FREE
MAY 2018
summer is coming...
ISSUE 280
Get ahead with your travel plans this summer Book your mega value fares with us now!
CONTENTS 07
27
36
News
REACHING WIDER
FILM
AGM report Varsity 2018
An introduction to Hogwarts
13
features Swansea university accessibility Goodbye Swansea All things languages
18
travel Travel hacks: Which apps to donwload Staying healthy while travelling Italy at a glance
23
AGONY AUNTS Your questions answered
25
WELLBEING Exam positivity
28
Liberation My story Coming out at university
31
creative writing Together - a poem by Emily Maybanks
32
Culture Is Uplands as hip as it claims to be?
34
Music Interview - Julia Michaels
Titanic: The last great Hollywood epic? Is the horror genre still good? Why you should give DC movies a chance Revision break - Forgetting Sarah Marshall
41
STUDY ABROAD From applicant to co-ordinator
42
fashion Summer event outfit planning Clothes swap: Cinema & co.
44
True crime The Black Dahlia
46
Societies The death of societies?
Editor
Features
Rachel Sanders waterfronteditor@swanseastudentmedia.com
Emily Williams waterfrontfeatures@swanseastudentmedia.com
Deputy editors
Film
Emily Maybanks & Kassy Fox waterfrontdeputyeditor@swanseastudentmedia.com
Becky Elms waterfrontfilm@swanseastudentmedia.com
photo EDITORS
Liberation
Hamish Lawson & Oluwaseyitan Oluwatosin waterfrontphoto@swanseastudentmedia.com
Zoya Chisti waterfrontliberation@swanseastudentmedia.com
DESIGN & ARTWORK
Music
Iain Fisher & Emily Maybanks waterfrontdesign@swanseastudentmedia.com
Sarah Harris waterfrontmusic@swanseastudentmedia.com
ProoFreading
Sport
Maddy Young proofreader@swanseastudentmedia.com
Greg Stone & Lulu Thornton waterfrontsport@swanseastudentmedia.com
News
study abroad
Megan Thomas waterfrontnews@swanseastudentmedia.com
Bronwen Beard waterfrontstudyabroad@swanseastudentmedia.com
Creative writing
travel
Emily Maybanks waterfrontcreativewriting@swanseastudentmedia.com
Meryl Hanmer waterfronttravel@swanseastudentmedia.com
Culture
wellbeing
Carys Svendsen& Nicola McAndrew waterfrontculture@swanseastudentmedia.com
Olivia Rogers waterfrontwellbeingl@swanseastudentmedia.com
Fashion
Student Media Coordinator
Gwen Miles waterfrontfashion@swanseastudentmedia.com
Iain Fisher iain.fisher@swansea-union.co.uk
Waterfront is a free print and online publication from Swansea Student Media and the Students’ Union.
HELLO FROM YOUR DEPUTY EDITOR
We’ve reached May (does time actually fly?), which means summer is well and truly (hopefully) on its way, so with any luck there’ll be some opportunities to take a break from revision and head down to the beach!
Emily Maybanks The end of another academic year is approaching which means exams, so we’d like to wish everyone the very best with their exams. To those of us graduating this summer – congratulations! To those who will be returning to Swansea in September – all the best for the remainder of your courses! This is also our final printed edition of Waterfront for 2018. We’ve got a lot of interesting content to read through in this one. This is also the final edition of Waterfront that I personally will be involved in, so I would like to take
this chance to thank all the editors (those who have been with us since September and those who have joined along the way) for their hard work and dedication, our writers for their fantastic contributions, and especially our Swansea Student Media Coordinator, Iain for all of his work, time and patience (and for putting up with me in the office almost every day). I’ve really enjoyed my time with Waterfront, and Swansea Student Media. So, let us enjoy the last weeks of term and then the summer that lies ahead of us!
NEWS // MEGAN THOMAS
7
Students' Union AGM report Tuesday 1st May 2018 by Megan Thomas The results are in! Tuesday 1st May 2018 saw the Swansea University Students Union AGM. This saw 9 motions being put to vote, which were: FTO Mental Health Training, Hearing Inclusivity, National Living Wage, Real Living Wage, Welsh Affairs FTO, Reserve NUS Delegate Place for President, Period Poverty Motion, Trans and Non-Binary Officer and finally Investment Oversight Committee.
FTO Mental Health Training
Period Poverty Motion
(proposed by Shona Johnson, seconded by Chisomo Phiri) Passed!
(proposed by Shona Johnson, seconded by Chisomo Phiri) Passed!
Hearing Inclusivity
Trans and Non-Binary Officer
(proposed by Chloe Morgan, seconded by Shona Johnson) Passed!
National Living Wage (proposed by Michael Badwen, seconded by Connor Davies) Passed!
Real Living Wage (proposed by Shaun Bendle, seconded by Jack Dunne) Passed!
Welsh Affairs FTO (proposed by Tomos Watson, seconded by Gwyn Aled Rennolf) Passed!
(proposed by Joe Davern, seconded by Shona Johnson) Passed!
Investment Oversight Committee (proposed by Omar Mendy, seconded by Joe Meredith) Deferred until the next student forum (May 15th) due to lack of information.
Reserve NUS Delegate Place for President (proposed by Chisomo Phiri, seconded by Chris Freestone) Did not pass due to lack of simple majority.
This now means that now Students' Union staff will be paid the national living wage, increasing to the actual living wage by 2021. The Students' Union will be pressuring the University to install T-loops in all reception areas and buildings used for lectures/ seminars/ meetings, for anyone to use. There will be a new Trans and Non-Binary Part Time Officer, the SU will provide free sanitary products, all Full Time Officers will receive mental health training, plus there may be a brand new Full Time Officer! A referendum on the role of a Welsh Affairs FTO will commence next academic year! These all seem like welcome changes to our Students' Union. Congratulations to everyone who got to put forward a motion and everyone who spoke at the AGM. It's safe to say that we're all looking forward to next year!
Photography: Oluwaseyitan Oluwatosin, Daniel Green, Shaun Chin Kee Siong, Rachel Blackler, Debby Duke SWANSEASTUDENTMEDIA.COM 9
VARSITY 2018
SWANSEASTUDENTMEDIA.COM
ISSUE 280 // MAY 2018
A day on Bay: Varsity Edition
‘We have had a change of tactics and have got our full team together so we hope this time we can take the game’ Vineeth writes excitedly in the pre-match messages. ‘To get any matches would mean a big thing to us’, Anna comments, and the initial chants of ‘Swansea’ can’t help but spur on the players. The matches begin and the crowd hushes with the odd cheer when Swansea scores. Cardiff spectators shortly enter and the crowd cheer when either team scores a point. However, the ambiguity of who’s winning and who’s losing is clear throughout, but the general spirits are high for both sides. In what seems like an organised blur, the matches are almost over. Neither team is giving anything away, and it’s not until a couple hours after that I find out the final score, but it doesn’t matter. The spectating experience was an intense experience, but one that was very enjoyable for all. Unfortunately, despite Swansea playing fantastically throughout, the final score came to 13-3. The women’s team, however, did win their
With the sun deciding to show itself after a rather rainy Tuesday, the time came for Swansea University’s Varsity badminton team to show off their skills against Cardiff University. With the women’s team having never won a badminton match before in Varsity and losing 8-0 in the previous years, it was women’s Captain, Anna Stevens, who still remained hopeful for her team to win at least one match this year. This was also accompanied by men’s Captain, Vineeth Vimalan’s quiet confidence in hoping to improve the score from Swansea’s loss of 6-2 in the previous years.
first match in the past few years of Varsity -a great feat in itself, bringing more hope than ever for next year! Then came an afternoon full of Volleyball and the beginning of the most electric atmosphere to ever happen in a sports hall. With a nervous team captain and a desire to win this year, the stakes were high for the Women’s match as they huddled around each other discussing last night’s activities in a friendly manner. The sense of cameraderie was strong throughout both on and off the court. Not only was the atmosphere electric, but spectators found themselves on edge, constantly watching the ball in a fierce fight against Cardiff. And what a fight it was. Although the women’s team played fantastic shots, it wasn’t enough to claim victory against Cardiff, and Swansea unfortunately lost 3-1. That being said,
the Swansea crowd was hopeful for the Men’s Volleyball and more spurred on than ever before. It wasn’t easy for the Men’s to win- if you thought that the women’s volleyball was a battle, it was nothing compared to the men’s. Once again, the crowd was fantastic for both Cardiff and Swansea as they cheered their respective teams on after each point scored. We won 3-2 after a very close 5 set game worthy of Varsity legend, and saved the day on Bay to clench our first Bay victory! The crowd cheered louder than ever and went to Liberty Stadium in high spirits, ready to watch the Men’s rugby match. Despite only having one victory on Bay, the teamwork and support from the crowds was phenomenal and a win really made the day even more enjoyable. As the saying goes ‘it’s the taking part that counts’ and in this case, it was true and the Waterfront waits eagerly for next year.
