The Waterfront issue 262

the waterfront

Free Issue 262 22 February 2016 waterfrontonline.co.uk

The official student newspaper of Swansea University

HONORARY LIFE MEMBERSHIP: THE FORGOTTEN NOMINEES

INSIDE

Live review: Hozier, Cardiff p.15

by Waterfront reporter

waterfrontunionnews@swansea-union.co.uk

Swansea University Students’ Union faced criticism this week for its handling of the annual declaration of honorary life memberships.

Memberships are awarded to individuals who have demonstrated great commitment and support towards the Students’ Union and to the students of Swansea University in general.

During their studies, every student is a temporary member of the Union, but the award grants permanent membership, even upon leaving the University. The Union was vocally criticised for failing to properly consider a vast amount of names, that were submitted through their online portal.

To receive a nomination for the HLM award, an individual must be nominated by one, or several students. The process this year was that any member of the executive committee, and any student generally, could nominate a student through the online portal accessed via

the SU website. Those nominated would then be discussed by the executive committee, on whether to put the student forward to a vote, to the student body at the annual general meeting.

Due to staff illness and lack of understanding of the process, any name submitted through the online portal was essentially discounted from consideration, and only the names submitted by the executive committee via email were passed to a vote at the Agm. While several executive committee members did provide their opinion to the list, a majority did not and so every name on the list received from the online portal was not passed to the Agm for a vote.

One student had this to say on the process “When the union president was told that the situation was unfair and that nominees had slipped through the cracks of the HLM nomination process, he merely shrugged.

I’m disappointed that this is how our union responds to neglect, they should have been held accountable for this mess.”

We asked a part-time officer who did not

wish to be named their opinion on the process “it’s completely un-democratic and the union has failed students by ignoring their wishes” We extended an invitation to the student’s union to comment and this is what they had to say: “The AGM experienced a 10 fold increase in turn out this year, which is a great achievement. Having students more involved in our democratic processes means that more changes can be made to improve the student experience at Swansea University. We have set up a survey for valuable feedback which will be taken in to account for next years AGM. The quorate for Honorary Lifetime Memberships for some nominations was not reached as explained at the AGM. Quoracies are a standard practice in such processes across the sector.

If individuals feel that someone deserves further recognition for their contribution to the Students’ Union, nominations will soon be open for the ‘Individual Contribution Award’ at the upcoming Students’ Union awards.”

Features: Coffee & recycling p.10

Live review Sweeney Todd p.20

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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 - Declan Murphy editor@swansea-union.co.uk Design & layout - Hazel Stabler waterfrontdesign @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 - Will Humphrey waterfrontcreativewriting @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 Student Media Coordiantor Iain Fisher iain.fisher@swansea-union.co.uk

the waterfront 22. 02. 16

STEP 4 EXCELLENCE PROGRAMME

Step 4 Excellence – The Swansea University Pathway to an improved Student Experience Some of you may have heard of the Step4Excellence programme and wondered what it is. Others may have not heard anything about it at all. So here’s the lowdown.

Step4Excellence is a major programme being undertaken by the university in collaboration with the Student’s Union with

one aim in mind: to substantially improve the experience for our students here in Swansea.

There are 4 areas of the programme:

• What makes an excellent learning experience?

• Enhancing academic and pastoral support • Better partnership working with students • What sort of institutional culture do we want?

“Since the project launched last summer we’ve gone out to staff and students to gauge their thoughts and opinions on what the current student experience looks and feels like,” said programme leader Professor Martin Stringer.

“I’d like to personally thank everyone who has taken part in this process to date. Without your honest and clear feedback we would find it difficult to change and improve anything.

“At the moment, we’re looking at the comments and feedback we’ve had from our

Swansea Students’ Union AGM Largest Turnout for Decades!

by Rhydian Morris

waterfrontnews@swansea-union.co.uk

Swansea Student’s union this month hosted it’s annual general meeting with turnout a staggering increase compared to previous years.

Each year the student union are constitutionally bound to hold a general meeting for the student body, to ensure it is held to account and to document it’s achievements and failures over the preceding year.

As expected, this year of work was dominated by the expansion of the union and the university to a dual campus set up, where the union would function across both the singleton and bay campuses.

Lewys Aron the current union president further emphasised the union’s commitment to a full service for the union with no disadvantage given to student access on the basis of which campus they attend.

The union’s successes this year include the rolling out of a consistent night bus service that ensures the safety of students travelling home late at night, on the most busy nights of the week. The night bus has attracted criticism recently from First-bus group who have threatened to withdraw the service after several instances of buses being left in a dreadful state by drunk students. The officer team have continued to fight for the service and it has been successfully

saved, but the union president expressed his frustration over the repeated instances. While attracting criticism from some vocal elements of the crowd over his comments on his frustration, he did emphasise he would continue to fight for the service but that his position was becoming very weak due to lack of student care of the buses at night. The union will be launching a campaign over the next few weeks to ensure the message is sent out to students, over the threat of possible withdrawal of this valuable route.

Other successes listed by the officers includes the education officer Robiu Salisu’s campaign over Saturday exams which he described in the meeting as “looking very positive”. Lloyd Harris can be commended over his work on a new hate crime and sexual harassment policy for the union and his work to attempt to secure lottery funding for suicide prevention workshops at the university. Though credit can be given to all the officers over the past year for the diverse and difficult challenges the move to the bay campus set up has caused for students, the university and the expansion of the union.

While in many ways the AGM was a significant success, with turnout drastically increased and more students than ever being able to see the work of the union, the way that turnout was facilitated has courted some controversy. Student union and

consultations and focus group events so we can develop a series of recommendations to take to forward. We will be sharing these recommendations once they are approved and look forward to working with students and staff to putting them into practice.”

The project has the full backing of Swansea University Students’ Union, which believes passionately in the drive to improve the overall student experience.

“It’s so important to see this focus on the whole student experience,” said SU President Lewys Aron. “And it’s encouraging to see the university looking to invest in its future offering for students. This university is already doing so well. It’s the highest ranking university in Wales according to the NSS, and is already rated 8th in the UK for student satisfaction.

This, together with the work now being undertaken by Step 4 Excellence can only help increase the value of a degree from Swansea.”

sports teams were forced under threat of sanction to send at least one representative to the event, and it was clear not all individuals attended willingly.

One student had this to say on being forced to attend “The event had a wonderful turnout but the union should have made it clearer the outcomes for not attending and should have maybe focused on a reward system as opposed to punishing students. To improve for next year the union should focus on providing information to help students understand the process more’ hile there is scope for improvement the agm was significantly better than previous

years and allows lessons to be learnt on how to host similar events in the future to engage students.

Lewys Aron the union president had this to say on the event on his personal Facebook “Thanks to everyone who came to the AGM tonight. Sometimes it’s really tough to stand up there in front of 150+ students presenting the union and its work. But I am truly, truly, humbled by the influx of positive and supportive messages I have received from students since the AGM. Honestly reminded me of why I ran for this position and has given me that motivation to ensure that I finish of my manifesto commitments this term. Diolch i chi gyd”

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NEWS W ITH HEATHER W OOD

#WomCamOnTour is coming to Swansea!

by Heather Wood

waterfrontnusnews@swansea-union.co.uk

NUS Women’s Campaign is on tour!

Delivering workshops around the UK this month to a handful of campuses.

Our campus is one of their stops, so a couple of the NUS Women’s national committee members will be coming to facilitate an I Heart Consent workshop.

The aim of this workshop to enable students to:

• Learn about the importance of sexual consent

• Combat rape culture and victimblaming • Learn how to create a positive consent culture

NUS Women’s campaign workshops are only open to all who self-define

Card Minimum Spend Slashed from £3 to £1

by Heather Wood

waterfrontnusnews@swansea-union.co.uk

The Union have finally answered the Students prayer, as you can know purchase a pint on tap on card without the hassle of spending more. Snacking during lectures has never been so easy. Union Venues include M y C o s t c u t t e r, JC’s, Fulton Outfitters, The Wonky Sheep and SPAR These venues will have the reduced fee as of the 1st of March.

Discussing the topic, Lewys Aaron, The Students’ Union president has said this: ‘Sticking to my manifesto promise I have secured a reduction in the minimum spend on card transactions from £3 to £1. This means that shopping

at our venues now becomes even more

convenient. This proved a majorly popular manifesto point and I am proud to deliver on it”

This is the one of many manifesto promises which Lewys is proud to have completed, others including The Free The Period Campaign reducing the price of sanitary items in Costcutter, the campaign for a Full Time International Officcer which can be voted on in march, secured £500 ring-fenced funding for each liberation group and a free park and ride servide for students driving to the Bay Campus.

Thanks to the hard work of the union, we can all breathe a heavy sigh of relief. Thank god I can finally buy my almond cappuccino in the morning by card without the extra purchases!

as women, including (if they wish) those with complex gender identities which include ‘woman’, and those who experience oppression as women.

The event will be holding place on the 24th of February in Seminar room 3 from 6pm to 8pm! Do come with plenty of time as the workshop only holds 30 participants and its first come first serve.

The Part-time Women’s Officer is also planning the Union’s Celebrations for the

International Women’s Day. Events include a Cinema Outing at Cinema and Co for £2! The film that will be showing is classic ‘Made in Dagenham’. More information for the event coming in the next issue.

Resilience – just as important as talent!

Employers greatly value graduates’ high level skills developed through all the experience that you gain during your time at university - there’s a very good overview of this topic at https://targetjobs.co.uk/careersadvice/skills-and-competencies. However, the attitude with which you approach tasks and challenges is just as important as skills – often more so, and resilience is one of the most important qualities that graduate recruiters look for. It is the kind of strength which arises from a range of attributes such as:

• Determination, perseverance and self-belief • Getting out of your comfort zone - viewing challenges

and obstacles as opportunities and not being afraid of making mistakes along the way • Being adaptable, creative and able to deal with the unexpected • Able to take responsibility and maintain your motivation • Addressing problems in a practical way rather than being overwhelmed by the emotional impact • Able to build strong support networks in your personal and working life.

Developing a growth mind-set Resilient people are often described as having a growth mind-set. You can find interactive online tools at https:// myuni.swan.ac.uk/careers/mind-set/ to help you explore this further. Further relevant sections at myuni.swan. ac.uk/careers/ include: Work experience: practical ideas on how to get the experience that provides opportunities for building resilience in the world of work.

SEA Award: including the Profiling For Success personal development package Interactive Portal: under the “Tools” menu (you need to be logged into MyUni to access the Portal).

Carol Dweck, a researcher in the field of motivation and why people succeed, developed this idea of a “growth mind-set” - the power of believing that you can improve and that you’re on a learning curve with a path into the future even if you haven’t achieved you aims yet. If you enjoy a challenge even if you think something might not be quite within your grasp just yet, and you look upon it as a learning opportunity, then you have a growth mind-set.

Someone with a fixed mind-set might show reluctance to take on a challenge due to fear of being judged and criticised. See Carol’s TED talk “The power of believing that you can improve” at www.ted.com/speakers/carol_dweck.

Of course, a sense of balance is also important – challenge yourself, but be realistic when developing your action plans. Break your goals down into smaller chunks rather than trying to accomplish everything all at once; then it will be easier to maintain flexibility and change your course if you encounter obstacles.

FREE personalised i-resilience report from Robertson Cooper: “Fortunately, everyone has the ability to build and maintain their levels of resilience.”

Robertson Cooper was founded by Professors Sir Cary Cooper and Ivan Robertson of UMIST, now the University of Manchester. They are wellbeing specialists who help organisations to measure, build and maintain psychological wellbeing for individuals, teams and whole organisations. Two sections of their website which you might particularly like to look at are: The i-resilience report: Access it for FREE at www. robertsoncooper.com/iresilience/.

Robertson Cooper’s model of resilience has four key

components (see below) which are influenced by our personality and the skills we develop over time. i-resilience helps you to understand your own personal resilience and gives examples of how it could impact on your responses to demanding work situations. It shows how you might build on existing strengths and also develop strategies for addressing any potential areas of risk.

The first part of the report shows which of the following four key components users naturally draw on for resilience:

• • • •

Confidence Purposefulness Adaptability Social support

The second part of the report looks at the implications of your personality for resilience in various situations at work.

Good day at work: a wellbeing resources hub which you can join for FREE and access blogs, videos, downloads, podcasts and more at www.robertsoncooper.com/ gooddayatwork.

Applications for our Work Placements Programmes are Open!

29 February 2016 – 11 March 2016 - APPLY NOW!!

Applications only open twice a year for our SPIN, WoW and Santander Universities work placement programmes.

If you’re looking for work experience during term-time or over the summer break, our online application process is straight-forward and one application covers all our programmes, from our Week of Work taster opportunities to our 3 month Santander Universities placements for graduates. If you’ve previously applied during the 201314 or 2014-15 academic years, you are now automatically enrolled for placements in 2016.

Visit myuni.swan.ac.uk/work-placements between 29th February and 11th March, and complete our online application form.

You’ll get an email confirming your application to our programmes and inviting you to an Employability Bootcamp where you’ll learn some great skills to put into practice during your placement. You don’t need to book to attend the Bootcamp, just pick the one that suits you best from the confirmation email.

