molly Dowrick ‘Refreshers’, a week of lie-ins relaxing after the hectic month of exams and revision, chilled coffee dates with friends and course mates you haven’t seen for a while and nights out on Wind Street - and the inevitable hangovers. I did a couple of those things, but I also decided to take advantage of Employability Week/Week of work, workshadowing the Students Union Education Officer, Robiu Salisu for an interesting and enjoyable week of events, meetings and educational tasks. Back in October I interviewed the Student Union’s wonderful Education Officer, Robiu Salisu, as part of my feature ‘Meet your union’. Supportive and inspiring, Robiu informed me about his role as Education Officer and some of the policies and campaigns he hoped to work on this academic year. Fast forward a few months and I spent a week shadowing Robiu in his position of Education Officer: attending the Masters graduation, university meetings and events in the Students Union as well as more typical day-to-day tasks including helping with articles and posters that Robiu regularly designs to publicise education policies and campaigns within the students union. My week was a varied and interesting one! On Monday I started at 9:30am at Brangwyn Hall where I attended Masters Graduation. After two fire alarms saw hundreds of graduates, staff and parents evacuate the hall and wait for the fire brigade to turn off the alarm and ensure the building was safe, I saw how there is never a dull or normal day for the Full Time Officers in the Students Union! Robiu and Lewys Aron, the Student Union President had been asked to present a short speech to the graduates and their supporters at the graduation ceremony and I really enjoyed watching the students graduate and listening to the speeches, one of the more unusual and special events that Robiu and the Full Time Officers are involved in. It was great to see how the Students Union are involved in students’ graduation and gave me an insight into what my own graduation would be like in two years time! The Tuesday and Wednesday of Week of
Work were largely dominated by meetings in the university and students union. On the Tuesday morning I attended the Students Union’ staff training and information session, which gave me a real interesting insight into the workings of the Students Union - I had no idea the scale of planning that has to go into every student union event or activity! I also attended a variety of university meetings during my Week of Work, including the Learning and Teaching committee meeting and the Collaborative Learning Partnership group which gave me a real insight into how the university education syllabus is discussed and updated, as well as information and an awareness of the detailed thought and planning that goes into teaching styles and inter-departmental and inter-college links within the university. I also spent time volunteering at the information stand for Holocaust Memorial Day and later in the week I worked on numerous posters for the Module Feedback campaigns, while using social media to encourage students to fill in the feedback surveys: a somewhat enjoyable, albeit long process! I also shadowed Robiu in his student union meetings, including a meeting with Sam Uche, the Societies and Services Officer and the Executive Committee meeting with the other Student Union Full Time and Part Time officers. Robiu was so supportive and answered all my questions about his position in the students union, and more general questions about the education syllabus and issues that affect students’ studies at Swansea. I had a really enjoyable and eye-opening week: a real insight into the complicated and often chaotic inner workings of the Students Union, as well as the hard work and dedication required in the role of Education Officer. I’d like to thank Robiu for being such a wonderful mentor for me and allowing me to gain such vital work experience in shadowing him in his role as Education Officer! I would definitely recommend a Week of Work placement to any student who is interested in getting an insight into a career or job that they’re thinking of for the future.
For Employability Week 2016 I interned with Lewys Aron, the Student Union President. The week gave me the opportunity to see the inside running and activities of the full time officers as well as the various roles Lewys plays within the union. From attending graduation to meetings with University Staff to giving presentations to international students, the days were never the same and we were always on the move. Whilst being the face of the Student Union and representing the student voice to many different groups of people the president has to juggle his daily commitments whilst also pursuing his campaign goals. During the week I worked with Lewys, he pushed forward with his campaign to light up the park and hopefully during February there will be more seen of this. He interacted
with staff from both campuses, with Firstgroup and with many students as he walked from place to place. It is a credit to his successful presidency that most people, students and staff alike, would greet Lewys as he went about his day. I am incredibly grateful to have been given the chance to sit in on many of the meetings he attended and to also help out by writing blog updates and completing tasks set. The work the full time officers do for the student body and university cannot be valued enough and as such it was great to be able to witness them in action. I also would like to thank the Swansea Employability Academy for connecting me with the opportunity to work with Lewys and think that any opportunity to get an insight into the often unseen workings of the University is something not to be passed up on.
film
with Joshua Vaughan
8 February 2016 waterfrontonline.co.uk
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Questions and Troubles with Quentin Tarantino
Pam Grier as the incredible Jackie Brown by Joshua Vaughan
waterfrontfilm@swansea-union.co.uk
“Egotist”, “genius”, “geek”; these are just a trio of words which have adequately described Quentin Tarantino over the course of his long career as the director, writer and cameo-bomber of a variety of Hollywood’s most revered films in recent years. However, there is one word which has come to light which, in a manner more than fair, sums up Tarantino’s career post-Jackie Brown. This word is “disappointing”. It may be sacrilege for some people to make Tarantino a figure of disappointment rather than that of worship-inducing idolatry. However, for a career which was forged from a star through Reservoir Dogs, to then birth unto the world this critic’s favorite film in Pulp Fiction, and then to create the depth of brilliance found in Jackie Brown, it is more than testing to see the dismay which has found its ground in Tarantino’s career thereafter.
Yes, this includes the strange misguidance found in Kill Bill Volumes I and II. The beginning of this downfall took place postJackie Brown, with the release of Kill Bill Volume I, a film revered by Tarantino fans. After Jackie Brown failed to impress at the Box Office, collecting a measly $40 million (compared to Tarantino’s previous $215 million success with Pulp Fiction), Tarantino brought out Kill Bill Volume I in 2003. Now, compare this film to Tarantino’s earlier works. Reservoir Dogs, the pinnacle of Tarantino’s greatness, which would go on to be ripped off by Tarantino himself (we’ll get to that later). Pulp Fiction, the greatest interwoven work of postmodern cinema ever put to screen. Jackie Brown, the only film in which Tarantino actually creates a feasible woman character, rather the dictionary of Tarantino in a dress (we’ll get to that also). Kill Bill Vol. I? A series of individual filler scenes with the estranged film-geek quotes or unmemorable action set-piece thrown in, complete
with a distractive, overbearing soundtrack to cover for the director’s lack of investment in a succinct narrative. Kill Bill Vol. I is a film overridden with violence, without any conviction of real grit or depth which (similarly) over-compensates for Tarantino’s disinterest in making a film which is reined in, with the aim of hitting the point Tarantino thought he would address; he, instead, misses that point entirely, directly through the means listed above. What this all amounts to is a film which (although the scene itself may be aesthetically impressive), the action and dialogue set pieces counteract with each other, creating an uneven shambles which Tarantino has failed to correct. Therefore, it is easy to see that Kill Bill Volume II is no better in this sense. Moreover, most of his most avid defenders would still like to believe that Kill Bill was made to be a fan’s film, or rather,“homage” to Japanese cinema. If we are to go down that road of thinking, as we move on to Death Proof, we will
8 February 2016 waterfrontonline.co.uk
discuss how those people are (and I stress this) completely and vehemently wrong to use that frame of defense. Back to Kill Bill. Tarantino’s “homage” seems to go the length of purposely omitting the name of the Bride from the films until she is revealed to be Beatrix Kiddo (spoiler). However, this in itself completely and viciously defeats the obvious (and quite hammered in) connection to Clint Eastwood’s character of The Man with No Name. Similarly, the out-of-place anime chapter entitled “The Origin of O-Ren” is perhaps the best the film has to offer, yet sums the entirety of Kill Bill up in one fleeting moment: a four hour collection of scenes which are individually quite well made, but when preceded or followed by another equally opposed scene, the grit and emotional connection with the film of a whole is lost, when Tarantino has proven this to be one of his strengths. This, of course, is a fundamental problem with movie direction as a whole, and a problem one cannot ignore with the work of Tarantino. After the release of Kill Bill I & II, Quentin’s selfindulgence towards film-making was easy to note and today seems easier to ignore. This was totally and quite accurately timed by Tarantino through his release of Death Proof, as although Tarantino and the marketing campaign may have tried to pawn the film off as “the fifth film by Quentin Tarantino” on all of its advertising posters, it is at best the sixth-and-a-half by him. Do you know how I know that, Quentin? Because although you have tried to write off Four Rooms (which you wrote and directed, by the way) in that Stalinist way all egotists do, you also forgot that Kill Bill Volumes I and II are on two separate discs of a box-set, were released in two different years, and people paid to sit in the cinema to see your films not once, but twice. Aside from the utterly false marketing of the lie that is Death Proof, one can now get to Quentin’s narcissism as it unfolds on-screen. As mentioned before, Jackie Brown contained a fully fleshed-out female role, which had a demeanor and a purpose separate from Tarantino’s trademark rambling diction. Instead, Death Proof was the opposite. Death Proof, initially half of the movie Grindhouse when paired with Robert Rodriguez’s Planet Terror, was split by Tarantino after poor initial ratings and Box Office estimations (sure, he is a “fan” who doesn’t care about ratings or money). Death Proof: a horrendously written film surrounded by women who all speak like Quentin Tarantino may not sound like much, and it is exactly that; not very much at all. Everyone in this film speaks just as Quentin Tarantino would be expected to speak, except however, when Tarantino does arrive in the movie, his acting is so wooden and off-pace that he cannot physically talk in the manner that his co-actors have been screen-written to talk. This, among all other pieces of evidence collected from those four hours of Kill Bill Tarantino sat and wrote, shows that Tarantino has lost the will to write the roles of men and women as separate entities, and rather, has selected to write dialogue for all genders, races and ethnicities across all of space and time as he himself would verbalize his most basic words. Not only is this lazy, but gives reason to believe that Tarantino has sold out; a pretty evident point given how he split up Grindhouse. Following Death Proof, Tarantino released Inglourious Basterds (yes, that is how it is spelled) in 2009. Despite being the director’s best work since Jackie Brown, it really isn’t saying much when given his later track record.