Photography: Rachel Black
by Carys Svendsen
SWANSEASTUDENTMEDIA.COM
11
Varsity 2018 round-up: Singleton events
Photography: Oluwaseyitan Oluwatosin & Daniel Green
Wednesday 25th April 2018 saw Swansea play host to Cardiff in the biggest sporting event of the University calendar – Varsity! Varsity saw the events which took place before Wednesday 25th, as well as the events at the Sports Village next door to Singleton Campus, the events on Bay Campus, and of course the grand finale of the Men’s Rugby match at Liberty Stadium in the evening. Going into the day’s events, it certainly looked extremely positive for Swansea, who had already succeeded in five events, including Equestrian, Cycling, and Kickboxing, and a draw overall for the Boxing which took place on Monday 23rd April in the Refectory on Singleton Campus. As the day progressed at the Sports Village, Cardiff slowly but surely, claimed victory of the Varsity shield. Having never myself been to the annual Varsity event, it was difficult to know what to expect from the day. However, it certainly did not disappoint in the slightest. In terms of the final scores of the day, our sports teams here in Swansea did claim victory in several of the day’s events – Athletics and Golf to begin with, and American Football which culminated in a score of 42 to the Swansea Titans to 2 to the Cardiff Cobras. Four women’s teams also scored Swansea points towards this year’s Varsity shield – the Women’s Tennis, Women’s Hockey, and Women’s Ultimate Frisbee, as well as the Women’s Rugby team, who of course were victorious in the 2017 Varsity tournament where they played at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium. It was perhaps disappointing that they were not playing at the same venue as the Men’s Rugby again this year. Furthermore, the Women’s Football result was a draw between Swansea and Cardiff, as was the Men’s Football and the Canoe Polo event held in the Wales National Pool. Further Swansea victories at the Sports Village throughout the day included
Swimming and Men’s Volleyball. Despite Swansea losing the Varsity shield this year to Cardiff, teams on both sides displayed such brilliant sportsmanship. This was, I think, especially proven in the case of the Men’s Fencing. One of the members of Swansea’s Fencing team is the brother of one of Cardiff’s Fencing team. From spectating the Men’s Fencing, the respect that the two teams had for each other was clear to see. Our Waterfront team were also fortunate enough to have some of the rules of Fencing explained to us by a member of the Cardiff Fencing team, who was more than happy to impart knowledge onto us. A heart-warming and incredible moment at the end of the Men’s Fencing event – despite a Swansea loss to Cardiff – was both teams doing a little cheer for each other. The overall atmosphere among the fans at Varsity was intense. With some – shall we say, interesting – chants going on from both the green supporters and the red supporters at
by Emily Maybanks
the Netball, for example, proved that the sportsmanship displayed by the competitors on both sides certainly isn’t always emulated with the fans and spectators. A group of supporters at the Swimming event in the afternoon however turned up armed with cardboard posters and pictures in support of their friend who was competing in the event and witnessing the sea of green and red t-shirt cladded supporters turn out to support their sports teams was amazing. Overall, the Varsity events at the Sports Village were thrilling to watch. Despite the Green and White Army (GWA18) of Swansea University unfortunately losing 2018’s Varsity Shield to the Cardiff University sports teams, all of our teams competed exceptionally well. Months and months of hard work and training goes into Varsity; this is what we have found out from a lot of our pre-Varsity articles for Waterfront. Naturally, there’s bound to be some disappointment, however, as the famous saying goes – it’s the taking part that counts!
FEATURES // EMILY WILLIAMS
13
We need to talk about Swansea University Accessibility The university has made a lot of changes over the last few years, including a brand new campus. However, there is still a lot of work to be done on both Singleton and Bay campuses. Like many people with disabilities, this makes me worry about how the changes will affect the accessibility of the university.
by Chloe Morgan It can be hard to navigate everyday life with a disability, particularly when a seemingly simple journey across campus is more like navigating a minefield of broken pavements and high kerbs. I’ve been a student here for four years now and as a result I’m used to facing these problems on a daily basis. I have gotten to know the campus, I remember where the high kerbs are as well as the broken paving stones and the loose drain covers. Although I’m used to it, I don’t think anyone with a disability should have to be. It’s not fair that students with additional needs are forced to work so much harder just to get around campus. This is worse for new students, not only do they not know their way around campus, they also don’t know where the hazards are. Disabled people have to tread with such caution as a seemingly minor problem could cause serious injuries to someone who has a disability. I decided that something needed to be done to tackle these issues, and I wanted to help current and future students with disabilities to be safe in Swansea University. I spent close to eight hours surveying Singleton Park campus and Bay campus. You may have seen me taking pictures of pavements and doors and thought that I was crazy. I’m not I swear, I’m just determined to identify as many of the problems as possible. I managed to identify 166 issues across the two campuses. 104 were on
Ouside Margam building, there are no unbroken paving slabs
Broken paving around the lawn outside Fulton House
A hole in the paving outside Glyndwr building
Bay campus, with impossibly high kerbs and very few proper crossings
Singleton and 42 were on Bay. To be honest, this wasn’t entirely surprising, but it was disappointing, knowing that the university has so many issues that are making it less accessible. I have compiled a report for the university with all of the problems I found and hopefully this will prompt them to make all the necessary changes. Of course, given some of the buildings are quite old, making certain buildings accessible would prove near impossible. However, the report focuses not on these issues, but rather issues that can easily be changed. One of the most common issues on both Bay and Singleton Campuses were uneven or damaged paving tiles, or simply no
paving tiles which make accessibility almost impossible, particularly for the visually impaired as there is next to no indication of the beginning and the ends of pavements. These issues are a simple fix and can have very detrimental effects on people with disabilities as well as able-bodied people. The publication of the report means that it’s more important than ever for us to talk about accessibility for all and it is my hope that one day Swansea University will be totally inclusive and 100% accessible. Chloe's full report can be viewed at swansea-union.co.uk and swanseastudentmedia.com
SWANSEASTUDENTMEDIA.COM
ISSUE 280 // MAY 2018
GOODBYE SWANSEA by Emily Maybanks It feels as though I’ve blinked and all of a sudden, I am about to finish my degree at Swansea University and move onto, well, I don’t know what, yet! I am, of course, not the only student in the boat labelled ‘almost a graduate’. So, this is a piece for us who are about to head off into the wide, wild world (Bastille reference there), as well as for those students who have years left of their degree at this wonderful University.
Beautiful Swansea in the sunshine! Firstly, the variety of knowledge gained throughout our degree will stay with us undoubtedly forever, whether or not we head into jobs related directly to what we’ve dedicated three or four years to studying. It can be very easy to fall into the mindset of “I’ve spent the past few years studying this subject but I’m not sure if I want a job in this field.” While, of course, we are at University primarily to earn a degree qualification, there is so much else involved with being a student – which I will come onto later – but it’s totally okay to change your mind about what you might or might not want to do after graduation. Secondly, a year or a semester abroad: if you are a languages student, a year abroad is a compulsory part of your degree, and I would advise
you to make the most of it in any way possible – travel lots, speak the language, eat new food, and just enjoy it. Therefore, this is my advice for any first or second year students – if you have the chance to study or work abroad, do it. You won’t regret it. Living, studying or working abroad will open your eyes and your mind and your heart to the whole world that is out there – you’ll have the chance to see new places, experience a different culture, and just broaden your horizons. Also, you might also be fortunate enough to wake up every day to such a spectacular view of Mont Salève, which is what I was so lucky to have done while I was studying in Geneva, and no view has ever lived up to that one. Thirdly – the summer holidays. As
FEATURES // EMILY WILLIAMS
15
The view of Mont Salève from my bedroom window in Geneva, Switzerland students, we are very lucky in the sense that we get a lengthy summer break in between each academic year. What I’d say to those graduating this summer is first of all, if you can, give yourself a break because you’ve earned it. What I’d say to other students is to make the most of the summer holidays because having a lot of time off gives a lot of chances to try new things and get some work experience – volunteer (volunteering at music festivals is a fantastic experience, for example), take up a new hobby or travel. Fourthly, the people! At University, we meet a huge variety of people. From the flatmates we’re thrown together with when we first arrive in Swansea as apprehensive freshers, to those we meet on our courses or in any sports clubs and societies
that we choose to join. University is also where we form often really close bonds with friends we make. While some of us are soon leaving, it’s important to spend as much time with friends as we can and also to stay in touch afterwards – social media is a wonderful platform to do this on. Finally, Swansea Student Media – I have written so much about my involvement with Student Media, and Waterfront in particular. I cannot emphasise enough how much I would recommend getting involved with Swansea Student Media. There is so much to learn and so much to experience, as well as so much to get involved with across all three media channels and it is never too late to get involved in one way or another. Also, you don’t need any previous experience. Personally, I’m going to
look back at my time with Waterfront and SSM as perhaps the most positive and certainly most influential part of my time at Swansea University. University is without a doubt a huge learning curve for all of us. Some of us are preparing to leave and enter the graduate life, while others will be returning in the new academic year. Make the most of every moment, make lots of memories and just enjoy it all. Life was made to be lived and as long as we are all doing what makes us happy, that is what counts. The many memories that I’m leaving with are countless and I shall cherish them forever. I’ve learnt a lot from my time here in Swansea and I will miss it enormously but also be able to reflect on it… Especially the beach – make the most of the beach, when the sun is shining!
SWANSEASTUDENTMEDIA.COM
ISSUE 280 // MAY 2018
All things languages by Emily Maybanks
There are almost 7,000 living languages in the world today, and approximately 6% of these languages have millions of speakers. Language is a beautiful, complex, ever-changing and ever-developing phenomenon. Having devoted my time at University to studying two European languages and gaining skills and knowledge in two linguistic professions – translation and interpretation, I decided to share some benefits about languages.
Eight benefits of learning a new language There are a huge number of advantages to learning a language. Furthermore, from my own experiences, once you learn a second language, it makes it easier to learn a third or a fourth. 1. It looks good on your CV if you can communicate in one or more foreign languages. 2. Learning a language is great for travelling; navigating through foreign countries becomes a lot simpler if you can speak the language. 3. You meet new people. Travelling and being able to communicate in a foreign language makes it easier to meet people. 4. You stay healthier for longer – studies show that bilingual and multilingual people are less likely to develop Alzheimer’s and dementia later in life. 5. You boost your self-confidence. 6. You improve your English. Learning a foreign language draws your focus to the mechanics of language – grammar, syntax etc., and this makes you more aware of language and thus makes you a sharper writer, editor and communicator. 7. You become more perceptive, and more observant of the world around you. Multilingual people are more adept at focusing on relevant information. 8. You are a better multi-tasker if you can speak more than one language as you can generally switch easily between two or more different language structures.