Create Your Own Work Placement

matter if applications have already closed or that you’re not necessarily going to apply for the specific role. What you’re looking for are skills, values, and experience that the company has described that you can highlight in your CV and cover letter. This way you can target the things that are important to the organisation. Make sure you send a tailored CV to each employer, highly specific to that company, and use the same language you’ve found on their website and in their job descriptions.

• Approach a named individual in the organisation: It’s always best to approach a specific individual within a company, and let them know why you’re contacting them.

If you already know someone in the organisation, you’re one step ahead. If you know of someone, but haven’t met them, call in a favour and ask a mutual acquaintance to introduce you or pass on your CV. If you don’t already have a contact within the company, the professional social network LinkedIn is a great way of connecting with relevant people in the organisation. Introduce yourself with a cover letter or email and your CV. Let them know what kind of experience you’re looking and when you’d be available. Remember to end your letter or email by asking them to contact you to discuss any opportunities they might have.

• Link with our programmes: If you’re approaching organisations asking for work placements make sure contact us at the Swansea Employability Academy. We can often help you cover the expenses of voluntary work, or help the employer fund your salary. Speak to us before you contact the employer; being able to say that your request for a placement is backed by the academy and that we can arrange some funding for your salary can be decisive for a company to take you on as an intern. Another benefit is that all placements that we support and help fund are recognised

Every year Swansea Employability Academy match hundreds of students to graduate level placements, however due to high demand we can’t find a placement for everybody. A great way of ensuring you get a work placement that matches your skills and career plan is to create your own opportunities and approach employers directly. Here are some ideas to get you started.

• Research with an open mind: You may already have a set

idea about the company or role you’d like to work in, but try to widen your options and keep an open mind. Your placement could be with a multinational or with a start-up. It could be highly relevant to your degree, or you could try something totally different. It could be in a FTSE100 company, or in a not-for-profit charity.

• Look into the values of the employers: Once you’ve found some employers you’d like to work for, research their businesses. Make sure you know how the company works and what their key targets, ethos and values are. Find out what values drive the company and what they will be looking for in their future interns and employees. Think about the skills, attitude, knowledge and experience that the employers may be looking for.

• Tailor your CV and cover letter: Check the employers’ websites for job descriptions and role profiles – it doesn’t

Following Bootcamp you’ll go onto our database to be matched to roles that suit your skills and interests. We’ll call you if you’re matched to a role, but if you’d like to find your own placement within a company, take a look at our article on the topic in this issue of Waterfront.

Full information on our programmes can be found at myuni.swan.ac.uk/work-placements, but if you have any questions we’d love to hear from you. Just email workplacements@swansea.ac.uk to get in touch.

in your Higher Education Achievement Report. Visit myuni. swan.ac.uk/work-placements for further details.

• Follow up: If you haven’t heard back a week after your initial email or letter, call up to ask if your contact has had time to read your cover letter and CV. Be friendly and professional, and also prepare to answer questions about yourself as if you were in an interview. If a company is interested in your speculative approach they may want to meet you in person, so have a calendar with your commitments handy!

If you have questions about speculative approaches to employers for work experience or employment, or want further information on how the Swansea Employability Academy can help fund and support your placement, visit myuni.swan.ac.uk/work-placements or email workplacements@swansea.ac.uk. You may also want to book an appointment with a qualified and impartial careers advisor at the SEA Academy, this can be done online at myuni.swan. ac.uk/employability/appointments.

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Discovery’s Charity Fashion Show

the waterfront 22. 02. 16

lunch, Spring Break, Date Night and Gala Dinner. All clothes are high end high street fashion garments available to purchase.

Fundraiser Dust of those winter blues and spring into spring with Discovery’s first fashion show to raise funds to carry on and progress the 25+ projects we run throughout Swansea!

To kick off Discovery’s 50th year celebrations we are holding a fundraiser Fashion Show which is to be held March 3rd at 7:30- The Atrium, Swansea Bay Campus and will raise money to help fund Discovery in its 50th Year, celebrating all the hard work of our volunteers and raise vital funds to continue onwards. We are also proud to announce local BBC radio Host Mal Pope, an ambassador of Discovery is to compere the event.

An evening of Fun, Fizz and Fashion with fashion from The Dressing Room. Themes will include: Vintage, Work Wear, Ladies “wot”

Student Volunteering Week Student Volunteering Week will be running on 22-28th February 2016 with events taking place at many Universities across the country.

During and after the week Discovery will be offering lots of different opportunities for students to get involved in volunteering in the local area.

Along with the fashion show a raffle will be held all prizes donated by local people and companies and refreshments will be served throughout the proceedings. If you want to come along to find your next outfit, for entertainment and to support a local charity then please buy a ticket either from the Discovery office (Right side of Fulton House) or online for our Eventbrite ticket page. All event details can be found on our Facebook Event/ Discovery SVS Facebook page.

the unsold food.

Discovery@swansea.ac.uk

Wednesday 24th Feb 2-3pm Discovery’s Tidy Towns project will be leading a beach clean at Swansea bay, simultaneously as other student volunteering groups across Wales.

TWITTER@discoverysvs

Saturday 27th Feb 9-2pm Fundraising collections will be taking place in the Singleton Campus area during the 112th Welsh Cross Country Championships to raise money for Discovery’s 50th Anniversary projects and activities.

Monday 22nd Feb 10-2pm Re-launch of the Discovery Food co-op which offers fresh produce from a local farmer to students, staff and community members.

Wednesday 24th Feb 12-2pm Discovery and Swansea University will launch WRAP to help a well-known local supermarket distribute unused and unsold food to local charities. A stall event will be held at Fulton House, Singleton Campus where volunteers will be cooking and selling items using

If you can donate some time to volunteer on any of these projects get in touch with Discovery and make a positive contribution to the local community.

facebook.com/discoverysvs #SVWWales16 #Discovery50th A special mention to Shaun who is our Project Coordinator for Tidy Towns and will be leading the Beach Clean during volunteering week. Shaun is our longest running volunteer and is celebrating his 10th year with us this year! (He’s amazing!!)

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LIBERATION

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with Akosua Darko

waterfrontliberation@swansea-union.co.uk

My personal experience of racism

by Akosua Darko

waterfrontliberation@swansea-union.co.uk

“YOU CAN NEVER MOVE FORWARD IF YOU ARE ALWAYS LOOKING BACK. THIS IS MY MOTIVATION BEFORE I START MY ARTICLE. YOU HAVE TO MOVE ON FROM THE PAIN” In celebration of Anti racism day and an example of why the fight against it is still needed. I came to England when I was nine. Primary school was a nightmare. I was put into bottom set for everything I think or second to bottom because I was from Ghana.

It was no way because of my ability I went to private school in Ghana and I was pretty advanced. My grades went downhill, if you keep being told you are stupid and that you can only reach a certain ability that’s what happens. Obviously because I was from a third world country my level of education prior must have been poor.

Excuse my sarcasm but I still hold a bit of a grudge and I am angry my educators had such primitive views which subconsciously filtered down to me and my fellow

classmates. The other kids didn’t associate with me and I had no friends. All this was because my culture was foreign and so I acted in a way they were not accustomed to. I was ‘weird’ and I think their views on African children, I use that term because I don’t think that they realised that Africa is full of different countries with unique identities, were we were all one, poor and living harsh lives.

I am not going to deny neither am I ashamed of the people as individuals in my home country who live in very dire situation just like there are millions of homeless and displaced people living in the cold in the UK. It’s a system and government that have failed them and that’s what I ashamed of.

Anyway by that time I had started to feel worthless and believed I could never be very intelligent I could only reach a mediocre level with hard work, that’s what the teachers told those in lower sets and were never given a chance to prove otherwise. At nine years old to eleven the seed of mediocrity was already planted.

They divided us into who would succeed and get what they wanted out of life and who would just get by.

Unfortunately I was the latter.

Secondary school came by another nightmare. Unfortunately the poor treatment exploded; it reached heights I could not imagine. Then my appearance became the focussing point. I was too dark, too ugly, my features were too large basically all I categorised was my dark skin and features made me unlovable and unwanted. Then there was my accent it was too primitive and my culture was fresh of the boat. Some people find that term funny whenever you diss a person’s upbringing and culture because you think is less than go and find a book and educate yourself.

Nobody deserves to be mocked for their cultural identity. Plus I was in the second to bottom set for most things and I was surrounded by bme faces in those classes and a bme student in a high set was an anomaly. There is no way that this is a coincidence. I had some habits, kissing my teeth, turning my neck and clicking my fingers was something normal where I grew up, its not a sign of a bad attitude and trust me in that school my teeth had a lot to kiss at. All these things made me a yearlong joke. I began to hate myself so much and want to remove everything black and African about bme. I figured it was that, that was limiting my ability to do well in school and in the long run have that nice house, car and good life. The teachers figured I was a stat, I would grow up to be stat and subconsciously put me and a lot of bme students into a box and thought we were stupid because we were more likely to fail in school because of background

issues. It was normal for kids like me to fail.

I remember at parents evening these teachers will say I was doing a great job when I was failing miserably and they knew my prospects were severely limited but I was doing great for a stupid and black person.

Thank God I loved to read. Reading saved my life, I read about racism, I read about black revolutionaries, I read a lot and reading taught me to criticise and that the people saying all those ignorant things to me were blinded by stupidity. My step dad got me a book on black scientists, artists etc and my mum got me a magazine filled with black women achieving extraordinary things.

I started to see myself in a whole new light and I believed everything was possibly. From childhood books by , Roald Dahl, Jackqueline Wilson, Khaled Hosseini, George Orwell, Malorie Blackman, Benjamin Zephaniah and so many others were a companion and they kept me from going crazy, becoming rebellious and from thoughts of suicide. In year nine I started doing very well in English and slowly got into top set I was lucky my teacher that

year had sense and decided to move me up sets. I thought I could do this for everything else and worked incredibly hard to move up in maths however in science the racism was still there.

What else there to expect when I was in year seven or eight I did significantly better than a girl who moved up to a top set and the teacher lied about it. So in science I was in a place below my ability.

My teachers in the higher sets were not the most supportive and I struggled again but with determination I made it through till I left for sixth form which was much better. I still face racism I always will, but now I know what it is and how to fight it.

I hope you can see how all those things would lead to me being less likely to get unemployed, going to university, getting a 2:1 or above, more likely to be in an abusive relationship and more likely to be depressed or have mental health issues than my white counterparts. The standard of living is being shaped from primary school for black students to have a significantly lower quality of life than their white counterparts.

creative writing

tech

food

societies

fashion

film

music

culture

features Lifestyle for Swansea students

22 February 2016 waterfrontonline.co.uk

front!

Live Review: Hozier @ St. David’s Hall, Cardiff, p.15

features

with Shona Johnson

22 February 2016 waterfrontonline.co.uk

10

How much coffee do we need to wake up?

by Tammy Schuh

waterfrontfeatures@swansea-union.co.uk

The alarm goes off, taking a shower, no time for breakfast. No problem, you can grab a coffee before the first lecture. Coffee to go is getting a more and more popular way of getting the first dose of caffeine in the morning. Also during the day, take away drinks are more popular than ever before.

The ordinary filter coffee or cappuccino, hot chocolate or even more extravagant drinks as Gingerbread Latte or Pistachio and Rose Mocha; the choice of drinks seems endless, but they all have one thing in common; how they’ll be served as take away.

Take away cups; disposable cardboard and polyester containers with a plastic lid are the new best friend of the modern person. Sometimes I even got the feeling; people get their coffee just as an additional accessory to their outfit; sunglasses, bag or cap and – the coffee to go. Hollywood is an example for this and Swansea imitates it. But it’s not only students, and not only Swansea. In the UK, 2.5 billion disposable cups are used every year.

If you are looking at 24 million people in the UK between the age of 18 and 45, being the principal consumers of takeaway coffee, on average, every single person buys 100 cups a year (including those who don’t buy any).

So every single person is responsible for 100 cups, each year, only for take away drinks; not

mentioning all the Frappuccinos or ice drinks and other fast food drinks that are served in plastic cups.

So what can you do against this? – Well, not buying any overpriced coffee, would be a start. If you still want to enjoy the taste of a morning coffee to go or an afternoon burnt caramel latte, you could switch to reusable coffee cups, which are so handy, they can even be used for lattes, hot chocolates or tees. And they keep your cold drink cool as well.

At Swansea University, the on-campus coffee places, such as Hoffi Coffi (Costa Coffee) and Starbucks offer a reusable coffee cup at a price of £6. For every 10 drinks, your 11th drink is for free.

Within a few weeks, your coffee cup is paid off, and you did something for your environment. However, Swansea University sold around 400 of these great green cups within the last year. So only around 2.3% of students, staff members not included, are using the flasks to get their caffeine to go.

A total of 190 thousand cups could be economised by using the Swansea University reusable cups or any other reusable takeaway flask.

So why are not more students and staff members using reusable cups?