This film was an uneven blend of each of the films which it had been preceded by, and is the rare example in which we can see just how good Quentin Tarantino is as a filmmaker when creating a set-piece (in this sense, I refer solely to dialogue set-pieces; action, not so much). The tension is gripping and has real depth, the cinematography is particularly great, and the direction in these scenes is definitely above par, considering Tarantino’s work in Death Proof. However, the mastery in those breathtaking dialogue set-pieces, such as how Christoph Waltz’s “Jew Hunter” opens the film, is completely overshadowed by a very uncanny flaw: Tarantino’s inability to rein himself in as a director of the movie as a whole. Despite the dialogue being incredibly fascinating at times, each scene is overmatched when spliced together to make a film. Inglourious is proof in how Quentin Tarantino has the ability to produce setpieces which are incredibly pleasing, both to the eye and to the ears, but he does not have the ability to use these pieces to make a movie overall coherent, missing his overall goals to the point of disregard and eventual abandonment of the movie’s identity.
“JACKIE BROWN CONTAINED A FULLY FLESHED-OUT FEMALE ROLE, WHICH HAD A DEMEANOR AND A PURPOSE SEPARATE FROM TARANTINO’S TRADEMARK RAMBLING DICTION” To further this point we move on to Django Unchained, a film with really pleasing aesthetics, yet faces real disappointment in its lack of an overarching narrative. The epitomical “I like the way you die, boy” scene is one of few grounded scenes in which the film has real grit and depth, and does not lose itself in the unreal escalation that befalls Kill Bill. However, the overwhelming problem facing Django Unchained, aside from Tarantino’s use of unnecessary gore and explosions which demotes the film in quite an alarming way, is Quentin’s obsession with the shock of cinema, which seems to replace the relevance of the scene itself. The ending of Django is quite simply the result of an undisciplined director. Despite the ways in which Tarantino is a breathtakingly good cinematographer, and alerts the actors around him to his specific wishes, he still tends to put the scene before the movie itself. This is wholly evident in Tarantino’s bizarre appearance in the film, with the most horrendous Australian accent (if you can call it that) ever put to screen. Whilst being the same length as Jackie Brown, one is a narrative well told and fleshed out, whilst the other finds its convictions through the makings of 2/3rds an excellent movie, and 1/3rd a movie of incredulous silliness.
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Tarantino at the German premiere of The Hateful Eight
This leaves us with The Hateful 8. Last week at The Waterfront, Alex Roden wrote a review which stated the undeniable fact that Tarantino always manages to get people talking about his film. Although this is metafactual, given the nature of this article, it seemed that just talking about the film is not enough, when taking into account the slump “H8ful” has taken at the Box Office, compared to the director’s recent so-called hits. Django meets Reservoir Dogs, and pretty much rips off the latter’s premise entirely (as mentioned at the beginning of this article). A film around 30 minutes too long, The Hateful 8 wraps this whole thing up with a pretty bow, and suffers all of the pitfalls and triumphs that Tarantino has seemed to find himself facing over and over again. Beautiful scenes, interesting dialogue, great acting, wholly overshadowed by the director’s inability to rein himself in, resulting in a movie bereft of a feasible story arc, and unnecessary action scenes negating the gorgeous scenes of set-up and dialogue; because five other films of this same mantra was not enough. It is utterly apparent that despite the wonder of Tarantino’s ability to create a scene of pure majesty, it is ironic that his films post-Jackie Brown cannot sustain themselves in the same way. Even more disappointing is Tarantino’s obsession with the effect of the shock of cinema (the overuse of the “n” word, splattering violence, long ungrounded monologues), to the point where these factors often replace the importance of the script itself. Whereas before, Tarantino would create beautiful interwoven story arcs, full with fresh and interesting characters, his films have gone the way of explosions and flashy, unnecessary homage’s. Egotist? Certainly. His ungrounded (false) rant about Disney’s strong-arming business tactics on The Howard Stern Show is just one of many events in the last 12 months which pretty much is an update on where Tarantino’s self-indulgence stands today. Beyond those reasons, people often point out the preference of “style over substance”. This is a false dichotomy. My evidence? Quentin Tarantino. His films often have both, in equal and oftentimes superb stature. However, instead of working together to make a great movie, they counterbalance and hinder the next Tarantino classic being made.
8 February 2016 waterfrontonline.co.uk
music
with Gareth Matson
Interview: Albert Hammond Jr The Waterfront’s Harry Ballmann put questions to The Strokes’ guitarist gone solo - Albert Hammond Jr.” Do you have any pre-gig rituals or habits? I try and break a sweat. Did you go to university? If so, what did you study and did you have a university or teenage band? I went for a year of film school. I had a teenage band called Spooky Couch with my friend Matt Roveto. What’s the best gig you’ve played? They are only getting better, but Santa Ana and Los Angeles, California on this last Momentary Masters tour were both amazing. What’s the reason behind your album title ‘Momentary Masters’? Gut feeling …
The Case For Coldplay by Tom Martin
waterfrontmusic@swansea-union.co.uk
Everyone hates Coldplay, right? They’re a bit bland, I keep hearing. They’re uninteresting. The less discerning critics among us just brand them ‘rubbish’ in blasé tones and then indulge in the ultimate hypocrisy by championing Justin Bieber.
Every time Radio 1 posts about them on Facebook, a thread riddled with anger, vitriol and disgust spools out of the comments section. The thing is, I’m always slightly baffled by this outpouring of unsuppressed hatred. Yes, Coldplay aren’t exactly the whippedcream, whole milk caramel cappuccino of the world. But they’re not the watered-down ‘latte’ produced by the library coffee machine either. Their success isn’t built on clumsily assaulting
What’s your favourite song that you have written, the one you’re the most proud of? I don’t have favourites. It limits my emotional experience.
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by Harry Ballmann
waterfrontmusic@swansea-union.co.uk
I hope to take my band to the same heights. Each member is incredibly talented and I hope we can build something special together.
Who do you consider to be your musical influences? Music; preferably good music … Do you have an inspiration for writing music, or is it just something you love? I fell in love with the idea of it as a kid; now I love all the little processes that come with creating something from nothing. What’s the funniest thing that’s happened to you on stage? I signed a boob. How does it feel to have your own band, compared to being part of The Strokes?
someone’s beloved song with the Amen Break drumbeat and a new EQ that is 95% bass. Nor are they a manufactured X-Factor contestant with perfect hair and an adenoid problem, or an over-sexualised teenaged girl being fed overtly raunchy songs to twerk along to. So what is it that people hate about them? Chris Martin seems like a lovely chap. You never see him standing up at awards ceremonies, telling blonde country stars that Beyoncé was the best female artist that year. Maybe the problem is that his head isn’t inside his rectum. While we’re aware Alex Turner may self-apotheosise at any given moment, we still think he’s effortlessly cool. Does Chris Martin lose out because he’s too busy doing charity work or (allegedly) going out with Jennifer Lawrence? JENNIFER LAWRENCE? I mean, seriously. Jennifer Lawrence. Let’s look beyond the reasons for hating them though. This is a case for Coldplay, not an attack on everyone else, so why don’t we take a long, hard look at the Coldplay-shaped chip on our collective shoulder and perhaps think about removing it. Of course, I’m biased. This is a band with whom I have a personal history, releasing their first record when I was five years old and continuing to produce music throughout most of my childhood. The first album I truly loved (and that I’m not embarrassed about in hindsight) was Parachutes. Fix You was the first song I ever sang in front of people, as a loner of a 9 year old, and Yellow was the first song I ever performed live with a guitar. My secondary school music teacher coerced us all into learning Clocks on piano. The first time I entirely financed my going to a gig, it was to see them play at the Emirates Stadium in London.