What’s the best way to learn a new language? In my opinion, the best way to learn a new language is to completely immerse yourself in it. Spend time in a country where the language is spoken. It’s important to practice all skills in that language – reading, writing, speaking and listening. However, to help with learning the basics, the Internet is a fantastic place to start and there are several free apps devoted to language learning, including: • Memrise • Rosetta Stone • Tandem • Babbel • Duolingo (my recommendation – it’s fun!) If you’re stuck for something to do during the summer break, maybe start learning a new language!
FEATURES // EMILY WILLIAMS
17
The Positive Lexicography Project There are many foreign language words that have no English equivalent, which is a very beautiful thing about languages and language learning. Tim Lomas started the Positive Lexicography Project which is a long, ongoing journal of untranslatable emotions or emotive experiences. Lomas said that “he was first inspired after hearing a talk on the Finnish concept of sisu, which is a sort of “extraordinary determination in the face of adversity”. According to Finnish speakers, the English ideas of “grit”, “perseverance” or “resilience” do not come close to describing the inner strength encapsulated in their native term. It was "untranslatable" in the sense that there was no direct or easy equivalent encoded within the English vocabulary that could capture that deep resonance.” Intrigued, he began to hunt for further examples, scouring the academic literature and asking every foreign acquaintance for their own suggestions. Many of Lomas’ terms refer to highly specific positive feelings, which often depend on very particular circumstances. Examples include: • Desbundar (Portuguese) – to shed one’s inhibitions in having fun • Yuan bei (Chinese) – a sense of complete and perfect accomplishment • Sukha (Sanskrit) – genuine lasting happiness independent of circumstances
"It’s important to practice all skills in that language – reading, writing, speaking and listening..."
The best untranslatable words To finish, here are some of the most interesting words from other languages which have no English equivalent. Hopefully, they will inspire the desire to learn a new language. • Tingo (Pascuense) – to gradually steal all the possessions from a neighbour by borrowing and not returning them. • Pochemuchka (Russian) – a person who asks too many questions • Backpfeifengesicht (German) – a face badly in need of a fist • Gattara (Italian) – a woman, often old and lonely, who devotes herself to stray cats • Utepils (Norwegian) – to sit outside on a sunny day enjoying a beer • Age-otori (Japanese) – to look worse after a haircut • Cwtch (Welsh) – a hug/a cuddle • Cynefin (Welsh) – the relationship one has to the place where one was born and/or feels at home
SWANSEASTUDENTMEDIA.COM
ISSUE 280 // MAY 2018
Travel Hacks: Which Apps to download and why? Organising flights, accommodation and activities can be a stressful task to endure, but today in 2018 there is an abundance of apps which make it all so much easier. But with so many apps to choose from, it is hard to know which are truly practical and which will simply be an unused drain on phone storage. Below are seven apps which guided me from day one through my travels and which I continue to use to this day wherever I am. This list includes a range of apps to cover every aspect of the travel process.
by Meryl Hanmer
Photo: Shutterstock
for places to stay. Guests have the option to rate a place on its location, cleanliness, atmosphere, value for money etc and then prospective guests can use this to make an informed decision on where to stay.
Google maps
Widely regarded as one of the best navigation apps around, I can attest to its reliability in offering public transport options in many countries. It’s useful to note that you can also download specific areas to use offline.
Uber
Active in around eighty-four countries worldwide, Uber is increasing in popularity among travellers. This app can be used to summon a car to and from wherever you desire and with payment via the app there is no need to stress and struggle with language barriers.
XE Currency Skyscanner
When searching for the most affordable flights, this app is my absolute go-to! With a month view calendar, you can see the cheapest dates on which to fly and you can receive alerts when prices change. Additionally, my personal favourite feature is the “explore anywhere” option, so if you are open about where to go, you can search for the best value flights to any destination from your closest airport.
Hopper
Like skyscanner, Hopper is great for finding the cheapest flights but in addition, it prides itself on saying when is the best time to buy flight tickets. We all know how prices fluctuate almost on a daily basis and Hopper monitors this to help save you money.
HostelWorld
My love for hostels grows each time I stay in one and hostelworld is the predominant app I use to search
Not a pretty or hugely versatile app, but it is effective in its purpose. Offering live updates on exchange rates for every world currency, its usefulness is self-explanatory.
Netflix
Although you don’t want to spend your time in a new country glued to your phone, Netflix can come in handy to pass the time when waiting for flights, or on long journeys from destination to destination. It may be wise to pre-download episodes/movies.
TRAVEL // MERYL HANMER
19
Photo: Shutterstock
Staying healthy while travelling Keeping fit and eating well by Meryl Hanmer
Travelling is medicine for the mind, the body and most importantly the soul. It feeds our desires, inspires our imagination and provokes our feelings and yet as those who’ve embarked on the wondrous feat of travel and adventure will know, it is not always glamorous. Wanderlust leads us off the beaten path to unimaginable beauty, but along this path you experience unexpected amounts of bumps, bruises and stresses. On times the pressure and strain of travelling can take its toll and feel overwhelming. Thankfully the bright new trend of 'wellness travel' is the cure for this, helping to keep mind, body and spirit in peak working order.
Go hiking
Hiking is an almost mandatory experience when travelling. There are few places to go in the world wihere hiking is not an option, so use it as an opportunity to work out and capture the perfect photos.
Enjoy exploration runs
Personally when arriving in a new place I love to immediately go for a run. It allows me to explore the area and find my bearings and the excitement of all the new sites makes the run far more enjoyable than it normally is.
Embrace a digital detox
Use roaming charges and unreliable Wi-Fi as an excuse to shut off from technology; give your mind
a break to learn to embrace the freedom of the world once more.
Utilise hostel kitchens
Eating out all the time can not only be extremely expensive, but often quite unhealthy also. Instead pick up a few vegetables from a local supermarket and cook something fresh and simple; save your money and your health.
Hydration, hydration hydration!
When embarking on long and active days, always pack a water bottle or two. Buying water constantly is not only expensive, but isn’t always possible in some places. Dehydration can be terribly debilitating yet is easy to avoid when prepared.
Walk as far and as often as you can Walking everywhere is not only a great way to pack in some exercise whilst travelling but also opens you up to the prospect of new sites that you may have otherwise missed.
Learn to sleep whenever and wherever
Travelling can be physically demanding and mentally draining; a good amount of sleep is essential but unfortunately not always possible. Overnight buses or early flights can disrupt our normal pattern, therefore learning to sleep in any place at any time is a vital skill that all travellers must learn.
SWANSEASTUDENTMEDIA.COM
ISSUE 280 // MAY 2018
ITALY
at a glance by Meryl Hanmer
With a long Mediterranean coastline, unlimited 24-hour wine fountains and inspiring gastronomy, it is no wonder Italy is a world favourite destination all year round. Their winter hardly compares to ours here in Swansea and the summer is as truly blissful as it is in our imaginations. Juliet's balcony, Verona he vineyards of Tuscany, sweeping canals of Venice, artistic allure of Florence and the ancient streets of Rome make this an irresistible country, which has so much to offer and only a lifetime would be sufficient to capture it all. Weighted with history and endless cultural riches, Italy has more UNESCO World Heritage sites than any other country in the world.
Its place in history is a strong one as the hub of the Roman empire and birthplace of the renaissance. The choice to walk the ancient streets of Pompeii, be serenaded in Gondolas along the Venetian canals, trek the striking Cinque Terre route or lose your breath over the sight of the Giotto’s revolutionary masterpieces will leave you in an almighty cultural conundrum.
TRAVEL // MERYL HANMER
21
Verona Famously known for its Shakespearean reference, Verona attracts all those in search of that ‘Instagram picture photo’ of Juliet’s famous balcony. But beyond the tale of two star crossed lovers, Verona is a bustling city with an exceptional 1st century amphitheatre which to this day still boasts use to which its purposes were intended. Every year the summer opera festival takes place inside this historic amphitheatre. Combining the countless churches bursting with decorative features unseen in the likes of Britain and other must see sites such as the Giardino Giusti and the Museo di Castelvecchio, Verona has more than earned its name as one of Northern Italy’s most attractive cities. Only a short journey from Verona lies Lake Garda which is known for its crystal-clear waters and idyllic mountainous surroundings. At the South side of the lake is the town of Sirmione which contains the domineering Rocca Scaligers fortress with spectacular harbour views.
Venice The aptly named Grand Canal flows majestically through the city and is laced with bridges which reflect the unique Venetian architecture. Lined with glorious buildings along its banks which ultimately lead to the jaw dropping Palazzo Ducale and the Basilica di San Marco, Venice is a maze of narrow backstreets which either lead to majestic wideopen spaces such as the Piazza San Marco, or to cosy neighbourhood churches, cafes and boutique shops. An absolute Venice must see is the Liberia Acqua Alta, claimed to be the most beautiful bookshop in the world, and with stairways made of books and glorious canal views, it undoubtedly is! The originality of Venice stands out at its finest during the annual ‘Venice carnival’, when masks and costumes are an obligatory statement of one’s own unique sense of fashion.