Firstly, not everyone even knows about the opportunity of getting them on-campus. However, only a few places actually sell them – in the library and at Starbucks in Callaghan and ILS. Also, neither JC’s nor Costcutter is offering possibilities to buy reusable drinking vessels.

So if you love your environment, and you

should – as you are studying and working in the wonderful area of Swansea Bay; simple changes like having a reusable cup can lead to big effects.

If you want to go Zero Waste, and make a difference, check out Rob Greenfields Website, www.robgreenfield.tv, with tips how to reduce your waste.

22 Feburary 2016 waterfrontonline.co.uk

Phrasing Interest

by George Sariak

waterfrontfeatures@swansea-union.co.uk

England. Embarrassed by collecting human urine which you can imagine was neither glamorous or worth bragging about meant people would often lie about the nature of their work. Those who suspected that someone’s supposed occupation was in fact a lie would ask “are you taking the piss?”

A different kettle of fish Got your work cut out for you (completely different from (difficulty ahead) something) The phrase originates from tailoring, with the two fundamental components of tailoring being 1) pattern cutting and 2) stitching the patterns. Being that sewing patterns together is the more difficult of the two tasks, someone who cuts your work out for you as a tailor, (excuse the pun) has stitched you up with the most difficult part of tailoring. Therefore when you’ve got your work cut out for you, only difficulty lies ahead.

Saved by the bell After spending some time in a multicultural and multi-lingual workplace, I came to the staggering conclusion that the English that I use seemed to really throw a few people off who had a complete grasp of English as their 2nd language.

Some of the phrases I use and I’m hoping some of you may use them too in their literal translation have no obvious meaning.

However, if someone said to you: “That meal was not up to scratch, and now I’m feeling a bit under the weather.”

And you understood that to mean “there was something wrong with that meal, and now I’m not feeling well” then you have a clear grasp on some quintessentially British phrases. You may think that was obvious, but that means you’re accustomed to some of these phrases that have developed in the English language (UK) over time. If you didn’t understand the example phrase, that’s fine also, as this article will hopefully clarify the meaning of a few of these phrases and also uncover their origins.

Under the weather (unwell)

An expression of a nautical origin, explained it makes a lot of sense. If a sailor fell ill aboard a ship he was sent below deck away from the elements in order to recover, rendering him under the weather.

Taking the piss (to ridicule or take liberties) – At the time of industrial revolution in Britain, before synthetic dyes human urine was used in the cloth dying industry and was taken via canals to the mills in Northern

each section of the pitch with a number.

The goalkeeper’s area was “square one”, so if the ball was passed back to the goal keeper or an opposing player’s shot on goal went straight off the back the play of the game was referred to as going back to square one.

Often assumed and often applied to a round ending in a boxing match, where one fighter is looking as if he/she is in bad shape. Actually the origins have been traced by historians to date back to a story from Victorian London. One night at Horse Guard Parade in Westminster, a guard had been charged with falling asleep on duty and was facing a serious court martial. However the guard pleaded he was innocent claiming Big Ben had chimed thirteen times at midnight opposed to the standard twelve. Interested in the guards claim, the clock mechanism of Big Ben was checked and a cog was found out of alignment that would have caused thirteen chimes at midnight as the guard protested.

On witnessing the mechanical fault of the clock, the guard was freed and was claimed to have been saved by the bell.

Scot Free (avoid a consequence)

Nope, not a thing to do with Scotland. It originate from the old Norse work ‘Skot’ and was used originally in 13th c. Scandinavia in relation to municipal tax levies whereby households would pay a share of the tax which was called their “lot”. A scot tax existed in medieval England too. In both cases peasants too poor to pay were exempt from the tax and therefore were regarded to be scot free.

Back to square one (a return to the beginning)

This phrase originated from the BBC broadcasts of football matches in the 1930s were a grid system was devised by the Radio Times to enable listeners to follow the game more accurately by denoting

This one is often debated. The first theory dates back in the history of English cooking as early as the 1800s where a two-handed oval saucepan was known as a kettle and was often used to cook fish. The process of cooking fish in the kettle would often change the colour and consistency of certain types of fish to the point where an appealing dinner looked dull and grey.

Therefore at the end of the cooking process, people would remark upon sight that it was

11

a different kettle of fish. Another theory states in the Scottish border country a common social event was to spend the day at the river side where often fresh fish was caught, and again cooked in a kettle. Where this theory diverts is the belief that the days themselves were known in Scotland as a “kettle of fish” and when the circumstances of one of these days out were different from the last it would be a different kettle of fish.

Up to scratch (acceptable)

Before Pacquiao vs Mayweather, or when referees said “touch gloves and come out fighting”, boxing matches would be conducted by scratching a line in to ground at the point where the boxers would meet.

If a fighter failed to come up to the line, the other competitor would win by default, therefore the surrendering fighter would not be up to scratch.

film

with Joshua Vaughan

22 February 2016 waterfrontonline.co.uk

12

2016 Oscars: The Lineups

by Joshua Vaughan

waterfrontfilm@swansea-union.co.uk

2015 was a target year for producers to but their biggest films on the map. With the franchises of Star Wars and Mad Max returning to the big screen, as well as the new and original spectacles from Inside Out to The Revenant keeping us entertained, there was no shortage of films to be enjoyed. Therefore, with the Oscars arriving on the 28th of February, let’s look forward to the potential winners and graceful losers of 2015.

Best Picture

The films in the spotlight (pun not intended) this year are The Big Short, Bridge of Spies, Brooklyn, Mad Max: Fury Road, The Martian, The Revenant, Room and Spotlight. All seems well here, and if any snubs should be considered (perhaps Inside Out and The Gift), which film would be replaced?

To this writers mind, each place in this category

is deserved.

Actor in a Leading Role

The category riddled with controversy. This year’s nominees are Bryan Cranston for Trumbo, Matt Damon for The Martian, Leonardo DiCaprio for The Revenant, Michael Fassbender for Steve Jobs and Eddie Redmayne for The Danish Girl.

No black nominees, Leo’s year, and back-to-back wins for Redmayne. For starters, each place here is irreplaceable. If the Academy were to enforce a rule in which a nominee must be from minority descent, that would surely raise more racial issues than how many it would solve. As for the “Leo’s year” nonsense, he is still a very young actor. Just because the audience loves to see a man suffer a CGI bear attack for an Oscar, doesn’t mean the

other performances should be overlooked. As for Redmayne: a man who can win a male-centric category by dressing like a woman is quite the irony; perhaps Leo should try that too. Leo, however, is the runaway favorite for this one.

Actress in a Leading Role

Much less controversy is surrounding the nominees for this category. The nominees include Cate Blanchett for Carol, Brie Larson for Room, Jennifer Lawrence for Joy, Charlotte Rampling for

45 Years and Saoirse Ronan for Brooklyn. Should Lawrence win over Larson, expect a “popularity over performance” riot, as Larson is the odds-on winner right now.

overhyped film. When a film can stand on the legs of its actors, rather than the quality of its writing, it is a credit to the actor, rather than the filmmaker.

Actor in a Supporting Role

It is a conundrum how Art House films are often accredited with greatness, while Sci-Fi and animated films often are not. Inside Out is a masterpiece of cinema, which appeals to adults and its core audience alike. Nevertheless, it misses out on Best Picture, but thankfully gets its recognition in the Original Screenplay category.

A problematic nomination goes to The Hateful Eight for Original Score, however. Original? Really? Ennio Morricone’s score is just as appealing (although out of the blue) as any of the other nominees, but the word “original” is not how it should be described. The film features pieces from Morricone’s soundtrack on The Thing, and Reagan’s Theme from The Exorcist II (which is very misplaced, although fondly memorable). Another oddity is found in Ex Machina which, other than its nominations in the Original Screenplay and Visual Effects categories, is rather underappreciated. Likewise, there is a similar issue surrounding The Gift, a film beautifully written, directed and acted out, which received no nominations at the Academy Awards.

Oh, well. At least it would give one a better reason to boycott this year’s Oscars than Jada Pinkett Smith’s pathetic racial outcry. It’s not so much a racial bias here, Jada, but rather a familial bias.

Again, lots of talent here. The nominees are Christian Bale for The Big Short, Tom Hardy for The Revenant, Mark Ruffalo for Spotlight, Mark Rylance for Bridge of Spies and Sylvester Stallone for Creed.

Ruffalo’s performance was good enough to be a contender for lead actor, but apparently his air-time was in the lacking department.

Nevertheless, he will face tough competition against Sly Stallone, as his tear-jerking return in Creed was enough to win over this editor.

Actress in a Supporting Role

Once again we find an overlooked category with underappreciated talents. Our hopefuls come in the form of Jennifer Jason Leigh for The Hateful Eight, Rooney Mara for Carol, Rachel McAdams for Spotlight, Alicia Vikander for The Danish Girl and Kate Winslet for Steve Jobs. Vikander and Mara appear to be close favorites, with Winslet following closely behind. It is not at all strange that Jennifer Jason Leigh should be nominated, as she was a bright spark in an otherwise underwhelming and

Problems with Selections

music

with Gareth Matson

22 February 2016 waterfrontonline.co.uk

14

Review: Kanye West – The Life of Pablo

by Gareth Matson

waterfrontmusic@swansea-union.co.uk

Musically and characteristically Kanye West is the most interesting artist this decade. Those who become emotionally scarred by him referring to himself as “The greatest living rock star on the planet!” will burst an artery before they admit that, character aside, Kanye is one of the greatest living artists and as The Life of Pablo demonstrates he has the artillery to back up his bravado.

The album feels rushed and sloppy, but ultimately brilliant. With multiple name changes and the track list being cut and pasted just days before the release, with Kanye apparently mastering the tracks hours before, it’s hard to believe it took him 3 years. The piece opens with Ultralight Beam, a track entwined with gospel and organ: “This is a God dream” the choir sings. The album is littered with songs which could easily be the next huge single, however the first three tracks are not among them, they lack the mainstream appeal of hits such as Black Skinhead, POWER, Gold Digger et al. Yet they add a lot to the album as an art form, in addition to Father Stretch My Hands Pt.1 hosting some of his best (ridiculous) lyrics to date: “If I f*ck this model/ And she just bleached her as*hole/ And I get bleach on my T-shirt/ I’mma feel like an as*hole”. Put it on a plaque because that is poetry.

In true Kanye fashion, his track Famous caused controversy soon as he debuted it live at his album launch. Stemming from the line: “I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex / why I made that bitch

famous” according to yeezy she gave him permission to include this anyway. Furthermore this is one of the highlights of the album, entertaining lyrics in addition to sampling Nina Simone’s “Do What You Gotta Do” with Rihanna, who sings the song’s hook.

The next impressionable tack is I Love Kanye, offering up huge bait for those without the capacity to see humour. “And I love you like Kanye loves Kanye” he laughs and jeers at the end. What other artist would have a 50 second freestyle in the middle of their album of this nature? No one.

Waves has single written all over it, with its summer vibes and contemporary sound it would slide into the mainstream radio stations easier than

Amber Rose’s finger. The track is the start of a solid run of tracks. Followed by FML, which could also be contender for a huge single, though not in the accessible vein of Waves it has a wide reaching appeal with the first class production the trademarks Kanye’s work and is arguably his strongest trait. Real Friends and Wolves complete the solid run, each respectively a highlight of the album.

The album ends on another great run starting with the Kendrick Lamar collaboration No More Parties in LA which is 6 minutes of pure unfiltered rawness, succeeded by the Street Fighter sampling Facts which witnesses Kanye taking shots at Nike and his self-prophesising success in the 2020 presidential elections. The album is closed by a very Yeezus sounding Fade in terms of production and pushes through an aggressive bassline which wouldn’t look out of place on a Nine Inch Nails record.

Overall the album is a conquering success.

Definitely rough around the edges, a lot of the fat should be trimmed, tracks that otherwise would be perfect suffer from needless additions, such as 30 hours which starts brilliantly but drags on with repetitiveness while tracks such as Low Lights would be better off cut. But the staples of this album are huge and some of his best work, while it doesn’t reach the dizzy heights of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy it certainly strengthens his discography.With Kanye melting twitter every day with his audacious rants, he’s his own promo machine, for worse of better and you’ll be hearing a lot more from him and this album throughout the year. As he proclaims on Feedback “Name one genius that ain’t crazy”.

20th Anniversary: Fun Lovin Criminals’ Come Find Yourself

Self-expression, self-criticism, self-motivation: a coming of age album

by Harry Ballmann

waterfrontmusic@swansea-union.co.uk

The Fun Lovin’ Criminal’s vocal and guitarist (Huey Morgan, a rehabilitated ex-con) is a true exemplification of the band’s nature, and perhaps an inspiration to an album of immense quality and diversity.

Come Find Yourself is approaching twenty years old and is still massively undervalued. It proves to be an album of complexity, an album of immediate pleasure and gratification. It seems most appropriate view the album on a series of levels, a testament to its timeless quality.

The first level is the richness and diversity of the music; some songs present a youthful and appealing type of aggression, and others, serve as a poignant reminder to the mortality of life. The Fun Lovin’ Criminals’ genius therefore, is apparent in their contrast. ‘he Grave and the Constant is a song of reflectance about a life which isn’t so pretty, the

life of the sub-average New Yorker; contending with copious amounts of snow, high rates of rent, resorting to other means of earning an income.