So obviously the release of their seventh studio album in December signalled their welcome return into my headphones and (consequentially) my headspace. And I was underwhelmed. The difficulty with Coldplay is that they’re just not as good as they used to be. I would challenge you to find a better, more complete debut album than Parachutes, and yet I couldn’t make an impassioned defence of ‘A Head Full Of Dreams’ or ‘Ghost Stories’, their last two releases. But they still provide moments. There are split seconds in each record which precede a grudging grin or leave a lump in the throat. It’s like stepping into your childhood home and seeing it redecorated. You know it’s irreversibly different, and yet there are still little mementos of the years you spent there. The same alcove in the living room, the same kitchen unit you used to sit on while your mum made dinner. It’s bittersweet, and it’s a little bit wonderful. Think about the soundtracks to your lives, to everyone’s lives over the past 15 years. How many of you have wailed Viva La Vida or Paradise at the top of your lungs in the clutches of inebriation? How many have sobbed into the comfort blanket of The Scientist or Fix You after a break up? How many have heard a busker murdering Yellow and gone home and listened to the original? The answer is most of you. And that’s the thing about Coldplay. They might not be the coolest band or your favourite band, and they’re definitely not the best-loved band. But sometimes you don’t want a caramel cappuccino; sometimes, what comes out of your mum’s slightly rubbish cafetiere produces tastes so much better.
8 February 2016 waterfrontonline.co.uk
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Album Review: Not to Disappear by Daughter by Harry Ballmann
waterfrontmusic@swansea-union.co.uk
Despite being an atmospheric affair, Not to Disappear proves enticing and in some respects, overwhelming. Upon my first listen, there was a clear depth to the sound, both rich and full bodied. The idea behind the slightly more encompassing and fuller sound was the result of the If You Wait tour. Speaking to NME, Daughter’s guitar and bassist Igor Haefeli clarified on their shift in direction; “we’ve played so many shows that the first album became rockier on stage and we’re playing with that dynamic”. Daughter have certainly discovered a unique dynamic between their eclectic musical range and Elena Tonra’s enigmatic vocals. Overall, the impact of Not to Disappear is far more explicit than If You Wait; the whole album has a far greater presence than their subdued and subtle debut. Interestingly, the first song on the album aptly sets the tone for its entirety; the
direction of Not to Disappear appears uncertain at this point, yet the sound remains layered with Tonra’s vocals occasionally hidden in the mix. Fossa, the penultimate song on the album would be better suited to closing the album, purely because it perfectly exemplifies the 47minute album in a telling 6 minutes and 46 seconds. Whilst a song of length is unusual in the current climate of music, Fossa is deep in sound and meaning. It is ultimately melancholic, but seductively launches into a heavier, more complete sound; a fitting close to a unique and immersive album.
visit waterfrontonline.co.uk for the latest music and news
Review: Bloc Party, Live in Cardiff 29th January 2016 by Gareth Matson
waterfrontmusic@swansea-union.co.uk
To celebrate the release of ‘Hymns’, their first record in four years, the new sounding Bloc Party celebrated by headlining the NME tour at Cardiff’s Great Hall. Embracing the new release they opened with album track ‘The Good News’ hoping the crowd will also embrace their new style, which on the whole was a great success. However, there were frequent murmurs of people upset by the change in the bands direction, with 2 members being replaced and a more tranquil, less guitar infused album, a handful of fans felt disillusioned, some of them sounding like a YouTube comment section. They were soon muted by the hard-hitting 2007 single ‘Hunting For Witches’ and the infamous fan-favourite ‘Banquet’ being played within the first half hour. In reality the new songs fitted seamlessly into the set list, somev people just can’t accept change, but with the assistance and encouragement of frontman Kele Okereke, songs both old and new were received by the crowd with indiscriminate dancing that could shift platonic plates. They finished the pre-encore set list with ‘The Love Within’ – the lead single off ‘Hymns’. This song received a lot of criticism on their Facebook when it was first released, however it’s a completely different beast live, so much so, it was by far and away the best received song of the night and those who were criticising the new material early on in the gig were now unquestionably converted. Even so, the encore was a colossal crowd pleaser, with hits ‘Helicopter’, ‘Flux’ and ‘Ratchet’ all getting the crowd moving and ending the night on a high with a buzz in the air. Bloc Party are back.
8 February 2016 waterfrontonline.co.uk
fashion
with Shona Johnson
I’m your Boohoo girl! Following on from January’s employability week, the Waterfront caught up with a student who combines her passion for fashion with her academic studies... For those of you who don’t already know me, my name is Chisomo Phiri but most people tend to call me Chizi as my name isn’t the easiest to pronounce... I am a 2nd year Public Relations and Media student who is completely obsessed with fashion, the beach and Made in Chelsea. I’m also still
completely obsessed with Mcfly and I’ve had a massive crush on Harry Judd since I was 9 years old (cringe). Recently I have been given the opportunity of a lifetime and landed an amazing job of being your Boohoo girl on campus!
What i do... My job is to create a positive buzz about Boohoo on campus and to get people talking about the brand. As a student brand Ambassador I can answer all your questions about Boohoo as well as provide you with some exciting freebies. I was given the fantastic opportunity to be trained at the Boohoo headquarters in Manchester where I learned all things Boohoo and how to be the best brand manager. I was also given a tour of the Boohoo offices where I saw some design and graphic work in action as well as seeing where all the model shots for the website are taken. It was unreal. Boohoo love students and aim to cater to
their needs therefore I can provide you with some fabulous discount codes and trend trackers which can help you see what is on trend in the world of fashion and then I can give you a discount code to go and treat yourself! What more could you want?! I will also be running the Boohoo Swansea instagram account where I’ll be posting style tips, my favourite looks of the week and some celebrity fashion. For those of you aren’t camera shy be prepared as I will be looking around campus for the best dressed students to snap and post on instagram. And if all of this wasn’t enough I will also be posting information on how you can win a once in a lifetime trip to America! How exciting!!!