The Grand Canal, Venice
Florence
Rome
For such a compact city, Florence is jam packed with world-class art and architecture masterpieces. Around every corner is a new and exciting discovery of extraordinary art. Situated alongside the Arno river in the North of Tuscany, this picture-perfect city has hardly changed since the Renaissance. Walking along the narrow cobbled streets, you’re treated to a feast of elegant 15th century palazzi, marble made basilicas, as well as world-class paintings and Botticcelli sculptures. With the city so rich with history, it’s no surprise that the entire city of Florence is a UNESCO World Heritage site. A more beautiful sunset is not possible in comparison to watching it from the Piazzale Michelangelo where you can watch the Florencia landscape transform into an art canvas and all different shades of orange, pink, yellow and red gracefully blend to the eventual greeting of the moon. A perfect day trip from Florence is the Cinque Terre hiking route which leads you through dramatic coastal scenery along five ingeniously constructed fishing villages. Made a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1997, cars have ever since been banned from these picturesque villages.
Rome’s cityscape features some of the most famous ancient icons of the world. From the colosseum to the Roman Forum and the pantheon, it’s clear to see the heritage all around. Walking along the cobbled streets, history shouts out to you, retelling the story of Rome’s golden age as the capital of the world. While they city’s history shouts at you, the city’s art whispers delicately in your ear. One needs not even try to find art in Rome because wherever you look there it is, from sculptures by Michelangelo, baroque facades in medieval piazzas and Bernini fountains. The opportunities for things to do in Rome are endless, and some of my personal highlights are Altare della Patria, Trevi fountain, Spanish steps and Castel Sant’Angelo. Of course, lying within Rome is the independent state and home to the Pope, Vatican City. The world central hub of the Catholic faith, the famous walls of St Peter’s Basilica are quite literally made of gold. Inside the walls of Vatican City is also the tremendously large Vatican museum in which lies centuries old treasures depicting the rollercoaster history of Catholicism, and of course the Sistine chapel, one of the masterpieces of renaissance artist Michelangelo.
RELATIONSHIPS // HEATHER HARVEY & EMILY JANE GRIFFITHS
23
AGONY AUNTS Heather and Emily are Waterfront’s very own Agony Aunts and matchmakers. If you’re interested in going on a Blind Date, have a Campus Crush or a question for the Aunts, contact them at: waterfrontrelationships @swanseastudentmedia.com Hi Heather and Emily, I’m stressing about my relationship after university. My partner and I currently live together but will both be moving home (me to Birmingham and them to North Wales) this summer and I don’t know how this will impact our relationship. Any advice? Well, first of all try not to worry about the future too much right now and enjoy your current time together. Yes, moving home will change the dynamic of your relationship as you’ll have to make more of an effort to communicate and see each other. Finding jobs and being able to afford to travel to each other will have to be planned out but it’s certainly not impossible! Like any relationship after uni it really comes down to making the effort with the people you love the most, whether that be romantic or platonic, and shouldn’t be viewed as a hardship but an exciting prospect to reconnect as often as you can. When you first start at university a lot of people say that long distance relationships don’t work but you aren’t naïve 18 year olds. You’ve lived together happily, which can be a real test of a relationship, so your relationship sounds pretty solid and you’ll have
matured together, this next step is far from impossible! Planning out how and when you’ll be able to see each other over the summer or in early autumn might help to ease your mind about this new dimension of your relationship so talk to your partner. For now, keep enjoying the time you have together and good luck for the future, you can make it work!
Dear Heather and Emily, A few weeks ago, I arranged to go on a date with a guy I met in JCs before heading to Tooters. I arrived at the agreed restaurant, and waited, and waited, and waited, but the guy never showed. In short: he stood me up. It’s really knocked my confidence and I don’t know if I’ll be brave enough to set up a date again any time soon. How do I restore my confidence? I’m so sorry this happened to you, this guy sounds like a jerk! If he didn’t let you know there was a good reason that he couldn’t make it, he clearly wasn’t worth your time. It’s hard but this one set back shouldn’t stop you from dipping your toes in the dating pool. Nights out can always be a bit of a risky start to a relationship, this guy might have simply been looking for a good time rather than dating
and a relationship? Why not chat online/on an app with people for a bit? Set up a double date? Ask around if any of your friends have someone they think you’d hit it off with, as hopefully with your friends they will be nice and actually show! These might feel like ‘safer’ ways to explore your options rather than going alone. Alternatively, there’s nothing wrong with taking a break from the dating world and becoming comfortable with yourself again and restoring faith in yourself rather than attaching your worth to some guy you don’t know yet. Whatever you decide, that guy shouldn’t have ditched you, especially without warning you if he couldn’t make it. Take some time to build yourself up and be around people who think you’re great before entering into the murky world of dating. One day you will find the person right for you but you should never lose confidence in yourself because of someone else.
If you would like to be next years Agony Aunts you can express interest to waterfrontrelationships@ swanseastudentmedia.com
WELLBEING // OLIVIA ROGERS
25
Exam positivity by Olivia Rogers
Photo: Shutterstock
With summer exam season looming, and for those third years possibly your last set of exams, the pressure is beginning to mount up. For many people exams can bring extreme stress and anxiety which consequently affects their performance. This article features advice from Swansea University students on how to remain positive, even after disappointing results, and show that it’s not all doom and gloom.
“I have overcome many bad exam results, some of which were even below 40%. I have accepted the fact that I just can't perform under that kind of pressure, no matter how hard I've worked. Understanding my weaknesses allows me to be calmer and collected during exam season. To make up for my expected bad exam results, I try to over-perform on assignments and practicals.” “In second year I experienced great difficulty in settling in to university life, which had a negative impact on my January exam results and coursework. However, I was granted extenuating circumstances for one piece which I have just re-submitted
and it has taken the pressure off me to perform exceptionally this semester; however I am putting more effort in than previously! My main point is if you feel you’re not coping, go and visit the Wellbeing Centre on Singleton and don’t be afraid to speak to your personal tutor as they can help you.” “I got a third in piece of coursework, at the time I was really upset but I reminded myself that one bad grade doesn’t mean I’m not smart and not capable of getting a good degree. I also chilled out for a few days and let my friends cheer me up. Then when my next piece of work came along, I wasn’t stressed and I looked at my task calmly and productively.”
What I do to manage exam season stress • Don’t think negatively: don’t go with the attitude “oh well I don’t enjoy or care about the module.” Still try hard as it will ultimately help with your overall grade. • Start early, don’t procrastinate: I find this causes great stress and can affect your performance. • Find a technique that suits you: we’re all different and don’t be embarrassed to try a slightly unusual technique - for example I recite my notes aloud! • Revise in short bursts: revising for hours will be ineffective if you’re not fully engaged (you can go for hours looking at a book but not learning anything!)
ISSUE 280 // MAY 2018
SWANSEASTUDENTMEDIA.COM
27
Quidditch, Care of Magical Creatures & Study of Ancient Runes:
An Introduction to Hogwarts… In March, a group of care experienced young people from across the Swansea area took part in a Harry Potter themed day organised by Reaching Wider.
The young people each received a wax sealed, Hogwarts invitation letter from Professor McGonagall inviting them to attend a series of Harry Potter themed workshops. The young people worked with Reaching Wider Student Leaders and in ‘An Introduction to Hogwarts’, delivered by Dr Heidi Yeandle-King, they were sorted into their Hogwarts houses and used quills to write their own Quidditch match reports. In ‘Care of Magical Creatures’ they created their own magical creatures, designed habitats and studied dragons with Dr Dan Forman (Bioscience) and his team of undergraduates, who created and delivered the workshops. Following a Harry Potter themed lunch, everyone descended into the dark depths of the library to join the Archives team in the ’Study of Ancient Runes’. They studied 16th Century seals before making up their own and decoded a 19th Century secret love letter. The Archives ‘Book of Monsters’ also made a surprise appearance! Before the Hogwarts Express arrived to carry them home, the young people ventured out into Singleton Park to learn how to play Quidditch with Swansea University’s own Quidditch team. A highly competitive game of ‘Kidditch’ (young person friendly!) was played with Bludgers and Quaffles flying across the park in the quest to catch the Golden Snitch! In other Reaching Wider activities designed for care experienced young people, a group of 10-11 year olds form Neath Port Talbot worked with Reaching Wider and Dr Yamni Nigam in a ‘Love a Maggot’ day and soon they will visit us again to
work with Reaching Wider in the Bioscience department, working in the university laboratories in a day of dissection and rock pools. Currently care experienced people are underrepresented within Higher Education. Multiple changes in where the young person lives and frequent changes of schools are just two of the factors which can make the path into Higher Education extremely difficult. Often care experienced young people will enter university later than those who have not been in care. Reaching Wider is working with Care Experienced young people from across South West Wales to raise their academic aspiration and confidence in order to establish Higher Education as a normal destination for them.