The Grave and the Constant itself is a metaphor for

hell, illustrating intelligently crafted lyrics whilst providing a track which acts as a message that musicians are mortals too, not superstars. This is a different perspective to the opinion shown in The Fun Lovin’ Criminal, a youthful immaturity with a slight ignorance to the world, shown through a heavier, more rap orientated sound compared to the slow groove of The Grave and The Constant.

The Fun Lovin’ Criminal’s second level becomes evident, the contextual accuracy to the many aspects of real life; a tangible relationship between the musicians and their audience.

The album is not a stereotypical hip/hop album, the melee of genres from hard rock, to rap with an evident motown undertone. For me personally, the diversity of Come Find Yourself is what makes the album so appealing, yet for others, it could be seen as a lack of direction. Fun Lovin’ Criminals are certainly producing music on their own terms, a noteworthy cause in a climate of mass-produced music which certainly fails to be as down to earth as Come Find Yourself.

22 February 2016 waterfrontonline.co.uk

Live Review: Hozier @ St. David’s Hall, Cardiff Xtreme Radio’s Alys Evans went along to the much anticipated sold-out Hozier show in Cardiff.

On arrival into Cardiff’s St. David’s Hall, the apparent eclectic nature of the audience was a testament to Hozier’s eponymous debut album and its capacity to reach so many people.

The Irish female trio Wyvern Lingo kicked off the evening with material from their latest EP. They shared the musical traits of Hozier with one of their singles, ‘Subsided’, exposing their harmonic abilities with an underlying power. This only amped the eagerness to see what Hozier would bring.

Easing into the set with one of his more folksy tracks, ‘Like Real People Do’, the line “we could just kiss like real people do” was beautifully whispered, yet paradoxically sung with such emotional volume.

It wasn’t until 2015 that Andrew Hozier-Byrne was fully recognised for his melodically powerful combination of blues; gospel and folk. ‘Jackie and Wilson’ in particular stood out, with its heavy blues beat and gospel inspired backing vocals all tie in together with the soulful depths of Hozier’s voice to create an effortless fun, yet layered track. This was preceded by ‘From Eden’, which acted as a bridge between the folk-like melodies and the build of gravitas in each bluesy growl.

‘It Will Come Back’ brought a mournful edge to the vocals with outcries of “don’t be kind to me” and “show me mercy no more” with sinister cello melodies piercing through every beat - once again the raw emotion was palpable.

Whilst each track portrayed at times the confliction between love and loss (‘To Be Alone’; ‘Arsonist’s Lullaby’), every time he addressed the audience there was nothing but humour and warmth.

Each introduction he gave, he would almost chuckle the words out in what seemed to portray his pure enjoyment performing to such a fervent and at times heckling crowd - “actually my first time in Wales” - but hopefully not the last. The relaxed nature of Hozier’s persona was summed up as he stopped mid-intro to half-laughingly tell the audience that “we’re gonna count that in again”, comfortable in not achieving a pristine show.

‘To Be Alone’, reportedly one of his favourite tracks, was a perfect blend of an aching-yet-strong voice - once again

combining the bluesy guitar line with cello hums, and if nothing else, showing the huge range Hozier is capable of - progressing from deep growls to piercing howls.

One highlight was the duet, ‘In A Week’, where the vocalist and pianist from support act Wyvern Lingo - Helen Cowley - joined Hozier on stage for an ethereal duet, defying the thought that singing of corpses could be anything but beautiful. Prior to this, Hozier emphasized how much his hometown of Wicklow Hills, and both his and Wyvern Lingo’s home county had influenced his lyrics, explaining the sheer beauty yet simultaneous tragedy - “Wicklow Hills, a place only ever heard after ‘another body has been found’”.

In keeping with recent heartbreaking musical news, Hozier then performed a tribute to the passing of David Bowie.

The delicate and quite frankly tearjerking rendition of ‘Young Americans’ made the audience reach complete silence in recognition of Hozier’s emotive and immense captivation of Bowie’s song.

Counteracting the delicacy of emotions, the set concluded with a climactic ‘Take Me To Church’, fulfilling every expectation and then some. The enormity of the stage’s output brought on a unanimous standing ovation. The vocals beautifully intertwined with the heavy beats and the gospel backing creating a palpable energy.

After a chorus of applause, Hozier returned with an enchanting solo performance of ‘Cherry Wine’ with a stripped back and raw quality, followed by an equally intricate cover of ‘The Blackbird’, eliciting faces of awe at the take on The Beatles.

To complete the night of surpassed expectations, Hozier’s current single ‘Work Song’ filled the room with dramatic percussion bringing finality to the night; despite the obvious longing for more from the crowd’s cheers.

To sum up this performance, each song told a story - instead of a mere description, they became animated from explosive and dynamic performances, using every ounce of emotion that you couldn’t help but feel the passion for yourself.

15

fashion

with Shona Johnson

22 February 2016 waterfrontonline.co.uk

16

History’s Most Dangerous Fashion Trends

by Shona Johnson

waterfrontfashion@swansea-union.co.uk

Fashion was and still continues to be a huge part of people’s lives, keeping up with trends is so important to some that they will do anything to remain ‘in style’ - even if that means risking their health.

We see it still today with extreme waist training (thanks again, Kardashians…), and endless plastic surgery to achieve a desirable, voluptuous yet svelte figure. The lengths some people go to for aesthetic beauty is truly incomprehensible, so let’s take a look at five of the most dangerous trends in human history:

Foot Binding

In 10th and 11th century China, tiny feet were revered for being feminine and delicate. Many women would have their feet bound to achieve small feet, which I’m sure you can imagine is a horrendous process. Foot Binding involves the breaking of the bones in the feet, then restructuring them - and binding them tightly in linen. Many women would die from infection and shock as a result of the damage done, and those who survived the ordeal had extremely limited mobility. Quite the price to pay.

Extreme Corseting

Today, we turn to the likes of the Kardashians for inspiration on how to get a tiny waist - via the use of trainers and mild corset usage. However, in the Victorian era corsets were worn daily in place of a bra. These corsets were often so tight that they bruised ribs, and suffocated hundreds of women - all in the pursuit of an hourglass figure.

Unfortunately, lots of women still take lace-up corseting to the extreme today. Thanks, but no thanks!

- so many people would use makeup to achieve this look. However, this makeup was laced with lead paint which is toxic, which resulted in sores, headaches, nausea, tooth decay and eventually death from lead poisoning. Queen Elizabeth I was infamous for her use of such makeup, her skin was said to have been ‘pock-marked’ and ‘aged before its time’.

High, Stiff Collars

Women are not the only creatures throughout history to adhere to dangerous fashion trends, men fall victim to such silliness also. During 19th century Europe, a strong neckline was thought to be very alluring to women, so in order to achieve this look men would use abundant levels of starch to stiffen these collars and wear them so high that their jawlines actually touched the collars. In many cases, after wearing the collars all day they would ride up and slowly choke the wearer, often referred to as ‘father-killers’ these collars could cause asphyxiation - and death.

Powdered Wigs

When Louis XIII of France started to go bald, he decided to don an extravagant white wig instead - which in turn started a trend amongst the 17th century nobility. These wigs were so intricately designed and decorated that men and women often had to sleep sitting up to preserve the style.

What made matters worse, was that these wigs were never actually washed, they were simply waxed, powdered and perfumed. Unfortunately, this lack of hygiene often meant that these wigs would become home to an all manner of unwanted guests, such as lice, moths and even mice. One urban legend claims that a woman left a party after complaining of a sore head, only to discover that a mouse had decided to make a meal out of her scalp. Disgusting.

Lead Face Paint

Today, a tanned complexion is seen as desirable but throughout most of European history having tanned skin was a symbol of low social class, since labourers would often be tanned due to their abundant time outside working the land. Having fair, pale skin was a symbol of wealth and beauty

So...how far would you go for fashion?

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22 February 2016 waterfrontonline.co.uk

The Art of Trickery I prowl through Elgar forest, my kingdom, and my home. This is my regime on brisk winter evenings to prevent intruders such as foxes or badgers invading my kingdom.

Before the patrol I must eat, but during winter my staple diet of rabbit is scarce. An elderly woman living on the western edge of the forest will have to suffice in lieu. I enter her cottage; confusion reigns; I charge towards her, have her in my grasp; a small yelp escapes before I devour her. Her petite physique doesn’t provide much flesh but a meal is a meal. On leaving the cottage I choose my path wisely, as the terrain is slippery and greasy from a solid day’s downpour; the foliage is crooked and disassembled due to the constant torment from ferocious winds.

My kingdom is gradually becoming overgrown as Man appears less frequently, to cut the grass, trim the hedges or clean up the golden blanket of autumn leaves that coat the soil floor. Now I hear mellow whispers coming from the Thereon path at the edge of the forest, gossip about random disappearances; I can hear them as they walk down the hard beaten, deeply eroded path navigated tonight by the light of their torches.

The villagers say, ‘A wolf is the only possible answer to these disappearances, but some say it’s just an old folk tale, and they do not truly exist.’

I wait until the villagers have passed my position and creep along to try to pick up the mutterings. How I could leap out of my fortress and prove to those villagers that I, the wolf, am not some old folk tale? I exist larger than life in what they think is an uninhabited forest, full of nothing but foliage and scavengers such as the fox. The truth is, my only takings from their world are a few women, but I plan in due course to discover who is. I finish my patrol for the evening and begin the journey back to my lair in the depths of the forest.

Presently an unfamiliar, pungent smell from the West assails my senses, but it is one that at the same time is instantly recognisable. It is taking me too long to unveil the full countenance of this curious aroma; but it will remain a mystery for the time being as my mind is now assaulted in tandem by

high pitched squeals. In a spilt second, my demeanour flits from predator and assertive to prey and petrified. My entire body is experiencing the flight or fight instinct as adrenaline courses me; fear infects my mind and attack by an unseen enemy seems almost certain. I choose flight; I attempt to flee, except I cannot move. I peer back at the road to see what immovable force is keeping me here. Momentarily I cannot find the source. The smell is still prominent. The unforgiving squeals ring loudly in my ears. The winter weather is still adamantly testing my kingdom’s defences, heightening my feelings of foreboding. I remain unmoving, seemingly petrified as if rooted to the spot for what seems like a lifetime but finally surface from my reverie. I am delirious with fatigue but all my conscious attention lies on the road rather than at what hour I shall return to my lair. My eyelids close involuntarily for what I am sure is not the first time. At the moment it seems they must close for good a despondent red glimmer enters my view.

My eyelids are immediately wide open again but the despondent red is no longer in view. I take a moment, inhale deeply in an attempt to throw off tiredness and the fear of my unknown intruder, driving me to what feels like inner hysteria. I stumble behind a shattered oak tree, a victim of the sometimes brutal force of Mother Nature; I scan the ground up towards Althorn Road for signs of my intruder.

The thunder and its partner in crime, lightning give the morbid, and black sky a sense of life. As I bow my head towards the earth’s floor I become aware of the same dreary red glimmer in my peripheral vision, approaching with such slow deliberation that I briefly believe it is my mind playing demonising tricks upon me. However I come to realise that the scent, the high pitched squeals and the now brighter red subject are louder, more prominent and closer than on previous occasions.

Everything is beginning to make sense; the high pitched squeals and the tertiary colours lead to a prime suspect. Only the fox would mate in another animal’s habitat, although it was not mating season; it is winter not spring; it is November not January. I know the smell of the fox;

18

by Will Humphrey

waterfrontcreativewriting@swansea-union.co.uk

I would know that scent instantly but this scent escapes me. My brain’s subconscious stroll is now a run; my mind is going from reassurance to distress as I rush towards the road hoping to discover what I believe to be a fox. As I approach the edge of my forest fortress I come face to face with the disturbing subject that seems intent upon invading my very home.

It raises its head and glares deeply into my eyes. I return the glare with equal hatred. The subject is not anything I could anticipate; the subject is not a fox, nor a badger.

None of the usual culprits. My midnight trespasser is a small young human; I believe the human is a girl due to the long hair. It does not look scared although all of the face bar the eyes is cast into shadow by a blood red hood. It continues to stand motionless, staring at me. I charge at it without regard, now considering the creature to be a worthy reward for my returning hunger. I knock the girl to the ground. No sound is heard after it hits the ground apart from the rain continuing to bounce off the foliage. To my consternation the girl quickly rolls over and gasps, ‘’Wolf, I don’t wish to be eaten. I’m hoping to visit a relative but have lost my direction and am seeking shelter from this horrid weather.’’ ‘’Why should I trust a human?

Your race has hunted me and my kind for years?’’ I blurt back.

The girl swallows and says softly ‘‘because I have neither the strength nor the intelligence to harm you.’’

I ponder this and agree to provide shelter. I lead it back through my defences, past the fallen oak and towards my lair.