If you would like more information about Boohoo or my job feel free to contact me! Just drop me a little email, I am more than happy to chat with you and hand you some freebies but for now watch this space as there are many more exciting things to come…
All my love, Chizi xo l ir g o o h o o B r u yo
a.ac.uk
Email - 825632@swanse
Instagram - BOOH
OOSWANSEAUNI
Chizi
XO
16
creative writing
with Zoe Stabler
8 February 2016 waterfrontonline.co.uk
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Review: Regent’s Park Theatre adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird By Molly Dowrick
Growing up in the West Country, I’ve never experienced discrimination and so had never considered its implications, but when I first read Harper Lee’s stunning and thought-provoking novel To Kill a Mockingbird when I was sixteen; I was appalled at the ways in which black people and the working class were victimised and oppressed. At school, although I was aware of negative racial stereotypes and oppression, particularly in the USA, I was somewhat unaware of the extent of the racial disharmony and class conflict. To Kill a Mockingbird tells the story of Atticus Finch, a white lawyer in 1935 Alabama who is defending Tom Robinson, an innocent black man, who has been accused of raping a white woman. The story of how the town reacted to the trial is told by Atticus’ six year old daughter, Scout, allowing readers to question racial expectations and discrimination through the eyes of a child who sees no importance in race or class. Emotional, but at the times comical and extremely thought-provoking, Lee’s novel is worth reading if you’d like your presumptions and expectations of race, gender and class challenged. As an avid theatre-goer, my family and I went to see the Regent’s Park Theatre adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird at the Theatre Royal Plymouth last month. Although unique, thought-provoking and hailed as a production of ‘tremendous heart and emotional depth’ by the Daily Telegraph, I preferred the book of To Kill a Mockingbird as it fuelled a more emotional response from me. Nevertheless, the Regents Park Theatre adaptation certainly puts emphasis on the story-telling itself, inviting the audience to become involved in the production and make their own decision as to Tom Robinson’s guilt or innocence. The greatest strength of the production was undoubtedly the child actors. Although I’m usually a cynic to the use of young people in theatre, I was impressed by the youngsters’ superb acting which enabled the production to showcase the ‘novel’s warmth and childish wonder’ (Time Out magazine). The engaging child actors enabled the audience to see the cruel truth of racial divisions and discrimination, as we, like the children, questioned why race and class is an issue in society. For the performance that I watched, Scout was played by Ava Potter, making her professional theatre debut. I was amazed at this, that an actress who had never previously been involved in professional theatre could portray her character with a wonderful kindness and emotion. I was moved to tears on several occasions due to Scout’s amazement at the world and inability to understand the harsh realities of race relations and the gaps between the rich and poor. Additionally, Arthur Franks portrayed a lovely, likable Jem (Scout’s older brother) who showed courage and a compassionate willingness to look after his sister. A third child, Scout and Jem’s friend Dill, is significant in the story, acting as a gateway to children’s ever-increasing imagination and desire for adventure, while echoing Scout’s childish
innocence and sweet disposition. Dill was based on Lee’s childhood friend Truman Capote and Connor Brundish wonderfully portrayed the youngster who became fascinated by the Finch’s mysterious neighbour Boo Radley. Another great strength of the production was the way it told Scout’s story. Lee’s novel is semiautobiographical: Lee grew up in the small-town of Monroeville, Alabama, in the 1930s; where her father was a qualified lawyer and also worked as an editor for the local newspaper. When Lee was ten years old, a black man in her town was accused of raping a white woman and was convicted and sentenced to death. Her father’s newspaper discussed the story, often protesting the man’s innocence, leading to the man’s sentence being changed to life imprisonment. At first I was sceptical of the way that the stage production of To Kill a Mockingbird used the company of actors to read Scout’s story, as what makes the novel so remarkable, in my opinion, is that the protagonist Scout is recounting her younger days and telling her own story. The theatre production employed multiple actors to retell Scout’s story, reading from various editions of the novel in order to set the scene and introduce new characters as they arrived on stage. After a few scenes, I got used to the spontaneity of actors reading a few paragraphs from the novel and liked the way it made the story feel shared among the actors and audience. However, debatably it would have been more effective to have just one individual sharing the story, perhaps an older Scout thinking back to her younger days. Moreover, disappointingly, the narration was carried out in the actor’s own voices - a far cry from the confident and attention-grabbing Southern drawl of Alabama and detracting from the idea that Scout is a young Southern American telling her own story. To Kill a Mockingbird also effectively presents ideas over the controversies of the American justice system, particularly in the 1930s where judges were known to listen to rumours and speculation and adhere to unjust and untrue racial stereotypes of the era. To Kill a Mockingbird is likely to take some inspiration from the notorious ‘Scottsboro Boys’ case of an alleged gang rape of two white girls by nine black teenagers in Alabama in 1931 as well as the racial disharmony that led to Rosa Park’s refusal to give up her seat for a white person on a bus in 1955, and the chaos that ensued. Although some academics and teachers argue that To Kill a Mockingbird has become outdated in its approach to racial discrimination and attitudes to Black individuals, I would argue that the novel is still relevant in 2015. Even today racial discrimination affects society hugely, often impacting policemen, lawyers’ and judges’ daily decisions. Law Professor and Legal Director Bill Quigley commented that ‘the biggest crime in the U.S. criminal justice system is that it is a race-based institution where AfricanAmericans are directly targeted and punished in a much more aggressive way than white people.’ and this is clearly shown by the 2014 violence in
Ferguson, Missouri where the killing of unarmed Black teenager Michael Brown, by a white police officer is thought to have been racially motivated. In fact, despite Black people only being 67% of Ferguson’s population, 93% of people arrested in Ferguson are African American (US Department of Justice, 2015), suggesting that race has a significant impact on accusations of crime and violence. The portrayal of injustice in To Kill a Mockingbird is visually striking and emotionally-driven in both the novel and the production. As the children watch Atticus try to defend Tom Robinson, the atmosphere in the ‘courtroom’ becomes increasingly heated and scary during the performance. Atticus faced the audience during this scene, making us feel included as he outlined why the accusation against Tom Robinson was false, allowing us to feel a part of the scene and make our own judgement. With the government’s frequent changes to the British education system and school curriculum, it comes as no surprise that novels taught at schools are often challenged or disputed by academics, teachers, politicians and wider society for not being relevant today, or suitable for the 2015 school classroom. In 2014, education secretary Michael Gove asked for an updated English literature school curriculum, which saw ‘plans to drop classic American novels including To Kill a Mockingbird and Of Mice and Men from the GCSE curriculum’, as Gove ordered more ‘Brit lit’, for example, Shakespeare, Chaucer and Jane Austen. In an article for the Guardian, Christopher Bigsby, Professor of American Studies at the University of East Anglia, commented that a ‘union jack of culture’ was now hovering over Gove’s education department while more than 30,000 people signed an online petition against British exam board OCR’s decision to remove Of Mice and Men, To Kill a Mockingbird and The Crucible from its GCSE specification due to Mr Gove’s guidelines last year. Whilst it’s important that students are aware of the roots of literature in their own country, I find it saddening that literature from overseas is not encouraged in schools and has been taken out of the curriculum. British literature undoubtedly challenges our presumptions and raises questions around important themes such as love and loss; however I would argue that American literature and other international literatures challenge British students to think outside of their own lives and empathise with individuals different to themselves. No matter how removed we are from Harper Lee’s Alabama, we can still learn from Scout’s story. Through To Kill a Mockingbird, we are able to go beyond what is just printed on the page. Harper Lee teaches us to empathise with others and consider different perspectives to our own, as ‘You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view...Until you climb into his skin and walk around in it’.
8 February 2016 waterfrontonline.co.uk
19
It Starts Out As A Funny Story
By Zoe Stabler
At a party, A game of truth and dare, The spinner lands on me.
But now is when I interject. I speak calmly ‘I did not propose to him, Nor did he propose to me. It was his ex lover His ‘best friend’ For whom he got down On one knee.’
‘Save the date’ it said, Alongside it, the day Of my twentieth birthday.
All eyes are on me. I know I’ve won the award: ‘Best Tragic Break Up Story’, If only I too thought it was tragic.
Perhaps I was merely a trial, A test, for how much he loved her. One kiss with me and he knew.
How did my last relationship end? That’s what they want to know. A hint of a smile in my expression, Suggests I have a secret. “A proposal” I say, It’s like a riddle. Who proposed? They ask Was it me; who got down on one knee And asked him To marry me? In the closing, Within the woods, where we kissed Under that willow tree. And listened to a stranger Sing Ave Maria.
Her beautiful voice, Echoing among the trees, Assisted by the songs of birds, Crickets, and bumble bees. No. The other way around, they always assume. I rejected him, but why? Was I scared to commit To a foolish childhood ‘love’? Was I not ready? Did I not love him? We met when we were eighteen, And spent three months Traipsing through those woods. Of course I did not love him, But I didn’t know that then.
At this moment in time Life feels Trans Ist Ory Moving Manic erratic Leaps without Warning Faces, places, doors all shift My nightsbleedintodays “I don’t know where I’m going” Searching For unwritten maps etched with impossible words And I can Feel the vice Of experience Trying to crush Me into a mould A pattern Set rhythm That’s easy to follow Regular and concise That will slowly flow till An urn Contains My remains But I refuse To be compacted When I could float Breeze Flow over Seas Spend my time existing In transit Always going forward Spreading further
on
the
They edge closer, With a need to know more. She sent me an invite, filled with confetti and spite. Their names arranged perfectly On the flower-pressed page.
I don’t know why he did it. I’ve entertained many thoughts, She may have been expecting, Or insane.
I didn’t attend the wedding, But nor did I cry. I laugh at it, Because it starts out as a funny story And ends as one too.