A young person’s guide to FE and HE for care experienced young people has been produced by Reaching Wider and can be found via the Reaching Wider website http://www.swansea.ac.uk/ reaching-wider/lacandcareleavers/ Reaching Wider offers casual work opportunities for university students who wish to gain experience of working with young people. Our opportunities can fit around your timetable, boost your CV, count towards your HEAR (Higher Education Achievement Report) award and also offer generous rates of pay. If you are interested in working for us we would love to hear from you. Contact us at www.swansea.ac.uk/reaching-wider/ and reachingwider@swansea.ac.uk
SWANSEASTUDENTMEDIA.COM
ISSUE 280 // MAY 2018
In the world today, identity, culture and citizenship have been the key aspect of widespread political and social controversy on a global scale. The aftermath of Brexit has bought a wave of anti-immigrant sentiment, a rise in hate crime and a general feeling of tension between everyone; the elderly and the youth, the wealthy and the poor. There has been a lot of uncertainty and negativity; watching the news makes me almost believe a nuclear war is imminent. Throughout all of this, I believe it’s important to celebrate our diversity, especially the diversity within our own university. So with that, for next year, I want to introduce a new regular section within the Liberation section, a chance for you to share your “Liberation” story. I’ll get the ball rolling for you.
by Zoya Chishti
I was born in Pakistan in 1997, to a young, ambitious couple, in the heart of the vibrant capital Islamabad. Both my parents had just completed a degree in Economics, were just starting to establish their careers, and had started new jobs in Karachi, the biggest port city in Pakistan. After a few weeks, we moved to Karachi and spent the first three years of my life there. Within the first year, my mother had stopped working to look after me; finding a reliable nanny in Karachi was not easy. When I was three, my mother told me I was going to have a little brother. I was beyond excited. Once he was born, my father had been offered a job in Bahrain, and so we moved. Bahrain was the first time I met people different to me. Surprisingly,
MY STORY it’s a very vivid memory for me, despite the fact the I was only four years old. I learnt to speak English, which I remember being tough. Bahrain was a developing cultural hub during the time we lived there, and as a result, there was an incredible amount of diversity at my school. My friends were from all over the world; Bahrain, Italy, Hungary, London, India, Indonesia, South Africa. We annually celebrated this on World Day, where everyone would dress up in their national clothing and bring in some food from their country for everyone to try. From a young age I knew that sushi was not for me. After Bahrain, the next place we lived for a significant amount of time was Karachi. We moved there when I was 8. The next five years were
difficult for me, I initially struggled to find my place in a culture that I had forgotten. However, over time, I learned to love Karachi. The food, the late-night drives, beautiful beaches; it all grew on me. Two years after the move, my sister was born, and our family was complete. As it got close to four years of us being there, I was getting restless, and was ready for change. My mother felt it too; she grew up in an Airforce family, and moved every year to somewhere new, so everything was also getting monotonous for her as it was for me. With the ever worsening situation in Karachi, caused by politically motivated violence, and gang criminal activity, we knew a move was impending. Our prayers were answered when
LIBERATION // ZOYA CHISHTI
my father was offered a position in CitiBank In London, and we consequently moved to Surrey in January 2011. I didn’t really expect a culture shock, as I had been part of the British schooling system all my life. However, no amount of time spent watching the Bridget Jones films, or all the British novels and books I had read could have prepared me for the reality check that hit me. The roads weren’t cobbled and picturesque, and bright, standard industry street lights replaced the Victorian oil lamps that I had always pictured when I thought of Britain. The biggest shock was the border control force we were greeted with upon landing at Heathrow. That was the first time I felt scrutinized for my ethnicity; I could feel my parents were as tense as I was throughout the whole process. They were tense for another 6 years, until all the jumping through hoops finally paid off and we became citizens last year. At first, I even struggled with the language at first; English slang and the accents confused me - smile and nod is what got me through those early days at my new school, which was immensely awkward when it was a question being asked, and not a statement being said. I eventually adjusted. It was here where I learnt to love myself, accept myself; I finally have an understanding of my own sexuality, and that in itself was a massive step forward. Before moving here, I didn’t even know there were people like me out there. I struggled for many to years to completely fit in; being from a Muslim family meant that I had certain rules and values to uphold myself to. It’s something I did by choice mostly, out of respect for my parents, and everything they have done for me; following a few rules wasn’t so bad. Coming to university allowed me to really find out where I fit in, and figure out who I am and what I believe in. Looking back now at where I started, and the person I am today,
29
Memories from my time in London, Swansea & Pakistan
I truly believe I owe it all to the experiences I’ve been fortunate enough to have. Trying to understand what culture I really belong to has been struggle for me, from a very young age. This was similar for my parents, my wonderful mother especially. She struggled with being a stay at home mother, and found it difficult to settle down. She’s now a teacher in training, and her journey to adapting her beliefs, has been slower, but as difficult as my own, if not more. While some people have firm roots in one place, in one culture, I don’t. My home isn’t just in Pakistan anymore; I have some sense of home in Islamabad, Karachi, Bahrain, Surrey and now Swansea. These cultures and beliefs that come along with them, are where my own ideals and values come from, and that is okay; It’s okay to have a bit of everything. I am proudly Pakistani British, and my love for the UK is endless. My time here has had its ups and downs, as life often does, but I am eternally
grateful to have moved here, and been accepted in the way I have been. End Note: I’m not a fan of writing about myself, but here you go! I really think it’s important that we do everything we can to understand and accept each other, especially in times where there is tension within communities. The ideals and morals we decide to have will not just impact us, but the generations to follow. Take our current global political climate; a lot of the people who have the most power and influence in the world today are the greatest preachers of hate, violence and inequality. We have the power to change that through changing our own understanding and perceptions of people different to us within our society. I encourage people reading this, who have similar stories, or vastly different stories to write a bit and send it in to waterfrontliberation@ swanseastudentmedia.com
SWANSEASTUDENTMEDIA.COM
ISSUE 280 // MAY 2018
Coming out at University by Emily Maybanks
Earlier this year, I decided to take the plunge, and skilfully ‘used’ February’s LGBT+ History Month to come out properly as a bisexual woman. For most of my adult life, my sexuality has been something that I have kept private for many reasons, including fearing judgement from family and friends. Despite having only very recently found the confidence to be more open about my sexuality, I have known that I am bisexual since I was 16, but it has never been something that I have spoken about to too many people, for several reasons. What has made me feel uncomfortable in talking about my sexuality is the fact that while I have – in the past – experienced attraction to both males and females, I also feel that my sexuality changes on an almost daily basis. I wasn’t certain as to whether telling people “I’m bisexual, but also I don’t really experience any sexual attraction to people of either gender,” was going to make me sound as though I was merely attention seeking. I vividly remember lying in bed one night in floods of tears because I didn’t know if I should come out as bisexual or asexual. I did come out as bisexual because I know that, even though I would 100% label
myself as asexual, I am certain that I could fall in love with either a man or a woman. Shortly after this emotional night, I read an article with a list of the various definitions for sexual attraction and I found myself identifying with several of these definitions, including aromanticism, asexuality, bisexuality and demisexuality. Everyone’s experience of their own sexuality, and whether that sexuality changes over time, are unique to them. How open people want to be about their sexuality is also totally up to them. I count myself lucky than those who I am more open about my sexuality to are amazing and non-judgemental; something which has helped me feel more comfortable about being open about my LGBT+ status is being around people who are proudly and happily open and honest about their sexuality. However, I have also faced
judgement when I’ve chosen to talk about identifying as both bisexual and asexual; judgement in the form of snide comments and being called an ‘attention seeker’, among other things. Dealing with judgement is different for everyone and I certainly don’t advise people to do what I have done and still sometimes do, which is to push an internal self-destruct button. I would advise talking it through with someone you do trust and can rely on. Swansea University has been my ‘home’ now for 5 years and feeling comfortable enough to finally come out during my time here is something that I will be proud of for years to come. Being able to further explore sexuality and LGBT+ through writing for Waterfront is also something that I will look back on with pride as it has encouraged me to be more open and honest about being part of the LGBT+ community.
CREATIVE WRITING // EMILY MAYBANKS
31
SWANSEASTUDENTMEDIA.COM
ISSUE 280 // MAY 2018
After being tagged in a WalesOnline article dubbing Uplands as ‘one of the hippest places in the country’ which was mainly due to a series of artwork appearing throughout the area, one question came to mind: is Uplands as hip as it claims to be and was I hip enough for the place up the hill from my house?
by Carys Svendsen
One of the first pieces of artwork as you enter Uplands
IS UPLANDS REALLY AS HIP AS IT CLAIMS TO BE? To begin my investigation, I had to look up the definition of ‘hip’. This involved consulting the most reliable book I know: The MerriamWebster and Garfield dictionary.
The source of all knowledge in a book, leaving me wide-eyed in awe
It was within this knowledgeable book, and with Garfield helpfully pointing it out to me, that hip means to be ‘keenly aware of or interested in the newest developments or styles’. With the research done, it was time to make myself ‘hip’. Now, for anybody who knows me, I’m not exactly the hippest person out there and tend to rock a geek look, with ‘geek chic’ on a good day (yeah, I laughed too as I typed this). After a quick consultation with Waterfront’s Fashion Editor, Gwen Miles, about some hip outfit suggestions, Gwen informed me that ‘long length floral skirts, tea dresses and bright block colours’ were in at the moment. It was with that fashion intelligence that I tried to my best to create a ‘hip’ outfit for my trip, as seen here:
Note to self: although looking away from the camera was a good idea at the time, it didn’t turn out as well as I initially thought. ‘I was obviously going for the Sia look’ I thought to myself as I saw the photo.
CULTURE // CARYS SVENDSEN & NICOLA MCANDREW
Was I hip enough for my outing? Only time will tell as myself, Becky (Waterfront’s Crime Editor) and Rory (the ‘Waterfront Groupie’) set off up the hill to Uplands. In 2017, it was announced that Uplands was the 14th hippest place by TravelSupermarket’s UK Hip Hang-out Neighbourhood Index. This is partially due to a series of artwork popping up in various places around Uplands since 2017, mainly celebrating Dylan Thomas but also featuring characters from his works such as Under Milk Wood (if you can find them, be sure to Tweet us @waterfront.) The most obvious ones are found on the main road, by Sainsbury’s and Kingdom Hall. However, if you go down the road by Costa Coffee, you’ll find a unique painting which breaks the mould of Dylan Thomas’ signature or a portrait of him. My ‘hip’ clothing may have helped point out the ‘hip’ paintings, or it was just me using my eyes - it’s hard to tell. Although there are some pieces in Uplands itself, some can also be found in Brynmill Park: unfortunately, that wasn’t a part of my cultural trip, but if you find yourself in Brynmill Park, look out for Dylan Thomas on a bench, as well as a flowery bench. In fact, due to the paintings being so popular thanks to funding from local councillors Irene Mann and Peter May, national lottery funders have given it a further £10,000 for future works and the development of the Dylan Thomas trail. There’s a current application for national lottery
33
It's a cool sign, but is it hip?