When we arrive I waste no time in pulling out dry wood from my store and make a small but warm fire for us both. The young girl lies under my shelter of intertwined sticks while I choose to sleep next to the fire since the rain has now stopped. After what feels like mere seconds I open my eyelids only to be met by the sight of another flame, but on the edge of the lair; the young girl moving towards it. I am so exhausted after the travails of the evening that I do not possess the strength to keep my eyes open a moment longer.

I am awoken again by a smell I knew but not one I am expecting. It is

the smell of burning, but not that of my small fire. I try to get to my feet in order to extinguish it but realise they are tied tightly. I convulse with fear as to what is happening. I manage to direct my face towards the other side of the lair, only to be met with my greatest fear, Man. Rows of men now stand within my inner sanctum; they have armed themselves with pitchforks, swords and branding irons, and huddle round a single figure. It is the young girl. I gaze at her with desperate, questioning eyes and as I do so she slowly turns to face me.

The men begin to scar my skin with branding irons, bruise my bones with pitchforks and laugh at my distress. I search the mob frantically for the hooded girl; spotting her again amidst the throng.

I mouth to her ‘’Why are you doing this? I did not kill you, why kill me?’’

It seems the more pain I am subjected to, the more the foreign presence in my kingdom confuses me. She has come from the West with her foreign scent and her squeals, but the town is in the East. She does not look old enough to wander alone. I run the facts over in my head before the men torment me more. I gaze at the girl; tears fall from her eyes as she mouths back, ‘’You killed my grandmother.’’

I have been tricked, first following my instinct to be wary of Man, and then caught off-guard by the small, young, but confident example in the forest which it seems can only lead to my inevitable demise.

illustration by Dan Burgess (dannyburgess.tumblr.com)

creative writing

Will Humphrey

22 February 2016 waterfrontonline.co.uk

What h appen e d?

What happened to five years Of being perfectly content Wasting each other’s free time?

What happened to sixteen year old Whiskey binges In ever-changing houses Or blood-warm beer On star-spangled summer evenings Surrounding fires Surrounded by friends?

What happened to dumb in-jokes Or made up songs that never lost their magic Even when we charged headfirst Over the cusp of adulthood?

What happened to pub nights, Nonsensical conversations, Abstract dreams and ideas Bubbling through our brains Forming a head between us,

The only people to whom any of it made any sense?

What happened to you?

Because I remember.

I remember your relationships before, Remember our blasé approach to first times, Dry spells, Hearing cawed questions about Sex And girlfriends But ignoring it all.

I remember you coming to me Because you’d taken an adolescent shine, To a girl who took your good intentions, Ground them up And pushed them down another man’s throat.

I remember talking to you.

19

by Patrick Pink

waterfrontcreativewriting@swansea-union.co.uk

When no one else would listen.

Telling you about the weight of Abuse, from her, from her parents, Seemingly from anyone she touched.

On every memory we’ve shared On the times we were both down And pulled each other from the ashes.

Promise she won’t make you hate me.”

Three months later.

Months later, And you came to me.

I heard you ask if it was okay with me If you caught the load I forced from my shoulders With such fury that I nearly lost my head with it.

We never talk.

But I kept the invites going Because maybe you were busy working Or if you were seeing her that was okay Because I was sure you’d make time when you could.

You asked.

And I answered.

Five months later and The invites stop.

What happened?

“She’s not my concern anymore.”

I asked one thing of you.

“Her touch is poison, At least where I’m concerned.

Promise me.

Take your knife out of my back Take your broken promise The only one I ever asked you to make And fucking swallow them both.

I hope you choke.

22 February 2016 waterfrontonline.co.uk

societies

with Molly Dowrick

Sweeney Todd: I Lovett!

Nathan Woodford-Rôtt as Sweeney Todd

Fantastic productions and Swansea University’s performing arts societies often go hand in hand, so I knew to expect a fantastic performance of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street before I’d even entered the theatre, but the incredible production was even stronger than my high expectations! On a cold and damp February evening, my friends and I watched with awe the sight of 22 performers aged 18-27 from a variety of courses and colleges at Swansea University and from a range of Performing Arts societies, come together to perform the critically acclaimed musical after months of tireless planning and rehearsal. Members of Shoreline Theatre, Dance Society, Musicians Society, Choral Society, Live Music Society and Swansea Amateur Operatics Society were led by a brilliant directing team, technical team and arts team enabling the audience able to feel connected with the performance and involved in Stephen Sondheim’s infamous masterpiece of musical theatre. I wish I could go and see the show again!

Set in 1840, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street follows a notorious barber called - you’ve guessed it - ‘Sweeney Todd’ (formerly known as Benjamin Barker) and his unlikely and ultimately disturbing friendship with a pie proprietor named Mrs Lovett after Sweeney returned home to London after fifteen years, searching for revenge. Sweeney was played by the incredible Nathan Woodford-Rôtt, a member of Shoreline Theatre, Coral Society and Swansea Amateur Operatics Society who really encapsulated the complexity of Sweeney, while making him somewhat relatable and likable too.

We, the audience, were all rooting for Sweeney to avenge his wife’s death and his daughter being taken away and almost forgave him for his murderous and torturous deeds. Woodford-Rôtt was the perfect Sweeney, a strong actor and fantastic singer that made the audience laugh and sing along to the production but also experience a range of emotions from anger, sadness, confusion and disgust as we became so enthralled by the performance. Mrs Lovett was played by the incredible Vikki Muston who had an incredibly powerful voice and amazing stage presence. An exceptional Mrs Lovett, my friends and I sympathised and empathised with her character throughout the show and were a little gutted when (spoiler alert) she was thrown into the pie oven by Sweeney towards the end of the show. Vikki Muston is currently studying for her MSc in Clinical and Abnormal Psychology and is the Secretary of the Choral Society - not surprising given her amazing singing! The talent didn’t stop there, however! Jevan Cannon made a fantastically cruel and alarming Judge Turpin, Sweeney Todd’s main enemy in the musical. A member of Shoreline Theatre, Dance Society and Swansea Amateur Operatics Society, it was clear Jevan Cannon was at home on the stage! His performance as Judge Turpin was brilliant, making the audience laugh, cringe and horrified at Judge Turpin’s unsettling behaviour towards his ward/adopted daughter Joanna, and general cruel and careless demeanour. Furthermore, my friends and I loved Hannah Brindley’s performance as Beggar Woman. Vice-President of Shoreline Theatre, Hannah Brindley was hilarious but also thought-provoking when she played

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by Molly Dowrick

waterfrontsocieties@swansea-union.co.uk

the Beggar Woman, a poverty-stricken but amusing and intelligent woman, able to manipulate others around her. Ultimately misunderstood, my friends and I were genuinely saddened at Beggar Woman’s death, after feeling a real connection to her through Hannah Brindley’s brilliant performance.

I’d also like to mention how Will Windridge made a brilliantly hilarious Pirelli with convincing Italian and Irish accents! Pirelli is one of Sweeney’s rivals and Will Windridge made the audience laugh and smile at Pirelli’s outlandish and over-the-top behaviour, while also disgusted and shocked at his attempts to blackmail Sweeney. The audience loved his comical performance which was the perfect mixture of drama and amusement. Corey Leigh Edwards, who played Beadle Bamford was also awesome! The evil lackey of Judge Turpin, Beadle Bamford is manipulative, plotting and somewhat cruel and the audience loved Corey Leigh Edwards’ talented and funny performance of him. James Beaumont also made a highly comical, and pretty adorable, Tobias, Pirelli’s orphaned assistant. Sweet and charming in a naive youthful way, the audience sympathised with Tobias’ positive outlook and inability to see the true evil and manipulation in the world. James Beaumont had a particularly fantastic voice when singing in the production and was so believable in his representation of Tobias!

Sweeney’s daughter and Judge Turpin’s ward Joanna was played by the powerful and remarkable Maegan Bryon. Maegan has performed in many musicals over the years and is a member of Shoreline Theatre, Choral Society and Dance Society, immediately becoming a sweet and wonderful Joanna as soon as she appeared on stage. Maegan Bryon was perfect as Joanna and I still can’t get over the strength of her singing - how is she not a professional performer?! Joanna’s young love Anthony was played by the brilliant Ayrton Peel, a newbie to acting - not that you would have thought it! Ayrton Peel was brilliant as Anthony and made the audience feel involved in the production, continuously hoping he would save Joanna from Judge Turpin. Harry Lawrence played Mr Fogg, the doctor of the asylum that Joanna is imprisoned in when she refuses to marry her carer Judge Turpin. Harry Lawrence was scary! His performance as Mr Fogg was so believable - he made a brilliant - but horrifying manipulative asylum doctor!

The ensemble were also amazing! Katie Donovan, Shoreline Theatre’s secretary, Lucy Ferguson, Director of Choral Society, Amy Cooper, the production’s publicist, Ariana Bello, James Fletcher, Vinita Kadaba, Claire Lillywhite, Lara Madden, Merlin Wadge, Ruth Wilkins, Max Mumford and Géraldine Smits were brilliant as poverty-stricken commoners in Victorian England with enthralling acting and gripping dance and singing performances.

A true team, every member of the cast looked at home on the stage and the fantastic talent showed in the performance is certainly undeniable!

Of course no production would happen without a host of hard-working and dedicated directors, managers, engineers and musicians etc.. Sweeney Todd was directed by Ellie Gibson, musically directed by Chris Wilson and choreographed by Steph Dalton who all did an incredible job in directing such a mesmerising and incredible performance! Artistic Director Lauren Jenkins, Technical Director and Stage Manager Dan Timmins, and his technical team of Deputy Stage Manager Jess Cawley, Lighting Engineer Michasel Jeffrey, Lighting Assistant Harry Carver, Sound Engineer Reuban Das, Sound Assistant Ash Cole and stage crew of Cadi Rhind, Emily Porritt and Joe Dickinson directed an artistically striking and visually and audibly astounding piece of theatre!

The music of Sweeney Todd further added to the striking and incredible talent.

The orchestra, made up of Nick Brown, Tom Ormsby, Esme Ashmore, Will Bennett, Isaac Coton, Andrew Beadle, Bryn Tawton, Ben Smith, Lizzie Findley and Andrew Cooper performed excellently, transporting the audience to Victorian England and perfectly matching the emotions and experiences of the characters and performers on stage. Additionally, Publicist Amy Cooper should be commended on Sweeney Todd’s programme and various publications and advertisement, while the great Arts Team of Alice Limmer, Darren Scott, Eugenia Gower, Ellie Bergin and Katy Card should be thanked for all their hard work and dedication to what was an amazing show.

Congratulations to all - a fantastic production!

22 February 2016 waterfrontonline.co.uk

21

German Society Social Success!

by German Society Committee

waterfrontcreativewriting@swansea-union.co.uk

Last semester was a busy one for Swansea German Society and it looks this one will be the same!

Oktoberfest 2015 was the biggest and best that anyone has ever seen at Swansea University, over 100 people turned up to experience German Beer and Bratwurst, which quickly sold out. The afterparty, held at Sin City, was a huge success. It was brilliant to see our members and committee wearing the traditional German dress; Lederhosen and Dirndl.

At the end of the term, all the modern language societies and students got together for the annual Euro Ball, lecturers and staff members were also invited and it was wonderful evening. The Grape and Olive Restaurant, in the Meridian Tower at the Marina was the perfect backdrop for the event. We have our weekly meetings, Sprachcafé, every Thursday evening which has always been, and still is, a brilliant place to meet new, like-minded people and improve your German. It allows members to use their German in a whole new way and is nothing like a lecture.

German board games are a favourite! We also have Kinoabend Tuesdays, once a fortnight which allows members to discover German films. This semester, we will continue to hold Sprachcafé as usual but Kinoabend will have a twist; The groundbreaking new series Deutschland ‘83 will be shown over the upcoming weeks, and remember everything we show has English subtitles, so come along and immerse yourself in German culture! The German, Hispanic and French societies are in the midst of planning an international food gathering for the end of February, which will be a chance for students to interact with members of different societies and exchange languages as well as culture. Our other plans for the society include; a Pub Quiz, the Eurovision Song Contest - held this year in Sweden, shown live and a German Bake Off, to the style of the hit TV show Das Grosse Backen. It will be a collaboration between the German department at the University and the German Society. The department is full of amazing lecturers and staff who never stop helping students, as well as our society and we are looking forward to working closely with them.

A chat with Nutritionist and self-love coach, Kristen Davies

by Tania Williams

waterfrontsocieties@swansea-union.co.uk

The Psychology Society indulges us in an interview with with Nutritionist, self-love coach and founder of The Food Remedy, Kirsten Davies What does a typical day involve?

Due to the nature of Kirsten’s work, and having different clients all over the world, she has no typical day. She explained that the previous week she had consultations with new clients in Hawaii and Australia via Skype about initiating their dietary program with her. Other jobs that she is currently undertaking is organizing her book proposal and writing her weekly column in the local newspaper. Where possible, Kirsten also likes to give talks to children in local schools about the benefit of a healthy diet and the impact it can have on their behavior, feelings and skills required for school.

What do you like about your job?