8 February 2016 waterfrontonline.co.uk
societies
with Molly Dowrick
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English Society represent Wales at UniSlam by Molly Dowrick, Societies Editor for the Waterfront Societies Editor and Social Secretary for the English Society On Sunday 31st January, three society members and two committee members from Swansea University’s English Society competed for the first time at ‘UniSlam’, the UK national university poetry slam competition. The poetry slam, which was held this year at the Centre for Creative Writing at the University of Leicester, saw teams from 16 universities perform their own poetry in front of other competitors, judges and an audience. Swansea University’s team
comprised of three first year English students: Lulu Thornton, Ulysses Kenneth Jones and Jack Knight, with second year student/social secretary Molly Dowrick, and second year student/society President Zoe Stabler, who coached the team. The morning started with a poetry workshop which inspired all UniSlam teams to consider their emotions, especially the impact of anger and sadness and how these feelings could be used when planning ideas and writing poetry and articles. There was also a group writing task based on the topic: ‘how I got here’, which inspired stream-ofconsciousness style writing among the mixed university groups. I worked with
NEWS & EVENTS
Shoreline success: Drama workshops during Refreshers Week Katie Donovan: Secretary In order to welcome new members and welcome back current members, Shoreline Theatre (Swansea University’s Drama Society) held taster sessions throughout refreshers week. The sessions aimed to explore different kinds of theatre such as Greek Theatre and Shakespeare. In the Shakespeare workshop participants were put into groups depending on whether they’d rather perform comedy pieces or tragic pieces. Comedic pieces included scenes from ‘Measure for Measure’, and ‘The Taming of the Shrew’, and everyone worked through ideas of acting out physical comedy as well as word play. More dramatic pieces included scenes from the likes of ‘King Lear’. The second taster session focuses on Greek Theatre. First groups were directed in some typical Greek Chorus work, where they could put their own spin on some famous Greek Chorus scenes. Participants then went on to tackle some famous Greek Theatre scenes such as ‘Antigone’ and ‘Lysistrata’. Overall, the purpose of the taster sessions was to introduce/ familiarise young performers with two kinds of typically challenging theatre, and to also inform participants that genres of theatre that people may otherwise find intimidating are actually a lot more accessible that they may have thought so originally. Upcoming Events: Marvel Society https://www.swansea-union.co.uk/mysociety/ marvelsociety101/ Marvel Society are looking forward to seeing Deadpool in the cinema (for a discounted price for society members), movie knights, a Dark
students from Goldsmiths University London, Sheffield University and UCL and enjoyed exchanging ideas and working together on our comical piece about our journey to Leicester and where we are in life! After a short break for poetry rehearsals, the competition itself began with the 16 teams divided into sections and judged by professional writers and poets. The Swansea University team placed third in their round by just one mark, the winners of the section being a postgraduate team from Cambridge University and second place going to third year students from Manchester Metropolitan University. However, having never competed at the event
Knight marathon and various socials including Playzone, Lasertag and Wind St and Sin nights out. Upcoming event: SUCS Lightning Talks, 25th February, 6pm Written by: SUCS exec The next SUCS Lightning Talks will be taking place at 18:00 on the 25th of February in the Robert Recorde room 205 in the Computer Science department in Faraday. As always, feel free to bring refreshments. This event is a fantastic way to find people with similar interests to you. Any SUCS member can do a 5-10 minute talk on a topic of their choice. Please come along! Visit sucs.org/Community/Talks for a feelingof what talks are like. Any member is free to give a talk. Don’t be afraid, we’re very friendly! SUCS Talks are a great way to practice public speaking, among friends inan informal atmosphere. Upcoming event: Swansea Politics and International Relations Society: Visit from Tim Marshall, formerly the Diplomatic Editor, Foreign Affairs Editor and Middle East Correspondent for Sky News Written by: David Hodge, Politics and IR Communications Officer The Swansea Politics and International Relations Society would like to invite you to our event on the 19th February at 18.00. Tim Marshall (formerly the Diplomatic Editor, Foreign Affairs Editor and Middle East Correspondent for Sky News) will be at the James Callaghan building to discuss international relations, foreign policy and his latest and critically acclaimed book, Prisoners of Geography. This will be followed by what will no doubt be an enlightening Q & A session in which attendees will be at liberty to draw on his wealth of experience. The man has covered events in Bosnia, Croatia and Serbia during the Balkan Wars and has reported from Iraq, Afghanistan,
L-R: Ulysses, Lulu, Zoe, Molly & Jack before and not knowing what to expect, Swansea Uni English Society were pleased with their performance and look forward to competing again next year.
Libya and Serbia. Not just an avid traveller, he has had interviews with powerful people like Gordon Brown, ex-Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and Syrian Foreign Minister and Vice President Farouk al-Sheera, to name but a few. If you want to gain an understanding of political climates on an international scale or just generally learn about journalism, then this is certainly the event for you! This is welcome to everyone and there will be food and drinks. Expect more events like this in the future! DANCE SOCIETY The dance society welcomed many new members last week as part of the society’s ‘Give It A Go Week’ which opened up classes to new members and non-members who were interested in dance but wanted to find out more about the society and try out classes. This term’s timetable for the society is as follows: ‘Come As Your Childhood Dream’ Dance Society social: Monday 15th February Musical Theatre workshop with professional choreographer and dancer Grace Warner on Saturday 13th February 10:30-11.45am for just £4 (£3 of which is going to the charity “Meningitis Now”). **SAVE THE DATE** The Dance Society’s annual dance show will be held in Taliesin Arts Centre, Singleton Campus on 22nd and 23rd April.
8 February 2016 waterfrontonline.co.uk
Swansea Yoga Society Classes are back!!
Mandela Suite, Singleton Campus The programme is as follows: Tuesday, 6pm Iyengar Yoga with Chris - a vigorous and energetic class with a senior teacher who will challenge you with props in order to get the best out of your poses. There is usually a 30 minute sessions immediately afterwards for more experienced practitioners.
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DANCE TIMETABLE 2016
Thursday 6pm Sivananda Yoga with Sam - a dynamic and flowing class in a nurturing and supportive atmosphere. Sam has been teaching yoga following the Sivananda method for several years. The class moves towards strength and flexibility with sequences of flowing poses. All equipment is provided at all of our classes. The only thing you need to bring is yourself and some comfortable clothes!
Cost: Member: £5 per class Non-member: £7 per class Membership: £5 for the whole year
SUBS
Swansea University Business Society The Business & Economics Society of Swansea University
We’re business We provide a range of opportunities to help further your studies and subsequent career, by working with industry partners, we deliver talks from businessmen at the profession, trips to see the operations of world class businesses as well as giving you a range of exclusive competitive advantages from networking events, discounted tuition and professional photo opportunities. We’ll also keep you up to date with all the latest trends within the business world.
We’re society We realise that whilst there’s a ton of people at university you’ll meet, we help like minded people, meet and get to know each other from all walks of university life. We more than live up to a society’s image with unforgettable weekly socials, from incredible house parties to wild nights down Wind Street, with a range of unique and fun daytime and evening events such as beach barbecues and day trips to a host of nearby places. As a member, feel free to attend as many or as little of the type of events you enjoy as possible.
SIGN UP ONLINE NOW FOR JUST £5 FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR AT swansea-union.co.uk/activities/society/business THEN FOLLOW US TO MAKE SURE YOU NEVER MISS AN EVENT. business@swansea-union.co.uk facebook.com/subs1516 twitter.com/subs1516 instagram.com/subs1516 https://www.linkedin.com/grp/home?gid=8385795
8 February 2016 waterfrontonline.co.uk
food
with Sarah Harris
Got milk?
Milk is such a ubiquitous liquid that nobody thinks twice about pouring it with their cereal or adding it to their tea or coffee. However, for approximately 75% of the world’s population, milk can be their worst enemy. It can cause abdominal pain, flatulence, bloating, nausea and diarrhoea. This indigestion of milk is called lactose intolerance. Lactose intolerance is caused by a condition in which the body has difficulty handling lactose. It is linked to a mutation in the LTC gene that allows humans to process lactose as adults. The body uses a substance called lactase to break down the sugar in the milk into glucose and galactose. Lactose intolerance comes about where the body does not produce enough lactase so the lactose stays in the digestive system to be fermented by
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by Thu Ya Win
waterfrontfood@swansea-union.co.uk
bacteria. This leads to the production of various gases, which can cause the symptoms associated with lactose intolerance. Nevertheless, if you’re among the 75% that encounters negative effects if they drink milk or eat dairy products, no need to fret. Things aren’t so grim where you don’t have to give up your favourite dairy based food like ice cream, gelato, cake, or suffer in pain. On Bay Campus, Coffeeopolis (Starbucks) offer free soya on request and no less than three venues on Singleton Campus, JCs, Café Glas in the Institute of Life Science, and Callaghan’s also serve soya milk. In addition to this, both of the university supermarkets, Tesco express at the Bay Campus and MyCostcutter at the Singleton campus stock soya milk and a small selection of dairy-free baked products.
Quick and easy pesto pasta by Nathan Lloyd
waterfrontfood@swansea-union.co.uk
For the meal:
Here’s a recipe perfect for a quick meal on a weeknight and it gives you a variation on the famous Italian pesto.