Right in the heart of the Uplands
The piece by the Costa (and a
shops, you find Dylan Thomas
personal favourite)
funding that, if successful, could mean that places such as St Helen’s Rugby and Cricket ground, as well as benches near the cenotaph on the beachfront could also feature artwork and murals. As to whether Uplands is hip or not, well, with the array of coffee shops and restaurants making Uplands more modernised than ever, it would appear that Uplands is hipper than initially thought (and this is coming from me of all people). Although I didn’t get any recognition for my ‘hip’ outfit (apart from one friend calling me ‘mental’), I also didn’t get any weird looks, either. As
a result, I can only assume that I was cool enough to blend into the crowd and therefore accept the hip label, even if it was just for a short while. However, is Uplands the top hip hang-out? No. Is it the 14th hip hang-out? Well, I think you’re onto something there… If you’d like to look at the WalesOnline article for yourself, then be sure to check it out here: https://bit.ly/2IQ7TUp Many thanks to Megan Thomas for tagging me in the original article!
SWANSEASTUDENTMEDIA.COM
ISSUE 280 // MAY 2018
Whether you’ve heard her name or not, chances are you’ve heard her music. Julia Michaels is the song writing mastermind behind chart-smashing hits such as Justin Bieber’s ‘Sorry,’ Selena Gomez’s ‘Hands To Myself’ and Ed Sheeran’s ‘Dive.’ She has penned nine Top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, with a stream count of over 10 billion to date. Julia seemed destined to settle for being pop music’s behindthe-scenes song-writing gem. This was until she wrote a song so intensely personal to her that she simply had to sing it herself.
by Fin Hardie
JULIA MICHAELS An interview with pop's behind-the-scenes gem Why did you decide to keep “Issues” for yourself and go solo rather than… hand it over to someone else? I tend to write really personal songs but I don’t usually write them that personal, and I’d written this song after a song that I’d written for someone else had gone no. 1 on Billboard (Sorry for Justin Bieber). My ex-boyfriend, my boyfriend at the time, was so upset that it had happened for me. He couldn’t be happy for me at all. He was also in the music industry, and I was just so devastated that he would do that. I was so upset that I went in the studio
and I cried, and he was actually in a different studio across the hall. I’d had “Issues” written down on my phone, and I was just like “This is so fitting for what just happened.” You know, a lot of our relationship was us sort of knowing that we had these sort of toxic elements and it was almost like the thing that kept us together, which is really just so chaotic and crazy. So I wrote ‘Issues’ that day, and he came in with flowers and said “I’m sorry, I should’ve known better” but I was like “The damage is done! I heard this story once. So, this kid is bullying other kids at school, it’s just like a story. And his mum hears about this kid doing these things,
MUSIC // SARAH HARRIS
and the mum says “Every time you say something bad about somebody, I want you to put a nail in a plank.” So every time he/she picks on somebody, they put the nail in the plank. Years later, they take the nails out of the plank and say “But there’s still holes!” Even if you apologize those scars are still there. The damage is already done, you know. So that’s how that song came about. And, you know everybody has their own perception and their own take on music when they hear it and I felt kind of uncomfortable with the fact that no one would have known that story or how personal that was to me. I just couldn’t give it away, it was the first time that that had happened for me.
Do you think that going through emotional patches in your life has helped to drive your song writing? 100%! I strive off negative spaces, like when people tell me I can’t do something, or when someone likes to tear me down – I’m like, no, I can do this! It’s not really to prove them wrong it’s really just to prove to me that I can. Every fight that I’ve had in a relationship, every sort of trial and tribulation that I’ve been through is definitely very apparent in my music. I’m very transparent – I don’t hide anything from anybody, you know.
What do you think about “Sorry”, seeing as you wrote it and it did so well? I’m very grateful for that song. That’s another song I had no idea the impact it would have, I had no clue. But I’m so happy it did.
35
I’ve heard you’ve had issues with stage fright at times, or maybe felt it but not shown it. How do you sort of deal with that? I try to just… breathe… as much as possible, and when I’m on stage I can usually find one person that knows all the words to every song. Even if there’s just one person, that’s enough for me to get out of my head. Because that means that there’s that one person across the country that feels connected to me, and I feel connected to them. So, that helps a lot with my anxiety but, definite stage fright! You definitely get kinda dizzy, my throat gets dry.
Who are some of the coolest people that you’ve worked with? Oh goodness! I mean I’m so fortunate I’ve got to work with so many people. Um, P!nk is one of my all-time favourites, I got to work with her last year, incredible. I got to work with Keith Urban this year too, who’s
super amazing. We just had a song come out together and I’m really happy about it. Um, I mean of course Selena Gomez. She’s incredible. She calls me her muse and I call her mine. I’ve been so grateful I’ve got to work with some of the most unbelievable people I’ve ever met.
What’s your favourite song to sing live? Oh, man. I mean they’re all really fun to sing live. I think my favourites are probably “I Miss You” (Ft. Clean Bandit), just because everybody knows the words to that one, and “Issues,” that’d probably be my second.
JULIA MICHAELS' VITAL STATS • Has two very cute dogs called Sampson and Hazel • Loves tattoos • Hates stage fright • Best mates with Justin Tranter • Likes to write songs in closets • Has issues, and isn’t afraid to tell people about them
SWANSEASTUDENTMEDIA.COM
ISSUE 280 // MAY 2018
Titanic: The Last Great Hollywood Epic by Carlos Tseng I doubt that there are very many of you who have yet to see the cultural phenomenon that is James Cameron’s Titanic. Recently celebrating it’s 20th anniversary, the film was selected for preservation by the National Film Registry for being considered historically, culturally and aesthetically significant. The story is told from the perspective of an elderly Rose Dawson (Gloria Stuart) recalling her memories on the luxurious ocean liner, of which she was a first-class passenger, Rose DeWitt Bukater (Kate Winslet). The audience is transported back to 1912 where aboard Titanic, she meets the third-class passenger Jack Dawson (Leonardo DiCaprio). Although Rose is betrothed to be married to the snobbish Cal (Billy Zane), she falls in love with Jack on the transatlantic voyage. However, they are forced to race against time when the ill-fated ship clashes with an iceberg in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Although different people may have different opinions on Titanic, no one can deny the effect the film has had on our pop culture landscape. Who hasn’t heard someone quote “You jump, I jump” or “I’m the king of the world”? Taking more than $2.1billion against a $200million budget, Titanic went on to become the highest grossing film of all time until it was overtaken by James Cameron’s 2009 sci-fi epic: Avatar. Many critics predicted that the film would flop considering how the release date kept being pushed back, amid speculation 20th
Century Fox was cutting funding for Titanic. When the film finally premiered, critics generally gave favourable reviews, but it was because of audiences that Titanic got propelled to blockbuster success. By February, the film would go on to match All About Eve’s record for most Oscar nominations with 14 and continues to hold the record for most Oscar wins with 11 including Best Picture, tying with The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King. I still remember the first time I watched Titanic on an old DVD, and even though it was played on a small TV, my eyes glazed over at the epic grandeur of the production. Although Titanic is usually viewed as a romantic-drama because of the melodramatic elements that exist, this is also a period piece that
gracefully exudes the elegance and class of 1910s society. Deborah Lynn Scott’s Oscar winning costumes do not go unnoticed, nor does Peter Lamont and Michael D. Ford’s production design. The careful attention to detail is not only delightful to the eye but is a standing testament to the engineers and builders who created RMS Titanic. It would be a lie for me to say that Titanic isn’t my favourite film. James Cameron masterfully brings together all my favourite loves: the epic genre, costume drama and Celine Dion. I have never been bored watching Titanic during any of its 195mins and as this year draws to a close, I urge sceptics to give this a re-watch this summer as I wholeheartedly believe that James Cameron created a modern masterpiece in 1997.
FILM // BECKY ELMS
37
Is the horror genre still ‘good?’ by Alex Udraufski-Osborne
The horror genre, like many others, is ever-evolving to meet the criteria of its audiences across the world of cinema. As we evolve as a society, so do our fears. But, is modern horror keeping pace? Or, better yet, is it even trying to?
I am posing a question to you – is the horror genre still ‘good?’ Chew on that a little. To answer this, I have dedicated the next three short paragraphs on points, I believe, need to be addressed in the horror genre. If you agree; or, have anything to add, my Twitter is at the bottom of this article.
1: Lack of Variety When one takes time to have a glance at, ‘so-called’, horror films released in the last ten years or so; it’s not hard to notice that they have disturbingly similar stories, consisting of: paranormal possessions and haunted houses. Take, as an example, the new horror with Martin Freeman, Ghost Stories; or, Paranormal Activity. These two themes seem to be the crème de la crème of the, once, innovative genre. There’s no Sci-Fi; no monsters, or even slasher flicks anymore. Now, all we get is a house, complete with spooky kids, and maybe an untouchable demon (with slight deviations). It would be nice to add a bit of variety to the genre.
2: Curse of the Remake I understand it isn’t just horror going through this at the moment (here’s looking at you, Disney); but, remakes are all over the place with the horror genre (IT, Carrie, Amityville Horror, etc). To prove this, I conducted an experiment. I asked a group of individuals to answer the same question, at random points in their day. The question was ‘name the first three horror movies that come to mind’. From the result, I can assure you that consistently at
the top of the list was a remake of a classic horror film. Whilst remakes aren’t always bad; they are often unnecessary. Also, need I mention, we have seen the story before.