Kirsten is a lovely, bubbly and warm person, an absolute delight to speak with so it was no surprise to me that her favorite part of her job is interacting with her clients. Not only did she love the initial consultation where she got all the information on her clients but she loved to see their personal journeys, how she is able to help them achieve their goals through their lifestyle choices. An example that she gave was working with young girls

troubled by distorted eating habits, she loved working with these girls and being able to help them physically and mentally through challenging times.

Is there anything you dislike?

The only part of Kirsten’s job which she did not enjoy was admin! She admitted that if she could physically go to the homes of all her clients and demonstrate what they needed to do by cooking for them, she would much rather do that than write out diet plans! Invoicing clients was a particularly unpleasant job for Kirsten!

What made you get into your job?

Kirsten started out her working life as a nanny, she cared for a young girl with autism in Australia. After caring for her and being in charge of the diet of the girl, Kirsten was able to see the difference the dietary impact had on her autism and how it affected her behavior. This fed Kirsten’s interest in nutrition and she went on to further education and to research into the effect food has on the body and the mind. Not only was it the children she was looking after, but it was also her personal journey and interest that led her to where she is now, as well as focusing on the impact social media has on people’s perception of their appearance, especially so in teens.

Where do you see yourself in five years time?

Kirsten plans to have published her

book on nutrition and self-love within the next 5 years’ time. Her aim is also to work more with teenage girls, promoting self-love and self-esteem, she wants to highlight to young girls especially, how we do not have to seek approval or fit a mould and how we do not have to restrict food, especially in order to look like others you see in the media, especially in social media which we are always exposed to. She is hoping to give good, nutritional advice for a long term impact on the next generation.

What did you do before working here?

Kirsten started her journey as a nanny after completing an early childhood course, she adored her job and it took her all over the world and also into the homes of stars such as Robbie Williams, Jamie Oliver and Cecelia Ahern, the writer of P.S. I love you. Kirsten then developed an interest in children with autism and acquired her Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) qualification which led her to nannying with children on the autism spectrum. Once her interest in nutrition started developing, Kirsten was able to get an internship at the Food Doctor on Harley Street, this then enabled Kirsten to follow the path which led her to becoming a nutritionist and self-love coach.

Do you have any advice for those interesting in getting into your area of work?

The main piece of advice Kirsten has for anyone interested in her line of work

would be to ensure they have a keen interest in people, working with people and having good people skills is a must.

Kirsten would also recommend having a good knowledge of biochemistry, possibly studying dietetics and have a good awareness of how the body works, as she has to keep up to date with research in this field, she appreciates how much easier it is to read journals and research papers with the awareness of the scientific language used in these papers.

food

with Sarah Harris

22 February 2016 waterfrontonline.co.uk

22

Recipe: Super-easy Vegan Espresso Gelato

by Nathan LLoyd

waterfrontfood@swansea-union.co.uk

Here’s a recipe for one of the easiest dishes I’ve ever made. It uses a handful of ingredients and minimal effort, but produces a rich & creamy dairy-free ice cream.

You’ll need: • 1 tin of coconut milk • A splash of soy milk/almond milk • 3 tbs of freshly brewed strong espresso • A Splash of Amaretto • 150g icing sugar, sifted • A sprinkle of salt I had nearly a full tin of coconut milk that needed using up. I started to think what to make with it and vegan gelato popped into my head.

Only full fat coconut milk will work here, so put the can of reduced fat milk away!

The actual recipe is easy, begin by spooning it into a mixing bowl, and with an electric whisk, mix until it comes together into a thick batter. Next, add a splash of soy milk/ almond milk - or any non dairy milk to loosen it up a bit. Mix again. Add the espresso and amaretto and mix again. See I told you this was easy ;) Sift in the icing sugar and you guessed it, mix.

Add a sprinkle of salt. Mix on the top speed to add a tonne of volume to it. When it’s nearly doubled in mass scrape of the excess from the whisk and pour into a lidded container. Now place in the freezer. It’s essentially done.

There’s only one thing left to do, it’s not hard though - every hour, just take the container out and stir it thoroughly with a spoon. Do this about 5/6 times and then leave it a few more hours to set properly (I left mine overnight). This will make sure

the gelato is smooth and creamy when it hits your tongue.

The next day I made a salted chocolate sauce to serve with it.

To make this all you need is: • 50g good quality dark chocolate (minimum 70% cacao solids) • 1 tsp flavourless oil (I used sunflower) • 1tbs agave • A pinch of good quality Sea Salt (I used Maldon) To make: chop and melt the dark chocolate in a pan on a low heat on the stove. Add the agave and oil and stir until it comes together into a glossy, dark mixture. Take off the heat and pour over the gelato.

The temperature difference should start to set the chocolate mixture. Sprinkle the salt on the dark topping & devour!

/taliesinfanpage

@taliesinswansea

Taliesin Arts Centre is your on campus arts hub, providing a range of films, live performances and live stream broadcasts to suit everyone.

Live music events include jazz, world music, folk and contemporary music. Taliesin also offers top quality drama and international dance performances. Live stream of the best plays, operas and ballets are now a feature at Taliesin, broadcast from National Theatre.

Royal Opera House and Royal Shakespeare Company among others...

What’s coming up at Taliesin?

The coming weeks bring a mix of excellent live performances and high quality films to Taliesin.

Friday 26 Feb 6pm

Great ticket deals for Swansea University students!

• See films for only £6 a ticket. If 8 or more book together, it is only £5.40!

• See live drama, dance and music for only £3 a ticket (£5 if buying a ticket at the door on the night).

• See live streams from the major theatres for only £5 (less than half price).

In an evening of dance, comedy and extremes the show takes audiences on a journey from the bottom of the sea to the far reaches of the universe.

Swedish/Canadian B-boy and B-girl duo Emmanuelle Lê Phan and Elon Höglund

Don’t forget, you must produce your student card to get the discount.

Pop in and pick up a brochure (we are opposite the library) or visit the website at www.taliesinartscentre.co.uk You can also Like our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter.

underrated artist. It is a challenging and uncomfortable demand for equality, for hope and for greater creative freedom and beyond all for an understanding and nurturing of the creative imagination. ‘...a gloriously messy collision of activism and art’ **** The Herald

Live Streams

GRAV

Thursday 25 February 7pm NTLive Screening As You Like It (12A)

In October 2007 Ray Gravell, a man who for many embodied what it is to be Welsh, passed away after succumbing to complications resulting from contracting diabetes. He was 56 years old.

Known to millions for his legendary exploits on the rugby field, ‘Grav’ was and is so much more than that. An actor, a cultural icon, a father, a husband, a man with a life packed full of stories that deserve to be heard once more.The Torch Theatre Company presents Gareth Bale as ‘Grav’ in a play written by Owen Thomas that celebrates the man and the legend. With the blessing of Mari, Ray’s widow, and contributions from his Welsh and British Lions team mates, this one man show will explore the life of a man who was as fascinating away from the rugby field as he was on it.

Ticket holders may watch the Wales v France rugby international on screen in the bar/foyer area at Taliesin shortly after the play ends.

Saturday 27 Feb 7.30pm Tentacle Tribe & Karol Cysewski Pixelated Squid and the Universe Weird science meets hip-hop in a dance double bill that is out of this world…

aka Tentacle Tribe, bring their production Nobody Likes a Pixelated Squid to Wales in a performance inspired by creatures of land and sea. These dynamic street-dancers have sold out all over the world and their celebrated creature feature makes one half of this thrilling, fun and enlightening evening of dance.

The Wonders of the Universe from Wales’ Karol Cysewski is another kettle of fish, offering a humorous and stimulating interpretation of the documentary of the same title. Three geeks and a celebrity scientist (voice over by Brian Cox) take an imaginative look at the origins of the universe.

Both performances will make you think, laugh and look at the world in a different way.

Thursday 3 March 7.30pm Mr & Mrs Clark Smash It Up!

‘Every act of creation is first an act of destruction’ Pablo Picasso Smash It Up is an exhibition, a performance lecture, a dance theatre show with documentary and short film. Smash It Up has become a campaign, a series of public performances, a residency in waiting.

Smash It Up is a labour of love. A destructive plea for some cultural conservationism… perhaps an ode to the misunderstood,

Shakespeare’s glorious comedy of love and change comes to the National Theatre for the first time in over 30 years, with Rosalie Craig as Rosalind. With her father the Duke banished and in exile, Rosalind and her cousin Celia leave their lives in the court behind them and journey into the Forest of Arden. There, released from convention, Rosalind experiences the liberating rush of transformation. Disguising herself as a boy, she embraces a different way of living and falls spectacularly in love.

Friday 4 March 7pm NTLive Screening Hangmen (15)

Olivier and Academy Award winner Martin McDonagh returns to the West End with Matthew Dunster’s award-winning production of his deeply funny new play Hangmen.

In his small pub in the northern English town of Oldham, Harry (David Morrissey) is something of a local celebrity. But what’s the second-best hangman in England to do on the day they’ve abolished hanging?

Amongst the cub reporters and pub regulars dying to hear Harry’s reaction to the news, his old assistant Syd and the peculiar Mooney lurk with very different motives for their visit.

Films Dydd Mawrth 23 Chwefror/ Tuesday 23 Feb 7.30pm

Dan y Wenallt (15) Welsh with English subtitles Dan y Wenallt yw’r cynhyrchiad sinema

cyntaf o ddrama radio ragorol, gofiadwy Dylan Thomas, ers ffilm Elizabeth Taylor a Richard Burton yn 1972. Mae Dan y Wenallt yn mynd i gyfeiriad gwahanol i’r arfer na’r dehongliad traddodiadol, llythrennol o waith gwreiddiol Thomas, gan archwilio yn hytrach rai o’r elfennau mwy gwaelodol o’r byd breuddwydiol, doniol, masweddus a hudolus a geir yn y gwaith, wrth bara’n ffyddlon i destun gwreiddiol Dylan Thomas.

Wednesday 24 Feb 7.30pm Ice and the Sky (U)

Ice and the Sky is a documentary film by Luc Jacquet about the work of Claude Lorius, who began studying Antarctic ice in 1957, and, in 1965, was the first scientist to be concerned about global warming.

“Ice and the Sky ends with a direct challenge to the viewer: “Now that you know, what are you going to do?” What, indeed. This is a powerful testament, and one that ought to have a considerable impact.”

Tuesday 1 March 7.30pm In the Heart of the Sea 3D (12A)

In the winter of 1820, the New England whaling ship Essex was assaulted by something no one could believe: a whale of mammoth size. The real-life maritime disaster would inspire Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick. But that told only half the story.

The film reveals the encounter’s harrowing aftermath, as the ship’s surviving crew is pushed to their limits, as their captain searches for direction on the open sea and his first mate still seeks to bring the great whale down.

22 February 2016 waterfrontonline.co.uk

culture

with Zoe Stabler

24

Welcome to The Chinese New Year

by Jack Yip Wing Hang

waterfrontculture@swansea-union.co.uk

2016 is the Year of Monkey.

February is usually the Chinese New year (CYN) which is a traditional festival for Chinese people.

Everything is painted in red because read is an auspicious colour in Chinese culture. It is believed that it can cast away evil spirits. This article features the custom of Chinese New Year in four aspects, namely housekeeping, greetings, entertainment and food.

Housekeeping

Chinese families give their homes a thorough cleaning, which sweeps away the bad luck of the preceding year and makes their homes ready for good luck. Homes are often decorated with paper cutouts of Chinese auspicious phrases and couplets. Family offer cured meats as sacrifices for gods and In many households where Buddhism or Taoism is prevalent, home altars and statues are cleaned thoroughly, and decorations used to adorn altars over the past

year are replaced with new decorations.

Greeings

People visit the members of their extended families, usually their parents and grandparents.

Members of the family who are married also give red envelopes containing cash to junior members of the family, mostly children and teenagers.

The red envelopes are a form of blessings and to suppress the aging and challenges associated with the coming year. However, the third day of Chinese New year is known as “red mouth”. It is considered an unlucky day to have guests or go visiting.

Tang Yuan

Tang Yuan is small ball made from glutinous rice flour. It is made from Glutinous rice flour is mixed with a small amount of water to form balls and is then cooked and served in boiling water. Tang Yuan can be either filled or unfilled.

Mandarin Oranges

Mandarin Oranges are the most popular and most abundant fruit during Chinese New Year. Also, the name of Mandarin oranges in Cantonese is a homophone of “luck” or “fortune”.

Melon Seed/Guazi

Other variations include sunflower, pumpkin and

After dinner, some families go to local temples hours before the new year begins to pray for a prosperous new year by lighting the first incense of the year. Some families may invite a lion dance troupe as a symbolic ritual to usher in the Chinese

Greetings during visits include auspicious words or phrases such as Congratulations and be prosperous May all your wishes come true May gold ingots pour in from all sides!

Entertainment

Markets or village fairs are set up as the New Year is approaching. These usually open-air markets feature new year related products such as flowers, toys and clothing. It is convenient for people to buy

Chinese New Year Delicacies New Year is a time of celbration, family a food, and the the Chinese New Year is no different! Here we have some Chinese New Year classics which you can try for yourself to get stuck in.

gifts for their new year visits as well as their home decorations.

other seeds. It symbolizes fertility and having many children.