You’ll need:
For the pesto: A big handful of spinach A handful of watercress A handful of basil 20g blanched almonds 2 garlic cloves, grated 10g Parmesan, grated Some Extra Virgin Olive oil Salt & pepper
A small pack of pancetta 20g chestnut mushrooms 200g penne pasta ( I usually work on 100g per person, so this serves 2) Half a packet of Italian salad leaves/ wild rocket Salt & pepper Before you start the meal I’d make the pesto, albeit not a traditional pesto, which includes pine nuts that can be expensive, any creamy nut will work and it’s fun to experiment with different leaves and nuts. To do this, all you have to do is use blender to blend up the leaves, nuts and garlic until smooth, pouring in the oil little by little until it’s a runny paste. Next, add the Parmesan and season with salt & pepper and blend again. Keep this to one side whilst you prepare the main part of the meal. Top tip, if you’ve made too
much pesto, pop it in the freezer to use again. Next, Heat a shallow pan on low and fry the pancetta, until all of its smokey oil has been rendered. Now, add the mushrooms and fry them until soft. If you’re any good at multitasking, whilst waiting for the mushrooms you can boil the pasta in some salted water. When the mushrooms are done, add a big heaped spoonful (or two) of the pesto, to cook the raw garlic out. The pan by this point should be a vibrant green. Next, drain and add the pasta and stir. Then, add half a packet of Italian salad leaves and stir until the green oily sauce has covered everything. Serve and top with plenty of black pepper and freshly grated Parmesan. I served mine with some homemade garlic bread and a couple of crisp lagers. Buon Appetito!
culture
with Zoe Stabler
8 February 2016 waterfrontonline.co.uk
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Design: Places to shop in Wales and the South West by Nathan LLoyd
waterfrontculture@swansea-union.co.uk
London has long been the focal point for design in the UK. For most fashionable items you really need to make a list of shops and go spend some time there. Having said that there are more and more smaller boutiques and shops popping up all the time in some of the most unlikely places. Bristol has plenty of cool credentials, Cardiff is also on the up - but Carmarthen? You’d be forgiven for dismissing it out of hand if it weren’t for the fact that there are plenty of retail treasures to be found there too. My priorities, as far as these small town delights go, are simple: they need to be independent, carefully curated design stores with lovely owners. If you’re in Wales or Bristol, I’d recommend these: Mooch etc - Carmarthen A lovely small design store nestled among equally nice interior stores and charity shops on King Street in Carmarthen. Run by the warm Ruth Cochran, Mooch etc is a refreshing change from the usual ‘Shabby-chic’ and ‘Modern Welsh’ style of interior store that you find in that neck of the woods. With a range from Orla Kiely to Happy Jackson, designs from Welsh designers, handcrafted wooden jewellery, there’s something for everyone. It even stocks Scandinavian brands such as Klippan blankets, Lotta Jansdotter and Ester & Erik candles - Yay! https://www.facebook.com/Moochetc 13 King Street,Carmarthen SA31 1BH 01267 237359 Home byKirsty - Cardiff Home byKirsty opened in 2014, by trendsetter and designer Kirsty Patrick, who’s byKirsty brand had garnered her big press in the interior design world. Located in the trendy Castle Arcades, where tiny boutiques are squashed next to each other. As you step through the door, you step into a world
of Scandinavian design inspired loveliness. With chipboard strewn walls, and pegboards filled with well designed objects, this is the contemporary space that Cardiff needs. Stocked with pieces from my favourite brands, namely; Eastwick candles, Plumen, Pirrip Press and Mini Moderns, it alleviates having to go to London/ Bristol for them and is a main reason to visit Cardiff. The place is chockfull of locally designed pieces too, with an entire wall lined with Welsh greeting cards.
designers. It is also the home for the design lover, stocking droolworthy brands such as Iittala, Orla Kiely, Magpie, Alessi, LSA International and Freud. Whats not to love! Seriously, If you’re in Bristol. It’s worth a trip!
16 Castle Arcade, Cardiff, CF10 1BU http://www.homebykirsty.com/
Pirrip Press - Bristol Located on the upper end of Coulston Street, between the Christmas Steps and the hospital, Pirrip Press is a small design and print studio, run by the lovely design duo Alexandra Higlett and Georgina Hounsome. From stunning geometrical prints in vibrant colours, to notebooks and accessories in their house style, Pirrip Press have been finding their way into small boutiques and shops for some time. It’s small wonder considering how neat and distinctive they are.
Rawhide – Hay-On-Wye Amongst the myriad of bookshops in Hay-onWye is this rather curious little shop. On entering you’re greeted by a throne made from cow horns, surrounded by stunning silver jewelry and well designed Scandinavian homewares. It also sells - as the title suggests - handmade leather items, like gorgeous handbags and wallets. Here you’ll find exquisite Jewellery by Alex Monroe and Ayala Barr, Ceramics by What Kate Loves, sheepskin rugs and lamps to name but a few... Its Scandinavian pieces include Iittala glassware, Hultquist jewellery, Sagaform cookware and serveware, the ever collectable Moomin mugs by Arabia Finland and even wallhangings from Londonbased Finnish designer Klaus Haapaniemi. https://twitter.com/rawhide_shop 4 Lion Street, Hay-on-Wye, Hereford, Powys HR3 5AA 01497 821730 Bristol Guild - Bristol Commonly known as ‘The Guild’, Bristol Guild, or The Bristol Guild of Applied Art has been around since 1908 and was built on the principals of William Morris, to offer a place for Artists and craftsmen to socialise, collaborate, exhibit and sell handcrafted wares. These days it still follows that principal with it stocking crafts and homewares from many local British artists and
https://ww.bristolguild.co.uk/ https://www.facebook.com/bristolguild 68-70 Park Street, Bristol, 01179 265548
64 Colston St. Bristol. BS1 5AZ facebook.com/pirrippress instagram.com/pirrip_press
8 February 2016 waterfrontonline.co.uk
Food: Coffee Punks by Nathan LLoyd
waterfrontculture@swansea-union.co.uk
This recently opened coffee shop on Swansea’s busy (and otherwise rather neglected) Kingsway is one I’ve passed many a time on my way into town on the bus. The brainchild of Glen Adams, this new coffeehouse might be a David compared to the likes of the Goliath big name high street chains, but its coffee certainly packs a punch (or a slingshot of espresso to the eye, if I’m permitted to stretch the analogy to its elastic limit!). With an interior of mismatched chairs, reclaimed wood panelling and Edison filament light bulbs, the whole place has a stripped back, industrial feel without removing the warmth. Think Shoreditch mixed with a warm jumper knitted by your gran. As you walk in you’re greeted by the unique sight of their distinctive yellow Kees van der
Westen Arte coffee machine, pumping the air with coffee scented steam. The counter, made from reclaimed wood, is pitted and weathered with age, imbuing the place with a sense of real history (albeit only having been open a little while!) and adds to the warm edge of the place.