3: Jump Scares over the Story The use of a loud sound and a quick cut has become a standard in horror today. It startles you, and then nothing. Except cheap thrills, it adds nothing to the story whatsoever. They’re lazy and cheap showing a lack of the director’s, understanding
or willingness, to drag out the tension, which, in the words of Alfred Hitchcock himself, is key. Heeding this advice and adding more to story depth will be fulfilling for the genre. Take, for example, Get Out and The Quiet Place, critically acclaimed, these films focussed on story over jump scares. We need to see more horror’s like this. So there it is. What do you think? If you’d like to discuss this more in-depth you can tweet to me @ThatGuy_Alex.
FILM // BECKY ELMS
39
Why you should give the DC extended universe another chance by Michael Fraser Aside from Wonder Woman, critics and audiences have not been kind to the DCEU, and, this, I believe, is a misunderstanding of their content. One common criticism levied against DC, is that their superhero movies are too dark. However, in my opinion, this should be praised rather than criticised. They tackle dark and human subjects, making the films more relatable and the characters more compelling. For example, Suicide Squad, which was intended to be more comical, deals with Harley's PTSD and Killer Croc’s casting out by society because he looked different. This idea is present across the films. Take Batman in Batman V Superman. People accuse director Zack Snyder of not understanding Batman because his Batman kills. Batman has strict rules against this the comics. However, this is a Batman far further along in his story than any other we’ve met. He suffers from severe PTSD. The Martha scene made Bruce realize he had become what he despised: a killer. This carries on in Justice League, where Bruce doesn’t kill. His killing was part of his arc, not a misunderstanding. Let’s move to Superman. DCEU Superman is criticized for his ‘unwillingness’ to save people. However, he does save people. For example, when he saves a little girl from a fire in Mexico in Batman V Superman. When he kills Zod to save a family in Man Of Steel. He saves Lex Luthor, the bad guy who was going to burn his mother alive in Batman V Superman. He
continually saves and eventually sacrifices himself for a species that rejects him. The evidence people cite to say Superman doesn’t want to save people is sans context, e.g. destruction. In Man of Steel, Clark only discovered the extent of his powers days before fighting a military general who wants to destroy humanity. Three separate lines of dialogue in Batman V Superman state no civilians are at risk from the final battle. Some may counter this by saying
Superman isn’t human, but he is. His birthplace was Krypton but the DCEU deals with something so many adaptions of Superman forget: that he was raised on Earth. This is shown in Man of Steel when he chooses Earth over Krypton, and in Batman V Superman when he describes Earth as “his world”. DC’s willingness to deal with dark issues sets them apart from their competitors. So, yes, these films are dark, but they have to be in order to tell the stories they want to tell.
SWANSEASTUDENTMEDIA.COM
ISSUE 280 // MAY 2018
Forgetting Sarah Marshall by Henry Burgess As the summer term gets under way, it is likely that most of us will be busy with revision, deadlines and exams; with little time to spend lazing around scanning Netflix. So, I thought I’d review the, relatively short but worthwhile watch, Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Written by protagonist, Jason Segel, the film is uplifting and brilliantly witty, with excellently crafted cast dynamics.
The plot kick starts with Peter Bredder (Segel) being dumped by his girlfriend of five years and successful TV actress, Sarah Marshall (Kristen Bell). The opening scene instantly paints a picture of what to expect in this tropical raunchy comedy. Due to being dumped, Segal, to recover from his emotional breakdown, is encouraged to, ‘fill the void’, left by Sarah, by going out and meeting girls. However, stepbrother Brian, believes a vacation would be a better idea, Peter decides on Hawaii due to his ex’s fondness of the island. The consequences of picking a destination appealing to an ex are soon found out as Peter bumps into Sarah while checking in at the same resort she is staying at with new partner (and ludicrously sex-obsessed) British pop singer Adlous Snow (Russell Brand). The awkward encounters are a constant theme; each one being more awkward than the last. Out of pity for the clearly upset and lonely Peter, receptionist and local Hawaiian, Rachel (Mila
Kunis) books Peter into a suite to get over his recent heartbreak. As Peter explores the island he meets several people, including: honeymooners, a care-free surf instructor and a super fan of Sarah’s new man, Adlous. The film creates a sense of being on a real holiday on a small resort by continually stumbling across familiar faces at communal places like the beach and restaurant, and it is these encounters where the best of the humour takes place with a particularly awkward double date involving Peter and Sarah. The plot begins to develop around
Peter’s new relationships, particularly new love interest Rachel, while he remains a part of a love triangle with Marshall and Snow. Peter begins to fall for Rachel, yet the opportunity of re-coupling with Sarah remains a temptation too great to simply ignore. The film is enjoyable from start to finish with goofy dialogue and awkward meetings, while also teasing at what possible activities lie ahead in summer; the humour of this film should, I hope, provide some light at the end of the tunnel darkened by long library sessions and last minute revision.
STUDY ABROAD // BRONWEN BEARD
41
Study Abroad: From Applicant to Co-ordinator by Bronwen Beard
Studying abroad as part of a degree programme can be a simultaneously thrilling and daunting process. This proves to be true for the dedicated staff at Swansea University who spend their days creating links with new institutions, assisting with applications, and helping students to make the most of their experiences.
This interview with Leah Hewitt explores her experiences both as a Swansea University graduate who studied abroad as part of her degree, and a member of staff, as the Exchange and Study Abroad Co-ordinator. I first asked Leah how she became involved with the Study Abroad department; “I spent a year studying in Canada as part of my degree. I think it was because of my year studying abroad that I could see the benefits of it. In my own experience, it really raises your confidence and pushes you out of your comfort zones. When I got back in my final year I became involved in the peer advisor scheme, supporting the next cohort of students studying abroad, and volunteering with them for a year. Following graduation, I worked in the office over the summer, after which I returned to the university to start my masters.” Leah’s journey from student to staff member is an explicit reminder of the increased employability you can gain through partaking in a study abroad programme. Employability is heavily promoted by the university, and when I asked about the study abroad scheme’s role, Leah had this to say; “The international experience helps set you apart from others. You will develop your independence and confidence whilst being open to trying new things, all of which are skills and experiences that employers look for. The impact is amazing.” There are however, a few aspects of studying abroad that can be daunting, which we mainly identified as the
financial cost and being so far away from your friends and family. Luckily, the price of studying abroad has quickly become more bearable to students. With the university providing a variety of bursaries to students on all kinds of programmes; including years studying abroad, or semesters learning or working in another country. Maintaining relationships of all kinds, whilst in another country can also be an unnerving prospect. "If you are on a four-year degree course then a year abroad means leaving behind the friends you have been with for the past two years, and coming back to them having already graduated. Additionally, you are having to make friends at your host institution and leave them after one year too. You really are throwing yourself in at the deep end." It is moments like this that remind you there are good and bad points to every experience, but the worth lies in the good coming out on top. For every negative there is a positive; you will
make new friends from all over the world potentially, and meet people you may never have had the chance to otherwise. When a student returns from a year abroad one thing is for certain; they have some amazing stories to tell, though Leah’s has to be one of my favourites. "Where I was studying in Canada, they had a thing for giant sculptures; there was a giant cow, a giant potato, and an enormous lobster. Obviously, at the time I thought it would be a great idea to get a photo of me sitting on this humongous lobster." A decision that inevitably later came back to haunt her when she started working in the office, as said photo has since been printed out and pinned above the door opposite her desk. Although it is definitely a running piece of office banter, it could also been seen as a reminder to both staff and student alike; studying abroad is an amazing, intimidating, and often bewildering experience to have, and not very easily forgotten.
SWANSEASTUDENTMEDIA.COM
ISSUE 280 // MAY 2018
Summer events in Swansea: Outfit planning by Gwen Miles
I’m coming to the end of my time at Swansea, and in my three years here I’ve planned my fair share of outfits for a variety of events. Summer events are always a lot of fun to dress for, because you don’t have to worry so much about the weather. Here’s my best advice - a combination of personal experience and predictions. If you’re still not sure by the end of this article, use the SU’s Facebook and Flickr to get inspiration from photos of previous years.
Radio 1’s Biggest Weekend
If you were lucky enough to get a ticket for this highly popular event, then you’re an inherently organised person and may have already started thinking about your outfit. There’s no standard for what to wear here, but as the weather will hopefully be brightening up by the end of May, my most important advice is a sunhat, sunglasses and suncream. Think about what bag you’re bringing - a bum bag is a great option because it’s small and unobtrusive, and easy to keep safe. However, you might also want to opt for a backpack to carry larger items like a water bottle and warm clothes for later in the evening. As this is a festival-style event, I’ve been taking notes from the most fashionable festival of all: Coachella. Crochet, sheer lace, hoops, classic denim shorts, side stripes, body chains, glitter, sequins, and metallic and neon colours are all recurrent festival styles that you might want to keep in mind if you want to be the best dressed in Singleton Park that weekend.
Summer Ball
Although this is technically a ‘ball’, the dress code is definitely more casual than you would expect, and people tend to dress in summery, playful outfits. Most guys choose to wear a shirt, whether that be a formal white shirt or a floral hawaiian shirt. Ties are entirely optional, but about half of students choose to wear one. Whether you dress down with denim shorts or go for braces and a blazer, you
Tassels, felt hats and crop tops are still huge in festival fashion
If you wear a tie to Summer Ball, co-ordinate it with your sunglasses
Graduation is the most formally styled event in your time at uni
It'll be hard to avoid pics at Graduation so you'll want to look your best
won’t be out of place because there’s always a huge range of outfits. Dresses and playsuits are popular for female attendees, often in fun prints like floral patterns and bright colours. You might decide to mix it up with a co-ord or trousers, but my best advice is to wear flat pumps or sandals rather than heels, because the grass of the abbey is not the best terrain for stilettos. If you really need the height, chunky platform shoes are a good compromise.