Nian Gao

Nian gao is made up of glutinous rice flour, wheat starch, salt, water, and sugar its pronunciation is a homophone for “a more prosperous year”

Sweets

Sweets and similar dried fruit goods are stored in a red or black Chinese candy box.

Taro Cakes

Taro cakes are made from the vegetable taro. The cakes are cut into squares and often fried.

Turnip Cakes

Turnip cakes is a dish made of shredded radish and rice flour, usually fried and cut into small squares.

New Year as well as to evict bad spirits from the premises. Others will set off firecrackers, but it may not be allowed in some areas in China.

by Jack Yip Wing Hang

waterfrontculture@swansea-union.co.uk

From Top & Left to right: Glutinious Rice Cake, Black Melon Seeds, Turnip Cake, Glutinious Rice Cake

22 February 2016 waterfrontonline.co.uk

The Rocky Horror Show in Cardiff

by Molly Dowrick

waterfrontculture@swansea-union.co.uk

Cardiff New Theatre, 9th February 2016

It’s been over forty years since the release of the cult film ‘The Rocky Horror Show’ but I’d argue that the classic musical production (despite its recurring fantastic dance routine of the time-warp) is, in fact, timeless.

Recently my friends and I went to see the new UK touring production of the musical at Cardiff’s New Theatre as an exciting and somewhat unusual way to celebrate a friend’s 21st birthday a week ago. But I’m still singing all the songs now!

The Rocky Horror Show follows the unlikely events of a young couple who, on leaving a wedding, get stranded in the middle of nowhere when their car tyre blows. No matter, they find a nearby castle with a friendly -albeit very strange- housekeeper/servant named Riff Raff who invites them in. The castle belongs to Dr Frank N Furter, a highly energetic and entertaining alien: a “sweet transvestite from Transsexual, Transylvania” who is holding an annual

science convention at his castle to show off the birth of his creation “Rocky Horror”, an attractive male creature designed to fulfil Frank’s sexual desires. Cue two hours of singing and dancing whereby the previously sexually naive couple (and the audience) have their innocent eyes open to horror, drama and sex!

Particularly strong aspects of the production include the incredible singing and acting as well as the fantastic scenery which really made Richard O’Brien’s alternative sexual universe an exciting and mesmerising setting.

Liam Tamne (from BBC’s The Voice series 3) is a lovable and comical Dr Frank N Furter, frequently stealing the audience’s gaze and admiration. Entertaining, exhilarating and sometimes a little intoxicating and horrifying, Tamne made an awesome Frank N Furter! Additionally, the wonderful Diana Vickers (famous for being a semi-finalist in the 2008 season of The X Factor, her popular album ‘Songs from the Tainted Cherry Tree’ and her consequent sell-out musical ‘The Rise and Fall of Little Voice’) is also noteworthy for her incredible vocals and fantastic performance. Vickers played the sweet and innocent

25

Janet, who becomes less naive and more aware of adult behaviour as the show goes on. Diana’s vocals were incredible, while her lovely and sweet disposition made the audience sympathise with naive Janet. The powerful duo of secondary characters Riff Raff and Magenta were also brilliant. Their awesome dancing and intriguing acting made the audience laugh and feel involved in the show from beginning to end.

It’s not surprising that whatsonstage.com gave the production their top ranking of five stars, heralding the musical “Vibrant, fresh, energetic - absolutely fantastic”.

With incredible singing and a genius and comical script, Rocky Horror had me entertained throughout the night.

Audience involvement was encouraged, with most audience members donning fancy dress to recreate the outfits and outlandish hairstyles of their favourite characters. While many people in the audience shouted out and interacted with the show’s narrator, making the production even more amusing.

22 February 2016 waterfrontonline.co.uk

relationships

with Rhydian Morris

26

The Waterfront’s resident Agony Aunt, Rhydian Morris, answers your burning questions! sea-union.co.uk

Email your questions to Rhydian at: waterfrontrelationships@swan

Dear Agony Aunt, I’ve recen tly broke n up with my boyfr iend and I’m feelin g so down now that it’s Valen tine’s day, I don’t really know how to get over it.

Saturday and Well first of all the worst thing you could possibly do is head to Sin on the start of an attempt to pull out of loneliness! It honestly never ends up being ne and it’s amazing happy Valentine’s day. It’s really horrible breaking up with someo able right entirely understandable you will be feeling down and emotionally vulner media the after. It absolutely does not help that it’s so close to Valentine’s day, where to do to feel pushes this ridiculous stigma over being single! Really the best thing and nights this happier is to just accept that you might be abit miserable some days sure to not week and don’t pressure yourself into feeling happy constantly. Make guy you see, succumb to the pressure of going out and falling into the arms of the first your looking to as the rebound this close to Valentine’s day is something to avoid if e’s day has one stop being down. To give you some comfort, the weekend after Valetin take comfort of the highest rates of breakups statistically, so if nothing else you can of year! that even people in relationships might be just as miserable at this time

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, I’ve been inter ested in this guy but I’m really worr ied about mess aging or texti ng him first , is it too needy or forw ard for the girl to mess age first ? and so your If you like him message him! If you don’t he might never message you a guy that left wondering about what might have been. I don’t think I have ever met are limits would find a girl messaging them first to be too needy or forward. There very needy, of course, if your constantly spam messaging every hour then yes that’s nervous too but opening up the conversations yourself is perfectly fine. Guys do get g relationship and you messaging first might the beginning of a beautiful fulfillin much better that will last long after university! More likely it won’t, but you will feel find it weird about taking charge of your life and going after what you want, if they the chances or needy who really cares! In the end you miss one hundred percent of you don’t take.

www.swansea-u

nion.co.uk/advice

advice@swansea-

union.co.uk

* 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.

01792 295 821

Blind Date: When Georgina met Sam...

Georgina Jackson a 22 year old 3rd year physics student and Sam Adlington a 3rd year ancient history student meet for the Waterfront Blind Date

Sam On Georgina What were your first impressions?

She had some nice eyes.

What do you think of the choice of venue?

Best pub in Fulton House

Georgina on Sam

Any striking conversation points?

She’s basically lived everywhere.

What were your first impressions?

Nice shirt! I love a good shirt. Good manners and well spoken. Could this be a gentleman?!

Did you wonder why she wasn’t in a relationship at any point?

Nah.

What do you think of the choice of venue?

JCs is a bit boring but I suppose it’s neutral and familiar territory and just convenient for everyone, which is always good if someone is anxious or nervous.

Any striking conversation points?

We spoke a lot about films. I guess the beard is always an easy conversation starter too.

Nothing which wasn’t ‘standard’ though...

Maybe the part where he told me he had searched for me on Facebook before the date?! Little bit creepy to be honest. So much for blind Did you wonder why he wasn’t in a relationship at any point?

This probably sounds a bit harsh, but no. I don’t really think about that kind of thing! It is what it is, whether through

Any potential for a kiss?

On the first date? I’m no slut. After a couple of dates, I am.

Would you introduce her to your parents?

Probably.

Any potential for a kiss?

Classy girls don’t kiss in bars, I’m afraid.

Would you like to meet again?

Sam told me that if I didn’t hear from him again it meant that he liked me. So in that sense no...?!

Would you introduce him to your parents?

This might be difficult considering I don’t have any parents to introduce anyone to to begin with. Perhaps I could introduce him to next door’s friendly cat? Animals are supposed to be good judges of character, right? He likes animals, too so that’s a win-win right...?

Generally how did you think that date went?

Haha I think it went well in the sense that I don’t dislike him as a person and we talked for about two hours so it couldn’t have been that bad. But in the sense of it being a ‘romantic’ date maybe dating just isn’t my thing...!!

choice or otherwise.

Would you like to meet again?

Maybe, I did give my word to climb some rocks with her.

Generally how did you think that the date went?

It was two hours of pretty decent date.

If you are interested in featuring in the Waterfront blind date, please email your name, age, course and level to waterfrontfeatures@swansea-union.co.uk

tech

with Declan Murphy

22 February 2016 waterfrontonline.co.uk

28

Not so ‘Fine Bros’ Anymore

Rafi (left) and Benny (right) at the 2010 Streamy Awards

by Declan Murphy

waterfronttech@swansea-union.co.uk

So a couple weeks back, The Fine Bros accidentally unleashed an Internet hate-storm above their own heads. This was all down to them taking out a copyright over ReactWorld and related brands, including Kids React & Elders React.

Although the ‘reaction’ over the whole fracas has been covered to near-death, the potential fallout for the future of content creation hasn’t.

When it’s boiled down to its absolute fundamentals, the struggle to satisfy is between two sides; the ‘Internet’ or put plainly, the everyday user and the big bad capitalist overlords of the web. Well, not so much capitalist overlord, more so a business trying to protect its assets, but that difference in definition is down primarily to who you speak to about the issue.

This issue isn’t a newly developed one, it’s been around for quite a while. When Facebook moved over to algorithms and resultantly increased the amount of ads displaying it led to some questioning who Zuckerberg’s business was really catering to. Just recently Twitter announced plans to do the same. The move was met with #RIPTwitter trending globally.

And it’s all well and good looking at the picture as a whole, but for today I want to focus on just content creation, specifically YouTube and the triangle of parties it has to satisfy.

The triangle I speak of consists of us everyday watchers or Consumers, the Content Creators and Advertisers who use the platform to display their goods and services for sale.

Each party has an issue with at least one other and it leads to a very hard balancing

act for Alphabet and YouTube to deal with.

First let’s look at Consumers. Without us the site makes no money, so by extension many feel that the site should cater to us first and foremost. Which is why sects of the community get annoyed with more advertising present on the site. This leads to YouTube and Advertisers feeling the brunt of the Consumers distaste.

Next we can look at Advertisers. Advertisers main aim is to promote their product, YouTube helps them do this by placing their ads on videos which are best for their target demographic. An example would be placing a PlayStation advert on a Let’s Play of The Last of Us. But in response to increased advertising some users now use programs like AdBlock in order to bypass advertising. This means Advertisers either move away from YouTube in light of reduced influence of their ads or instead move to have their ads in videos directly by using links with Content Creators.

Speaking of which, Content Creators.

Content Creators have the hardest job of the three parties by a long way. Creators make their lion’s share of money from advertising so when people use AdBlock it is directly impacting on their income, which means they turn to direct ad placement in videos as a way to combat it. Guess who isn’t happy about that? Yup, Consumers.

Admittedly it isn’t all Consumers who are angry about YouTube’s increased advertising but it is a large enough portion of them for Youtube and its affiliates to feel a drop in revenue. That being said, most Consumers understand or at least think they understand the mechanics behind YouTube’s policies. The main difference therefore is Consumers feelings on whether

they are okay or understanding of YouTube’s need to advertise. Whereas most are okay with advertising, an awful lot of people were up in arms about The Fine Bros incident, even some Creators.

Having hopefully explained at least some of the intricacies in regards to YouTube’s advertising policy, we can look ahead and whether we will see anything like the stunt The Fine Bros pulled in the near-future.

And the answer is probably not. Given the ‘reaction’ it got, I highly doubt any other YouTuber or group would try to do something like what The Fine Bros did. And that isn’t because it is the wrong thing to do. A lot of content on YouTube is unique and Content Creators in my opinion should protect it. That being said, they won’t protect their unique IPs or series or whatever you want to call it because they’ve seen the ‘reaction’ The Fine Bros got and don’t want to be the next channel to lose 400,000+ subs.

When we look at the distant future, the answer is a bit different. It is dependant on a lot more factors due to its longer timeframe.

Most notable factor is what avenue Alphabet go down in terms of what videos are being put out onto the site. Even today, a lot of Creators have noticed their content disappearing from the feeds of their audience and it is scary from their perspective due to their dependance on views for income. If YouTube continue this trend of controlling what people see it is all the more likely we will see more outrage from audiences.

However YouTube isn’t the only horse in the race, Facebook’s video service is starting to contest and with that goes audience numbers.

So it’s just as likely YouTube will start placing priority on audience numbers, only time will tell.

SPORT

waterfrontonline.co.uk

Who is Francisco Guidolin?

League Table

Swansea University Intramural Football League Selected division: Popworld Premier League (Adult)

by John Fanning

waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk

Despite confirming the appointment of club legend Alan Curtis as interim manager until the end of the season, Swansea City chairman Huw Jenkins surprised everyone by announcing the appointment of the Italian Francisco Guidolin, a relative unknown to British football.

Having said that, he does an impressive track record back in Italy, notably with Vicenza, where he lead them to promotion to the Serie A, as well as winning the 1997 Coppa Italia.

Then, in his second spell with Udinese he led them to their highest points tally in 2011, and then a year later their highest league position (3rd).

Jenkins will be hoping that Guidolin can do a similar job here, citing similarities with Udinese and the great job he did on a relatively modest budget.

Guidolin, whose primary mission is to ensure survival for Swansea, was watching from the stands with his assistant, Gabriele Ambrosetti, the former Chelsea midfielder, as Swansea beat Watford 1-0 to get out of the bottom three. He was on the touch line, for next match, though with Curtis alongside him as Swansea claimed a first win at Everton,

Francisco Guidolin

an ideal start for the new manager.