“UNDER £3 FOR A GREAT COFFEE IN A GREAT SPACE” But the real star of the show is the coffee and Adams is a real master of his craft. I ordered a latte and slice of parsnip, lemon and ginger cake
- supplied by local Swansea baker, Naturally Kind Food (maker of all things sweet, vegan and awesome). The warm spice of the ginger really complimented the smooth warm tones of the coffee. At under £3 for a great coffee in a great space, it beats getting ripped off in a conglomerate coffee shop, feeling like you’re just a number. Plus their food is supplied by Spanish/Welsh Power house Ultracomida, whose spots in Narbeth and Aberystwyth have given the towns a Mediterranean glow with their great food and wine. Visiting Coffee Punks is a no-brainer. Don’t just keep on passing by, walk in, support a local business and they’ll reward you with some of the best coffee (and cakes) in Swansea. Find them at Kingsway, Swansea
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tech
with Declan Murphy
8 February 2016 waterfrontonline.co.uk
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Computer Tech: The past, present and future by Declan Murphy
waterfronttech@swansea-union.co.uk
The reason some companies are putting such an emphasis on this new way of bringing devices together is not only due to its gimmick of task sharing across the home, it also means consumers are more willing to stay with that company in the future. One of the reasons why the Xbox One didn’t completely fall off the side of the earth was people wanted to bring over their Gamerscore from the 360 iteration. However the main driving force behind what devices we see are unsurprisingly due primarily to what devices catch on with consumers either due to their new innovative ways of performing tasks of filling the consumers needs. A perfect example of new devices finding new ways to do things would be the Oculus Rift, a Virtual Reality headset. The device has birthed a new way to enjoy many different formats of media, whether that be 3D videos or games. It isn’t just VR either, AR or Augmented Reality, is set to boom into the limelight with innovations such as the HoloLens from Microsoft. Tech demos for the Lens, including one where it rendered an
Computers are a funny thing. Constantly changing in shape and size, all whilst getting faster and more efficient. In order to better examine where this next iteration is going to lead us, follow me as we look through past and present iterations of the different everyday computers. In the beginning, computers took up entire office floors in order to process information, but nowadays we’re more used to being able to pull out a device the same size as a wallet in most cases. This reduction in required size has led to some truly astonishing advancements in the way we use our personal computers. Whereas twenty years ago most people were limited to bulky towers and even bulkier monitors, now people possess all sorts of devices. These devices are becoming ever more advance in their tasks too; from checking the weather on a smartwatch to potentially saving your life with cars fitted with the latest safety features built into onboard computers. The way devices interact with each other has also changed dramatically in recent years. Phones now sync to cars, consoles sync to computers... it’s all very integrated. This integration is something which is shaping the future of our devices and homes. Microsoft has already taken the leap into moulding the integrated device of the future with its aptly named “Space of the Future” from as far back as 2013. Even now tech companies strive to bring their different platforms together in new innovative ways. Google’s own Chrome browser syncs data across all devices capable of supporting it and Microsoft have upped the game with integration from its Windows OS to Xbox One’s OS and even to apps on Apple’s iPhones and iPads with Smartglass app. Google’s Lexus RX 450h Self-Driving Car
entire Minecraft world onto a table, look promising for the future. But as well as finding new ways of doing things, devices are fulfilling the needs of modern day living. With the world’s roads getting busier day after day it’s inevitable that we will eventually need to find alternate methods of controlling traffic. That’s where the driverless car comes in. The market, currently led by Google, is primarily still in development phases but look out for driverless cars in the near future. Driverless cars aren’t the only new vehicle on the horizon. Amazon has been investing heavily into its new drone courier service with it being rolled out in parts of the States. The concept means that you are able to receive packages even quicker due to drones avoiding traffic by utilising the sky. Regardless of what corner of the industry you follow, the diversity is growing at a rapid and unique way. This year will be a big one in terms of what to expect, with Oculus and its competitor Vive set for release, and other innovations coming to market, it’ll be interesting to watch exactly what happens in the coming year(s).
8 February 2016 waterfrontonline.co.uk
Gaming Events: SGS 24 Hour by Declan Murphy
waterfronttech@swansea-union.co.uk
Last weekend SGS (Swansea Gaming Society) held its first 24-hour event of 2016. Overall it was a great success! Featuring games of all genres and styles as well as a fridge of energy drink courtesy of Red Bull, the event has set the stage for hopefully a good year in the society. It wasn’t only drinks and games on offer. The event also featured a quiz and tournaments with prizes. One thing that was missing however was the Internet…
Yup. Well, technically it was there, if you can constitute 10Kb/s downloads as Internet nowadays. It felt like my mum was going to shout at me and tell me to get of the computer so she could use the phone it was that slow. Either way, it was a minor inconvenience for an otherwise great 24 hours! If you’re interested in joining SGS feel free to join on the Union site and through the Facebook page by googling Swansea Gaming Society.
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relationships
with Rhydian Morris
8 February 2016 waterfrontonline.co.uk
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The Waterfront’s resident Agony Aunt, Rhydian Morris, answers your burning questions! Dear Agony Aunt,
few My house mate and I like each other and we have slept toget her a guys times . He’s start ed tellin g me thoug h to stop getti ng off with on night s out, which I don’t think I shoul d since i’m single . Shoul d I break this off? with your housemate This is seriously a very weird question… so you are currently sleeping y seeking male but your confused as to why he might be abit jealous that you are activel n’t feel a bit put out. attention on nights out? I don’t think I know of any person that would ate might think From the very small amount of information given, it seems your housem there is more going on here than you seem too. down to whether When it comes down to deciding if you should break this off, it really comes other housemates you want to keep it going and make the situation insufferable for your resentment and low when the inevitable argument happens. It might lead to months of sly though, I think level bickery that just becomes a burden to everyone around you. Seriou relationship to be so the very least you should do is to communicate what you believe the in the future though that everythings on the table. Probably refrain from sleeping with him be really horrible for if you aren’t planning on starting a relationship with him, jealousy can s**t where you eat” both people involved. I’d always suggest the standard mantra of “don’t in the future, sleeping with housemates rarely leads to good things.
Email your questions to Rhydian
at:
waterfrontrelationships@swansea -uni
on.co.uk
Waterfront Relationships is BACK!! What would a student newspaper be without cringeworthy relationship advice and awkward blind dates! With that in mind we are asking for applications for any brave/hopeful student for the waterfront’s blind date section. By applying you are guaranteed a date with an actual live student (conditions may vary) at a fabulous location in Swansea (probably Jc’s). Or maybe you have some relationship worries. Worried your partner has a secret hobby? That your friend has a crush on you? That you might like wine a little too much? Well all this can be answered with professional objective advice Please send your submissions and application for the blind date section to waterfrontrelationships@swansea-union. co.uk.
Dear Agony Aunt,
s I’m prett y sure I saw my boyfr iend post to the swan seast udent me snapc hat. While it isn’t cheat ing it has really annoy ed me and made recon sider the way I feel about him. What shoul d I do? have to worry about Well this isn’t comforting for you now, but luckily in the future you won’t times. Now while you your boyfriend posting to the snapchat as it has been taken down, sad your question has a haven’t said what he posted, i’m pretty sure I and anyone else reading pics on that app tend pretty good idea. Are you sure it was your boyfriend? The sea of male would also be pretty to look pretty much the same. Now I might be in the minority, but I to the population of miffed if someone I was dating posted a picture of themselves naked n’t feel annoyed, Swansea, without telling me. Some people might tell you that you should but really if your feeling annoyed that’s just how you feel. Do you really like him Now how you react to this really depends on all of his other qualities. probably just have a and has it been a good relationship? If it has then really you should and for him not to do frank discussion with your boyfriend about how much this upset you seem to know each it again. If he really likes you he should be really apologetic, after all you at photo! other atleast well enough to identify a picture of him from a faceless snapch
* DISCLAIMER: We’d like to state that the advice given above is the personal opinion of our writer. For professional advice and support, contact the Student Union advice centre.
www.swansea-u
nion.co.uk/advice
advice@swansea-
union.co.uk
01792 295 821
Dismay at ‘swanseastudents’ snapchat deletion Swansea students expressed their dismay this week over the deletion of the popular snapchat sharing group ‘swanseastudents’. The popular image sharing site allows users to post ‘snaps’ to friends with the images either disappearing after opening, or removed after 24 hours from a person’s timeline. The owner of the snapchat group would add users and post the snaps received to the account, via a third party computer program. The group was created and advertised through another popular social media app used by students ‘yik yak’. Yik yak allows any individual within a specific range to post anonymously to a message board, where “yaks” usually disappear within a period of 12 hours from the board. The
group was launched at the beginning of the exam period and was advertised as a way for students to waste time and procrastinate, to get away from the stress of
Valentine’s Stigma Sucks Does anyone actually like Valentine’s Day? Sure it can feel good to have a great and loving night, but does anyone really like the expectation that it’s something you have to do on this one specific day? I mean, pretty much all of us know that valentine’s day is just a cynical marketing attempt, to make people spend money on expensive gifts and restaurant reservations. Why is it though, that we still can’t help being suckered into it? Every year we say we won’t celebrate valentine’s
and that we “hate” the holiday, but in the end we feel too worried that the person we are dating won’t really appreciate no declarations of love on this date. It seems you can’t really escape the holiday when you are single either. The media the week before the day is consumed with the perils of valentine’s loneliness, as if not having a date on valentine’s is some sort of social slight that you can never recover from. No matter how much you state you “don’t care about
the exam season. It quickly became an app for anonymous Swansea students to post a variety of risqué pictures, from “nudes” to drug use. The group quickly became very popular at the campus with the owner boasting of over 5000 adds of the account shortly before its deletion. A similar group at Cardiff University was recently shut down after university officials became aware of the existence of the group. The Snapchat was seemingly identical to the Swansea group, with students of both genders sharing x rated snaps to the group, with their faces usually covered. Students on yik yak at Swansea generally showed their upset over the deletion of the app, expressing that they were disappointed that it no longer existed. At the time of writing there is a push to create a similar
group named ‘swanstudents’, but this group will likely share the same fate of the previous. A student who did not wish to be named had this to say about the deletion “It’s really a shame, because while you can see why Snapchat would delete it, I don’t think there really was any harm in people posting to the group. I don’t see why the university had any business to get involved”. University officials at Swansea don’t seem to have been involved in the deletion of the group at Swansea University, with Snapchat appearing to take proactive action in its deletion. If University officials have contacted Snapchat, it appears to not have been commented on publically. Swansea University declined to comment on the existence of the group at Swansea.
valentines” there’s always that nagging feeling you’re being judged for your singleness by everyone around you. Valentine’s is depressing, that’s what we are told as the singles of our world. While every couple is having the time of their lives, our valentine’s has to be a collection of all the worst romantic comedy tropes, watching bad movies, a tub of ben and jerry’s and silently crying into a ball of tissues at our crippling loneliness. We at the student’s minds society reject this societal notion and stigma and invite you to attend our charity “Speed Friending” event this Friday 12th at 6pm Jc’s Coffee side.