Graduation
This event definitely has a more formal dress code than any other this summer. The most important part of the graduation outfit is the academic dress (the gown and cap), without which you won’t be allowed on stage to accept
your degree certificate. Swansea have stated that Ede and Ravenscroft are the approved supplier for our graduation, and you can go to their website to rent the correct items for £45 to £58, depending on your level of study. So bear in mind whatever you wear will be partially covered, but you still need to dress formally. That’s a suit and tie for men, and women usually opt for a dress and heels. If you do wear heels, however, make sure you’re comfortable walking in them because the last thing you want is to trip on stage. The dress code is similar for the graduation ball too, but whereas the dresses will tend to be midi length and simple for the ceremony, you’ll see more full length dresses at the ball, with more experimentation in pattern and style.
FASHION // GWEN MILES
Clothes Swap Cinema & Co.
43
Many students will be familiar with Cinema & Co. in town - a versatile space that acts as a cafe, bar, gallery, independent film house and live venue. Now, they can add eco-conscious fashion to that list, as manager Anna Redfern organised their first ever Clothes Swap event earlier this year.
by Gwen Miles
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I walked into the venue that evening, but the complimentary Buck’s Fizz, crisps and snacks offered at the door certainly helped me to relax. The atmosphere was warm and friendly, and although everyone seemed excited, there was also a sense of uncertainty: this was the company’s first attempt at an event of this kind and guests weren’t sure how the night would unfold. It’s safe to say our expectations were exceeded. The doors opened and we walked into the larger space to find our donated clothes hung up on rails and folded on chests of drawers interspersed with fairy lights. In the promotion of the event it was stated that we should each bring at least five items of clothing, but all the guests surpassed this minimum and there was a lot to choose from. There were no restrictions on how many items we were allowed to take home, so there was quite a rush as guests swooped in to pull clothes from the rail and try them on. My main concern was that I’d struggle to find things that fit me - at 5’1 I struggle even in normal high street stores. I actually came away with about four or five items, including a Tommy Hilfiger polo shirt and a beautiful summery Laura Ashley maxi-skirt. They’d clearly thought of this issue when
Sew Swansea were showing products of some of their local workshops
Swansea Remakery aim to challenge throwaway culture
There were clothes for every size, shape and style
organising the event, because Tasha from Sew Swansea and Nancy from Swansea Remakery were available to make small alterations or demonstrate techniques for redesigning clothes at home. It’s incredible that all this was provided for the cost of a £3 ticket. I got a chance to talk to Anna Redfern before I left, and she explained that the idea came from an urge to encourage recycling and reducing
waste in our perception of style and fashion. Certainly, I was very happy for the opportunity to get rid of some old clothes I’d been hoarding at the back of my wardrobe, and I was delighted to see other people picking up items I had brought with me. Following the success of this first attempt, Cinema & Co. are hoping to make the Clothes Swap a bi-annual event, so keep an eye out for the next one.
SWANSEASTUDENTMEDIA.COM
ISSUE 280 // MAY 2018
THE BLACK DAHLIA by Becky Barnfather
It’s the last issue of the Waterfront, and to celebrate I’ve decided to take on the ‘Black Dahlia’ case. Described as one of the most gruesome cases of all time -the case has the same levels of brutality seen in the Jack the Ripper murders- and if you wish to continue, then be warned: although this isn’t the most graphic account of the case (that’s for the online article), the following case does contain some graphic details. Due to the case also being unsolved, I’m going to discuss some of the facts around the case and then discuss the theories for online. Got your own theories? I’d love to hear them. Feel free to email me at waterfrontcrime@swanseastudentmedia.com. Are you ready for the case? Then I’ll begin...
This case dates back all the way to 1947. The murder of 22 year old Elizabeth Short was enough to shake the world to its core when her body was discovered in a vacant lot on the west side of South Norton Avenue, Los Angeles.
What Happened? On the night which would be her last, Elizabeth Short was driven by Robert Manley from where she was staying to the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles. The hotel is the last place she was seen alive and she wasn’t seen again until the discovery of her tortured body five days later. Now, here’s where we touch on some of the gruesome details. Be warned: there are graphic details ahead and you
CRIME // BECKY BARNFATHER
should stop reading now if you’re not a fan of that. I suggest you read another article; I hear that this month’s Culture article is a laugh. Short’s body was found severed in two, with the area above her abdomen severed in such a way that the actual separation never damaged any of her internal organs. Her body was also drained of blood, giving her such a pale appearance that a passer-by mistook her body for a broken mannequin at first. However, it’s not just the cause of death that made the ‘Black Dahlia’ case so well known around the world. This case brought a rare type of murderer into light; the sadistic, sexual killer. This type of killer is known to take sexual satisfaction and excitement from inflicting psychological and/or physical suffering onto another until their eventual death. Even dumping of the body wasn’t typical behaviour of a killer. The body
45
wasn’t hidden in any kind of way to delay discovery , it was left instead within a populated area where Short’s body would be found, almost as in a similar fashion (but far more sadistic) to a young child proudly displaying a picture to their parent. After Short was taken, it’s believed that she endured two to three days of unrelenting torture which was then followed by her death and discovery of the body. Multiple lacerations and abrasions across her body were found, including bruising on her wrists and ankles, implying she was tied up. The most notable laceration was that on her face. Much like the Joker’s scars in The Dark Knight, a laceration was made from the corner of her lips towards her ears which left her with an everlasting smile. However, this wasn’t the only cause of her death. Elizabeth Short was also found to be killed by haemorrhage and shock due to concussion.
To this day, the case has remained officially unsolved and has been a cold case since the spring of 1947. The case was initially referred to as the ‘werewolf murder’ but was later named the ‘Black Dahlia’ by the media when her photo appeared in the paper for the first time. The name of the case was a play on from the 1946 movie ‘Blue Dahlia’ combined with Short’s tendency to dress in sheer black clothes. The sad irony is that Elizabeth had been working as a waitress, hoping to find her big break into becoming an actress and finding her fame, and, whilst she did find fame posthumously, it wasn’t the kind that she would ever have dreamed of.
Need More?
Head to swanseastudentmedia.com to find a more detailed account and research done into this case. This will include more details, the suspects and even the theories already out there. There’s still far more to discover.
SWANSEASTUDENTMEDIA.COM
ISSUE 280 // MAY 2018
We all know the scene: you’re whittling away the week with work and then society night (or nights, in some cases) rolls around. You’re excited: you get to see your friends and discuss common interests! You get to catch up with other people and watch great films or take part in game nights! Suddenly, as the year continues, the attendance numbers fizzle out to almost nothing and you find yourself still enjoying the socials, but in a much smaller crowd. Is this the time to announce the death of societies?
by Carys Svendsen
THE DEATH OF SOCIETIES? For this article, I explored the Hobbies and Interests societies over the year, namely Sci fi Society, Marvel and DC Society, and Soapbox Society. Although all the mentioned societies seemingly had an increase in membership numbers at the beginning of the year, now, as we approach the end of the year, the numbers have declined dramatically for socials. Gone are the days of organising large numbered socials, and they welcome the smaller, cosier socials as the year has gone on. In some cases, such as sci fi society, socials cater to a mere handful of members and involves them choosing what to watch on Netflix for the evening. What is normally seen as a regular student’s night in has been expanded into a typical Sci Fi Society night, and you begin to wonder whether being a committee
member is worth it in the end. To try and shed some light on the ever-growing situation, I created a group chat with the Presidents of the previously mentioned societies as well as previous Hobbies and Interests rep, Heather Dimmer. After a quick initial question of asking what’s happened over the year, it was Heather who came up with the observation saying it’s just the natural cycle of societies. Although there is a definite lack of integration at the beginning of the year due to Freshers being the new members against the regulars from the previous years, the balance changes as the year goes on, mainly due to the old regulars having to commit more time to coursework instead of socialising. This would seem logical, particularly through personal experience as third year tends to take its toll on your extra-curricular
SOCIETIES
life whereas in first year you’re simply finding the balance between your social life and your work life. However, in some cases, as Michael Fraser, President of Sci Fi Society argues, it’s due to some dominating personalities that can appear intimidating to the bright-eyed, bushy tailed Fresher’s. In order for a society to be successful all year round, they must be friendly and all-inclusive from day one. This would mean having to become louder than the ‘big’ people in societies, and effectively drowning them out to bring others in. But wouldn’t this mean that the society itself becomes intimidating to Freshers, and produce the opposite of its intended effect? Sometimes committees can find themselves too busy with the everapproaching deadlines and have to fight their own coursework to be able to keep the society alive.
47
This was particularly seen last year (I was guilty of this, too) when committee members would sit at the back of the room during a film social and type their essays whilst members watched the screen. The film ends, the laptops close and a short discussion ensues before the next film. The Marvel and DC Society however, decided to capitalise on these occasions. ‘Revision Socials’ were created, and members were encouraged to study together, no matter the subject. After all, it’s better to study together than alone, right? This doesn’t solve the final problem, however. Heather comments on the fact that she’s simply ‘grown out’ of societies, and it’s a question that spun around the chat for a while. Is it possible to grow out of a society? Surely there is no age limit to a society, since all activities are inclusive?
Do we suddenly wake up one day and think that we’re simply too grown up to attend a society? The answer is up to you, but university is a time of transition for most. It’s the time between college and the adult world, and the place where we tend to find ourselves. Where home was once found in a weekly social, it’s now found in a small group of friends having a film night. When life was all about midnight screenings to the latest Star Wars or Marvel movie, it’s now about all-nighters in the library. Either way, although societies are dying for the year, they are granted a new lease of life by September when the cycle begins again. Maybe we should embrace this cycle and simply enjoy the ride and the friends we made on the way. After all, we tend to only go to university once, and whilst societies seemed like a good place to start, maybe there’s other adventures calling to us?