Guidolin’s frustration was all too evident in the last two matches however, as Swansea twice surrendered 1-0 leads to draw 1-1 at West Brom and then at home to Crystal Palace. He is keen to work hard on the training ground to sort out the defensive problems that have plagued Swansea so far this season.

29

P

W

D

L

F

A

GD

Pts

Hangover 96

8

8

0

0

49

10

39

24

AFC Sloth

7

7

0

0

36

9

27

21

SUMFC 6's

9

6

2

1

33

13

20

20

SUMFC 5's

9

5

3

1

32

15

17

18

Golden Showers

8

5

1

2

25

8

17

16

Armadillo

8

4

2

2

27

18

9

14

SPR

6

4

1

1

18

5

13

13

History FC

7

4

1

2

17

8

9

13

Avengers

8

4

0

4

23

31

-8

12

Photosinthesis Grasshoppers

7

3

1

3

23

15

8

10

Ajax Treesdown

7

3

0

4

13

23

-10

9

Crayola

8

2

1

5

9

29

-20

7

Ladzio

9

2

0

7

18

39

-21

6

Stroke Titty

6

1

0

5

11

19

-8

3

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

Swansea 0-1 Southampton

by John Fanning @ Liberty Stadium

waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk

Francesco Guidolin tasted defeat for the first in the Premier League, as Swansea’s defensive frailties were once again on show against the in-form Southampton.

Shane Long’s header, around 20 minutes from time ended Swansea’s unbeaten run of four matches, and was the first defeat since the appointment of Guidolin back in January. Whilst they did not concede from a set-piece today, a goal was ruled out for a foul on Lukasz Fatbianksi by Graziano Pelle from a corner, as Swansea were relieved to hear the whistle of referee Jon Moss. They were undone instead from the aerial threat that Southampton posed with James WardProwse a constant threat with his delivery, with Ward-Prowse providing a prefect cross for Long to head home, despite the best efforts of Fabianski who managed to get a hand to it, but to no avail.

Even more impressive than Southampton’s attacking play was their organisation in defence, with today’s clean sheet being their sixth in a row, one short of their Premier League record, and two short of their all-time record. Fraser Forster was a near spectator in goal for the afternoon as Swansea mustered just two efforts on target with his only save being a weak header from Andre Ayew. The back three of Van Dijk, Fonte and Bertrand were able to deal with everything Swansea had to throw at them today, it is now 540 minutes since they have last conceded.

The biggest cry of the afternoon from the home fans, which was in the form of a penalty appeal, came right at the end when Maya Yoshida, who had just come

on as a substitute lunged in on new signing Alberto Paloschi, Moss however was unmoved.

Guidolin, who cut an animated figure on the touchline throughout the match, bellowing instructions, was unhappy with his side’s performance, “for the first time since coming here my team did not play well, I was sure I would see a good performance because we worked hard during the week. I don’t know why we didn’t play well”.

On the other hand, Ronald Koeman, was satisfied with his team’s performance, “the aspiration is to finish as high as possible. If Leicester can win the title then we can finish fourth or fifth. He also believes Swansea will have no trouble in staying up, “I think they are too good, too strong to be relegated. If I compare them to other teams, I think they have a strong team.”

It doesn’t get any easier for Swansea who face a couple of visits to London against two of this seasons contenders for the title, Tottenham and Arsenal.

Despite lying just three points above the relegation zone, Guidolin is still very much confident that Swansea will avoid the drop, citing the immediate improvement in the league, “when I arrived, the table was worse, I don’t think about the table, only about how we can improve our performance. I think we have only got to think match by match.”

Teams: Swansea - Fabianksi, Rangel (Naughton), Fernandez, Williams, Taylor, Britton (Gomis), Cork, Ayew, Sigurdsson, Routledge (Barrow), Paloschi Southampton – Forster, Van Dijk, Fonte, Bertrand, Clasie, Davis, WardProwse, Romeu (Soares), Targett (Yoshida), Pelle (Austin), Long

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SPORT

waterfrontonline.co.uk

Interview: Felix Mmeka Sports officer 2015/2016

If so, which polices have been the most successful?

When is the tournament?

I think the new Sports Strategy would be the most important policy of my year because it would encompass how we as a University and a Union, present Sport at the University for the next 5 years.

The tournament happened on the Saturday 13th February from 10am to 4pm

The tournament aims to promote international students in sports and hopefully it becomes much bigger next year

Video capturing for BUCS students is one policy I am still very keen in implementing before my year in office.

Where is the tournament happening?

Was the campaign a success?

The Play Sport campaign was a massive success that saw about 600 students fill out the online survey and about 30 volunteers in the all week campaign.

What issues regarding university sport arose during the campaign?

This campaign identified many issues with sports at the University like low postgrad and international numbers, varsity issues, facilities issues, etc and it has all been feedback to their appropriate channels to begin about change.

What changes have made you made since the campaign?

waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk

How is everything going with you?

Everything is good, could not be more grateful to God for all he has done in mine and the lives of my family and friends.

Are you enjoying being a full time officer?

I am fully enjoying being a fulltime officer, I find it very self-developing, self-discovering and fulfilling.

What parts of the job are stressful?

Sometimes in the role, we as fulltime officers are faced with tough decisions that affect about students at the University (17000 students No pressure) and coming to a solution to them could be very stressful. So I would say that’s the most stressful part of the job.

What parts of the job are you enjoying?

Speaking and engaging with students have definitely been the best part of the role for me, it gives a very selffulfilling.

POLICIES What policies have you managed to successfully integrate into university sport?

My message during my sport officer campaign and all this year has been “Given every student a reason to play Sport at Swansea University” and have worked tirelessly to achieve that. With policies, I like thinking long term more within the lines of “more than my year in office” and that’s why I have chosen to both work on a new sport strategy and some other policies like Video capturing for BUCS students, etc.

Why is the tournament happening?

Are there any polices you are still looking to bring into university sport?

PLAY SPORT CAMPAIGN

by Will Humphrey

31

The tournament happened on the Astros pitch at the Sports Centre

How can teams enter?

There were 12 team spaces in total for teams and they were chosen chosen on a first come first serve basis.

The teams which entered were?

English, Welsh, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, China, India, Oman, Spain, Kuwait, Greece, Islamic Society and International College Wales Swansea.

Is there a prize for the winning team?

The tournament was organised to raise money for the WaterAid charity so therefore there wasn’t a winning prize but the pride of winning the Cup and medals gave it a very competitive edge. We raised about £900 for the charity.

This partly prompted the university to review its current Sports strategy and by the end of my year, there would be a new strategy that would be a better fit for purpose.

Can people come and watch?

During the campaign disabled access into sport was seen has a huge success is it still something you are looking to improve?

How is the tournament structured?

Provision for students with disability was a big part of my manifesto commitment and although I have setup disability training for our sport clubs, I also intend on including this on the new sports strategy to further encourage this after my year in this role.

The data collected at the beginning of the campaign showed that university sport lacked two groups, undergraduates (postgrads) and international students. Is this an aspect that has been addressed, or improved since?

Having had discussions with various sports officer/AU presidents from various institutions, this is an issue that cuts across many institutions. Although I can confirm that this year has seen a higher number of international students in Sports at the University, I am aware that this is much bigger than one good year and I took this steps further by insuring that Swansea University would be the frontrunners in addressing this problem by including this in the new Sports strategy.

AGM

The tournament saw about 180 players and over 50 spectators so it was a massive success

The structure was very similar to the actual world cup with group stages, qauter finals, semi finals and finals set-up. The 12 teams were spit into 4 groups all 20 minutes 7 aside games. All pictures would be on Sport Swansea page soon.

Journey to 53 sports

What is the purpose of the journey?

The purpose of the journey of the journey is experiencing what a student participate

How many sports have you played so far?

Have done about 12 sports atm due to my schedule but would crack down on it this term. In reality have have about 30 sports because teams comprise of female and male teams and I tend to go with one of each Sport

What sport have you enjoyed the most?

Experiencing the sports in general have be very fulfilling and every sport has had their moments personally.

What sport was the hardest to master?

Can’t disclose this atm because I would be presenting a gift at the sports awards to the team but what I would say is that it is a surprising one ;)

Do you think the most recent AGM was a success?

Do you have any photos from your experiences?

I think the AGM was a massive success that saw about 180 students attend (think those should be record numbers).

Could be prouder of my FTO and PTO team, the Union and everyone that contributed to the success.

I have many photos and memories from the sports and could be viewed on my facebook page.

Was the most recent AGM a success in terms of sport?

The AGM saw many members of the GWA present and this was a massive upgrade in terms of Sports having a massive part of the Union’s democratic process.

The Football World Cup

How was it meeting the Welsh Referee Nigel Owens?

To be honest, wasn’t sure what to expect meeting at the Graduations but I found him very humble, laid back and well thought when speaking. Fingers crossed, we could get him to meet the Green and white army at the Sports Awards.

Thanks for this opportunity and it is always a pleasure!!

sport the waterfront

waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk

Issue 262, 22 February 2016

@Waterfrontspor1

facebook.com/waterfrontsport

Success for University Netball’s 2nd Team

by Sarah Baker

waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk

On 10th February, Swansea’s netball 1st and 2nd team played against Cardiff Metropolitan in the Western 2b and 4b league.

First to play was Swansea’s 1st team against Cardiff Metropolitan’s 2nd. Both teams started the game with enthusiasm and spirit, although it was not long until Cardiff took possession and began an early lead. Swansea presented some struggle to move free and dodge their opposition quickly, but Beth Phillips, the clubs first captain playing wing attack, managed to get some great feeding opportunities to her players to progress across the court which enabled a strong attack, but Swansea could not match Cardiff’s pace and were quickly intercepted by Cardiff’s strong defence before a chance for a net.

As the game progressed, the tension was rising as somewhat of close contact was becoming apparent from the Cardiff girls at the bottom end of the court, of which Swansea should have benefitted

from more penalties given, but instead the team was becoming irritated and provoked, causing some clouded judgement of play on their behalf only to advantage the Cardiff team.

At half time, Cardiff were leading by a distance, 12-26, and Katie Stoodley tried to compose the girls with some needed advice to keep a cool head and push. This change of mind took a positive effect at the start of the second half when Swansea

got off to a fiery start scoring three goals before Cardiff were back in the game.

In a motivated attempt for a comeback, at the bottom end of the court the Swansea keeper did her best leans and blocks to clear the shooting circle while at the top half Rihannon Bowers-James planted some decent goals, however, unfortunately Swansea could not match Cardiff’s quick hands. The score finished 31-52 to Cardiff.

Support your local University and be part of #WUCRugby7s2016 The FISU World University Championship for Rugby Sevens will take place in Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom from the 6th to 9th July 2016. The Championship will be held at Swansea University, a UK top 30 research intensive university with a world-class International Sports Village.

In order to deliver an excellent sporting experience for both competitors and spectators, volunteers will be at the heart of the Championship providing assistance to all those in attendance to ensure they enjoy a safe and

pleasant experience.

They will be a valuable asset to help ensure the smooth delivery and success of this major sporting

waterfrontonline.co.uk

Shortly after, Swansea’s 2nd team took on Cardiff Metropolitan’s 5th. The opening quarter started with both sides easing into the game. Swansea immediately presented some great teamwork through some short and speedy passes where they could each better their position, taking advantage of the gaps that Cardiff were lazy to hand away. Charlotte Amos, playing centre, was frequently in the right place at the right time, able to catch Cardiff off guard to threaten their direction of movement.

After a fairly even play from both sides in the first half of the game, the second half would see the hosts begin to dominate Cardiff with a wave of goals from goal attack, Jess Tate, who demonstrated some excellent work mid court working well with her teammate playing centre. Tate presented skill when intercepting, her coordination was undoubtable, as well as demonstrating some fabulous leaps for the ball.

Into the last quarter, Swansea were leading by a large margin but it would have been a mistake to assume a win and flake on Cardiff who were persistent to challenge Swansea right up to the last few moments of the game. When Cardiff proved troublesome to catch, the pressure was kept by goal defence, Maddie Taylor, who made herself into a wall which Cardiff’s attack could not bring down.

Multiple times Taylor managed to intercept with good accuracy to steer the ball out of Cardiff’s hands and out of danger, saving Swansea from a significant number of potential nets from the opposition. The Swansea girls stretched their lead in the second half to become victorious in their win, 49-29.

event. All volunteers will have to the one-off opportunity to gain valuable experience and benefit from training which can contribute personal development. Over 87% of employers value the experience it can bring to an organisation and with 53% of these opportunities in the sport sector, volunteering to support the competition can make a positive impact on career progression.

A variety of roles are available based upon previous experience on a first-come first-serve basis. If you are friendly and enthusiastic with a polite manner and sociable attitude able to work on your own initiative as well as part of a team, volunteering at WUC Rugby Sevens 2016 is definitely for you.

Apply online at: wucrugby2016.com/volunteers.htm