We will be raising money for our student minds national charity and just facilitating a really good time. So instead of feeling the stigma and pressure of getting a date for valentine’s why not just come, have a good time, meet some new people and raise some money for charity. After all February 14th is only one day out of many throughout our lives that we are single.
WIN a month’s rent for you and your housemates* Whether you’re searching for a property, renting a room in a house with other students or graduates or buying a new home, Move Me In gives you a customised set of tasks tailored to your search or move. You can add photos of the potential property, share tasks with housemates and create your own list of jobs to complete.
Sign up to Move Me In today for your chance to WIN a month’s rent for you and your housemates.* Visit www.move-me.in *Terms and conditions apply Endsleigh Insurance Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. This can be checked on the Financial Services Register by visiting their website at www.fca.org.uk/register Endsleigh Insurance Services Limited. Company No. 856706 registered in England at Shurdington Road, Cheltenham Spa, Gloucestershire GL51 4UE.
268mm x 345mm Housing ad JW.indd 1
07/01/2016 13:56:46
sport the waterfront
waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk
Issue 261, 8 February 2016
@Waterfrontspor1
facebook.com/waterfrontsport
From Rags to Riches, Humpdog’s Army bounce back from relegation to the dizzy heights of the Premiership by Will Humphrey
waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk
In October 2014, five newfound friends met each other while living at Hendrefoelan Student Village and formed the five-aside team Humpdog’s Army and after 3 seasons of toil has found itself reaching the pinnacles of the Student Premier League. From the founding October to the following January, Humpdog’s Army struggled for form picking up just one point from nine games. On the 13th of January -yes the date was saved- the hallowed first win was on the record books. In all weather conditions from snow to hail and the signing of ex Braintree forward Ryan Lock, out of contract with SPR, Humpdog’s began to find consistency. It was too little too late for that first season, however, as relegation to league 1 beckoned. The emergence of the ever present Kieran Coultis in goal, who despite having a powerful left foot found his calling between the sticks, kick started a recovery of form. As well as keeping the goals out, 10 minute cameos at the end of each game resulted in a hat trick or two and the opposition being outgunned by his rugby player’s physique. Humpdog’s maiden season saw the ever present Joe Painter put in shifts all over the pitch – mainly in goal and in 5 minute bursts of skill outfield. Measuring in at 6.6ft Mike Selby offered a whole new
dimension to Humpdog’s resurgence. To the regret of everyone involved with the team, these former stars have decided to hang up their boots. Hopes of a second coming for this pair are still alive. The engine room of the team has to be Sam “Snash” Nash. Known for his athletic prowess, caressing the ball and his short fuse, the self-proclaimed Midas is the perfect fit for any struggling midfield. Weekly outings of the Reading kit are misrepresentative of his work rate and desire which merit a team of higher standard. The afore mentioned Ryan Lock is small in stature but has a centre of gravity not unlike that of Leo Messi. Goals, goals, goals is the only way to describe the wonder kid from Colchester who is the attacking force behind Humpdog’s Army. Braintree must be kicking themselves to let him go on a free to Humpdog’s given his average of 7 goals a game over 3 seasons. Akin to Danny Welbeck, Will “Humpdog” Humphrey has risen from the weak link in the chain to the team’s penalty taker. He has a sharp eye from the penalty spot and for threading the needle when it comes to the assisting the goals. He has bags of ambition to score goals which usually pay off in rewards for the team. An upturn in form to the latter half of Humpdog’s second season in existence, however, has seen a prolific chance maker rise from the depths.
Swansea First Womens University Netball Team Cruise Past Gloucester’s Second Women’s Netball Team by Will Humphrey
waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk
Before Christmas festivities began for Swansea Women’s First University Team, they faced Gloucester Women’s Second Netball team in a Western League 2B fixture. Based on their previous form Swansea were favourites to win the fixture, which was only bolstered by the home court advantage. Going into the fixture Swansea had won three of their five league games, losing their other two games by
The heart of the team is Reuben Mitchell; he is the club’s Captain. Reuben is the founding father of Humpdog’s Army, the man who brought the talent from potential to the premier league. If Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Nacer Chadli had a child Reuben would be it, inheriting both their looks and footballing ability. Reuben is the driving force in midfield, director in defence and assisting in the attack. The final addition to the roster is Gavin Grassick. Grassick is a self-confessed lady killer, who supports Crystal Palace and rocks running shoes to five-a-side on a weekly basis. Like “Snash” his work ethic and commitment on the pitch cannot be disputed by anyone on the team. Grassick has proven himself at 7-a-side and 5-a-side levels scoring some real beauties with his right foot that would make the hairs on the back of Neymar’s neck stand up. Some successful loan spells have occurred over the years with the signings of Jamie O’ Conor, Saif Imran and Curtis Badley. They have added vital goals and crucial defending to help Humpdog’s Army to their new position in the Student Premiership. Humpdog’s Army won the Student Championship and finished with 12 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss over the course of 14 games. Humpdog’s Army have their first game in Student Premiership tomorrow and are looking to continue their success in the five-a-side sphere.
narrow margins and were riding high in second place in the Western 2B league. On the other hand their opponents Gloucester were struggling for any kind of consistency within the league and were just one place off the bottom of the league. True to their form, Swansea made light work of Gloucester and took full advantage of their good form and Gloucester’s lack of confidence when competing in fixtures. Each quarter was dominated by Swansea and each team member out playing their opposition from Wing Attack to Goal Shoot. Swansea finished their 2015 year by winning the game 58- 17 and are hoping to carry their good form and strong team dynamitic along with a winning momentum into the New Year. Due to the game being such a one sided affair, it is difficult to assess whether Swansea had any downfalls
waterfrontonline.co.uk
League Table Swansea University
Intramural Football League Selected division: Popworld Premier League (Adult) P
W
D
L
F
A
GD Pts
Hangover 96
7
7
0
0
38
9
29
21
AFC Sloth
6
6
0
0
32
9
23
18
SUMFC 5's
8
5
3
0
32
11
21
18
SUMFC 6's
8
5
2
1
29
13
16
17
SPR
6
4
1
1
18
5
13
13
Golden Showers
7
4
1
2
18
8
10
13
Avengers
7
4
0
3
22
20
2
12
Armadillo
7
3
2
2
25
17
8
11
Photosinthesis Grasshoppers
6
3
1
2
22
13
9
10
History FC
6
3
1
2
14
8
6
10
Ajax Treesdown
6
3
0
3
13
19
-6
9
Crayola
7
2
1
4
9
26
-17 7
Ladzio
8
2
0
6
18
32
-14 6
Stroke Titty
6
1
0
5
11
19
-8
St Helen's
8
1
0
7
12
31
-19 3
Swansea Medics FC
7
1
0
6
9
29
-20 3
Pitches + Bitches
7
1
0
6
4
26
-22 3
Fulton Wanderers
7
1
0
6
12
39
-27 3
3
during the game and if they needed to make any improvements for the next fixture. However Gloucester did have two key problems during the fixture; they lacked discipline when attacking and defending and an overall lack of togetherness as a team. After the game I asked Katie Stoodley, the first team captain how she thought the game went and what the team’s strengths were during the game. Stoodley commented “We played the game at a fast pace but were in control, we also controlled the opponents centre passes and were able to put pressure on their attacking strategy.” Since playing the fixture against Gloucester, Swansea have beaten Bristol Women’s Third Team 43-34 points and are currently third in the Western 2B League. Swansea next fixture is against Cardiff Women’s Third Team in Wednesday, so good luck to the girls in that fixture.